2026 Best Value Mental Health Counseling/Counselor Schools in Connecticut
[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. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 6 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value mental health counseling/counselor schools.
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2026 Best Value Mental Health Counseling/Counselor Schools in Connecticut
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
Southern Connecticut State University tops our 2026 list of the best value mental health counseling/counselor schools in Connecticut. Located in the city of New Haven, Southern Connecticut State University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,442 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $16,942. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates carry a median of $24,660 in student loans. Early-career mental health counseling/counselor graduates make about $54,415. Set against $24,660 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Southern Connecticut State University admits about 92% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes Albertus Magnus College one of the best values for mental health counseling/counselor. Set in the city of New Haven, Albertus Magnus College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $41,908 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $36,919 to complete the mental health counseling/counselor program here. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates of Albertus Magnus College earn a median of $50,188 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $36,919 median debt. Roughly 59% of applicants are accepted.
University Of New Haven came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value mental health counseling/counselor schools. Set in the suburb of West Haven, University Of New Haven is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $47,332. Students borrow a median of $26,244 to complete the mental health counseling/counselor program here. Soon after graduation, mental health counseling/counselor degree recipients from University Of New Haven generally make around $49,615. Set against $26,244 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes Sacred Heart University one of the best values for mental health counseling/counselor. Sacred Heart University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Fairfield. In-state tuition and fees average $50,404. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates carry a median of $25,831 in student loans. Soon after graduation, mental health counseling/counselor degree recipients from Sacred Heart University generally make around $62,864. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Sacred Heart University admits about 65% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Fairfield University earned it the #5 place for mental health counseling/counselor. Located in the suburb of Fairfield, Fairfield University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $58,400 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for mental health counseling/counselor graduates is $26,687. Early-career mental health counseling/counselor graduates make about $52,092. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Fairfield University admits about 33% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.
