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2025 Best Student Counseling Master's Degree Schools

240 Colleges in the United States
13,003 Master's Degrees
$51,260 Avg Early-Career Salary
If you pursue a master's degree in student counseling, you won't be alone. The field of study is the #20 most popular program in the country. This means there are lots of options to choose from when you decide to get your degree.

For its 2025 ranking, College Factual looked at 240 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for student counseling students pursuing a master's degree. Combined, these schools handed out 13,003 master's degrees in student counseling to qualified students.

What's on this page: * Our Methodology

Choosing a Great Student Counseling School for Your Master's Degree

Best Student Counseling Master's Degree Schools The student counseling master's degree program you select can have a big impact on your future. Important measures of a quality student counseling program can vary widely even among the top schools. To make it into this list, a school must excel in the following areas.

A Great Overall School

The overall quality of a master's degree school is important to ensure a good education, not just how well they do in a particular major. To take this into account we consider a school's overall Best Colleges for a Master's Degree ranking which itself looks at a host of different factors like degree completion, educational resources, student body caliber and post-graduation earnings for the school as a whole.

Early-Career Earnings

One measure we use to determine the quality of a school is to look at the average salary of master's graduates during the early years of their career. That is, everyone wants their master's degree to be worth something, and salaries are one measure of determining that.

Other Factors We Consider

The metrics below are just some of the other metrics that we use to determine our rankings.

Our full ranking methodology documents in more detail how we consider these factors to identify the best schools for student counseling students working on their master's degree.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
More Student Counseling Rankings Other Ranking Categories

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we've developed a number of rankings, including this Best Student Counseling Master's Degree Schools list, to help you choose the best school for you.

Best Schools for Master’s Students to Study Student Counseling in the United States

Below you'll see a list of the best colleges and universities for pursuing a master's degree in student counseling. Only those schools that rank in the top 20% of all the schools we analyze get awarded with a place on this list.

25 Top Schools for a Master's in Student Counseling

1
NYU crest
New York University
New York, NY

New York University is a great option for individuals interested in a master's degree in student counseling. NYU is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the large city of New York.

Master's recipients from the student counseling major at New York University earn $5,976 above the average graduate in this field when they enter the workforce.

More information about a master’s in student counseling from New York University

2
20 Annual Graduates

University of Maryland - College Park is a wonderful choice for students pursuing a master's degree in student counseling. Located in the suburb of College Park, UMCP is a public university with a very large student population.More information about a master’s in student counseling from University of Maryland - College Park

3
UF crest
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL

University of Florida is one of the best schools in the country for getting a master's degree in student counseling. UF is a fairly large public university located in the medium-sized city of Gainesville.

Students who graduate with their master's from the student counseling program state that they receive average early career wages of $48,924.

More information about a master’s in student counseling from University of Florida

4

University of Georgia is a wonderful decision for students interested in a master's degree in student counseling. UGA is a fairly large public university located in the city of Athens.

Students who graduate with their master's from the student counseling program report average early career wages of $46,797.

More information about a master’s in student counseling from University of Georgia

5

Located in the city of Bloomington, IU Bloomington is a public university with a very large student population.

Students who graduate with their master's from the student counseling program state that they receive average early career income of $42,105.

More information about a master’s in student counseling from Indiana University - Bloomington

6
Alfred crest
Alfred University
Alfred, NY

Alfred is a small private not-for-profit university located in the rural area of Alfred.

Master's recipients from the student counseling major at Alfred University get $15,117 above the typical graduate with the same degree shortly after graduation.

More information about a master’s in student counseling from Alfred University

7

Located in the large city of Los Angeles, Cal State LA is a public university with a fairly large student population.

Those student counseling students who get their master's degree from California State University - Los Angeles receive $15,815 more than the average student counseling graduate.

More information about a master’s in student counseling from California State University - Los Angeles

8
Boston U crest
Boston University
Boston, MA

Located in the city of Boston, Boston U is a private not-for-profit university with a fairly large student population.

Master's recipients from the student counseling degree program at Boston University make $4,392 above the typical graduate in this field when they enter the workforce.

More information about a master’s in student counseling from Boston University

9

Located in the suburb of Montclair, Montclair State is a public university with a fairly large student population.

Those student counseling students who get their master's degree from Montclair State University make $3,253 more than the average student counseling graduate.

More information about a master’s in student counseling from Montclair State University

10

Located in the large city of Raleigh, NC State is a public university with a very large student population.

After graduating, student counseling master's recipients usually earn about $50,118 in the first five years of their career.

More information about a master’s in student counseling from North Carolina State University

11
72 Annual Graduates

Located in the large suburb of Azusa, Azusa Pacific is a private not-for-profit university with a moderately-sized student population.More information about a master’s in student counseling from Azusa Pacific University

12

Located in the midsize city of Columbia, Mizzou is a public university with a very large student population.

Students who graduate with their master's from the student counseling program report average early career income of $52,024.

More information about a master’s in student counseling from University of Missouri - Columbia

13
11 Annual Graduates

UCONN is a fairly large public university located in the fringe town of Storrs.More information about a master’s in student counseling from University of Connecticut

14

Located in the midsize city of Columbia, UofSC is a public university with a fairly large student population.

After graduating, student counseling master's recipients usually earn around $42,686 at the beginning of their careers.

More information about a master’s in student counseling from University of South Carolina - Columbia

15

NAU is a very large public university located in the city of Flagstaff.

Master's students who receive their degree from the student counseling program make an average of $50,832 in their early career salary.

More information about a master’s in student counseling from Northern Arizona University

16

Located in the city of Manhattan, K -State is a public university with a large student population.

