2027 Best Value Counselor Education/School Counseling & Guidance Services Schools in Pennsylvania

[Counselor Education/School Counseling & Guidance Services](/majors/education/student-counseling/counselor-education-school-counseling-and-guidance-services/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong counselor education/school counseling & guidance services education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 14 schools to find the best return on investment for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Counselor Education/School Counseling & Guidance Services Schools in Pennsylvania
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
Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus earned the #1 spot for value among counselor education/school counseling & guidance services schools in Pennsylvania. Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus is a large public school located in the town of Indiana. Students from in state pay about $11,380 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $16,297. Typical student debt for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates is $26,513. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates of Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus earn a median of $43,914 early in their careers. Set against $26,513 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus admits about 91% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in counselor education/school counseling & guidance services will find it at Pennsylvania Western University, which ranked #2. Set in the town of California, Pennsylvania Western University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,436, with out-of-state students paying around $16,054. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates carry a median of $28,263 in student loans. Soon after graduation, counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree recipients from Pennsylvania Western University generally make around $44,940. Set against $28,263 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Pennsylvania Western University admits about 94% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania earned it the #3 place for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services. Set in the town of Slippery Rock, Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,568, with out-of-state students paying around $14,676. Students borrow a median of $26,330 to complete the counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program here. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates of Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $39,860 early in their careers. Set against $26,330 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Millersville University Of Pennsylvania came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value counselor education/school counseling & guidance services schools. Set in the suburb of Millersville, Millersville University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,128, while out-of-state students pay about $22,952. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates carry a median of $26,486 in student loans. Soon after graduation, counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree recipients from Millersville University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $47,049. Set against $26,486 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
A rank of #5 makes Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania one of the best values for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services. Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Kutztown. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,206, compared with $16,330 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates is $26,867. Soon after graduation, counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree recipients from Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $51,775. Set against $26,867 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania admits about 91% of applicants.
West Chester University Of Pennsylvania landed the #6 spot for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services value this year. Set in the suburb of West Chester, West Chester University Of Pennsylvania is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,775, with out-of-state students paying around $22,599. Median earnings reach $61,258 ten years out. The acceptance rate is 78%.
Marywood University landed the #7 spot for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services value this year. Located in the city of Scranton, Marywood University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $41,420. Students borrow a median of $27,744 to complete the counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program here. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates of Marywood University earn a median of $47,361 early in their careers. Set against $27,744 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value counselor education/school counseling & guidance services schools. Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Shippensburg. In-state tuition and fees average $13,570, with out-of-state students paying around $15,824. Students borrow a median of $26,307 to complete the counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program here. Early-career counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates make about $49,144. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania admits about 86% of applicants.
Eastern University came in at #9 for value in counselor education/school counseling & guidance services this year. Set in the suburb of Saint Davids, Eastern University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $38,400. Students borrow a median of $28,584 to complete the counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program here. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates of Eastern University earn a median of $50,474 early in their careers. Set against $28,584 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Eastern University admits about 91% of applicants.
Gwynedd Mercy College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value counselor education/school counseling & guidance services schools. Gwynedd Mercy College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Gwynedd Valley. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,838. Students borrow a median of $29,764 to complete the counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program here. Soon after graduation, counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree recipients from Gwynedd Mercy College generally make around $53,555. That is a strong return on a $29,764 median debt. Gwynedd Mercy College admits about 90% of applicants.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus landed the #11 spot for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services value this year. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $20,644, compared with $41,790 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,266 to complete the counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program here. Soon after graduation, counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree recipients from Pennsylvania State University Main Campus generally make around $45,522. Set against $25,266 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
Lehigh University came in at #12 for value in counselor education/school counseling & guidance services this year. Lehigh University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bethlehem. Students from in state pay about $64,980 in tuition and fees. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates carry a median of $23,008 in student loans. Soon after graduation, counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree recipients from Lehigh University generally make around $44,468. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 26%.
Duquesne University placed #13 among the best values for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Duquesne University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $48,986. Students borrow a median of $26,297 to complete the counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program here. Early-career counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates make about $50,662. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Villanova University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value counselor education/school counseling & guidance services schools. Set in the suburb of Villanova, Villanova University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $67,776. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates carry a median of $26,184 in student loans. Early-career counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates make about $49,796. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Villanova University admits about 27% of applicants.
More Counselor Education/School Counseling & Guidance Services Rankings
View All Counselor Education/School Counseling & Guidance Services Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 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.