Best Master's in School Counseling Programs by Local Teacher Pay

1. 1

   City University of Seattle

   Seattle, WAPrivate nonprofitOnline available

   • 4Master's/yr
   • $102,920Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Arts in Counseling, Professional School Counseling track
   • CACREP accredited
   • Hybrid
   About the program

   City University of Seattle offers a Master of Arts in Counseling with a Professional School Counseling track, a CACREP-accredited program delivered in a mixed-mode format that combines Saturday in-person class meetings with weekly online coursework. That schedule reads as deliberately built for working adults, letting students hold down a job while attending campus sessions just once a week. The degree is substantial at 90 credit hours across twenty-four courses, and it embeds a supervised practicum and internship so candidates graduate with real school experience. The Professional School Counseling track prepares graduates for Educational Staff Associate certification, the credential required to work as a school counselor in K-12 schools across Washington State. A parallel Clinical Mental Health Counseling track serves students aiming at community and clinical settings instead. A master's-level path in school counseling, it builds toward a career among educational in Washington.

   Why it ranks here

   A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 4 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA, where elementary teachers earn a median $102,920, roughly $92,610 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

   Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

   School site
2. 2

   Loyola Marymount University

   Los Angeles, CAPrivate nonprofit

   • 39Master's/yr
   • $101,860Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Arts in School Counseling, with Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) Credential and CWA Authorization
   • Hybrid
   About the program

   Loyola Marymount University offers a Master of Arts in School Counseling that pairs the Pupil Personnel Services Credential with a Child Welfare and Attendance Authorization, extending graduates' reach into attendance and student welfare work beyond the counseling office. It is one of three tracks in the university's California Counseling Program, sitting alongside an LPCC-eligible counseling MA and a college counseling and student affairs MA, and it is deliberately aimed at school rather than clinical practice. The degree runs 51 units with 800 internship hours, and a select number of candidates can access a paid residency in their final year, easing the financial strain of extended fieldwork. Delivered in a hybrid format and accredited by the state's Board of Behavioral Sciences, the Commission on Teacher Credentialing, and WASC, it reflects a program serious about credentialed, service-oriented practice. It fits candidates who want a school-focused credential with an added child welfare authorization. Graduates of this school counseling program at the master's level often go on to work as educational.

   Why it ranks here

   Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 39 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, where elementary teachers earn a median $101,860, roughly $89,692 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

   Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

   School site
3. 3

   Chapman University

   Orange, CAPrivate nonprofit

   • 21Master's/yr
   • $101,860Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Arts in Counseling and Pupil Personnel Services Credential in School Counseling
   • California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC)-accredited
   • On-campus
   About the program

   Chapman University offers a Master of Arts in Counseling paired with the Pupil Personnel Services credential in school counseling through its Attallah College of Educational Studies. Reviewed by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, the on-campus program leads to the PPS credential and qualifies graduates to serve as professional school counselors from preschool through high school. The 51-unit sequence takes two to three years and is fieldwork-intensive, combining 200 hours of practica with 800 hours of internship for a total of 1,000 supervised hours in schools. Candidates who want a clinical option can add an emphasis in Professional Clinical Counseling, which fulfills the educational requirements for California LPCC licensure and broadens the program from a purely school-focused credential into a dual-pathway preparation. This master's-level school counseling program prepares graduates for work as educational in California.

   Why it ranks here

   For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 21 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, where elementary teachers earn a median $101,860, roughly $89,692 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

   Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

   School site
4. 4

   California State University-Fullerton

   Fullerton, CAPublic

   • 58Master's/yr
   • $101,860Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Science in Counseling
   • On-campus
   About the program

   California State University, Fullerton offers a Master of Science in Counseling through its College of Health and Human Development that points toward clinical practice rather than school settings. The 63-unit program is CACREP-accredited in Clinical Mental Health Counseling through October 2031 and approved by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, with coursework mapped to the state requirements for both Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist paths. It does not lead to a PPS school counseling credential. Students complete the degree in three and a half to five years and enroll in one of two cohorts, a larger Traditional cohort of roughly sixty students per year or a smaller Evening cohort of about two dozen that starts only every three years. Classes meet mainly on campus in the evening, with a single hybrid course. This master's-level school counseling program prepares graduates for work as educational in California.

