by our College Data Analytics Team
[Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries](/majors/theology-and-religious-vocations/pastoral-counseling-specialized-ministries/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
College Factual analyzed 41 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying pastoral counseling specialized ministries schools.
What’s on this page:
The right pastoral counseling specialized ministries school can pay off in your paycheck for years to come. That is why we built our Highest Paid Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries Graduates ranking. We rank each school on the early-career earnings of its pastoral counseling specialized ministries graduates to surface the highest-paying programs.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Highest Paid Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries Graduates list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Learn more about our methodology
Below are the schools whose pastoral counseling specialized ministries graduates go on to earn the most.
Our analysis ranked Eastern University the top school for pastoral counseling specialized ministries graduate earnings in the United States. Located in the suburb of Saint Davids, Eastern University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career pastoral counseling specialized ministries graduates from Eastern University make a median of around $51,838 per year.
Dallas Christian College produces some of the highest-paid graduates in pastoral counseling specialized ministries, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Dallas, Dallas Christian College is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the pastoral counseling specialized ministries program here go on to a median salary of roughly $51,166.
Andrews University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in pastoral counseling specialized ministries, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the town of Berrien Springs, Andrews University is a private not-for-profit institution. Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries graduates of Andrews University earn a median of about $57,865 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at Grace Bible College earned it the #4 place for pastoral counseling specialized ministries. Located in the city of Wyoming, Grace Bible College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career pastoral counseling specialized ministries graduates from Grace Bible College make a median of around $48,916 per year.
Vanguard University Of Southern California came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying pastoral counseling specialized ministries schools. Located in the city of Costa Mesa, Vanguard University Of Southern California is a private not-for-profit institution. Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries graduates of Vanguard University Of Southern California earn a median of about $47,152 a year early in their careers.
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Nazarene Bible College earned the #6 position for pastoral counseling specialized ministries graduate earnings this year. Nazarene Bible College is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Colorado Springs. Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries graduates of Nazarene Bible College earn a median of about $43,767 a year early in their careers.
Evangel University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying pastoral counseling specialized ministries schools. Set in the city of Springfield, Evangel University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, pastoral counseling specialized ministries degree recipients from Evangel University typically earn about $39,859 annually.
Bethel University Minnesota placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for pastoral counseling specialized ministries. Bethel University Minnesota is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Paul. Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries graduates of Bethel University Minnesota earn a median of about $48,662 a year early in their careers.
Liberty University landed the #9 spot for pastoral counseling specialized ministries salaries this year. Liberty University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lynchburg. Students who complete the pastoral counseling specialized ministries program here go on to a median salary of roughly $50,386.
Life Pacific College came in at #10 for pastoral counseling specialized ministries graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of San Dimas, Life Pacific College is a private not-for-profit institution. Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries graduates of Life Pacific College earn a median of about $40,556 a year early in their careers.
Moody Bible Institute ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying pastoral counseling specialized ministries schools. Moody Bible Institute is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Early-career pastoral counseling specialized ministries graduates from Moody Bible Institute make a median of around $43,388 per year.
Lubbock Christian University came in at #12 for pastoral counseling specialized ministries graduate earnings this year. Lubbock Christian University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lubbock. Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries graduates of Lubbock Christian University earn a median of about $38,473 a year early in their careers.
Lee University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying pastoral counseling specialized ministries schools. Lee University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Cleveland. Students who complete the pastoral counseling specialized ministries program here go on to a median salary of roughly $43,323.
Methodist Theological School In Ohio earned the #14 position for pastoral counseling specialized ministries graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Delaware, Methodist Theological School In Ohio is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the pastoral counseling specialized ministries program here go on to a median salary of roughly $47,271.
Geneva College earned the #15 position for pastoral counseling specialized ministries graduate earnings this year. Geneva College is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Beaver Falls. Students who complete the pastoral counseling specialized ministries program here go on to a median salary of roughly $38,032.
Denver Seminary earned the #16 position for pastoral counseling specialized ministries graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Littleton, Denver Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the pastoral counseling specialized ministries program here go on to a median salary of roughly $46,950.
Gordon College earned the #17 position for pastoral counseling specialized ministries graduate earnings this year. Located in the rural area of Wenham, Gordon College is a private not-for-profit institution. Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries graduates of Gordon College earn a median of about $37,771 a year early in their careers.
Northwestern College Minnesota placed #18 among the highest-paying schools for pastoral counseling specialized ministries. Located in the suburb of Saint Paul, Northwestern College Minnesota is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career pastoral counseling specialized ministries graduates from Northwestern College Minnesota make a median of around $37,525 per year.
The Masters College And Seminary placed #19 among the highest-paying schools for pastoral counseling specialized ministries. Set in the suburb of Santa Clarita, The Masters College And Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career pastoral counseling specialized ministries graduates from The Masters College And Seminary make a median of around $46,541 per year.
Taylor University landed the #20 spot for pastoral counseling specialized ministries salaries this year. Taylor University is a private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Upland. Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries graduates of Taylor University earn a median of about $37,035 a year early in their careers.
Loyola University Chicago ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying pastoral counseling specialized ministries schools. Located in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution. Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries graduates of Loyola University Chicago earn a median of about $46,241 a year early in their careers.
Valley Forge Christian College placed #22 among the highest-paying schools for pastoral counseling specialized ministries. Set in the suburb of Phoenixville, Valley Forge Christian College is a private not-for-profit institution. Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries graduates of Valley Forge Christian College earn a median of about $35,468 a year early in their careers.
Westminster Theological Seminary ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying pastoral counseling specialized ministries schools. Set in the suburb of Glenside, Westminster Theological Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, pastoral counseling specialized ministries degree recipients from Westminster Theological Seminary typically earn about $45,263 annually.
Southeastern University landed the #24 spot for pastoral counseling specialized ministries salaries this year. Set in the city of Lakeland, Southeastern University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, pastoral counseling specialized ministries degree recipients from Southeastern University typically earn about $35,209 annually.
Lancaster Bible College landed the #25 spot for pastoral counseling specialized ministries salaries this year. Lancaster Bible College is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Lancaster. Early-career pastoral counseling specialized ministries graduates from Lancaster Bible College make a median of around $34,930 per year.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid pastoral counseling specialized ministries ranking:
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This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries pastoral counseling specialized ministries graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 41 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.