2026 Best Counselor Education/School Counseling & Guidance Services Schools in the The Plains States Region
Counselor Education/School Counseling & Guidance Services programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their counselor education/school counseling & guidance services programs.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 46 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 the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall counselor education/school counseling & guidance services education in the The Plains States Region.
Top Schools in Counselor Education/School Counseling & Guidance Services
No school ranked higher than University Of Missouri Columbia this year for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services. University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public school located in the city of Columbia. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Missouri Columbia awarded about 170 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 $63,559 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,818 to complete this degree.
See the full counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program report for University Of Missouri Columbia
Drake University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best counselor education/school counseling & guidance services schools. Located in the city of Des Moines, Drake University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Drake University graduates 73% of students within six years. There were roughly 26 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services students who graduated with this degree at Drake University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree recipients from Drake University generally make around $54,800. Drake University graduates carry a median of $22,273 in student loans.
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Doane College Crete is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in counselor education/school counseling & guidance services, ranking #3. Located in the town of Crete, Doane College Crete is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. There were roughly 43 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services students who graduated with this degree at Doane College Crete in the most recent data year. Graduates of the counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program make about $63,309 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $28,802.
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Buena Vista University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best counselor education/school counseling & guidance services schools. Set in the town of Storm Lake, Buena Vista University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 62% of students finish within six years. Buena Vista University awarded about 60 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 $49,397 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $29,317 to complete this degree.
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Ottawa University Online is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in counselor education/school counseling & guidance services, ranking #5. Ottawa University Online is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Overland Park. Ottawa University Online graduates 43% of students within six years. There were roughly 14 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services students who graduated with this degree at Ottawa University Online in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree recipients from Ottawa University Online generally make around $51,615. Typical student debt for the program is $30,758.
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Chadron State College ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best counselor education/school counseling & guidance services schools. Located in the town of Chadron, Chadron State College is a mid-sized public university. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 33 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services students who graduated with this degree at Chadron State College in the most recent data year. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates of Chadron State College earn a median of $57,719 early in their careers. Chadron State College graduates carry a median of $22,912 in student loans.
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University Of Iowa placed #7 among the best counselor education/school counseling & guidance services schools. University Of Iowa is a very large public school located in the city of Iowa City. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. University Of Iowa awarded about 18 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 $48,327 in their early career. University Of Iowa graduates carry a median of $24,463 in student loans.
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University Of North Dakota placed #8 among the best counselor education/school counseling & guidance services schools. This large public university is located in the city of Grand Forks. University Of North Dakota graduates 60% of students within six years. University Of North Dakota 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 $49,340 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,110.
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Wichita State University placed #9 among the best counselor education/school counseling & guidance services schools. Located in the city of Wichita, Wichita State University is a large public university. Wichita State University graduates 51% of students within six years. There were roughly 63 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services students who graduated with this degree at Wichita State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree from Wichita State University earn around $53,762 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,262 to complete this degree.
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Minnesota State University Moorhead earned the #10 position for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services this year. Set in the suburb of Moorhead, Minnesota State University Moorhead is a moderately-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. About 37 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degrees were awarded at Minnesota State University Moorhead in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree recipients from Minnesota State University Moorhead generally make around $48,510. Students borrow a median of $24,447 to complete this degree.
See the full counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program report for Minnesota State University Moorhead
Walden University came in at #11 for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services this year. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Walden University is a very large private for-profit institution. There were roughly 194 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services students who graduated with this degree at Walden University in the most recent data year. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates of Walden University earn a median of $70,972 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $49,361 to complete this degree.
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Creighton University placed #12 among the best counselor education/school counseling & guidance services schools. Set in the city of Omaha, Creighton University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 13 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degrees were awarded at Creighton University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree recipients from Creighton University generally make around $49,254. Creighton University graduates carry a median of $25,831 in student loans.
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University Of Nebraska At Kearney landed the #13 spot for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Kearney. University Of Nebraska At Kearney graduates 57% of students within six years. University Of Nebraska At Kearney awarded about 65 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 $47,366 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $22,173 to complete this degree.
