2027 Best Value Mental Health Counseling/Counselor Schools in Pennsylvania

[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 12 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 Pennsylvania
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
Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania earned the #1 spot for value among mental health counseling/counselor schools in Pennsylvania. Set in the town of Bloomsburg, Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,046, with out-of-state students paying around $22,870. Typical student debt for mental health counseling/counselor graduates is $27,128. Early-career mental health counseling/counselor graduates make about $46,995. That is a strong return on a $27,128 median debt. The acceptance rate is 93%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus earned it the #2 place for mental health counseling/counselor. Set in the town of Indiana, Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,380 in tuition and fees, compared with $16,297 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for mental health counseling/counselor graduates is $26,513. Early-career mental health counseling/counselor graduates make about $43,153. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus admits about 91% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Waynesburg University earned it the #3 place for mental health counseling/counselor. Waynesburg University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Waynesburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $30,480. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the mental health counseling/counselor program here. Soon after graduation, mental health counseling/counselor degree recipients from Waynesburg University generally make around $55,588. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
Pennsylvania Western University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value mental health counseling/counselor schools. Pennsylvania Western University is a large public school located in the town of California. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,436, while out-of-state students pay about $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 $38,362. That is a strong return on a $28,263 median debt. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in mental health counseling/counselor will find it at Carlow University, which ranked #5. Carlow University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pittsburgh. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $35,874. Typical student debt for mental health counseling/counselor graduates is $30,222. Early-career mental health counseling/counselor graduates make about $46,820. Set against $30,222 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Gannon University earned the #6 position for value in mental health counseling/counselor this year. Located in the city of Erie, Gannon University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $40,656 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for mental health counseling/counselor graduates is $26,934. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates of Gannon University earn a median of $50,084 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
West Chester University Of Pennsylvania landed the #7 spot for mental health counseling/counselor value this year. West Chester University Of Pennsylvania is a large public school located in the suburb of West Chester. In-state tuition and fees average $10,775, while out-of-state students pay about $22,599. Graduates go on to earn a median of $61,258 ten years after entry. West Chester University Of Pennsylvania admits about 78% of applicants.
Lancaster Bible College landed the #8 spot for mental health counseling/counselor value this year. Located in the suburb of Lancaster, Lancaster Bible College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $29,990 in tuition and fees. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates carry a median of $28,507 in student loans. Early-career mental health counseling/counselor graduates make about $35,130. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 56% of applicants are accepted.
Alvernia University placed #9 among the best values for mental health counseling/counselor. Set in the city of Reading, Alvernia University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,000. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates carry a median of $54,779 in student loans. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates of Alvernia University earn a median of $41,115 early in their careers. Set against $54,779 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Alvernia University admits about 58% of applicants.
Saint Josephs University placed #10 among the best values for mental health counseling/counselor. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Saint Josephs University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $53,260 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,426 to complete the mental health counseling/counselor program here. Early-career mental health counseling/counselor graduates make about $65,421. Set against $26,426 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earned the #11 position for value in mental health counseling/counselor this year. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,926, with out-of-state students paying around $41,430. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates carry a median of $24,958 in student loans. Soon after graduation, mental health counseling/counselor degree recipients from University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus generally make around $56,926. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 58%.
Drexel University earned the #12 position for value in mental health counseling/counselor this year. Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. In-state tuition and fees average $62,412. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, mental health counseling/counselor degree recipients from Drexel University generally make around $43,065. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
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. 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 · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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.