2026 Best Value College Student Counseling & Personnel Services Master’s Degree Schools
[College Student Counseling & Personnel Services](/majors/education/student-counseling/college-student-counseling-and-personnel-services/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 87 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for college student counseling & personnel services students.
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2026 Best Value College Student Counseling & Personnel Services Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the college student counseling & personnel services degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value College Student Counseling & Personnel Services Schools
For return on investment in college student counseling & personnel services, no school beat University Of Florida this year. Set in the city of Gainesville, University Of Florida is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,381, compared with $28,659 for out-of-state students. College Student Counseling & Personnel Services graduates carry a median of $17,669 in student loans. Early-career college student counseling & personnel services graduates make about $48,924. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Florida admits about 24% of applicants.
Murray State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in college student counseling & personnel services, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the town of Murray, Murray State University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,900, with out-of-state students paying around $19,836. College Student Counseling & Personnel Services graduates carry a median of $23,420 in student loans. Early-career college student counseling & personnel services graduates make about $48,423. Set against $23,420 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in college student counseling & personnel services will find it at American Public University System, which ranked #3. Located in the town of Charles Town, American Public University System is a very large private for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,400. College Student Counseling & Personnel Services graduates carry a median of $23,438 in student loans. Early-career college student counseling & personnel services graduates make about $57,404. That is a strong return on a $23,438 median debt.
University Of Georgia is a great value for students pursuing a degree in college student counseling & personnel services, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,450, compared with $31,688 for out-of-state students. College Student Counseling & Personnel Services graduates carry a median of $21,792 in student loans. Early-career college student counseling & personnel services graduates make about $46,797. Set against $21,792 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Georgia admits about 38% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes Western Illinois University one of the best values for college student counseling & personnel services. Western Illinois University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Macomb. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,572. Typical student debt for college student counseling & personnel services graduates is $27,639. Early-career college student counseling & personnel services graduates make about $42,905. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Western Illinois University admits about 71% of applicants.
University Of North Carolina At Pembroke earned the #6 position for value in college student counseling & personnel services this year. University Of North Carolina At Pembroke is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Pembroke. In-state tuition and fees average $3,648, with out-of-state students paying around $7,648. College Student Counseling & Personnel Services graduates carry a median of $27,089 in student loans. Soon after graduation, college student counseling & personnel services degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Pembroke generally make around $45,525. Set against $27,089 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Western Kentucky University landed the #7 spot for college student counseling & personnel services value this year. Set in the city of Bowling Green, Western Kentucky University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,652, compared with $27,000 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,499 to complete the college student counseling & personnel services program here. Soon after graduation, college student counseling & personnel services degree recipients from Western Kentucky University generally make around $44,778. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana State University came in at #8 for value in college student counseling & personnel services this year. Indiana State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Terre Haute. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,258, while out-of-state students pay about $22,322. College Student Counseling & Personnel Services graduates carry a median of $25,582 in student loans. College Student Counseling & Personnel Services graduates of Indiana State University earn a median of $45,814 early in their careers. Set against $25,582 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Indiana State University admits about 81% of applicants.
Montclair State University came in at #9 for value in college student counseling & personnel services this year. Set in the suburb of Montclair, Montclair State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,912, while out-of-state students pay about $26,022. Students borrow a median of $25,286 to complete the college student counseling & personnel services program here. College Student Counseling & Personnel Services graduates of Montclair State University earn a median of $54,513 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,286 median debt. Montclair State University admits about 88% of applicants.
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro placed #10 among the best values for college student counseling & personnel services. Set in the city of Greensboro, University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,661 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $24,012. College Student Counseling & Personnel Services graduates carry a median of $24,977 in student loans. College Student Counseling & Personnel Services graduates of University Of North Carolina At Greensboro earn a median of $47,800 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,977 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Angelo State University earned the #11 position for value in college student counseling & personnel services this year. Set in the city of San Angelo, Angelo State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,460 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,300. College Student Counseling & Personnel Services graduates carry a median of $21,237 in student loans. Early-career college student counseling & personnel services graduates make about $57,529. That is a strong return on a $21,237 median debt. Angelo State University admits about 83% of applicants.
Western Carolina University came in at #12 for value in college student counseling & personnel services this year. Western Carolina University is a large public school located in the town of Cullowhee. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,630, while out-of-state students pay about $8,630. College Student Counseling & Personnel Services graduates carry a median of $24,174 in student loans. Early-career college student counseling & personnel services graduates make about $40,079. That is a strong return on a $24,174 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
North Carolina A And T State University placed #13 among the best values for college student counseling & personnel services. Set in the city of Greensboro, North Carolina A And T State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,813 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,673. College Student Counseling & Personnel Services graduates carry a median of $29,078 in student loans. Early-career college student counseling & personnel services graduates make about $47,460. That is a strong return on a $29,078 median debt. The acceptance rate is 50%.
