2026 Best Value Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries](/majors/theology-and-religious-vocations/pastoral-counseling-specialized-ministries/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 61 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for pastoral counseling & specialized ministries students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Schools in the Great Lakes Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Schools
Our analysis ranked Andrews University the best value for a degree in pastoral counseling & specialized ministries in the Great Lakes Region. Andrews University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Berrien Springs. Students from in state pay about $35,056 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for pastoral counseling & specialized ministries graduates is $26,314. Early-career pastoral counseling & specialized ministries graduates make about $57,865. Set against $26,314 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global one of the best values for pastoral counseling & specialized ministries. Set in the rural area of Marion, Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,648. Typical student debt for pastoral counseling & specialized ministries graduates is $26,338. Early-career pastoral counseling & specialized ministries graduates make about $37,004. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Grace College And Theological Seminary is a great value for students pursuing a degree in pastoral counseling & specialized ministries, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the town of Winona Lake, Grace College And Theological Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $29,645. Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries graduates carry a median of $25,500 in student loans. Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries graduates of Grace College And Theological Seminary earn a median of $34,513 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,500 median debt. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in pastoral counseling & specialized ministries will find it at Bethel College Mishawaka, which ranked #4. Bethel College Mishawaka is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Mishawaka. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,600. Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries graduates carry a median of $23,319 in student loans. Soon after graduation, pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degree recipients from Bethel College Mishawaka generally make around $31,046. Set against $23,319 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Grace Bible College earned it the #5 place for pastoral counseling & specialized ministries. Located in the city of Wyoming, Grace Bible College is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $17,190. Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries graduates carry a median of $30,118 in student loans. Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries graduates of Grace Bible College earn a median of $41,219 early in their careers. Set against $30,118 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 99%.
Cornerstone University came in at #6 for value in pastoral counseling & specialized ministries this year. Located in the city of Grand Rapids, Cornerstone University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $23,000. Typical student debt for pastoral counseling & specialized ministries graduates is $29,243. Soon after graduation, pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degree recipients from Cornerstone University generally make around $44,501. Set against $29,243 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Indiana Wesleyan University placed #7 among the best values for pastoral counseling & specialized ministries. Located in the town of Marion, Indiana Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $32,352 in tuition and fees. Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries graduates carry a median of $24,221 in student loans. Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries graduates of Indiana Wesleyan University earn a median of $31,281 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Taylor University placed #8 among the best values for pastoral counseling & specialized ministries. Located in the rural area of Upland, Taylor University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $40,490. Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries graduates carry a median of $21,832 in student loans. Early-career pastoral counseling & specialized ministries graduates make about $37,035. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Taylor University admits about 74% of applicants.
Maranatha Baptist Bible College landed the #9 spot for pastoral counseling & specialized ministries value this year. Located in the town of Watertown, Maranatha Baptist Bible College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,550. Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries graduates of Maranatha Baptist Bible College earn a median of $56,298 early in their careers. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Calvin College ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value pastoral counseling & specialized ministries schools. Set in the city of Grand Rapids, Calvin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $39,350 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for pastoral counseling & specialized ministries graduates is $22,707. Early-career pastoral counseling & specialized ministries graduates make about $44,220. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Calvin College admits about 71% of applicants.
Moody Bible Institute placed #11 among the best values for pastoral counseling & specialized ministries. Moody Bible Institute is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $15,786. Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans. Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries graduates of Moody Bible Institute earn a median of $35,426 early in their careers. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Moody Bible Institute admits about 83% of applicants.
Valor Christian College landed the #12 spot for pastoral counseling & specialized ministries value this year. Set in the city of Canal Winchester, Valor Christian College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,612. Typical student debt for pastoral counseling & specialized ministries graduates is $17,635. Early-career pastoral counseling & specialized ministries graduates make about $29,571.
Loyola University Chicago came in at #13 for value in pastoral counseling & specialized ministries this year. Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Students from in state pay about $53,710 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for pastoral counseling & specialized ministries graduates is $23,521. Early-career pastoral counseling & specialized ministries graduates make about $46,241. That is a strong return on a $23,521 median debt. Loyola University Chicago admits about 82% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 61 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.
