Best institutions to study Student Counseling and Personnel Services
Any instructional program in student counseling and personnel services not listed above.
24 U.S. institutions graduated 407 Student Counseling and Personnel Services students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 13.1199, 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 Student Counseling and Personnel Services programs
Any instructional program in student counseling and personnel services not listed above.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Student Counseling and Personnel Services program focuses on preparing individuals for careers in educational settings, specifically in student counseling and support services. This program is designed for those who are passionate about helping students navigate their educational and personal challenges, ensuring they have the resources and guidance to succeed academically and socially.
Students in this program develop essential skills such as active listening, critical thinking, and effective communication. Coursework typically covers topics in psychology, counseling techniques, and educational training, equipping graduates with the knowledge needed to support student well-being and academic success.
Credentials awarded
What Student Counseling and Personnel Services graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Master's degree281 graduates / yr · 12 institutions69%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate115 graduates / yr · 12 institutions28%
- Post-master's certificate10 graduates / yr · 2 institutions2.5%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship1 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.2%
Graduates over time
Student Counseling and Personnel Services completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 400 |
| 2013 | 347 |
| 2014 | 423 |
| 2015 | 404 |
| 2016 | 451 |
| 2017 | 388 |
| 2018 | 382 |
| 2019 | 352 |
| 2020 | 472 |
| 2021 | 453 |
| 2022 | 470 |
| 2023 | 429 |
| 2024 | 492 |
| 2025 | 407 |
Top 24 institutions for Student Counseling and Personnel 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 | DePaul University Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 83 | 68% | $28,141 |
| 2 | Kansas State University Manhattan, KSPublicMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 44 | 71% | — |
| 3 | McDaniel College Westminster, MDPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 41 | 63% | $18,988 |
| 4 | Southern Arkansas University Main Campus Magnolia, ARPublicMaster's | 40 | 49% | — |
| 5 | Teachers College at Columbia University New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 26 | — | — |
| 6 | Colorado State University - Fort Collins Fort Collins, COPublicMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 21 | 67% | — |
| 7 | Touro University New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 19 | 72% | $27,110 |
| 8 | Butler University Indianapolis, INPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 18 | 80% | $35,696 |
| 9 | California State University - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CAPublicPost-degree cert. | 16 | 53% | — |
| 10 | Hofstra University Hempstead, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 15 | 69% | $34,539 |
| 11 | University of Missouri - St Louis Saint Louis, MOPublicPost-degree cert. | 12 | 57% | — |
| 12 | Touro University Nevada Henderson, NVPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 11 | — | — |
| 13 | Missouri Baptist University Saint Louis, MOPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 10 | 48% | $25,407 |
| 14 | Syracuse University Syracuse, NYPrivate not-for-profitPost-degree cert. | 10 | 84% | $28,851 |
| 15 | Loyola Marymount University Los Angeles, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 9 | 79% | $36,488 |
| 16 | Liberty University Lynchburg, VAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 8 | 65% | $28,911 |
| 17 | Montclair State University Montclair, NJPublicPost-degree cert. | 6 | 65% | — |
| 18 | Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University Tallahassee, FLPublicMaster's | 5 | 53% | — |
| 19 | University of Detroit Mercy Detroit, MIPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 5 | 67% | $16,109 |
| 20 | Indiana University - Bloomington Bloomington, INPublicPost-degree cert. | 2 | 80% | — |
| 21 | Boston University Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral | 2 | 89% | $21,956 |
| 22 | Universidad Central de Bayamon Bayamón, PRPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 2 | 34% | $6,825 |
| 23 | Indiana University - Indianapolis Indianapolis, INPublicPost-degree cert. | 1 | 54% | — |
| 24 | Western Kentucky University Bowling Green, KYPublicPost-degree cert. | 1 | 56% | — |
Offered in 17 states & territories
Where Student Counseling and Personnel Services graduates come from. Each state links to all Student Counseling and Personnel Services programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | 1 | 83 | DePaul University83 / yr |
| New York | 4 | 70 | Teachers College at Columbia University26 / yr |
| Kansas | 1 | 44 | Kansas State University44 / yr |
| Maryland | 1 | 41 | McDaniel College41 / yr |
| Arkansas | 1 | 40 | Southern Arkansas University Main Campus40 / yr |
| California | 2 | 25 | California State University - Los Angeles16 / yr |
| Missouri | 2 | 22 | University of Missouri - St Louis12 / yr |
| Indiana | 3 | 21 | Butler University18 / yr |
| Colorado | 1 | 21 | Colorado State University - Fort Collins21 / yr |
| Nevada | 1 | 11 | Touro University Nevada11 / yr |
| Virginia | 1 | 8 | Liberty University8 / yr |
| New Jersey | 1 | 6 | Montclair State University6 / yr |
| Florida | 1 | 5 | Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University5 / yr |
| Michigan | 1 | 5 | University of Detroit Mercy5 / yr |
| Massachusetts | 1 | 2 | Boston University2 / yr |
| Puerto Rico | 1 | 2 | Universidad Central de Bayamon2 / yr |
| Kentucky | 1 | 1 | Western Kentucky University1 / yr |
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 often pursue careers as Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors. The job outlook is positive, with an expected growth rate of 3.5% and approximately 31,000 annual openings. A typical education level for these roles is a Master's degree, with a median wage of $65,140.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 13.1199
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 |
Residential Advisors SOC 39-9041 | $42,240 | +3.8% About as fast as average | ~17,400 | High school diploma or equivalent |
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 Student Counseling and Personnel 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 degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Master's degree, Postbaccalaureate certificate, Post-master's certificate, or a Doctor's degree.
What skills will I learn?+
You will learn skills such as active listening, critical thinking, and effective communication.
What careers can I pursue after graduation?+
You can work as Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors, or as Residential Advisors.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a growth rate of 3.5% and around 31,000 annual openings.
What is the CIP code for Student Counseling and Personnel Services?+
Student Counseling and Personnel Services is CIP 13.1199 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: Any instructional program in student counseling and personnel services not listed above.
How many institutions offer Student Counseling and Personnel Services programs?+
24 U.S. institutions reported Student Counseling and Personnel Services graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 17 states & territories, awarding 407 credentials in the year. That is 2.9% of all Student Counseling and Personnel Services graduates.
How much do Student Counseling and Personnel 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 Student Counseling and Personnel Services most directly leads to, pays a median of $64,330 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
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.
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