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Best Schools for Pastoral Studies/Counseling in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall pastoral studies/counseling education in Illinois.
Top Schools in Pastoral Studies/Counseling
Moody Bible Institute is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in pastoral studies/counseling. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. The six-year graduation rate is 62%. There were roughly 34 pastoral studies/counseling students who graduated with this degree at Moody Bible Institute in the most recent data year. Students who receive their pastoral studies/counseling degree from Moody Bible Institute earn around $35,426 in the first couple years of their career. Moody Bible Institute graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans.
See the full pastoral studies/counseling program report for Moody Bible Institute
Loyola University Chicago came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best pastoral studies/counseling schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. About 75% of students finish within six years. About 66 pastoral studies/counseling degrees were awarded at Loyola University Chicago in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, pastoral studies/counseling degree recipients from Loyola University Chicago generally make around $46,241. Loyola University Chicago graduates carry a median of $23,521 in student loans.
Get the full pastoral studies/counseling details for Loyola University Chicago
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 11 schools evaluated.
- 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.
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