2026 Best Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries Doctoral Degree Schools
Looking for the best Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries doctoral degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 278 institutions by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To arm you with the information you need, Course Advisor reviewed 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 Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Explore the leading schools below:
Leading the list is Hebrew Union College Jewish Institute Of Religion, our #1 Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries school in the United States. Set in New York, NY, Hebrew Union College Jewish Institute Of Religion is a private not-for-profit institution. Read the full report on Hebrew Union College Jewish Institute Of Religion
The Masters College And Seminary came in at #2 on this year's Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries ranking in the United States. Set in Santa Clarita, CA, The Masters College And Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution. About 67% of students finish within six years. Students from in state pay about $39,020 in tuition and fees. Graduates carry a median of $22,089 in student loans. Get the full The Masters College And Seminary report
A rank of #3 makes Northern Baptist Theological Seminary one of the top choices in the United States. This private not-for-profit school is set in Lisle, IL. Read more about Northern Baptist Theological Seminary
George Fox University came in at #4 on this year's Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries ranking in the United States. George Fox University is a private not-for-profit school based in Newberg, OR. About 72% of students finish within six years. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $41,320. Students borrow a median of $25,324 to complete their Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries program here. Read more about George Fox University
You'll be in good company at Brite Divinity School, which ranked #5 this year. Located in Fort Worth, TX, Brite Divinity School is a private not-for-profit institution. See the full Brite Divinity School profile
Mccormick Theological Seminary came in at #6 in this year's ranking. Mccormick Theological Seminary is a private not-for-profit school based in Chicago, IL. Read the full report on Mccormick Theological Seminary
Lutheran School Of Theology At Chicago did well this year, earning the #7 position. This private not-for-profit school is set in Chicago, IL. Read the full report on Lutheran School Of Theology At Chicago
Eastern University came in at #8 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Saint Davids, PA. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,400. The median Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries program debt is $28,584. Get the full Eastern University report
Westminster Theological Seminary placed #9 among Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries schools in the United States. Set in Glenside, PA, Westminster Theological Seminary is a private not-for-profit institution. More on Westminster Theological Seminary
Ashland University placed #10 among Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries schools in the United States. Set in Ashland, OH, Ashland University is a private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $31,210. Students borrow a median of $24,536 to complete their Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries program here. More on Ashland University
Trinity International University Illinois came in at #11 in this year's ranking. This private not-for-profit school is set in Deerfield, IL. Trinity International University Illinois graduates 46% of students within six years. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,320. The median Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries program debt is $26,892. Read more about Trinity International University Illinois
Freed Hardeman University landed the #12 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Freed Hardeman University
Arizona Christian University landed the #13 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Arizona Christian University
Central Christian College Of The Bible did well this year, earning the #14 position. Get the full Central Christian College Of The Bible report
Free Will Baptist Bible College placed #15 among Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries schools in the United States. Read more about Free Will Baptist Bible College
Mid South Christian College placed #16 among Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries schools in the United States. Read more about Mid South Christian College
Bethel College
Bethel College landed the #17 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Bethel College
Calvin College
Calvin College came in at #18 in this year's ranking. Read more about Calvin College
California Baptist University landed the #19 spot in the United States this year. More on California Baptist University
Concordia University Ann Arbor landed the #20 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Concordia University Ann Arbor report
Hope International University came in at #21 in this year's ranking. Get the full Hope International University report
Visible Music College came in at #22 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Visible Music College
Westmont College
Westmont College came in at #23 in this year's ranking. More on Westmont College
Winebrenner Theological Seminary placed #24 among Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries schools in the United States. Read more about Winebrenner Theological Seminary
Villanova University did well this year, earning the #25 position. Read more about Villanova University
Rest of the Top 50 Best Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Not far behind, these schools also made the top of the list:
Bridges Christian College did well this year, earning the #26 position. Get the full Bridges Christian College report
Mississippi College landed the #27 spot in the United States this year. More on Mississippi College
Saint Meinrad School Of Theology ranked #28 on our 2026 list of the best Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries schools. Read more about Saint Meinrad School Of Theology
Azusa Pacific University did well this year, earning the #29 position. More on Azusa Pacific University
Dordt College
Dordt College ranked #30 on our 2026 list of the best Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries schools. Get the full Dordt College report
Pacific Bible College ranked #31 on our 2026 list of the best Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries schools. More on Pacific Bible College
Dallas Baptist University landed the #32 spot in the United States this year. See the full Dallas Baptist University profile
Georgian Court University came in at #33 in this year's ranking. See the full Georgian Court University profile
Barry University
Barry University did well this year, earning the #34 position. See the full Barry University profile
Catholic Theological Union At Chicago did well this year, earning the #35 position. See the full Catholic Theological Union At Chicago profile
Huntington University did well this year, earning the #36 position. See the full Huntington University profile
Loyola University Baltimore ranked #37 on our 2026 list of the best Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries schools. Read the full report on Loyola University Baltimore
Bluefield College placed #38 among Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries schools in the United States. More on Bluefield College
Nazarene Bible College landed the #39 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Nazarene Bible College report
University Of St Thomas Texas did well this year, earning the #40 position. More on University Of St Thomas Texas
Anderson University Indiana came in at #41 in this year's ranking. Read more about Anderson University Indiana
Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary ranked #42 on our 2026 list of the best Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries schools. Read more about Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary
Great Northern University came in at #43 in this year's ranking. Get the full Great Northern University report
Truett Mcconnell College ranked #44 on our 2026 list of the best Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries schools. Read more about Truett Mcconnell College
Barclay College
Barclay College did well this year, earning the #45 position. Get the full Barclay College report
Tabor College
Tabor College came in at #46 in this year's ranking. See the full Tabor College profile
Capital University came in at #47 in this year's ranking. See the full Capital University profile
Carolina Christian College ranked #48 on our 2026 list of the best Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries schools. Read the full report on Carolina Christian College
Lancaster Bible College ranked #49 on our 2026 list of the best Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries schools. Get the full Lancaster Bible College report
Union University
Union University did well this year, earning the #50 position. Read more about Union University
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 Associate’s 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
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs 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).
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