Specialization

Counseling Education

Counseling Education graduates pursue 2 occupations, with top roles paying $64,330/yr or more. The career cards below break down wages, daily tasks, and 10-year job growth projections for each.

About Counseling Education

Counseling Education is a focused area of study within Education. The program is available at 493 colleges across the U.S., from community colleges to research universities. About 14,512 students complete this program each year, most earning a master's. Coursework pairs research methods with the applied study of people and institutions.


Colleges Offering
493
Graduates / Year
14,512
Avg Net Price / yr
$20,498

Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown

Of the 14,512 students who complete Counseling Education programs each year, the majority (90%) earn a master's degree. The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.

Master's 90%
Post-Master's Cert. 4%
Post-Bacc Cert. 3%

What Can You Do With a Counseling Education Degree?

Counseling Education connects to 2 occupations in the job market. Educational, Guidance & Career Counselor leads at $64,330/yr median. Expand any card to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.

↗ +3.5% Zone 5: Extensive preparation
$64,330
$51K $83K 25th–75th pct.
Master's degree 31,000 openings/yr 353K employed nationally
Active Listening Speaking Social Perceptiveness Service Orientation Reading Comprehension
Day-to-day responsibilities

Advise and assist students and provide educational and vocational guidance services.

  • 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.
↗ +3.8% Zone 3: Medium preparation
$42,240
$36K $50K 25th–75th pct.
High school diploma or equivalent 17,400 openings/yr 85K employed nationally
Social Perceptiveness Active Listening Speaking Monitoring Coordination
Day-to-day responsibilities

Coordinate activities in resident facilities in secondary school and college dormitories, group homes, or similar establishments. Order supplies and determine need for maintenance, repairs, and furnishings. May maintain household records and assign rooms. May assist residents with problem solving or refer them to counseling resources.

  • Communicate with other staff to resolve problems with individual students.
  • Observe students to detect and report unusual behavior.
  • Supervise, train, and evaluate residence hall staff, including resident assistants, participants in work-study programs, and other student workers.

Top Colleges for Counseling Education

The 20 colleges below are ranked by how many Counseling Education students they graduate each year. Scroll right to compare acceptance rate, net price, and median earnings side by side.

# College Graduates Acceptance Net Price/yr Earnings 10yr
1 Liberty University Lynchburg, VA · Nonprofit 435 99% $29,357 $44,813
2 University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA · Nonprofit 208 9.8% $32,740 $92,498
3 University of Missouri-Columbia Columbia, MO · Public 204 78.5% $20,268 $63,403
4 Angelo State University San Angelo, TX · Public 200 83% $15,091 $50,116
5 New York University New York, NY · Nonprofit 190 9.2% $37,050 $82,509
6 University of the Cumberlands Williamsburg, KY · Nonprofit 165 98.8% $14,107 $45,036
7 Southeastern Oklahoma State University Durant, OK · Public 163 76.4% $8,039 $45,079
8 Arkansas State University Jonesboro, AR · Public 152 82.3% $12,366 $42,617
9 Concordia University-Irvine Irvine, CA · Nonprofit 149 66% $28,115 $65,083
10 Grand Canyon University Phoenix, AZ · Nonprofit 143 78.9% $22,472 $42,186
11 St Bonaventure University Saint Bonaventure, NY · Nonprofit 118 81.7% $27,074 $57,214
12 Montclair State University Montclair, NJ · Public 116 87.9% $15,566 $61,415
13 University of South Carolina-Columbia Columbia, SC · Public 115 60.2% $22,811 $62,177
14 Wake Forest University Winston-Salem, NC · Nonprofit 112 21.7% $28,719 $78,158
15 Florida State University Tallahassee, FL · Public 110 24.2% $11,297 $61,675
16 Alfred University Alfred, NY · Nonprofit 109 73.8% $25,620 $54,897
17 California State University-Northridge Northridge, CA · Public 105 93.5% $7,021 $59,115
18 University of West Alabama Livingston, AL · Public 104 42.7% $12,684 $44,232
19 University of La Verne La Verne, CA · Nonprofit 103 71.2% $20,161 $65,464
20 Kansas State University Manhattan, KS · Public 101 81.7% $19,406 $57,262

Ranked by Counseling Education graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats. Read our methodology →

Plan Your Path

Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of a Counseling Education program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find schools that match your profile.

Counseling Education Degree: Pros & Cons

The data on Counseling Education shows 2 measurable strengths and 1 real trade-offs. All points are sourced from College Scorecard earnings, BLS projections, and IPEDS graduate counts.

PROS
  • Strong hiring volume Related occupations generate more than 48,400 job openings per year combined, creating consistent demand for graduates.
  • Wide availability Offered at 493 colleges nationwide, with options at every price point and institution type.
CONS
  • Advanced degree often expected Top roles in this field typically expect a master's degree or higher. A bachelor's may be a starting point rather than a terminal credential for the most competitive positions.

Counseling Education Degree: Frequently Asked Questions

What jobs can you get with a Counseling Education degree?
Counseling Education degree holders pursue careers including Educational, Guidance & Career Counselor, which pays a median of $64,330/yr. Scroll down to the Career Paths section to see wages and job growth projections for every related occupation.
How long does a Counseling Education program take?
While a bachelor's in this area takes four years, many Counseling Education students continue to a master's degree, adding one to two years. Some schools offer accelerated 5-year combined programs.
How many colleges offer Counseling Education?
493 colleges and universities in the United States offer Counseling Education programs. Options range from community colleges with certificates and associate degrees to research universities with doctoral tracks.
What is the difference between Counseling Education and Education?
Counseling Education is a focused concentration within the broader Education field. The Education major covers the full discipline; this program narrows the curriculum to Counseling Education-specific courses, skills, and career tracks. If you already know this is the direction you want, the specialized program gives you a more targeted credential.
What skills do employers look for in Counseling Education graduates?
Employers hiring Counseling Education graduates consistently prioritize research methodology, interpersonal communication, and policy understanding. Experience with surveys, qualitative interviews, or statistical tools is often a differentiator in government, nonprofit, and research roles.
What is the job outlook for Counseling Education graduates?
The job outlook for Counseling Education graduates is moderate overall. Related occupations project an average of +3.7% job growth over the next 10 years. Residential Advisors is among the strongest-growth roles at +3.8%. Growth varies by role and location, so check the Career Paths section for projections on each specific occupation.

Continue Exploring

Browse our full directory: every college, major, program, and career we track, all built from verified government data.