Best Schools for Pastoral Counseling in 2026
These are the top schools offering Pastoral Counseling, ranked by DegreeWorth Score. The score combines graduate earnings, AI automation resilience, job market demand, and return on tuition investment. The average Pastoral Counseling graduate earns $31,976/yr across 22 schools.
All Pastoral Counseling Programs Ranked
Click any row for full AI scenario analysis, earnings projections, and career path breakdown.
| # | Program | DW Score | Earnings | AI Risk | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Pastoral Counseling
Grace Christian University · Wyoming, MI |
59
61–58 |
$48,916/yr | Moderate | 7.2x |
| 2 |
Pastoral Counseling
Life Pacific University · San Dimas, CA |
47
47–47 |
$37,436/yr | Moderate | 4.0x |
| 3 |
Pastoral Counseling
Moody Bible Institute · Chicago, IL |
47
48–48 |
$35,426/yr | Moderate | 6.1x |
| 4 |
Pastoral Counseling
Evangel University · Springfield, MO |
49
48–49 |
$41,357/yr | Moderate | 2.7x |
| 5 |
Pastoral Counseling
Lee University · Cleveland, TN |
45
44–45 |
$35,189/yr | Moderate | 3.8x |
| 6 |
Pastoral Counseling
Lubbock Christian University · Lubbock, TX |
47
46–46 |
$38,473/yr | Moderate | 2.5x |
| 7 |
Pastoral Counseling
Liberty University · Lynchburg, VA |
45
43–46 |
$34,083/yr | Moderate | 4.9x |
| 8 |
Pastoral Counseling
Southwestern Assemblies of God University · Waxahachie, TX |
42
41–43 |
$30,910/yr | Moderate | 4.2x |
| 9 |
Pastoral Counseling
Regent University · Virginia Beach, VA |
43
42–43 |
$33,407/yr | Moderate | 3.0x |
| 10 |
Pastoral Counseling
Taylor University · Upland, IN |
42
42–42 |
$37,035/yr | Moderate | 1.4x |
| 11 |
Pastoral Counseling
Lancaster Bible College · Lancaster, PA |
43
42–42 |
$35,286/yr | Moderate | 1.9x |
| 12 |
Pastoral Counseling
Southeastern University · Lakeland, FL |
42
42–42 |
$35,209/yr | Moderate | 1.8x |
| 13 |
Pastoral Counseling
Johnson University Florida · Kissimmee, FL |
41
40–40 |
$30,006/yr | Moderate | 2.8x |
| 14 |
Pastoral Counseling
Johnson University · Knoxville, TN |
40
39–40 |
$30,006/yr | Moderate | 2.7x |
| 15 |
Pastoral Counseling
Grace College and Theological Seminary · Winona Lake, IN |
36
33–39 |
$25,060/yr | Moderate | 3.2x |
| 16 |
Pastoral Counseling
North Central University · Minneapolis, MN |
37
35–38 |
$27,370/yr | Moderate | 2.8x |
| 17 |
Pastoral Counseling
Bethel University · Mishawaka, IN |
38
37–37 |
$31,046/yr | Moderate | 1.3x |
| 18 |
Pastoral Counseling
Crown College · Saint Bonifacius, MN |
36
34–37 |
$26,538/yr | Moderate | 2.5x |
| 19 |
Pastoral Counseling
Calvary University · Kansas City, MO |
38
37–38 |
$23,330/yr | Moderate | 3.3x |
| 20 |
Pastoral Counseling
John Brown University · Siloam Springs, AR |
35
35–35 |
$27,996/yr | Moderate | 1.3x |
| 21 |
Pastoral Counseling
Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion · Marion, IN |
32
30–33 |
$19,836/yr | Moderate | 1.8x |
| 22 |
Pastoral Counseling
Spring Arbor University · Spring Arbor, MI |
31
29–32 |
$19,557/yr | Moderate | 0.5x |
Methodology
Programs are ranked by DegreeWorth Score, which combines four equally weighted factors: graduate earnings (Year 1 after graduation), AI automation resilience (based on OpenAI and academic research), job market size (BLS annual openings), and earnings-to-tuition multiple (10-year projected earnings vs. 4-year tuition).
Earnings data comes from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, which reports actual median earnings of graduates — not self-reported surveys.