by our College Data Analytics Team
[Student Counseling](/majors/education/student-counseling/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. The highest-paying schools turn a student counseling degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 9 schools on the early-career earnings of their student counseling graduates.
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If you want to know which schools send student counseling graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
For graduate earnings in student counseling, no school beat Montana State University Northern this year. Set in the town of Havre, Montana State University Northern is a public institution. Early-career student counseling graduates from Montana State University Northern make a median of around $62,389 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in student counseling will find them at Colorado State University Fort Collins, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Fort Collins, Colorado State University Fort Collins is a public institution. After graduating, student counseling degree recipients from Colorado State University Fort Collins typically earn about $53,422 annually.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Wyoming one of the highest-paying schools for student counseling. Set in the town of Laramie, University Of Wyoming is a public institution. After graduating, student counseling degree recipients from University Of Wyoming typically earn about $52,550 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in student counseling will find them at University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Colorado Springs, University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs is a public institution. Student Counseling graduates of University Of Colorado At Colorado Springs earn a median of about $56,026 a year early in their careers.
University Of Northern Colorado came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying student counseling schools. Located in the city of Greeley, University Of Northern Colorado is a public institution. Early-career student counseling graduates from University Of Northern Colorado make a median of around $54,666 per year.
Northwest Nazarene University came in at #6 for student counseling graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Nampa, Northwest Nazarene University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the student counseling program here go on to a median salary of roughly $49,700.
Montana State University Billings came in at #7 for student counseling graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Billings, Montana State University Billings is a public institution. Early-career student counseling graduates from Montana State University Billings make a median of around $48,789 per year.
The University Of Montana placed #8 among the highest-paying schools for student counseling. Set in the city of Missoula, The University Of Montana is a public institution. Student Counseling graduates of The University Of Montana earn a median of about $51,773 a year early in their careers.
Boise State University came in at #9 for student counseling graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Boise, Boise State University is a public institution. Student Counseling graduates of Boise State University earn a median of about $46,241 a year early in their careers.
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 · 9 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.