by our College Data Analytics Team
[Counseling Psychology](/majors/psychology/clinical-counseling-applied-psychology/counseling-psychology/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong counseling psychology education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 36 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for counseling psychology students.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the counseling psychology degrees they offer, see the list below.
University Of North Texas At Dallas earned the #1 spot for value among counseling psychology schools in the Southwest Region. Set in the city of Dallas, University Of North Texas At Dallas is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,595, with out-of-state students paying around $21,894. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
Lamar University came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value counseling psychology schools. Lamar University is a very large public school located in the city of Beaumont. Students from in state pay about $8,905 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,745. Students borrow a median of $26,988 to complete the counseling psychology program here. Early-career counseling psychology graduates make about $61,726. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Houston Victoria one of the best values for counseling psychology. Set in the city of Victoria, University Of Houston Victoria is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,149, compared with $16,941 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for counseling psychology graduates is $24,081. Early-career counseling psychology graduates make about $48,689. Set against $24,081 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Texas A And M International University came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best value counseling psychology schools. Set in the city of Laredo, Texas A And M International University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,894, while out-of-state students pay about $19,454. Students borrow a median of $15,095 to complete the counseling psychology program here. Soon after graduation, counseling psychology degree recipients from Texas A And M International University generally make around $45,177. Set against $15,095 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Texas A And M International University admits about 44% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Texas A And M University San Antonio earned it the #5 place for counseling psychology. Texas A And M University San Antonio is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of San Antonio. Students from in state pay about $9,654 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $23,255. Counseling Psychology graduates carry a median of $22,771 in student loans. Counseling Psychology graduates of Texas A And M University San Antonio earn a median of $45,681 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,771 median debt. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus landed the #6 spot for counseling psychology value this year. Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Portales. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,074, while out-of-state students pay about $9,054. Students borrow a median of $19,277 to complete the counseling psychology program here. Soon after graduation, counseling psychology degree recipients from Eastern New Mexico University Main Campus generally make around $49,087. That is a strong return on a $19,277 median debt. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Midwestern State University came in at #7 for value in counseling psychology this year. Midwestern State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Wichita Falls. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,950, with out-of-state students paying around $11,770. Students borrow a median of $26,415 to complete the counseling psychology program here. Counseling Psychology graduates of Midwestern State University earn a median of $49,638 early in their careers. Set against $26,415 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Texas Womans University ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value counseling psychology schools. Located in the city of Denton, Texas Womans University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,640, with out-of-state students paying around $18,480. Students borrow a median of $24,211 to complete the counseling psychology program here. Early-career counseling psychology graduates make about $53,700. Set against $24,211 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Northwestern Oklahoma State University landed the #9 spot for counseling psychology value this year. Located in the town of Alva, Northwestern Oklahoma State University is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $5,970, with out-of-state students paying around $11,664. Counseling Psychology graduates carry a median of $21,542 in student loans. Soon after graduation, counseling psychology degree recipients from Northwestern Oklahoma State University generally make around $50,404. That is a strong return on a $21,542 median debt. The acceptance rate is 66%.
University Of Houston came in at #10 for value in counseling psychology this year. Set in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,717, with out-of-state students paying around $22,547. Counseling Psychology graduates carry a median of $21,255 in student loans. Soon after graduation, counseling psychology degree recipients from University Of Houston generally make around $77,167. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Houston admits about 74% of applicants.
The University Of Texas At Tyler earned the #11 position for value in counseling psychology this year. Located in the city of Tyler, The University Of Texas At Tyler is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,512 in tuition and fees, compared with $24,512 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for counseling psychology graduates is $20,959. Early-career counseling psychology graduates make about $52,767. That is a strong return on a $20,959 median debt. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Northeastern State University placed #12 among the best values for counseling psychology. Located in the town of Tahlequah, Northeastern State University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $7,810 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,290 for out-of-state students. Counseling Psychology graduates carry a median of $23,465 in student loans. Early-career counseling psychology graduates make about $49,040. That is a strong return on a $23,465 median debt. The acceptance rate is 100%.
