2026 Best Value Student Counseling Schools in North Carolina
[Student Counseling](/majors/education/student-counseling/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 15 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value student counseling schools.
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2026 Best Value Student Counseling Schools in North Carolina
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in student counseling, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Student Counseling Schools
University Of North Carolina At Pembroke earned the #1 spot for value among student counseling schools in North Carolina. Located in the town of Pembroke, University Of North Carolina At Pembroke is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,648, compared with $7,648 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for student counseling graduates is $27,089. Early-career student counseling graduates make about $45,525. Set against $27,089 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 93%.
A rank of #2 makes University Of North Carolina At Greensboro one of the best values for student counseling. Located in the city of Greensboro, University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,661 in tuition and fees, compared with $24,012 for out-of-state students. Student Counseling graduates carry a median of $24,977 in student loans. Soon after graduation, student counseling degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Greensboro generally make around $47,800. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill one of the best values for student counseling. Set in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,994, while out-of-state students pay about $41,203. Typical student debt for student counseling graduates is $15,117. Soon after graduation, student counseling degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill generally make around $48,566. Set against $15,117 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 15%.
A rank of #4 makes Western Carolina University one of the best values for student counseling. Located in the town of Cullowhee, Western Carolina University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,630, while out-of-state students pay about $8,630. Student Counseling graduates carry a median of $24,174 in student loans. Early-career student counseling graduates make about $40,079. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at North Carolina A And T State University earned it the #5 place for student counseling. Set in the city of Greensboro, North Carolina A And T State University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,813, compared with $20,673 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $29,078 to complete the student counseling program here. Soon after graduation, student counseling degree recipients from North Carolina A And T State University generally make around $47,460. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 50% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte placed #6 among the best values for student counseling. Located in the city of Charlotte, University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,239, with out-of-state students paying around $22,492. Student Counseling graduates carry a median of $24,673 in student loans. Early-career student counseling graduates make about $47,641. Set against $24,673 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte admits about 80% of applicants.
Appalachian State University came in at #7 for value in student counseling this year. Set in the town of Boone, Appalachian State University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,579, with out-of-state students paying around $25,212. Student Counseling graduates carry a median of $21,992 in student loans. Student Counseling graduates of Appalachian State University earn a median of $46,856 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,992 median debt. Appalachian State University admits about 90% of applicants.
East Carolina University came in at #8 for value in student counseling this year. East Carolina University is a very large public school located in the city of Greenville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,361, compared with $23,638 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,747 to complete the student counseling program here. Student Counseling graduates of East Carolina University earn a median of $47,601 early in their careers. Set against $24,747 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
North Carolina Central University placed #9 among the best values for student counseling. Located in the city of Durham, North Carolina Central University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,699, compared with $19,735 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $31,173 to complete the student counseling program here. Soon after graduation, student counseling degree recipients from North Carolina Central University generally make around $47,538. Set against $31,173 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. North Carolina Central University admits about 87% of applicants.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh earned the #10 position for value in student counseling this year. Set in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,799, while out-of-state students pay about $32,847. Student Counseling graduates carry a median of $22,113 in student loans. Soon after graduation, student counseling degree recipients from North Carolina State University At Raleigh generally make around $50,118. Set against $22,113 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. North Carolina State University At Raleigh admits about 42% of applicants.
Lenoir Rhyne University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value student counseling schools. Located in the city of Hickory, Lenoir Rhyne University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $31,900 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,900 to complete the student counseling program here. Student Counseling graduates of Lenoir Rhyne University earn a median of $49,985 early in their careers. Set against $26,900 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Gardner Webb University earned the #12 position for value in student counseling this year. Gardner Webb University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Boiling Springs. In-state tuition and fees average $34,750. Student Counseling graduates carry a median of $25,033 in student loans. Early-career student counseling graduates make about $63,220. That is a strong return on a $25,033 median debt. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Wake Forest University landed the #13 spot for student counseling value this year. Located in the city of Winston-Salem, Wake Forest University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $67,642 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for student counseling graduates is $21,577. Early-career student counseling graduates make about $45,173. Set against $21,577 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 22%.
More Student Counseling Rankings
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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 · 15 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 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.
