2026 Best Value Mental Health Counseling/Counselor Schools in Ohio
[Mental Health Counseling/Counselor](/majors/health-care-professions/mental-social-health-services/mental-health-counseling-counselor/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 20 schools to find the best return on investment for mental health counseling/counselor students.
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2026 Best Value Mental Health Counseling/Counselor Schools in Ohio
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
Sinclair Community College earned the #1 spot for value among mental health counseling/counselor schools in Ohio. Set in the city of Dayton, Sinclair Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,675, compared with $8,556 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,613 to complete the mental health counseling/counselor program here. Soon after graduation, mental health counseling/counselor degree recipients from Sinclair Community College generally make around $29,812. That is a strong return on a $13,613 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Columbus State Community College earned it the #2 place for mental health counseling/counselor. Columbus State Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Columbus. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,488, while out-of-state students pay about $11,224. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates carry a median of $9,041 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $39,435 ten years after entry. Set against $9,041 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Youngstown State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in mental health counseling/counselor, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Youngstown, Youngstown State University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,926, compared with $10,286 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for mental health counseling/counselor graduates is $26,373. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates of Youngstown State University earn a median of $49,025 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,373 median debt. The acceptance rate is 84%.
University Of Akron Main Campus came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value mental health counseling/counselor schools. Set in the city of Akron, University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,135, while out-of-state students pay about $20,815. Students borrow a median of $25,347 to complete the mental health counseling/counselor program here. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates of University Of Akron Main Campus earn a median of $45,096 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Akron Main Campus admits about 60% of applicants.
Wright State University Main Campus came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value mental health counseling/counselor schools. Set in the suburb of Dayton, Wright State University Main Campus is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $10,991, compared with $20,691 for out-of-state students. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates carry a median of $25,836 in student loans. Soon after graduation, mental health counseling/counselor degree recipients from Wright State University Main Campus generally make around $49,077. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Cleveland State University landed the #6 spot for mental health counseling/counselor value this year. Set in the city of Cleveland, Cleveland State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,982, compared with $18,502 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for mental health counseling/counselor graduates is $26,336. Soon after graduation, mental health counseling/counselor degree recipients from Cleveland State University generally make around $49,648. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Ursuline College earned the #7 position for value in mental health counseling/counselor this year. Ursuline College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Pepper Pike. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,990. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates carry a median of $35,000 in student loans. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates of Ursuline College earn a median of $80,267 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $35,000 median debt. Ursuline College admits about 75% of applicants.
Kent State University At Kent placed #8 among the best values for mental health counseling/counselor. Located in the suburb of Kent, Kent State University At Kent is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,220, with out-of-state students paying around $21,575. Students borrow a median of $25,174 to complete the mental health counseling/counselor program here. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates of Kent State University At Kent earn a median of $43,393 early in their careers. Set against $25,174 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Kent State University At Kent admits about 86% of applicants.
Ohio University Main Campus placed #9 among the best values for mental health counseling/counselor. Set in the town of Athens, Ohio University Main Campus is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $14,158, with out-of-state students paying around $24,838. Typical student debt for mental health counseling/counselor graduates is $26,000. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates of Ohio University Main Campus earn a median of $40,516 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Ohio University Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants.
Walsh University placed #10 among the best values for mental health counseling/counselor. Set in the suburb of North Canton, Walsh University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $33,030. Students borrow a median of $28,064 to complete the mental health counseling/counselor program here. Soon after graduation, mental health counseling/counselor degree recipients from Walsh University generally make around $53,629. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 71%.
Bowling Green State University Main Campus came in at #11 for value in mental health counseling/counselor this year. Located in the town of Bowling Green, Bowling Green State University Main Campus is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $13,912 in tuition and fees, compared with $21,900 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for mental health counseling/counselor graduates is $25,449. Soon after graduation, mental health counseling/counselor degree recipients from Bowling Green State University Main Campus generally make around $44,649. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 81%.
Heidelberg University earned the #12 position for value in mental health counseling/counselor this year. Set in the town of Tiffin, Heidelberg University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $33,600. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the mental health counseling/counselor program here. Soon after graduation, mental health counseling/counselor degree recipients from Heidelberg University generally make around $42,334. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Heidelberg University admits about 86% of applicants.
Malone University earned the #13 position for value in mental health counseling/counselor this year. Located in the city of Canton, Malone University is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $37,160. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates carry a median of $27,956 in student loans. Early-career mental health counseling/counselor graduates make about $48,359. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
University Of Cincinnati Main Campus earned the #14 position for value in mental health counseling/counselor this year. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Cincinnati. Students from in state pay about $13,363 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $28,697. Students borrow a median of $53,508 to complete the mental health counseling/counselor program here. Soon after graduation, mental health counseling/counselor degree recipients from University Of Cincinnati Main Campus generally make around $46,689. Set against $53,508 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Cincinnati Main Campus admits about 85% of applicants.
Capital University placed #15 among the best values for mental health counseling/counselor. Capital University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Columbus. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $43,234. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates carry a median of $28,269 in student loans. Soon after graduation, mental health counseling/counselor degree recipients from Capital University generally make around $46,516. Set against $28,269 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 70%.
John Carroll University earned the #16 position for value in mental health counseling/counselor this year. John Carroll University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of University Heights. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $50,500. Typical student debt for mental health counseling/counselor graduates is $26,131. Early-career mental health counseling/counselor graduates make about $47,866. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 81%.
University Of Dayton came in at #17 for value in mental health counseling/counselor this year. Located in the city of Dayton, University Of Dayton is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $49,140. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates carry a median of $25,033 in student loans. Soon after graduation, mental health counseling/counselor degree recipients from University Of Dayton generally make around $42,415. Set against $25,033 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 65%.
Xavier University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value mental health counseling/counselor schools. Set in the city of Cincinnati, Xavier University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $49,425. Typical student debt for mental health counseling/counselor graduates is $26,614. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates of Xavier University earn a median of $47,839 early in their careers. Set against $26,614 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
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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 · 20 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 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.
