by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 63 U.S. colleges awarded 948 degrees and certificates in College Student Counseling & Personnel Services. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 94% of graduates. College Factual ranks 33 schools in its 2027 Best College Student Counseling & Personnel Services Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $52,212 one year after completing, rising to $62,290 after four years.
Studying College Student Counseling & Personnel Services involves the study of College Student Counseling And Personnel Services. A Program That Focuses On The Organization And Provision Of Counseling, Referral, Assistance And Administrative Services To Students In Postsecondary Educational Institutions And Adult Education Facilities, And That May Prepare Individuals To Function As Professional Counselors In Such Settings. Includes Instruction In Applicable Laws And Policies, Residential Counseling And Services, Vocational Counseling And Placement Services, Remedial Skills Counseling, And Therapeutic Counselor Intervention.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, college student counseling & personnel services is a widely-pursued major, with 948 degrees awarded annually. 63 colleges award college student counseling & personnel services degrees, an average of 15 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 63.
By level, the 948 awards include 24 bachelor’s degrees, 893 master’s degrees and 31 doctorates.
Women earned 77% of college student counseling & personnel services degrees and certificates in the latest year (731 of 948). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (492) and Hispanic or Latino (156), and international students earned 58.
College Factual ranks 33 schools in its 2027 Best College Student Counseling & Personnel Services Schools ranking, including 32 for master’s degrees. It also ranks college student counseling & personnel services schools within 16 states. In all, 63 colleges offer college student counseling & personnel services programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value College Student Counseling & Personnel Services Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common college student counseling & personnel services credential is the master’s degree: 893 of the 948 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to college student counseling & personnel services call most for Social Perceptiveness, Active Listening and Speaking, and for knowledge of Customer and Personal Service, English Language and Education and Training, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Problem Sensitivity.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a college student counseling & personnel services degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 24 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 893 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 31 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to college student counseling & personnel services, at 38.7%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 38.7% |
| Some college courses | 35.4% |
| Master’s degree | 14.4% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 5.2% |
| Doctoral degree | 4.5% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 1.0% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 0.7% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
2 occupations are related to College Student Counseling & Personnel Services, with an average median salary of $66,986; the strongest outlook belongs to Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors, at 5.9% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Resident Life Director, Resident Aide, House Father and Residence Supervisor.
The occupation related to college student counseling & personnel services with the most projected jobs is Residential Advisors, at 486,886.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Residential Advisors | 486,886 | 5.5% |
| Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors | 204,799 | 5.9% |
College Student Counseling & Personnel Services graduates earn a median $52,212 one year after completing their program, $62,290 after four years and $60,416 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $52,212 |
| 4 years | $62,290 |
| 5 years | $60,416 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to college student counseling & personnel services, with a median salary of $87,699.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors | $87,699 |
| Residential Advisors | $46,273 |
College Student Counseling & Personnel Services has 2 similar majors in the Education field, which together award 13,140 degrees a year; the largest are Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services (12,733) and Student Counseling and Personnel Services, Other (407). Browse all Education majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services | 12,733 |
| Student Counseling and Personnel Services, Other | 407 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
