2026 Best Value Counselor Education/School Counseling & Guidance Services Schools in Illinois
[Counselor Education/School Counseling & Guidance Services](/majors/education/student-counseling/counselor-education-school-counseling-and-guidance-services/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 17 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services students.
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2026 Best Value Counselor Education/School Counseling & Guidance Services Schools in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in counselor education/school counseling & guidance services, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Counselor Education/School Counseling & Guidance Services Schools
Leading the list is Western Illinois University, our #1 best value for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services in Illinois. Set in the town of Macomb, Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,572. Typical student debt for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates is $27,639. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates of Western Illinois University earn a median of $42,905 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 71%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Northern Illinois University earned it the #2 place for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services. Northern Illinois University is a large public school located in the suburb of Dekalb. In-state tuition and fees average $13,060. Students borrow a median of $25,209 to complete the counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program here. Early-career counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates make about $52,167. Set against $25,209 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 70%.
Northeastern Illinois University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in counselor education/school counseling & guidance services, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Northeastern Illinois University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $12,383 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,726. Students borrow a median of $17,600 to complete the counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program here. Early-career counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates make about $68,449. That is a strong return on a $17,600 median debt. Northeastern Illinois University admits about 75% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes Eastern Illinois University one of the best values for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services. Located in the town of Charleston, Eastern Illinois University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,377 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,859 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates is $24,293. Early-career counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates make about $45,390. Set against $24,293 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Eastern Illinois University admits about 65% of applicants.
Concordia University Chicago came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value counselor education/school counseling & guidance services schools. Located in the suburb of River Forest, Concordia University Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,488. Students borrow a median of $26,956 to complete the counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program here. Early-career counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates make about $74,696. Set against $26,956 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Lewis University landed the #6 spot for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services value this year. Lewis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Romeoville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $39,200. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates carry a median of $24,838 in student loans. Early-career counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates make about $56,337. That is a strong return on a $24,838 median debt. Lewis University admits about 71% of applicants.
Roosevelt University placed #7 among the best values for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services. Set in the city of Chicago, Roosevelt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,315. Students borrow a median of $23,879 to complete the counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program here. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates of Roosevelt University earn a median of $60,768 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,879 median debt. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Bradley University placed #8 among the best values for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services. Bradley University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Peoria. In-state tuition and fees average $42,160. Typical student debt for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates is $26,380. Soon after graduation, counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree recipients from Bradley University generally make around $57,401. That is a strong return on a $26,380 median debt. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Depaul University placed #9 among the best values for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services. Located in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,405. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates carry a median of $25,310 in student loans. Soon after graduation, counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree recipients from Depaul University generally make around $55,226. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
More Counselor Education/School Counseling & Guidance Services Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on 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 · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 ranked 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 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.
