2026 Best Value Mental & Social Health Services Schools in Michigan
[Mental & Social Health Services](/majors/health-care-professions/mental-social-health-services/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 18 schools to find the best return on investment for mental & social health services students.
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2026 Best Value Mental & Social Health Services Schools in Michigan
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
Wayne County Community College District tops our 2026 list of the best value mental & social health services schools in Michigan. Located in the city of Detroit, Wayne County Community College District is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,112, while out-of-state students pay about $4,067. Mental & Social Health Services graduates carry a median of $20,820 in student loans. Early-career mental & social health services graduates make about $48,892. That is a strong return on a $20,820 median debt.
Oakland University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value mental & social health services schools. Set in the suburb of Rochester Hills, Oakland University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,167, compared with $24,735 for out-of-state students. Mental & Social Health Services graduates carry a median of $25,972 in student loans. Mental & Social Health Services graduates of Oakland University earn a median of $46,551 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 88%.
A rank of #3 makes Wayne State University one of the best values for mental & social health services. Wayne State University is a very large public school located in the city of Detroit. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,159, while out-of-state students pay about $34,650. Mental & Social Health Services graduates carry a median of $26,689 in student loans. Soon after graduation, mental & social health services degree recipients from Wayne State University generally make around $69,328. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Central Michigan University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value mental & social health services schools. Central Michigan University is a large public school located in the town of Mount Pleasant. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,480. Students borrow a median of $31,000 to complete the mental & social health services program here. Early-career mental & social health services graduates make about $40,333. That is a strong return on a $31,000 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes University Of Detroit Mercy one of the best values for mental & social health services. Set in the city of Detroit, University Of Detroit Mercy is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $32,946. Typical student debt for mental & social health services graduates is $29,053. Early-career mental & social health services graduates make about $76,755. Set against $29,053 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Siena Heights University came in at #6 for value in mental & social health services this year. Set in the town of Adrian, Siena Heights University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $30,778. Mental & Social Health Services graduates carry a median of $25,790 in student loans. Soon after graduation, mental & social health services degree recipients from Siena Heights University generally make around $41,551. Set against $25,790 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Siena Heights University admits about 69% of applicants.
Andrews University earned the #7 position for value in mental & social health services this year. Set in the town of Berrien Springs, Andrews University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $35,056. Mental & Social Health Services graduates carry a median of $26,314 in student loans. Early-career mental & social health services graduates make about $62,634. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Andrews University admits about 82% of applicants.
Western Michigan University placed #8 among the best values for mental & social health services. Set in the city of Kalamazoo, Western Michigan University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $15,987 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,952. Students borrow a median of $27,981 to complete the mental & social health services program here. Early-career mental & social health services graduates make about $42,266. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Western Michigan University admits about 85% of applicants.
Davenport University landed the #9 spot for mental & social health services value this year. Davenport University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Grand Rapids. Students from in state pay about $24,466 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the mental & social health services program here. Early-career mental & social health services graduates make about $41,225. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 98%.
Michigan State University placed #10 among the best values for mental & social health services. Michigan State University is a very large public school located in the city of East Lansing. In-state tuition and fees average $18,079, while out-of-state students pay about $44,850. Students borrow a median of $25,213 to complete the mental & social health services program here. Mental & Social Health Services graduates of Michigan State University earn a median of $53,352 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,213 median debt. Michigan State University admits about 85% of applicants.
More Mental & Social Health Services Rankings
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 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.
