2026 Best Value Counselor Education/School Counseling & Guidance Services Schools in Missouri
[Counselor Education/School Counseling & Guidance Services](/majors/education/student-counseling/counselor-education-school-counseling-and-guidance-services/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 13 schools to find the best return on investment for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services students.
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2026 Best Value Counselor Education/School Counseling & Guidance Services Schools in Missouri
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 Missouri St Louis earned the #1 spot for value among counselor education/school counseling & guidance services schools in Missouri. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, University Of Missouri St Louis is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $15,120 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $37,620. Students borrow a median of $25,943 to complete the counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program here. Early-career counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates make about $44,437. That is a strong return on a $25,943 median debt. The acceptance rate is 63%.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Missouri Kansas City one of the best values for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services. University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public school located in the city of Kansas City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,371, with out-of-state students paying around $32,271. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates carry a median of $23,741 in student loans. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates of University Of Missouri Kansas City earn a median of $46,957 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,741 median debt. University Of Missouri Kansas City admits about 72% of applicants.
Southeast Missouri State 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 Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri State University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,903. Students borrow a median of $23,289 to complete the counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program here. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates of Southeast Missouri State University earn a median of $45,743 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Southeast Missouri State University admits about 74% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes Northwest Missouri State University one of the best values for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services. Northwest Missouri State University is a large public school located in the town of Maryville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,611, compared with $17,324 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates is $23,585. Early-career counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates make about $42,939. Set against $23,585 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Northwest Missouri State University admits about 86% of applicants.
Missouri State University Springfield came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value counselor education/school counseling & guidance services schools. Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public school located in the city of Springfield. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,502, with out-of-state students paying around $18,770. Typical student debt for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates is $24,408. Early-career counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates make about $45,995. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Missouri State University Springfield admits about 90% of applicants.
University Of Missouri Columbia placed #6 among the best values for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,837, with out-of-state students paying around $36,056. Typical student debt for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates is $21,818. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates of University Of Missouri Columbia earn a median of $63,559 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Stephens College earned the #7 position for value in counselor education/school counseling & guidance services this year. Stephens College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Columbia. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $28,300. Typical student debt for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates is $33,326. Early-career counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates make about $41,511. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Missouri Baptist University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value counselor education/school counseling & guidance services schools. Missouri Baptist University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. In-state tuition and fees average $33,122. Students borrow a median of $27,337 to complete the counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program here. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates of Missouri Baptist University earn a median of $40,340 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,337 median debt. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 13 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.
