Best institutions to study Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services
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 students, and the organizing of guidance services within elementary, middle and secondary educational institutions.
431 U.S. institutions graduated 12,724 Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 13.1101, a specialization of Student Counseling and Personnel Services (CIP 13.11), and leads most directly to the Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors occupation (BLS SOC 21-1012).
About Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services programs
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 students, and the organizing of guidance services within elementary, middle and secondary educational institutions. Includes instruction in legal and professional requirements, therapeutic counselor intervention, vocational counseling, and related sociological and psychological foundations.
See also: 42.2805 - School Psychology.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services program prepares individuals to support the personal, social, educational, and vocational development of students in elementary, middle, and secondary educational institutions. This program is ideal for those looking to become effective counselors and guidance professionals in educational settings.
Students in this program will gain essential skills in active listening, critical thinking, and effective communication. Coursework covers therapeutic counselor intervention, vocational counseling, and the legal and professional requirements necessary for providing guidance services.
Credentials awarded
What Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Master's degree11,449 graduates / yr · 412 institutions90%
- Post-master's certificate594 graduates / yr · 58 institutions4.7%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship390 graduates / yr · 70 institutions3.1%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate230 graduates / yr · 35 institutions1.8%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year36 graduates / yr · 3 institutions0.3%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years19 graduates / yr · 2 institutions0.1%
- Doctor's degree - professional practice5 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.0%
- Associate's degree1 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.0%
Graduates over time
Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 14,155 |
| 2013 | 13,487 |
| 2014 | 12,723 |
| 2015 | 12,553 |
| 2016 | 12,271 |
| 2017 | 12,569 |
| 2018 | 12,489 |
| 2019 | 12,140 |
| 2020 | 12,391 |
| 2021 | 12,335 |
| 2022 | 12,925 |
| 2023 | 13,033 |
| 2024 | 12,264 |
| 2025 | 12,724 |
Top 50 institutions for Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | National University San Diego, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 349 | 43% | $31,817 |
| 2 | Liberty University Lynchburg, VAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 348 | 65% | $28,911 |
| 3 | Capella University Minneapolis, MNPrivate for-profitMaster'sPost-degree cert.Doctoral | 261 | 20% | $19,369 |
| 4 | Grand Canyon University Phoenix, AZPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 252 | 43% | $21,535 |
| 5 | Walden University Minneapolis, MNPrivate for-profitMaster's | 198 | — | — |
| 6 | University of Missouri - Columbia Columbia, MOPublicMaster'sMaster'sDoctoral | 186 | 75% | — |
| 7 | Arkansas State University Jonesboro, ARPublicMaster'sMaster's | 176 | 55% | — |
| 8 | Angelo State University San Angelo, TXPublicMaster's | 164 | 44% | — |
| 9 | University of Wisconsin - Superior Superior, WIPublicMaster's | 153 | 42% | — |
| 10 | Clemson University Clemson, SCPublicMaster'sMaster's | 147 | 87% | — |
| 11 | William & Mary Williamsburg, VAPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 147 | 89% | — |
| 12 | Wake Forest University Winston-Salem, NCPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 141 | 89% | $20,914 |
| 13 | Florida State University Tallahassee, FLPublicMaster'sMaster'sDoctoral | 138 | 86% | — |
| 14 | Southeastern Oklahoma State University Durant, OKPublicMaster's | 137 | 32% | — |
| 15 | University of Massachusetts Global Aliso Viejo, CAPublicMaster's | 123 | 43% | — |
| 16 | Concordia University - Irvine Irvine, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral | 117 | 58% | $26,609 |
| 17 | University of West Georgia Carrollton, GAPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 111 | 43% | — |
| 18 | Alfred University Alfred, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sMaster's | 110 | 57% | $22,481 |
| 19 | Montclair State University Montclair, NJPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 109 | 65% | — |
| 20 | University of La Verne La Verne, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 107 | 63% | $45,461 |
| 21 | University of the Cumberlands Williamsburg, KYPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 106 | 50% | $11,672 |
| 22 | Oregon State University Corvallis, ORPublicMaster'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic yearDoctoral | 101 | 70% | — |
| 23 | University of Southern California Los Angeles, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 98 | 92% | $26,873 |
| 24 | Wichita State University Wichita, KSPublicMaster'sMaster's | 96 | 51% | — |
| 25 | California State University - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CAPublicMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 95 | 53% | — |
| 26 | Valdosta State University Valdosta, GAPublicMaster's | 95 | 42% | — |
| 27 | University of North Carolina at Charlotte Charlotte, NCPublicMaster'sMaster'sPost-degree cert.Doctoral | 93 | 69% | — |
