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Best Schools for Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries in the Southwest Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall pastoral counseling & specialized ministries education in the Southwest Region.
Top Schools in Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries
Abilene Christian University tops our 2026 ranking of the best pastoral counseling & specialized ministries schools. Abilene Christian University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Abilene. Abilene Christian University graduates 59% of students within six years. There were roughly 29 pastoral counseling & specialized ministries students who graduated with this degree at Abilene Christian University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degree recipients from Abilene Christian University generally make around $56,463. Students borrow a median of $23,772 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in pastoral counseling & specialized ministries from Abilene Christian University
Lubbock Christian University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in pastoral counseling & specialized ministries, landing the #2 spot this year. Lubbock Christian University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lubbock. Lubbock Christian University graduates 51% of students within six years. About 10 pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degrees were awarded at Lubbock Christian University in the most recent year. Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries graduates of Lubbock Christian University earn a median of $38,473 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $28,337.
Read more about the pastoral counseling & specialized ministries program at Lubbock Christian University
University Of St Thomas Texas is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in pastoral counseling & specialized ministries, landing the #3 spot this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Houston. University Of St Thomas Texas graduates 69% of students within six years. About 47 pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degrees were awarded at University Of St Thomas Texas in the most recent year. Graduates of the pastoral counseling & specialized ministries program make about $58,265 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,628.
See the full pastoral counseling & specialized ministries program report for University Of St Thomas Texas
Dallas Theological Seminary came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best pastoral counseling & specialized ministries schools. Dallas Theological Seminary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Dallas. There were roughly 56 pastoral counseling & specialized ministries students who graduated with this degree at Dallas Theological Seminary in the most recent data year. Students who receive their pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degree from Dallas Theological Seminary earn around $45,207 in the first couple years of their career.
More information about a degree in pastoral counseling & specialized ministries from Dallas Theological Seminary
Southwestern Assemblies Of God University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best pastoral counseling & specialized ministries schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Waxahachie. Southwestern Assemblies Of God University graduates 36% of students within six years. Southwestern Assemblies Of God University awarded about 54 pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the pastoral counseling & specialized ministries program make about $30,910 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,750 to complete this degree.
See the full pastoral counseling & specialized ministries program report for Southwestern Assemblies Of God University
Dallas Baptist University placed #6 among the best pastoral counseling & specialized ministries schools. Located in the city of Dallas, Dallas Baptist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 58% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 44 pastoral counseling & specialized ministries students who graduated with this degree at Dallas Baptist University in the most recent data year. Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries graduates of Dallas Baptist University earn a median of $40,502 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,819 to complete this degree.
See the full pastoral counseling & specialized ministries program report for Dallas Baptist University
Oral Roberts University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best pastoral counseling & specialized ministries schools. Set in the city of Tulsa, Oral Roberts University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 12 pastoral counseling & specialized ministries students who graduated with this degree at Oral Roberts University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degree from Oral Roberts University earn around $41,180 in the first couple years of their career. Oral Roberts University graduates carry a median of $37,000 in student loans.
Get the full pastoral counseling & specialized ministries details for Oral Roberts University
Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best pastoral counseling & specialized ministries schools. Located in the city of Austin, Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary is a small private not-for-profit university. About 12 pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degrees were awarded at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary in the most recent year. Students who receive their pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degree from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary earn around $56,922 in the first couple years of their career.
More information about a degree in pastoral counseling & specialized ministries from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary
Kings University earned the #9 position for pastoral counseling & specialized ministries this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Southlake. Roughly 33% of students complete a degree within six years here. Kings University awarded about 14 pastoral counseling & specialized ministries degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the pastoral counseling & specialized ministries program make about $40,888 in their early career. Kings University graduates carry a median of $48,998 in student loans.
Get the full pastoral counseling & specialized ministries details for Kings University
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 31 schools evaluated.
- 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.
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