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

[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. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 7 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value counselor education/school counseling & guidance services schools.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Counselor Education/School Counseling & Guidance Services Schools in Alabama
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
University Of West Alabama tops our 2027 list of the best value counselor education/school counseling & guidance services schools in Alabama. Located in the rural area of Livingston, University Of West Alabama is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,990, while out-of-state students pay about $20,090. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates carry a median of $31,894 in student loans. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates of University Of West Alabama earn a median of $62,006 early in their careers. Set against $31,894 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 43% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Auburn University At Montgomery earned it the #2 place for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services. Auburn University At Montgomery is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Montgomery. In-state tuition and fees average $9,700, while out-of-state students pay about $20,668. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates carry a median of $29,746 in student loans. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates of Auburn University At Montgomery earn a median of $44,249 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $29,746 median debt. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Jacksonville State University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value counselor education/school counseling & guidance services schools. Located in the suburb of Jacksonville, Jacksonville State University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,894 in tuition and fees, compared with $23,334 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates is $24,751. Soon after graduation, counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree recipients from Jacksonville State University generally make around $58,513. Set against $24,751 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Jacksonville State University admits about 78% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes University Of South Alabama one of the best values for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services. Set in the city of Mobile, University Of South Alabama is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,116, compared with $19,092 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates is $26,513. Soon after graduation, counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree recipients from University Of South Alabama generally make around $41,205. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of South Alabama admits about 71% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in counselor education/school counseling & guidance services will find it at University Of Montevallo, which ranked #5. University Of Montevallo is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Montevallo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,948, with out-of-state students paying around $26,968. Students borrow a median of $25,096 to complete the counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program here. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates of University Of Montevallo earn a median of $41,035 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 54% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Alabama At Birmingham placed #6 among the best values for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services. Set in the city of Birmingham, University Of Alabama At Birmingham is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,098 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,562 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,162 to complete the counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program here. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates of University Of Alabama At Birmingham earn a median of $47,610 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,162 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Auburn University placed #7 among the best values for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services. Set in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,890, while out-of-state students pay about $34,922. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates carry a median of $22,803 in student loans. Early-career counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates make about $46,449. That is a strong return on a $22,803 median debt. The acceptance rate is 46%.
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. 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 · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.