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. The schools below stand out for the salaries their student counseling graduates go on to command.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 90 schools on the early-career earnings of their student counseling graduates.
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.
Leading the list is Valdosta State University, our #1 for student counseling graduate salaries in the Southeast Region. Located in the city of Valdosta, Valdosta State University is a public institution. After graduating, student counseling degree recipients from Valdosta State University typically earn about $67,508 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at Fort Valley State University earned it the #2 place for student counseling. Located in the town of Fort Valley, Fort Valley State University is a public institution. After graduating, student counseling degree recipients from Fort Valley State University typically earn about $63,713 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in student counseling will find them at University Of West Alabama, which ranked #3. University Of West Alabama is a public school located in the rural area of Livingston. Students who complete the student counseling program here go on to a median salary of roughly $64,379.
Students chasing top earnings in student counseling will find them at George Mason University, which ranked #4. Set in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a public institution. After graduating, student counseling degree recipients from George Mason University typically earn about $63,948 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at Florida Atlantic University earned it the #5 place for student counseling. Set in the city of Boca Raton, Florida Atlantic University is a public institution. Early-career student counseling graduates from Florida Atlantic University make a median of around $62,993 per year.
University Of Virginia Main Campus landed the #6 spot for student counseling salaries this year. Set in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a public institution. Students who complete the student counseling program here go on to a median salary of roughly $58,953.
Mississippi College came in at #7 for student counseling graduate earnings this year. Set in the suburb of Clinton, Mississippi College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career student counseling graduates from Mississippi College make a median of around $54,939 per year.
Virginia State University came in at #8 for student counseling graduate earnings this year. Virginia State University is a public school located in the suburb of Petersburg. Students who complete the student counseling program here go on to a median salary of roughly $56,816.
James Madison University placed #9 among the highest-paying schools for student counseling. James Madison University is a public school located in the city of Harrisonburg. Early-career student counseling graduates from James Madison University make a median of around $67,514 per year.
Spalding University earned the #10 position for student counseling graduate earnings this year. Spalding University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Louisville. After graduating, student counseling degree recipients from Spalding University typically earn about $56,331 annually.
Jacksonville State University placed #11 among the highest-paying schools for student counseling. Set in the suburb of Jacksonville, Jacksonville State University is a public institution. Students who complete the student counseling program here go on to a median salary of roughly $51,189.
American Public University System came in at #12 for student counseling graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Charles Town, American Public University System is a private for-profit institution. After graduating, student counseling degree recipients from American Public University System typically earn about $55,311 annually.
Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach placed #13 among the highest-paying schools for student counseling. Set in the city of West Palm Beach, Palm Beach Atlantic University West Palm Beach is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the student counseling program here go on to a median salary of roughly $56,315.
University Of South Florida Main Campus earned the #14 position for student counseling graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a public institution. Student Counseling graduates of University Of South Florida Main Campus earn a median of about $55,805 a year early in their careers.
Virginia Commonwealth University landed the #15 spot for student counseling salaries this year. Set in the city of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a public institution. Student Counseling graduates of Virginia Commonwealth University earn a median of about $56,120 a year early in their careers.
Hampton University placed #16 among the highest-paying schools for student counseling. Set in the suburb of Hampton, Hampton University is a private not-for-profit institution. Student Counseling graduates of Hampton University earn a median of about $54,520 a year early in their careers.
Troy University placed #17 among the highest-paying schools for student counseling. Set in the town of Troy, Troy University is a public institution. Students who complete the student counseling program here go on to a median salary of roughly $54,507.
Florida Gulf Coast University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying student counseling schools. Florida Gulf Coast University is a public school located in the suburb of Fort Myers. Student Counseling graduates of Florida Gulf Coast University earn a median of about $60,124 a year early in their careers.
University Of North Florida placed #19 among the highest-paying schools for student counseling. Located in the city of Jacksonville, University Of North Florida is a public institution. Students who complete the student counseling program here go on to a median salary of roughly $54,870.
University Of Georgia came in at #20 for student counseling graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a public institution. Early-career student counseling graduates from University Of Georgia make a median of around $67,053 per year.
Wake Forest University landed the #21 spot for student counseling salaries this year. Located in the city of Winston-Salem, Wake Forest University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career student counseling graduates from Wake Forest University make a median of around $64,284 per year.
The University Of West Florida placed #22 among the highest-paying schools for student counseling. The University Of West Florida is a public school located in the rural area of Pensacola. Early-career student counseling graduates from The University Of West Florida make a median of around $52,752 per year.
South Carolina State University landed the #23 spot for student counseling salaries this year. Located in the town of Orangeburg, South Carolina State University is a public institution. Student Counseling graduates of South Carolina State University earn a median of about $56,801 a year early in their careers.
Lenoir Rhyne University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying student counseling schools. Set in the city of Hickory, Lenoir Rhyne University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the student counseling program here go on to a median salary of roughly $52,676.
University Of The Cumberlands came in at #25 for student counseling graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Williamsburg, University Of The Cumberlands is a private not-for-profit institution. Student Counseling graduates of University Of The Cumberlands earn a median of about $55,999 a year early in their careers.
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 · 90 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.