Best Pastoral Counseling Schools by Graduate Salary & ROI (2026)
22 schools ranked by DegreeOutlook Score · Updated 2026
These are the top schools offering Pastoral Counseling, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score. The score combines graduate earnings, AI automation resilience, job market demand, and return on tuition investment. The average Pastoral Counseling graduate earns $31,976/yr across 22 schools.
What do Pastoral Counseling graduates do? See career paths and salaries →
Programs Ranked
22
Avg Earnings
$31,976/yr
Avg DW Score
26/100
AI Risk
Moderate
34% task exposure
All Pastoral Counseling Programs Ranked
Click any row for full AI scenario analysis, earnings projections, and career path breakdown.
| # | School | DW Score | Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Grace Christian University
Wyoming, MI · Private nonprofit |
45
45–45 |
$48,916/yr | 7.2x |
| 2 |
Lubbock Christian University
Lubbock, TX · Private nonprofit |
33
37–34 |
$38,473/yr | 2.5x |
| 3 |
Evangel University
Springfield, MO · Private nonprofit |
32
34–32 |
$41,357/yr | 2.7x |
| 4 |
Moody Bible Institute
Chicago, IL · Private nonprofit |
31
37–32 |
$35,426/yr | 6.1x |
| 5 |
Liberty University
Lynchburg, VA · Private nonprofit |
31
37–31 |
$34,083/yr | 4.9x |
| 6 |
Life Pacific University
San Dimas, CA · Private nonprofit |
30
35–31 |
$37,436/yr | 4.0x |
| 7 |
Taylor University
Upland, IN · Private nonprofit |
30
35–31 |
$37,035/yr | 1.4x |
| 8 |
Southeastern University
Lakeland, FL · Private nonprofit |
29
34–29 |
$35,209/yr | 1.8x |
| 9 |
Lee University
Cleveland, TN · Private nonprofit |
28
34–29 |
$35,189/yr | 3.8x |
| 10 |
Johnson University Florida
Kissimmee, FL · Private nonprofit |
25
33–26 |
$30,006/yr | 2.8x |
| 11 |
Johnson University
Knoxville, TN · Private nonprofit |
25
33–26 |
$30,006/yr | 2.7x |
| 12 |
Lancaster Bible College
Lancaster, PA · Private nonprofit |
24
30–25 |
$35,286/yr | 1.9x |
| 13 |
Regent University
Virginia Beach, VA · Private nonprofit |
24
31–25 |
$33,407/yr | 3.0x |
| 14 |
Bethel University
Mishawaka, IN · Private nonprofit |
23
31–24 |
$31,046/yr | 1.3x |
| 15 |
Southwestern Assemblies of God University
Waxahachie, TX · Private nonprofit |
23
31–24 |
$30,910/yr | 4.2x |
| 16 |
Calvary University
Kansas City, MO · Private nonprofit |
22
28–23 |
$23,330/yr | 3.3x |
| 17 |
John Brown University
Siloam Springs, AR · Private nonprofit |
21
29–22 |
$27,996/yr | 1.3x |
| 18 |
Grace College and Theological Seminary
Winona Lake, IN · Private nonprofit |
20
27–21 |
$25,060/yr | 3.2x |
| 19 |
North Central University
Minneapolis, MN · Private nonprofit |
19
27–20 |
$27,370/yr | 2.8x |
| 20 |
Spring Arbor University
Spring Arbor, MI · Private nonprofit |
18
20–18 |
$19,557/yr | 0.5x |
| 21 |
Crown College
Saint Bonifacius, MN · Private nonprofit |
18
26–19 |
$26,538/yr | 2.5x |
| 22 |
Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion
Marion, IN · Private nonprofit |
15
17–15 |
$19,836/yr | 1.8x |
Scores calculated using College Scorecard, BLS, and AI task-exposure data. See full methodology →
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best school for Pastoral Counseling?
Based on our DegreeOutlook Score, Grace Christian University ranks #1 for Pastoral Counseling with a score of 45/100 and graduate earnings of $48,916/yr.
How much do Pastoral Counseling graduates earn?
Across 22 schools, Pastoral Counseling graduates earn an average of $31,976/yr in their first year. The highest-earning program reports $48,916/yr.
Is Pastoral Counseling a good major for AI resistance?
Pastoral Counseling has an average AI task exposure of 34%, rated "Moderate". This field has moderate AI exposure — some career paths are more resilient than others.