2026 Best Mental Health Counseling/Counselor Schools in the Far Western Region
Mental Health Counseling/Counselor degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 24 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for mental health counseling/counselor students pursuing a degree.
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Best Schools for Mental Health Counseling/Counselor in the Far Western Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall mental health counseling/counselor education in the Far Western Region.
Top Schools in Mental Health Counseling/Counselor
Our analysis ranked Palo Alto University the best school in the country for a degree in mental health counseling/counselor. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the rural area of Palo Alto. Palo Alto University awarded about 96 mental health counseling/counselor degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the mental health counseling/counselor program make about $59,295 in their early career. Palo Alto University graduates carry a median of $20,334 in student loans.
Get the full mental health counseling/counselor details for Palo Alto University
A rank of #2 makes San Francisco State University one of the top schools for mental health counseling/counselor. This very large public university is located in the city of San Francisco. About 50% of students finish within six years. San Francisco State University awarded about 12 mental health counseling/counselor degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their mental health counseling/counselor degree from San Francisco State University earn around $59,756 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,024.
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Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in mental health counseling/counselor, landing the #3 spot this year. This large public university is located in the suburb of Aliso Viejo. Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System awarded about 13 mental health counseling/counselor degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their mental health counseling/counselor degree from Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System earn around $65,898 in the first couple years of their career. Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System graduates carry a median of $27,471 in student loans.
More information about a degree in mental health counseling/counselor from Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System
A rank of #4 makes Lewis And Clark College one of the top schools for mental health counseling/counselor. Lewis And Clark College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Portland. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 50 mental health counseling/counselor students who graduated with this degree at Lewis And Clark College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their mental health counseling/counselor degree from Lewis And Clark College earn around $52,558 in the first couple years of their career. Lewis And Clark College graduates carry a median of $23,301 in student loans.
Read more about the mental health counseling/counselor program at Lewis And Clark College
A rank of #5 makes University Of Redlands one of the top schools for mental health counseling/counselor. University Of Redlands is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Redlands. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Redlands awarded about 21 mental health counseling/counselor degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the mental health counseling/counselor program make about $60,273 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,175.
More information about a degree in mental health counseling/counselor from University Of Redlands
Highline Community College landed the #6 spot for mental health counseling/counselor this year. Located in the suburb of Des Moines, Highline Community College is a moderately-sized public university. There were roughly 14 mental health counseling/counselor students who graduated with this degree at Highline Community College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their mental health counseling/counselor degree from Highline Community College earn around $55,459 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $8,958 to complete this degree.
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Northwest University came in at #7 for mental health counseling/counselor this year. Northwest University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Kirkland. Northwest University graduates 68% of students within six years. There were roughly 24 mental health counseling/counselor students who graduated with this degree at Northwest University in the most recent data year. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates of Northwest University earn a median of $53,910 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,439 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in mental health counseling/counselor from Northwest University
Northwest University College Of Adult And Professional Studies came in at #8 for mental health counseling/counselor this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Kirkland. The six-year graduation rate is 41%. Northwest University College Of Adult And Professional Studies awarded about 16 mental health counseling/counselor degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, mental health counseling/counselor degree recipients from Northwest University College Of Adult And Professional Studies generally make around $51,541. Typical student debt for the program is $22,366.
See the full mental health counseling/counselor program report for Northwest University College Of Adult And Professional Studies
The Chicago School Of Professional Psychology At Los Angeles earned the #9 position for mental health counseling/counselor this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Los Angeles. The Chicago School Of Professional Psychology At Los Angeles awarded about 105 mental health counseling/counselor degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the mental health counseling/counselor program make about $54,966 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $32,107.
See the full mental health counseling/counselor program report for The Chicago School Of Professional Psychology At Los Angeles
Northwest Christian University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best mental health counseling/counselor schools. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Eugene. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 32 mental health counseling/counselor students who graduated with this degree at Northwest Christian University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the mental health counseling/counselor program make about $62,860 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,735 to complete this degree.
See the full mental health counseling/counselor program report for Northwest Christian University
Southern Oregon University earned the #11 position for mental health counseling/counselor this year. Southern Oregon University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Ashland. Southern Oregon University graduates 42% of students within six years. About 19 mental health counseling/counselor degrees were awarded at Southern Oregon University in the most recent year. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates of Southern Oregon University earn a median of $54,251 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,951.
See the full mental health counseling/counselor program report for Southern Oregon University
Olympic College placed #12 among the best mental health counseling/counselor schools. Olympic College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Bremerton. There were roughly 14 mental health counseling/counselor students who graduated with this degree at Olympic College in the most recent data year. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates of Olympic College earn a median of $57,593 early in their careers. Olympic College graduates carry a median of $11,497 in student loans.
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Skagit Valley College came in at #13 for mental health counseling/counselor this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the city of Mount Vernon. Skagit Valley College awarded about 12 mental health counseling/counselor degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the mental health counseling/counselor program make about $34,290 in their early career. Skagit Valley College graduates carry a median of $14,056 in student loans.
Get the full mental health counseling/counselor details for Skagit Valley College
Antioch University Seattle placed #14 among the best mental health counseling/counselor schools. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Seattle. About 93 mental health counseling/counselor degrees were awarded at Antioch University Seattle in the most recent year. Students who receive their mental health counseling/counselor degree from Antioch University Seattle earn around $50,791 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $29,832 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in mental health counseling/counselor from Antioch University Seattle
University Of Western States came in at #15 for mental health counseling/counselor this year. Located in the city of Portland, University Of Western States is a small private not-for-profit university. University Of Western States awarded about 12 mental health counseling/counselor degrees in the most recent data year. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates of University Of Western States earn a median of $55,904 early in their careers.
More information about a degree in mental health counseling/counselor from University Of Western States
Faith Evangelical College And Seminary landed the #16 spot for mental health counseling/counselor this year. Faith Evangelical College And Seminary is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Tacoma. The six-year graduation rate is 25%. There were roughly 10 mental health counseling/counselor students who graduated with this degree at Faith Evangelical College And Seminary in the most recent data year. Graduates of the mental health counseling/counselor program make about $42,103 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,813.
See the full mental health counseling/counselor program report for Faith Evangelical College And Seminary
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 24 schools evaluated.
- 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.