2026 Best Value Pastoral Studies/Counseling Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Pastoral Studies/Counseling](/majors/theology-and-religious-vocations/pastoral-counseling-specialized-ministries/pastoral-studies-counseling/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 21 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 the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in pastoral studies/counseling, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Pastoral Studies/Counseling Schools
Ozark Christian College earned the #1 spot for value among pastoral studies/counseling schools in the The Plains States Region. Set in the city of Joplin, Ozark Christian College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,000. Typical student debt for pastoral studies/counseling graduates is $23,500. Soon after graduation, pastoral studies/counseling degree recipients from Ozark Christian College generally make around $26,422. That is a strong return on a $23,500 median debt. Ozark Christian College admits about 94% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in pastoral studies/counseling will find it at North Central University, which ranked #2. North Central University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Minneapolis. Students from in state pay about $32,220 in tuition and fees. Pastoral Studies/counseling graduates carry a median of $26,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, pastoral studies/counseling degree recipients from North Central University generally make around $27,370. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 99%.
A rank of #3 makes Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary one of the best values for pastoral studies/counseling. Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Kansas City. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,530. Students borrow a median of $15,559 to complete the pastoral studies/counseling program here. Pastoral Studies/counseling graduates of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary earn a median of $55,308 early in their careers. Set against $15,559 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Crown College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in pastoral studies/counseling, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the rural area of Saint Bonifacius, Crown College is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $31,410 in tuition and fees. Pastoral Studies/counseling graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, pastoral studies/counseling degree recipients from Crown College generally make around $26,538. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 23% of applicants are accepted.
Bethel University Minnesota is a great value for students pursuing a degree in pastoral studies/counseling, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Saint Paul, Bethel University Minnesota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $44,226. Typical student debt for pastoral studies/counseling graduates is $25,639. Pastoral Studies/counseling graduates of Bethel University Minnesota earn a median of $45,641 early in their careers. Set against $25,639 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Bethel University Minnesota admits about 88% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 21 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
