2027 Best Value Mental Health Counseling/Counselor Schools in Wisconsin

[Mental Health Counseling/Counselor](/majors/health-care-professions/mental-social-health-services/mental-health-counseling-counselor/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong mental health counseling/counselor education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 6 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value mental health counseling/counselor schools.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Mental Health Counseling/Counselor Schools in Wisconsin
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
Our analysis ranked University Of Wisconsin Parkside the best value for a degree in mental health counseling/counselor in Wisconsin. University Of Wisconsin Parkside is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Kenosha. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,270, while out-of-state students pay about $17,429. Typical student debt for mental health counseling/counselor graduates is $24,485. Early-career mental health counseling/counselor graduates make about $40,365. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Wisconsin Whitewater earned it the #2 place for mental health counseling/counselor. University Of Wisconsin Whitewater is a large public school located in the town of Whitewater. Students from in state pay about $8,616 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,716. Students borrow a median of $25,306 to complete the mental health counseling/counselor program here. Soon after graduation, mental health counseling/counselor degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Whitewater generally make around $45,767. That is a strong return on a $25,306 median debt. University Of Wisconsin Whitewater admits about 86% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Wisconsin Stout one of the best values for mental health counseling/counselor. Set in the town of Menomonie, University Of Wisconsin Stout is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,701, while out-of-state students pay about $19,265. Typical student debt for mental health counseling/counselor graduates is $25,821. Soon after graduation, mental health counseling/counselor degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Stout generally make around $49,730. That is a strong return on a $25,821 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Students looking for strong value in mental health counseling/counselor will find it at Viterbo University, which ranked #4. Located in the city of La Crosse, Viterbo University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,250. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates carry a median of $29,107 in student loans. Early-career mental health counseling/counselor graduates make about $46,100. Set against $29,107 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Viterbo University admits about 72% of applicants.
Lakeland College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in mental health counseling/counselor, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the rural area of Plymouth, Lakeland College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $33,396. Students borrow a median of $29,722 to complete the mental health counseling/counselor program here. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates of Lakeland College earn a median of $44,848 early in their careers. Set against $29,722 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Marquette University earned the #6 position for value in mental health counseling/counselor this year. Marquette University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Milwaukee. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $51,170. Students borrow a median of $24,122 to complete the mental health counseling/counselor program here. Soon after graduation, mental health counseling/counselor degree recipients from Marquette University generally make around $53,880. That is a strong return on a $24,122 median debt. Marquette University admits about 81% of applicants.
More Mental Health Counseling/Counselor Rankings
View All Mental Health Counseling/Counselor Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 6 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.