2027 Best Value Counseling Psychology Schools in the The Plains States Region
[Counseling Psychology](/majors/psychology/clinical-counseling-applied-psychology/counseling-psychology/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. 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 18 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for counseling psychology students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Counseling Psychology Schools in the The Plains States Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the counseling psychology degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Counseling Psychology Schools
Saint Marys University Of Minnesota tops our 2027 list of the best value counseling psychology schools in the The Plains States Region. Saint Marys University Of Minnesota is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Winona. Students from in state pay about $45,080 in tuition and fees. Counseling Psychology graduates carry a median of $27,081 in student loans. Soon after graduation, counseling psychology degree recipients from Saint Marys University Of Minnesota generally make around $67,111. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Saint Marys University Of Minnesota admits about 93% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in counseling psychology will find it at Chadron State College, which ranked #2. Chadron State College is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Chadron. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,294. Students borrow a median of $22,912 to complete the counseling psychology program here. Early-career counseling psychology graduates make about $47,254. That is a strong return on a $22,912 median debt.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Central Missouri one of the best values for counseling psychology. Set in the town of Warrensburg, University Of Central Missouri is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,050, with out-of-state students paying around $18,600. Typical student debt for counseling psychology graduates is $24,304. Counseling Psychology graduates of University Of Central Missouri earn a median of $49,762 early in their careers. Set against $24,304 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 64%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Central Methodist University College Of Graduate And Extended Studies earned it the #4 place for counseling psychology. Located in the rural area of Fayette, Central Methodist University College Of Graduate And Extended Studies is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $7,500 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,033 to complete the counseling psychology program here. Soon after graduation, counseling psychology degree recipients from Central Methodist University College Of Graduate And Extended Studies generally make around $36,918. Set against $25,033 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Wayne State College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value counseling psychology schools. Wayne State College is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Wayne. In-state tuition and fees average $8,171. Students borrow a median of $23,659 to complete the counseling psychology program here. Counseling Psychology graduates of Wayne State College earn a median of $35,028 early in their careers. Set against $23,659 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Kansas ranked #6 on our 2027 list of the best value counseling psychology schools. University Of Kansas is a very large public school located in the city of Lawrence. Students from in state pay about $12,102 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $30,432. Typical student debt for counseling psychology graduates is $23,608. Early-career counseling psychology graduates make about $79,622. Set against $23,608 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Avila University landed the #7 spot for counseling psychology value this year. Located in the city of Kansas City, Avila University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,200. Counseling Psychology graduates carry a median of $29,750 in student loans. Counseling Psychology graduates of Avila University earn a median of $56,895 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $29,750 median debt. Roughly 88% of applicants are accepted.
Capella University came in at #8 for value in counseling psychology this year. Capella University is a very large private for-profit school located in the city of Minneapolis. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,400. Counseling Psychology graduates carry a median of $35,998 in student loans. Counseling Psychology graduates of Capella University earn a median of $72,053 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of North Dakota placed #9 among the best values for counseling psychology. Located in the city of Grand Forks, University Of North Dakota is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,951, compared with $15,570 for out-of-state students. Counseling Psychology graduates carry a median of $25,110 in student loans. Soon after graduation, counseling psychology degree recipients from University Of North Dakota generally make around $71,018. That is a strong return on a $25,110 median debt. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Buena Vista University ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value counseling psychology schools. Buena Vista University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Storm Lake. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $41,798. Typical student debt for counseling psychology graduates is $29,317. Soon after graduation, counseling psychology degree recipients from Buena Vista University generally make around $49,323. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
South Dakota State University earned the #11 position for value in counseling psychology this year. Set in the town of Brookings, South Dakota State University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,299 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,809. Typical student debt for counseling psychology graduates is $24,989. Counseling Psychology graduates of South Dakota State University earn a median of $45,975 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,989 median debt. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
University Of South Dakota came in at #12 for value in counseling psychology this year. University Of South Dakota is a large public school located in the town of Vermillion. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,432, with out-of-state students paying around $12,942. Typical student debt for counseling psychology graduates is $26,322. Soon after graduation, counseling psychology degree recipients from University Of South Dakota generally make around $48,320. Set against $26,322 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 99%.
University Of Saint Mary placed #13 among the best values for counseling psychology. Located in the town of Leavenworth, University Of Saint Mary is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $35,380. Typical student debt for counseling psychology graduates is $27,810. Soon after graduation, counseling psychology degree recipients from University Of Saint Mary generally make around $55,244. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Crown College placed #14 among the best values for counseling psychology. Crown College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Saint Bonifacius. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $31,410. Typical student debt for counseling psychology graduates is $46,863. Counseling Psychology graduates of Crown College earn a median of $50,088 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $46,863 median debt. Crown College admits about 23% of applicants.
Webster University ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value counseling psychology schools. Located in the suburb of Saint Louis, Webster University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $31,750 in tuition and fees. Counseling Psychology graduates carry a median of $25,939 in student loans. Soon after graduation, counseling psychology degree recipients from Webster University generally make around $42,026. That is a strong return on a $25,939 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
University Of St Thomas Minnesota ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best value counseling psychology schools. Set in the city of Saint Paul, University Of St Thomas Minnesota is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $54,398. Students borrow a median of $23,923 to complete the counseling psychology program here. Early-career counseling psychology graduates make about $70,330. Set against $23,923 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 85% of applicants are accepted.
Morningside College landed the #17 spot for counseling psychology value this year. Set in the city of Sioux City, Morningside College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $39,519 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for counseling psychology graduates is $27,281. Counseling Psychology graduates of Morningside College earn a median of $54,988 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,281 median debt. The acceptance rate is 71%.
Midamerica Nazarene University came in at #18 for value in counseling psychology this year. Midamerica Nazarene University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Olathe. Students from in state pay about $37,174 in tuition and fees. Counseling Psychology graduates carry a median of $25,740 in student loans. Counseling Psychology graduates of Midamerica Nazarene University earn a median of $47,940 early in their careers. Set against $25,740 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 79%.
Narrow Counseling Psychology Schools by State
More Counseling Psychology Rankings
View All Counseling Psychology Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 18 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 18 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.
