School Counseling and Guidance: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Prepared to support the holistic development of students, this program equips professionals with the knowledge and skills to foster academic success, emotional well-being, and career readiness within K–12 educational environments. Graduates are trained to design and implement comprehensive guidance systems that address the evolving needs of diverse learners across multiple developmental domains.
- Legal and Professional Standards: Explores ethical guidelines, state regulations, and certification requirements essential for practicing school counselors within public and private educational settings.
- Psychological Foundations: Examines developmental psychology, cognitive theories, and behavioral science to understand student growth and inform evidence-based interventions.
- Sociological Perspectives: Investigates how social structures, cultural influences, and systemic inequities impact student experiences and educational outcomes.
- Therapeutic Counselor Intervention: Develops competencies in individual and group counseling techniques, crisis response, and trauma-informed practices tailored to school contexts.
- Vocational and Career Development: Focuses on career assessment, exploration strategies, and transition planning to guide students toward meaningful post-secondary pathways.
- Guidance Program Organization: Teaches the design, implementation, and evaluation of school-wide counseling initiatives that promote equity, inclusion, and student achievement.
School Counseling and Guidance Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
School Counseling and Guidance Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with School Counseling and Guidance degrees, including Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 342,350 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors 21-1012 | $65,140 | $43,580 - $105,870 | 342,350 | $31.32 |
School Counseling and Guidance Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $51,140 in Oklahoma to $94,320 in California—a 84% difference. The highest-paying states include California, Washington, and District of Columbia. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 342,350 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for School Counseling and Guidance by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering School Counseling and Guidance programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in School Counseling and Guidance is found at Liberty University (382 graduates), Capella University (274 graduates), University of the Cumberlands (223 graduates), Grand Canyon University (GCU) (202 graduates), and Walden University (194 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 7,733 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty University |
Master's
|
382 | Lynchburg, Virginia | Private | liberty.edu |
| Capella University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
274 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Private | capella.edu |
| University of the Cumberlands |
Master's
|
223 | Williamsburg, Kentucky | Private | ucumberlands.edu |
| Grand Canyon University (GCU) |
Master's
|
202 | Phoenix, Arizona | Private | gcu.edu |
| Walden University |
Master's
|
194 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Private | waldenu.edu |
| Southeastern Oklahoma State University |
Master's
|
178 | Durant, Oklahoma | Public | se.edu |
| Arkansas State University (A-State) |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
170 | Jonesboro, Arkansas | Public | astate.edu |
| University of Missouri (Mizzou) |
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
170 | Columbia, Missouri | Public | missouri.edu |
| Angelo State University (ASU) |
Master's
|
147 | San Angelo, Texas | Public | angelo.edu |
| University of La Verne |
Master's
|
144 | La Verne, California | Private | laverne.edu |
| National University (NU) |
Master's
|
138 | San Diego, California | Private | nu.edu |
| William & Mary (W&M) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
130 | Williamsburg, Virginia | Public | wm.edu |
| Concordia University (CUI) |
Master's
|
128 | Irvine, California | Private | cui.edu |
| University of Southern California (USC) |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
121 | Los Angeles, California | Private | usc.edu |
| Montclair State University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
114 | Montclair, New Jersey | Public | montclair.edu |
| St Bonaventure University (SBU) |
Master's
|
114 | Saint Bonaventure, New York | Private | sbu.edu |
| Florida State University (FSU) |
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
113 | Tallahassee, Florida | Public | fsu.edu |
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
112 | Charlotte, North Carolina | Public | charlotte.edu |
| Wake Forest University (WFC) |
Master's
|
110 | Winston-Salem, North Carolina | Private | wfu.edu |
| Clemson University |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
110 | Clemson, South Carolina | Public | clemson.edu |
| California State University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
