2027 Best Value Counselor Education/School Counseling & Guidance Services Schools in the The Plains States Region
[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 schools below stand out for delivering a strong counselor education/school counseling & guidance services education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 28 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 the The Plains States Region
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
Chadron State College tops our 2027 list of the best value counselor education/school counseling & guidance services schools in the The Plains States Region. Located in the town of Chadron, Chadron State College is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,294. Typical student debt for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates is $22,912. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates of Chadron State College earn a median of $57,719 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,912 median debt.
Wichita State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in counselor education/school counseling & guidance services, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Wichita, Wichita State University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,684, with out-of-state students paying around $19,869. Typical student debt for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates is $24,262. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates of Wichita State University earn a median of $53,762 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Fort Hays 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 town of Hays, Fort Hays State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,923 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,741 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates is $25,967. Soon after graduation, counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree recipients from Fort Hays State University generally make around $54,939. That is a strong return on a $25,967 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Nebraska At Omaha came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value counselor education/school counseling & guidance services schools. Set in the city of Omaha, University Of Nebraska At Omaha is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,718 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $23,206. Typical student debt for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates is $21,783. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates of University Of Nebraska At Omaha earn a median of $48,692 early in their careers. Set against $21,783 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Nebraska At Omaha admits about 87% of applicants.
Saint Cloud State University came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value counselor education/school counseling & guidance services schools. Set in the city of Saint Cloud, Saint Cloud State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,245. Typical student debt for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates is $25,076. Soon after graduation, counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree recipients from Saint Cloud State University generally make around $48,473. That is a strong return on a $25,076 median debt. The acceptance rate is 95%.
University Of Missouri St Louis earned the #6 position for value in counselor education/school counseling & guidance services this year. University Of Missouri St Louis is a large public school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. In-state tuition and fees average $15,120, compared with $37,620 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates is $25,943. Early-career counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates make about $44,437. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Missouri St Louis admits about 63% of applicants.
Wayne State College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value counselor education/school counseling & guidance services schools. Located in the town of Wayne, Wayne State College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $8,171 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates is $22,974. Soon after graduation, counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree recipients from Wayne State College generally make around $51,778. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
North Dakota State University Main Campus placed #8 among the best values for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services. Set in the city of Fargo, North Dakota State University Main Campus is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,910, with out-of-state students paying around $15,564. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates carry a median of $25,153 in student loans. Soon after graduation, counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree recipients from North Dakota State University Main Campus generally make around $52,154. That is a strong return on a $25,153 median debt. The acceptance rate is 95%.
University Of Northern Iowa came in at #9 for value in counselor education/school counseling & guidance services this year. Set in the city of Cedar Falls, University Of Northern Iowa is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,936, while out-of-state students pay about $21,712. Typical student debt for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates is $22,635. Early-career counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates make about $46,566. That is a strong return on a $22,635 median debt. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Southeast Missouri State University earned the #10 position for value in counselor education/school counseling & guidance services this year. Located in the city of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri State University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,903. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates carry a median of $23,289 in student loans. Soon after graduation, counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree recipients from Southeast Missouri State University generally make around $45,743. That is a strong return on a $23,289 median debt. The acceptance rate is 74%.
University Of Nebraska At Kearney earned the #11 position for value in counselor education/school counseling & guidance services this year. Located in the town of Kearney, University Of Nebraska At Kearney is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,564, while out-of-state students pay about $16,484. Typical student debt for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates is $22,173. Soon after graduation, counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree recipients from University Of Nebraska At Kearney generally make around $47,366. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Emporia State University earned the #12 position for value in counselor education/school counseling & guidance services this year. Set in the town of Emporia, Emporia State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,106, with out-of-state students paying around $15,419. Students borrow a median of $23,131 to complete the counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program here. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates of Emporia State University earn a median of $57,008 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Emporia State University admits about 98% of applicants.
Northwest Missouri State University landed the #13 spot for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services value this year. Northwest Missouri State University is a large public school located in the town of Maryville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,611, with out-of-state students paying around $17,324. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates carry a median of $23,585 in student loans. Soon after graduation, counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree recipients from Northwest Missouri State University generally make around $42,939. Set against $23,585 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Missouri State University Springfield ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value counselor education/school counseling & guidance services schools. Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public school located in the city of Springfield. In-state tuition and fees average $9,502, with out-of-state students paying around $18,770. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates carry a median of $24,408 in student loans. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates of Missouri State University Springfield earn a median of $45,995 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,408 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Capella University placed #15 among the best values for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services. Capella University is a very large private for-profit school located in the city of Minneapolis. In-state tuition and fees average $14,400. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates carry a median of $35,998 in student loans. Early-career counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates make about $69,183. That is a strong return on a $35,998 median debt.
Minnesota State University Moorhead placed #16 among the best values for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services. Minnesota State University Moorhead is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Moorhead. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,428. Typical student debt for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates is $24,447. Early-career counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates make about $48,510. Set against $24,447 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Minnesota State University Moorhead admits about 59% of applicants.
University Of North Dakota came in at #17 for value in counselor education/school counseling & guidance services this year. Located in the city of Grand Forks, University Of North Dakota is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,951, compared with $15,570 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates is $25,110. Early-career counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates make about $49,340. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Buena Vista University ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value counselor education/school counseling & guidance services schools. Buena Vista University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Storm Lake. Students from in state pay about $41,798 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates is $29,317. Early-career counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates make about $49,397. Set against $29,317 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Missouri Columbia came in at #19 for value in counselor education/school counseling & guidance services this year. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,837, while out-of-state students pay about $36,056. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates carry a median of $21,818 in student loans. Early-career counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates make about $63,559. That is a strong return on a $21,818 median debt. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Kansas State University landed the #20 spot for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services value this year. Kansas State University is a very large public school located in the city of Manhattan. Students from in state pay about $11,221 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $28,568. Students borrow a median of $23,546 to complete the counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program here. Early-career counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates make about $47,436. That is a strong return on a $23,546 median debt. Kansas State University admits about 82% of applicants.
University Of Iowa placed #21 among the best values for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services. University Of Iowa is a very large public school located in the city of Iowa City. Students from in state pay about $11,283 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $33,371. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates carry a median of $24,463 in student loans. Early-career counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates make about $48,327. Set against $24,463 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Iowa admits about 84% of applicants.
Concordia University Seward placed #22 among the best values for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services. Set in the town of Seward, Concordia University Seward is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,640. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates carry a median of $26,726 in student loans. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates of Concordia University Seward earn a median of $51,046 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Stephens College placed #23 among the best values for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services. Located in the city of Columbia, Stephens College is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $28,300 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $33,326 to complete the counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program here. Soon after graduation, counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree recipients from Stephens College generally make around $41,511. Set against $33,326 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
Doane College Crete came in at #24 for value in counselor education/school counseling & guidance services this year. Doane College Crete is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Crete. Students from in state pay about $41,985 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services graduates is $28,802. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates of Doane College Crete earn a median of $63,309 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Missouri Baptist University earned the #25 position for value in counselor education/school counseling & guidance services this year. Set in the suburb of Saint Louis, Missouri Baptist University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $33,122. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates carry a median of $27,337 in student loans. Soon after graduation, counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree recipients from Missouri Baptist University generally make around $40,340. Set against $27,337 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
Rest of the Top 28 Best Value Counselor Education/School Counseling & Guidance Services Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s counselor education/school counseling & guidance services value ranking:
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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 · 28 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 28 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.
