by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 431 U.S. colleges awarded 12,733 degrees and certificates in Counselor Education/School Counseling & Guidance Services. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 97% of graduates. College Factual ranks 285 schools in its 2027 Best Counselor Education/School Counseling & Guidance 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.
A major in Counselor Education/School Counseling & Guidance Services covers Counselor Education/school Counseling And Guidance Services. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply The Theory And Principles Of Guidance And Counseling To The Provision Of Support For The Personal, Social, Educational, And Vocational Development Of Students, And The Organizing Of Guidance Services Within Elementary, Middle And Secondary Educational Institutions. Includes Instruction In Legal And Professional Requirements, Therapeutic Counselor Intervention, Vocational Counseling, And Related Sociological And Psychological Foundations.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, counselor education/school counseling & guidance services is a popular field of study, with 12,733 degrees awarded annually. 431 colleges award counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degrees, an average of 30 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 349.
By level, the 12,733 awards include 19 certificates, 1 associate degrees, 12,318 master’s degrees and 395 doctorates.
Women earned 84% of counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degrees and certificates in the latest year (10,703 of 12,733). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (6,963) and Hispanic or Latino (2,552), and international students earned 242.
College Factual ranks 285 schools in its 2027 Best Counselor Education/School Counseling & Guidance Services Schools ranking, including 277 for master’s degrees and 9 for doctorates. It also ranks counselor education/school counseling & guidance services schools within 46 states. In all, 431 colleges offer counselor education/school counseling & guidance services programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Counselor Education/School Counseling & Guidance Services Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common counselor education/school counseling & guidance services credential is the master’s degree: 12,318 of the 12,733 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to counselor education/school counseling & guidance services call most for Active Listening, Speaking and Social Perceptiveness, and for knowledge of Customer and Personal Service, English Language and Therapy and Counseling, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Comprehension, Oral Expression and Written Expression.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 19 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 1 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 12,318 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 395 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to counselor education/school counseling & guidance services, at 56.3%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 56.3% |
| Master’s degree | 40.7% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.5% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.5% |
Source: O*NET Online.
1 occupations are related to Counselor Education/School Counseling & Guidance Services, with an average median salary of $87,699; the strongest outlook belongs to Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors, at 5.9% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Outplacement Consultant, Placement Coordinator, Student Success Counselor and Disability Services Coordinator.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to counselor education/school counseling & guidance services, at 204,799.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors | 204,799 | 5.9% |
Counselor Education/School Counseling & Guidance 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 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services, with a median salary of $87,699.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors | $87,699 |
Counselor Education/School Counseling & Guidance Services has 2 similar majors in the Education field, which together award 1,355 degrees a year; the largest are College Student Counseling and Personnel Services (948) and Student Counseling and Personnel Services, Other (407). Browse all Education majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| College Student Counseling and Personnel Services | 948 |
| Student Counseling and Personnel Services, Other | 407 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
