2026 Best Value Counselor Education/School Counseling & Guidance Services Schools in South Carolina
[Counselor Education/School Counseling & Guidance Services](/majors/education/student-counseling/counselor-education-school-counseling-and-guidance-services/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 5 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value counselor education/school counseling & guidance services schools.
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2026 Best Value Counselor Education/School Counseling & Guidance Services Schools in South Carolina
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Counselor Education/School Counseling & Guidance Services Schools
For return on investment in counselor education/school counseling & guidance services, no school beat Winthrop University this year. Winthrop University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Rock Hill. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,678, while out-of-state students pay about $28,676. Students borrow a median of $27,040 to complete the counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program here. Soon after graduation, counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree recipients from Winthrop University generally make around $45,644. That is a strong return on a $27,040 median debt. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
Citadel Military College Of South Carolina came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value counselor education/school counseling & guidance services schools. Set in the city of Charleston, Citadel Military College Of South Carolina is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,570 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $38,508. Students borrow a median of $24,305 to complete the counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program here. Soon after graduation, counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree recipients from Citadel Military College Of South Carolina generally make around $52,909. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Citadel Military College Of South Carolina admits about 23% of applicants.
Clemson University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in counselor education/school counseling & guidance services, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Clemson, Clemson University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,554, with out-of-state students paying around $40,866. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates carry a median of $23,783 in student loans. Early-career counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates make about $48,353. Set against $23,783 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of South Carolina Columbia earned it the #4 place for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services. University Of South Carolina Columbia is a very large public school located in the city of Columbia. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,688, with out-of-state students paying around $36,298. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates carry a median of $24,472 in student loans. Early-career counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates make about $42,686. Set against $24,472 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 5 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
