Best School Counseling Programs for Job Placement
The best school counseling programs for job placement publish their own results. Every program below reports at least 10 school counseling graduates and a placement rate of 90% or higher in a recent CACREP vital statistics report. Each is CACREP-accredited. Rates are self-reported, so we show the year, the graduate count, and how each program defines placement.
Priya is eight months from finishing her internship. She’s logged most of her hours, her site supervisor likes her work, and she’s started scrolling district job boards. She has one question her program’s brochure never answered: do graduates from here actually get hired?
It’s a fair thing to ask before you enroll. CACREP-accredited programs publish annual student outcomes, including graduation, completion, examination pass rates, and employment or doctoral admissions. These measures are self-reported and may not indicate how many graduates secured school counseling positions.
This page collects school counseling programs whose own reports show strong placement. Each profile gives the report year, the number of graduates, and how the program defines placement, because those details decide what a percentage is worth.
The job market is worth knowing too. BLS projects about 27,800 openings a year nationally for educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors (2025-2035 projections). Most of those come from counselors leaving or retiring, not from new positions.
What Job Placement Data Can and Can’t Tell You
The Four Numbers Every CACREP Program Publishes
CACREP-accredited programs publish annual student outcomes for each specialty they offer: the number of graduates in the past year, the completion rate, the licensure or certification exam pass rate, and a combined employment and doctoral admissions rate. These measures are self-reported and may not indicate how many graduates secured school counseling positions. Most programs post them on a “vital statistics” or “student outcomes” page. Each report covers one academic year.
Why 100% Is Common, and What It Hides
In the reports we reviewed, many programs graduated fewer than 10 school counselors in a year. At five graduates, a single person moves the placement rate by 20 points. A 100% from a cohort of three tells you very little.
Definitions vary too. Some programs count only graduates who were actively looking for work. Some count doctoral admissions as placement. One program we reviewed counted graduates who were “employed or actively seeking” as placed, which isn’t a placement rate at all. Response rates matter as well, since programs can only report on graduates who answer the survey.
That’s why this page sets a floor of 10 graduates and prints each program’s own definition.
Placement Beyond the Number
A rate can’t tell you where graduates work, what the internship was like, or whether the program’s coursework lines up with your state’s certification. Those are the things to ask about. Start with school counselor licensure requirements in your state, then look at what a school counseling internship involves. The profiles below point out what each program says about both.
How We Chose These Programs
We started with our database of CACREP-accredited school counseling programs, verified against the CACREP register on September 30, 2026. You can check any program’s status in the CACREP directory. For each program we looked for its own published vital statistics report. A program made this list if its report covered school counseling on its own, came from the 2023-24 academic year or later, showed at least 10 graduates, and showed a placement rate of 90% or higher. The 10-graduate and 90% cutoffs are editorial choices, not CACREP standards. Programs are listed alphabetically, not ranked. Rates are self-reported and definitions differ, so each profile says how the program counts placement. We’re still working through the remaining programs, so a school’s absence doesn’t mean it’s weak. CACREP accreditation is not the same as state approval, so confirm that any program meets your state’s requirements before you enroll.
The Best Programs for Job Placement at a Glance
| Program | Report Year | Graduates | Placement | Exam Pass Rate | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clemson University (SC) | 2023-24 | 12 | 100% of graduates seeking work | Praxis 100% | In-person evening classes |
| East Carolina University (NC) | 2024-25 | 30 | 91-100% (employment and doctoral admissions) | 91-100% | Online study toward North Carolina licensure |
| Mississippi State University (MS) | 2023-24 | 10 | 100% in-field | 100% | Mississippi students |
| Missouri State University (MO) | 2023-24 | 10 | 100% | 90% | Missouri K-12 certification |
| Ohio State University (OH) | 2024-25 | 14 | 100% | 100% | A full-time cohort in Columbus |
| University of Montana (MT) | 2024-25 | 10 | 100% (employment and doctoral admissions) | Not required in Montana | Montana students who want to study online |
| University of Virginia (VA) | 2025 | 21 | 100% | No exam needed (as reported for school counseling) | Virginia school counselor licensure |
| Valdosta State University (GA) | 2025 | 19 | 100% | GACE 100% | Online study toward Georgia certification |
Exam pass rates refer to the credentialing assessments reported by each university and may involve different examinations. School counselor certification requirements vary by state, and clinical counseling licensure is a separate credentialing process.
