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2023 Best Value Colleges for Student Counseling in the Plains States Region

34 Ranked Colleges
1,806 Degrees Awarded
$18,300 Avg Net Price*
Best Value Student Counseling Schools in the Plains States Region

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Student Counseling Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking is part of that endeavor.

In 2020-2021, 13,858 people earned their degree in student counseling, making the major the 72nd most popular in the United States. In 2019-2020, student counseling graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $44,291 and had an average of $0 in loans still to pay off.

Across the Plains States region, there were 1,806 student counseling graduates with average earnings and debt of $43,547 and $0 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Student Counseling Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking analyzed 34 colleges that offered a degree in student counseling. This ranking identifies schools with high-quality student counseling programs that also have a lower cost than schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the student counseling program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

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The student counseling school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Student Counseling Schools in the Plains States Region”.

In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat. When you have some time, check it out - you may want to bookmark the link so you don’t forget it.

Best Value Student Counseling Schools in the Plains States Region

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Student Counseling Schools in the Plains States Region.

Top 25 Best Value Colleges for Student Counseling in the Plains States Region

1
Capella University crest
Capella University
Minneapolis, Minnesota

Out of the 34 schools in the Best Value Student Counseling Schools in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Capella University landed the #1 spot on the list. Capella University is a large private for-profit school situated in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It awarded 361 ’s student counseling degrees in 2020-2021.

Capella University also made our “Best Student Counseling Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #4. The estimated yearly cost for Capella University is $16,545 for plains states region student counseling students.

Read more about Student Counseling at Capella University

2
WSC crest
Wayne State College
Wayne, Nebraska

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Wayne State College. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Student Counseling Schools in the Plains States Region. WSC is a public institution located in Wayne, Nebraska. The school has a small population, and it awarded 34 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region student counseling students list, WSC has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Student Counseling Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $14,141 for plains states region student counseling students per year to attend WSC.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Wayne State College Student Counseling Report

3

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend North Dakota State University - Main Campus. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Student Counseling Schools in the Plains States Region. Located in Fargo, North Dakota, this fairly large public school awarded 21 diplomas to qualified ’s student counseling students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region student counseling students list, North Dakota State University has also earned the #9 rank in our “Best Student Counseling Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for North Dakota State University is $16,998 for Plains States Region Student Counseling students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 2.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Student Counseling at North Dakota State University

4
Drake crest
Drake University
Des Moines, Iowa

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Drake University. It ranked #4 on our 2023 Best Value Student Counseling Schools in the Plains States Region list. Drake University is a small school located in Des Moines, Iowa that handed out 37 ’s student counseling degrees in 2020-2021.

Drake did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #6 on our “Best Student Counseling Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Drake is $29,903 for Plains States Region Student Counseling students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.9%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. The school has an excellent freshman retention rate of 86%, which means students like the school well enough to return for a second year. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read more about Student Counseling at Drake University

5
St. Cloud State University crest
Saint Cloud State University
Saint Cloud, Minnesota

Out of the 34 schools in the Best Value Student Counseling Schools in the Plains States Region that were part of this year’s ranking, Saint Cloud State University landed the #5 spot on the list. Saint Cloud, Minnesota is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s student counseling degrees to 27 students in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region student counseling students list, St. Cloud State University has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Student Counseling Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $14,581 for plains states region student counseling students per year to attend Saint Cloud State University.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.6%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Student Counseling at St. Cloud State University

6
BVU crest
Buena Vista University
Storm Lake, Iowa

Buena Vista University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Student Counseling Schools in the Plains States Region list. BVU is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Storm Lake, Iowa. It awarded 80 ’s student counseling degrees in 2020-2021.

BVU also made our “Best Student Counseling Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #14. The estimated yearly cost for BVU is $18,054 for Plains States Region Student Counseling students.

Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Student Counseling at BVU

7
Southeast Missouri State University crest
Southeast Missouri State University
Cape Girardeau, Missouri

Southeast Missouri State University ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Student Counseling Schools in the Plains States Region list. Southeast Missouri State University is a medium-sized public school situated in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. It awarded 34 ’s student counseling degrees in 2020-2021.

Southeast Missouri State University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #16 on our “Best Student Counseling Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Southeast Missouri State University is $13,568 for plains states region student counseling students.

Read more about Student Counseling at Southeast Missouri State University

8

Minnesota State University - Moorhead ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Student Counseling Schools in the Plains States Region list. Minnesota State University - Moorhead is a public institution located in Moorhead, Minnesota. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 26 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

MSU Moorhead did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best Student Counseling Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend MSU Moorhead is $17,680 for plains states region student counseling students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.0%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Student Counseling at MSU Moorhead

9
South Dakota State crest
South Dakota State University
Brookings, South Dakota

South Dakota State University ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Student Counseling Schools in the Plains States Region list. South Dakota State is a public institution located in Brookings, South Dakota. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 13 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at South Dakota State, the school also landed the #12 spot in our “Best Student Counseling Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for South Dakota State University is $18,578 for plains states region student counseling students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full South Dakota State Student Counseling Report

10
Walden University crest
Walden University
Minneapolis, Minnesota

With a ranking of #10, Walden University did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Student Counseling Schools in the Plains States Region list. Walden University is a private for-profit institution located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The school has a large population, and it awarded 101 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Walden University, the school also landed the #21 spot in our “Best Student Counseling Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 4.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Walden University Student Counseling Report

11
Winona State crest
Winona State University
Winona, Minnesota

Winona State University ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Student Counseling Schools in the Plains States Region list. This medium-sized school is located in Winona, Minnesota, and it awarded 11 ’s student counseling degrees in 2020-2021.

