College Student Counseling and Personnel Services: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
College Student Counseling and Personnel Services prepares professionals to support the academic, emotional, and career development of students within higher education and adult learning environments. This program emphasizes the strategic design and delivery of comprehensive student services that foster well-being, equity, and success across diverse educational settings.
- Applicable laws and policies: Explores legal and regulatory frameworks governing student rights, institutional compliance, and ethical standards in educational counseling and administration.
- Residential counseling and services: Focuses on supporting student life in campus housing environments, addressing personal, social, and behavioral needs within residential communities.
- Vocational counseling and placement services: Equips students with tools for career exploration, decision-making, and job readiness, including strategies for connecting learners with employment and internship opportunities.
- Remedial skills counseling: Addresses foundational academic challenges by developing targeted interventions in areas such as study skills, time management, and academic writing.
- Therapeutic counselor intervention: Applies evidence-based psychological techniques to support students experiencing emotional, mental health, or personal adjustment difficulties.
College Student Counseling and Personnel Services Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
College Student Counseling and Personnel Services Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with College Student Counseling and Personnel Services degrees, including Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors and Residential 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 425,160 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 |
| Residential Advisors 39-9041 | $39,180 | $28,490 - $58,350 | 82,810 | $18.84 |
College Student Counseling and Personnel Services Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $41,930 in Oklahoma to $70,585 in California—a 68% difference. The highest-paying states include California, Washington, and Massachusetts. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 425,160 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 College Student Counseling and Personnel Services by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 65 institutions offering College Student Counseling and Personnel Services 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 College Student Counseling and Personnel Services is found at Seattle University (Seattle U) (56 graduates), Appalachian State University (App State) (50 graduates), University of North Carolina (UNCP), Pembroke (49 graduates), North Carolina State University (NC State), Raleigh (47 graduates), and University of Southern California (USC) (43 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 952 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle University (Seattle U) |
Master's
|
56 | Seattle, Washington | Private | seattleu.edu |
| Appalachian State University (App State) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Post-Master's
|
50 | Boone, North Carolina | Public | appstate.edu |
| University of North Carolina (UNCP) |
Master's
Post-Master's
|
49 | Pembroke, North Carolina | Public | uncp.edu |
| North Carolina State University (NC State) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
47 | Raleigh, North Carolina | Public | ncsu.edu |
| University of Southern California (USC) |
Master's
|
43 | Los Angeles, California | Private | usc.edu |
| Arkansas Tech University (ATU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
40 | Russellville, Arkansas | Public | atu.edu |
| North Carolina A & T State University (NC A&T) |
Master's
|
35 | Greensboro, North Carolina | Public | ncat.edu |
| Indiana University (IUB) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
33 | Bloomington, Indiana | Public | indiana.edu |
| University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) |
Master's
|
32 | Greensboro, North Carolina | Public | uncg.edu |
| Western Carolina University (WCU) |
Master's
|
30 | Cullowhee, North Carolina | Public | wcu.edu |
| Angelo State University (ASU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
30 | San Angelo, Texas | Public | angelo.edu |
| California Lutheran University (CLU) |
Master's
|
29 | Thousand Oaks, California | Private | callutheran.edu |
| University of Georgia (UGA) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
25 | Athens, Georgia | Public | uga.edu |
| University of Florida (UF) |
Master's
|
24 | Gainesville, Florida | Public | ufl.edu |
| University of South Carolina (USC) |
Master's
|
24 | Columbia, South Carolina | Public | sc.edu |
| Ball State University (BSU) |
Master's
|
22 | Muncie, Indiana | Public | bsu.edu |
| Indiana State University (ISU) |
Master's
|
21 | Terre Haute, Indiana | Public | indstate.edu |
| The University of Tennessee |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
21 | Knoxville, Tennessee | Public | utk.edu |
| California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) |
Master's
|
17 | San Luis Obispo, California | Public | calpoly.edu |
| University of Northern Iowa (UNI) |
Master's
Doctorate (Other)
|
17 | Cedar Falls, Iowa | Public | uni.edu |
| Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania (Ship) |
Master's
|
17 | Shippensburg, Pennsylvania | Public | ship.edu |
| Wayne State College (WSC) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
15 | Wayne, Nebraska | Public | wsc.edu |
| Bowling Green State University (BGSU) |
Master's
|
15 | Bowling Green, Ohio | Public | bgsu.edu |
| Miami University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
15 | Oxford, Ohio | Public | miamioh.edu |
| Kutztown University of Pennsylvania (KU) |
Master's
|
15 | Kutztown, Pennsylvania | Public | kutztown.edu |
