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 highest-paying schools turn a student counseling degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 12 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 Wake Forest University this year. Wake Forest University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Winston-Salem. Early-career student counseling graduates from Wake Forest University make a median of around $64,284 per year.
Lenoir Rhyne University came in at #2 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.
Strong graduate earnings at North Carolina State University At Raleigh earned it the #3 place for student counseling. Located in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a public institution. Students who complete the student counseling program here go on to a median salary of roughly $55,979.
Students chasing top earnings in student counseling will find them at University Of North Carolina At Charlotte, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Charlotte, University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a public institution. Student Counseling graduates of University Of North Carolina At Charlotte earn a median of about $57,613 a year early in their careers.
University Of North Carolina At Greensboro produces some of the highest-paid graduates in student counseling, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the city of Greensboro, University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a public institution. After graduating, student counseling degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Greensboro typically earn about $57,601 annually.
University Of North Carolina At Pembroke came in at #6 for student counseling graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Pembroke, University Of North Carolina At Pembroke is a public institution. After graduating, student counseling degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Pembroke typically earn about $58,394 annually.
Salem College landed the #7 spot for student counseling salaries this year. Located in the city of Winston-Salem, Salem College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, student counseling degree recipients from Salem College typically earn about $49,734 annually.
North Carolina A And T State University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying student counseling schools. Located in the city of Greensboro, North Carolina A And T State University is a public institution. After graduating, student counseling degree recipients from North Carolina A And T State University typically earn about $52,502 annually.
Appalachian State University placed #9 among the highest-paying schools for student counseling. Set in the town of Boone, Appalachian State University is a public institution. Students who complete the student counseling program here go on to a median salary of roughly $51,811.
University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earned the #10 position for student counseling graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a public institution. Student Counseling graduates of University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn a median of about $48,566 a year early in their careers.
North Carolina Central University placed #11 among the highest-paying schools for student counseling. Set in the city of Durham, North Carolina Central University is a public institution. After graduating, student counseling degree recipients from North Carolina Central University typically earn about $47,538 annually.
Western Carolina University came in at #12 for student counseling graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Cullowhee, Western Carolina University is a public institution. Early-career student counseling graduates from Western Carolina University make a median of around $54,018 per year.
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 · 12 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.