Best Student Counseling and Personnel Services institutions in the US, ranked by earnings
Compare 440 U.S. colleges offering Student Counseling and Personnel Services by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 50 states.
About Student Counseling and Personnel Services programs
The Student Counseling and Personnel Services program focuses on equipping students with the skills necessary to support and enhance student success in higher education. This program is ideal for individuals interested in becoming student affairs professionals who work to foster student growth and development outside the classroom. Students will learn to provide essential services that address educational, personal, and social challenges faced by students.
Learn more about Student Counseling and Personnel Services →
Core skills developed in this program include active listening, critical thinking, and effective communication. Students will gain knowledge in areas such as therapy and counseling, psychology, and educational training, preparing them to address a variety of student needs and challenges.
Top 1 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard, predominant credential).
| # | Institution | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Completions | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harvard University Cambridge, MA Private not-for-profit · Graduate degree | $58,038 | 9 | 98% | $15,013 | — |
Offered across 50 states
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
| State | Institutions | Median earnings | Top institution by earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | 10 | $58,038 | Harvard University |
| Alabama | 11 | — | — |
| Alaskalimited | 1 | — | — |
| Arizona | 5 | — | — |
| Arkansas | 8 | — | — |
| California | 35 | — | — |
| Minnesota | 6 | — | — |
| Colorado | 4 | — | — |
| Connecticut | 7 | — | — |
| Delawarelimited | 1 | — | — |
| District of Columbia | 3 | — | — |
| Florida | 12 | — | — |
| Georgia | 11 | — | — |
| Idaho | 3 | — | — |
| Illinois | 16 | — | — |
| Indiana | 10 | — | — |
| Iowa | 5 | — | — |
| Kansas | 7 | — | — |
| Kentucky | 10 | — | — |
| Louisiana | 9 | — | — |
| Mainelimited | 2 | — | — |
| Maryland | 7 | — | — |
| Michigan | 9 | — | — |
| Mississippi | 7 | — | — |
| Missouri | 12 | — | — |
| Montana | 4 | — | — |
| Nebraska | 7 | — | — |
| Nevadalimited | 2 | — | — |
| New Hampshirelimited | 2 | — | — |
| New Jersey | 12 | — | — |
| New Mexico | 7 | — | — |
| New York | 27 | — | — |
| North Carolina | 14 | — | — |
| North Dakotalimited | 2 | — | — |
| Ohio | 15 | — | — |
| Oklahoma | 5 | — | — |
| Oregon | 5 | — | — |
| Pennsylvania | 21 | — | — |
| Rhode Islandlimited | 1 | — | — |
| South Carolina | 5 | — | — |
| South Dakotalimited | 2 | — | — |
| Tennessee | 13 | — | — |
| Texas | 32 | — | — |
| Utah | 4 | — | — |
| Vermontlimited | 2 | — | — |
| Virginia | 15 | — | — |
| Washington | 7 | — | — |
| West Virginia | 4 | — | — |
| Wisconsin | 9 | — | — |
| Wyominglimited | 1 | — | — |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 21-1012, Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Student Counseling and Personnel Services program can pursue careers in student affairs, counseling, and educational support. The job outlook for this field is about as fast as average, with an annual opening of approximately 31,000 positions and a median wage of $65,140. A typical education requirement for these roles is a Master's degree.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Student Counseling and Personnel Services programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
What graduates do on the job
- Maintain accurate and complete student records as required by laws, district policies, and administrative regulations.
- Counsel students regarding educational issues, such as course and program selection, class scheduling and registration, school adjustment, truancy, study habits, and career planning.
- Provide crisis intervention to students when difficult situations occur at schools.
- Counsel individuals or groups to help them understand and overcome personal, social, or behavioral problems affecting their educational or vocational situations.
- Review transcripts to ensure that students meet graduation or college entrance requirements, and write letters of recommendation.
- Prepare students for later educational experiences by encouraging them to explore learning opportunities and to persevere with challenging tasks.
Tools & technology
Concentrations within Student Counseling and Personnel Services
Specializations under this field (NCES CIP 2020).
- Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance ServicesCIP 13.1101
A program that prepares individuals to apply the theory and principles of guidance and counseling to the provision of support for the personal, social, educational, and vocational development of stude
- College Student Counseling and Personnel ServicesCIP 13.1102
A program that focuses on the organization and provision of counseling, referral, assistance and administrative services to students in postsecondary educational institutions and adult education facil
- Student Counseling and Personnel Services, OtherCIP 13.1199
Any instructional program in student counseling and personnel services not listed above.
Common questions
What types of specializations are available?+
Specializations include Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services, College Student Counseling and Personnel Services, and Student Counseling and Personnel Services, Other.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills such as active listening, critical thinking, and effective communication.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with approximately 31,000 annual openings.
What is the typical education required for careers in this field?+
A Master's degree is typically required for careers in Student Counseling and Personnel Services.
Related programs
Other programs in the same field of study.
Explore every U.S. college in one conversation
Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card