by our College Data Analytics Team
[Student Counseling](/majors/education/student-counseling/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. The highest-paying schools turn a student counseling degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
College Factual analyzed 100 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying student counseling schools.
What’s on this page:
Where you study student counseling affects what graduates go on to earn. That is why we built our Highest Paid Student Counseling Graduates ranking. We rank each school on the early-career earnings of its student counseling graduates to surface the highest-paying programs.
Learn more about our methodology
We offer a number of rankings, including this Highest Paid Student Counseling Graduates list, to help you decide. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
Want to compare schools head to head? Try our College Combat tool to weigh the factors that matter most to you.
Read more about College Factual’s methodology
Below are the schools whose student counseling graduates go on to earn the most.
Leading the list is Fresno Pacific University, our #1 for student counseling graduate salaries in the United States. Set in the city of Fresno, Fresno Pacific University is a private not-for-profit institution. Student Counseling graduates of Fresno Pacific University earn a median of about $99,410 a year early in their careers.
San Jose State University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in student counseling, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a public institution. Student Counseling graduates of San Jose State University earn a median of about $82,798 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #3 makes Concordia University Irvine one of the highest-paying schools for student counseling. Located in the city of Irvine, Concordia University Irvine is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, student counseling degree recipients from Concordia University Irvine typically earn about $99,962 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in student counseling will find them at University Of La Verne, which ranked #4. Located in the suburb of La Verne, University Of La Verne is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career student counseling graduates from University Of La Verne make a median of around $80,714 per year.
California State University East Bay produces some of the highest-paid graduates in student counseling, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Hayward, California State University East Bay is a public institution. Students who complete the student counseling program here go on to a median salary of roughly $91,139.
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San Francisco State University placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for student counseling. San Francisco State University is a public school located in the city of San Francisco. Early-career student counseling graduates from San Francisco State University make a median of around $86,391 per year.
Cuny Lehman College came in at #7 for student counseling graduate earnings this year. Cuny Lehman College is a public school located in the city of Bronx. Students who complete the student counseling program here go on to a median salary of roughly $89,187.
California State University San Bernardino placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for student counseling. California State University San Bernardino is a public school located in the city of San Bernardino. Early-career student counseling graduates from California State University San Bernardino make a median of around $77,183 per year.
City University Of Seattle ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying student counseling schools. City University Of Seattle is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Seattle. Early-career student counseling graduates from City University Of Seattle make a median of around $76,265 per year.
Concordia University Chicago landed the #10 spot for student counseling salaries this year. Concordia University Chicago is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of River Forest. Early-career student counseling graduates from Concordia University Chicago make a median of around $76,150 per year.
Seattle University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying student counseling schools. Seattle University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Seattle. After graduating, student counseling degree recipients from Seattle University typically earn about $82,379 annually.
California State University Los Angeles earned the #12 position for student counseling graduate earnings this year. California State University Los Angeles is a public school located in the city of Los Angeles. After graduating, student counseling degree recipients from California State University Los Angeles typically earn about $82,681 annually.
California State University Bakersfield came in at #13 for student counseling graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Bakersfield, California State University Bakersfield is a public institution. Student Counseling graduates of California State University Bakersfield earn a median of about $71,950 a year early in their careers.
Alfred University ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying student counseling schools. Set in the rural area of Alfred, Alfred University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the student counseling program here go on to a median salary of roughly $80,049.
National University earned the #15 position for student counseling graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of San Diego, National University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career student counseling graduates from National University make a median of around $80,788 per year.
Indiana University Southeast ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying student counseling schools. Located in the suburb of New Albany, Indiana University Southeast is a public institution. After graduating, student counseling degree recipients from Indiana University Southeast typically earn about $69,849 annually.
Seattle Pacific University placed #17 among the highest-paying schools for student counseling. Seattle Pacific University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Seattle. After graduating, student counseling degree recipients from Seattle Pacific University typically earn about $69,340 annually.
Northeastern Illinois University earned the #18 position for student counseling graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Chicago, Northeastern Illinois University is a public institution. Student Counseling graduates of Northeastern Illinois University earn a median of about $68,449 a year early in their careers.
Cuny Hunter College earned the #19 position for student counseling graduate earnings this year. Cuny Hunter College is a public school located in the city of New York. Students who complete the student counseling program here go on to a median salary of roughly $81,063.
Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying student counseling schools. Set in the suburb of Aliso Viejo, Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System is a public institution. Early-career student counseling graduates from Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System make a median of around $68,207 per year.
Houston Baptist University landed the #21 spot for student counseling salaries this year. Located in the city of Houston, Houston Baptist University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career student counseling graduates from Houston Baptist University make a median of around $67,611 per year.
Valdosta State University placed #22 among the highest-paying schools for student counseling. Set in the city of Valdosta, Valdosta State University is a public institution. Students who complete the student counseling program here go on to a median salary of roughly $67,508.
University Of Puget Sound placed #23 among the highest-paying schools for student counseling. Located in the city of Tacoma, University Of Puget Sound is a private not-for-profit institution. Student Counseling graduates of University Of Puget Sound earn a median of about $67,394 a year early in their careers.
Saint Marys College Of California came in at #24 for student counseling graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Moraga, Saint Marys College Of California is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, student counseling degree recipients from Saint Marys College Of California typically earn about $71,831 annually.
California State University Long Beach came in at #25 for student counseling graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a public institution. Students who complete the student counseling program here go on to a median salary of roughly $79,331.
Not far behind, these schools also produced high-earning student counseling graduates:
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These schools earned honorable mentions for student counseling graduate pay:
| Rank | College | Location | Avg Salary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #51 | Eastern University | Saint Davids, PA | $60,758 | Full Report |
| #52 | San Diego State University | San Diego, CA | $73,724 | Full Report |
| #53 | University Of Bridgeport | Bridgeport, CT | $72,960 | Full Report |
| #54 | Loyola Marymount University | Los Angeles, CA | $66,832 | Full Report |
| #55 | Long Island University C W Post Campus | Brookville, NY | $73,247 | Full Report |
| #56 | The University Of Texas Pan American | Edinburg, TX | $65,357 | Full Report |
| #57 | Cuny Brooklyn College | Brooklyn, NY | $82,649 | Full Report |
| #58 | The University Of Texas At San Antonio | San Antonio, TX | $60,048 | Full Report |
| #59 | New Jersey City University | Jersey City, NJ | $67,915 | Full Report |
| #60 | New York Institute Of Technology | Old Westbury, NY | $60,429 | Full Report |
| #61 | Holy Family University | Philadelphia, PA | $60,350 | Full Report |
| #62 | Cambridge College | Boston, MA | $68,862 | Full Report |
This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries student counseling graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 100 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
