by our College Data Analytics Team
If you’re a veteran, service member, or military-affiliated student looking to study pastoral counseling and specialized ministries, you’ve come to the right place. This ranking highlights 28 programs that serve veteran pastoral counseling and specialized ministries students especially well, using our 2026 methodology.
Our ranking weighs the factors that matter most to veteran and military-affiliated students: affordability and veteran financial benefits (including GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon support), academic quality, on-campus veteran resources and support services, veteran-friendly policies, and the size of the veteran student community. To help you decide, College Factual analyzed colleges nationwide, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Want to compare schools head to head? Check out our College Combat to build custom comparisons on the factors you care about most.
Explore the best pastoral counseling and specialized ministries colleges for veterans at a specific degree level:
Explore the leading pastoral counseling and specialized ministries colleges for veterans below:
Leading the list is Regent University, our #1 pastoral counseling and specialized ministries college for veterans. It scores 79.2 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the pastoral counseling and specialized ministries program at Regent University
Veteran students seeking a strong pastoral counseling and specialized ministries program will find one at Liberty University, which ranked #2. Liberty University scores 76.7 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. Read more about pastoral counseling and specialized ministries at Liberty University
Biola University is a great choice for veterans pursuing pastoral counseling and specialized ministries, landing the #3 spot this year. Biola University scores 74.6 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 58.1, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. Read more about pastoral counseling and specialized ministries at Biola University
Bethel University is a great choice for veterans pursuing pastoral counseling and specialized ministries, landing the #4 spot this year. The school's overall veterans score is 74.1 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 63.2, and veteran resources 33.3. Read more about pastoral counseling and specialized ministries at Bethel University
A rank of #5 makes University of Northwestern-St Paul one of the top pastoral counseling and specialized ministries colleges for veteran students. The school's overall veterans score is 72.7 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 73.6, alongside a 33.3 veteran-support score.
See the full pastoral counseling and specialized ministries report for University of Northwestern-St Paul
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Oral Roberts University placed #6 among the best pastoral counseling and specialized ministries colleges for veterans. It scores 71.9 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 79.5, alongside a 66.7 veteran-support score. See the full pastoral counseling and specialized ministries report for Oral Roberts University
The Master's University and Seminary landed the #7 spot for veterans pursuing pastoral counseling and specialized ministries. The school's overall veterans score is 71.8 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 73.4, alongside a 33.3 veteran-support score. Read more about pastoral counseling and specialized ministries at The Master's University and Seminary
Grace Christian University came in at #8 for veteran pastoral counseling and specialized ministries students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 71.5 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, alongside a 33.3 veteran-support score. Read more about pastoral counseling and specialized ministries at Grace Christian University
Dallas Baptist University landed the #9 spot for veterans pursuing pastoral counseling and specialized ministries. The school's overall veterans score is 71.0 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 71.1, alongside a 33.3 veteran-support score. See the full pastoral counseling and specialized ministries report for Dallas Baptist University
Luther Rice College & Seminary placed #10 among the best pastoral counseling and specialized ministries colleges for veterans. It scores 70.1 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 33.3.
See the full pastoral counseling and specialized ministries report for Luther Rice College & Seminary
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Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best pastoral counseling and specialized ministries colleges for veterans. It scores 64.9 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 33.3. See the full pastoral counseling and specialized ministries report for Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Southeastern University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best pastoral counseling and specialized ministries colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 64.5 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 85.5, with a veteran-resources score of 66.7. More about the pastoral counseling and specialized ministries program at Southeastern University
Grace College and Theological Seminary placed #13 among the best pastoral counseling and specialized ministries colleges for veterans. It scores 64.0 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 90.3, and veteran resources 66.7. See the full pastoral counseling and specialized ministries report for Grace College and Theological Seminary
The King's University placed #14 among the best pastoral counseling and specialized ministries colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 63.3 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 33.3. More about the pastoral counseling and specialized ministries program at The King's University
Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best pastoral counseling and specialized ministries colleges for veterans. It scores 62.9 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 92.0, with a veteran-resources score of 33.3.
See the full pastoral counseling and specialized ministries report for Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion
15
Nelson University came in at #16 for veteran pastoral counseling and specialized ministries students this year. Nelson University scores 62.9 out of 100 for veteran support overall. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, and veteran resources 33.3. Read more about pastoral counseling and specialized ministries at Nelson University
North Central University placed #17 among the best pastoral counseling and specialized ministries colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 62.4 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 92.1, and veteran resources 33.3. See the full pastoral counseling and specialized ministries report for North Central University
Lee University came in at #18 for veteran pastoral counseling and specialized ministries students this year. It scores 61.5 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 33.3. More about the pastoral counseling and specialized ministries program at Lee University
Crown College landed the #19 spot for veterans pursuing pastoral counseling and specialized ministries. The school's overall veterans score is 61.0 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 89.8, and veteran resources 33.3. See the full pastoral counseling and specialized ministries report for Crown College
Lancaster Bible College came in at #20 for veteran pastoral counseling and specialized ministries students this year. Lancaster Bible College scores 61.0 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Its affordability for veterans scores 90.4, and veteran resources 0.0.
Read more about pastoral counseling and specialized ministries at Lancaster Bible College
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Colorado Christian University came in at #21 for veteran pastoral counseling and specialized ministries students this year. The school's overall veterans score is 59.9 out of 100. Its affordability for veterans scores 69.1, and veteran resources 33.3. More about the pastoral counseling and specialized ministries program at Colorado Christian University
Moody Bible Institute came in at #22 for veteran pastoral counseling and specialized ministries students this year. It scores 58.5 out of 100 for serving veteran and military students. Its affordability for veterans scores 100.0, and veteran resources 0.0. See the full pastoral counseling and specialized ministries report for Moody Bible Institute
Nazarene Bible College placed #23 among the best pastoral counseling and specialized ministries colleges for veterans. The school's overall veterans score is 56.4 out of 100. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 100.0, alongside a 0.0 veteran-support score. More about the pastoral counseling and specialized ministries program at Nazarene Bible College
Ozark Christian College landed the #24 spot for veterans pursuing pastoral counseling and specialized ministries. The school's overall veterans score is 53.3 out of 100. On veteran affordability it scores 100.0, with a veteran-resources score of 0.0. Read more about pastoral counseling and specialized ministries at Ozark Christian College
Abilene Christian University landed the #25 spot for veterans pursuing pastoral counseling and specialized ministries. Abilene Christian University scores 52.0 out of 100 for veteran support overall. Veteran affordability (GI Bill benefits, tuition support) scores 64.0, with a veteran-resources score of 33.3. See the full pastoral counseling and specialized ministries report for Abilene Christian University
These pastoral counseling and specialized ministries colleges also placed near the top this year:
*These averages are for the top 25 ranked colleges only.
Our ranking weighs the factors that matter most to veteran and military-affiliated students studying pastoral counseling and specialized ministries: affordability and veteran financial benefits (GI Bill, Yellow Ribbon), academic quality, on-campus veteran resources and support services, veteran-friendly policies, and the size of the veteran student community.
These rankings are produced by College Factual, 2026 edition.
References
More about our data sources and methodologies.
