2027 Best Value Mental Health Counseling/Counselor Schools in North Carolina
[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. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 7 schools to find the best return on investment for mental health counseling/counselor students.
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2027 Best Value Mental Health Counseling/Counselor Schools in North Carolina
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
Our analysis ranked University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill the best value for a degree in mental health counseling/counselor in North Carolina. Set in the city of Chapel Hill, University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,994, while out-of-state students pay about $41,203. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates carry a median of $15,117 in student loans. Early-career mental health counseling/counselor graduates make about $61,361. Set against $15,117 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill admits about 15% of applicants.
East Carolina University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value mental health counseling/counselor schools. East Carolina University is a very large public school located in the city of Greenville. Students from in state pay about $7,361 in tuition and fees, compared with $23,638 for out-of-state students. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates carry a median of $24,747 in student loans. Early-career mental health counseling/counselor graduates make about $47,542. Set against $24,747 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at North Carolina Central University earned it the #3 place for mental health counseling/counselor. Located in the city of Durham, North Carolina Central University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,699, with out-of-state students paying around $19,735. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates carry a median of $31,173 in student loans. Early-career mental health counseling/counselor graduates make about $50,121. Set against $31,173 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 87%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Gardner Webb University earned it the #4 place for mental health counseling/counselor. Set in the rural area of Boiling Springs, Gardner Webb University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $34,750 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,033 to complete the mental health counseling/counselor program here. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates of Gardner Webb University earn a median of $47,147 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Catawba College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in mental health counseling/counselor, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Salisbury, Catawba College is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,300. Typical student debt for mental health counseling/counselor graduates is $25,667. Early-career mental health counseling/counselor graduates make about $37,894. Set against $25,667 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Catawba College admits about 75% of applicants.
Lenoir Rhyne University came in at #6 for value in mental health counseling/counselor this year. Set in the city of Hickory, Lenoir Rhyne University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $31,900. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates carry a median of $26,900 in student loans. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates of Lenoir Rhyne University earn a median of $42,066 early in their careers. Set against $26,900 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Montreat College earned the #7 position for value in mental health counseling/counselor this year. Set in the suburb of Montreat, Montreat College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $36,450. Typical student debt for mental health counseling/counselor graduates is $24,168. Soon after graduation, mental health counseling/counselor degree recipients from Montreat College generally make around $29,234. That is a strong return on a $24,168 median debt. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.
