Counselor Education/School Counseling & Guidance Services degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 476 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for Counselor Education/School Counseling & Guidance Services in the United States
These are the top schools for a master’s degree in counselor education/school counseling & guidance services, based on student outcomes and program quality.
Top Schools in Counselor Education/School Counseling & Guidance Services
No school ranked higher than New York University this year for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services. Located in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 88% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 81 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services students who graduated with this degree at New York University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program make about $57,236 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,897 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in counselor education/school counseling & guidance services from New York University
University Of Southern California came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best counselor education/school counseling & guidance services schools. University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 120 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degrees were awarded at University Of Southern California in the most recent year. Graduates of the counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program make about $52,999 in their early career. University Of Southern California graduates carry a median of $15,625 in student loans.
Get the full counselor education/school counseling & guidance services details for University Of Southern California
Concordia University Irvine is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in counselor education/school counseling & guidance services, landing the #3 spot this year. Concordia University Irvine is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Irvine. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. Concordia University Irvine awarded about 128 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree recipients from Concordia University Irvine generally make around $68,850. Typical student debt for the program is $26,085.
Get the full counselor education/school counseling & guidance services details for Concordia University Irvine
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best counselor education/school counseling & guidance services schools. This very large public university is located in the city of University Park. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus awarded about 22 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degrees in the most recent data year.
Get the full counselor education/school counseling & guidance services details for Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
Villanova University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best counselor education/school counseling & guidance services schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Villanova. Villanova University graduates 92% of students within six years. Villanova University awarded about 27 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree recipients from Villanova University generally make around $49,796. Typical student debt for the program is $26,184.
Read more about the counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program at Villanova University
Loyola Marymount University landed the #6 spot for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, Loyola Marymount University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 79%. There were roughly 39 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services students who graduated with this degree at Loyola Marymount University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree recipients from Loyola Marymount University generally make around $56,575. Loyola Marymount University graduates carry a median of $22,248 in student loans.
Read more about the counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program at Loyola Marymount University
California State University Long Beach came in at #7 for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services this year. Located in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public university. About 69% of students finish within six years. California State University Long Beach awarded about 47 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program make about $58,659 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,671 to complete this degree.
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Seattle University landed the #8 spot for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Seattle. About 76% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 29 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services students who graduated with this degree at Seattle University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree recipients from Seattle University generally make around $68,242. Students borrow a median of $22,289 to complete this degree.
Read more about the counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program at Seattle University
Boston University landed the #9 spot for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Boston. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. About 42 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degrees were awarded at Boston University in the most recent year. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates of Boston University earn a median of $55,652 early in their careers. Boston University graduates carry a median of $25,232 in student loans.
Read more about the counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program at Boston University
George Washington University earned the #10 position for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services this year. George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. About 84% of students finish within six years. George Washington University awarded about 10 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree from George Washington University earn around $60,976 in the first couple years of their career. George Washington University graduates carry a median of $22,910 in student loans.
See the full counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program report for George Washington University
Fresno Pacific University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best counselor education/school counseling & guidance services schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Fresno. Fresno Pacific University graduates 50% of students within six years. About 78 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degrees were awarded at Fresno Pacific University in the most recent year. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates of Fresno Pacific University earn a median of $80,307 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,596 to complete this degree.
Read more about the counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program at Fresno Pacific University
California Lutheran University came in at #12 for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services this year. California Lutheran University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Thousand Oaks. About 70% of students finish within six years. About 31 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degrees were awarded at California Lutheran University in the most recent year. Students who receive their counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree from California Lutheran University earn around $61,749 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,727 to complete this degree.
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University Of La Verne earned the #13 position for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services this year. Set in the suburb of La Verne, University Of La Verne is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. University Of La Verne graduates 63% of students within six years. There were roughly 144 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services students who graduated with this degree at University Of La Verne in the most recent data year. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates of University Of La Verne earn a median of $35,364 early in their careers. University Of La Verne graduates carry a median of $26,314 in student loans.
