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

[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.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 10 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services students.
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2027 Best Value Counselor Education/School Counseling & Guidance Services Schools in North Carolina
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
Leading the list is University Of North Carolina At Pembroke, our #1 best value for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services in North Carolina. Located in the town of Pembroke, University Of North Carolina At Pembroke is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,648, while out-of-state students pay about $7,648. Typical student debt for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates is $27,089. Soon after graduation, counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Pembroke generally make around $45,525. Set against $27,089 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 93%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earned it the #2 place for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public school located in the city of Chapel Hill. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,994, with out-of-state students paying around $41,203. Students borrow a median of $15,117 to complete the counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program here. Early-career counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates make about $48,566. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 15%.
North Carolina A And T State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in counselor education/school counseling & guidance services, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Greensboro, North Carolina A And T State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,813, compared with $20,673 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $29,078 to complete the counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program here. Soon after graduation, counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree recipients from North Carolina A And T State University generally make around $47,460. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. North Carolina A And T State University admits about 50% of applicants.
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value counselor education/school counseling & guidance services schools. Located in the city of Greensboro, University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,661 in tuition and fees, compared with $24,012 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates is $24,977. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates of University Of North Carolina At Greensboro earn a median of $47,800 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro admits about 88% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in counselor education/school counseling & guidance services will find it at Western Carolina University, which ranked #5. Western Carolina University is a large public school located in the town of Cullowhee. In-state tuition and fees average $4,630, while out-of-state students pay about $8,630. Students borrow a median of $24,174 to complete the counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program here. Soon after graduation, counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree recipients from Western Carolina University generally make around $40,079. That is a strong return on a $24,174 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte landed the #6 spot for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services value this year. Set in the city of Charlotte, University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,239, with out-of-state students paying around $22,492. Typical student debt for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates is $24,673. Soon after graduation, counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Charlotte generally make around $47,641. Set against $24,673 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte admits about 80% of applicants.
Appalachian State University landed the #7 spot for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services value this year. Set in the town of Boone, Appalachian State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,579, compared with $25,212 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,992 to complete the counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program here. Soon after graduation, counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree recipients from Appalachian State University generally make around $46,856. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh came in at #8 for value in counselor education/school counseling & guidance services this year. Located in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,799, while out-of-state students pay about $32,847. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates carry a median of $22,113 in student loans. Soon after graduation, counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree recipients from North Carolina State University At Raleigh generally make around $50,118. Set against $22,113 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 42% of applicants are accepted.
Lenoir Rhyne University earned the #9 position for value in counselor education/school counseling & guidance services this year. Lenoir Rhyne University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Hickory. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $31,900. Typical student debt for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates is $26,900. Soon after graduation, counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree recipients from Lenoir Rhyne University generally make around $49,985. That is a strong return on a $26,900 median debt. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Wake Forest University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value counselor education/school counseling & guidance services schools. Wake Forest University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Winston-Salem. In-state tuition and fees average $67,642. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates carry a median of $21,577 in student loans. Early-career counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates make about $45,173. That is a strong return on a $21,577 median debt. The acceptance rate is 22%.
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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 · 10 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 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.