School Counseling Programs With Strong Job Placement
Programs are listed alphabetically. Each profile starts with the student it fits best, then shows the program’s own outcomes and what it says about getting from the classroom to a job.
Clemson University: M.Ed. in School Counseling
Best for: Students who want in-person evening classes and a clear picture of where graduates land
Location: Greenville, SC | Credits: 60 | Length: Two years full time, part time possible
Format: Campus (face-to-face, no online courses), with courses at both Clemson and Greenville
Accreditation: CACREP-accredited through October 31, 2032
Outcomes (2023-24): 12 graduates | Praxis pass rate 100% (14 of 14 who tested) | 100% employed, counting graduates seeking work
Clemson is one of the few programs that shows where its graduates went. Of its 12 graduates in 2023-24, the program reports seven became elementary school counselors, one a middle school counselor, and two high school counselors. One took a job as a mental health counselor, and one wasn’t working. The 100% figure counts only graduates who were looking for work.
Classes meet Monday through Thursday in the late afternoon and evening, which helps if you’re still working in a school during the day. The degree includes 700 hours of field experience. Expect to travel between Clemson and Greenville, since the program requires courses at both. Clemson’s Praxis numbers add to the picture. Graduates’ median score was 175 against a passing score of 154. If you plan to work in South Carolina, start with South Carolina’s certification requirements.
Good to know: Admission is competitive. Clemson offered admission to 23 of 135 applicants for 2024-25, and 16 new students started.
East Carolina University: M.S. in Counselor Education, School Counseling
Best for: North Carolina students who want an online route toward a North Carolina school counselor license
Location: Greenville, NC
Format: Online, as described by the university, with any required on-campus residencies
Accreditation: CACREP-accredited through March 31, 2030
Outcomes (2024-25): 30 school counseling graduates | 82% completion | 91-100% combined employment and doctoral admissions | 91-100% licensure or certification examination pass rate
ECU reported 30 school counseling graduates for 2024-25. That’s a big enough group that a placement range of 91-100% means something. The program reports its placement and exam results as ranges, not exact percentages.
ECU says its program of study is approved by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) in accordance with the competencies required for a school counselor license. North Carolina public school counselors must meet NCDPI’s licensure requirements, including the Praxis School Counselor exam (5422). The state’s currently published qualifying score is 159. Our guide to North Carolina’s school counselor licensure steps covers the full process. Clinical mental health counseling licensure follows a separate process overseen by the North Carolina Board of Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselors. ECU says the master’s also meets the educational requirements for that route.
Students choose one of three specializations, school counseling, clinical mental health counseling, or student affairs and college counseling, while learning about the other settings counselors work in. All full-time faculty hold doctorates in counselor education or counseling psychology.
Good to know: Online delivery is as described by the university. CACREP’s record does not confirm the format. Ask the program which on-campus residencies apply to the school counseling specialization.
Mississippi State University: M.S. in Counselor Education, School Counseling
Best for: Mississippi students who want a program with a long record of in-field placement
Location: Mississippi State, MS, with a Meridian campus | Length: About two years
Format: Starkville and Meridian campus options. The Meridian program describes flexible hybrid coursework, including face-to-face and online instruction.
Accreditation: CACREP-accredited through October 31, 2030
Outcomes (2023-24): 10 graduates (6 at Starkville and 4 at Meridian) | 100% completion | 100% licensure and certification rate | 100% in-field placement
Mississippi State labels its placement figure “in-field,” which is a tougher test than “employed.” The program has reported 100% in-field placement for school counseling in every annual report we reviewed: 2016-17, 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23, and 2023-24. Cohorts ran 10 or 11 graduates each year.
The university says recent graduates have worked as school counselors in pre-K through 12 settings. Others have taken jobs as child behavior therapists, counselors for the Armed Forces, community college counselors, and career counselors, and in university career counseling and advising offices.
Good to know: Applicants seeking Mississippi school counselor licensure should confirm the current assessment and endorsement requirements with the Mississippi Department of Education. With 10 graduates a year, each person is worth 10 points of the rate.
