by our College Data Analytics Team
[Student Counseling](/majors/education/student-counseling/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 44 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.
Our analysis ranked Concordia University Chicago the top school for student counseling graduate earnings in the Great Lakes Region. Concordia University Chicago is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of River Forest. After graduating, student counseling degree recipients from Concordia University Chicago typically earn about $76,150 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in student counseling will find them at Indiana University Southeast, which ranked #2. Indiana University Southeast is a public school located in the suburb of New Albany. Early-career student counseling graduates from Indiana University Southeast make a median of around $69,849 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at Northeastern Illinois University earned it the #3 place for student counseling. Set in the city of Chicago, Northeastern Illinois University is a public institution. After graduating, student counseling degree recipients from Northeastern Illinois University typically earn about $68,449 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in student counseling will find them at Roosevelt University, which ranked #4. Roosevelt University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Students who complete the student counseling program here go on to a median salary of roughly $60,768.
Lewis University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying student counseling schools. Located in the suburb of Romeoville, Lewis University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the student counseling program here go on to a median salary of roughly $64,864.
University Of Wisconsin River Falls earned the #6 position for student counseling graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of River Falls, University Of Wisconsin River Falls is a public institution. Students who complete the student counseling program here go on to a median salary of roughly $64,720.
Northern Illinois University landed the #7 spot for student counseling salaries this year. Northern Illinois University is a public school located in the suburb of Dekalb. Early-career student counseling graduates from Northern Illinois University make a median of around $67,261 per year.
Michigan State University earned the #8 position for student counseling graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a public institution. Student Counseling graduates of Michigan State University earn a median of about $66,681 a year early in their careers.
Depaul University landed the #9 spot for student counseling salaries this year. Depaul University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. After graduating, student counseling degree recipients from Depaul University typically earn about $64,635 annually.
Bradley University placed #10 among the highest-paying schools for student counseling. Bradley University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Peoria. After graduating, student counseling degree recipients from Bradley University typically earn about $53,679 annually.
Butler University placed #11 among the highest-paying schools for student counseling. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Butler University is a private not-for-profit institution. Student Counseling graduates of Butler University earn a median of about $54,880 a year early in their careers.
Central Michigan University earned the #12 position for student counseling graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a public institution. Early-career student counseling graduates from Central Michigan University make a median of around $61,318 per year.
University Of Wisconsin Whitewater ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying student counseling schools. University Of Wisconsin Whitewater is a public school located in the town of Whitewater. Student Counseling graduates of University Of Wisconsin Whitewater earn a median of about $60,978 a year early in their careers.
Wayne State University earned the #14 position for student counseling graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Detroit, Wayne State University is a public institution. After graduating, student counseling degree recipients from Wayne State University typically earn about $62,834 annually.
Concordia University Wisconsin placed #15 among the highest-paying schools for student counseling. Set in the suburb of Mequon, Concordia University Wisconsin is a private not-for-profit institution. Student Counseling graduates of Concordia University Wisconsin earn a median of about $54,774 a year early in their careers.
University Of Wisconsin Superior came in at #16 for student counseling graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Superior, University Of Wisconsin Superior is a public institution. After graduating, student counseling degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Superior typically earn about $57,218 annually.
Mount Mary College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying student counseling schools. Located in the city of Milwaukee, Mount Mary College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career student counseling graduates from Mount Mary College make a median of around $53,015 per year.
Oakland University came in at #18 for student counseling graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a public institution. Early-career student counseling graduates from Oakland University make a median of around $60,137 per year.
Miami University Oxford landed the #19 spot for student counseling salaries this year. Set in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a public institution. Early-career student counseling graduates from Miami University Oxford make a median of around $60,995 per year.
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis came in at #20 for student counseling graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a public institution. Early-career student counseling graduates from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis make a median of around $55,449 per year.
University Of Wisconsin Stout ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying student counseling schools. Located in the town of Menomonie, University Of Wisconsin Stout is a public institution. Student Counseling graduates of University Of Wisconsin Stout earn a median of about $56,339 a year early in their careers.
Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne earned the #22 position for student counseling graduate earnings this year. Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne is a public school located in the city of Fort Wayne. After graduating, student counseling degree recipients from Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne typically earn about $54,671 annually.
Eastern Michigan University earned the #23 position for student counseling graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Ypsilanti, Eastern Michigan University is a public institution. Students who complete the student counseling program here go on to a median salary of roughly $55,285.
Cleveland State University came in at #24 for student counseling graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Cleveland, Cleveland State University is a public institution. Students who complete the student counseling program here go on to a median salary of roughly $55,353.
Grand Valley State University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying student counseling schools. Grand Valley State University is a public school located in the town of Allendale. Early-career student counseling graduates from Grand Valley State University make a median of around $50,498 per year.
Not far behind, these schools also produced high-earning student counseling graduates:
This ranking is produced 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 · 44 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.