109 | Los Angeles, California | Public | calstatela.edu |
| University of Massachusetts Global (UMass Global) |
Master's
|
100 | Irvine, California | Public | umassglobal.edu |
| New York University (NYU) |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
99 | New York, New York | Private | nyu.edu |
| Oregon State University (OSU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
94 | Corvallis, Oregon | Public | oregonstate.edu |
| University of West Alabama (UWA) |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
86 | Livingston, Alabama | Public | uwa.edu |
| University of Central Florida (UCF) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
85 | Orlando, Florida | Public | ucf.edu |
| Texas A & M University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
83 | Commerce, Texas | Public | tamuc.edu |
| Campbellsville University (CU) |
Master's
|
82 | Campbellsville, Kentucky | Private | campbellsville.edu |
| Fresno Pacific University (FPU) |
Master's
|
78 | Fresno, California | Private | fresno.edu |
| University of West Georgia (UWG) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
76 | Carrollton, Georgia | Public | westga.edu |
| California State University |
Master's
|
75 | Fresno, California | Public | fresnostate.edu |
| Marshall University |
Master's
|
74 | Huntington, West Virginia | Public | marshall.edu |
| California State University (CSUEB) |
Master's
|
73 | Hayward, California | Public | csueastbay.edu |
| Florida Atlantic University (FAU) |
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
73 | Boca Raton, Florida | Public | fau.edu |
| Alliant International University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
72 | San Diego, California | Private | alliant.edu |
| Kean University |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
69 | Union, New Jersey | Public | kean.edu |
| University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) |
Master's
|
65 | Colorado Springs, Colorado | Public | uccs.edu |
| University of Nebraska (UNK) |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
65 | Kearney, Nebraska | Public | unk.edu |
| San Jose State University (SJSU) |
Master's
|
63 | San Jose, California | Public | sjsu.edu |
| Wichita State University (WSU) |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
63 | Wichita, Kansas | Public | wichita.edu |
| New Mexico Highlands University (NMHU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
63 | Las Vegas, New Mexico | Public | nmhu.edu |
| University of North Texas (UNT) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
61 | Denton, Texas | Public | unt.edu |
| Buena Vista University (BVU) |
Master's
|
60 | Storm Lake, Iowa | Private | bvu.edu |
| Northern Arizona University (NAU) |
Master's
|
59 | Flagstaff, Arizona | Public | nau.edu |
| California State University |
Master's
|
59 | Sacramento, California | Public | csus.edu |
| Wilmington University (WilmU) |
Master's
|
59 | New Castle, Delaware | Private | wilmu.edu |
| The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) |
Master's
|
59 | Ewing, New Jersey | Public | tcnj.edu |
| Pennsylvania Western University (PennWest) |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
59 | California, Pennsylvania | Public | pennwest.edu |
| California State University (CSUF) |
Master's
|
58 | Fullerton, California | Public | fullerton.edu |
| Valdosta State University (VSU) |
Master's
|
58 | Valdosta, Georgia | Public | valdosta.edu |
| San Diego State University (SDSU) |
Master's
|
57 | San Diego, California | Public | sdsu.edu |
| University of South Carolina (USC) |
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
57 | Columbia, South Carolina | Public | sc.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Superior |
Master's
|
57 | Superior, Wisconsin | Public | uwsuper.edu |
| Fort Hays State University (FHSU) |
Master's
|
56 | Hays, Kansas | Public | fhsu.edu |
| Wayne State University (WSU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
55 | Detroit, Michigan | Public | wayne.edu |
| George Mason University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
53 | Fairfax, Virginia | Public | www2.gmu.edu |
| Old Dominion University (ODU) |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
53 | Norfolk, Virginia | Public | odu.edu |
| University of Louisville (UofL) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
52 | Louisville, Kentucky | Public | louisville.edu |
| University of Nebraska (UNO) |
Master's
|
51 | Omaha, Nebraska | Public | unomaha.edu |
| CUNY Hunter College |
Master's
|
51 | New York, New York | Public | hunter.cuny.edu |
| California State University (CSUN) |
Master's
|
50 | Northridge, California | Public | csun.edu |
| San Francisco State University (SFSU) |
Master's
|
50 | San Francisco, California | Public | sfsu.edu |
| Tennessee Technological University (TTU) |
Master's
|
50 | Cookeville, Tennessee | Public | tntech.edu |
| California State University |
Master's
|
49 | Turlock, California | Public | csustan.edu |
| The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) |
Master's
|
49 | Edinburg, Texas | Public | utrgv.edu |
| Auburn University (AU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
