2026 Best Value Student Counseling Schools in Arkansas
[Student Counseling](/majors/education/student-counseling/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 9 schools to find the best return on investment for student counseling students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Student Counseling Schools in Arkansas
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
Leading the list is Arkansas Tech University, our #1 best value for student counseling in Arkansas. Set in the town of Russellville, Arkansas Tech University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,674, while out-of-state students pay about $14,668. Typical student debt for student counseling graduates is $23,257. Soon after graduation, student counseling degree recipients from Arkansas Tech University generally make around $39,709. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Arkansas Tech University admits about 96% of applicants.
Arkansas State University Main Campus came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value student counseling schools. Located in the city of Jonesboro, Arkansas State University Main Campus is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,090, compared with $14,522 for out-of-state students. Student Counseling graduates carry a median of $23,399 in student loans. Early-career student counseling graduates make about $45,639. That is a strong return on a $23,399 median debt. Arkansas State University Main Campus admits about 82% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in student counseling will find it at Southern Arkansas University Main Campus, which ranked #3. Southern Arkansas University Main Campus is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Magnolia. In-state tuition and fees average $9,960, while out-of-state students pay about $15,690. Typical student debt for student counseling graduates is $20,385. Soon after graduation, student counseling degree recipients from Southern Arkansas University Main Campus generally make around $45,997. Set against $20,385 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Central Arkansas is a great value for students pursuing a degree in student counseling, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of Conway, University Of Central Arkansas is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,523, while out-of-state students pay about $18,023. Typical student debt for student counseling graduates is $22,920. Early-career student counseling graduates make about $47,217. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Arkansas one of the best values for student counseling. Set in the city of Fayetteville, University Of Arkansas is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,104, with out-of-state students paying around $29,966. Typical student debt for student counseling graduates is $24,019. Early-career student counseling graduates make about $45,925. That is a strong return on a $24,019 median debt. University Of Arkansas admits about 74% of applicants.
Harding University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value student counseling schools. Located in the town of Searcy, Harding University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $25,962. Students borrow a median of $26,715 to complete the student counseling program here. Early-career student counseling graduates make about $47,027. Set against $26,715 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Harding University admits about 70% of applicants.
More Student Counseling Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.
