2027 Best Value Counselor Education/School Counseling & Guidance Services Schools in Virginia
[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.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 12 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 Virginia
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
Our analysis ranked Radford University the best value for a degree in counselor education/school counseling & guidance services in Virginia. Located in the town of Radford, Radford University is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $12,548, with out-of-state students paying around $25,633. Students borrow a median of $25,514 to complete the counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program here. Soon after graduation, counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree recipients from Radford University generally make around $47,838. That is a strong return on a $25,514 median debt. Radford University admits about 90% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes Old Dominion University one of the best values for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services. Set in the city of Norfolk, Old Dominion University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,750, compared with $33,780 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates is $26,001. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates of Old Dominion University earn a median of $48,167 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Old Dominion University admits about 90% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in counselor education/school counseling & guidance services will find it at George Mason University, which ranked #3. George Mason University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fairfax. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,220, with out-of-state students paying around $38,688. Typical student debt for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates is $23,529. Soon after graduation, counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree recipients from George Mason University generally make around $57,681. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Students looking for strong value in counselor education/school counseling & guidance services will find it at College Of William And Mary, which ranked #4. Located in the suburb of Williamsburg, College Of William And Mary is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $25,734, with out-of-state students paying around $51,038. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates carry a median of $18,935 in student loans. Early-career counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates make about $48,083. That is a strong return on a $18,935 median debt. College Of William And Mary admits about 34% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes Longwood University one of the best values for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services. Set in the town of Farmville, Longwood University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,740, compared with $27,980 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates is $25,649. Early-career counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates make about $43,800. That is a strong return on a $25,649 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Virginia Main Campus ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value counselor education/school counseling & guidance services schools. University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public school located in the suburb of Charlottesville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $23,118, with out-of-state students paying around $61,591. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates carry a median of $18,627 in student loans. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates of University Of Virginia Main Campus earn a median of $55,919 early in their careers. Set against $18,627 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 17%.
Regent University ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value counselor education/school counseling & guidance services schools. Regent University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Virginia Beach. Students from in state pay about $21,650 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $29,451 to complete the counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program here. Early-career counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates make about $40,366. Set against $29,451 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
James Madison University placed #8 among the best values for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services. Set in the city of Harrisonburg, James Madison University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,966, while out-of-state students pay about $31,312. Students borrow a median of $21,218 to complete the counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program here. Early-career counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates make about $49,231. That is a strong return on a $21,218 median debt. James Madison University admits about 72% of applicants.
Virginia Commonwealth University earned the #9 position for value in counselor education/school counseling & guidance services this year. Located in the city of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,720, compared with $39,884 for out-of-state students. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates carry a median of $23,813 in student loans. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates of Virginia Commonwealth University earn a median of $53,756 early in their careers. Set against $23,813 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University came in at #10 for value in counselor education/school counseling & guidance services this year. Located in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,948, with out-of-state students paying around $37,764. Students borrow a median of $23,393 to complete the counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program here. Soon after graduation, counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree recipients from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University generally make around $60,004. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 55% of applicants are accepted.
Hampton University ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value counselor education/school counseling & guidance services schools. Located in the suburb of Hampton, Hampton University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $30,592. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates carry a median of $26,169 in student loans. Soon after graduation, counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree recipients from Hampton University generally make around $46,870. Set against $26,169 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Hampton University admits about 62% of applicants.
Liberty University placed #12 among the best values for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services. Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lynchburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,173. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates carry a median of $27,414 in student loans. Soon after graduation, counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree recipients from Liberty University generally make around $49,663. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 99%.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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.