Missouri State University: M.S. in Counseling, School Counseling Option
Best for: Missouri students who want a cohort program built around the state’s K-12 certification requirements
Location: Springfield, MO | Credits: 60 | Length: Full-time plan of study, with an individualized plan for part-time students
Format: Campus (CACREP lists Springfield as the delivery location)
Accreditation: CACREP-accredited through March 31, 2032
Outcomes (2023-24): 10 graduates | 100% completion | 90% licensure exam pass rate | 100% placement
The program prepares graduates to meet Missouri’s coursework requirements for K-12 school counselor certification. Applicants must also complete the applicable requirements set by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). Our Missouri certification requirements page walks through them.
Fieldwork totals 700 hours, with 100 in practicum and 600 in internship. You can complete the internship as one K-12 placement or split it between elementary and secondary schools. Students also meet weekly for group supervision at the university, and the program tracks hours through the Tevera system. The plan of study includes a course in play therapy and child counseling techniques, which is useful if you want to work in elementary schools.
Good to know: Admission is selective. Missouri State reported 28 school counseling graduates in 2022-23 and 10 in 2023-24. Cohort size varies from year to year.
Ohio State University: M.A. in Counselor Education, School Counseling Track
Best for: Students who can commit to a full-time, in-person, two-year cohort in Columbus
Location: Columbus, OH | Credits: 60-63 minimum, depending on the approved program of study | Length: Two years full time
Format: Campus, delivered in person at the main campus
Accreditation: Accredited (Progress Report Required) through October 31, 2033
Outcomes (2024-25): 14 graduates | 100% completion | 100% exam pass rate | 100% placement
Ohio State publishes every year back to 2018-19, which lets you see a pattern. School counseling placement was 100% in 2024-25 (14 graduates), 2023-24 (11), 2022-23 (9), and 2021-22 (9). In 2019-20 it was 83% with 12 graduates, the year the campus closed in March because of COVID.
The program is a full-time cohort model that meets on campus. You’ll spend 10 hours a week in the field during practicum and 20 hours a week during internship. The GRE has not been required since Autumn 2022. The program reports a 100% pass rate on its school counseling licensure assessment. Ohio school counselor licensure requires a qualifying examination, including the OAE School Counselor Test (040). See Ohio’s school counselor licensure requirements for the details.
Good to know: Ohio State says its programs are designed to prepare students for licensure in Ohio. If you plan to work in another state, review that state’s requirements first.
University of Montana: M.A. in Counselor Education, School Counseling
Best for: Montana students who want to study online and may qualify for a provisional license while enrolled
Location: Missoula, MT | Credits: 60
Format: Online, as described by the university
Accreditation: Accredited (Progress Report Required) through March 31, 2031
Outcomes (2024-25): 10 graduates | 100% completion | No licensure exam required in Montana | 100% combined employment and doctoral admissions rate
UM moved its school counseling program from in-person instruction to an online master’s degree. The program’s coordinator says many UM students are employed before they graduate, and the reason is a state rule.
Montana offers a Class 5B provisional specialist license for eligible applicants enrolled in a school counseling program who have not yet completed the program. Applicants must apply through Montana’s educator licensure system and receive approval before working under the provisional license. The license can be valid for up to three years. The Montana Office of Public Instruction confirms this pathway. If you live outside Montana, check whether your state offers something similar.
Good to know: UM’s placement figure combines employment and doctoral admissions, so it includes graduates who went on to doctoral programs. CACREP lists digital delivery with residencies and synchronous requirements, approved in February 2025. Confirm the current residency schedule and live attendance requirements before enrolling.
University of Virginia: M.Ed. in Counselor Education, School Counseling
Best for: Students aiming for Virginia school counselor licensure who want a two-year, in-person program
Location: Charlottesville, VA | Credits: 61 minimum | Length: Two years
Format: Campus (a two-year, in-person program)
Accreditation: CACREP-accredited through October 31, 2028
Outcomes (2025): 21 graduates | 100% completion | No exam needed, as reported for school counseling | 100% placement
UVA’s school counseling program is designed to meet Virginia’s educational requirements for school counselor licensure. It also provides coursework relevant to Virginia Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) eligibility, but LPC licensure requires additional steps, including supervised clinical experience, examination, and approval by the Virginia Board of Counseling. Our guide to Virginia’s school counselor licensure steps covers the school counselor route.
