2027 Best Value Student Counseling Schools in Pennsylvania

[Student Counseling](/majors/education/student-counseling/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 14 schools to find the best return on investment for student counseling students.
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2027 Best Value Student Counseling Schools in Pennsylvania
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in student counseling, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Student Counseling Schools
For return on investment in student counseling, no school beat Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus this year. Located in the town of Indiana, Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,380, compared with $16,297 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for student counseling graduates is $26,513. Student Counseling graduates of Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus earn a median of $43,914 early in their careers. Set against $26,513 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus admits about 91% of applicants.
Pennsylvania Western University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in student counseling, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the town of California, Pennsylvania Western University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,436, with out-of-state students paying around $16,054. Typical student debt for student counseling graduates is $28,263. Soon after graduation, student counseling degree recipients from Pennsylvania Western University generally make around $44,940. That is a strong return on a $28,263 median debt. The acceptance rate is 94%.
A rank of #3 makes Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania one of the best values for student counseling. Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Slippery Rock. Students from in state pay about $10,568 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,676. Student Counseling graduates carry a median of $26,330 in student loans. Student Counseling graduates of Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $39,860 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Millersville University Of Pennsylvania came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value student counseling schools. Set in the suburb of Millersville, Millersville University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $11,128, while out-of-state students pay about $22,952. Typical student debt for student counseling graduates is $26,486. Student Counseling graduates of Millersville University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $47,049 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,486 median debt. Millersville University Of Pennsylvania admits about 86% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania one of the best values for student counseling. Located in the town of Kutztown, Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $11,206 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $16,330. Student Counseling graduates carry a median of $26,867 in student loans. Student Counseling graduates of Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $51,775 early in their careers. Set against $26,867 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania admits about 91% of applicants.
West Chester University Of Pennsylvania landed the #6 spot for student counseling value this year. West Chester University Of Pennsylvania is a large public school located in the suburb of West Chester. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,775, with out-of-state students paying around $22,599. Graduates go on to earn a median of $61,258 ten years after entry. West Chester University Of Pennsylvania admits about 78% of applicants.
Marywood University landed the #7 spot for student counseling value this year. Marywood University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Scranton. In-state tuition and fees average $41,420. Students borrow a median of $27,744 to complete the student counseling program here. Soon after graduation, student counseling degree recipients from Marywood University generally make around $47,361. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania came in at #8 for value in student counseling this year. Located in the town of Shippensburg, Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,570, compared with $15,824 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,307 to complete the student counseling program here. Soon after graduation, student counseling degree recipients from Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $49,144. Set against $26,307 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Eastern University ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value student counseling schools. Set in the suburb of Saint Davids, Eastern University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $38,400 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for student counseling graduates is $28,584. Soon after graduation, student counseling degree recipients from Eastern University generally make around $50,474. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Eastern University admits about 91% of applicants.
Gwynedd Mercy College earned the #10 position for value in student counseling this year. Located in the suburb of Gwynedd Valley, Gwynedd Mercy College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $40,838 in tuition and fees. Student Counseling graduates carry a median of $29,764 in student loans. Soon after graduation, student counseling degree recipients from Gwynedd Mercy College generally make around $53,555. Set against $29,764 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus landed the #11 spot for student counseling value this year. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $20,644, compared with $41,790 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for student counseling graduates is $25,266. Soon after graduation, student counseling degree recipients from Pennsylvania State University Main Campus generally make around $45,522. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
Lehigh University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value student counseling schools. Lehigh University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bethlehem. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $64,980. Students borrow a median of $23,008 to complete the student counseling program here. Student Counseling graduates of Lehigh University earn a median of $44,468 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,008 median debt. Roughly 26% of applicants are accepted.
Duquesne University came in at #13 for value in student counseling this year. Set in the city of Pittsburgh, Duquesne University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $48,986. Student Counseling graduates carry a median of $26,297 in student loans. Soon after graduation, student counseling degree recipients from Duquesne University generally make around $50,662. Set against $26,297 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Villanova University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value student counseling schools. Set in the suburb of Villanova, Villanova University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $67,776. Typical student debt for student counseling graduates is $26,184. Early-career student counseling graduates make about $49,796. Set against $26,184 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Villanova University admits about 27% of applicants.
More Student Counseling Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 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.