by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking to study pastoral studies/counseling, you’ve come to the right place. This ranking highlights 19 programs ranked on how well they support veterans pursuing pastoral studies/counseling, using our 2026 methodology.
Our ranking weighs the factors that matter most to veteran and military-affiliated students: affordability and veteran financial benefits (including GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon support), academic quality, on-campus veteran resources and support services, veteran-friendly policies, and the size of the veteran student community. So you can compare your options, College Factual reviewed colleges nationwide, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ready to build your own comparison? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Narrow this ranking to a degree level below:
Here are the top-ranked pastoral studies/counseling colleges for veterans:
Our analysis ranked Liberty University the #1 college for veteran and military-affiliated students pursuing a degree in pastoral studies/counseling. The school's overall veterans score is 76.7 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full pastoral studies/counseling report for Liberty University
Biola University is a great choice for veterans pursuing pastoral studies/counseling, landing the #2 spot this year. It scores 74.6 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 58.1, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full pastoral studies/counseling report for Biola University
A rank of #3 makes Bethel University one of the top pastoral studies/counseling colleges for veteran students. Bethel University scores 74.1 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 63.2, and veteran resources 33.3. More about the pastoral studies/counseling program at Bethel University
Veteran students seeking a strong pastoral studies/counseling program will find one at Oral Roberts University, which ranked #4. The school's overall veterans score is 71.9 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 79.5, and veteran resources 66.7. More about the pastoral studies/counseling program at Oral Roberts University
Veteran students seeking a strong pastoral studies/counseling program will find one at The Master's University and Seminary, which ranked #5. The school's overall veterans score is 71.8 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 73.4, alongside a 33.3 veteran-support score.
Read more about pastoral studies/counseling at The Master's University and Seminary
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Luther Rice College & Seminary came in at #6 for veteran pastoral studies/counseling students this year. Luther Rice College & Seminary scores 70.1 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 33.3. More about the pastoral studies/counseling program at Luther Rice College & Seminary
Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary placed #7 among the best pastoral studies/counseling colleges for veterans. Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary scores 64.9 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 33.3. More about the pastoral studies/counseling program at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Southeastern University came in at #8 for veteran pastoral studies/counseling students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 64.5 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 85.5, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. Read more about pastoral studies/counseling at Southeastern University
Grace College and Theological Seminary came in at #9 for veteran pastoral studies/counseling students this year. Grace College and Theological Seminary scores 64.0 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 90.3, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. More about the pastoral studies/counseling program at Grace College and Theological Seminary
The King's University placed #10 among the best pastoral studies/counseling colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 63.3 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 33.3.
See the full pastoral studies/counseling report for The King's University
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Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best pastoral studies/counseling colleges for veterans. Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion scores 62.9 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 92.0, and veteran resources 33.3. See the full pastoral studies/counseling report for Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion
North Central University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best pastoral studies/counseling colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 62.4 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 92.1, and veteran resources 33.3. Read more about pastoral studies/counseling at North Central University
Lee University landed the #13 spot for veterans pursuing pastoral studies/counseling. Lee University scores 61.5 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 33.3. See the full pastoral studies/counseling report for Lee University
Lancaster Bible College landed the #14 spot for veterans pursuing pastoral studies/counseling. Lancaster Bible College scores 61.0 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 90.4, with a veteran-resources score of 0.0. More about the pastoral studies/counseling program at Lancaster Bible College
Moody Bible Institute ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best pastoral studies/counseling colleges for veterans. Moody Bible Institute scores 58.5 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 0.0.
Read more about pastoral studies/counseling at Moody Bible Institute
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Ozark Christian College placed #16 among the best pastoral studies/counseling colleges for veterans. Ozark Christian College scores 53.3 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 0.0. More about the pastoral studies/counseling program at Ozark Christian College
Valor Christian College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best pastoral studies/counseling colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 52.0 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, alongside a 0.0 veteran-support score. See the full pastoral studies/counseling report for Valor Christian College
Life Pacific University came in at #18 for veteran pastoral studies/counseling students this year. Life Pacific University scores 51.9 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 0.0. More about the pastoral studies/counseling program at Life Pacific University
Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global landed the #19 spot for veterans pursuing pastoral studies/counseling. The school's overall veterans score is 50.1 out of 100. Read more about pastoral studies/counseling at Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
Our ranking weighs the factors that matter most to veteran and military-affiliated students studying pastoral studies/counseling: affordability and veteran financial benefits (GI Bill, Yellow Ribbon), academic quality, on-campus veteran resources and support services, veteran-friendly policies, and the size of the veteran student community.
These rankings are produced by College Factual, 2026 edition.
References
More about our data sources and methodologies.
