by our College Data Analytics Team
[Student Counseling](/majors/education/student-counseling/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 100 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 the United States. Fresno Pacific University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Fresno. After graduating, student counseling degree recipients from Fresno Pacific University typically earn about $99,410 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at San Jose State University earned it the #2 place for student counseling. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a public institution. Student Counseling graduates of San Jose State University earn a median of about $82,798 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in student counseling will find them at Concordia University Irvine, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Irvine, Concordia University Irvine is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the student counseling program here go on to a median salary of roughly $99,962.
A rank of #4 makes University Of La Verne one of the highest-paying schools for student counseling. Located 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.
California State University East Bay came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying student counseling schools. California State University East Bay is a public school located in the suburb of Hayward. After graduating, student counseling degree recipients from California State University East Bay typically earn about $91,139 annually.
San Francisco State University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying student counseling schools. San Francisco State University is a public school located in the city of San Francisco. After graduating, student counseling degree recipients from San Francisco State University typically earn about $86,391 annually.
Cuny Lehman College earned the #7 position for student counseling graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Bronx, Cuny Lehman College is a public institution. After graduating, student counseling degree recipients from Cuny Lehman College typically earn about $89,187 annually.
California State University San Bernardino earned the #8 position for student counseling graduate earnings this year. Set 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.
City University Of Seattle earned the #9 position for student counseling graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Seattle, City University Of Seattle is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, student counseling degree recipients from City University Of Seattle typically earn about $76,265 annually.
Concordia University Chicago ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying student counseling schools. Set in the suburb of River Forest, Concordia University Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, student counseling degree recipients from Concordia University Chicago typically earn about $76,150 annually.
Seattle University earned the #11 position for student counseling graduate earnings this year. Seattle University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Seattle. After graduating, student counseling degree recipients from Seattle University typically earn about $82,379 annually.
California State University Los Angeles ranked #12 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. Early-career student counseling graduates from California State University Los Angeles make a median of around $82,681 per year.
California State University Bakersfield earned the #13 position for student counseling graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Bakersfield, California State University Bakersfield is a public institution. Student Counseling graduates of California State University Bakersfield earn a median of about $71,950 a year early in their careers.
Alfred University landed the #14 spot for student counseling salaries this year. Located in the rural area of Alfred, Alfred University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career student counseling graduates from Alfred University make a median of around $80,049 per year.
National University placed #15 among the highest-paying schools for student counseling. National University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Diego. Student Counseling graduates of National University earn a median of about $80,788 a year early in their careers.
Indiana University Southeast placed #16 among the highest-paying schools for student counseling. Indiana University Southeast is a public school located in the suburb of New Albany. After graduating, student counseling degree recipients from Indiana University Southeast typically earn about $69,849 annually.
Seattle Pacific University came in at #17 for student counseling graduate earnings this year. Seattle Pacific University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Seattle. Students who complete the student counseling program here go on to a median salary of roughly $69,340.
Northeastern Illinois University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying student counseling schools. Northeastern Illinois University is a public school located in the city of Chicago. After graduating, student counseling degree recipients from Northeastern Illinois University typically earn about $68,449 annually.
Cuny Hunter College earned the #19 position for student counseling graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of New York, Cuny Hunter College is a public institution. After graduating, student counseling degree recipients from Cuny Hunter College typically earn about $81,063 annually.
Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System came in at #20 for student counseling graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Aliso Viejo, Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System is a public institution. Students who complete the student counseling program here go on to a median salary of roughly $68,207.
Houston Baptist University landed the #21 spot for student counseling salaries this year. Set in the city of Houston, Houston Baptist University is a private not-for-profit institution. Student Counseling graduates of Houston Baptist University earn a median of about $67,611 a year early in their careers.
Valdosta State University landed the #22 spot for student counseling salaries this year. Set in the city of Valdosta, Valdosta State University is a public institution. Early-career student counseling graduates from Valdosta State University make a median of around $67,508 per year.
University Of Puget Sound landed the #23 spot for student counseling salaries 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 landed the #24 spot for student counseling salaries this year. Set in the suburb of Moraga, Saint Marys College Of California is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the student counseling program here go on to a median salary of roughly $71,831.
California State University Long Beach came in at #25 for student counseling graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a public institution. Early-career student counseling graduates from California State University Long Beach make a median of around $79,331 per year.
These schools also send student counseling graduates into strong-paying careers this year:
A few more high-earning student counseling schools worth a look:
| Rank | College | Location | Avg Salary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #51 | Eastern University | Saint Davids, PA | $60,758 | Full Report |
| #52 | San Diego State University | San Diego, CA | $73,724 | Full Report |
| #53 | University Of Bridgeport | Bridgeport, CT | $72,960 | Full Report |
| #54 | Loyola Marymount University | Los Angeles, CA | $66,832 | Full Report |
| #55 | Long Island University C W Post Campus | Brookville, NY | $73,247 | Full Report |
| #56 | The University Of Texas Pan American | Edinburg, TX | $65,357 | Full Report |
| #57 | The University Of Texas At San Antonio | San Antonio, TX | $60,048 | Full Report |
| #58 | New Jersey City University | Jersey City, NJ | $67,915 | Full Report |
| #59 | New York Institute Of Technology | Old Westbury, NY | $60,429 | Full Report |
| #60 | Holy Family University | Philadelphia, PA | $60,350 | Full Report |
| #61 | Cuny Brooklyn College | Brooklyn, NY | $82,406 | Full Report |
| #62 | Cambridge College | Boston, MA | $68,862 | Full Report |
Explore the highest-paying student counseling schools at other degree levels:
The ranking above is published 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 · 100 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.
