2026 Best Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling Schools in California
Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. The schools below stand out for the quality of their substance abuse/addiction counseling programs.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 57 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for substance abuse/addiction counseling students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling in California
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the substance abuse/addiction counseling degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling
Mt San Antonio College tops our 2026 ranking of the best substance abuse/addiction counseling schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Walnut. Mt San Antonio College awarded about 120 substance abuse/addiction counseling degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, substance abuse/addiction counseling degree recipients from Mt San Antonio College generally make around $59,278. Typical student debt for the program is $10,000.
See the full substance abuse/addiction counseling program report for Mt San Antonio College
Loma Linda University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in substance abuse/addiction counseling, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Loma Linda, Loma Linda University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. There were roughly 15 substance abuse/addiction counseling students who graduated with this degree at Loma Linda University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, substance abuse/addiction counseling degree recipients from Loma Linda University generally make around $58,654. Typical student debt for the program is $25,094.
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A rank of #3 makes Cuesta College one of the top schools for substance abuse/addiction counseling. Set in the rural area of San Luis Obispo, Cuesta College is a large public institution. About 33 substance abuse/addiction counseling degrees were awarded at Cuesta College in the most recent year. Students who receive their substance abuse/addiction counseling degree from Cuesta College earn around $64,492 in the first couple years of their career. Cuesta College graduates carry a median of $18,958 in student loans.
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Students looking for a strong substance abuse/addiction counseling program will find one at Diablo Valley College, which ranked #4. Diablo Valley College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Pleasant Hill. Diablo Valley College awarded about 26 substance abuse/addiction counseling degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their substance abuse/addiction counseling degree from Diablo Valley College earn around $27,813 in the first couple years of their career. Diablo Valley College graduates carry a median of $9,205 in student loans.
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San Bernardino Valley College is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in substance abuse/addiction counseling, ranking #5. Located in the city of San Bernardino, San Bernardino Valley College is a large public university. There were roughly 26 substance abuse/addiction counseling students who graduated with this degree at San Bernardino Valley College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, substance abuse/addiction counseling degree recipients from San Bernardino Valley College generally make around $69,642. Students borrow a median of $19,500 to complete this degree.
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Fresno City College earned the #6 position for substance abuse/addiction counseling this year. Fresno City College is a very large public school located in the city of Fresno. There were roughly 33 substance abuse/addiction counseling students who graduated with this degree at Fresno City College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their substance abuse/addiction counseling degree from Fresno City College earn around $37,470 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $7,234 to complete this degree.
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San Diego City College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best substance abuse/addiction counseling schools. This very large public university is located in the city of San Diego. About 44 substance abuse/addiction counseling degrees were awarded at San Diego City College in the most recent year. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates of San Diego City College earn a median of $26,218 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $9,514 to complete this degree.
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Cypress College earned the #8 position for substance abuse/addiction counseling this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Cypress. Cypress College awarded about 16 substance abuse/addiction counseling degrees in the most recent data year.
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Oxnard College landed the #9 spot for substance abuse/addiction counseling this year. Oxnard College is a large public school located in the city of Oxnard. About 86 substance abuse/addiction counseling degrees were awarded at Oxnard College in the most recent year.
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San Joaquin Delta College landed the #10 spot for substance abuse/addiction counseling this year. Set in the city of Stockton, San Joaquin Delta College is a very large public institution. About 11 substance abuse/addiction counseling degrees were awarded at San Joaquin Delta College in the most recent year. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates of San Joaquin Delta College earn a median of $65,168 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $6,382 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in substance abuse/addiction counseling from San Joaquin Delta College
Palomar College placed #11 among the best substance abuse/addiction counseling schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of San Marcos. About 19 substance abuse/addiction counseling degrees were awarded at Palomar College in the most recent year.
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Saddleback College ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best substance abuse/addiction counseling schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Mission Viejo. There were roughly 20 substance abuse/addiction counseling students who graduated with this degree at Saddleback College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, substance abuse/addiction counseling degree recipients from Saddleback College generally make around $15,890. Students borrow a median of $5,707 to complete this degree.
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Los Angeles Pierce College placed #13 among the best substance abuse/addiction counseling schools. Located in the city of Woodland Hills, Los Angeles Pierce College is a very large public university. There were roughly 33 substance abuse/addiction counseling students who graduated with this degree at Los Angeles Pierce College in the most recent data year. Los Angeles Pierce College graduates carry a median of $12,477 in student loans.
See the full substance abuse/addiction counseling program report for Los Angeles Pierce College
East Los Angeles College earned the #14 position for substance abuse/addiction counseling this year. Located in the suburb of Monterey Park, East Los Angeles College is a very large public university. About 138 substance abuse/addiction counseling degrees were awarded at East Los Angeles College in the most recent year. Students who receive their substance abuse/addiction counseling degree from East Los Angeles College earn around $33,595 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $8,180.
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Allan Hancock College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best substance abuse/addiction counseling schools. Allan Hancock College is a large public school located in the city of Santa Maria. Allan Hancock College awarded about 94 substance abuse/addiction counseling degrees in the most recent data year.
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City College Of San Francisco earned the #16 position for substance abuse/addiction counseling this year. City College Of San Francisco is a very large public school located in the city of San Francisco. There were roughly 23 substance abuse/addiction counseling students who graduated with this degree at City College Of San Francisco in the most recent data year. Graduates of the substance abuse/addiction counseling program make about $100,031 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,332.
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Long Beach City College came in at #17 for substance abuse/addiction counseling this year. Long Beach City College is a very large public school located in the city of Long Beach. About 35 substance abuse/addiction counseling degrees were awarded at Long Beach City College in the most recent year. Typical student debt for the program is $6,000.
See the full substance abuse/addiction counseling program report for Long Beach City College
College Of The Desert placed #18 among the best substance abuse/addiction counseling schools. College Of The Desert is a large public school located in the city of Palm Desert. There were roughly 28 substance abuse/addiction counseling students who graduated with this degree at College Of The Desert in the most recent data year. Students who receive their substance abuse/addiction counseling degree from College Of The Desert earn around $41,295 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $7,826 to complete this degree.
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Los Angeles City College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best substance abuse/addiction counseling schools. Set in the city of Los Angeles, Los Angeles City College is a very large public institution. Los Angeles City College awarded about 17 substance abuse/addiction counseling degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the substance abuse/addiction counseling program make about $83,699 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,763.
See the full substance abuse/addiction counseling program report for Los Angeles City College
Palo Verde College landed the #20 spot for substance abuse/addiction counseling this year. Located in the rural area of Blythe, Palo Verde College is a moderately-sized public university. Palo Verde College awarded about 154 substance abuse/addiction counseling degrees in the most recent data year.
See the full substance abuse/addiction counseling program report for Palo Verde College
College Of The Redwoods placed #21 among the best substance abuse/addiction counseling schools. Located in the rural area of Eureka, College Of The Redwoods is a moderately-sized public university. About 16 substance abuse/addiction counseling degrees were awarded at College Of The Redwoods in the most recent year. Students who receive their substance abuse/addiction counseling degree from College Of The Redwoods earn around $98,703 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,000.
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Intercoast Colleges West Covina ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best substance abuse/addiction counseling schools. Set in the suburb of West Covina, Intercoast Colleges West Covina is a small private for-profit institution. About 145 substance abuse/addiction counseling degrees were awarded at Intercoast Colleges West Covina in the most recent year. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates of Intercoast Colleges West Covina earn a median of $36,668 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $18,667 to complete this degree.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 57 schools evaluated.
- 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.
