2027 Best Value Mental Health Counseling/Counselor Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Mental Health Counseling/Counselor](/majors/health-care-professions/mental-social-health-services/mental-health-counseling-counselor/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 21 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for mental health counseling/counselor students.
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2027 Best Value Mental Health Counseling/Counselor Schools in the The Plains States Region
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
University Of Missouri Kansas City tops our 2027 list of the best value mental health counseling/counselor schools in the The Plains States Region. University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public school located in the city of Kansas City. In-state tuition and fees average $13,371, while out-of-state students pay about $32,271. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates carry a median of $23,741 in student loans. Soon after graduation, mental health counseling/counselor degree recipients from University Of Missouri Kansas City generally make around $60,324. Set against $23,741 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in mental health counseling/counselor will find it at Drury University College Of Continuing Professional Studies, which ranked #2. Drury University College Of Continuing Professional Studies is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Springfield. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,054. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates carry a median of $26,560 in student loans. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates of Drury University College Of Continuing Professional Studies earn a median of $33,881 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,560 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earned it the #3 place for mental health counseling/counselor. Located in the city of Minneapolis, University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $17,214, with out-of-state students paying around $38,362. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates carry a median of $21,577 in student loans. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates of University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn a median of $61,488 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities admits about 80% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in mental health counseling/counselor will find it at Saint Cloud State University, which ranked #4. Set in the city of Saint Cloud, Saint Cloud State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,245. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates carry a median of $31,171 in student loans. Soon after graduation, mental health counseling/counselor degree recipients from Saint Cloud State University generally make around $46,597. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Northern Iowa came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value mental health counseling/counselor schools. University Of Northern Iowa is a large public school located in the city of Cedar Falls. Students from in state pay about $9,936 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,712 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for mental health counseling/counselor graduates is $22,635. Early-career mental health counseling/counselor graduates make about $47,858. That is a strong return on a $22,635 median debt. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Northern State University ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value mental health counseling/counselor schools. Located in the town of Aberdeen, Northern State University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,845, compared with $11,947 for out-of-state students. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates carry a median of $26,143 in student loans. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates of Northern State University earn a median of $45,824 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,143 median debt. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Winona State University placed #7 among the best values for mental health counseling/counselor. Winona State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Winona. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,576, with out-of-state students paying around $17,308. Students borrow a median of $24,551 to complete the mental health counseling/counselor program here. Soon after graduation, mental health counseling/counselor degree recipients from Winona State University generally make around $53,109. That is a strong return on a $24,551 median debt. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Sinte Gleska University came in at #8 for value in mental health counseling/counselor this year. Sinte Gleska University is a small public school located in the rural area of Mission. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,714. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $20,948.
Emporia State University landed the #9 spot for mental health counseling/counselor value this year. Emporia State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Emporia. In-state tuition and fees average $7,106, while out-of-state students pay about $15,419. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates carry a median of $23,131 in student loans. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates of Emporia State University earn a median of $48,228 early in their careers. Set against $23,131 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 98%.
Bellevue University landed the #10 spot for mental health counseling/counselor value this year. Located in the suburb of Bellevue, Bellevue University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $12,873 in tuition and fees. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates carry a median of $27,852 in student loans. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates of Bellevue University earn a median of $61,548 early in their careers. Set against $27,852 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Mary earned the #11 position for value in mental health counseling/counselor this year. Set in the rural area of Bismarck, University Of Mary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $22,356. Typical student debt for mental health counseling/counselor graduates is $26,983. Soon after graduation, mental health counseling/counselor degree recipients from University Of Mary generally make around $65,565. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Capella University earned the #12 position for value in mental health counseling/counselor this year. Located in the city of Minneapolis, Capella University is a very large private for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,400. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates carry a median of $35,998 in student loans. Early-career mental health counseling/counselor graduates make about $47,787. Set against $35,998 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Minnesota State University Mankato landed the #13 spot for mental health counseling/counselor value this year. Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public school located in the city of Mankato. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,572, compared with $18,942 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $27,269 to complete the mental health counseling/counselor program here. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates of Minnesota State University Mankato earn a median of $46,691 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,269 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Lindenwood University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value mental health counseling/counselor schools. Lindenwood University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Charles. Students from in state pay about $21,600 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $28,663 to complete the mental health counseling/counselor program here. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates of Lindenwood University earn a median of $43,878 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,663 median debt. The acceptance rate is 57%.
Bethany Lutheran College placed #15 among the best values for mental health counseling/counselor. Bethany Lutheran College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Mankato. Students from in state pay about $31,360 in tuition and fees. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Early-career mental health counseling/counselor graduates make about $44,462. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 39% of applicants are accepted.
Grand View University placed #16 among the best values for mental health counseling/counselor. Grand View University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Des Moines. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,762. Students borrow a median of $26,941 to complete the mental health counseling/counselor program here. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates of Grand View University earn a median of $45,180 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,941 median debt. The acceptance rate is 99%.
Culver Stockton College landed the #17 spot for mental health counseling/counselor value this year. Culver Stockton College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Canton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $30,875. Typical student debt for mental health counseling/counselor graduates is $27,252. Early-career mental health counseling/counselor graduates make about $38,725. That is a strong return on a $27,252 median debt. The acceptance rate is 99%.
University Of Iowa landed the #18 spot for mental health counseling/counselor value this year. Set in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,283, with out-of-state students paying around $33,371. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates carry a median of $24,463 in student loans. Soon after graduation, mental health counseling/counselor degree recipients from University Of Iowa generally make around $57,375. Set against $24,463 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Missouri Baptist University ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value mental health counseling/counselor schools. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, Missouri Baptist University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $33,122. Students borrow a median of $27,337 to complete the mental health counseling/counselor program here. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates of Missouri Baptist University earn a median of $45,270 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,337 median debt. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
Bethel University Minnesota earned the #20 position for value in mental health counseling/counselor this year. Set in the suburb of Saint Paul, Bethel University Minnesota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $44,226. Students borrow a median of $25,639 to complete the mental health counseling/counselor program here. Early-career mental health counseling/counselor graduates make about $61,465. Set against $25,639 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Bethel University Minnesota admits about 88% of applicants.
Walden University ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best value mental health counseling/counselor schools. Walden University is a very large private for-profit school located in the city of Minneapolis. Students from in state pay about $11,067 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $49,361 to complete the mental health counseling/counselor program here. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates of Walden University earn a median of $48,538 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $49,361 median debt.
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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 · 21 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 21 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.