   Why it ranks here

   For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 58 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, where elementary teachers earn a median $101,860, roughly $89,692 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

   Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

   School site
5. 5

   Concordia University-Irvine

   Irvine, CAPrivate nonprofitOnline available

   • 128Master's/yr
   • $101,860Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Arts in Education: School Counseling
   • Online
   About the program

   Concordia University Irvine offers a Master of Arts in Education: School Counseling built for candidates who want to become credentialed pupil personnel professionals without stepping away from full-time work. The program moves a single cohort through 48 units over 26 months, pairing a 3-unit practicum with a 6-unit fieldwork sequence and a capstone project so that classroom learning is continually tested in real school settings. Synchronous evening sessions cluster on Tuesday through Thursday during weeks 1, 3, 5, and 7 of each eight-week term, a rhythm that keeps live instruction predictable while leaving space for on-site hours. Graduates emerge prepared for the California Pupil Personnel Services Credential in School Counseling, and the coursework is aligned with CTC and WASC standards. The design reads as a practical, cohort-anchored path into K-12 counseling for working adults. This master's-level school counseling program prepares graduates for work as educational in California.

   Why it ranks here

   A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 128 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, where elementary teachers earn a median $101,860, roughly $89,692 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

   Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

   School site
6. 6

   University of La Verne

   La Verne, CAPrivate nonprofit

   • 144Master's/yr
   • $101,860Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Science in Educational Counseling
   • On-campus
   About the program

   The University of La Verne offers a Master of Science in Educational Counseling that lets candidates shape the degree around the kind of counseling work they intend to do. Three concentrations, School and Family Based Counseling, Spanish Bilingual Bicultural Counseling, and Social Justice Higher Education, span everything from bilingual K-12 practice to equity-minded work in higher education. Depending on the chosen path the program runs 55 to 71 credits and takes two to three and a half years, and it is delivered at multiple California campuses including La Verne, Bakersfield, Burbank, Irvine, and Santa Clarita. That breadth of locations and tracks marks a program meant to reach a geographically and professionally diverse pool of counselors. Coursework meets the requirements for the California Pupil Personnel Services Credential in school counseling and is accredited by the state's Commission on Teacher Credentialing. The result is a flexible, mission-driven degree for candidates who want to align their training with a specific community focus. This master's-level school counseling program prepares graduates for work as educational in California.

   Why it ranks here

   Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 144 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, where elementary teachers earn a median $101,860, roughly $89,692 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

   Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

   School site
7. 7

   California State University-Northridge

   Northridge, CAPublic

   • 50Master's/yr
   • $101,860Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Science in Counseling, Option in School Counseling with PPS Credential
   • California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC)-accredited
   • On-campus
   About the program

   California State University, Northridge offers a Master of Science in Counseling with an Option in School Counseling and an embedded Pupil Personnel Services credential through its Eisner College of Education. Approved by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, the full-time, on-campus program qualifies graduates for the PPS credential in school counseling while also opening doors to the National Counselor Examination for NCC certification and a pathway toward LPCC licensure. The 72-unit, three-year design balances 51 core units, 18 option units, and a 3-unit culminating experience, with fieldwork scaffolded from a 100-hour practicum in the first year to 800 hours across the second year and final fall semester. That graduated clinical sequence gives candidates steadily deepening school-based experience on the way to the credential. This master's-level school counseling program prepares graduates for work as educational in California.

   Why it ranks here

   Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 50 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, where elementary teachers earn a median $101,860, roughly $89,692 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

   Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

   School site
8. 8

   Azusa Pacific University

   Azusa, CAPrivate nonprofit

   • 48Master's/yr
   • $101,860Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Arts in Education (MAEd) in Educational Counseling with Embedded School Counseling Credential
   • Hybrid
   About the program

   Azusa Pacific University offers a Master of Arts in Education in Educational Counseling with an embedded School Counseling credential, a 50-unit cohort program accredited by CAEP and WSCUC and approved by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. Small cohorts of 15 to 20 students move through synchronous online classes together, joined by one required in-person Saturday session each semester, creating a connected community with limited campus demands. The program leads to the Pupil Personnel Services Credential in School Counseling required to practice in California K-12 schools, and it builds in more than 800 hours of supervised clinical experience. A comprehensive-exam capstone rather than a thesis keeps the emphasis on applied readiness over research. An optional pathway toward the Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor credential extends its reach for students eyeing clinical practice. Graduates of this school counseling program at the master's level often go on to work as educational.

