by our College Data Analytics Team
[Student Counseling](/majors/education/student-counseling/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong student counseling education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 25 schools to find the best return on investment for student counseling students.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the student counseling degrees they offer, see the list below.
Pennsylvania Western University tops our 2026 list of the best value student counseling schools in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Western University is a large public school located in the town of California. Students from in state pay about $11,436 in tuition and fees, compared with $16,054 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $47,295 ten years after entry. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Holy Family University earned it the #2 place for student counseling. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Holy Family University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $35,330 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for student counseling graduates is $26,562. Early-career student counseling graduates make about $59,355. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus one of the best values for student counseling. Set in the town of Indiana, Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,380, compared with $16,297 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for student counseling graduates is $26,513. Student Counseling graduates of Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus earn a median of $43,914 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,513 median debt. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in student counseling will find it at Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania, which ranked #4. Set in the town of Slippery Rock, Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,568, with out-of-state students paying around $14,676. Typical student debt for student counseling graduates is $26,330. Early-career student counseling graduates make about $39,860. That is a strong return on a $26,330 median debt. The acceptance rate is 72%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania earned it the #5 place for student counseling. Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Kutztown. Students from in state pay about $11,206 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $16,330. Typical student debt for student counseling graduates is $26,867. Student Counseling graduates of Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $51,775 early in their careers. Set against $26,867 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 91% of applicants are accepted.
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West Chester University Of Pennsylvania ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value student counseling schools. Located in the suburb of West Chester, West Chester University Of Pennsylvania is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,775 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,599. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $61,258. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value student counseling schools. Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Shippensburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,570, while out-of-state students pay about $15,824. Typical student debt for student counseling graduates is $26,307. Soon after graduation, student counseling degree recipients from Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $49,144. That is a strong return on a $26,307 median debt. Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania admits about 86% of applicants.
Eastern University landed the #8 spot for student counseling value this year. Eastern University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Davids. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $38,400. Student Counseling graduates carry a median of $28,584 in student loans. Early-career student counseling graduates make about $50,474. That is a strong return on a $28,584 median debt. Eastern University admits about 91% of applicants.
Gwynedd Mercy College earned the #9 position for value in student counseling this year. Located in the suburb of Gwynedd Valley, Gwynedd Mercy College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,838. Student Counseling graduates carry a median of $29,764 in student loans. Student Counseling graduates of Gwynedd Mercy College earn a median of $53,555 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $29,764 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus earned the #10 position for value in student counseling this year. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $20,644, with out-of-state students paying around $41,790. Median earnings reach $63,435 ten years out. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus admits about 61% of applicants.
Lehigh University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value student counseling schools. Located in the city of Bethlehem, Lehigh University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $64,980. Students borrow a median of $23,008 to complete the student counseling program here. Early-career student counseling graduates make about $44,468. Set against $23,008 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 26%.
Duquesne University earned the #12 position for value in student counseling this year. Duquesne University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pittsburgh. Students from in state pay about $48,986 in tuition and fees. Student Counseling graduates carry a median of $26,297 in student loans. Early-career student counseling graduates make about $50,662. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Duquesne University admits about 84% of applicants.
Villanova University earned the #13 position for value in student counseling this year. Set in the suburb of Villanova, Villanova University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $67,776. Students borrow a median of $26,184 to complete the student counseling program here. Soon after graduation, student counseling degree recipients from Villanova University generally make around $49,796. Set against $26,184 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Villanova University admits about 27% of applicants.
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 · 25 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.