2026 Best Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries Associate’s Degree Schools
Looking for the best Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries associate’s degree programs in the United States? This list ranks 278 institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To help you make your decision, Course Advisor analyzed schools to produce this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these excellent schools below:
No school ranked higher than Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global this year in the United States. Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global is a private not-for-profit school based in Marion, IN. Students from in state pay about $9,648 in tuition and fees. Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries students take on a median of $26,338 in debt. More on Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global
Crown College came in at #2 on this year's Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries ranking in the United States. Crown College is a private not-for-profit school based in Saint Bonifacius, MN. The six-year graduation rate is 44%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $31,410. Crown College Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries students take on a median of $27,000 in debt. Read more about Crown College
Out of the 278 schools in the United States in this year's ranking, Ozark Christian College landed the #3 spot. Ozark Christian College is a private not-for-profit school based in Joplin, MO. Ozark Christian College graduates 58% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $16,000. Students borrow a median of $23,500 to complete their Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries program here. Read more about Ozark Christian College
A rank of #4 makes Valor Christian College one of the top choices in the United States. Based in Canal Winchester, OH, Valor Christian College is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,612. Valor Christian College Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries students take on a median of $17,635 in debt. Read more about Valor Christian College
A rank of #5 makes North Central University one of the top choices in the United States. Located in Minneapolis, MN, North Central University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $32,220. North Central University Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries students take on a median of $26,750 in debt. Read more about North Central University
Southwestern Assemblies Of God University landed the #6 spot in the United States this year. Located in Waxahachie, TX, Southwestern Assemblies Of God University is a private not-for-profit institution. Southwestern Assemblies Of God University graduates 36% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $25,064 in tuition and fees. Graduates carry a median of $26,750 in student loans. More on Southwestern Assemblies Of God University
Grace Bible College did well this year, earning the #7 position. Located in Wyoming, MI, Grace Bible College is a private not-for-profit institution. About 51% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $17,190. Typical Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries student debt is $30,118. More on Grace Bible College
Anderson University Indiana placed #8 among Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries schools in the United States. Get the full Anderson University Indiana report
Moody Bible Institute ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries schools. See the full Moody Bible Institute profile
Ohio Christian University did well this year, earning the #10 position. More on Ohio Christian University
Westminster Theological Seminary did well this year, earning the #11 position. More on Westminster Theological Seminary
Northwest Christian University did well this year, earning the #12 position. See the full Northwest Christian University profile
Howard Payne University landed the #13 spot in the United States this year. More on Howard Payne University
Bakke Graduate University did well this year, earning the #14 position. See the full Bakke Graduate University profile
Northwestern College Minnesota came in at #15 in this year's ranking. Get the full Northwestern College Minnesota report
Saint Vincent Seminary ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries schools. Read more about Saint Vincent Seminary
University Of Dayton placed #17 among Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries schools in the United States. Read the full report on University Of Dayton
University Of Saint Mary Of The Lake placed #18 among Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries schools in the United States. See the full University Of Saint Mary Of The Lake profile
Southwestern College landed the #19 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Southwestern College
Hampton University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries schools. Read the full report on Hampton University
Southern Adventist University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries schools. See the full Southern Adventist University profile
Trevecca Nazarene University placed #22 among Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries schools in the United States. Get the full Trevecca Nazarene University report
Union Bible College landed the #23 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Union Bible College
Eastern Mennonite University came in at #24 in this year's ranking. More on Eastern Mennonite University
Madonna University did well this year, earning the #25 position. Read the full report on Madonna University
Rest of the Top 50 Best Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries Associate’s Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s ranking:
Academy For Jewish Religion California ranked #26 on our 2026 list of the best Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries schools. More on Academy For Jewish Religion California
La Salle University came in at #27 in this year's ranking. Read more about La Salle University
Tabor College
Tabor College landed the #28 spot in the United States this year. See the full Tabor College profile
Gods Bible School And College came in at #29 in this year's ranking. Read more about Gods Bible School And College
Trinity Bible College ranked #30 on our 2026 list of the best Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries schools. Get the full Trinity Bible College report
University Of Fort Lauderdale ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries schools. Read the full report on University Of Fort Lauderdale
Vanguard University Of Southern California landed the #32 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Vanguard University Of Southern California report
Dordt College
Dordt College placed #33 among Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries schools in the United States. Read more about Dordt College
Midamerica Nazarene University landed the #34 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Midamerica Nazarene University
Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary did well this year, earning the #35 position. See the full Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary profile
College Of Mount St Joseph placed #36 among Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries schools in the United States. Read more about College Of Mount St Joseph
Drury University
Drury University ranked #37 on our 2026 list of the best Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries schools. Read more about Drury University
Barry University
Barry University came in at #38 in this year's ranking. See the full Barry University profile
New Brunswick Theological Seminary landed the #39 spot in the United States this year. Get the full New Brunswick Theological Seminary report
Andrews University did well this year, earning the #40 position. Read more about Andrews University
Rochester College placed #41 among Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries schools in the United States. More on Rochester College
Southern California Seminary placed #42 among Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries schools in the United States. More on Southern California Seminary
Ohio Northern University came in at #43 in this year's ranking. See the full Ohio Northern University profile
United Theological Seminary placed #44 among Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries schools in the United States. See the full United Theological Seminary profile
Luther Rice University And Seminary did well this year, earning the #45 position. Get the full Luther Rice University And Seminary report
Oak Hills Christian College did well this year, earning the #46 position. Get the full Oak Hills Christian College report
Iliff School Of Theology ranked #47 on our 2026 list of the best Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries schools. More on Iliff School Of Theology
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary ranked #48 on our 2026 list of the best Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries schools. See the full Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary profile
The Masters College And Seminary landed the #49 spot in the United States this year. Get the full The Masters College And Seminary report
University Of The West placed #50 among Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries schools in the United States. More on University Of The West
Related Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries Rankings
Compare rankings at other degree levels:
- Best Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries Schools (All Levels)
- Best Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Rankings consider a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 278 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).