   Why it ranks here

   A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 48 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, where elementary teachers earn a median $101,860, roughly $89,692 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

   Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

   School site
9. 9

   Saint Mary's College of California

   Moraga, CAPrivate nonprofit

   • 5Master's/yr
   • $101,860Metro teacher pay
   • Master of Arts in Counseling, School Counseling specialization
   • On-campus
   About the program

   Saint Mary's College of California offers a Master of Arts in Counseling with a School Counseling specialization aligned to the ASCA National Standards and California Commission on Teacher Credentialing requirements. The core specialization runs 40 units within a 60-unit degree, while a dual specialization pairing school counseling with marriage and family or professional clinical counseling extends the program to 81 units for students who want a clinical scope alongside K-12 work. Graduates are recommended for the California Pupil Personnel Services credential in School Counseling. A Residency Partner Program with the Alameda County Office of Education adds a $31,000 stipend and one-to-one mentorship, and evening and Saturday classes across two to three-and-a-half-year plans make the degree workable for adults already building careers. This master's-level school counseling program prepares graduates for work as educational in California.

   Why it ranks here

   Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 5 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, where elementary teachers earn a median $101,860, roughly $88,104 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

   Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

   School site
10. 10

    University of Massachusetts Global

    Aliso Viejo, CAPublicOnline available

    • 100Master's/yr
    • $101,860Metro teacher pay
    • MA in Educational Counseling, Pupil Personnel Services Credential (PPSC) with CWA Authorization
    • Online
    About the program

    University of Massachusetts Global offers an MA in Educational Counseling that pairs a Pupil Personnel Services Credential in School Counseling with Child Welfare and Attendance authorization, delivered fully online for California residents. The 48-credit program runs in 8-week instructor-led sessions, a cadence that suits working adults, while its fieldwork demands are substantial: 100 hours of in-person supervised fieldwork plus 800 post-practicum and internship hours, including a minimum of 600 at an approved California public school and 150 toward the CWA authorization. That combination of flexible online coursework and heavy in-state fieldwork reads as a program engineered specifically to move California candidates into K-12 school counselor roles. It carries WASC institutional accreditation, California Commission on Teaching Credentialing approval, and AAQEP accreditation. Graduates earn the PPSC credential with CWA authorization required for those positions. A master's-level path in school counseling, it builds toward a career among educational in California.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 100 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA, where elementary teachers earn a median $101,860, roughly $89,692 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
11. 11

    Western Washington University

    Bellingham, WAPublic

    • 6Master's/yr
    • $101,230Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education in School Counseling
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Western Washington University offers a Master of Education in School Counseling as a full-time, in-person program in Bellingham, a 90-credit degree built for immersive study on campus. Candidates follow either a standard non-thesis track or a thesis track for those drawn to a research project, letting the program flex toward practice or scholarship depending on a student's goals. Notably, a teaching certificate is not required for admission, opening the path to career-changers, though applicants without a psychology background complete prerequisite coursework first. CACREP accreditation signals rigorous professional preparation. Graduates qualify for Washington State Educational Staff Associate certification endorsed in school counseling at both elementary and secondary levels, readying them to serve students across the K-12 span. This master's-level school counseling program prepares graduates for work as educational in Washington.

    Why it ranks here

    For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 6 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Bellingham, WA, where elementary teachers earn a median $101,230, roughly $97,964 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
12. 12

    Whitworth University

    Spokane, WAPrivate nonprofit

    • 9Master's/yr
    • $98,800Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education in School Counseling
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Whitworth University offers a Master of Education in School Counseling whose schedule tells you who it is for: classes meet once a week in the late afternoon and evening, a rhythm built around working adults. The 60-credit program can be completed in as few as three years, and its practicum placements span both elementary and secondary settings so candidates gain the full K-12 picture. True to Whitworth's mission, the coursework integrates faith with the legal, ethical, social, and cultural considerations of counseling practice. The program holds MPCAC accreditation through December 2028, marking recognized professional standing. Graduates are prepared for Washington State residency Educational Staff Associate certification, the credential that lets them work as school counselors. Graduates of this school counseling program at the master's level often go on to work as educational.

