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2026 Best Student Counseling Master’s Degree Schools

240 Colleges in the United States
11,754 Student Counseling Degrees Awarded
$51,068 Avg Early-Career Salary

Student Counseling programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.

To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 493 schools to find the best for student counseling students.

What’s on this page:

Best Schools for Student Counseling in the United States

See the highest-ranked student counseling schools offering a master’s degree below.

Top Schools in Student Counseling

1
New York University crest
New York University
New York, NY

New York University tops our 2026 ranking of the best student counseling schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of New York. About 88% of students finish within six years. About 81 student counseling degrees were awarded at New York University in the most recent year. Students who receive their student counseling degree from New York University earn around $57,236 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,897 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in student counseling from New York University

2

University Of Southern California is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in student counseling, ranking #2. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 92% of students finish within six years. About 163 student counseling degrees were awarded at University Of Southern California in the most recent year. Graduates of the student counseling program make about $52,999 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,625. See the full student counseling program report for University Of Southern California

3

Concordia University Irvine came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best student counseling schools. Concordia University Irvine is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Irvine. Roughly 58% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 128 student counseling degrees were awarded at Concordia University Irvine in the most recent year. Students who receive their student counseling degree from Concordia University Irvine earn around $68,850 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,085 to complete this degree. Get the full student counseling details for Concordia University Irvine

4

Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in student counseling, ranking #4. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public university. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 22 student counseling degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Get the full student counseling details for Pennsylvania State University Main Campus

5
Villanova University crest
Villanova University
Villanova, PA

A rank of #5 makes Villanova University one of the top schools for student counseling. Located in the suburb of Villanova, Villanova University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 92% of students finish within six years. Villanova University awarded about 30 student counseling degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their student counseling degree from Villanova University earn around $49,796 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,184 to complete this degree. Get the full student counseling details for Villanova University

6

Loyola Marymount University placed #6 among the best student counseling schools. Loyola Marymount University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. Roughly 79% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 49 student counseling degrees were awarded at Loyola Marymount University in the most recent year. Students who receive their student counseling degree from Loyola Marymount University earn around $56,575 in the first couple years of their career. Loyola Marymount University graduates carry a median of $22,248 in student loans. More information about a degree in student counseling from Loyola Marymount University

7

California State University Long Beach ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best student counseling schools. California State University Long Beach is a very large public school located in the city of Long Beach. California State University Long Beach graduates 69% of students within six years. About 47 student counseling degrees were awarded at California State University Long Beach in the most recent year. Graduates of the student counseling program make about $58,659 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,671. Read more about the student counseling program at California State University Long Beach

8
Seattle University crest
Seattle University
Seattle, WA

Seattle University landed the #8 spot for student counseling this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Seattle. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. There were roughly 85 student counseling students who graduated with this degree at Seattle University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the student counseling program make about $68,242 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,289. See the full student counseling program report for Seattle University

9
Boston University crest
Boston University
Boston, MA

Boston University placed #9 among the best student counseling schools. Set in the city of Boston, Boston University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. Boston University awarded about 42 student counseling degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, student counseling degree recipients from Boston University generally make around $55,652. Students borrow a median of $25,232 to complete this degree. Get the full student counseling details for Boston University

10

George Washington University placed #10 among the best student counseling schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Washington. George Washington University graduates 84% of students within six years. About 10 student counseling degrees were awarded at George Washington University in the most recent year. Student Counseling graduates of George Washington University earn a median of $60,976 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,910. More information about a degree in student counseling from George Washington University

11

Fresno Pacific University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best student counseling schools. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Fresno. About 50% of students finish within six years. About 78 student counseling degrees were awarded at Fresno Pacific University in the most recent year. Students who receive their student counseling degree from Fresno Pacific University earn around $80,307 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,596. See the full student counseling program report for Fresno Pacific University

12

California Lutheran University came in at #12 for student counseling this year. Set in the city of Thousand Oaks, California Lutheran University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. California Lutheran University graduates 70% of students within six years. About 60 student counseling degrees were awarded at California Lutheran University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, student counseling degree recipients from California Lutheran University generally make around $61,749. Typical student debt for the program is $22,727. Get the full student counseling details for California Lutheran University

13

University Of La Verne landed the #13 spot for student counseling this year. University Of La Verne is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of La Verne. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 144 student counseling students who graduated with this degree at University Of La Verne in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, student counseling degree recipients from University Of La Verne generally make around $35,364. Typical student debt for the program is $26,314. Read more about the student counseling program at University Of La Verne

14
Seton Hall University crest
Seton Hall University
South Orange, NJ

Seton Hall University came in at #14 for student counseling this year. Seton Hall University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of South Orange. Seton Hall University graduates 70% of students within six years. About 41 student counseling degrees were awarded at Seton Hall University in the most recent year. Students who receive their student counseling degree from Seton Hall University earn around $58,844 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,422. See the full student counseling program report for Seton Hall University

15

Azusa Pacific University came in at #15 for student counseling this year. Located in the suburb of Azusa, Azusa Pacific University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. Azusa Pacific University awarded about 48 student counseling degrees in the most recent data year. Student Counseling graduates of Azusa Pacific University earn a median of $58,302 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,709 to complete this degree. Read more about the student counseling program at Azusa Pacific University

