2026 Best Value Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Schools in Texas

[Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries](/majors/theology-and-religious-vocations/pastoral-counseling-specialized-ministries/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong pastoral counseling & specialized ministries education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 22 schools to find the best return on investment for pastoral counseling & specialized ministries students.
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2026 Best Value Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Schools in Texas
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
Leading the list is University Of St Thomas Texas, our #1 best value for pastoral counseling & specialized ministries in Texas. Located in the city of Houston, University Of St Thomas Texas is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,634. Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries graduates carry a median of $23,628 in student loans. Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries graduates of University Of St Thomas Texas earn a median of $58,265 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Southwestern Assemblies Of God University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value pastoral counseling & specialized ministries schools. Set in the suburb of Waxahachie, Southwestern Assemblies Of God University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $25,064. Students borrow a median of $26,750 to complete the pastoral counseling & specialized ministries program here. Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries graduates of Southwestern Assemblies Of God University earn a median of $30,910 early in their careers. Set against $26,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Lubbock Christian University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value pastoral counseling & specialized ministries schools. Lubbock Christian University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lubbock. Students from in state pay about $28,540 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for pastoral counseling & specialized ministries graduates is $28,337. Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries graduates of Lubbock Christian University earn a median of $38,473 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,337 median debt. Lubbock Christian University admits about 73% of applicants.
Kings University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value pastoral counseling & specialized ministries schools. Kings University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Southlake. In-state tuition and fees average $12,480. Typical student debt for pastoral counseling & specialized ministries graduates is $48,998. Early-career pastoral counseling & specialized ministries graduates make about $40,888. Set against $48,998 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Kings University admits about 61% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes Abilene Christian University one of the best values for pastoral counseling & specialized ministries. Located in the city of Abilene, Abilene Christian University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $44,200. Students borrow a median of $23,772 to complete the pastoral counseling & specialized ministries program here. Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries graduates of Abilene Christian University earn a median of $56,463 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
Dallas Baptist University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value pastoral counseling & specialized ministries schools. Located in the city of Dallas, Dallas Baptist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,190. Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries graduates carry a median of $22,819 in student loans. Early-career pastoral counseling & specialized ministries graduates make about $40,502. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 89%.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 22 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.