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College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2026 Best Student Counseling Schools in North Carolina

9 Colleges in the United States
597 Student Counseling Degrees Awarded
$48,274 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 15 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 North Carolina

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

Leading the list is University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill, our #1 school for student counseling. This very large public university is located in the city of Chapel Hill. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill graduates 91% of students within six years. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill awarded about 16 student counseling degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, student counseling degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill generally make around $48,566. Typical student debt for the program is $15,117. Get the full student counseling details for University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill

2

A rank of #2 makes East Carolina University one of the top schools for student counseling. East Carolina University is a very large public school located in the city of Greenville. About 63% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 10 student counseling students who graduated with this degree at East Carolina University in the most recent data year. Student Counseling graduates of East Carolina University earn a median of $47,601 early in their careers. East Carolina University graduates carry a median of $24,747 in student loans. More information about a degree in student counseling from East Carolina University

3

Students looking for a strong student counseling program will find one at North Carolina State University At Raleigh, which ranked #3. North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public school located in the city of Raleigh. About 85% of students finish within six years. North Carolina State University At Raleigh awarded about 63 student counseling degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, student counseling degree recipients from North Carolina State University At Raleigh generally make around $50,118. North Carolina State University At Raleigh graduates carry a median of $22,113 in student loans. Read more about the student counseling program at North Carolina State University At Raleigh

4
Wake Forest University crest
Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem, NC

Wake Forest University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in student counseling, ranking #4. Located in the city of Winston-Salem, Wake Forest University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 111 student counseling degrees were awarded at Wake Forest University in the most recent year. Graduates of the student counseling program make about $45,173 in their early career. Wake Forest University graduates carry a median of $21,577 in student loans. Read more about the student counseling program at Wake Forest University

5

Appalachian State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in student counseling, ranking #5. Set in the town of Boone, Appalachian State University is a very large public institution. About 74% of students finish within six years. Appalachian State University awarded about 68 student counseling degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their student counseling degree from Appalachian State University earn around $46,856 in the first couple years of their career. Appalachian State University graduates carry a median of $21,992 in student loans. Read more about the student counseling program at Appalachian State University

6

University Of North Carolina At Charlotte landed the #6 spot for student counseling this year. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public school located in the city of Charlotte. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte awarded about 112 student counseling degrees in the most recent data year. Student Counseling graduates of University Of North Carolina At Charlotte earn a median of $47,641 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,673 to complete this degree. Read more about the student counseling program at University Of North Carolina At Charlotte

7
Gardner Webb University crest
Gardner Webb University
Boiling Springs, NC

Gardner Webb University placed #7 among the best student counseling schools. Set in the rural area of Boiling Springs, Gardner Webb University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 54%. About 10 student counseling degrees were awarded at Gardner Webb University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, student counseling degree recipients from Gardner Webb University generally make around $63,220. Students borrow a median of $25,033 to complete this degree. Get the full student counseling details for Gardner Webb University

8

Western Carolina University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best student counseling schools. Set in the town of Cullowhee, Western Carolina University is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 60%. Western Carolina University awarded about 43 student counseling degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the student counseling program make about $40,079 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,174. Get the full student counseling details for Western Carolina University

9

University Of North Carolina At Pembroke landed the #9 spot for student counseling this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Pembroke. Roughly 44% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of North Carolina At Pembroke awarded about 61 student counseling degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their student counseling degree from University Of North Carolina At Pembroke earn around $45,525 in the first couple years of their career. University Of North Carolina At Pembroke graduates carry a median of $27,089 in student loans. Read more about the student counseling program at University Of North Carolina At Pembroke

10

University Of North Carolina At Greensboro placed #10 among the best student counseling schools. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a large public school located in the city of Greensboro. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro awarded about 35 student counseling degrees in the most recent data year. Student Counseling graduates of University Of North Carolina At Greensboro earn a median of $47,800 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,977 to complete this degree. Read more about the student counseling program at University Of North Carolina At Greensboro

11

North Carolina A And T State University placed #11 among the best student counseling schools. North Carolina A And T State University is a large public school located in the city of Greensboro. About 57% of students finish within six years. About 44 student counseling degrees were awarded at North Carolina A And T State University in the most recent year. Student Counseling graduates of North Carolina A And T State University earn a median of $47,460 early in their careers. North Carolina A And T State University graduates carry a median of $29,078 in student loans. Get the full student counseling details for North Carolina A And T State University

12

Lenoir Rhyne University landed the #12 spot for student counseling this year. Located in the city of Hickory, Lenoir Rhyne University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 48%. Lenoir Rhyne University awarded about 14 student counseling degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, student counseling degree recipients from Lenoir Rhyne University generally make around $49,985. Students borrow a median of $26,900 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in student counseling from Lenoir Rhyne University

13

North Carolina Central University landed the #13 spot for student counseling this year. Located in the city of Durham, North Carolina Central University is a moderately-sized public university. About 42% of students finish within six years. About 10 student counseling degrees were awarded at North Carolina Central University in the most recent year. Student Counseling graduates of North Carolina Central University earn a median of $47,538 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $31,173. Read more about the student counseling program at North Carolina Central University

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Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 15 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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