School Counseling and Guidance: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries

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.

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.

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.

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.