2026 Best Value Mental Health Counseling/Counselor Schools in the New England Region
[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 34 schools to find the best return on investment for mental health counseling/counselor students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Mental Health Counseling/Counselor Schools in the New England 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 Middlesex Community College Bedford this year. Middlesex Community College Bedford is a large public school located in the suburb of Bedford. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,098, compared with $12,170 for out-of-state students. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates carry a median of $11,602 in student loans. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates of Middlesex Community College Bedford earn a median of $48,427 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northern Essex Community College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value mental health counseling/counselor schools. Northern Essex Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Haverhill. Students from in state pay about $6,732 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,516. Students borrow a median of $12,033 to complete the mental health counseling/counselor program here. Soon after graduation, mental health counseling/counselor degree recipients from Northern Essex Community College generally make around $27,799. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rhode Island College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value mental health counseling/counselor schools. Located in the suburb of Providence, Rhode Island College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,300 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $27,299. Typical student debt for mental health counseling/counselor graduates is $27,000. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates of Rhode Island College earn a median of $41,255 early in their careers. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 92%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Fitchburg State University earned it the #4 place for mental health counseling/counselor. Set in the suburb of Fitchburg, Fitchburg State University is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,346, while out-of-state students pay about $17,426. Typical student debt for mental health counseling/counselor graduates is $25,840. Early-career mental health counseling/counselor graduates make about $51,168. That is a strong return on a $25,840 median debt. Fitchburg State University admits about 87% of applicants.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Massachusetts Boston earned it the #5 place for mental health counseling/counselor. University Of Massachusetts Boston is a large public school located in the city of Boston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,898, compared with $38,115 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for mental health counseling/counselor graduates is $26,236. Soon after graduation, mental health counseling/counselor degree recipients from University Of Massachusetts Boston generally make around $54,309. Set against $26,236 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Massachusetts Boston admits about 84% of applicants.
University Of Maine At Augusta ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value mental health counseling/counselor schools. University Of Maine At Augusta is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Augusta. In-state tuition and fees average $8,888, compared with $22,178 for out-of-state students. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates carry a median of $35,115 in student loans. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates of University Of Maine At Augusta earn a median of $39,109 early in their careers. Set against $35,115 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Plymouth State University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value mental health counseling/counselor schools. Plymouth State University is a mid-sized public school located in the town of Plymouth. In-state tuition and fees average $14,626, with out-of-state students paying around $25,566. Typical student debt for mental health counseling/counselor graduates is $26,972. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates of Plymouth State University earn a median of $45,528 early in their careers. Set against $26,972 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Plymouth State University admits about 88% of applicants.
Vermont Technical College placed #8 among the best values for mental health counseling/counselor. Set in the rural area of Randolph, Vermont Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,952 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,296. Students borrow a median of $24,208 to complete the mental health counseling/counselor program here. Early-career mental health counseling/counselor graduates make about $41,822. Set against $24,208 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Southern Connecticut State University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value mental health counseling/counselor schools. Located in the city of New Haven, Southern Connecticut State University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,442, compared with $16,942 for out-of-state students. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates carry a median of $24,660 in student loans. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates of Southern Connecticut State University earn a median of $54,415 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Springfield College earned the #10 position for value in mental health counseling/counselor this year. Set in the city of Springfield, Springfield College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $44,974. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates carry a median of $27,151 in student loans. Early-career mental health counseling/counselor graduates make about $49,880. Set against $27,151 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Springfield College admits about 72% of applicants.
Rivier College landed the #11 spot for mental health counseling/counselor value this year. Set in the city of Nashua, Rivier College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $39,488. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates carry a median of $28,917 in student loans. Soon after graduation, mental health counseling/counselor degree recipients from Rivier College generally make around $52,060. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Rivier College admits about 83% of applicants.
Suffolk University came in at #12 for value in mental health counseling/counselor this year. Located in the city of Boston, Suffolk University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $47,550 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,670 to complete the mental health counseling/counselor program here. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates of Suffolk University earn a median of $50,911 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 82%.
Lesley University earned the #13 position for value in mental health counseling/counselor this year. Set in the city of Cambridge, Lesley University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,256. Students borrow a median of $24,818 to complete the mental health counseling/counselor program here. Early-career mental health counseling/counselor graduates make about $47,290. That is a strong return on a $24,818 median debt. Lesley University admits about 97% of applicants.
New England College earned the #14 position for value in mental health counseling/counselor this year. New England College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Henniker. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $27,474. Students borrow a median of $35,038 to complete the mental health counseling/counselor program here. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates of New England College earn a median of $68,950 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Johnson And Wales University Providence placed #15 among the best values for mental health counseling/counselor. Johnson And Wales University Providence is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Providence. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $41,982. Typical student debt for mental health counseling/counselor graduates is $26,350. Soon after graduation, mental health counseling/counselor degree recipients from Johnson And Wales University Providence generally make around $51,138. That is a strong return on a $26,350 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Southern New Hampshire University came in at #16 for value in mental health counseling/counselor this year. Set in the suburb of Manchester, Southern New Hampshire University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $17,200. Typical student debt for mental health counseling/counselor graduates is $33,428. Early-career mental health counseling/counselor graduates make about $48,017. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 100%.
Albertus Magnus College earned the #17 position for value in mental health counseling/counselor this year. Set in the city of New Haven, Albertus Magnus College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $41,908. Students borrow a median of $36,919 to complete the mental health counseling/counselor program here. Soon after graduation, mental health counseling/counselor degree recipients from Albertus Magnus College generally make around $50,188. That is a strong return on a $36,919 median debt. Roughly 59% of applicants are accepted.
University Of New Haven ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value mental health counseling/counselor schools. Located in the suburb of West Haven, University Of New Haven is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $47,332. Students borrow a median of $26,244 to complete the mental health counseling/counselor program here. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates of University Of New Haven earn a median of $49,615 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 60%.
Merrimack College came in at #19 for value in mental health counseling/counselor this year. Located in the suburb of North Andover, Merrimack College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $53,962. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates carry a median of $26,913 in student loans. Early-career mental health counseling/counselor graduates make about $50,506. That is a strong return on a $26,913 median debt. Merrimack College admits about 70% of applicants.
Sacred Heart University earned the #20 position for value in mental health counseling/counselor this year. Sacred Heart University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Fairfield. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $50,404. Typical student debt for mental health counseling/counselor graduates is $25,831. Soon after graduation, mental health counseling/counselor degree recipients from Sacred Heart University generally make around $62,864. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 65%.
Fairfield University came in at #21 for value in mental health counseling/counselor this year. Set in the suburb of Fairfield, Fairfield University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $58,400. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates carry a median of $26,687 in student loans. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates of Fairfield University earn a median of $52,092 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,687 median debt. The acceptance rate is 33%.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 34 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 17 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.
