2026 Best Value Counselor Education/School Counseling & Guidance Services Schools in Wisconsin

[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.
College Factual analyzed 11 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value counselor education/school counseling & guidance services schools.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Counselor Education/School Counseling & Guidance Services Schools in Wisconsin
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
University Of Wisconsin River Falls tops our 2026 list of the best value counselor education/school counseling & guidance services schools in Wisconsin. Located in the town of River Falls, University Of Wisconsin River Falls is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,008, while out-of-state students pay about $17,470. Students borrow a median of $24,245 to complete the counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program here. Soon after graduation, counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin River Falls generally make around $55,454. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Students looking for strong value in counselor education/school counseling & guidance services will find it at University Of Wisconsin Superior, which ranked #2. Located in the suburb of Superior, University Of Wisconsin Superior is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,812, with out-of-state students paying around $16,726. Students borrow a median of $27,845 to complete the counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program here. Early-career counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates make about $50,655. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Students looking for strong value in counselor education/school counseling & guidance services will find it at University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh, which ranked #3. University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh is a large public school located in the city of Oshkosh. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,532, while out-of-state students pay about $16,446. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates carry a median of $24,619 in student loans. Soon after graduation, counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh generally make around $46,263. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Wisconsin Whitewater earned it the #4 place for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services. Set in the town of Whitewater, University Of Wisconsin Whitewater is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,616, compared with $18,716 for out-of-state students. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates carry a median of $25,306 in student loans. Early-career counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates make about $49,958. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Students looking for strong value in counselor education/school counseling & guidance services will find it at Lakeland College, which ranked #5. Located in the rural area of Plymouth, Lakeland College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $33,396 in tuition and fees. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates carry a median of $29,722 in student loans. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates of Lakeland College earn a median of $49,989 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Concordia University Wisconsin earned the #6 position for value in counselor education/school counseling & guidance services this year. Located in the suburb of Mequon, Concordia University Wisconsin is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $35,470. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates carry a median of $27,172 in student loans. Early-career counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates make about $52,538. Set against $27,172 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Concordia University Wisconsin admits about 78% of applicants.
Marquette University came in at #7 for value in counselor education/school counseling & guidance services this year. Located in the city of Milwaukee, Marquette University is a large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $51,170. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates carry a median of $24,122 in student loans. Soon after graduation, counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree recipients from Marquette University generally make around $60,443. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 81%.
More Counselor Education/School Counseling & Guidance Services Rankings
View All Counselor Education/School Counseling & Guidance Services Rankings >
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 · 11 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.