Read more about the counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program at University Of La Verne
Seton Hall University came in at #14 for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services this year. Located in the suburb of South Orange, Seton Hall University is a large private not-for-profit university. Seton Hall University graduates 70% of students within six years. About 39 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degrees were awarded at Seton Hall University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree recipients from Seton Hall University generally make around $58,844. Typical student debt for the program is $23,422.
More information about a degree in counselor education/school counseling & guidance services from Seton Hall University
Azusa Pacific University landed the #15 spot for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Azusa. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 48 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degrees were awarded at Azusa Pacific University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree recipients from Azusa Pacific University generally make around $58,302. Azusa Pacific University graduates carry a median of $23,709 in student loans.
Read more about the counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program at Azusa Pacific University
Fordham University came in at #16 for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services this year. Located in the city of Bronx, Fordham University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. Fordham University awarded about 12 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program make about $59,403 in their early career. Fordham University graduates carry a median of $25,643 in student loans.
Read more about the counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program at Fordham University
Loyola University Baltimore came in at #17 for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services this year. Set in the city of Baltimore, Loyola University Baltimore is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 79%. About 44 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degrees were awarded at Loyola University Baltimore in the most recent year. Students who receive their counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree from Loyola University Baltimore earn around $56,198 in the first couple years of their career. Loyola University Baltimore graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in counselor education/school counseling & guidance services from Loyola University Baltimore
George Mason University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best counselor education/school counseling & guidance services schools. Located in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public university. About 68% of students finish within six years. George Mason University awarded about 50 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degrees in the most recent data year. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates of George Mason University earn a median of $57,681 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,529 to complete this degree.
Get the full counselor education/school counseling & guidance services details for George Mason University
Alliant International University came in at #19 for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services this year. This moderately-sized private for-profit university is located in the city of San Diego. There were roughly 71 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services students who graduated with this degree at Alliant International University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree recipients from Alliant International University generally make around $62,285. Typical student debt for the program is $21,234.
More information about a degree in counselor education/school counseling & guidance services from Alliant International University
California State University Sacramento placed #20 among the best counselor education/school counseling & guidance services schools. Located in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a very large public university. About 56% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 59 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services students who graduated with this degree at California State University Sacramento in the most recent data year. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates of California State University Sacramento earn a median of $59,543 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,492 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in counselor education/school counseling & guidance services from California State University Sacramento
San Francisco State University came in at #21 for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services this year. Located in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a very large public university. San Francisco State University graduates 50% of students within six years. There were roughly 50 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services students who graduated with this degree at San Francisco State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree recipients from San Francisco State University generally make around $73,361. Typical student debt for the program is $17,024.
Read more about the counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program at San Francisco State University
University Of Denver placed #22 among the best counselor education/school counseling & guidance services schools. Set in the city of Denver, University Of Denver is a large private not-for-profit institution. University Of Denver graduates 76% of students within six years. There were roughly 35 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services students who graduated with this degree at University Of Denver in the most recent data year. Students who receive their counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree from University Of Denver earn around $56,999 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Denver graduates carry a median of $22,534 in student loans.
More information about a degree in counselor education/school counseling & guidance services from University Of Denver
San Jose State University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best counselor education/school counseling & guidance services schools. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public university. San Jose State University graduates 69% of students within six years. There were roughly 63 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services students who graduated with this degree at San Jose State University in the most recent data year.
Read more about the counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program at San Jose State University
University Of Redlands landed the #24 spot for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Redlands. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 24 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services students who graduated with this degree at University Of Redlands in the most recent data year. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates of University Of Redlands earn a median of $62,205 early in their careers. University Of Redlands graduates carry a median of $27,175 in student loans.
Read more about the counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program at University Of Redlands
University Of Virginia Main Campus came in at #25 for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services this year. Set in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. University Of Virginia Main Campus awarded about 27 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree recipients from University Of Virginia Main Campus generally make around $55,919. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates carry a median of $18,627 in student loans.
More information about a degree in counselor education/school counseling & guidance services from University Of Virginia Main Campus
Rest of the Top 50 Counselor Education/School Counseling & Guidance Services Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s counselor education/school counseling & guidance services ranking:
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 476 schools evaluated.
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).