Texas A And M University Texarkana came in at #13 for value in counseling psychology this year. Set in the city of Texarkana, Texas A And M University Texarkana is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,349 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $24,680. Typical student debt for counseling psychology graduates is $25,270. Counseling Psychology graduates of Texas A And M University Texarkana earn a median of $44,862 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
Cameron University came in at #14 for value in counseling psychology this year. Set in the city of Lawton, Cameron University is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,095 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $16,515. Counseling Psychology graduates carry a median of $23,967 in student loans. Soon after graduation, counseling psychology degree recipients from Cameron University generally make around $43,250. Set against $23,967 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of North Texas ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value counseling psychology schools. Set in the city of Denton, University Of North Texas is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,309 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,149. Counseling Psychology graduates carry a median of $19,583 in student loans. Early-career counseling psychology graduates make about $58,758. That is a strong return on a $19,583 median debt. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Prairie View A And M University ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value counseling psychology schools. Set in the rural area of Prairie View, Prairie View A And M University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,299 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $26,874. Typical student debt for counseling psychology graduates is $29,824. Counseling Psychology graduates of Prairie View A And M University earn a median of $51,831 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $29,824 median debt. Roughly 79% of applicants are accepted.
Sam Houston State University came in at #17 for value in counseling psychology this year. Set in the town of Huntsville, Sam Houston State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,228, while out-of-state students pay about $19,068. Students borrow a median of $24,850 to complete the counseling psychology program here. Early-career counseling psychology graduates make about $44,512. That is a strong return on a $24,850 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Angelo State University landed the #18 spot for counseling psychology value this year. Set in the city of San Angelo, Angelo State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,460, compared with $18,300 for out-of-state students. Counseling Psychology graduates carry a median of $21,237 in student loans. Soon after graduation, counseling psychology degree recipients from Angelo State University generally make around $45,229. Set against $21,237 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
Texas State University San Marcos landed the #19 spot for counseling psychology value this year. Located in the city of San Marcos, Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,450, while out-of-state students pay about $22,930. Students borrow a median of $23,659 to complete the counseling psychology program here. Counseling Psychology graduates of Texas State University San Marcos earn a median of $53,083 early in their careers. Set against $23,659 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Our Lady Of The Lake University San Antonio placed #20 among the best values for counseling psychology. Located in the city of San Antonio, Our Lady Of The Lake University San Antonio is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $32,106 in tuition and fees. Counseling Psychology graduates carry a median of $26,759 in student loans. Soon after graduation, counseling psychology degree recipients from Our Lady Of The Lake University San Antonio generally make around $49,489. Set against $26,759 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Oklahoma State University Main Campus came in at #21 for value in counseling psychology this year. Oklahoma State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the town of Stillwater. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,110, while out-of-state students pay about $25,630. Typical student debt for counseling psychology graduates is $22,337. Early-career counseling psychology graduates make about $72,775. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Mid America Christian University placed #22 among the best values for counseling psychology. Set in the city of Oklahoma City, Mid America Christian University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $21,294. Typical student debt for counseling psychology graduates is $37,852. Counseling Psychology graduates of Mid America Christian University earn a median of $40,506 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Texas Tech University placed #23 among the best values for counseling psychology. Located in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,852 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $24,157. Typical student debt for counseling psychology graduates is $24,271. Soon after graduation, counseling psychology degree recipients from Texas Tech University generally make around $69,689. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 73% of applicants are accepted.
West Texas A And M University landed the #24 spot for counseling psychology value this year. Located in the town of Canyon, West Texas A And M University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,101, with out-of-state students paying around $10,996. Typical student debt for counseling psychology graduates is $22,333. Counseling Psychology graduates of West Texas A And M University earn a median of $43,515 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. West Texas A And M University admits about 99% of applicants.
University Of Central Oklahoma placed #25 among the best values for counseling psychology. University Of Central Oklahoma is a large public school located in the suburb of Edmond. Students from in state pay about $8,818 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,704. Counseling Psychology graduates carry a median of $23,321 in student loans. Early-career counseling psychology graduates make about $39,420. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s counseling psychology value ranking:
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 · 36 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 36 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
