2026 Best Counselor Education/School Counseling & Guidance Services Schools in California
Counselor Education/School Counseling & Guidance Services is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 34 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Counselor Education/School Counseling & Guidance Services in California
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
Our analysis ranked University Of Southern California the best school in the country for a degree in counselor education/school counseling & guidance services. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 92% of students finish within six years. University Of Southern California awarded about 121 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 University Of Southern California earn around $52,999 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Southern California graduates carry a median of $15,625 in student loans.
Read more about the counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program at University Of Southern California
Concordia University Irvine is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in counselor education/school counseling & guidance services, landing the #2 spot this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Irvine. Concordia University Irvine graduates 58% of students within six years. There were roughly 128 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services students who graduated with this degree at Concordia University Irvine in the most recent data year. Graduates of the counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program make about $68,850 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,085 to complete this degree.
See the full counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program report for Concordia University Irvine
California State University Long Beach is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in counselor education/school counseling & guidance services, ranking #3. Located in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public university. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. 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. Students borrow a median of $15,671 to complete this degree.
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A rank of #4 makes Loyola Marymount University one of the top schools for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services. Loyola Marymount University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. Loyola Marymount University graduates 79% of students within six years. There were roughly 39 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services students who graduated with this degree at Loyola Marymount University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program make about $56,575 in their early career. Loyola Marymount University graduates carry a median of $22,248 in student loans.
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Fresno Pacific University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in counselor education/school counseling & guidance services, ranking #5. Set in the city of Fresno, Fresno Pacific University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. There were roughly 78 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services students who graduated with this degree at Fresno Pacific University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree recipients from Fresno Pacific University generally make around $80,354. Typical student debt for the program is $24,596.
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California Lutheran University placed #6 among 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. California Lutheran University graduates 70% of students within six years. There were roughly 31 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services students who graduated with this degree at California Lutheran University 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. Students borrow a median of $22,727 to complete this degree.
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University Of La Verne earned the #7 position for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services this year. Set in the suburb of La Verne, University Of La Verne is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. University Of La Verne awarded about 144 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 $35,364 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,314.
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Azusa Pacific University earned the #8 position for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Azusa. About 62% of students finish 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. Students borrow a median of $23,709 to complete this degree.
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Alliant International University earned the #9 position for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services this year. Located in the city of San Diego, Alliant International University is a moderately-sized private for-profit university. Alliant International University awarded about 72 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 $62,285 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,234.
See the full counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program report for Alliant International University
California State University Sacramento ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best counselor education/school counseling & guidance services schools. California State University Sacramento is a very large public school located in the city of Sacramento. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 59 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services students who graduated with this degree at California State University Sacramento in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree recipients from California State University Sacramento generally make around $59,543. California State University Sacramento graduates carry a median of $17,492 in student loans.
More information about a degree in counselor education/school counseling & guidance services from California State University Sacramento
San Francisco State University came in at #11 for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services this year. This very large public university is located in the city of San Francisco. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. San Francisco State University awarded about 50 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 San Francisco State University generally make around $73,361. Typical student debt for the program is $17,024.
More information about a degree in counselor education/school counseling & guidance services from San Francisco State University
San Jose State University earned the #12 position for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services this year. This very large public university is located in the city of San Jose. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. 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.
See the full counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program report for San Jose State University
University Of Redlands ranked #13 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 Redlands. About 67% of students finish within six years. About 25 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degrees were awarded at University Of Redlands in the most recent year. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates of University Of Redlands earn a median of $62,205 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $27,175 to complete this degree.
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California State University Fresno landed the #14 spot 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. California State University Fresno graduates 57% of students within six years. There were roughly 74 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services students who graduated with this degree at California State University Fresno in the most recent data year. Graduates of the counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program make about $46,137 in their early career. California State University Fresno graduates carry a median of $15,598 in student loans.
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National University placed #15 among the best counselor education/school counseling & guidance services schools. Set in the city of San Diego, National University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. National University awarded about 138 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 $64,585 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $30,426 to complete this degree.
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San Diego State University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best counselor education/school counseling & guidance services schools. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. 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. Students who receive their counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree from San Diego State University earn around $52,062 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $16,417 to complete this degree.
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Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System came in at #17 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. Graduates of the counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program make about $68,207 in their early career. Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System graduates carry a median of $27,471 in student loans.
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California State University Northridge earned the #18 position for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services this year. Set in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a very large public institution. About 57% of students finish within six years. About 50 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degrees were awarded at California State University Northridge in the most recent year. Graduates of the counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program make about $57,751 in their early career. California State University Northridge graduates carry a median of $16,202 in student loans.
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California State University San Bernardino placed #19 among the best counselor education/school counseling & guidance services schools. This very large public university is located in the city of San Bernardino. 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. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates of California State University San Bernardino earn a median of $42,421 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,149.
See the full counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program report for California State University San Bernardino
California State University Fullerton earned the #20 position for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services this year. Set in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public institution. California State University Fullerton graduates 70% of students within six years. About 58 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degrees were awarded at California State University Fullerton in the most recent year. Students who receive their counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree from California State University Fullerton earn around $54,471 in the first couple years of their career. California State University Fullerton graduates carry a median of $15,525 in student loans.
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Chapman University landed the #21 spot for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services this year. Set in the city of Orange, Chapman University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. There were roughly 21 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services students who graduated with this degree at Chapman University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree from Chapman University earn around $50,538 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,657 to complete this degree.
See the full counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program report for Chapman University
California State University Los Angeles earned the #22 position for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Los Angeles. The six-year graduation rate is 53%. About 109 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degrees were awarded at California State University Los Angeles in the most recent year. Graduates of the counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program make about $67,075 in their early career. California State University Los Angeles graduates carry a median of $14,430 in student loans.
See the full counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program report for California State University Los Angeles
California State University Stanislaus ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best counselor education/school counseling & guidance services schools. Located in the suburb of Turlock, California State University Stanislaus is a large public university. Roughly 53% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 49 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degrees were awarded at California State University Stanislaus in the most recent year. Graduates of the counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program make about $46,807 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $14,813 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in counselor education/school counseling & guidance services from California State University Stanislaus
California State University East Bay came in at #24 for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services this year. California State University East Bay is a large public school located in the suburb of Hayward. California State University East Bay graduates 48% of students within six years. About 73 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degrees were awarded at California State University East Bay in the most recent year. Students who receive their counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree from California State University East Bay earn around $71,142 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $18,073 to complete this degree.
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California Baptist University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best counselor education/school counseling & guidance services schools. Located in the city of Riverside, California Baptist University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 24 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degrees were awarded at California Baptist University in the most recent year. Graduates of the counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program make about $47,801 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $28,169.
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Rest of the Top 29 Counselor Education/School Counseling & Guidance Services Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s counselor education/school counseling & guidance services ranking:
More Counselor Education/School Counseling & Guidance Services Rankings
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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 · 34 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.
