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2026 Best Value Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Schools in Illinois

[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.

For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 16 schools to find the best return on investment for pastoral counseling & specialized ministries students.

What’s on this page:

• Best Value Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Schools in Illinois

2026 Best Value Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Schools in Illinois

Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in pastoral counseling & specialized ministries, balancing cost against outcomes.

Best Value Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Schools

1

Moody Bible Institute
Chicago, IL

$15,786 In-State Tuition & Fees

$12,000 Avg Student Debt

$45,399 Median Earnings (10yr)

For return on investment in pastoral counseling & specialized ministries, no school beat Moody Bible Institute this year. Moody Bible Institute is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,786. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the pastoral counseling & specialized ministries program here. Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries graduates of Moody Bible Institute earn a median of $35,426 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.

2

Loyola University Chicago
Chicago, IL

$53,710 In-State Tuition & Fees

$23,521 Avg Student Debt

$71,530 Median Earnings (10yr)

Loyola University Chicago is a great value for students pursuing a degree in pastoral counseling & specialized ministries, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $53,710. Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries graduates carry a median of $23,521 in student loans. Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries graduates of Loyola University Chicago earn a median of $46,241 early in their careers. Set against $23,521 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Loyola University Chicago admits about 82% of applicants.

View All Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Rankings >

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 · 16 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.