2026 Best Value Mental Health Counseling/Counselor Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
[Mental Health Counseling/Counselor](/majors/health-care-professions/mental-social-health-services/mental-health-counseling-counselor/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 8 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value mental health counseling/counselor schools.
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2026 Best Value Mental Health Counseling/Counselor Schools in the Rocky Mountains Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the mental health counseling/counselor degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Mental Health Counseling/Counselor Schools
For return on investment in mental health counseling/counselor, no school beat Utah Valley University this year. Set in the city of Orem, Utah Valley University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $6,507 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,489. Typical student debt for mental health counseling/counselor graduates is $16,478. Soon after graduation, mental health counseling/counselor degree recipients from Utah Valley University generally make around $51,242. Set against $16,478 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Community College Of Denver earned it the #2 place for mental health counseling/counselor. Located in the city of Denver, Community College Of Denver is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,058, compared with $17,658 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $13,541 to complete the mental health counseling/counselor program here. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates of Community College Of Denver earn a median of $45,202 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,541 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Idaho State University earned it the #3 place for mental health counseling/counselor. Set in the city of Pocatello, Idaho State University is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,610, with out-of-state students paying around $27,720. Typical student debt for mental health counseling/counselor graduates is $24,640. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates of Idaho State University earn a median of $43,455 early in their careers. Set against $24,640 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Montana State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in mental health counseling/counselor, landing the #4 spot this year. Montana State University is a large public school located in the city of Bozeman. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,460, compared with $33,287 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for mental health counseling/counselor graduates is $23,635. Soon after graduation, mental health counseling/counselor degree recipients from Montana State University generally make around $47,703. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 82% of applicants are accepted.
Colorado Christian University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value mental health counseling/counselor schools. Set in the suburb of Lakewood, Colorado Christian University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $28,846. Students borrow a median of $36,092 to complete the mental health counseling/counselor program here. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates of Colorado Christian University earn a median of $47,333 early in their careers. Set against $36,092 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Westminster College Utah landed the #6 spot for mental health counseling/counselor value this year. Westminster College Utah is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Salt Lake City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $43,528. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates carry a median of $23,090 in student loans. Early-career mental health counseling/counselor graduates make about $55,433. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 67%.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 8 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 5 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.
