2027 Best Value Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology Schools in Illinois
[Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology](/majors/psychology/clinical-counseling-applied-psychology/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 18 schools to find the best return on investment for clinical, counseling & applied psychology students.
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2027 Best Value Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology Schools in Illinois
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the clinical, counseling & applied psychology degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology Schools
Leading the list is University Of Illinois At Chicago, our #1 best value for clinical, counseling & applied psychology in Illinois. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $15,949, compared with $32,009 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $20,115 to complete the clinical, counseling & applied psychology program here. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates of University Of Illinois At Chicago earn a median of $61,829 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $20,115 median debt. The acceptance rate is 77%.
Students looking for strong value in clinical, counseling & applied psychology will find it at Governors State University, which ranked #2. Set in the suburb of University Park, Governors State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $12,004 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $24,990 to complete the clinical, counseling & applied psychology program here. Early-career clinical, counseling & applied psychology graduates make about $52,581. That is a strong return on a $24,990 median debt. Governors State University admits about 48% of applicants.
University Of Illinois At Springfield is a great value for students pursuing a degree in clinical, counseling & applied psychology, landing the #3 spot this year. University Of Illinois At Springfield is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Springfield. In-state tuition and fees average $12,557, while out-of-state students pay about $20,139. Typical student debt for clinical, counseling & applied psychology graduates is $24,925. Soon after graduation, clinical, counseling & applied psychology degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Springfield generally make around $48,357. Set against $24,925 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #4 makes National Louis University one of the best values for clinical, counseling & applied psychology. Located in the city of Chicago, National Louis University is a large private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $13,245 in tuition and fees. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates carry a median of $29,242 in student loans. Soon after graduation, clinical, counseling & applied psychology degree recipients from National Louis University generally make around $57,591. That is a strong return on a $29,242 median debt. The acceptance rate is 95%.
Students looking for strong value in clinical, counseling & applied psychology will find it at University Of Chicago, which ranked #5. University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Students from in state pay about $69,324 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for clinical, counseling & applied psychology graduates is $12,000. Early-career clinical, counseling & applied psychology graduates make about $39,808. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Chicago State University landed the #6 spot for clinical, counseling & applied psychology value this year. Chicago State University is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Chicago. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,754, compared with $12,757 for out-of-state students. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates carry a median of $43,322 in student loans. Soon after graduation, clinical, counseling & applied psychology degree recipients from Chicago State University generally make around $47,477. Set against $43,322 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 43% of applicants are accepted.
North Park University placed #7 among the best values for clinical, counseling & applied psychology. Set in the city of Chicago, North Park University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $36,710 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,360 to complete the clinical, counseling & applied psychology program here. Soon after graduation, clinical, counseling & applied psychology degree recipients from North Park University generally make around $55,960. Set against $27,360 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 68%.
Concordia University Chicago ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value clinical, counseling & applied psychology schools. Set in the suburb of River Forest, Concordia University Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,488. Students borrow a median of $26,956 to complete the clinical, counseling & applied psychology program here. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates of Concordia University Chicago earn a median of $51,374 early in their careers. Set against $26,956 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Concordia University Chicago admits about 93% of applicants.
Judson University landed the #9 spot for clinical, counseling & applied psychology value this year. Set in the city of Elgin, Judson University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $30,297. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates carry a median of $27,685 in student loans. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates of Judson University earn a median of $45,486 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,685 median debt. The acceptance rate is 48%.
Trinity Christian College came in at #10 for value in clinical, counseling & applied psychology this year. Trinity Christian College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Palos Heights. Students from in state pay about $20,605 in tuition and fees. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates carry a median of $28,722 in student loans. Soon after graduation, clinical, counseling & applied psychology degree recipients from Trinity Christian College generally make around $41,998. That is a strong return on a $28,722 median debt. Trinity Christian College admits about 85% of applicants.
Roosevelt University ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value clinical, counseling & applied psychology schools. Located in the city of Chicago, Roosevelt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,315. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates carry a median of $23,879 in student loans. Early-career clinical, counseling & applied psychology graduates make about $59,141. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Benedictine University earned the #12 position for value in clinical, counseling & applied psychology this year. Benedictine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Lisle. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $32,648. Typical student debt for clinical, counseling & applied psychology graduates is $25,338. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates of Benedictine University earn a median of $52,276 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $25,338 median debt. Benedictine University admits about 95% of applicants.
Elmhurst College ranked #13 on our 2027 list of the best value clinical, counseling & applied psychology schools. Located in the suburb of Elmhurst, Elmhurst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $42,955. Typical student debt for clinical, counseling & applied psychology graduates is $22,400. Early-career clinical, counseling & applied psychology graduates make about $72,270. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Elmhurst College admits about 74% of applicants.
Mckendree University earned the #14 position for value in clinical, counseling & applied psychology this year. Mckendree University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Lebanon. Students from in state pay about $34,740 in tuition and fees. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates carry a median of $24,362 in student loans. Early-career clinical, counseling & applied psychology graduates make about $51,068. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Wheaton College Illinois landed the #15 spot for clinical, counseling & applied psychology value this year. Wheaton College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Wheaton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,546. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates carry a median of $23,292 in student loans. Soon after graduation, clinical, counseling & applied psychology degree recipients from Wheaton College Illinois generally make around $56,094. That is a strong return on a $23,292 median debt. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Northwestern University landed the #16 spot for clinical, counseling & applied psychology value this year. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,322. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans. Soon after graduation, clinical, counseling & applied psychology degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $43,591. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Northwestern University admits about 8% of applicants.
Depaul University came in at #17 for value in clinical, counseling & applied psychology this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,405. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates carry a median of $25,340 in student loans. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates of Depaul University earn a median of $55,390 early in their careers. Set against $25,340 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Loyola University Chicago placed #18 among the best values for clinical, counseling & applied psychology. Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $53,710. Students borrow a median of $23,521 to complete the clinical, counseling & applied psychology program here. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates of Loyola University Chicago earn a median of $67,469 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,521 median debt. The acceptance rate is 82%.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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.
