2027 Best Value Student Counseling Schools in North Carolina
[Student Counseling](/majors/education/student-counseling/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 11 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value student counseling schools.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Student Counseling Schools in North Carolina
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in student counseling, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Student Counseling Schools
Leading the list is University Of North Carolina At Pembroke, our #1 best value for student counseling in North Carolina. Set in the town of Pembroke, University Of North Carolina At Pembroke is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,648, with out-of-state students paying around $7,648. Students borrow a median of $27,089 to complete the student counseling program here. Soon after graduation, student counseling degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Pembroke generally make around $45,525. Set against $27,089 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill one of the best values for student counseling. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public school located in the city of Chapel Hill. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,994, compared with $41,203 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for student counseling graduates is $15,117. Soon after graduation, student counseling degree recipients from University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill generally make around $48,566. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 15% of applicants are accepted.
North Carolina A And T State University came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value student counseling schools. Set in the city of Greensboro, North Carolina A And T State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $6,813, while out-of-state students pay about $20,673. Students borrow a median of $29,078 to complete the student counseling program here. Soon after graduation, student counseling degree recipients from North Carolina A And T State University generally make around $47,460. That is a strong return on a $29,078 median debt. Roughly 50% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes University Of North Carolina At Greensboro one of the best values for student counseling. Located in the city of Greensboro, University Of North Carolina At Greensboro is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,661, compared with $24,012 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,977 to complete the student counseling program here. Student Counseling graduates of University Of North Carolina At Greensboro earn a median of $47,800 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,977 median debt. University Of North Carolina At Greensboro admits about 88% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Western Carolina University earned it the #5 place for student counseling. Set in the town of Cullowhee, Western Carolina University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,630, while out-of-state students pay about $8,630. Student Counseling graduates carry a median of $24,174 in student loans. Student Counseling graduates of Western Carolina University earn a median of $40,079 early in their careers. Set against $24,174 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Western Carolina University admits about 82% of applicants.
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte placed #6 among the best values for student counseling. Set in the city of Charlotte, University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,239, compared with $22,492 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,673 to complete the student counseling program here. Early-career student counseling graduates make about $47,641. That is a strong return on a $24,673 median debt. The acceptance rate is 80%.
East Carolina University placed #7 among the best values for student counseling. Set in the city of Greenville, East Carolina University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,361, compared with $23,638 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,747 to complete the student counseling program here. Student Counseling graduates of East Carolina University earn a median of $47,601 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,747 median debt. East Carolina University admits about 89% of applicants.
Appalachian State University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value student counseling schools. Located in the town of Boone, Appalachian State University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,579, while out-of-state students pay about $25,212. Student Counseling graduates carry a median of $21,992 in student loans. Student Counseling graduates of Appalachian State University earn a median of $46,856 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
North Carolina State University At Raleigh placed #9 among the best values for student counseling. Located in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina State University At Raleigh is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,799, while out-of-state students pay about $32,847. Typical student debt for student counseling graduates is $22,113. Student Counseling graduates of North Carolina State University At Raleigh earn a median of $50,118 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 42%.
Lenoir Rhyne University placed #10 among the best values for student counseling. Lenoir Rhyne University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Hickory. In-state tuition and fees average $31,900. Student Counseling graduates carry a median of $26,900 in student loans. Soon after graduation, student counseling degree recipients from Lenoir Rhyne University generally make around $49,985. Set against $26,900 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Lenoir Rhyne University admits about 85% of applicants.
Wake Forest University ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value student counseling schools. Located in the city of Winston-Salem, Wake Forest University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $67,642 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $21,577 to complete the student counseling program here. Early-career student counseling graduates make about $45,173. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Wake Forest University admits about 22% of applicants.
More Student Counseling Rankings
View All Student Counseling Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 11 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
