2027 Best Value Mental Health Counseling/Counselor Bachelor’s Degree Schools

[Mental Health Counseling/Counselor](/majors/health-care-professions/mental-social-health-services/mental-health-counseling-counselor/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 14 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
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in mental health counseling/counselor, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Mental Health Counseling/Counselor Schools
For return on investment in mental health counseling/counselor, no school beat New Mexico State University Main Campus this year. Set in the suburb of Las Cruces, New Mexico State University Main Campus is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,183 in tuition and fees, compared with $25,307 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for mental health counseling/counselor graduates is $24,421. Soon after graduation, mental health counseling/counselor degree recipients from New Mexico State University Main Campus generally make around $25,631. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. New Mexico State University Main Campus admits about 89% of applicants.
Indiana State University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value mental health counseling/counselor schools. Set in the city of Terre Haute, Indiana State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,258 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,322 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for mental health counseling/counselor graduates is $25,000. Early-career mental health counseling/counselor graduates make about $37,268. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Arizona came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value mental health counseling/counselor schools. Set in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,573 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $39,903. Students borrow a median of $24,000 to complete the mental health counseling/counselor program here. Soon after graduation, mental health counseling/counselor degree recipients from University Of Arizona generally make around $37,992. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 86%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at New Mexico Highlands University earned it the #4 place for mental health counseling/counselor. New Mexico Highlands University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Las Vegas. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,416, compared with $12,336 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $18,375 to complete the mental health counseling/counselor program here. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates of New Mexico Highlands University earn a median of $34,750 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $18,375 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in mental health counseling/counselor will find it at University Of Maine At Augusta, which ranked #5. Located in the town of Augusta, University Of Maine At Augusta is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,888, while out-of-state students pay about $22,178. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates carry a median of $33,250 in student loans. Early-career mental health counseling/counselor graduates make about $39,109. Set against $33,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Suny College At Brockport placed #6 among the best values for mental health counseling/counselor. Located in the town of Brockport, Suny College At Brockport is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,752, with out-of-state students paying around $15,822. Typical student debt for mental health counseling/counselor graduates is $24,757. Early-career mental health counseling/counselor graduates make about $39,724. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Central Arkansas earned the #7 position for value in mental health counseling/counselor this year. Set in the city of Conway, University Of Central Arkansas is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,523, while out-of-state students pay about $18,023. Typical student debt for mental health counseling/counselor graduates is $25,750. Early-career mental health counseling/counselor graduates make about $32,618. That is a strong return on a $25,750 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Minnesota State University Mankato placed #8 among the best values for mental health counseling/counselor. Located in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,572, compared with $18,942 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,269 to complete the mental health counseling/counselor program here. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates of Minnesota State University Mankato earn a median of $46,691 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,269 median debt. Minnesota State University Mankato admits about 88% of applicants.
Pennsylvania Western University came in at #9 for value in mental health counseling/counselor this year. Pennsylvania Western University is a large public school located in the town of California. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,436, with out-of-state students paying around $16,054. Students borrow a median of $28,263 to complete the mental health counseling/counselor program here. Soon after graduation, mental health counseling/counselor degree recipients from Pennsylvania Western University generally make around $34,541. That is a strong return on a $28,263 median debt. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Ohio University Main Campus landed the #10 spot for mental health counseling/counselor value this year. Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Athens. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,158, while out-of-state students pay about $24,838. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Early-career mental health counseling/counselor graduates make about $40,516. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Grand Canyon University earned the #11 position for value in mental health counseling/counselor this year. Located in the city of Phoenix, Grand Canyon University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $18,508. Typical student debt for mental health counseling/counselor graduates is $39,560. Soon after graduation, mental health counseling/counselor degree recipients from Grand Canyon University generally make around $37,693. Set against $39,560 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 79%.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus came in at #12 for value in mental health counseling/counselor this year. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Cincinnati. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,363, compared with $28,697 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for mental health counseling/counselor graduates is $53,508. Soon after graduation, mental health counseling/counselor degree recipients from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus generally make around $46,270. Set against $53,508 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Alvernia University ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value mental health counseling/counselor schools. Located in the city of Reading, Alvernia University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,000. Typical student debt for mental health counseling/counselor graduates is $54,779. Soon after graduation, mental health counseling/counselor degree recipients from Alvernia University generally make around $41,115. That is a strong return on a $54,779 median debt. Alvernia University admits about 58% of applicants.
Southern New Hampshire University came in at #14 for value in mental health counseling/counselor this year. Located in the suburb of Manchester, Southern New Hampshire University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,200. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates carry a median of $33,428 in student loans. Early-career mental health counseling/counselor graduates make about $43,886. Set against $33,428 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Southern New Hampshire University admits about 100% of applicants.
Other Mental Health Counseling/Counselor Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Mental Health Counseling/Counselor rankings across degree levels:
View All Mental Health Counseling/Counselor Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 14 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 14 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.