    Why it ranks here

    For a graduate program we set aside undergraduate figures and weigh three things instead: how established it is, the local market its graduates enter, and the institution's standing. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 9 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA, where elementary teachers earn a median $98,800, roughly $98,459 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
13. 13

    Fairfield University

    Fairfield, CTPrivate nonprofit

    • 14Master's/yr
    • $98,600Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Arts in School Counseling
    • CACREP accredited
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Fairfield University's Master of Arts in School Counseling carries a distinctive lineage as the first CACREP-accredited program in Connecticut, accredited since 1986, and it channels that longevity into a hands-on, skills-focused training model. Much of the learning happens inside the university's own Counselor Education Lab and Training Center, where an observation room with a two-way mirror and iPad-equipped practice rooms let faculty watch students rehearse counseling techniques in real time. That emphasis on observed, deliberate practice reflects a program that prioritizes craft and feedback over lecture alone. Graduates become eligible to apply for Connecticut State Certification as a School Counselor for grades K-12, the credential required to practice. For those who already hold a master's, a related Sixth Year Certificate of Advanced Study extends the pathway. A master's-level path in school counseling, it builds toward a career among educational in Connecticut.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 14 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT, where elementary teachers earn a median $98,600, roughly $92,267 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
14. 14

    University of Bridgeport

    Bridgeport, CTPrivate nonprofit

    • 16Master's/yr
    • $98,600Metro teacher pay
    About the program

    University of Bridgeport is a private nonprofit four-year institution in Bridgeport, CT offering a Master's in school counseling. Total enrollment across the university is 3,838. It awarded 16 master's degrees in school counseling in the most recent reporting year, in line with the national median of 16. Earning a master's degree in school counseling is a common route toward becoming one of Connecticut's educational.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 16 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT, where elementary teachers earn a median $98,600, roughly $92,267 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
15. 15

    Boston University

    Boston, MAPrivate nonprofit

    • 42Master's/yr
    • $98,060Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education in Counseling (School Counseling concentration)
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Boston University's Wheelock College of Education and Human Development offers an Ed.M. in Counseling with a School Counseling concentration set within a broader menu that also includes Child and Adolescent Mental Health Counseling and Sport and Performance Psychology. The program is intensive and immersive, running two years full-time and folding in a summer session between the two academic years so that momentum never breaks. Clinical preparation is a defining feature, with candidates completing a minimum of 700 hours of supervised training before they finish. That full-time, cohort-paced design signals a program aimed at students able to commit to graduate study as their central focus rather than fit it around a job. The curriculum is built to prepare graduates for professional roles as school counselors and related counseling positions. A master's-level path in school counseling, it builds toward a career among educational in Massachusetts.

    Why it ranks here

    Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 42 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH, where elementary teachers earn a median $98,060, roughly $90,573 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
16. 16

    Merrimack College

    North Andover, MAPrivate nonprofit

    • 23Master's/yr
    • $98,060Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education in School Counseling
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    Merrimack College offers a 48-credit Master of Education in School Counseling notable for how much of the path students get to shape themselves. Candidates can take most courses online or on campus, and after moving through a 44-credit shared core they select a final practicum concentration, choosing among School Counseling, School Social Work and Adjustment Counseling, a dual concentration, or a non-licensure flexible focus. That late-branching design lets students defer specialization until they know the direction they want. Field-based training is extensive, ranging from 600 to 1,200 practicum hours depending on the concentration, and no GRE or GMAT is required for admission. The program is NECHE-accredited, aligned with ASCA standards, and approved by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, fulfilling the requirements for Massachusetts Initial Licensure in School Counseling or School Social Work and Adjustment Counseling. Graduates of this school counseling program at the master's level often go on to work as educational.

    Why it ranks here

    Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 23 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH, where elementary teachers earn a median $98,060, roughly $90,573 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
17. 17

    Bridgewater State University

    Bridgewater, MAPublic

    • 35Master's/yr
    • $98,060Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education in School Counseling (PreK-8, 5-12)
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Bridgewater State University offers a Master of Education in School Counseling that lets candidates specialize by grade span, choosing either a PreK-8 track or a Grade 5-12 track so their training maps to the developmental stage they intend to serve. Small classes capped at no more than fifteen students give the 60-credit program a seminar feel and close faculty contact. Preparation is competency-driven, combining 600 hours of fieldwork with the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Exam so graduates leave having both practiced and demonstrated their skills. A 54-credit Postmaster's Licensure option extends the same pathway to those who already hold a graduate degree and need only the licensure coursework. Aligned with CACREP standards, the program prepares students for Initial Licensure as a School Guidance Counselor in Massachusetts. Earning a master's degree in school counseling is a common route toward becoming one of Massachusetts's educational.