Soon after graduation, student counseling master's recipients typically make around $47,436 at the beginning of their careers.

More information about a master’s in student counseling from Kansas State University

17
Hunter crest
Hunter College
New York, NY

Hunter is a fairly large public college located in the large city of New York.

Student Counseling master's degree recipients from Hunter College receive an earnings boost of about $8,708 above the typical earnings of student counseling majors.

More information about a master’s in student counseling from Hunter College

18

Located in the large suburb of River Forest, Concordia University, Chicago is a private not-for-profit university with a moderately-sized student population.

Those student counseling students who get their master's degree from Concordia University, Chicago make $23,436 more than the typical student counseling grad.

More information about a master’s in student counseling from Concordia University, Chicago

19

Located in the city of Baltimore, Loyola Maryland is a private not-for-profit university with a medium-sized student population.

Those student counseling students who get their master's degree from Loyola University Maryland earn $4,938 more than the standard student counseling graduate.

More information about a master’s in student counseling from Loyola University Maryland

20

TCNJ is a moderately-sized public college located in the suburb of Ewing.

Master's recipients from the student counseling major at The College of New Jersey earn $6,739 above the standard college graduate in this field shortly after graduation.

More information about a master’s in student counseling from The College of New Jersey

21
Florida State crest
Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL

Florida State is a very large public university located in the city of Tallahassee.

Master's recipients from the student counseling major at Florida State University make $5,799 more than the average graduate with the same degree shortly after graduation.

More information about a master’s in student counseling from Florida State University

22
National University crest
National University
San Diego, CA

National University is a fairly large private not-for-profit university located in the city of San Diego.

Master's recipients from the student counseling program at National University make $13,325 above the average college grad with the same degree shortly after graduation.

More information about a master’s in student counseling from National University

23
Clemson crest
Clemson University
Clemson, SC

Located in the medium-sized suburb of Clemson, Clemson is a public university with a fairly large student population.

Students who graduate with their master's from the student counseling program state that they receive average early career income of $46,503.

More information about a master’s in student counseling from Clemson University

24

Located in the large city of Seattle, SPU is a private not-for-profit university with a small student population.

Master's recipients from the student counseling program at Seattle Pacific University earn $18,080 more than the typical graduate in this field shortly after graduation.

More information about a master’s in student counseling from Seattle Pacific University

25

UNC Charlotte is a very large public university located in the large city of Charlotte.

Students who graduate with their master's from the student counseling program report average early career income of $47,641.

More information about a master’s in student counseling from University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Rest of the Top Best Student Counseling Master's Degree Schools

26
Liberty University crest
Liberty University
Lynchburg, VA
27
28
LIU Post crest
LIU Post
Brookville, NY
29
30
Seton Hall crest
Seton Hall University
South Orange, NJ
31
DePaul crest
DePaul University
Chicago, IL
32

33
Auburn crest
Auburn University
Auburn, AL

34
35
Brooklyn College crest
Brooklyn College
Brooklyn, NY
36
Rider crest
Rider University
Lawrenceville, NJ
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45
Kean crest
Kean University
Union, NJ
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48

Honorable Mentions

Here are some additional great schools for Student Counseling students that almost earned our Best Student Counseling Master's Degree Schools award.

Rank College Location
49 Gonzaga University Spokane, WA
50 University of Central Florida Orlando, FL
51 University of Dayton Dayton, OH
52 California State University - San Bernardino San Bernardino, CA
53 Hofstra University Hempstead, NY
54 University of Arkansas Fayetteville, AR
55 University of Missouri - St Louis Saint Louis, MO
56 Eastern Michigan University Ypsilanti, MI
57 Monmouth University West Long Branch, NJ
58 University of Central Oklahoma Edmond, OK
59 University of West Georgia Carrollton, GA
60 University of Memphis Memphis, TN
61 Miami University - Oxford Oxford, OH
62 Butler University Indianapolis, IN
63 San Francisco State University San Francisco, CA
64 University of Louisville Louisville, KY
65 North Dakota State University - Main Campus Fargo, ND
66 Georgia State University Atlanta, GA
67 Brandman University Irvine, CA
68 Manhattan University Riverdale, NY
69 Wayne State College Wayne, NE
70 Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton, FL
71 St. Bonaventure University Saint Bonaventure, NY
72 Harding University Searcy, AR
73 Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, VA
74 St John’s University - New York Queens, NY
75 Arizona State University - Tempe Tempe, AZ
76 Duquesne University Pittsburgh, PA
77 Chapman University Orange, CA
78 Texas Christian University Fort Worth, TX
79 Wilmington University New Castle, DE
80 Indiana Wesleyan University - National & Global Marion, IN

Student Counseling by Region

View the Best Student Counseling Master's Degree Schools for a specific region near you.

Region
Southeast
New England
Rocky Mountains
Plains States
Middle Atlantic
Far Western US
Southwest
Other U.S. Territories
Great Lakes

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One of 14 majors within the Education area of study, Student Counseling has other similar majors worth exploring.

Student Counseling Concentrations

Major Annual Graduates
Counselor Education/School Counseling & Guidance Services 11,820
College Student Counseling & Personnel Services 880
Other Student Counseling & Personnel Services 303

Related Major Annual Graduates
Teacher Education Grade Specific 28,813
Educational Administration 25,551
Special Education 19,631
Curriculum & Instruction 17,349
Teacher Education Subject Specific 16,456
General Education 14,076
Instructional Media Design 6,792
Teaching English or French 3,041
Other Education 1,604
Educational Assessment 1,520

Notes and References

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