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University Of Nebraska At Omaha earned the #14 position for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services this year. Set in the city of Omaha, University Of Nebraska At Omaha is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 49%. University Of Nebraska At Omaha awarded about 51 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 $48,692 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,783 to complete this degree.
See the full counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program report for University Of Nebraska At Omaha
North Dakota State University Main Campus landed the #15 spot for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services this year. This large public university is located in the city of Fargo. Roughly 64% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 15 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services students who graduated with this degree at North Dakota State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates of North Dakota State University Main Campus earn a median of $52,154 early in their careers. North Dakota State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $25,153 in student loans.
See the full counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program report for North Dakota State University Main Campus
Saint Cloud State University came in at #16 for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services this year. Located in the city of Saint Cloud, Saint Cloud State University is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 39%. There were roughly 15 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services students who graduated with this degree at Saint Cloud State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree from Saint Cloud State University earn around $48,473 in the first couple years of their career. Saint Cloud State University graduates carry a median of $25,076 in student loans.
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Capella University earned the #17 position for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services this year. This very large private for-profit university is located in the city of Minneapolis. Roughly 20% of students complete a degree within six years here. Capella University awarded about 274 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degrees in the most recent data year. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates of Capella University earn a median of $69,183 early in their careers. Capella University graduates carry a median of $35,998 in student loans.
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Emporia State University came in at #18 for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services this year. Set in the town of Emporia, Emporia State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Emporia State University graduates 56% of students within six years. Emporia State University awarded about 16 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 Emporia State University earn around $57,008 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,131.
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Kansas State University placed #19 among the best counselor education/school counseling & guidance services schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Manhattan. About 71% of students finish within six years. About 41 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degrees were awarded at Kansas State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree from Kansas State University earn around $47,436 in the first couple years of their career. Kansas State University graduates carry a median of $23,546 in student loans.
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University Of Missouri St Louis ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best counselor education/school counseling & guidance services schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of Saint Louis. About 57% of students finish within six years. University Of Missouri St Louis awarded about 47 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 Missouri St Louis earn around $44,437 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,943 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in counselor education/school counseling & guidance services from University Of Missouri St Louis
University Of Missouri Kansas City landed the #21 spot for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services this year. This large public university is located in the city of Kansas City. University Of Missouri Kansas City graduates 54% of students within six years. There were roughly 36 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services students who graduated with this degree at University Of Missouri Kansas City in the most recent data year. Students who receive their counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree from University Of Missouri Kansas City earn around $46,957 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $23,741 to complete this degree.
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Missouri State University Springfield placed #22 among the best counselor education/school counseling & guidance services schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Springfield. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. About 44 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degrees were awarded at Missouri State University Springfield in the most recent year. Students who receive their counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degree from Missouri State University Springfield earn around $45,995 in the first couple years of their career. Missouri State University Springfield graduates carry a median of $24,408 in student loans.
See the full counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program report for Missouri State University Springfield
Fort Hays State University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best counselor education/school counseling & guidance services schools. Set in the town of Hays, Fort Hays State University is a large public institution. Roughly 46% of students complete a degree within six years here. Fort Hays State University awarded about 56 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degrees in the most recent data year. Counselor Education/school Counseling & Guidance Services graduates of Fort Hays State University earn a median of $54,939 early in their careers. Fort Hays State University graduates carry a median of $25,967 in student loans.
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Concordia University Seward placed #24 among the best counselor education/school counseling & guidance services schools. Set in the town of Seward, Concordia University Seward is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. Concordia University Seward awarded about 16 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 Seward generally make around $51,046. Typical student debt for the program is $26,726.
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Southeast Missouri State University landed the #25 spot for counselor education/school counseling & guidance services this year. Located in the city of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri State University is a large public university. About 58% of students finish within six years. About 38 counselor education/school counseling & guidance services degrees were awarded at Southeast Missouri State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program make about $45,743 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,289.
See the full counselor education/school counseling & guidance services program report for Southeast Missouri State University
Rest of the Top 28 Counselor Education/School Counseling & Guidance Services Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong counselor education/school counseling & guidance services education:
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 46 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.
