2026 Best Value Student Counseling Schools in Virginia
[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.
College Factual analyzed 15 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value student counseling schools.
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2026 Best Value Student Counseling Schools in Virginia
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
Old Dominion University tops our 2026 list of the best value student counseling schools in Virginia. Located in the city of Norfolk, Old Dominion University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,750, with out-of-state students paying around $33,780. Student Counseling graduates carry a median of $26,001 in student loans. Student Counseling graduates of Old Dominion University earn a median of $48,167 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Old Dominion University admits about 90% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes George Mason University one of the best values for student counseling. George Mason University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fairfax. In-state tuition and fees average $14,220, while out-of-state students pay about $38,688. Typical student debt for student counseling graduates is $23,529. Soon after graduation, student counseling degree recipients from George Mason University generally make around $57,681. That is a strong return on a $23,529 median debt. George Mason University admits about 88% of applicants.
Virginia State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in student counseling, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Petersburg, Virginia State University is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,043, compared with $22,650 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $29,010 to complete the student counseling program here. Soon after graduation, student counseling degree recipients from Virginia State University generally make around $40,620. That is a strong return on a $29,010 median debt. Virginia State University admits about 89% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes Radford University one of the best values for student counseling. Radford University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Radford. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,548, with out-of-state students paying around $25,633. Typical student debt for student counseling graduates is $25,514. Soon after graduation, student counseling degree recipients from Radford University generally make around $47,838. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Radford University admits about 90% of applicants.
A rank of #5 makes Virginia Commonwealth University one of the best values for student counseling. Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public school located in the city of Richmond. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,720, with out-of-state students paying around $39,884. Typical student debt for student counseling graduates is $23,813. Student Counseling graduates of Virginia Commonwealth University earn a median of $53,756 early in their careers. Set against $23,813 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Virginia Commonwealth University admits about 93% of applicants.
Regent University landed the #6 spot for student counseling value this year. Regent University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Virginia Beach. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,650. Student Counseling graduates carry a median of $29,451 in student loans. Early-career student counseling graduates make about $40,366. That is a strong return on a $29,451 median debt. Regent University admits about 38% of applicants.
Longwood University placed #7 among the best values for student counseling. Longwood University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Farmville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,740, while out-of-state students pay about $27,980. Typical student debt for student counseling graduates is $25,649. Early-career student counseling graduates make about $43,800. Set against $25,649 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Longwood University admits about 90% of applicants.
James Madison University placed #8 among the best values for student counseling. James Madison University is a very large public school located in the city of Harrisonburg. In-state tuition and fees average $13,966, while out-of-state students pay about $31,312. Student Counseling graduates carry a median of $21,218 in student loans. Early-career student counseling graduates make about $49,231. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. James Madison University admits about 72% of applicants.
College Of William And Mary ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value student counseling schools. College Of William And Mary is a large public school located in the suburb of Williamsburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $25,734, with out-of-state students paying around $51,038. Typical student debt for student counseling graduates is $18,935. Soon after graduation, student counseling degree recipients from College Of William And Mary generally make around $48,083. That is a strong return on a $18,935 median debt. College Of William And Mary admits about 34% of applicants.
University Of Virginia Main Campus landed the #10 spot for student counseling value this year. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $23,118, compared with $61,591 for out-of-state students. Student Counseling graduates carry a median of $18,627 in student loans. Soon after graduation, student counseling degree recipients from University Of Virginia Main Campus generally make around $55,919. Set against $18,627 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 17% of applicants are accepted.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University came in at #11 for value in student counseling this year. Set in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,948, while out-of-state students pay about $37,764. Students borrow a median of $23,393 to complete the student counseling program here. Student Counseling graduates of Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earn a median of $60,004 early in their careers. Set against $23,393 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 55%.
Liberty University came in at #12 for value in student counseling this year. Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Lynchburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,173. Typical student debt for student counseling graduates is $27,414. Soon after graduation, student counseling degree recipients from Liberty University generally make around $49,663. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Liberty University admits about 99% of applicants.
Hampton University came in at #13 for value in student counseling this year. Hampton University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Hampton. Students from in state pay about $30,592 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for student counseling graduates is $26,169. Soon after graduation, student counseling degree recipients from Hampton University generally make around $46,870. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 62% of applicants are accepted.
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 · 15 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.
