2027 Best Value Mental Health Counseling/Counselor Associate’s Degree Schools
[Mental Health Counseling/Counselor](/majors/health-care-professions/mental-social-health-services/mental-health-counseling-counselor/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 15 schools to find the best return on investment for mental health counseling/counselor students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Mental Health Counseling/Counselor Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the mental health counseling/counselor degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Mental Health Counseling/Counselor Schools
Middlesex Community College Bedford earned the #1 spot for value among mental health counseling/counselor schools in the United States. Located in the suburb of Bedford, Middlesex Community College Bedford is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,098, compared with $12,170 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for mental health counseling/counselor graduates is $11,602. Early-career mental health counseling/counselor graduates make about $48,427. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in mental health counseling/counselor will find it at Sinclair Community College, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Dayton, Sinclair Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,675, compared with $8,556 for out-of-state students. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates carry a median of $18,043 in student loans. Soon after graduation, mental health counseling/counselor degree recipients from Sinclair Community College generally make around $40,665. That is a strong return on a $18,043 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in mental health counseling/counselor will find it at Highline Community College, which ranked #3. Located in the suburb of Des Moines, Highline Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,772, with out-of-state students paying around $5,332. Typical student debt for mental health counseling/counselor graduates is $8,958. Early-career mental health counseling/counselor graduates make about $55,459. Set against $8,958 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #4 makes Austin Community College District one of the best values for mental health counseling/counselor. Set in the city of Austin, Austin Community College District is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,550, with out-of-state students paying around $10,590. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates carry a median of $19,185 in student loans. Soon after graduation, mental health counseling/counselor degree recipients from Austin Community College District generally make around $31,821. That is a strong return on a $19,185 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Northern Essex Community College earned it the #5 place for mental health counseling/counselor. Set in the suburb of Haverhill, Northern Essex Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,732, while out-of-state students pay about $12,516. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates carry a median of $11,200 in student loans. Early-career mental health counseling/counselor graduates make about $27,799. That is a strong return on a $11,200 median debt.
Skagit Valley College placed #6 among the best values for mental health counseling/counselor. Skagit Valley College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Mount Vernon. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,400, while out-of-state students pay about $7,410. Students borrow a median of $14,056 to complete the mental health counseling/counselor program here. Soon after graduation, mental health counseling/counselor degree recipients from Skagit Valley College generally make around $34,290. That is a strong return on a $14,056 median debt.
Columbus State Community College came in at #7 for value in mental health counseling/counselor this year. Located in the city of Columbus, Columbus State Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,488, compared with $11,224 for out-of-state students. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates carry a median of $9,041 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $39,435 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $9,041 median debt.
Community College Of Denver earned the #8 position for value in mental health counseling/counselor this year. Set in the city of Denver, Community College Of Denver is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,058, with out-of-state students paying around $17,658. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates carry a median of $13,541 in student loans. Soon after graduation, mental health counseling/counselor degree recipients from Community College Of Denver generally make around $45,202. Set against $13,541 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mt Hood Community College came in at #9 for value in mental health counseling/counselor this year. Mt Hood Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Gresham. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,247, compared with $9,819 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,767 to complete the mental health counseling/counselor program here. Soon after graduation, mental health counseling/counselor degree recipients from Mt Hood Community College generally make around $53,948. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Albany Technical College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value mental health counseling/counselor schools. Set in the city of Albany, Albany Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,364 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,932 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $16,321 to complete the mental health counseling/counselor program here. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates of Albany Technical College earn a median of $35,895 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rio Salado College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value mental health counseling/counselor schools. Rio Salado College is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,358, while out-of-state students pay about $8,958. Students borrow a median of $13,679 to complete the mental health counseling/counselor program here. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates of Rio Salado College earn a median of $48,564 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,679 median debt.
Mesa Community College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value mental health counseling/counselor schools. Located in the city of Mesa, Mesa Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,358, while out-of-state students pay about $8,959. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates carry a median of $13,750 in student loans. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates of Mesa Community College earn a median of $54,730 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Estrella Mountain Community College landed the #13 spot for mental health counseling/counselor value this year. Located in the suburb of Avondale, Estrella Mountain Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,358, while out-of-state students pay about $8,959. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates carry a median of $21,752 in student loans. Early-career mental health counseling/counselor graduates make about $78,359. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Anne Arundel Community College landed the #14 spot for mental health counseling/counselor value this year. Set in the suburb of Arnold, Anne Arundel Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,322, while out-of-state students pay about $11,522. Typical student debt for mental health counseling/counselor graduates is $11,832. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates of Anne Arundel Community College earn a median of $59,894 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,832 median debt.
Chandler Gilbert Community College ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value mental health counseling/counselor schools. Chandler Gilbert Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Chandler. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,358, with out-of-state students paying around $8,959. Students borrow a median of $10,447 to complete the mental health counseling/counselor program here. Early-career mental health counseling/counselor graduates make about $46,943. Set against $10,447 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Other Mental Health Counseling/Counselor Degree Levels
Explore the best-value mental health counseling/counselor schools at other degree levels:
View All Mental Health Counseling/Counselor Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 15 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 15 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
