by our College Data Analytics Team
[Student Counseling](/majors/education/student-counseling/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. The schools below stand out for the salaries their student counseling graduates go on to command.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 40 schools to find where student counseling graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose student counseling graduates go on to earn the most.
Fresno Pacific University tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying student counseling schools in the Far Western Region. Fresno Pacific University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Fresno. Early-career student counseling graduates from Fresno Pacific University make a median of around $99,410 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in student counseling will find them at San Jose State University, which ranked #2. San Jose State University is a public school located in the city of San Jose. Students who complete the student counseling program here go on to a median salary of roughly $82,798.
Concordia University Irvine came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying student counseling schools. Located in the city of Irvine, Concordia University Irvine is a private not-for-profit institution. Student Counseling graduates of Concordia University Irvine earn a median of about $99,962 a year early in their careers.
University Of La Verne came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying student counseling schools. Set in the suburb of La Verne, University Of La Verne is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, student counseling degree recipients from University Of La Verne typically earn about $80,714 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in student counseling will find them at California State University East Bay, which ranked #5. Set in the suburb of Hayward, California State University East Bay is a public institution. Student Counseling graduates of California State University East Bay earn a median of about $91,139 a year early in their careers.
San Francisco State University landed the #6 spot for student counseling salaries this year. Set in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a public institution. After graduating, student counseling degree recipients from San Francisco State University typically earn about $86,391 annually.
California State University San Bernardino came in at #7 for student counseling graduate earnings this year. California State University San Bernardino is a public school located in the city of San Bernardino. Early-career student counseling graduates from California State University San Bernardino make a median of around $77,183 per year.
City University Of Seattle placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for student counseling. Located in the city of Seattle, City University Of Seattle is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career student counseling graduates from City University Of Seattle make a median of around $76,265 per year.
Seattle University landed the #9 spot for student counseling salaries this year. Set in the city of Seattle, Seattle University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the student counseling program here go on to a median salary of roughly $82,379.
California State University Los Angeles landed the #10 spot for student counseling salaries this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, California State University Los Angeles is a public institution. Students who complete the student counseling program here go on to a median salary of roughly $82,681.
California State University Bakersfield placed #11 among the highest-paying schools for student counseling. Located in the city of Bakersfield, California State University Bakersfield is a public institution. After graduating, student counseling degree recipients from California State University Bakersfield typically earn about $71,950 annually.
National University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying student counseling schools. Set in the city of San Diego, National University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, student counseling degree recipients from National University typically earn about $80,788 annually.
Seattle Pacific University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying student counseling schools. Seattle Pacific University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Seattle. Student Counseling graduates of Seattle Pacific University earn a median of about $69,340 a year early in their careers.
Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System placed #14 among the highest-paying schools for student counseling. Located in the suburb of Aliso Viejo, Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System is a public institution. Student Counseling graduates of Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System earn a median of about $68,207 a year early in their careers.
University Of Puget Sound came in at #15 for student counseling graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Tacoma, University Of Puget Sound is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career student counseling graduates from University Of Puget Sound make a median of around $67,394 per year.
Saint Marys College Of California placed #16 among the highest-paying schools for student counseling. Located in the suburb of Moraga, Saint Marys College Of California is a private not-for-profit institution. Student Counseling graduates of Saint Marys College Of California earn a median of about $71,831 a year early in their careers.
California State University Long Beach placed #17 among the highest-paying schools for student counseling. Set in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a public institution. Student Counseling graduates of California State University Long Beach earn a median of about $79,331 a year early in their careers.
California State University Sacramento landed the #18 spot for student counseling salaries this year. Located in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a public institution. Early-career student counseling graduates from California State University Sacramento make a median of around $75,711 per year.
California Lutheran University came in at #19 for student counseling graduate earnings this year. California Lutheran University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Thousand Oaks. Students who complete the student counseling program here go on to a median salary of roughly $69,710.
University Of Southern California landed the #20 spot for student counseling salaries this year. University Of Southern California is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. Early-career student counseling graduates from University Of Southern California make a median of around $82,260 per year.
California State University Northridge ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying student counseling schools. California State University Northridge is a public school located in the city of Northridge. Early-career student counseling graduates from California State University Northridge make a median of around $72,995 per year.
Lewis And Clark College placed #22 among the highest-paying schools for student counseling. Lewis And Clark College is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Portland. Student Counseling graduates of Lewis And Clark College earn a median of about $63,413 a year early in their careers.
Alliant International University landed the #23 spot for student counseling salaries this year. Set in the city of San Diego, Alliant International University is a private for-profit institution. Student Counseling graduates of Alliant International University earn a median of about $62,285 a year early in their careers.
University Of Redlands ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying student counseling schools. Located in the city of Redlands, University Of Redlands is a private not-for-profit institution. Student Counseling graduates of University Of Redlands earn a median of about $62,205 a year early in their careers.
Sonoma State University earned the #25 position for student counseling graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Rohnert Park, Sonoma State University is a public institution. Student Counseling graduates of Sonoma State University earn a median of about $68,590 a year early in their careers.
These schools also send student counseling graduates into strong-paying careers this year:
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries student counseling graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 40 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.