Winona State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #19 on our “Best Student Counseling Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Winona State is $17,634 for plains states region student counseling students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Winona State University Student Counseling Report

12
Loras crest
Loras College
Dubuque, Iowa

Loras College ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Student Counseling Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in Dubuque, Iowa, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 21 degrees to qualified ’s student counseling students in 2020-2021.

Loras also took the #20 spot in our “Best Student Counseling Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Loras College is $21,629 for plains states region student counseling students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Student Counseling at Loras

13
UND crest
University of North Dakota
Grand Forks, North Dakota

University of North Dakota did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Student Counseling Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #13. UND is a fairly large public school situated in Grand Forks, North Dakota. It awarded 32 ’s student counseling degrees in 2020-2021.

In addition to being on our plains states region student counseling students list, UND has also earned the #7 rank in our “Best Student Counseling Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. It costs about $16,966 for Plains States Region Student Counseling students per year to attend University of North Dakota.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full University of North Dakota Student Counseling Report

14
Chadron State College crest
Chadron State College
Chadron, Nebraska

With a ranking of #14, Chadron State College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Student Counseling Schools in the Plains States Region list. Located in Chadron, Nebraska, this small public school awarded 19 diplomas to qualified ’s student counseling students in 2020-2021.

Chadron State College not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #23 on our “Best Student Counseling Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Chadron State College is $15,097 for Plains States Region Student Counseling students.

Read more about Student Counseling at Chadron State College

15
K -State crest
Kansas State University
Manhattan, Kansas

Kansas State University landed the #15 spot on the 2023 Best Value Student Counseling Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Located in Manhattan, Kansas, this large public school handed out 154 diplomas to qualified ’s student counseling students in 2020-2021.

K -State not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #3 on our “Best Student Counseling Schools in the Plains States Region” list. The yearly cost to attend Kansas State University is $18,433 for plains states region student counseling students.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 87%. The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.7%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Full Kansas State University Student Counseling Report

16

University of Nebraska at Kearney did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Student Counseling Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #16. This medium-sized school is located in Kearney, Nebraska, and it awarded 53 ’s student counseling degrees in 2020-2021.

UNK also made our “Best Student Counseling Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #13. The yearly cost to attend UNK is $17,099 for plains states region student counseling students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 3.1%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Student Counseling at University of Nebraska at Kearney

17
Creighton crest
Creighton University
Omaha, Nebraska

Creighton University came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Student Counseling Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Omaha, Nebraska, and it awarded 48 ’s student counseling degrees in 2020-2021.

Creighton also made our “Best Student Counseling Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #5. The yearly cost to attend Creighton University is $31,218 for Plains States Region Student Counseling students.

With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.6% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Student Counseling at Creighton

18
Doane Crete crest
Doane University
Crete, Nebraska

Doane University came in at #18 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Student Counseling Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Doane Crete is a private not-for-profit institution located in Crete, Nebraska. The school has a small population, and it awarded 20 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Doane University is $23,440 for Plains States Region Student Counseling students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.6%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Doane Crete Student Counseling Report

19

University of Northern Iowa came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Student Counseling Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. UNI is a medium-sized public school situated in Cedar Falls, Iowa. It awarded 33 ’s student counseling degrees in 2020-2021.

UNI also made our “Best Student Counseling Schools in the Plains States Region” list, coming in at #10. The yearly cost to attend University of Northern Iowa is $16,438 for plains states region student counseling students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.8%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Read full report on Student Counseling at University of Northern Iowa

20
Stephens crest
Stephens College
Columbia, Missouri

With a ranking of #20, Stephens College did quite well on the 2023 Best Value Student Counseling Schools in the Plains States Region list. Columbia, Missouri is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s student counseling degrees to 17 students in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Stephens is $22,460 for Plains States Region Student Counseling students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.7% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Stephens Student Counseling Report

21
NSU crest
Northern State University
Aberdeen, South Dakota

Northern State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Student Counseling Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #21. Northern State University is a small public school situated in Aberdeen, South Dakota. It awarded 13 ’s student counseling degrees in 2020-2021.

NSU did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #25 on our “Best Student Counseling Schools in the Plains States Region” list. It costs about $16,695 for plains states region student counseling students per year to attend NSU.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.7%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Student Counseling at Northern State University

22

University of Missouri - Columbia came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Student Counseling Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. Mizzou is located in Columbia, Missouri and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 227 ’s student counseling degrees to qualified students.

In addition to being on our plains states region student counseling students list, Mizzou has also earned the #1 rank in our “Best Student Counseling Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The yearly cost to attend Mizzou is $16,559 for Plains States Region Student Counseling students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 89%.

Read more about Student Counseling at Mizzou

23

Northwest Missouri State University did quite well in the 2023 Best Value Student Counseling Schools in the Plains States Region ranking, coming in at #23. Northwest is a public institution located in Maryville, Missouri. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 10 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Northwest Missouri State University is $12,925 for plains states region student counseling students.

Read full report on Student Counseling at Northwest

24

Wichita State University ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Student Counseling Schools in the Plains States Region list. This fairly large school is located in Wichita, Kansas, and it awarded 46 ’s student counseling degrees in 2020-2021.

WSU also took the #17 spot in our “Best Student Counseling Schools in the Plains States Region” ranking. The estimated yearly cost for Wichita State University is $14,859 for plains states region student counseling students.

Full Wichita State University Student Counseling Report

25

Missouri State University - Springfield came in at #25 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Student Counseling Schools in the Plains States Region ranking. This large school is located in Springfield, Missouri, and it awarded 35 ’s student counseling degrees in 2020-2021.

The yearly cost to attend Missouri State University - Springfield is $16,718 for Plains States Region Student Counseling students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 3.9% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Missouri State Student Counseling Report

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