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 27 schools to find where student counseling graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools send student counseling graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Fresno Pacific University earned the #1 spot for highest-paid student counseling graduates in California. Fresno Pacific University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Fresno. Student Counseling graduates of Fresno Pacific University earn a median of about $99,410 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in student counseling will find them at San Jose State University, which ranked #2. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a public institution. Early-career student counseling graduates from San Jose State University make a median of around $82,798 per year.
Concordia University Irvine came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying student counseling schools. Concordia University Irvine is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Irvine. Early-career student counseling graduates from Concordia University Irvine make a median of around $99,962 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in student counseling will find them at University Of La Verne, which ranked #4. Set in the suburb of La Verne, University Of La Verne is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career student counseling graduates from University Of La Verne make a median of around $80,714 per year.
A rank of #5 makes California State University East Bay one of the highest-paying schools for student counseling. California State University East Bay is a public school located in the suburb of Hayward. 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 ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying student counseling schools. Located in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a public institution. Student Counseling graduates of San Francisco State University earn a median of about $86,391 a year early in their careers.
California State University San Bernardino earned the #7 position for student counseling graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of San Bernardino, California State University San Bernardino is a public institution. After graduating, student counseling degree recipients from California State University San Bernardino typically earn about $77,183 annually.
California State University Los Angeles ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying student counseling schools. California State University Los Angeles is a public school located in the city of Los Angeles. After graduating, student counseling degree recipients from California State University Los Angeles typically earn about $82,681 annually.
California State University Bakersfield came in at #9 for student counseling graduate earnings this year. California State University Bakersfield is a public school located in the city of Bakersfield. Student Counseling graduates of California State University Bakersfield earn a median of about $71,950 a year early in their careers.
National University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying student counseling schools. Located 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.
Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System earned the #11 position for student counseling graduate earnings this year. 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.
Saint Marys College Of California landed the #12 spot for student counseling salaries this year. Saint Marys College Of California is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Moraga. After graduating, student counseling degree recipients from Saint Marys College Of California typically earn about $71,831 annually.
California State University Long Beach placed #13 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 #14 spot for student counseling salaries this year. Set in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a public institution. Student Counseling graduates of California State University Sacramento earn a median of about $75,711 a year early in their careers.
California Lutheran University earned the #15 position for student counseling graduate earnings this year. California Lutheran University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Thousand Oaks. After graduating, student counseling degree recipients from California Lutheran University typically earn about $69,710 annually.
University Of Southern California landed the #16 spot for student counseling salaries this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, student counseling degree recipients from University Of Southern California typically earn about $82,260 annually.
California State University Northridge placed #17 among the highest-paying schools for student counseling. Set in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a public institution. Student Counseling graduates of California State University Northridge earn a median of about $72,995 a year early in their careers.
Alliant International University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying student counseling schools. Set in the city of San Diego, Alliant International University is a private for-profit institution. Early-career student counseling graduates from Alliant International University make a median of around $62,285 per year.
University Of Redlands ranked #19 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. Early-career student counseling graduates from University Of Redlands make a median of around $62,205 per year.
Sonoma State University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying student counseling schools. 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.
San Diego State University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying student counseling schools. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a public institution. Student Counseling graduates of San Diego State University earn a median of about $73,724 a year early in their careers.
Loyola Marymount University ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying student counseling schools. Set in the city of Los Angeles, Loyola Marymount University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the student counseling program here go on to a median salary of roughly $66,832.
California State University Fresno placed #23 among the highest-paying schools for student counseling. Located in the city of Fresno, California State University Fresno is a public institution. Early-career student counseling graduates from California State University Fresno make a median of around $68,977 per year.
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo came in at #24 for student counseling graduate earnings this year. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a public school located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo. Student Counseling graduates of California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earn a median of about $53,058 a year early in their careers.
California State University Dominguez Hills ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying student counseling schools. Set in the city of Carson, California State University Dominguez Hills is a public institution. Student Counseling graduates of California State University Dominguez Hills earn a median of about $51,759 a year early in their careers.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid student counseling ranking:
This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their student counseling graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 27 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.