2027 Best Value Mental & Social Health Services Schools in Illinois

[Mental & Social Health Services](/majors/health-care-professions/mental-social-health-services/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong mental & social health services education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 19 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value mental & social health services schools.
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2027 Best Value Mental & Social Health Services Schools in Illinois
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the mental & social health services degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Mental & Social Health Services Schools
Elgin Community College tops our 2027 list of the best value mental & social health services schools in Illinois. Elgin Community College is a large public school located in the city of Elgin. Students from in state pay about $3,252 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,516 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,727 to complete the mental & social health services program here. Mental & Social Health Services graduates of Elgin Community College earn a median of $43,975 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Trinity International University Illinois is a great value for students pursuing a degree in mental & social health services, landing the #2 spot this year. Trinity International University Illinois is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Deerfield. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,320. Mental & Social Health Services graduates carry a median of $26,892 in student loans. Early-career mental & social health services graduates make about $41,182. Set against $26,892 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in mental & social health services will find it at City Colleges Of Chicago Malcolm X College, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Malcolm X College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,590, with out-of-state students paying around $15,150. Mental & Social Health Services graduates carry a median of $12,272 in student loans. Early-career mental & social health services graduates make about $38,982. That is a strong return on a $12,272 median debt.
College Of Dupage came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value mental & social health services schools. Located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,560, compared with $12,750 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $12,492 to complete the mental & social health services program here. Early-career mental & social health services graduates make about $43,025. That is a strong return on a $12,492 median debt.
Parkland College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value mental & social health services schools. Set in the city of Champaign, Parkland College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,284 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $13,266. Typical student debt for mental & social health services graduates is $10,168. Soon after graduation, mental & social health services degree recipients from Parkland College generally make around $40,409. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College landed the #6 spot for mental & social health services value this year. City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College is a large public school located in the city of Chicago. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,590, while out-of-state students pay about $15,150. Students borrow a median of $7,500 to complete the mental & social health services program here. Soon after graduation, mental & social health services degree recipients from City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College generally make around $33,326. That is a strong return on a $7,500 median debt.
Southwestern Illinois College placed #7 among the best values for mental & social health services. Located in the suburb of Belleville, Southwestern Illinois College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,230, with out-of-state students paying around $6,720. Mental & Social Health Services graduates carry a median of $10,388 in student loans. Early-career mental & social health services graduates make about $44,345. Set against $10,388 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value mental & social health services schools. City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Chicago. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,590, compared with $15,150 for out-of-state students. Mental & Social Health Services graduates carry a median of $10,250 in student loans. Soon after graduation, mental & social health services degree recipients from City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College generally make around $48,264. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Heartland Community College landed the #9 spot for mental & social health services value this year. Set in the suburb of Normal, Heartland Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,550 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $13,110. Mental & Social Health Services graduates carry a median of $13,266 in student loans. Soon after graduation, mental & social health services degree recipients from Heartland Community College generally make around $48,710. Set against $13,266 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Governors State University landed the #10 spot for mental & social health services value this year. Governors State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of University Park. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,004. Mental & Social Health Services graduates carry a median of $24,990 in student loans. Soon after graduation, mental & social health services degree recipients from Governors State University generally make around $44,369. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 48% of applicants are accepted.
Northern Illinois University placed #11 among the best values for mental & social health services. Located in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,060 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $29,804 to complete the mental & social health services program here. Mental & Social Health Services graduates of Northern Illinois University earn a median of $41,139 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $29,804 median debt. Northern Illinois University admits about 70% of applicants.
Northeastern Illinois University came in at #12 for value in mental & social health services this year. Northeastern Illinois University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Chicago. Students from in state pay about $12,383 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,726 for out-of-state students. Mental & Social Health Services graduates carry a median of $17,600 in student loans. Soon after graduation, mental & social health services degree recipients from Northeastern Illinois University generally make around $50,825. That is a strong return on a $17,600 median debt. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Lewis University landed the #13 spot for mental & social health services value this year. Located in the suburb of Romeoville, Lewis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $39,200 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $24,838 to complete the mental & social health services program here. Early-career mental & social health services graduates make about $38,831. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Lewis University admits about 71% of applicants.
Illinois Institute Of Technology ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value mental & social health services schools. Set in the city of Chicago, Illinois Institute Of Technology is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $52,202. Students borrow a median of $26,774 to complete the mental & social health services program here. Soon after graduation, mental & social health services degree recipients from Illinois Institute Of Technology generally make around $71,315. That is a strong return on a $26,774 median debt. Illinois Institute Of Technology admits about 55% of applicants.
Roosevelt University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value mental & social health services schools. Located in the city of Chicago, Roosevelt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $21,315 in tuition and fees. Mental & Social Health Services graduates carry a median of $23,879 in student loans. Early-career mental & social health services graduates make about $47,220. Set against $23,879 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Moody Bible Institute came in at #16 for value in mental & social health services this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Moody Bible Institute is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,786. Students borrow a median of $13,318 to complete the mental & social health services program here. Soon after graduation, mental & social health services degree recipients from Moody Bible Institute generally make around $40,708. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
Bradley University placed #17 among the best values for mental & social health services. Bradley University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Peoria. In-state tuition and fees average $42,160. Mental & Social Health Services graduates carry a median of $26,380 in student loans. Soon after graduation, mental & social health services degree recipients from Bradley University generally make around $50,358. Set against $26,380 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Bradley University admits about 77% of applicants.
Wheaton College Illinois landed the #18 spot for mental & social health services value this year. Set in the suburb of Wheaton, Wheaton College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $45,546. Typical student debt for mental & social health services graduates is $23,292. Early-career mental & social health services graduates make about $43,719. That is a strong return on a $23,292 median debt. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Northwestern University ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value mental & social health services schools. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $68,322. Students borrow a median of $16,616 to complete the mental & social health services program here. Mental & Social Health Services graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $67,518 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,616 median debt. Northwestern University admits about 8% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 19 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 19 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.