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

[Counselor Education/School Counseling & Guidance Services](/majors/education/student-counseling/counselor-education-school-counseling-and-guidance-services/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 9 schools to find the best return on investment for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services students.
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2027 Best Value Counselor Education/School Counseling & Guidance Services Schools in Massachusetts
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in counselor education/school counseling & guidance services, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Counselor Education/School Counseling & Guidance Services Schools
For return on investment in counselor education/school counseling & guidance services, no school beat Salem State University this year. Salem State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Salem. Students from in state pay about $12,338 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,531 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates is $27,176. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates of Salem State University earn a median of $51,929 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,176 median debt. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Bridgewater State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in counselor education/school counseling & guidance services, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Bridgewater, Bridgewater State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,734, with out-of-state students paying around $17,874. Typical student debt for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates is $26,632. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates of Bridgewater State University earn a median of $54,196 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,632 median debt. Bridgewater State University admits about 88% of applicants.
University Of Massachusetts Boston came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value counselor education/school counseling & guidance services schools. University Of Massachusetts Boston is a large public school located in the city of Boston. Students from in state pay about $15,898 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $38,115. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates carry a median of $26,236 in student loans. Early-career counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates make about $60,385. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Boston University earned it the #4 place for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services. Located in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,102. Students borrow a median of $25,232 to complete the counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program here. Early-career counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates make about $55,652. Set against $25,232 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Boston University admits about 11% of applicants.
American International College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in counselor education/school counseling & guidance services, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Springfield, American International College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $44,230. Students borrow a median of $30,390 to complete the counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program here. Early-career counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates make about $66,104. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
Assumption College came in at #6 for value in counselor education/school counseling & guidance services this year. Assumption College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Worcester. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $51,356. Students borrow a median of $26,995 to complete the counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program here. Early-career counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates make about $54,194. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Assumption College admits about 83% of applicants.
Springfield College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value counselor education/school counseling & guidance services schools. Located in the city of Springfield, Springfield College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $44,974. Students borrow a median of $27,151 to complete the counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program here. Early-career counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates make about $49,996. Set against $27,151 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Springfield College admits about 72% of applicants.
Cambridge College placed #8 among the best values for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services. Located in the city of Boston, Cambridge College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $18,378 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $29,776 to complete the counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program here. Soon after graduation, counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree recipients from Cambridge College generally make around $54,619. Set against $29,776 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Merrimack College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value counselor education/school counseling & guidance services schools. Merrimack College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of North Andover. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $53,962. Typical student debt for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates is $26,913. Early-career counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates make about $50,506. Set against $26,913 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 70% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, 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 9 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.