Eastern Illinois University came in at #14 for value in college student counseling & personnel services this year. Set in the town of Charleston, Eastern Illinois University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,377, with out-of-state students paying around $15,859. Students borrow a median of $24,293 to complete the college student counseling & personnel services program here. College Student Counseling & Personnel Services graduates of Eastern Illinois University earn a median of $45,390 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,293 median debt. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
Universidad Del Turabo earned the #15 position for value in college student counseling & personnel services this year. Universidad Del Turabo is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Gurabo. Students from in state pay about $7,750 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for college student counseling & personnel services graduates is $14,155. Soon after graduation, college student counseling & personnel services degree recipients from Universidad Del Turabo generally make around $28,231. That is a strong return on a $14,155 median debt.
Saint Cloud State University placed #16 among the best values for college student counseling & personnel services. Located in the city of Saint Cloud, Saint Cloud State University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,245. Typical student debt for college student counseling & personnel services graduates is $25,076. Early-career college student counseling & personnel services graduates make about $48,473. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Saint Cloud State University admits about 95% of applicants.
Arkansas Tech University earned the #17 position for value in college student counseling & personnel services this year. Located in the town of Russellville, Arkansas Tech University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,674, with out-of-state students paying around $14,668. Typical student debt for college student counseling & personnel services graduates is $23,257. Early-career college student counseling & personnel services graduates make about $41,966. Set against $23,257 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 96%.
University Of Memphis earned the #18 position for value in college student counseling & personnel services this year. Located in the city of Memphis, University Of Memphis is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,728, with out-of-state students paying around $15,384. College Student Counseling & Personnel Services graduates carry a median of $26,315 in student loans. College Student Counseling & Personnel Services graduates of University Of Memphis earn a median of $45,618 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,315 median debt. University Of Memphis admits about 72% of applicants.
Northern Arizona University placed #19 among the best values for college student counseling & personnel services. Located in the city of Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,619, with out-of-state students paying around $20,044. Typical student debt for college student counseling & personnel services graduates is $21,645. College Student Counseling & Personnel Services graduates of Northern Arizona University earn a median of $50,832 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Arkansas State University Main Campus earned the #20 position for value in college student counseling & personnel services this year. Located in the city of Jonesboro, Arkansas State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,090, while out-of-state students pay about $14,522. Typical student debt for college student counseling & personnel services graduates is $23,399. Early-career college student counseling & personnel services graduates make about $45,639. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Arkansas State University Main Campus admits about 82% of applicants.
University Of Northern Iowa landed the #21 spot for college student counseling & personnel services value this year. University Of Northern Iowa is a large public school located in the city of Cedar Falls. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,936, while out-of-state students pay about $21,712. Typical student debt for college student counseling & personnel services graduates is $22,635. College Student Counseling & Personnel Services graduates of University Of Northern Iowa earn a median of $46,566 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,635 median debt. University Of Northern Iowa admits about 93% of applicants.
Indiana University Bloomington placed #22 among the best values for college student counseling & personnel services. Set in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,144, with out-of-state students paying around $41,891. Typical student debt for college student counseling & personnel services graduates is $20,542. Early-career college student counseling & personnel services graduates make about $42,105. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Indiana University Bloomington admits about 78% of applicants.
Wayne State College came in at #23 for value in college student counseling & personnel services this year. Set in the town of Wayne, Wayne State College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,171 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for college student counseling & personnel services graduates is $22,974. Early-career college student counseling & personnel services graduates make about $51,778. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo placed #24 among the best values for college student counseling & personnel services. Located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,161, while out-of-state students pay about $33,230. Typical student debt for college student counseling & personnel services graduates is $19,273. College Student Counseling & Personnel Services graduates of California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn a median of $53,058 early in their careers. Set against $19,273 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 31% of applicants are accepted.
Stephen F Austin State University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best value college student counseling & personnel services schools. Located in the town of Nacogdoches, Stephen F Austin State University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,128, while out-of-state students pay about $20,968. College Student Counseling & Personnel Services graduates carry a median of $24,759 in student loans. Soon after graduation, college student counseling & personnel services degree recipients from Stephen F Austin State University generally make around $42,197. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Stephen F Austin State University admits about 94% of applicants.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value College Student Counseling & Personnel Services Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in college student counseling & personnel services:
Other College Student Counseling & Personnel Services Degree Levels
Explore the best-value college student counseling & personnel services schools at other degree levels:
View All College Student Counseling & Personnel Services Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 87 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 42 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.
