2026 Best Value Counseling Psychology Schools in California
[Counseling Psychology](/majors/psychology/clinical-counseling-applied-psychology/counseling-psychology/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 27 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for counseling psychology students.
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2026 Best Value Counseling Psychology Schools in California
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in counseling psychology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Counseling Psychology Schools
Leading the list is California State University Long Beach, our #1 best value for counseling psychology in California. Located in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $7,374 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $19,974. Counseling Psychology graduates carry a median of $15,671 in student loans. Early-career counseling psychology graduates make about $81,000. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 46%.
California State University Bakersfield came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value counseling psychology schools. California State University Bakersfield is a large public school located in the city of Bakersfield. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,087, while out-of-state students pay about $20,687. Graduates go on to earn a median of $59,009 ten years after entry. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes Azusa Pacific University one of the best values for counseling psychology. Azusa Pacific University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Azusa. Students from in state pay about $44,458 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for counseling psychology graduates is $23,709. Counseling Psychology graduates of Azusa Pacific University earn a median of $58,302 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,709 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes Touro University Worldwide one of the best values for counseling psychology. Set in the suburb of Los Alamitos, Touro University Worldwide is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,640. Counseling Psychology graduates carry a median of $32,289 in student loans. Early-career counseling psychology graduates make about $61,331. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Mount St Marys College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in counseling psychology, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, Mount St Marys College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $49,564. Typical student debt for counseling psychology graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, counseling psychology degree recipients from Mount St Marys College generally make around $41,408. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
William Jessup University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value counseling psychology schools. Located in the suburb of Rocklin, William Jessup University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $37,150 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for counseling psychology graduates is $21,420. Counseling Psychology graduates of William Jessup University earn a median of $46,461 early in their careers. Set against $21,420 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 93%.
University Of The Pacific landed the #7 spot for counseling psychology value this year. University Of The Pacific is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Stockton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $57,080. Typical student debt for counseling psychology graduates is $23,514. Early-career counseling psychology graduates make about $79,628. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 71%.
California Baptist University landed the #8 spot for counseling psychology value this year. Set in the city of Riverside, California Baptist University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $41,228 in tuition and fees. Counseling Psychology graduates carry a median of $28,169 in student loans. Early-career counseling psychology graduates make about $55,299. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. California Baptist University admits about 85% of applicants.
Hope International University earned the #9 position for value in counseling psychology this year. Located in the suburb of Fullerton, Hope International University is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $38,125 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $24,656 to complete the counseling psychology program here. Counseling Psychology graduates of Hope International University earn a median of $52,518 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 33% of applicants are accepted.
Simpson University came in at #10 for value in counseling psychology this year. Simpson University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Redding. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $39,708. Typical student debt for counseling psychology graduates is $22,648. Early-career counseling psychology graduates make about $59,718. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Simpson University admits about 86% of applicants.
Concordia University Irvine came in at #11 for value in counseling psychology this year. Located in the city of Irvine, Concordia University Irvine is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $43,480 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for counseling psychology graduates is $26,085. Soon after graduation, counseling psychology degree recipients from Concordia University Irvine generally make around $42,331. Set against $26,085 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 66%.
National University placed #12 among the best values for counseling psychology. National University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Diego. Students from in state pay about $13,284 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $30,426 to complete the counseling psychology program here. Soon after graduation, counseling psychology degree recipients from National University generally make around $57,834. That is a strong return on a $30,426 median debt.
Saint Marys College Of California landed the #13 spot for counseling psychology value this year. Set in the suburb of Moraga, Saint Marys College Of California is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $57,803. Typical student debt for counseling psychology graduates is $25,041. Early-career counseling psychology graduates make about $59,760. Set against $25,041 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
University Of San Francisco placed #14 among the best values for counseling psychology. Set in the city of San Francisco, University Of San Francisco is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $60,522. Students borrow a median of $23,935 to complete the counseling psychology program here. Early-career counseling psychology graduates make about $65,358. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of San Francisco admits about 62% of applicants.
Dominican University Of California placed #15 among the best values for counseling psychology. Dominican University Of California is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Rafael. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $52,161. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the counseling psychology program here. Early-career counseling psychology graduates make about $34,509. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 27 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 13 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.
