2026 Best Value Pastoral Studies/Counseling Schools in Texas
[Pastoral Studies/Counseling](/majors/theology-and-religious-vocations/pastoral-counseling-specialized-ministries/pastoral-studies-counseling/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 11 schools to find the best return on investment for pastoral studies/counseling students.
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2026 Best Value Pastoral Studies/Counseling Schools in Texas
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in pastoral studies/counseling, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Pastoral Studies/Counseling Schools
Our analysis ranked University Of St Thomas Texas the best value for a degree in pastoral studies/counseling in Texas. Located in the city of Houston, University Of St Thomas Texas is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $34,634 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for pastoral studies/counseling graduates is $23,628. Early-career pastoral studies/counseling graduates make about $58,265. That is a strong return on a $23,628 median debt. University Of St Thomas Texas admits about 90% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Southwestern Assemblies Of God University earned it the #2 place for pastoral studies/counseling. Located in the suburb of Waxahachie, Southwestern Assemblies Of God University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $25,064. Students borrow a median of $26,750 to complete the pastoral studies/counseling program here. Soon after graduation, pastoral studies/counseling degree recipients from Southwestern Assemblies Of God University generally make around $37,774. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes Kings University one of the best values for pastoral studies/counseling. Kings University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Southlake. In-state tuition and fees average $12,480. Students borrow a median of $48,998 to complete the pastoral studies/counseling program here. Early-career pastoral studies/counseling graduates make about $40,888. That is a strong return on a $48,998 median debt. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 11 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 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.
