2027 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. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 12 schools to find the best return on investment for student counseling students.
What’s on this page:
2027 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
Radford University earned the #1 spot for value among student counseling schools in Virginia. Located in the town of Radford, Radford University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $12,548 in tuition and fees, compared with $25,633 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $25,514 to complete the student counseling program here. Student Counseling graduates of Radford University earn a median of $47,838 early in their careers. Set against $25,514 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Radford University admits about 90% of applicants.
Old Dominion University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value student counseling schools. Set in the city of Norfolk, Old Dominion University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,750, compared with $33,780 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,001 to complete the student counseling program here. Early-career student counseling graduates make about $48,167. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
George Mason University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value student counseling schools. Located in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $14,220, compared with $38,688 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,529 to complete the student counseling program here. Early-career student counseling graduates make about $57,681. That is a strong return on a $23,529 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
College Of William And Mary is a great value for students pursuing a degree in student counseling, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Williamsburg, College Of William And Mary is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $25,734, compared with $51,038 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for student counseling graduates is $18,935. Student Counseling graduates of College Of William And Mary earn a median of $48,083 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 34% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Longwood University earned it the #5 place for student counseling. Longwood University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Farmville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,740, while out-of-state students pay about $27,980. Typical student debt for student counseling graduates is $25,649. Soon after graduation, student counseling degree recipients from Longwood University generally make around $43,800. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Virginia Main Campus ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value student counseling schools. Set in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $23,118, compared with $61,591 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for student counseling graduates is $18,627. Student Counseling graduates of University Of Virginia Main Campus earn a median of $55,919 early in their careers. Set against $18,627 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 17%.
Regent University earned the #7 position for value in student counseling this year. Located in the city of Virginia Beach, Regent University is a large private not-for-profit university. 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. The acceptance rate is 38%.
James Madison University earned the #8 position for value in student counseling this year. James Madison University is a very large public school located in the city of Harrisonburg. In-state tuition and fees average $13,966, compared with $31,312 for out-of-state students. 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.
Virginia Commonwealth University placed #9 among the best values for student counseling. Located in the city of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $16,720, compared with $39,884 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for student counseling graduates is $23,813. Early-career student counseling graduates make about $53,756. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Virginia Commonwealth University admits about 93% of applicants.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University earned the #10 position for value in student counseling this year. Located in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,948, compared with $37,764 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for student counseling graduates is $23,393. 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%.
Hampton University earned the #11 position for value in student counseling this year. Located in the suburb of Hampton, Hampton University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $30,592. Student Counseling graduates carry a median of $26,169 in student loans. Soon after graduation, student counseling degree recipients from Hampton University generally make around $46,870. Set against $26,169 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 62%.
Liberty University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value student counseling schools. Set in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $16,173 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for student counseling graduates is $27,414. Student Counseling graduates of Liberty University earn a median of $49,663 early in their careers. Set against $27,414 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 99% 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), 2027 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 · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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.
