2027 Best Value Mental & Social Health Services Schools in Virginia

[Mental & Social Health Services](/majors/health-care-professions/mental-social-health-services/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
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 Virginia
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in mental & social health services, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Mental & Social Health Services Schools
Virginia Western Community College earned the #1 spot for value among mental & social health services schools in Virginia. Located in the city of Roanoke, Virginia Western Community College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $5,400 in tuition and fees, compared with $11,838 for out-of-state students. Mental & Social Health Services graduates carry a median of $16,066 in student loans. Early-career mental & social health services graduates make about $36,245. That is a strong return on a $16,066 median debt.
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in mental & social health services, landing the #2 spot this year. J Sargeant Reynolds Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Richmond. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,280, compared with $11,718 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $29,220 to complete the mental & social health services program here. Mental & Social Health Services graduates of J Sargeant Reynolds Community College earn a median of $39,904 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $29,220 median debt.
Southside Virginia Community College came in at #3 on our 2027 list of the best value mental & social health services schools. Set in the rural area of Alberta, Southside Virginia Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,007, with out-of-state students paying around $11,445. Typical student debt for mental & social health services graduates is $9,500. Early-career mental & social health services graduates make about $30,386. Set against $9,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #4 makes Germanna Community College one of the best values for mental & social health services. Located in the rural area of Locust Grove, Germanna Community College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,257, with out-of-state students paying around $11,648. Mental & Social Health Services graduates carry a median of $10,999 in student loans. Soon after graduation, mental & social health services degree recipients from Germanna Community College generally make around $41,880. Set against $10,999 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at John Tyler Community College earned it the #5 place for mental & social health services. Set in the suburb of Chester, John Tyler Community College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,082, with out-of-state students paying around $11,520. Typical student debt for mental & social health services graduates is $17,594. Early-career mental & social health services graduates make about $26,277. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Southwest Virginia Community College placed #6 among the best values for mental & social health services. Set in the rural area of Cedar Bluff, Southwest Virginia Community College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,075, with out-of-state students paying around $11,513. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the mental & social health services program here. Soon after graduation, mental & social health services degree recipients from Southwest Virginia Community College generally make around $29,501. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northern Virginia Community College placed #7 among the best values for mental & social health services. Located in the suburb of Annandale, Northern Virginia Community College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $5,891 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,410. Students borrow a median of $14,413 to complete the mental & social health services program here. Soon after graduation, mental & social health services degree recipients from Northern Virginia Community College generally make around $40,126. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
New River Community College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value mental & social health services schools. Located in the town of Dublin, New River Community College is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $4,979, compared with $11,417 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for mental & social health services graduates is $13,132. Mental & Social Health Services graduates of New River Community College earn a median of $46,892 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Thomas Nelson Community College came in at #9 for value in mental & social health services this year. Located in the suburb of Hampton, Thomas Nelson Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,088, with out-of-state students paying around $11,526. Typical student debt for mental & social health services graduates is $25,152. Soon after graduation, mental & social health services degree recipients from Thomas Nelson Community College generally make around $25,271. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Blue Ridge Community College Weyers Cave landed the #10 spot for mental & social health services value this year. Blue Ridge Community College Weyers Cave is a moderately-sized public school located in the rural area of Weyers Cave. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,646, compared with $12,084 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for mental & social health services graduates is $11,768. Mental & Social Health Services graduates of Blue Ridge Community College Weyers Cave earn a median of $40,020 early in their careers. Set against $11,768 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Tidewater Community College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value mental & social health services schools. Located in the city of Norfolk, Tidewater Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,858, with out-of-state students paying around $12,296. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the mental & social health services program here. Mental & Social Health Services graduates of Tidewater Community College earn a median of $23,509 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,000 median debt.
Old Dominion University earned the #12 position for value in mental & social health services this year. Old Dominion University is a very large public school located in the city of Norfolk. In-state tuition and fees average $12,750, with out-of-state students paying around $33,780. Typical student debt for mental & social health services graduates is $30,949. Early-career mental & social health services graduates make about $37,645. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Old Dominion University admits about 90% of applicants.
Virginia Union University landed the #13 spot for mental & social health services value this year. Virginia Union University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Richmond. Students from in state pay about $17,830 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for mental & social health services graduates is $30,593. Early-career mental & social health services graduates make about $25,910. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Virginia Union University admits about 98% of applicants.
Regent University ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value mental & social health services schools. Regent University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Virginia Beach. In-state tuition and fees average $21,650. Students borrow a median of $29,451 to complete the mental & social health services program here. Early-career mental & social health services graduates make about $41,047. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 38% of applicants are accepted.
Lynchburg College earned the #15 position for value in mental & social health services this year. Located in the city of Lynchburg, Lynchburg College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $36,750. Soon after graduation, mental & social health services degree recipients from Lynchburg College generally make around $107,159. The acceptance rate is 43%.
Virginia Commonwealth University came in at #16 for value in mental & social health services this year. Set in the city of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,720, compared with $39,884 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for mental & social health services graduates is $23,813. Mental & Social Health Services graduates of Virginia Commonwealth University earn a median of $77,108 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,813 median debt. Virginia Commonwealth University admits about 93% of applicants.
Eastern Mennonite University placed #17 among the best values for mental & social health services. Eastern Mennonite University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Harrisonburg. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $43,920. Mental & Social Health Services graduates carry a median of $25,415 in student loans. Mental & Social Health Services graduates of Eastern Mennonite University earn a median of $44,202 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Eastern Mennonite University admits about 100% of applicants.
Marymount University ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value mental & social health services schools. Located in the city of Arlington, Marymount University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $40,120. Students borrow a median of $26,880 to complete the mental & social health services program here. Early-career mental & social health services graduates make about $55,202. That is a strong return on a $26,880 median debt. Marymount University admits about 93% of applicants.
Liberty University ranked #19 on our 2027 list of the best value mental & social health services schools. Set in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $16,173 in tuition and fees. Mental & Social Health Services graduates carry a median of $27,414 in student loans. Mental & Social Health Services graduates of Liberty University earn a median of $45,136 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Liberty University admits about 99% of applicants.
More Mental & Social Health Services Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 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.