2027 Best Value Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology Schools in Missouri

[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.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 13 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for clinical, counseling & applied psychology students.
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2027 Best Value Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology Schools in Missouri
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
Missouri Southern State University earned the #1 spot for value among clinical, counseling & applied psychology schools in Missouri. Set in the city of Joplin, Missouri Southern State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,600, while out-of-state students pay about $18,300. Students borrow a median of $22,241 to complete the clinical, counseling & applied psychology program here. Early-career clinical, counseling & applied psychology graduates make about $39,434. That is a strong return on a $22,241 median debt. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Central Missouri earned it the #2 place for clinical, counseling & applied psychology. Set in the town of Warrensburg, University Of Central Missouri is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,050, with out-of-state students paying around $18,600. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates carry a median of $24,304 in student loans. Soon after graduation, clinical, counseling & applied psychology degree recipients from University Of Central Missouri generally make around $49,762. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Missouri St Louis one of the best values for clinical, counseling & applied psychology. University Of Missouri St Louis is a large public school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. Students from in state pay about $15,120 in tuition and fees, compared with $37,620 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for clinical, counseling & applied psychology graduates is $25,943. Soon after graduation, clinical, counseling & applied psychology degree recipients from University Of Missouri St Louis generally make around $56,723. Set against $25,943 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in clinical, counseling & applied psychology will find it at Southeast Missouri State University, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Cape Girardeau, Southeast Missouri State University is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,903. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates carry a median of $23,289 in student loans. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates of Southeast Missouri State University earn a median of $57,595 early in their careers. Set against $23,289 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
Central Methodist University College Of Graduate And Extended Studies came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value clinical, counseling & applied psychology schools. 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 clinical, counseling & applied psychology program here. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates of Central Methodist University College Of Graduate And Extended Studies earn a median of $36,918 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Central Methodist University College Of Graduate And Extended Studies admits about 88% of applicants.
Missouri University Of Science And Technology landed the #6 spot for clinical, counseling & applied psychology value this year. Set in the town of Rolla, Missouri University Of Science And Technology is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,984, while out-of-state students pay about $33,248. Students borrow a median of $25,187 to complete the clinical, counseling & applied psychology program here. Soon after graduation, clinical, counseling & applied psychology degree recipients from Missouri University Of Science And Technology generally make around $74,532. That is a strong return on a $25,187 median debt. The acceptance rate is 72%.
Avila University came in at #7 for value in clinical, counseling & applied psychology this year. Set in the city of Kansas City, Avila University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $40,200. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates carry a median of $29,750 in student loans. Soon after graduation, clinical, counseling & applied psychology degree recipients from Avila University generally make around $56,895. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Avila University admits about 88% of applicants.
Missouri State University Springfield ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value clinical, counseling & applied psychology schools. Located in the city of Springfield, Missouri State University Springfield is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $9,502 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,770 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,408 to complete the clinical, counseling & applied psychology program here. Soon after graduation, clinical, counseling & applied psychology degree recipients from Missouri State University Springfield generally make around $46,503. That is a strong return on a $24,408 median debt. Roughly 90% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Missouri Columbia placed #9 among the best values for clinical, counseling & applied psychology. University Of Missouri Columbia is a very large public school located in the city of Columbia. Students from in state pay about $14,837 in tuition and fees, compared with $36,056 for out-of-state students. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates carry a median of $21,818 in student loans. Soon after graduation, clinical, counseling & applied psychology degree recipients from University Of Missouri Columbia generally make around $53,134. Set against $21,818 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Missouri Columbia admits about 78% of applicants.
Evangel University landed the #10 spot for clinical, counseling & applied psychology value this year. Located in the city of Springfield, Evangel University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $28,548. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates carry a median of $24,876 in student loans. Early-career clinical, counseling & applied psychology graduates make about $50,113. That is a strong return on a $24,876 median debt. Evangel University admits about 72% of applicants.
Maryville University Of Saint Louis landed the #11 spot for clinical, counseling & applied psychology value this year. Maryville University Of Saint Louis is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Louis. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $27,166. Typical student debt for clinical, counseling & applied psychology graduates is $24,499. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates of Maryville University Of Saint Louis earn a median of $67,909 early in their careers. Set against $24,499 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 95% of applicants are accepted.
Saint Louis University Main Campus landed the #12 spot for clinical, counseling & applied psychology value this year. Saint Louis University Main Campus is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Louis. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $55,760. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates carry a median of $26,586 in student loans. Early-career clinical, counseling & applied psychology graduates make about $62,182. Set against $26,586 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 75% of applicants are accepted.
Webster University landed the #13 spot for clinical, counseling & applied psychology value this year. Set in the suburb of Saint Louis, Webster University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $31,750. Typical student debt for clinical, counseling & applied psychology graduates is $25,939. Early-career clinical, counseling & applied psychology graduates make about $42,026. That is a strong return on a $25,939 median debt. Webster University admits about 86% of applicants.
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Notes and References
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 · 13 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.