48 | Auburn, Alabama | Public | auburn.edu |
| Azusa Pacific University (APU) |
Master's
|
48 | Azusa, California | Private | apu.edu |
| Oklahoma State University (OSU) |
Master's
|
48 | Stillwater, Oklahoma | Public | okstate.edu |
| Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) |
Master's
|
48 | Fort Myers, Florida | Public | fgcu.edu |
| University of Alabama (UAB) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
47 | Birmingham, Alabama | Public | uab.edu |
| California State University (CSUSB) |
Master's
|
47 | San Bernardino, California | Public | csusb.edu |
| California State University (CSULB) |
Master's
|
47 | Long Beach, California | Public | csulb.edu |
| Georgia State University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
47 | Atlanta, Georgia | Public | gsu.edu |
| Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) |
Master's
|
47 | Richmond, Kentucky | Public | eku.edu |
| University of Missouri-St Louis (UMSL) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Post-Master's
|
47 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Public | umsl.edu |
| University of Montevallo |
Master's
|
46 | Montevallo, Alabama | Public | montevallo.edu |
| University of the Southwest (USW) |
Master's
|
46 | Hobbs, New Mexico | Private | usw.edu |
| University of Wisconsin |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Other Award
|
46 | Whitewater, Wisconsin | Public | uww.edu |
| Texas A & M International University (TAMIU) |
Master's
|
45 | Laredo, Texas | Public | tamiu.edu |
| Loyola University Maryland |
Master's
|
44 | Baltimore, Maryland | Private | loyola.edu |
| Mississippi State University (MSU) |
Master's
|
44 | Mississippi State, Mississippi | Public | msstate.edu |
| Missouri State University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
44 | Springfield, Missouri | Public | missouristate.edu |
| Doane University |
Master's
|
43 | Crete, Nebraska | Private | doane.edu |
| Boston University (BU) |
Master's
|
42 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | bu.edu |
| University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
42 | University, Mississippi | Public | olemiss.edu |
| Kansas State University (K‑State) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
41 | Manhattan, Kansas | Public | k-state.edu |
| Portland State University (PSU) |
Master's
|
41 | Portland, Oregon | Public | pdx.edu |
| Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) |
Post-Master's
|
41 | Murfreesboro, Tennessee | Public | mtsu.edu |
| Loyola Marymount University (LMU) |
Master's
|
39 | Los Angeles, California | Private | lmu.edu |
| Grand Valley State University (GVSU) |
Master's
|
39 | Allendale, Michigan | Public | gvsu.edu |
| Seton Hall University (SHU) |
Master's
|
39 | South Orange, New Jersey | Private | shu.edu |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
38 | Tempe, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Post-Master's
|
38 | Cape Girardeau, Missouri | Public | semo.edu |
| University of Houston (UH) |
Master's
|
38 | Houston, Texas | Public | uh.edu |
| University of Southern Maine (USM) |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
37 | Portland, Maine | Public | usm.maine.edu |
| Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
37 | Moorhead, Minnesota | Public | mnstate.edu |
| Longwood University |
Master's
|
37 | Farmville, Virginia | Public | longwood.edu |
| Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) |
Master's
|
37 | Richmond, Virginia | Public | vcu.edu |
| Southeastern Louisiana University (SLU) |
Master's
|
36 | Hammond, Louisiana | Public | southeastern.edu |
| University of Missouri (UMKC) |
Master's
|
36 | Kansas City, Missouri | Public | umkc.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about School Counseling and Guidance programs
How much can I earn with a School Counseling and Guidance degree?
Salaries for School Counseling and Guidance graduates vary by role and location. Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors earn a median of $65,140 annually. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $94,320 compared to $51,140 in Oklahoma. Approximately 342,350 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest School Counseling and Guidance programs?
Currently 421 accredited institutions offer School Counseling and Guidance degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Liberty University (382 graduates), Capella University (274 graduates), and University of the Cumberlands (223 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in School Counseling and Guidance growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 13,503 in 2010 to a peak of 12,394 in 2020, before declining slightly to 12,270 in 2023-24. This represents a 9% decrease overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with consistent demand, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a School Counseling and Guidance degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors. Related occupations employ approximately 342,350 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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