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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Student Counseling Schools in California

18 Colleges in the United States
1,920 Student Counseling Degrees Awarded
$57,582 Avg Early-Career Salary

Student Counseling is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their student counseling programs.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 35 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for student counseling students pursuing a degree.

What’s on this page:

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Best Schools for Student Counseling in California

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the student counseling degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Student Counseling

1

Our analysis ranked University Of Southern California the best school in the country for a degree in student counseling. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Los Angeles. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 164 student counseling students who graduated with this degree at University Of Southern California in the most recent data year. Student Counseling graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of $52,999 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,625. Read more about the student counseling program at University Of Southern California

2

A rank of #2 makes Concordia University Irvine one of the top schools for student counseling. Set in the city of Irvine, Concordia University Irvine is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Concordia University Irvine graduates 58% of students within six years. There were roughly 128 student counseling students who graduated with this degree at Concordia University Irvine in the most recent data year. Graduates of the student counseling program make about $68,850 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,085. See the full student counseling program report for Concordia University Irvine

3

California State University Long Beach came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best student counseling schools. California State University Long Beach is a very large public school located in the city of Long Beach. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. About 47 student counseling degrees were awarded at California State University Long Beach in the most recent year. Student Counseling graduates of California State University Long Beach earn a median of $58,659 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,671. Read more about the student counseling program at California State University Long Beach

4

Loyola Marymount University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in student counseling, ranking #4. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Los Angeles. About 79% of students finish within six years. About 49 student counseling degrees were awarded at Loyola Marymount University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, student counseling degree recipients from Loyola Marymount University generally make around $56,575. Students borrow a median of $22,248 to complete this degree. Get the full student counseling details for Loyola Marymount University

5

Fresno Pacific University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in student counseling, ranking #5. Set in the city of Fresno, Fresno Pacific University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 50% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 78 student counseling students who graduated with this degree at Fresno Pacific University in the most recent data year. Student Counseling graduates of Fresno Pacific University earn a median of $80,354 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,596. See the full student counseling program report for Fresno Pacific University

6

California Lutheran University came in at #6 for student counseling this year. Located in the city of Thousand Oaks, California Lutheran University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. California Lutheran University awarded about 60 student counseling degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the student counseling program make about $61,749 in their early career. California Lutheran University graduates carry a median of $22,727 in student loans. Read more about the student counseling program at California Lutheran University

7

University Of La Verne landed the #7 spot for student counseling this year. University Of La Verne is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of La Verne. About 63% of students finish within six years. University Of La Verne awarded about 144 student counseling degrees in the most recent data year. Student Counseling graduates of University Of La Verne earn a median of $35,364 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,314 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in student counseling from University Of La Verne

8

Azusa Pacific University came in at #8 for student counseling this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Azusa. About 62% of students finish within six years. About 48 student counseling degrees were awarded at Azusa Pacific University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, student counseling degree recipients from Azusa Pacific University generally make around $58,302. Typical student debt for the program is $23,709. Get the full student counseling details for Azusa Pacific University

9

Alliant International University placed #9 among the best student counseling schools. Set in the city of San Diego, Alliant International University is a moderately-sized private for-profit institution. There were roughly 72 student counseling students who graduated with this degree at Alliant International University in the most recent data year. Student Counseling graduates of Alliant International University earn a median of $62,285 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,234. Read more about the student counseling program at Alliant International University

10

California State University Sacramento earned the #10 position for student counseling this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Sacramento. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. There were roughly 59 student counseling students who graduated with this degree at California State University Sacramento in the most recent data year. Graduates of the student counseling program make about $59,543 in their early career. California State University Sacramento graduates carry a median of $17,492 in student loans. See the full student counseling program report for California State University Sacramento

11

San Francisco State University earned the #11 position for student counseling this year. This very large public university is located in the city of San Francisco. San Francisco State University graduates 50% of students within six years. About 50 student counseling degrees were awarded at San Francisco State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the student counseling program make about $73,361 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,024. Get the full student counseling details for San Francisco State University

12

San Jose State University landed the #12 spot for student counseling this year. This very large public university is located in the city of San Jose. About 69% of students finish within six years. San Jose State University awarded about 63 student counseling degrees in the most recent data year. Read more about the student counseling program at San Jose State University