| 28 | East Texas A&M University Commerce, TXPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 93 | 43% | — |
| 29 | University of Central Florida Orlando, FLPublicMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 88 | 78% | — |
| 30 | California State University - Fresno Fresno, CAPublicMaster's | 87 | 57% | — |
| 31 | California State University - Fullerton Fullerton, CAPublicMaster's | 83 | 70% | — |
| 32 | Fresno Pacific University Fresno, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 83 | 50% | $14,298 |
| 33 | University of West Alabama Livingston, ALPublicMaster'sMaster's | 82 | 35% | — |
| 34 | Marshall University Huntington, WVPublicMaster's | 81 | 51% | — |
| 35 | University of South Carolina - Columbia Columbia, SCPublicMaster'sDoctoralPost-degree cert. | 80 | 79% | — |
| 36 | St Bonaventure University Saint Bonaventure, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sMaster's | 78 | 67% | $23,352 |
| 37 | University of North Texas Denton, TXPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 77 | 61% | — |
| 38 | Campbellsville University Campbellsville, KYPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 75 | 42% | $18,824 |
| 39 | George Mason University Fairfax, VAPublicMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 72 | 68% | — |
| 40 | California State University - Sacramento Sacramento, CAPublicMaster's | 71 | 56% | — |
| 41 | New York University New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sMaster's | 68 | 88% | $29,023 |
| 42 | Old Dominion University Norfolk, VAPublicMaster'sMaster's | 67 | 46% | — |
| 43 | University of Nebraska at Omaha Omaha, NEPublicMaster's | 66 | 47% | — |
| 44 | University of Colorado Colorado Springs Colorado Springs, COPublicMaster's | 65 | 47% | — |
| 45 | California State University - East Bay Hayward, CAPublicMaster's | 63 | 48% | — |
| 46 | Wilmington University New Castle, DEPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 63 | 20% | $16,588 |
| 47 | The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Edinburg, TXPublicMaster's | 63 | 51% | — |
| 48 | Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton, FLPublicMaster'sMaster'sDoctoral | 62 | 63% | — |
| 49 | Kean University Union, NJPublicMaster'sMaster's | 62 | 47% | — |
| 50 | University of Central Oklahoma Edmond, OKPublicMaster'sAward of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years | 62 | 37% | — |
Offered in 54 states & territories
Where Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services graduates come from. Each state links to all Student Counseling and Personnel Services programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 21-1012, Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors, and its national outlook.
Graduates of this program typically pursue careers as Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors. The job outlook is promising, with an expected growth rate of 3.5% and approximately 31,000 annual openings. A Master's degree is the typical educational requirement, with a median wage of $65,140.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 13.1101
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisorsprimary SOC 21-1012 | $64,330 | +3.5% About as fast as average | ~31,000 | Master's degree |
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
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 and technology used
Other Student Counseling and Personnel Services specializations
The 2 other 6-digit CIP codes under Student Counseling and Personnel Services (CIP 13.11).
Common questions
What degree do I need to pursue this program?+
A Master's degree is typically required to work in school counseling.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in active listening, critical thinking, and effective communication.
What is the job outlook for counselors?+
The job outlook for counselors is about as fast as average, with a growth rate of 3.5%.
How many colleges offer this program in the U.S.?+
There are 431 colleges offering this program across the United States.
What is the CIP code for Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services?+
Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services is CIP 13.1101 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Student Counseling and Personnel Services (CIP 13.11). NCES defines it as: 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 students, and the organizing of guidance services within elementary, middle and secondary educational institutions. Includes instruction in legal and professional requirements, therapeutic counselor intervention, vocational counseling, and related sociological and psychological foundations.
How many institutions offer Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services programs?+
431 U.S. institutions reported Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 54 states & territories, awarding 12,724 credentials in the year. That is 90.4% of all Student Counseling and Personnel Services graduates.
How much do Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors occupation, which Counselor Education/School Counseling and Guidance Services most directly leads to, pays a median of $64,330 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Student Counseling and Personnel Services field report median earnings of $58,038 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license. This specialization accounts for nearly all Student Counseling and Personnel Services graduates, so its figures match the Student Counseling and Personnel Services program page.
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