| University of Central Arkansas (UCA) |
Master's
|
14 | Conway, Arkansas | Public | uca.edu |
| Western Kentucky University (WKU) |
Master's
|
13 | Bowling Green, Kentucky | Public | wku.edu |
| Arkansas State University (A-State) |
Master's
|
12 | Jonesboro, Arkansas | Public | astate.edu |
| Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania (SRU) |
Master's
|
12 | Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania | Public | sru.edu |
| Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) |
Master's
|
11 | Indiana, Pennsylvania | Public | iup.edu |
| Stephen F Austin State University (SFASU) |
Master's
|
11 | Nacogdoches, Texas | Public | sfasu.edu |
| American Public University System (APUS) |
Master's
|
11 | Charles Town, West Virginia | Private | apus.edu |
| Illinois State University (ISU) |
Master's
|
10 | Normal, Illinois | Public | illinoisstate.edu |
| East Carolina University (ECU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
10 | Greenville, North Carolina | Public | ecu.edu |
| Rutgers University |
Master's
|
8 | New Brunswick, New Jersey | Public | newbrunswick.rutgers.edu |
| University of Memphis (UofM) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
8 | Memphis, Tennessee | Public | memphis.edu |
| Southern Arkansas University (SAU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
7 | Magnolia, Arkansas | Public | saumag.edu |
| Western Illinois University (WIU) |
Master's
|
7 | Macomb, Illinois | Public | wiu.edu |
| Northwestern State University of Louisiana (NSULA) |
Master's
|
7 | Natchitoches, Louisiana | Public | nsula.edu |
| Eastern Michigan University (EMU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
7 | Ypsilanti, Michigan | Public | emich.edu |
| North Dakota State University (NDSU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
7 | Fargo, North Dakota | Public | ndsu.edu |
| Brigham Young University (BYU) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
7 | Provo, Utah | Private | byu.edu |
| Northern Arizona University (NAU) |
Master's
|
5 | Flagstaff, Arizona | Public | nau.edu |
| University of Redlands |
Master's
|
5 | Redlands, California | Private | redlands.edu |
| Eastern Illinois University (EIU) |
Master's
|
5 | Charleston, Illinois | Public | eiu.edu |
| Saint Cloud State University (SCSU) |
Master's
|
5 | Saint Cloud, Minnesota | Public | stcloudstate.edu |
| University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Master's
|
5 | Edmond, Oklahoma | Public | uco.edu |
| Western Michigan University (WMU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
4 | Kalamazoo, Michigan | Public | wmich.edu |
| Montclair State University |
Doctorate (Research)
|
4 | Montclair, New Jersey | Public | montclair.edu |
| Shepherd University |
Master's
|
4 | Shepherdstown, West Virginia | Public | shepherd.edu |
| University of Connecticut (UConn) |
Postbac Cert.
|
3 | Storrs, Connecticut | Public | uconn.edu |
| Springfield College |
Master's
|
3 | Springfield, Massachusetts | Private | springfield.edu |
| SUNY Brockport |
Master's
|
3 | Brockport, New York | Public | brockport.edu |
| Villanova University |
Postbac Cert.
|
3 | Villanova, Pennsylvania | Private | villanova.edu |
| South Dakota State University (SDSU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
3 | Brookings, South Dakota | Public | sdstate.edu |
| University of West Florida (UWF) |
Master's
|
2 | Pensacola, Florida | Public | uwf.edu |
| Roosevelt University |
Master's
|
2 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | roosevelt.edu |
| Seton Hall University (SHU) |
Master's
|
2 | South Orange, New Jersey | Private | shu.edu |
| Carlow University |
Master's
|
2 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Private | carlow.edu |
| Lakeland University |
Master's
|
2 | Plymouth, Wisconsin | Private | lakeland.edu |
| Indiana Wesleyan University |
Master's
|
2 | Marion, Indiana | Private | indwes.edu |
| Harding University |
Master's
|
1 | Searcy, Arkansas | Private | harding.edu |
| University of Massachusetts |
Post-Master's
|
1 | Boston, Massachusetts | Public | umb.edu |
| Minnesota State University |
Master's
|
1 | Mankato, Minnesota | Public | mnsu.edu |
| Syracuse University |
Master's
|
1 | Syracuse, New York | Private | syracuse.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about College Student Counseling and Personnel Services programs
How much can I earn with a College Student Counseling and Personnel Services degree?
Salaries for College Student Counseling and Personnel Services graduates vary by role and location. Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors earn a median of $65,140 annually, while Residential Advisors earn around $39,180. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $70,585 compared to $41,930 in Oklahoma. Approximately 425,160 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 College Student Counseling and Personnel Services programs?
Currently 65 accredited institutions offer College Student Counseling and Personnel Services degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Seattle University (Seattle U) (56 graduates), Appalachian State University (App State) (50 graduates), and University of North Carolina (UNCP), Pembroke (49 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 College Student Counseling and Personnel Services growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 918 in 2010 to a peak of 1,195 in 2020, before declining slightly to 952 in 2023-24. This represents a 4% increase overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with steady interest, 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 College Student Counseling and Personnel Services degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors, Residential Advisors, . Related occupations employ approximately 425,160 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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