2026 Best Value Counselor Education/School Counseling & Guidance Services Schools in the Southwest Region
[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. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong counselor education/school counseling & guidance services education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 54 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 the Southwest Region
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
Texas A And M International University tops our 2026 list of the best value counselor education/school counseling & guidance services schools in the Southwest Region. Texas A And M International University is a large public school located in the city of Laredo. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,894, while out-of-state students pay about $19,454. Typical student debt for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates is $15,095. Soon after graduation, counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree recipients from Texas A And M International University generally make around $54,867. That is a strong return on a $15,095 median debt. The acceptance rate is 44%.
Students looking for strong value in counselor education/school counseling & guidance services will find it at Southeastern Oklahoma State University, which ranked #2. Located in the town of Durant, Southeastern Oklahoma State University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,200, with out-of-state students paying around $16,410. Typical student debt for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates is $18,660. Soon after graduation, counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree recipients from Southeastern Oklahoma State University generally make around $57,536. That is a strong return on a $18,660 median debt. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Students looking for strong value in counselor education/school counseling & guidance services will find it at The University Of Texas Pan American, which ranked #3. The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public school located in the city of Edinburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,799, while out-of-state students pay about $19,645. Typical student debt for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates is $14,694. Soon after graduation, counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree recipients from The University Of Texas Pan American generally make around $57,345. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Western New Mexico University earned it the #4 place for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services. Located in the town of Silver City, Western New Mexico University is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,855, with out-of-state students paying around $14,341. Students borrow a median of $27,425 to complete the counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program here. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates of Western New Mexico University earn a median of $48,366 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,425 median debt.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Houston Clear Lake one of the best values for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services. Located in the city of Houston, University Of Houston Clear Lake is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,346, while out-of-state students pay about $22,290. Students borrow a median of $21,100 to complete the counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program here. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates of University Of Houston Clear Lake earn a median of $51,252 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Houston Clear Lake admits about 90% of applicants.
East Central University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value counselor education/school counseling & guidance services schools. Located in the town of Ada, East Central University is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $8,032 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $17,842. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates carry a median of $21,840 in student loans. Early-career counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates make about $51,442. That is a strong return on a $21,840 median debt. The acceptance rate is 58%.
Sul Ross State University landed the #7 spot for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services value this year. Sul Ross State University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Alpine. In-state tuition and fees average $7,592, with out-of-state students paying around $17,672. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates carry a median of $18,951 in student loans. Soon after graduation, counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree recipients from Sul Ross State University generally make around $44,296. That is a strong return on a $18,951 median debt. The acceptance rate is 99%.
Texas A And M University Commerce placed #8 among the best values for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services. Located in the town of Commerce, Texas A And M University Commerce is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,026 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,326. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates carry a median of $23,796 in student loans. Soon after graduation, counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree recipients from Texas A And M University Commerce generally make around $45,667. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Arizona State University placed #9 among the best values for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services. Arizona State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,223, compared with $33,139 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,842 to complete the counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program here. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates of Arizona State University earn a median of $52,692 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Arizona State University admits about 90% of applicants.
Angelo State University placed #10 among the best values for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services. Set in the city of San Angelo, Angelo State University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,460, compared with $18,300 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates is $21,237. Early-career counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates make about $57,529. That is a strong return on a $21,237 median debt. The acceptance rate is 83%.
University Of Houston earned the #11 position for value in counselor education/school counseling & guidance services this year. University Of Houston is a very large public school located in the city of Houston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,717, while out-of-state students pay about $22,547. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates carry a median of $21,255 in student loans. Early-career counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates make about $43,720. Set against $21,255 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Texas earned the #12 position for value in counselor education/school counseling & guidance services this year. Set in the city of Denton, University Of North Texas is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,309, compared with $21,149 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,817 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 North Texas generally make around $48,567. Set against $21,817 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Northern Arizona University placed #13 among the best values for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services. Located in the city of Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,619 in tuition and fees, compared with $20,044 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates is $21,645. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates of Northern Arizona University earn a median of $50,832 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,645 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Oklahoma State University Main Campus came in at #14 for value in counselor education/school counseling & guidance services this year. Located in the town of Stillwater, Oklahoma State University Main Campus is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,110, with out-of-state students paying around $25,630. Typical student debt for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates is $22,337. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates of Oklahoma State University Main Campus earn a median of $48,685 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
New Mexico Highlands University earned the #15 position for value in counselor education/school counseling & guidance services this year. New Mexico Highlands University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Las Vegas. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,416, with out-of-state students paying around $12,336. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates carry a median of $18,900 in student loans. Early-career counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates make about $48,494. That is a strong return on a $18,900 median debt.
Sam Houston State University earned the #16 position for value in counselor education/school counseling & guidance services this year. Located in the town of Huntsville, Sam Houston State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,228, with out-of-state students paying around $19,068. Typical student debt for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates is $24,850. Early-career counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates make about $46,365. Set against $24,850 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
University Of New Mexico Main Campus placed #17 among the best values for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services. Located in the city of Albuquerque, University Of New Mexico Main Campus is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,140 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $33,060. Typical student debt for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates is $19,738. Soon after graduation, counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree recipients from University Of New Mexico Main Campus generally make around $49,015. That is a strong return on a $19,738 median debt. University Of New Mexico Main Campus admits about 95% of applicants.
University Of Central Oklahoma ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value counselor education/school counseling & guidance services schools. Set in the suburb of Edmond, University Of Central Oklahoma is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,818, while out-of-state students pay about $19,704. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates carry a median of $23,321 in student loans. Soon after graduation, counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree recipients from University Of Central Oklahoma generally make around $51,218. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Texas Tech University placed #19 among the best values for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services. Texas Tech University is a very large public school located in the city of Lubbock. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,852, compared with $24,157 for out-of-state students. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates carry a median of $24,271 in student loans. Soon after graduation, counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree recipients from Texas Tech University generally make around $43,346. That is a strong return on a $24,271 median debt. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
University Of The Southwest came in at #20 for value in counselor education/school counseling & guidance services this year. Set in the town of Hobbs, University Of The Southwest is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $16,670 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,162 to complete the counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program here. Early-career counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates make about $54,966. That is a strong return on a $26,162 median debt.
Texas Southern University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best value counselor education/school counseling & guidance services schools. Texas Southern University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Houston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,637, while out-of-state students pay about $21,473. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates carry a median of $35,330 in student loans. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates of Texas Southern University earn a median of $41,890 early in their careers. Set against $35,330 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
North American University placed #22 among the best values for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services. North American University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Stafford. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,436.
West Texas A And M University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best value counselor education/school counseling & guidance services schools. Located in the town of Canyon, West Texas A And M University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,101, compared with $10,996 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates is $22,333. Early-career counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates make about $43,515. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
Prescott College landed the #24 spot for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services value this year. Set in the city of Prescott, Prescott College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,490. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates carry a median of $27,230 in student loans. Soon after graduation, counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree recipients from Prescott College generally make around $42,966. That is a strong return on a $27,230 median debt. Prescott College admits about 94% of applicants.
Grand Canyon University placed #25 among the best values for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services. Grand Canyon University is a very large private for-profit school located in the city of Phoenix. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,508. Students borrow a median of $30,027 to complete the counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program here. Early-career counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates make about $56,285. That is a strong return on a $30,027 median debt. Grand Canyon University admits about 79% of applicants.
Rest of the Top 26 Best Value Counselor Education/School Counseling & Guidance Services Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s counselor education/school counseling & guidance services value ranking:
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 54 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.
