2026 Best Value Mental Health Counseling/Counselor Schools in the Far Western Region
[Mental Health Counseling/Counselor](/majors/health-care-professions/mental-social-health-services/mental-health-counseling-counselor/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
College Factual analyzed 24 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value mental health counseling/counselor schools.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Mental Health Counseling/Counselor Schools in the Far Western Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in mental health counseling/counselor, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Mental Health Counseling/Counselor Schools
For return on investment in mental health counseling/counselor, no school beat Skagit Valley College this year. Skagit Valley College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Mount Vernon. In-state tuition and fees average $5,400, compared with $7,410 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $14,056 to complete the mental health counseling/counselor program here. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates of Skagit Valley College earn a median of $34,290 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in mental health counseling/counselor will find it at Highline Community College, which ranked #2. Set in the suburb of Des Moines, Highline Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,772 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $5,332. Typical student debt for mental health counseling/counselor graduates is $8,958. Soon after graduation, mental health counseling/counselor degree recipients from Highline Community College generally make around $55,459. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Olympic College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value mental health counseling/counselor schools. Olympic College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Bremerton. Students from in state pay about $4,472 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,740. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates carry a median of $11,497 in student loans. Soon after graduation, mental health counseling/counselor degree recipients from Olympic College generally make around $57,593. Set against $11,497 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at San Francisco State University earned it the #4 place for mental health counseling/counselor. Set in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,846, while out-of-state students pay about $20,446. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates carry a median of $17,024 in student loans. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates of San Francisco State University earn a median of $59,756 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in mental health counseling/counselor will find it at Southern Oregon University, which ranked #5. Southern Oregon University is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Ashland. In-state tuition and fees average $12,762, while out-of-state students pay about $31,887. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates carry a median of $24,951 in student loans. Soon after graduation, mental health counseling/counselor degree recipients from Southern Oregon University generally make around $54,251. That is a strong return on a $24,951 median debt. Southern Oregon University admits about 89% of applicants.
University Of Redlands landed the #6 spot for mental health counseling/counselor value this year. Located in the city of Redlands, University Of Redlands is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $60,878. Typical student debt for mental health counseling/counselor graduates is $27,175. Early-career mental health counseling/counselor graduates make about $60,273. That is a strong return on a $27,175 median debt. The acceptance rate is 83%.
Northwest Christian University landed the #7 spot for mental health counseling/counselor value this year. Located in the city of Eugene, Northwest Christian University is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $35,800. Typical student debt for mental health counseling/counselor graduates is $25,735. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates of Northwest Christian University earn a median of $62,860 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 67%.
Northwest University came in at #8 for value in mental health counseling/counselor this year. Northwest University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Kirkland. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $36,035. Students borrow a median of $22,439 to complete the mental health counseling/counselor program here. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates of Northwest University earn a median of $53,910 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
Faith Evangelical College And Seminary came in at #9 for value in mental health counseling/counselor this year. Faith Evangelical College And Seminary is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Tacoma. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,850. Typical student debt for mental health counseling/counselor graduates is $17,813. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates of Faith Evangelical College And Seminary earn a median of $42,103 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northwest University College Of Adult And Professional Studies earned the #10 position for value in mental health counseling/counselor this year. Located in the suburb of Kirkland, Northwest University College Of Adult And Professional Studies is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $14,652 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $22,366 to complete the mental health counseling/counselor program here. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates of Northwest University College Of Adult And Professional Studies earn a median of $51,541 early in their careers. Set against $22,366 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System landed the #11 spot for mental health counseling/counselor value this year. Set in the suburb of Aliso Viejo, Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,540. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates carry a median of $27,471 in student loans. Soon after graduation, mental health counseling/counselor degree recipients from Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System generally make around $65,898. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lewis And Clark College came in at #12 for value in mental health counseling/counselor this year. Lewis And Clark College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Portland. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $64,828. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates carry a median of $23,301 in student loans. Soon after graduation, mental health counseling/counselor degree recipients from Lewis And Clark College generally make around $52,558. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 78%.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 24 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
