2027 Best Value Student Counseling Schools in Iowa
[Student Counseling](/majors/education/student-counseling/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 4 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for student counseling students.
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2027 Best Value Student Counseling Schools in Iowa
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in student counseling, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Student Counseling Schools
University Of Northern Iowa tops our 2027 list of the best value student counseling schools in Iowa. Set in the city of Cedar Falls, University Of Northern Iowa is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,936, with out-of-state students paying around $21,712. Students borrow a median of $22,635 to complete the student counseling program here. Student Counseling graduates of University Of Northern Iowa earn a median of $46,566 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,635 median debt. University Of Northern Iowa admits about 93% of applicants.
Buena Vista University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in student counseling, landing the #2 spot this year. Buena Vista University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Storm Lake. In-state tuition and fees average $41,798. Student Counseling graduates carry a median of $29,317 in student loans. Soon after graduation, student counseling degree recipients from Buena Vista University generally make around $49,397. That is a strong return on a $29,317 median debt. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Iowa came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value student counseling schools. University Of Iowa is a very large public school located in the city of Iowa City. Students from in state pay about $11,283 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $33,371. Typical student debt for student counseling graduates is $24,463. Soon after graduation, student counseling degree recipients from University Of Iowa generally make around $48,327. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Iowa admits about 84% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes Drake University one of the best values for student counseling. Located in the city of Des Moines, Drake University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $51,960 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for student counseling graduates is $22,273. Student Counseling graduates of Drake University earn a median of $54,800 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,273 median debt. Drake University admits about 64% of applicants.
More Student Counseling Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