Fieldwork has to cover both elementary (K-6) and secondary (6-12) settings, in line with Virginia’s licensure rules. The university says Charlottesville and the surrounding school systems offer internship placements in urban, suburban, and rural settings. UVA has also added a School Mental Health Leadership track, with limited grant funding for some students.
Good to know: UVA reported 43 students enrolled in 2024-25 and 44 in 2025-26. “No exam needed” is the program’s reported school counseling outcome. It isn’t a statement about LPC licensure.
Valdosta State University: M.Ed. in Counselor Education, School Counseling
Best for: Students aiming for Georgia school counselor certification who want to study online
Location: Valdosta, GA | Credits: 60
Format: Online (CACREP-confirmed), with virtual synchronous and asynchronous components
Accreditation: CACREP-accredited through April 30, 2033
Outcomes (2025): 19 graduates | 84% completion | 100% reported GACE pass rate | 100% placement
Valdosta’s 2025 report shows 19 school counseling graduates and 100% placement. Cohort size swings here. Its 2023-24 report showed 5 graduates, so check which year a number comes from before you rely on it.
The program reports a 100% GACE pass rate for its school counseling cohort. Georgia school counselor certification is governed by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC). Applicants should verify the requirements applicable to their certification pathway, and our Georgia certification pathways guide is a good place to start.
Every class is online, with a mix of live and self-paced work. Fieldwork includes a 100-hour practicum and two 300-hour internships, and the program prepares counselors for P-16 settings. Students begin in the summer or fall after admission.
Good to know: Valdosta State takes part in SARA, but whether this program meets licensure requirements varies by state. Applicants in some states sign an attestation before enrolling.
How to Read a Program’s Vital Statistics Report
You don’t need to be a statistician. Look for five things:
- The year. A number from 2020-21 tells you little about this year’s graduates.
- The graduate count for school counseling alone. Some programs report one rate across several tracks.
- How the program defines placement. Look for “actively seeking,” “in-field,” or “doctoral admissions.”
- The trend. A program that reports the same rate for four years beats one that reports it once.
- The exam pass rate. Check which exam it covers, since school counselor and clinical counselor exams are different.
When a program doesn’t post its report, ask admissions for it. CACREP-accredited programs are expected to publish one.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good job placement rate for a school counseling program?
Many programs report 100%, so the rate alone doesn’t separate them. Look at how many graduates it covers and how the program defines placement. We used 90% with at least 10 graduates as our line. That’s an editorial choice, not a CACREP standard.
How do I find a program’s placement rate?
Search the university’s name with “counseling vital statistics” or “student outcomes.” Most programs post a yearly report on their counseling department page. If you can’t find one for school counseling specifically, ask admissions for it.
Does a program’s placement rate mean I’ll get a job in my state?
No. The report doesn’t say where graduates work, and school counselor certification requirements vary by state. Check that the program prepares you for your state’s credential. Clinical counseling licensure, such as the LPC, is a separate process. Ohio State, for example, says its program is designed to prepare students for licensure in Ohio.
Do CACREP programs have to report placement data?
Accredited programs publish annual student outcomes, including graduates, completion, exam pass rates, and employment and doctoral admissions. The figures are self-reported, programs define them differently, and they may not show how many graduates secured school counseling positions.
Does where I do my internship affect my chances of getting hired?
It can. A 600-hour internship is a long look at your work. Some states also have provisional options. Montana, for example, offers a Class 5B provisional specialist license for eligible students enrolled in a school counseling program, and the University of Montana says many of its students are employed before they graduate. Ask each program how it helps you find a site.
- Placement rates are self-reported: Check the report year, the graduate count, and how the program defines placement.
- A 100% rate from a small cohort tells you little: Every program here reported at least 10 school counseling graduates.
- Trends beat single years: Ohio State and Mississippi State show the same results across several reports.
- State rules matter as much as the rate: Confirm that a program prepares you for certification where you plan to work.
- Ask for the school counseling report: If a program doesn’t post one, ask admissions for it.
If you’re comparing master’s programs, start with the state where you plan to work. Ask each program for its school counseling vital statistics report, and make sure the program lines up with that state’s credentialing process before you enroll.
