2026 Best Value Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology Schools in Pennsylvania
[Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology](/majors/psychology/clinical-counseling-applied-psychology/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 57 schools to find the best return on investment for clinical, counseling & applied psychology students.
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2026 Best Value Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology Schools in Pennsylvania
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in clinical, counseling & applied psychology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology Schools
Northampton County Area Community College tops our 2026 list of the best value clinical, counseling & applied psychology schools in Pennsylvania. Northampton County Area Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Bethlehem. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,550, with out-of-state students paying around $15,270. Students borrow a median of $18,900 to complete the clinical, counseling & applied psychology program here. Soon after graduation, clinical, counseling & applied psychology degree recipients from Northampton County Area Community College generally make around $35,960. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #2 makes Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus one of the best values for clinical, counseling & applied psychology. Located in the town of Indiana, Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,380, while out-of-state students pay about $16,297. Typical student debt for clinical, counseling & applied psychology graduates is $26,513. Soon after graduation, clinical, counseling & applied psychology degree recipients from Indiana University Of Pennsylvania Main Campus generally make around $68,244. That is a strong return on a $26,513 median debt. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Holy Family University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value clinical, counseling & applied psychology schools. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Holy Family University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $35,330. Students borrow a median of $26,562 to complete the clinical, counseling & applied psychology program here. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates of Holy Family University earn a median of $50,692 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Holy Family University admits about 71% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Pennsylvania Western University earned it the #4 place for clinical, counseling & applied psychology. Set in the town of California, Pennsylvania Western University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,436, with out-of-state students paying around $16,054. Median earnings reach $47,295 ten years out. Pennsylvania Western University admits about 94% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania earned it the #5 place for clinical, counseling & applied psychology. Located in the town of Slippery Rock, Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,568, compared with $14,676 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,330 to complete the clinical, counseling & applied psychology program here. Early-career clinical, counseling & applied psychology graduates make about $42,731. Set against $26,330 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Millersville University Of Pennsylvania placed #6 among the best values for clinical, counseling & applied psychology. Millersville University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Millersville. Students from in state pay about $11,128 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,952. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates carry a median of $26,486 in student loans. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates of Millersville University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $47,049 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
La Salle University came in at #7 for value in clinical, counseling & applied psychology this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, La Salle University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $37,800. Typical student debt for clinical, counseling & applied psychology graduates is $25,462. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates of La Salle University earn a median of $62,148 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Rosemont College placed #8 among the best values for clinical, counseling & applied psychology. Set in the suburb of Rosemont, Rosemont College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $23,854. Students borrow a median of $29,211 to complete the clinical, counseling & applied psychology program here. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates of Rosemont College earn a median of $48,735 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania placed #9 among the best values for clinical, counseling & applied psychology. Located in the town of Kutztown, Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,206, with out-of-state students paying around $16,330. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates carry a median of $26,867 in student loans. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates of Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $43,166 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,867 median debt. The acceptance rate is 91%.
West Chester University Of Pennsylvania placed #10 among the best values for clinical, counseling & applied psychology. West Chester University Of Pennsylvania is a large public school located in the suburb of West Chester. Students from in state pay about $10,775 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,599 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $61,258 ten years out. Roughly 78% of applicants are accepted.
Geneva College placed #11 among the best values for clinical, counseling & applied psychology. Located in the suburb of Beaver Falls, Geneva College is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $33,450 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for clinical, counseling & applied psychology graduates is $26,396. Early-career clinical, counseling & applied psychology graduates make about $43,369. Set against $26,396 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Albright College came in at #12 for value in clinical, counseling & applied psychology this year. Located in the city of Reading, Albright College is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $29,082 in tuition and fees. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates carry a median of $39,762 in student loans. Soon after graduation, clinical, counseling & applied psychology degree recipients from Albright College generally make around $48,838. That is a strong return on a $39,762 median debt. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Keystone College landed the #13 spot for clinical, counseling & applied psychology value this year. Located in the suburb of La Plume, Keystone College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $18,300. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the clinical, counseling & applied psychology program here. Soon after graduation, clinical, counseling & applied psychology degree recipients from Keystone College generally make around $25,974. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. Keystone College admits about 85% of applicants.