    Why it ranks here

    Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 35 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH, where elementary teachers earn a median $98,060, roughly $90,573 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
18. 18

    Salem State University

    Salem, MAPublic

    • 21Master's/yr
    • $98,060Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Education in School Counseling
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Salem State University offers a Master of Education in School Counseling built for students preparing to enter Massachusetts public schools as licensed PreK-12 counselors. The program moves students through a cohort model paired with a 500-hour, year-long practicum in public schools, an arrangement that keeps coursework and school-based practice tightly connected across the year. Students choose between a 54-credit school counseling track and a 60-credit dual track that adds School Adjustment Counseling licensure and roughly 1,350 combined field hours. Completion leads to initial Massachusetts licensure, with professional licensure available later through six additional credits and three years of counseling employment. Because it is approved by the state's Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and structured around supervised school placement, the program reads as a direct, practice-grounded route into school counseling careers. This master's-level school counseling program prepares graduates for work as educational in Massachusetts.

    Why it ranks here

    Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 21 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH, where elementary teachers earn a median $98,060, roughly $90,573 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
19. 19

    Cambridge College

    Boston, MAPrivate nonprofit

    • 28Master's/yr
    • $98,060Metro teacher pay
    • Master's in School Counseling
    • Hybrid
    About the program

    Cambridge College offers a 48-credit Master's in School Counseling built around flexible day, evening, and weekend scheduling, a design plainly meant to accommodate working professionals balancing employment with graduate study. The unified curriculum keeps all candidates on a common track toward the Initial School Counseling License in Massachusetts rather than splitting them into separate concentrations. Accreditation by the New England Commission of Higher Education and approval from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education give the credential its professional standing. Prospective applicants should note that the college has announced it is no longer enrolling new students in this program and is transitioning it to Bay Path University beginning in Fall 2026. That teach-out status is an important consideration for anyone weighing enrollment today. As a master's degree in school counseling, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as educational in Massachusetts.

    Why it ranks here

    Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 28 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH, where elementary teachers earn a median $98,060, roughly $90,573 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
20. 20

    State University of New York at New Paltz

    New Paltz, NYPublic

    • 10Master's/yr
    • $97,920Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Science in School Counseling
    • Aligned with CACREP Professional Identity Standards-accredited
    • On-campus
    About the program

    SUNY New Paltz offers a Master of Science in School Counseling that satisfies New York State requirements for Initial and Professional School Counseling certification. The 60-credit program is primarily campus-based with a selection of online courses, and it can be completed in two years full-time or three years part-time, giving candidates flexibility to match the pace to their circumstances. Clinical training progresses from a three-credit, one-semester practicum into a six-credit internship spread across two semesters, so responsibility in schools grows gradually as skills mature. The curriculum is aligned with CACREP's Professional Identity Standards, anchoring the program in recognized professional expectations even where it draws on the psychology department's foundations. Fall-only admission and a cohort rhythm suggest a program that moves students through as a connected group rather than a rolling roster. A master's-level path in school counseling, it builds toward a career among educational in New York.

    Why it ranks here

    Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 10 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into Kingston, NY, where elementary teachers earn a median $97,920, roughly $97,231 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
21. 21

    New York University

    New York, NYPrivate nonprofitOnline available

    • 81Master's/yr
    • $96,900Metro teacher pay
    • MA in School Counseling with a Concentration in K-12 or Bilingual School Counseling
    • On-campus
    About the program

    NYU Steinhardt offers a Master of Arts in School Counseling with a concentration in either K-12 or Bilingual School Counseling, a program accredited by the Master's in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council. Its structure blends core courses with hands-on counseling labs and fieldwork, placing interns in New York City schools so candidates develop counseling skills in one of the country's most diverse urban systems. The bilingual concentration sharpens that focus, preparing counselors to serve English language learner populations. Graduates are eligible for New York State school and guidance counselor certification. Prospective applicants should note that Steinhardt has suspended new enrollment in the on-campus version of this program and is directing students toward related online offerings, so the campus-based pathway may not currently be open to new cohorts. A master's-level path in school counseling, it builds toward a career among educational in New York.

