2026 Best Value Clinical Pastoral Counseling/Patient Counseling Schools
[Clinical Pastoral Counseling/Patient Counseling](/majors/health-care-professions/mental-social-health-services/clinical-pastoral-counseling-patient-counseling/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 27 schools to find the best return on investment for clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling students.
What’s on this page:
Finding the Best Value Clinical Pastoral Counseling/Patient Counseling School for You
The clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling program you select can have a big impact on your finances and your future. That is why we built our Best Value Clinical Pastoral Counseling/Patient Counseling Schools ranking. It weighs the cost of a degree against the outcomes graduates go on to achieve, so you can find the strongest return on your investment.
Read more about our methodology
Customizing Your List
We offer a number of rankings, including this Best Value Clinical Pastoral Counseling/Patient Counseling Schools list, to help you decide. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
See how we build our rankings
2026 Best Value Clinical Pastoral Counseling/Patient Counseling Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Clinical Pastoral Counseling/Patient Counseling Schools
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary tops our 2026 list of the best value clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling schools in the United States. Located in the suburb of Wake Forest, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,318. Clinical Pastoral Counseling/patient Counseling graduates of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary earn a median of $54,863 early in their careers. The acceptance rate is 75%.
A rank of #2 makes Pennsylvania Western University one of the best values for clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling. Located in the town of California, Pennsylvania Western University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $11,436, while out-of-state students pay about $16,054. Median earnings reach $47,295 ten years out. Pennsylvania Western University admits about 94% of applicants.
Virginia Commonwealth University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,720, compared with $39,884 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,813 to complete the clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling program here. Soon after graduation, clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling degree recipients from Virginia Commonwealth University generally make around $77,108. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Students looking for strong value in clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling will find it at Regent University, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Virginia Beach, Regent University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $21,650 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $29,451 to complete the clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling program here. Clinical Pastoral Counseling/patient Counseling graduates of Regent University earn a median of $41,047 early in their careers. Set against $29,451 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Regent University admits about 38% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling will find it at Houston Baptist University, which ranked #5. Houston Baptist University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Houston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $39,430. Clinical Pastoral Counseling/patient Counseling graduates carry a median of $25,601 in student loans. Clinical Pastoral Counseling/patient Counseling graduates of Houston Baptist University earn a median of $34,087 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,601 median debt. The acceptance rate is 84%.
La Salle University landed the #6 spot for clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling value this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, La Salle University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $37,800 in tuition and fees. Clinical Pastoral Counseling/patient Counseling graduates carry a median of $25,462 in student loans. Clinical Pastoral Counseling/patient Counseling graduates of La Salle University earn a median of $54,618 early in their careers. Set against $25,462 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Faulkner University came in at #7 for value in clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling this year. Located in the city of Montgomery, Faulkner University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $23,920 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling graduates is $29,942. Early-career clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling graduates make about $46,934. Set against $29,942 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
Trinity International University Illinois placed #8 among the best values for clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling. Set in the suburb of Deerfield, Trinity International University Illinois is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $12,320 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,892 to complete the clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling program here. Clinical Pastoral Counseling/patient Counseling graduates of Trinity International University Illinois earn a median of $41,182 early in their careers. Set against $26,892 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
Lancaster Bible College earned the #9 position for value in clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling this year. Set in the suburb of Lancaster, Lancaster Bible College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $29,990 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $28,507 to complete the clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling program here. Clinical Pastoral Counseling/patient Counseling graduates of Lancaster Bible College earn a median of $35,130 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,507 median debt. Roughly 56% of applicants are accepted.
Abilene Christian University came in at #10 for value in clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling this year. Abilene Christian University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Abilene. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $44,200. Clinical Pastoral Counseling/patient Counseling graduates carry a median of $23,772 in student loans. Soon after graduation, clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling degree recipients from Abilene Christian University generally make around $56,463. That is a strong return on a $23,772 median debt. Abilene Christian University admits about 66% of applicants.
Biola University placed #11 among the best values for clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling. Set in the suburb of La Mirada, Biola University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $48,984. Clinical Pastoral Counseling/patient Counseling graduates carry a median of $25,308 in student loans. Soon after graduation, clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling degree recipients from Biola University generally make around $45,003. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
George Washington University came in at #12 for value in clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling this year. George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,710. Typical student debt for clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling graduates is $22,910. Clinical Pastoral Counseling/patient Counseling graduates of George Washington University earn a median of $56,852 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 47%.
Fordham University came in at #13 for value in clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling this year. Fordham University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bronx. Students from in state pay about $64,470 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for clinical pastoral counseling/patient counseling graduates is $25,643. Clinical Pastoral Counseling/patient Counseling graduates of Fordham University earn a median of $48,341 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Fordham University admits about 59% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 27 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
