2027 Best Value Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling Schools in the Southwest Region
[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. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 25 schools to find the best return on investment for substance abuse/addiction counseling students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling Schools in the Southwest Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the substance abuse/addiction counseling degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling Schools
El Centro College tops our 2027 list of the best value substance abuse/addiction counseling schools in the Southwest Region. Set in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,730, compared with $6,900 for out-of-state students. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates carry a median of $22,011 in student loans. Early-career substance abuse/addiction counseling graduates make about $41,295. That is a strong return on a $22,011 median debt.
Midland College came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value substance abuse/addiction counseling schools. Midland College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Midland. In-state tuition and fees average $3,180, while out-of-state students pay about $6,180. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates carry a median of $9,000 in student loans. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates of Midland College earn a median of $43,454 early in their careers. Set against $9,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Tarrant County College District is a great value for students pursuing a degree in substance abuse/addiction counseling, landing the #3 spot this year. Located in the city of Fort Worth, Tarrant County College District is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,863, compared with $8,370 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for substance abuse/addiction counseling graduates is $25,948. Early-career substance abuse/addiction counseling graduates make about $45,158. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
San Antonio College came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value substance abuse/addiction counseling schools. San Antonio College is a very large public school located in the city of San Antonio. In-state tuition and fees average $3,412, compared with $9,952 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for substance abuse/addiction counseling graduates is $11,839. Early-career substance abuse/addiction counseling graduates make about $37,855. That is a strong return on a $11,839 median debt.
A rank of #5 makes Central New Mexico Community College one of the best values for substance abuse/addiction counseling. Central New Mexico Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Albuquerque. In-state tuition and fees average $2,060, with out-of-state students paying around $8,684. Typical student debt for substance abuse/addiction counseling graduates is $10,112. Early-career substance abuse/addiction counseling graduates make about $34,751. That is a strong return on a $10,112 median debt.
Tohono Oodham Community College landed the #6 spot for substance abuse/addiction counseling value this year. Tohono Oodham Community College is a small public school located in the rural area of Sells. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $932. Graduates go on to earn a median of $39,229 ten years after entry.
Mclennan Community College came in at #7 for value in substance abuse/addiction counseling this year. Located in the city of Waco, Mclennan Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,660 in tuition and fees, compared with $5,910 for out-of-state students. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates carry a median of $14,073 in student loans. Early-career substance abuse/addiction counseling graduates make about $40,499. Set against $14,073 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Kilgore College came in at #8 for value in substance abuse/addiction counseling this year. Located in the town of Kilgore, Kilgore College is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $2,160 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $5,256. Typical student debt for substance abuse/addiction counseling graduates is $16,734. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates of Kilgore College earn a median of $44,322 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Austin Community College District came in at #9 for value in substance abuse/addiction counseling this year. Located in the city of Austin, Austin Community College District is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $2,550 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,590. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates carry a median of $19,185 in student loans. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates of Austin Community College District earn a median of $31,821 early in their careers. Set against $19,185 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lee College came in at #10 for value in substance abuse/addiction counseling this year. Set in the city of Baytown, Lee College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,520, while out-of-state students pay about $5,045. Students borrow a median of $10,941 to complete the substance abuse/addiction counseling program here. Soon after graduation, substance abuse/addiction counseling degree recipients from Lee College generally make around $53,448. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rio Salado College placed #11 among the best values for substance abuse/addiction counseling. Rio Salado College is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. Students from in state pay about $2,358 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,958. Typical student debt for substance abuse/addiction counseling graduates is $13,679. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates of Rio Salado College earn a median of $48,564 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,679 median debt.
Alvin Community College landed the #12 spot for substance abuse/addiction counseling value this year. Set in the suburb of Alvin, Alvin Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,906, with out-of-state students paying around $4,402. Typical student debt for substance abuse/addiction counseling graduates is $8,600. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates of Alvin Community College earn a median of $55,057 early in their careers. Set against $8,600 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Weatherford College earned the #13 position for value in substance abuse/addiction counseling this year. Set in the town of Weatherford, Weatherford College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,250, while out-of-state students pay about $10,860. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates carry a median of $14,099 in student loans. Early-career substance abuse/addiction counseling graduates make about $48,208. That is a strong return on a $14,099 median debt.
