2026 Best Counselor Education/School Counseling & Guidance Services Schools in the Far Western Region
Counselor Education/School Counseling & Guidance Services degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their counselor education/school counseling & guidance services programs.
College Factual analyzed 52 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best counselor education/school counseling & guidance services schools.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Counselor Education/School Counseling & Guidance Services in the Far Western Region
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Counselor Education/School Counseling & Guidance Services
University Of Southern California tops our 2026 ranking of the best counselor education/school counseling & guidance services schools. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. About 121 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degrees were awarded at University Of Southern California in the most recent year. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of $52,999 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,625 to complete this degree.
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Concordia University Irvine is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in counselor education/school counseling & guidance services, ranking #2. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Irvine. About 58% of students finish within six years. Concordia University Irvine awarded about 128 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree recipients from Concordia University Irvine generally make around $68,850. Students borrow a median of $26,085 to complete this degree.
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California State University Long Beach came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best counselor education/school counseling & guidance services schools. Set in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public institution. About 69% of students finish within six years. About 47 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degrees were awarded at California State University Long Beach in the most recent year. Graduates of the counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program make about $58,659 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,671.
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Loyola Marymount University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in counselor education/school counseling & guidance services, landing the #4 spot this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Los Angeles. Loyola Marymount University graduates 79% of students within six years. Loyola Marymount University awarded about 39 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degrees in the most recent data year. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates of Loyola Marymount University earn a median of $56,575 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,248.
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Seattle University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best counselor education/school counseling & guidance services schools. Seattle University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Seattle. Seattle University graduates 76% of students within six years. Seattle University awarded about 29 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree from Seattle University earn around $68,242 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,289 to complete this degree.
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Fresno Pacific University placed #6 among the best counselor education/school counseling & guidance services schools. Set in the city of Fresno, Fresno Pacific University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Fresno Pacific University graduates 50% of students within six years. About 78 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degrees were awarded at Fresno Pacific University in the most recent year. Students who receive their counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree from Fresno Pacific University earn around $80,354 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,596 to complete this degree.
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California Lutheran University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best counselor education/school counseling & guidance services schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Thousand Oaks. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. California Lutheran University awarded about 31 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degrees in the most recent data year. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates of California Lutheran University earn a median of $61,749 early in their careers. California Lutheran University graduates carry a median of $22,727 in student loans.
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University Of La Verne came in at #8 for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of La Verne. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 144 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services students who graduated with this degree at University Of La Verne in the most recent data year. Students who receive their counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree from University Of La Verne earn around $35,364 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,314 to complete this degree.
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Azusa Pacific University landed the #9 spot for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services this year. Set in the suburb of Azusa, Azusa Pacific University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Azusa Pacific University graduates 62% of students within six years. There were roughly 48 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services students who graduated with this degree at Azusa Pacific University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree recipients from Azusa Pacific University generally make around $58,302. Typical student debt for the program is $23,709.
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Alliant International University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best counselor education/school counseling & guidance services schools. Alliant International University is a moderately-sized private for-profit school located in the city of San Diego. Alliant International University awarded about 72 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree from Alliant International University earn around $62,285 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,234 to complete this degree.
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California State University Sacramento came in at #11 for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services this year. Located in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. California State University Sacramento awarded about 59 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree from California State University Sacramento earn around $59,543 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $17,492 to complete this degree.
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San Francisco State University landed the #12 spot for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services this year. This very large public university is located in the city of San Francisco. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 50 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services students who graduated with this degree at San Francisco State University in the most recent data year. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates of San Francisco State University earn a median of $73,361 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $17,024.
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San Jose State University placed #13 among the best counselor education/school counseling & guidance services schools. This very large public university is located in the city of San Jose. About 69% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 63 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services students who graduated with this degree at San Jose State University in the most recent data year.
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University Of Redlands ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best counselor education/school counseling & guidance services schools. Set in the city of Redlands, University Of Redlands is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. About 25 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degrees were awarded at University Of Redlands in the most recent year. Students who receive their counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree from University Of Redlands earn around $62,205 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,175 to complete this degree.
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California State University Fresno came in at #15 for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services this year. Set in the city of Fresno, California State University Fresno is a very large public institution. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. California State University Fresno awarded about 74 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degrees in the most recent data year. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates of California State University Fresno earn a median of $46,137 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,598.
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National University came in at #16 for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services this year. Set in the city of San Diego, National University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 138 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degrees were awarded at National University in the most recent year. Graduates of the counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program make about $64,585 in their early career. National University graduates carry a median of $30,426 in student loans.
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Seattle Pacific University landed the #17 spot for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Seattle. Seattle Pacific University graduates 62% of students within six years. Seattle Pacific University awarded about 32 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree recipients from Seattle Pacific University generally make around $69,340. Typical student debt for the program is $25,188.
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San Diego State University landed the #18 spot for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services this year. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 57 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services students who graduated with this degree at San Diego State University in the most recent data year. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates of San Diego State University earn a median of $52,062 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,417.
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Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System earned the #19 position for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services this year. Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System is a large public school located in the suburb of Aliso Viejo. Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System awarded about 100 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree recipients from Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System generally make around $68,207. Typical student debt for the program is $27,471.
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California State University Northridge placed #20 among the best counselor education/school counseling & guidance services schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Northridge. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 50 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services students who graduated with this degree at California State University Northridge in the most recent data year. Graduates of the counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program make about $57,751 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,202 to complete this degree.
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California State University San Bernardino landed the #21 spot for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services this year. Set in the city of San Bernardino, California State University San Bernardino is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. There were roughly 47 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services students who graduated with this degree at California State University San Bernardino in the most recent data year. Graduates of the counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program make about $42,421 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,149.
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California State University Fullerton landed the #22 spot for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services this year. Located in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public university. California State University Fullerton graduates 70% of students within six years. California State University Fullerton awarded about 58 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree recipients from California State University Fullerton generally make around $54,471. California State University Fullerton graduates carry a median of $15,525 in student loans.
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Lewis And Clark College ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best counselor education/school counseling & guidance services schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Portland. About 75% of students finish within six years. Lewis And Clark College awarded about 30 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program make about $62,071 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,301.
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Chapman University came in at #24 for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services this year. Chapman University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Orange. Chapman University graduates 82% of students within six years. Chapman University awarded about 21 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree recipients from Chapman University generally make around $50,538. Typical student debt for the program is $21,657.
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California State University Los Angeles came in at #25 for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Los Angeles. California State University Los Angeles graduates 53% of students within six years. California State University Los Angeles awarded about 109 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degrees in the most recent data year. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates of California State University Los Angeles earn a median of $67,075 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $14,430.
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Rest of the Top 38 Counselor Education/School Counseling & Guidance Services Schools
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 52 schools evaluated.
- 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.