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

[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.
College Factual analyzed 9 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value counselor education/school counseling & guidance services schools.
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2027 Best Value Counselor Education/School Counseling & Guidance Services Schools in Kentucky
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 Murray State University this year. Set in the town of Murray, Murray State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,900, compared with $19,836 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates is $23,420. Early-career counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates make about $48,423. That is a strong return on a $23,420 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Morehead State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in counselor education/school counseling & guidance services, landing the #2 spot this year. Morehead State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Morehead. In-state tuition and fees average $10,024, compared with $14,980 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates is $25,896. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates of Morehead State University earn a median of $48,352 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Western Kentucky University earned it the #3 place for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services. Set in the city of Bowling Green, Western Kentucky University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,652 in tuition and fees, compared with $27,000 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,499 to complete the counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program here. Early-career counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates make about $44,778. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Eastern Kentucky University earned it the #4 place for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services. Located in the town of Richmond, Eastern Kentucky University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $10,320 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,230. Typical student debt for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates is $25,122. Soon after graduation, counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree recipients from Eastern Kentucky University generally make around $42,618. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Eastern Kentucky University admits about 78% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of The Cumberlands earned it the #5 place for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services. Set in the town of Williamsburg, University Of The Cumberlands is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $9,875 in tuition and fees. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates carry a median of $22,868 in student loans. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates of University Of The Cumberlands earn a median of $50,309 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 99%.
Lindsey Wilson College earned the #6 position for value in counselor education/school counseling & guidance services this year. Located in the town of Columbia, Lindsey Wilson College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $27,808. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates carry a median of $24,119 in student loans. Soon after graduation, counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree recipients from Lindsey Wilson College generally make around $37,808. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Louisville landed the #7 spot for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services value this year. Set in the city of Louisville, University Of Louisville is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,136, while out-of-state students pay about $29,482. Students borrow a median of $21,910 to complete the counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program here. Soon after graduation, counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree recipients from University Of Louisville generally make around $46,096. Set against $21,910 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
Campbellsville University came in at #8 for value in counselor education/school counseling & guidance services this year. Set in the town of Campbellsville, Campbellsville University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $27,998. Typical student debt for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates is $24,148. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates of Campbellsville University earn a median of $43,474 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,148 median debt. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Spalding University earned the #9 position for value in counselor education/school counseling & guidance services this year. Located in the city of Louisville, Spalding University is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $29,000. Typical student debt for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates is $29,862. Soon after graduation, counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree recipients from Spalding University generally make around $56,331. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Spalding University admits about 99% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 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.