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Most Popular Pastoral Specialized Ministries Schools

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2023 Most Popular Pastoral Specialized Ministries Schools

168 Colleges
$31,592 Avg Salary
$26,577 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries School for You

In 2020-2021, 1,624 people earned a degree or certificate in pastoral counseling and specialized ministries, making the major the #109 most popular in the United States.

There are so many programs in today's world that it can tough to figure out which one is the right one for you. You can choose a traditional brick and mortar school, or with the growth of online education, you can attend a school half-way across the country without even leaving your house. Also there are many trade schools that offer short-term programs that open up more career options.

To assist you in seeing some of the education options that are available to you, Grad Degree Search has created its Most Popular Pastoral Specialized Ministries Schools ranking. This report analyzed 168 schools in the United States to see which ones were the most popular programs for students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from the Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries program at each school on the list.

The colleges and universities below are the most popular for pastoral counseling majors pursuing a .

Our analysis found Gordon - Conwell Theological Seminary to be the most popular school for pastoral counseling and specialized ministries students who want to pursue a degree in the United States. Gordon - Conwell Seminary is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of South Hamilton.

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#2

Andrews University

Berrien Springs, MI

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Andrews University. It ranked #2 on our 2023 Most Popular Pastoral Specialized Ministries Schools list. Andrews is a small private not-for-profit school located in the fringe town of Berrien Springs.

Full Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries at Andrews University Report

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. The school came in at #3 on this year’s Most Popular Pastoral Specialized Ministries Schools list. NOBTS is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large city of New Orleans.

Full Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary Report

#4

Liberty University

Lynchburg, VA

The excellent programs at Liberty University helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best pastoral counseling and specialized ministries schools in the United States. Located in the small city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly large student population.

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You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend The Master’s University and Seminary. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Most Popular Pastoral Specialized Ministries Schools list. The Master's University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Santa Clarita.

Read full report on Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries at The Master’s University and Seminary

Westminster Theological Seminary ranked #6 on this year’s Most Popular Pastoral Specialized Ministries Schools list. Westminster Theological Seminary is a fairly small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Glenside.

Read full report on Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries at Westminster Theological Seminary

The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Pastoral Specialized Ministries Schools ranking. Located in the large city of Louisville, SBTS is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

Full Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Report

Dallas Theological Seminary did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for pastoral counseling and specialized ministries students. It came in at #8 on the list. Located in the city of Dallas, DTS Dallas is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

Read full report on Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries at Dallas Theological Seminary

#9

George Fox University

Newberg, OR

George Fox University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Pastoral Specialized Ministries Schools ranking. GFU is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Newberg.

Full Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries at George Fox University Report

Loyola University Chicago did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for pastoral counseling and specialized ministries students. It came in at #10 on the list. Loyola Chicago is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Chicago.

Full Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries at Loyola University Chicago Report

Dallas Baptist University landed the #11 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular pastoral counseling and specialized ministries programs. DBU is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Dallas.

Full Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries at Dallas Baptist University Report

#12

University of St. Thomas

Houston, TX

With a ranking of #12, University of St. Thomas did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for pastoral counseling and specialized ministries students. UST is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large city of Houston.

Read full report on Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries at University of St. Thomas

#13

Lancaster Bible College

Lancaster, PA

Lancaster Bible College ranked #13 on this year’s Most Popular Pastoral Specialized Ministries Schools list. Lancaster Bible College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Lancaster.

Full Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries at Lancaster Bible College Report

#14

Fordham University

Bronx, NY

Fordham University ranked #14 on this year’s Most Popular Pastoral Specialized Ministries Schools list. Fordham U is a fairly large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bronx.

Read full report on Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries at Fordham University

#14

Bethel University Minnesota

Saint Paul, MN

Bethel University Minnesota came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Pastoral Specialized Ministries Schools ranking. Located in the suburb of Saint Paul, Bethel University Minnesota is a private not-for-profit college with a small student population.

Full Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries at Bethel University Minnesota Report

#16

Olivet Nazarene University

Bourbonnais, IL

Olivet Nazarene University ranked #16 on this year’s Most Popular Pastoral Specialized Ministries Schools list. Olivet Nazarene is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Bourbonnais.

Full Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries at Olivet Nazarene University Report

Luther Rice College & Seminary came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Pastoral Specialized Ministries Schools ranking. Located in the large suburb of Lithonia, Luther Rice is a private not-for-profit school with a fairly small student population.

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#18

Seattle University

Seattle, WA

Seattle University ranked #18 on this year’s Most Popular Pastoral Specialized Ministries Schools list. Located in the city of Seattle, Seattle U is a private not-for-profit college with a moderately-sized student population.

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With a ranking of #19, McCormick Theological Seminary did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for pastoral counseling and specialized ministries students. McCormick Theological Seminary is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago.

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#19

World Mission University

Los Angeles, CA

World Mission University came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Pastoral Specialized Ministries Schools ranking. Located in the large city of Los Angeles, World Mission University is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

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With a ranking of #21, Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for pastoral counseling and specialized ministries students. Located in the city of Austin, Seminary of the Southwest is a private not-for-profit college with a fairly small student population.

Read full report on Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries at Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest

Trinity International University - Illinois came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular Pastoral Specialized Ministries Schools ranking. TIU Illinois is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large suburb of Deerfield.

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Northern Baptist Theological Seminary did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for pastoral counseling and specialized ministries students. It came in at #23 on the list. Located in the large suburb of Lisle, Northern Seminary is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

Full Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries at Northern Baptist Theological Seminary Report

Grace College and Theological Seminary did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for pastoral counseling and specialized ministries students. It came in at #23 on the list. Located in the distant town of Winona Lake, Grace College is a private not-for-profit school with a small student population.

Read full report on Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries at Grace College and Theological Seminary

#25

Bethel Seminary - San Diego

San Diego, CA

Bethel Seminary - San Diego did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for pastoral counseling and specialized ministries students. It came in at #25 on the list. Bethel Seminary - San Diego is a small private not-for-profit school located in the large city of San Diego.

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Honorable Mentions

Here are some additional popular schools for Pastoral Specialized Ministries students that almost earned our Most Popular Pastoral Specialized Ministries Schools award.

Rank College Location
26 Bakke Graduate University Dallas, TX
26 Indiana Wesleyan University Marion, IN
28 Garrett - Evangelical Theological Seminary Evanston, IL
29 Ashland University Ashland, OH
29 Abilene Christian University Abilene, TX
29 Charlotte Christian College and Theological Seminary Charlotte, NC
32 Southeastern University Lakeland, FL
32 Calvin Theological Seminary Grand Rapids, MI
32 Gardner - Webb University Boiling Springs, NC
32 Amridge University Montgomery, AL

Pastoral Counseling & Specialized Ministries by Region

View the Most Popular Pastoral Specialized Ministries Schools for a specific region near you.

Region
Southeast
New England
Rocky Mountains
Plains States
Middle Atlantic
Far Western US
Southwest
Great Lakes

One of 7 majors within the area of study, pastoral counseling and specialized ministries has other similar majors worth exploring.

Majors Similar to Pastoral Counseling

Related Major Annual Graduates
Theological & Ministerial Studies 12,534
Biblical Studies 1,052
Theology & Religious Vocations (Other) 777
Religious Education 687
Missionary Studies 423

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

  • 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 the rest 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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