2027 Best Value Mental Health Counseling/Counselor Schools in Arizona
[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.
College Factual analyzed 9 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value mental health counseling/counselor schools.
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2027 Best Value Mental Health Counseling/Counselor Schools in Arizona
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
Leading the list is Rio Salado College, our #1 best value for mental health counseling/counselor in Arizona. Set in the city of Tempe, Rio Salado College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,358 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,958. Typical student debt for mental health counseling/counselor graduates is $13,679. Early-career mental health counseling/counselor graduates make about $48,564. That is a strong return on a $13,679 median debt.
Mesa Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in mental health counseling/counselor, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of Mesa, Mesa Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,358, with out-of-state students paying around $8,959. Students borrow a median of $13,750 to complete the mental health counseling/counselor program here. Early-career mental health counseling/counselor graduates make about $54,730. That is a strong return on a $13,750 median debt.
A rank of #3 makes Estrella Mountain Community College one of the best values for mental health counseling/counselor. Set in the suburb of Avondale, Estrella Mountain Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,358, with out-of-state students paying around $8,959. Students borrow a median of $21,752 to complete the mental health counseling/counselor program here. Soon after graduation, mental health counseling/counselor degree recipients from Estrella Mountain Community College generally make around $78,359. That is a strong return on a $21,752 median debt.
Chandler Gilbert Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in mental health counseling/counselor, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Chandler, Chandler Gilbert Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,358, while out-of-state students pay about $8,959. Students borrow a median of $10,447 to complete the mental health counseling/counselor program here. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates of Chandler Gilbert Community College earn a median of $46,943 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Phoenix Arizona one of the best values for mental health counseling/counselor. Located in the city of Phoenix, University Of Phoenix Arizona is a very large private for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,552. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates carry a median of $35,323 in student loans. Early-career mental health counseling/counselor graduates make about $58,837. That is a strong return on a $35,323 median debt.
Northern Arizona University came in at #6 for value in mental health counseling/counselor this year. Northern Arizona University is a very large public school located in the city of Flagstaff. In-state tuition and fees average $12,619, compared with $20,044 for out-of-state students. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates carry a median of $21,645 in student loans. Early-career mental health counseling/counselor graduates make about $47,056. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
University Of Arizona earned the #7 position for value in mental health counseling/counselor this year. Located in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,573, with out-of-state students paying around $39,903. Students borrow a median of $24,000 to complete the mental health counseling/counselor program here. Soon after graduation, mental health counseling/counselor degree recipients from University Of Arizona generally make around $43,177. Set against $24,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Grand Canyon University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value mental health counseling/counselor schools. Grand Canyon University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Phoenix. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,508. Typical student debt for mental health counseling/counselor graduates is $39,560. Soon after graduation, mental health counseling/counselor degree recipients from Grand Canyon University generally make around $47,062. Set against $39,560 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Grand Canyon University admits about 79% of applicants.
Prescott College earned the #9 position for value in mental health counseling/counselor this year. Set in the city of Prescott, Prescott College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $34,490 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,230 to complete the mental health counseling/counselor program here. Early-career mental health counseling/counselor graduates make about $42,966. Set against $27,230 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 94%.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 9 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 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.
