by our College Data Analytics Team
[Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling](/majors/health-care-professions/mental-social-health-services/substance-abuse-addiction-counseling/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 4 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.
Tohono Oodham Community College tops our 2027 list of the best value substance abuse/addiction counseling schools in Arizona. Set in the rural area of Sells, Tohono Oodham Community College is a small public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $932. Graduates go on to earn a median of $39,229 ten years after entry.
A rank of #2 makes Rio Salado College one of the best values for substance abuse/addiction counseling. Located in the city of Tempe, Rio Salado College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,358, compared with $8,958 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for substance abuse/addiction counseling graduates is $13,679. Early-career substance abuse/addiction counseling graduates make about $48,564. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
American Intercontinental University Online 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 Chandler, American Intercontinental University Online is a very large private for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,397. Students borrow a median of $39,107 to complete the substance abuse/addiction counseling program here. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates of American Intercontinental University Online earn a median of $43,008 early in their careers. Set against $39,107 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Grand Canyon University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in substance abuse/addiction counseling, landing the #4 spot this year. Grand Canyon University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Phoenix. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,508. 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. Set against $39,560 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 79%.
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 · 4 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.