2026 Best Value Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries certificate degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 278 colleges by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Each school below is scored on factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
So you can compare your options, Course Advisor analyzed schools to produce this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
Our analysis found Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global to be the best-value Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries school in the United States. Set in Marion, IN, Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,648. The median Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries program debt is $26,338. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $59,986. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. See the full Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global profile
A rank of #2 makes Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary one of the best values in the United States. Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary is a private not-for-profit school based in Kansas City, MO. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,530. Students borrow a median of $15,559 to complete their Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries program here. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $50,535. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%. See the full Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary profile
A rank of #3 makes Moody Bible Institute one of the best values in the United States. Moody Bible Institute is a private not-for-profit school based in Chicago, IL. In-state tuition and fees average $15,786. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete their Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries program here. Median earnings reach $45,399 ten years out. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Moody Bible Institute has an acceptance rate of 83%. More on Moody Bible Institute
A rank of #4 makes Southeastern University one of the best values in the United States. Located in Lakeland, FL, Southeastern University is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $32,950. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete their Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $46,744 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 53%. More on Southeastern University
Martin Luther College came in at #5 on this year's best-value Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries ranking in the United States. Based in New Ulm, MN, Martin Luther College is a private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $18,120 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $20,224 to complete their Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $47,491 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $20,224 median debt. About 87% of those who apply are admitted. See the full Martin Luther College profile
Saint Josephs College Of Maine landed the #6 spot for value in the United States this year. Saint Josephs College Of Maine is a private not-for-profit school based in Standish, ME. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $44,420. Graduates carry a median of $26,625 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $59,045 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $26,625 median debt. The acceptance rate is 84%. More on Saint Josephs College Of Maine
Andrews University placed #7 among the best-value Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries schools in the United States. This private not-for-profit school is set in Berrien Springs, MI. In-state tuition and fees average $35,056. Andrews University Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries students take on a median of $26,314 in debt. Median earnings reach $53,187 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $26,314 median debt. Andrews University admits about 82% of applicants. See the full Andrews University profile
Union University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best-value Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries schools. Read the full report on Union University
Bethel College placed #9 among the best-value Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries schools in the United States. Get the full Bethel College report
La Salle University landed the #10 spot for value in the United States this year. More on La Salle University
Southern Adventist University placed #11 among the best-value Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries schools in the United States. Read more about Southern Adventist University
Chicago Theological Seminary placed #12 among the best-value Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries schools in the United States. Read the full report on Chicago Theological Seminary
Institute Of Lutheran Theology placed #13 among the best-value Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries schools in the United States. Read more about Institute Of Lutheran Theology
Presbyterian Theological Seminary In America offered strong value this year, earning the #14 position. Get the full Presbyterian Theological Seminary In America report
Dallas Theological Seminary placed #15 among the best-value Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries schools in the United States. Read more about Dallas Theological Seminary
Concordia University Ann Arbor landed the #16 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Concordia University Ann Arbor
Grace School Of Theology came in at #17 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Grace School Of Theology
Loyola Marymount University offered strong value this year, earning the #18 position. Read the full report on Loyola Marymount University
Howard Payne University came in at #19 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Howard Payne University report
Saint Ambrose University came in at #20 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Saint Ambrose University
Biola University
Biola University came in at #21 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Biola University
Southeastern Free Will Baptist Bible College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best-value Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries schools. More on Southeastern Free Will Baptist Bible College
Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary came in at #23 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary report
Indiana Wesleyan University placed #24 among the best-value Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries schools in the United States. Get the full Indiana Wesleyan University report
Northwest University offered strong value this year, earning the #25 position. More on Northwest University
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s value ranking:
Valley Forge Christian College ranked #26 on our 2026 list of the best-value Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries schools. Read more about Valley Forge Christian College
Bayamon Central University landed the #27 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Bayamon Central University
Naropa University came in at #28 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Naropa University
Asbury University landed the #29 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Asbury University profile
College Of Mount St Joseph offered strong value this year, earning the #30 position. More on College Of Mount St Joseph
Lenoir Rhyne University landed the #31 spot for value in the United States this year. Read more about Lenoir Rhyne University
Trinity International University Illinois ranked #32 on our 2026 list of the best-value Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries schools. Read the full report on Trinity International University Illinois
Louisiana College placed #33 among the best-value Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries schools in the United States. Read more about Louisiana College
Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary came in at #34 in this year's value ranking. Read the full report on Moravian College And Moravian Theological Seminary
North Greenville University ranked #35 on our 2026 list of the best-value Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries schools. More on North Greenville University
Neumann University came in at #36 in this year's value ranking. More on Neumann University
Anderson University Indiana came in at #37 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Anderson University Indiana
Walsh University
Walsh University landed the #38 spot for value in the United States this year. Get the full Walsh University report
Harding University landed the #39 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Harding University
Faith Evangelical College And Seminary placed #40 among the best-value Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries schools in the United States. More on Faith Evangelical College And Seminary
Dominican University landed the #41 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Dominican University
Truett Mcconnell College placed #42 among the best-value Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries schools in the United States. Read more about Truett Mcconnell College
Walla Walla University ranked #43 on our 2026 list of the best-value Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries schools. Read more about Walla Walla University
Geneva College
Geneva College offered strong value this year, earning the #44 position. Read more about Geneva College
Brigham Young University Provo offered strong value this year, earning the #45 position. See the full Brigham Young University Provo profile
Calvin Theological Seminary offered strong value this year, earning the #46 position. See the full Calvin Theological Seminary profile
Hartford Seminary offered strong value this year, earning the #47 position. More on Hartford Seminary
Grace College Of Divinity offered strong value this year, earning the #48 position. See the full Grace College Of Divinity profile
Tabor College
Tabor College landed the #49 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Tabor College
Hesston College
Hesston College came in at #50 in this year's value ranking. Read more about Hesston College
Related Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries Value Rankings
See value rankings for other degree levels:
- Best Value Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value Pastoral Counseling Specialized Ministries Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 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).