2026 Best Value Mental Health Counseling/Counselor Schools in Michigan
[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. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 6 schools to find the best return on investment for mental health counseling/counselor students.
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2026 Best Value Mental Health Counseling/Counselor Schools in Michigan
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
For return on investment in mental health counseling/counselor, no school beat Oakland University this year. Located in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,167, while out-of-state students pay about $24,735. Typical student debt for mental health counseling/counselor graduates is $25,972. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates of Oakland University earn a median of $46,551 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,972 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Central Michigan University earned it the #2 place for mental health counseling/counselor. Set in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,480. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the mental health counseling/counselor program here. Soon after graduation, mental health counseling/counselor degree recipients from Central Michigan University generally make around $40,333. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Siena Heights University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value mental health counseling/counselor schools. Siena Heights University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Adrian. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $30,778. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates carry a median of $25,790 in student loans. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates of Siena Heights University earn a median of $41,551 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 69%.
A rank of #4 makes Andrews University one of the best values for mental health counseling/counselor. Located in the town of Berrien Springs, Andrews University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $35,056 in tuition and fees. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates carry a median of $26,314 in student loans. Soon after graduation, mental health counseling/counselor degree recipients from Andrews University generally make around $62,634. That is a strong return on a $26,314 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Western Michigan University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value mental health counseling/counselor schools. Western Michigan University is a large public school located in the city of Kalamazoo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,987, compared with $19,952 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,981 to complete the mental health counseling/counselor program here. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates of Western Michigan University earn a median of $42,266 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,981 median debt. The acceptance rate is 85%.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
