2026 Best Value Student Counseling Schools in Ohio
[Student Counseling](/majors/education/student-counseling/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 17 schools to find the best return on investment for student counseling students.
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2026 Best Value Student Counseling Schools in Ohio
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the student counseling degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Student Counseling Schools
Our analysis ranked University Of Akron Main Campus the best value for a degree in student counseling in Ohio. Set in the city of Akron, University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,135, with out-of-state students paying around $20,815. Students borrow a median of $25,347 to complete the student counseling program here. Soon after graduation, student counseling degree recipients from University Of Akron Main Campus generally make around $43,943. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes Cleveland State University one of the best values for student counseling. Set in the city of Cleveland, Cleveland State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,982 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,502. Students borrow a median of $26,336 to complete the student counseling program here. Soon after graduation, student counseling degree recipients from Cleveland State University generally make around $47,850. Set against $26,336 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cleveland State University admits about 91% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Kent State University At Kent earned it the #3 place for student counseling. Set in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,220, with out-of-state students paying around $21,575. Typical student debt for student counseling graduates is $25,174. Student Counseling graduates of Kent State University At Kent earn a median of $44,228 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,174 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes Bowling Green State University Main Campus one of the best values for student counseling. Set in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,912, with out-of-state students paying around $21,900. Typical student debt for student counseling graduates is $25,449. Early-career student counseling graduates make about $44,373. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Bowling Green State University Main Campus admits about 81% of applicants.
Miami University Oxford is a great value for students pursuing a degree in student counseling, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,519, compared with $38,965 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,177 to complete the student counseling program here. Early-career student counseling graduates make about $46,525. Set against $24,177 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
John Carroll University came in at #6 for value in student counseling this year. Set in the suburb of University Heights, John Carroll University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $50,500 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for student counseling graduates is $26,131. Student Counseling graduates of John Carroll University earn a median of $44,308 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. John Carroll University admits about 81% of applicants.
University Of Dayton came in at #7 for value in student counseling this year. Located in the city of Dayton, University Of Dayton is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $49,140. Student Counseling graduates carry a median of $25,033 in student loans. Early-career student counseling graduates make about $44,510. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
More Student Counseling Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 17 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 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.
