2026 Best Value Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries](/majors/theology-and-religious-vocations/pastoral-counseling-specialized-ministries/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 39 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 The Plains States 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
Leading the list is Ozark Christian College, our #1 best value for pastoral counseling & specialized ministries in the The Plains States Region. Set in the city of Joplin, Ozark Christian College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,000. Students borrow a median of $23,500 to complete the pastoral counseling & specialized ministries program here. Soon after graduation, pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degree recipients from Ozark Christian College generally make around $26,422. Set against $23,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Ozark Christian College admits about 94% of applicants.
North Central University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in pastoral counseling & specialized ministries, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of Minneapolis, North Central University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $32,220. Typical student debt for pastoral counseling & specialized ministries graduates is $26,750. Soon after graduation, pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degree recipients from North Central University generally make around $27,370. Set against $26,750 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. North Central University admits about 99% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in pastoral counseling & specialized ministries will find it at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, which ranked #3. Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Kansas City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,530. Students borrow a median of $15,559 to complete the pastoral counseling & specialized ministries program here. Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries graduates of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary earn a median of $55,308 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Crown College earned it the #4 place for pastoral counseling & specialized ministries. Set in the rural area of Saint Bonifacius, Crown College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $31,410. Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career pastoral counseling & specialized ministries graduates make about $26,538. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Crown College admits about 23% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in pastoral counseling & specialized ministries will find it at Bethel University Minnesota, which ranked #5. Located in the suburb of Saint Paul, Bethel University Minnesota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $44,226. Typical student debt for pastoral counseling & specialized ministries graduates is $25,639. Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries graduates of Bethel University Minnesota earn a median of $45,641 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
University Of St Thomas Minnesota earned the #6 position for value in pastoral counseling & specialized ministries this year. University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Paul. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $54,398. Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries graduates carry a median of $23,923 in student loans. Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries graduates of University Of St Thomas Minnesota earn a median of $65,183 early in their careers. Set against $23,923 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 39 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.