Marywood University came in at #14 for value in clinical, counseling & applied psychology this year. Marywood University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Scranton. Students from in state pay about $41,420 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,744 to complete the clinical, counseling & applied psychology program here. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates of Marywood University earn a median of $45,851 early in their careers. Set against $27,744 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Pennsylvania State University Penn State Harrisburg earned the #15 position for value in clinical, counseling & applied psychology this year. Set in the suburb of Middletown, Pennsylvania State University Penn State Harrisburg is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,972, compared with $26,958 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $63,435 ten years after entry. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania landed the #16 spot for clinical, counseling & applied psychology value this year. Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Shippensburg. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,570, with out-of-state students paying around $15,824. Typical student debt for clinical, counseling & applied psychology graduates is $26,307. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates of Shippensburg University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $46,912 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,307 median debt. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Point Park University came in at #17 for value in clinical, counseling & applied psychology this year. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Point Park University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $39,570. Students borrow a median of $28,323 to complete the clinical, counseling & applied psychology program here. Soon after graduation, clinical, counseling & applied psychology degree recipients from Point Park University generally make around $40,759. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Point Park University admits about 97% of applicants.
Chatham University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value clinical, counseling & applied psychology schools. Chatham University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Pittsburgh. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $45,001. Typical student debt for clinical, counseling & applied psychology graduates is $24,261. Soon after graduation, clinical, counseling & applied psychology degree recipients from Chatham University generally make around $38,037. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 62% of applicants are accepted.
Arcadia University came in at #19 for value in clinical, counseling & applied psychology this year. Arcadia University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Glenside. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $49,610. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates carry a median of $26,921 in student loans. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates of Arcadia University earn a median of $50,655 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Eastern University landed the #20 spot for clinical, counseling & applied psychology value this year. Set in the suburb of Saint Davids, Eastern University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $38,400. Students borrow a median of $28,584 to complete the clinical, counseling & applied psychology program here. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates of Eastern University earn a median of $44,946 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Eastern University admits about 91% of applicants.
Gwynedd Mercy College came in at #21 for value in clinical, counseling & applied psychology this year. Gwynedd Mercy College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Gwynedd Valley. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $40,838. Students borrow a median of $29,764 to complete the clinical, counseling & applied psychology program here. Soon after graduation, clinical, counseling & applied psychology degree recipients from Gwynedd Mercy College generally make around $65,243. Set against $29,764 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Lebanon Valley College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best value clinical, counseling & applied psychology schools. Lebanon Valley College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Annville. Students from in state pay about $52,080 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for clinical, counseling & applied psychology graduates is $26,767. Soon after graduation, clinical, counseling & applied psychology degree recipients from Lebanon Valley College generally make around $49,801. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Lebanon Valley College admits about 84% of applicants.
Delaware Valley College earned the #23 position for value in clinical, counseling & applied psychology this year. Located in the suburb of Doylestown, Delaware Valley College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $44,850. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates of Delaware Valley College earn a median of $36,737 early in their careers. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Delaware Valley College admits about 93% of applicants.
Temple University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best value clinical, counseling & applied psychology schools. Temple University is a very large public school located in the city of Philadelphia. Students from in state pay about $23,005 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $38,805. Typical student debt for clinical, counseling & applied psychology graduates is $26,259. Soon after graduation, clinical, counseling & applied psychology degree recipients from Temple University generally make around $55,074. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 80%.
Thomas Jefferson University landed the #25 spot for clinical, counseling & applied psychology value this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Thomas Jefferson University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $47,355. Typical student debt for clinical, counseling & applied psychology graduates is $47,976. Early-career clinical, counseling & applied psychology graduates make about $46,828. Set against $47,976 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Rest of the Top 36 Best Value Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s clinical, counseling & applied psychology value ranking:
More Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology Rankings
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 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 · 57 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 25 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.