16

Fordham University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best student counseling schools. Set in the city of Bronx, Fordham University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 82% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 12 student counseling students who graduated with this degree at Fordham University in the most recent data year. Student Counseling graduates of Fordham University earn a median of $59,403 early in their careers. Fordham University graduates carry a median of $25,643 in student loans. Get the full student counseling details for Fordham University

17

Loyola University Baltimore earned the #17 position for student counseling this year. Loyola University Baltimore is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Baltimore. Loyola University Baltimore graduates 79% of students within six years. Loyola University Baltimore awarded about 44 student counseling degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, student counseling degree recipients from Loyola University Baltimore generally make around $56,198. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in student counseling from Loyola University Baltimore

18

George Mason University earned the #18 position for student counseling this year. George Mason University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fairfax. About 68% of students finish within six years. George Mason University awarded about 50 student counseling degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their student counseling degree from George Mason University earn around $57,681 in the first couple years of their career. George Mason University graduates carry a median of $23,529 in student loans. More information about a degree in student counseling from George Mason University

19

Alliant International University came in at #19 for student counseling this year. Set in the city of San Diego, Alliant International University is a moderately-sized private for-profit institution. There were roughly 71 student counseling students who graduated with this degree at Alliant International University in the most recent data year. Student Counseling graduates of Alliant International University earn a median of $62,285 early in their careers. Alliant International University graduates carry a median of $21,234 in student loans. More information about a degree in student counseling from Alliant International University

20

California State University Sacramento ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best student counseling schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Sacramento. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. About 59 student counseling degrees were awarded at California State University Sacramento in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, student counseling degree recipients from California State University Sacramento generally make around $59,543. Students borrow a median of $17,492 to complete this degree. See the full student counseling program report for California State University Sacramento

21

San Francisco State University placed #21 among the best student counseling schools. This very large public university is located in the city of San Francisco. San Francisco State University graduates 50% of students within six years. About 50 student counseling degrees were awarded at San Francisco State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their student counseling degree from San Francisco State University earn around $73,361 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,024. Read more about the student counseling program at San Francisco State University

22

University Of Denver landed the #22 spot for student counseling this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Denver. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. University Of Denver awarded about 35 student counseling degrees in the most recent data year. Student Counseling graduates of University Of Denver earn a median of $56,999 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,534. See the full student counseling program report for University Of Denver

23

San Jose State University earned the #23 position for student counseling this year. This very large public university is located in the city of San Jose. About 69% of students finish within six years. San Jose State University awarded about 63 student counseling degrees in the most recent data year. See the full student counseling program report for San Jose State University

24
Depaul University crest
Depaul University
Chicago, IL

Depaul University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best student counseling schools. Located in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 68% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 93 student counseling students who graduated with this degree at Depaul University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their student counseling degree from Depaul University earn around $52,699 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,310 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in student counseling from Depaul University

25

University Of Redlands ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best student counseling schools. Set in the city of Redlands, University Of Redlands is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 67% of students finish within six years. University Of Redlands awarded about 29 student counseling degrees in the most recent data year. Student Counseling graduates of University Of Redlands earn a median of $62,205 early in their careers. University Of Redlands graduates carry a median of $27,175 in student loans. More information about a degree in student counseling from University Of Redlands

Rest of the Top 50 Student Counseling Schools

Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong student counseling education:

26
27
28
National University crest
National University
San Diego, CA
29
30
31
32
33
Michigan State University crest
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI
34
Manhattan College crest
Manhattan College
Riverdale, NY
35
36
37
Hofstra University crest
Hofstra University
Hempstead, NY
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
Cuny Hunter College crest
Cuny Hunter College
New York, NY
49
Fairfield University crest
Fairfield University
Fairfield, CT
50
Alfred University crest
Alfred University
Alfred, NY

Additional Student Counseling Award Winners

These schools also earned a top-quality badge for student counseling this year:

Rank School Location
#58 Seattle Pacific University Seattle, WA
#59 Concordia University Chicago River Forest, IL
#64 Clemson University Clemson, SC
#65 Montclair State University Montclair, NJ
#66 Cuny Brooklyn College Brooklyn, NY
#68 The College Of New Jersey Ewing, NJ
#70 University Of Maryland College Park College Park, MD
#75 Florida State University Tallahassee, FL
#76 University Of Florida Gainesville, FL
#82 Kean University Union, NJ
#97 University Of South Carolina Columbia Columbia, SC
#98 North Carolina State University At Raleigh Raleigh, NC
#99 Indiana University Bloomington Bloomington, IN
#114 Ball State University Muncie, IN
#115 Oregon State University Corvallis, OR
#129 Auburn University Auburn, AL
#144 Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, AZ
#147 Appalachian State University Boone, NC
#153 Grand Canyon University Phoenix, AZ
#172 Liberty University Lynchburg, VA
#183 Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, MI
#189 Kansas State University Manhattan, KS
#202 University Of North Carolina At Charlotte Charlotte, NC
#267 Arkansas State University Main Campus Jonesboro, AR

Honorable Mentions

These schools earned honorable mentions for student counseling:

Other Student Counseling Degree Levels

Looking for a different degree level? Compare Student Counseling rankings across degree levels:

All Degree Levels in Student Counseling
Associate's Degrees in Student Counseling
Bachelor's Degrees in Student Counseling
View All Student Counseling Rankings >

Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 493 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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