    Why it ranks here

    Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 81 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, where elementary teachers earn a median $96,900, roughly $86,085 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
22. 22

    Rutgers University-New Brunswick

    New Brunswick, NJPublic

    • 4Master's/yr
    • $96,900Metro teacher pay
    • Ed.M. in Counseling Psychology with Initial Certification: School Counseling
    • CACREP-accredited
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Rutgers University offers an Ed.M. in Counseling Psychology with Initial Certification in School Counseling, a CACREP-accredited program that leads to a Graduate School of Education recommendation for a New Jersey Standard Certificate as School Counselor, PreK-12. The 60-credit curriculum embeds 9 credits of supervised practicum and internship in partner school districts, tying classroom learning to real placements from early on. A multicultural focus on equity, inclusion, and social justice runs through the program, positioning graduates to serve students across a range of backgrounds. A completion window of up to five years gives candidates room to progress at a sustainable pace. The combination of a research university's counseling psychology grounding and district-based fieldwork reads as preparation for counselors who understand both theory and school practice. Earning a master's degree in school counseling is a common route toward becoming one of New Jersey's educational.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 4 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, where elementary teachers earn a median $96,900, roughly $86,085 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
23. 23

    Fordham University

    Bronx, NYPrivate nonprofit

    • 12Master's/yr
    • $96,900Metro teacher pay
    • Master of Science in Education in School Counseling
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Fordham University offers a Master of Science in Education in School Counseling through its Graduate School of Education, a 60-credit program accredited by the Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council. The sequence is built around a substantial supervised experience, a two-semester field internship of 300 hours in a K-8 setting and 300 hours in a 9-12 setting, preceded by a minimum 100-hour practicum, which grounds classroom theory in placements across the developmental range. Students may add a Bilingual Extension of 15 additional credits, positioning graduates to serve English language learners in New York's diverse schools. Delivered on-ground at the Lincoln Center campus, the program recommends its completers for New York State certification as a school counselor at both the provisional and permanent levels. It suits candidates seeking a nationally accredited, field-intensive path into school-based counseling. Graduates of this school counseling program at the master's level often go on to work as educational.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 12 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, where elementary teachers earn a median $96,900, roughly $86,085 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
24. 24

    CUNY Hunter College

    New York, NYPublic

    • 51Master's/yr
    • $96,900Metro teacher pay
    • School Counseling, Master of Science in Education
    • CACREP-accredited
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Hunter College offers an on-campus Master of Science in Education in School Counseling that admits a cohort each fall and moves students through a structured sequence of one practicum semester followed by two internship semesters under regular supervision. The design offers a notable milestone along the way, since NYS provisional certification in School Counseling becomes available after 30 credits and a school-based practicum, giving candidates a working credential before they finish. Bilingual students can pursue the New York State Bilingual Education Extension for Pupil Personnel Services concurrently, widening their reach in the city's multilingual schools. The CACREP-accredited curriculum prepares counselors not only for K-12 and college settings but also for hospitals, correctional facilities, and community organizations, reflecting an expansive view of where counseling skills apply. It is a program that treats school counseling as one branch of a broader helping profession. As a master's degree in school counseling, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as educational in New York.

    Why it ranks here

    Master's programs are judged differently here. Undergraduate stats do not apply, so the ranking looks at whether the program is established, the pay its graduates walk into locally, and how the university stands behind it. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 51 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, where elementary teachers earn a median $96,900, roughly $86,085 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site
25. 25

    CUNY Brooklyn College

    Brooklyn, NYPublic

    • 31Master's/yr
    • $96,900Metro teacher pay
    • School Counseling, M.S.Ed.
    • CACREP-accredited
    • On-campus
    About the program

    Brooklyn College offers a face-to-face Master of Science in Education in School Counseling with an explicitly social justice-oriented mission, a framing that runs through its emphasis on serving the diverse students of New York City schools. The program offers a 60-credit standard track and a 66-credit bilingual specialization, the latter culminating in a New York State language proficiency exam for candidates who will counsel multilingual communities. Admission is competitive and distinctive, involving a group interview and an on-site writing sample, which signals a cohort selected for both academic readiness and interpersonal fit. Supervised internships and field experiences run throughout the program, and students assemble a professional portfolio as evidence of their developing practice. Graduates earn New York State Initial Certification as school counselors, with professional certification available after meeting additional state requirements. Graduates of this school counseling program at the master's level often go on to work as educational.

    Why it ranks here

    A master's degree earns its rank on program-appropriate signals, not undergraduate ones: established scale, local teacher pay, and institutional strength. On the first, it is clearly established, turning out 31 master's degrees a year, a steady if smaller cohort. Its graduates step into New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ, where elementary teachers earn a median $96,900, roughly $86,085 once local cost of living is factored in, a real-world read on what the credential is worth in that market.

    Area teacher pay: Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025, adjusted for local cost of living via U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities. A location figure, not this program's graduate earnings.

    School site

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