2026 Best Value Counselor Education/School Counseling & Guidance Services Schools in Washington
[Counselor Education/School Counseling & Guidance Services](/majors/education/student-counseling/counselor-education-school-counseling-and-guidance-services/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 9 schools to find the best return on investment for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Counselor Education/School Counseling & Guidance Services Schools in Washington
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Counselor Education/School Counseling & Guidance Services Schools
Our analysis ranked Seattle Pacific University the best value for a degree in counselor education/school counseling & guidance services in Washington. Located in the city of Seattle, Seattle Pacific University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $40,407. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates carry a median of $25,188 in student loans. Soon after graduation, counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree recipients from Seattle Pacific University generally make around $69,340. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 83%.
Seattle University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in counselor education/school counseling & guidance services, landing the #2 spot this year. Seattle University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Seattle. In-state tuition and fees average $56,721. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates carry a median of $22,289 in student loans. Soon after graduation, counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree recipients from Seattle University generally make around $68,242. Set against $22,289 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Gonzaga University earned it the #3 place for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services. Located in the city of Spokane, Gonzaga University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $55,480. Typical student debt for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates is $25,188. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates of Gonzaga University earn a median of $51,410 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,188 median debt. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 3 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.