13

University Of Redlands came in at #13 for student counseling this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Redlands. University Of Redlands graduates 67% of students within six years. There were roughly 30 student counseling students who graduated with this degree at University Of Redlands in the most recent data year. Graduates of the student counseling program make about $62,205 in their early career. University Of Redlands graduates carry a median of $27,175 in student loans. More information about a degree in student counseling from University Of Redlands

14

California State University Fresno ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best student counseling schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Fresno. About 57% of students finish within six years. About 74 student counseling degrees were awarded at California State University Fresno in the most recent year. Students who receive their student counseling degree from California State University Fresno earn around $46,137 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,598. Read more about the student counseling program at California State University Fresno

15
National University crest
National University
San Diego, CA

National University earned the #15 position for student counseling this year. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of San Diego. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. National University awarded about 138 student counseling degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the student counseling program make about $64,585 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $30,426. Read more about the student counseling program at National University

16

San Diego State University came in at #16 for student counseling this year. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. San Diego State University awarded about 57 student counseling degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, student counseling degree recipients from San Diego State University generally make around $52,062. San Diego State University graduates carry a median of $16,417 in student loans. More information about a degree in student counseling from San Diego State University

17

Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System came in at #17 for student counseling this year. Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System is a large public school located in the suburb of Aliso Viejo. There were roughly 100 student counseling students who graduated with this degree at Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System in the most recent data year. Students who receive their student counseling degree from Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System earn around $68,207 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,471. Read more about the student counseling program at Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System

18

California State University Northridge earned the #18 position for student counseling this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Northridge. About 57% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 50 student counseling students who graduated with this degree at California State University Northridge in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, student counseling degree recipients from California State University Northridge generally make around $57,751. Typical student debt for the program is $16,202. See the full student counseling program report for California State University Northridge

19

California State University San Bernardino earned the #19 position for student counseling this year. California State University San Bernardino is a very large public school located in the city of San Bernardino. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 47 student counseling students who graduated with this degree at California State University San Bernardino in the most recent data year. Graduates of the student counseling program make about $42,421 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,149 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in student counseling from California State University San Bernardino

20

California State University Fullerton came in at #20 for student counseling this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Fullerton. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 58 student counseling degrees were awarded at California State University Fullerton in the most recent year. Student Counseling graduates of California State University Fullerton earn a median of $54,471 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,525 to complete this degree. Read more about the student counseling program at California State University Fullerton

21

Chapman University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best student counseling schools. Located in the city of Orange, Chapman University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. Chapman University awarded about 21 student counseling degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their student counseling degree from Chapman University earn around $50,538 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,657. More information about a degree in student counseling from Chapman University

22

California State University Los Angeles placed #22 among the best student counseling schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Los Angeles. About 53% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 122 student counseling students who graduated with this degree at California State University Los Angeles in the most recent data year. Student Counseling graduates of California State University Los Angeles earn a median of $67,075 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $14,430 to complete this degree. Read more about the student counseling program at California State University Los Angeles

23

California State University Stanislaus earned the #23 position for student counseling this year. California State University Stanislaus is a large public school located in the suburb of Turlock. About 53% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 49 student counseling students who graduated with this degree at California State University Stanislaus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their student counseling degree from California State University Stanislaus earn around $46,807 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,813. Get the full student counseling details for California State University Stanislaus

24

California State University East Bay landed the #24 spot for student counseling this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Hayward. California State University East Bay graduates 48% of students within six years. About 73 student counseling degrees were awarded at California State University East Bay in the most recent year. Students who receive their student counseling degree from California State University East Bay earn around $71,142 in the first couple years of their career. California State University East Bay graduates carry a median of $18,073 in student loans. More information about a degree in student counseling from California State University East Bay

25

California Baptist University came in at #25 for student counseling this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Riverside. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 24 student counseling degrees were awarded at California Baptist University in the most recent year. Graduates of the student counseling program make about $47,801 in their early career. California Baptist University graduates carry a median of $28,169 in student loans. More information about a degree in student counseling from California Baptist University

Rest of the Top 30 Student Counseling Schools

These schools also placed among the best for student counseling this year:

26
27
Sonoma State University crest
Sonoma State University
Rohnert Park, CA
28
La Sierra University crest
La Sierra University
Riverside, CA
29
30

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Notes and References

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 · 35 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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