2026 Best Value Student Counseling Schools in Alabama
[Student Counseling](/majors/education/student-counseling/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong student counseling education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 13 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for student counseling students.
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2026 Best Value Student Counseling Schools in Alabama
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in student counseling, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Student Counseling Schools
University Of West Alabama tops our 2026 list of the best value student counseling schools in Alabama. Set in the rural area of Livingston, University Of West Alabama is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,990, with out-of-state students paying around $20,090. Typical student debt for student counseling graduates is $31,894. Soon after graduation, student counseling degree recipients from University Of West Alabama generally make around $62,006. Set against $31,894 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of West Alabama admits about 43% of applicants.
Auburn University At Montgomery came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value student counseling schools. Located in the city of Montgomery, Auburn University At Montgomery is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,700, compared with $20,668 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $29,746 to complete the student counseling program here. Early-career student counseling graduates make about $44,249. That is a strong return on a $29,746 median debt. The acceptance rate is 92%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Jacksonville State University earned it the #3 place for student counseling. Set in the suburb of Jacksonville, Jacksonville State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,894 in tuition and fees, compared with $23,334 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,751 to complete the student counseling program here. Student Counseling graduates of Jacksonville State University earn a median of $58,513 early in their careers. Set against $24,751 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
University Of South Alabama is a great value for students pursuing a degree in student counseling, landing the #4 spot this year. University Of South Alabama is a large public school located in the city of Mobile. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,116, while out-of-state students pay about $19,092. Students borrow a median of $26,513 to complete the student counseling program here. Student Counseling graduates of University Of South Alabama earn a median of $41,205 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of South Alabama admits about 71% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Montevallo one of the best values for student counseling. Located in the town of Montevallo, University Of Montevallo is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,948, with out-of-state students paying around $26,968. Students borrow a median of $25,096 to complete the student counseling program here. Student Counseling graduates of University Of Montevallo earn a median of $41,035 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,096 median debt. Roughly 54% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Alabama At Birmingham landed the #6 spot for student counseling value this year. Set in the city of Birmingham, University Of Alabama At Birmingham is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,098, compared with $22,562 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for student counseling graduates is $26,162. Soon after graduation, student counseling degree recipients from University Of Alabama At Birmingham generally make around $47,610. That is a strong return on a $26,162 median debt. University Of Alabama At Birmingham admits about 88% of applicants.
Auburn University earned the #7 position for value in student counseling this year. Located in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,890 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $34,922. Typical student debt for student counseling graduates is $22,803. Soon after graduation, student counseling degree recipients from Auburn University generally make around $46,449. Set against $22,803 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 46%.
More Student Counseling Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 13 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.