Tyler Junior College ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best value substance abuse/addiction counseling schools. Located in the city of Tyler, Tyler Junior College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,424, with out-of-state students paying around $4,536. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates carry a median of $14,869 in student loans. Soon after graduation, substance abuse/addiction counseling degree recipients from Tyler Junior College generally make around $43,348. Set against $14,869 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Central Texas College ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value substance abuse/addiction counseling schools. Set in the suburb of Killeen, Central Texas College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,750, compared with $7,500 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $11,290 to complete the substance abuse/addiction counseling program here. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates of Central Texas College earn a median of $53,086 early in their careers. Set against $11,290 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cameron University came in at #16 for value in substance abuse/addiction counseling this year. Located in the city of Lawton, Cameron University is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,095, compared with $16,515 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,967 to complete the substance abuse/addiction counseling program here. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates of Cameron University earn a median of $43,122 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,967 median debt.
Santa Fe Community College earned the #17 position for value in substance abuse/addiction counseling this year. Santa Fe Community College is a mid-sized public school located in the rural area of Santa Fe. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,851, while out-of-state students pay about $4,131. Students borrow a median of $15,267 to complete the substance abuse/addiction counseling program here. Soon after graduation, substance abuse/addiction counseling degree recipients from Santa Fe Community College generally make around $51,935. Set against $15,267 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
San Jacinto Community College came in at #18 for value in substance abuse/addiction counseling this year. San Jacinto Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Pasadena. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,490, while out-of-state students pay about $6,690. Students borrow a median of $11,376 to complete the substance abuse/addiction counseling program here. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates of San Jacinto Community College earn a median of $38,107 early in their careers. Set against $11,376 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Texas State Technical College earned the #19 position for value in substance abuse/addiction counseling this year. Set in the city of Waco, Texas State Technical College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,212, compared with $11,812 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $19,078 to complete the substance abuse/addiction counseling program here. Soon after graduation, substance abuse/addiction counseling degree recipients from Texas State Technical College generally make around $29,779. That is a strong return on a $19,078 median debt.
University Of Houston Clear Lake came in at #20 for value in substance abuse/addiction counseling this year. Set in the city of Houston, University Of Houston Clear Lake is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,346, compared with $22,290 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for substance abuse/addiction counseling graduates is $21,100. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates of University Of Houston Clear Lake earn a median of $51,252 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
American Intercontinental University Online came in at #21 for value in substance abuse/addiction counseling this year. American Intercontinental University Online is a very large private for-profit school located in the city of Chandler. In-state tuition and fees average $12,397. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates carry a median of $39,107 in student loans. Early-career substance abuse/addiction counseling graduates make about $43,008. Set against $39,107 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Central Oklahoma ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best value substance abuse/addiction counseling schools. Set in the suburb of Edmond, University Of Central Oklahoma is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,818 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,704 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for substance abuse/addiction counseling graduates is $23,321. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates of University Of Central Oklahoma earn a median of $44,085 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
University Of St Thomas Texas placed #23 among the best values for substance abuse/addiction counseling. University Of St Thomas Texas is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Houston. Students from in state pay about $34,634 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,628 to complete the substance abuse/addiction counseling program here. Soon after graduation, substance abuse/addiction counseling degree recipients from University Of St Thomas Texas generally make around $58,265. Set against $23,628 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Grand Canyon University placed #24 among the best values for substance abuse/addiction counseling. Located in the city of Phoenix, Grand Canyon University is a very large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $18,508 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for substance abuse/addiction counseling graduates is $39,560. Soon after graduation, substance abuse/addiction counseling degree recipients from Grand Canyon University generally make around $47,062. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
Saint Edwards University landed the #25 spot for substance abuse/addiction counseling value this year. Set in the city of Austin, Saint Edwards University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $51,384. Students borrow a median of $25,059 to complete the substance abuse/addiction counseling program here. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates of Saint Edwards University earn a median of $39,898 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,059 median debt. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Narrow Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling Schools by State
More Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling Rankings
View All Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 25 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 25 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.
