by our College Data Analytics Team
[Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling](/majors/health-care-professions/mental-social-health-services/substance-abuse-addiction-counseling/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong substance abuse/addiction counseling education at a price that pays off.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 12 schools to find the best return on investment for substance abuse/addiction counseling students.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the substance abuse/addiction counseling degrees they offer, see the list below.
Leading the list is Pamlico Community College, our #1 best value for substance abuse/addiction counseling in North Carolina. Located in the rural area of Grantsboro, Pamlico Community College is a small public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $3,712, compared with $12,928 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $30,005.
Students looking for strong value in substance abuse/addiction counseling will find it at Central Piedmont Community College, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $2,792, with out-of-state students paying around $8,936. Typical student debt for substance abuse/addiction counseling graduates is $11,861. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates of Central Piedmont Community College earn a median of $40,629 early in their careers. Set against $11,861 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes Richmond Community College one of the best values for substance abuse/addiction counseling. Richmond Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Hamlet. In-state tuition and fees average $1,956, compared with $6,564 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for substance abuse/addiction counseling graduates is $8,407. Early-career substance abuse/addiction counseling graduates make about $46,757. Set against $8,407 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southwestern Community College Sylva came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value substance abuse/addiction counseling schools. Set in the town of Sylva, Southwestern Community College Sylva is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,112, while out-of-state students pay about $13,184. Students borrow a median of $13,708 to complete the substance abuse/addiction counseling program here. Early-career substance abuse/addiction counseling graduates make about $36,418. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in substance abuse/addiction counseling will find it at Gaston College, which ranked #5. Gaston College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Dallas. Students from in state pay about $3,186 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,330 for out-of-state students. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates carry a median of $10,915 in student loans. Early-career substance abuse/addiction counseling graduates make about $39,937. That is a strong return on a $10,915 median debt.
Wake Technical Community College placed #6 among the best values for substance abuse/addiction counseling. Set in the suburb of Raleigh, Wake Technical Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,254, with out-of-state students paying around $6,862. Students borrow a median of $34,621 to complete the substance abuse/addiction counseling program here. Soon after graduation, substance abuse/addiction counseling degree recipients from Wake Technical Community College generally make around $38,673. Set against $34,621 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cape Fear Community College landed the #7 spot for substance abuse/addiction counseling value this year. Set in the city of Wilmington, Cape Fear Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,748, with out-of-state students paying around $8,892. Students borrow a median of $12,388 to complete the substance abuse/addiction counseling program here. Early-career substance abuse/addiction counseling graduates make about $42,889. Set against $12,388 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of North Carolina At Pembroke ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value substance abuse/addiction counseling schools. University Of North Carolina At Pembroke is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Pembroke. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,648, compared with $7,648 for out-of-state students. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates carry a median of $27,089 in student loans. Early-career substance abuse/addiction counseling graduates make about $40,578. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Isothermal Community College came in at #9 for value in substance abuse/addiction counseling this year. Located in the town of Spindale, Isothermal Community College is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $2,030 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,638. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates carry a median of $6,625 in student loans. Soon after graduation, substance abuse/addiction counseling degree recipients from Isothermal Community College generally make around $47,389. That is a strong return on a $6,625 median debt.
Guilford Technical Community College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value substance abuse/addiction counseling schools. Located in the suburb of Jamestown, Guilford Technical Community College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,320, with out-of-state students paying around $7,696. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. Early-career substance abuse/addiction counseling graduates make about $36,124. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
East Carolina University came in at #11 for value in substance abuse/addiction counseling this year. Located in the city of Greenville, East Carolina University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,361, while out-of-state students pay about $23,638. Typical student debt for substance abuse/addiction counseling graduates is $24,747. Soon after graduation, substance abuse/addiction counseling degree recipients from East Carolina University generally make around $47,542. That is a strong return on a $24,747 median debt. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Wake Forest University earned the #12 position for value in substance abuse/addiction counseling this year. Set in the city of Winston-Salem, Wake Forest University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $67,642. Students borrow a median of $21,577 to complete the substance abuse/addiction counseling program here. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates of Wake Forest University earn a median of $67,369 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 22% of applicants are accepted.
The ranking above is published 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 · 12 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.