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DEBUG: Checking offer "Clinical Mental Health Counseling (I Have a Bachelors)" with relevance 1
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "Clinical Mental Health Counseling (I Have a Bachelors)" ACCEPTED (relevance 1)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Grad Cert - Mental Health Counseling (I Have a Bachelors)" with relevance 1
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "Grad Cert - Mental Health Counseling (I Have a Bachelors)" ACCEPTED (relevance 1)
DEBUG: Checking offer "" with relevance 1
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DEBUG: Checking offer "BA in Psychology - Mental Health" with relevance 0.9
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DEBUG: Checking offer "Counseling Graduate Certificate Programs (I Have a Bachelors)" with relevance 0.8
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DEBUG: Checking offer "Counseling Bachelors Programs (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.8
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "Counseling Bachelors Programs (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.8)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Counseling Masters Programs (I Have a Bachelors)" with relevance 0.8
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "Counseling Masters Programs (I Have a Bachelors)" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.8)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Counseling PhD Programs (I Have a Masters)" with relevance 0.8
DEBUG: ✓ Offer "Counseling PhD Programs (I Have a Masters)" ACCEPTED (relevance 0.8)
DEBUG: Checking offer "Counselor Education (I Have a Masters)" with relevance 0.8
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DEBUG: Checking offer "DNP - Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (I Have a BSN)" with relevance 0.7
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DEBUG: Checking offer "MSN - Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (I Have a BSN)" with relevance 0.7
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DEBUG: Checking offer "Grad Cert - Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (I Have a MSN)" with relevance 0.7
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DEBUG: Checking offer "DNP - Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (I Have a MSN)" with relevance 0.7
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DEBUG: Checking offer "Psychology EdS Programs (I Have a Masters)" with relevance 0.6
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DEBUG: Checking offer "Psychology PsyD Programs (I Have a Masters)" with relevance 0.6
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DEBUG: Checking offer "Science & Engineering Masters Programs (I Have a Bachelors)" with relevance 0.6
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DEBUG: Checking offer "BSW - Social Work (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.6
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DEBUG: Checking offer "DSW - Social Work (I Have a Masters)" with relevance 0.6
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DEBUG: Checking offer "MSW - Social Work (I Have a Bachelors)" with relevance 0.6
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DEBUG: Checking offer "PhD - Social Work (I Have a Masters)" with relevance 0.6
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DEBUG: Checking offer "Social Work & Social Sciences Bachelors Programs (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.6
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DEBUG: Checking offer "Social Work & Social Sciences Doctorate Programs (I Have a Masters)" with relevance 0.6
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DEBUG: Checking offer "General Psychology (I Have a HS Diploma or Associate Degree)" with relevance 0.5
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DEBUG: Checking offer "General Psychology (I Have a Bachelors)" with relevance 0.5
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DEBUG: Checking offer "General Psychology (I Have a Masters)" with relevance 0.5
DEBUG: ✗ Offer "General Psychology (I Have a Masters)" REJECTED (relevance 0.5)
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DEBUG: ESYOH filtering - found 7 ESYOH offers with relevance >= 0.8
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DEBUG: ESYOH offers found, rendering ESYOH widget
DEBUG: most_relevant_only = true, filtering for most relevant
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2026 Best Value Mental Health Counseling/Counselor Schools in Arizona
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
Rio Salado College earned the #1 spot for value among mental health counseling/counselor schools in Arizona. Set in the city of Tempe, Rio Salado College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,358, while out-of-state students pay about $8,958. Students borrow a median of $13,679 to complete the mental health counseling/counselor program here. Early-career mental health counseling/counselor graduates make about $48,564. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Chandler Gilbert Community College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in mental health counseling/counselor, landing the #2 spot this year. Chandler Gilbert Community College is a large public school located in the city of Chandler. In-state tuition and fees average $2,358, while out-of-state students pay about $8,959. Students borrow a median of $10,447 to complete the mental health counseling/counselor program here. Soon after graduation, mental health counseling/counselor degree recipients from Chandler Gilbert Community College generally make around $46,943. Set against $10,447 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Mesa Community College earned it the #3 place for mental health counseling/counselor. Set in the city of Mesa, Mesa Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,358, while out-of-state students pay about $8,959. Typical student debt for mental health counseling/counselor graduates is $13,750. Early-career mental health counseling/counselor graduates make about $54,730. That is a strong return on a $13,750 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in mental health counseling/counselor will find it at University Of Phoenix Arizona, which ranked #4. University Of Phoenix Arizona is a very large private for-profit school located in the city of Phoenix. Students from in state pay about $9,552 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for mental health counseling/counselor graduates is $35,323. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates of University Of Phoenix Arizona earn a median of $58,837 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $35,323 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Northern Arizona University earned it the #5 place for mental health counseling/counselor. Northern Arizona University is a very large public school located in the city of Flagstaff. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,619, compared with $20,044 for out-of-state students. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates carry a median of $21,645 in student loans. Soon after graduation, mental health counseling/counselor degree recipients from Northern Arizona University generally make around $47,056. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
ADBLOCK #101
University Of Arizona ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value mental health counseling/counselor schools. Located in the city of Tucson, University Of Arizona is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,573, with out-of-state students paying around $39,903. Typical student debt for mental health counseling/counselor graduates is $24,000. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates of University Of Arizona earn a median of $43,177 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,000 median debt. University Of Arizona admits about 86% of applicants.
Prescott College earned the #7 position for value in mental health counseling/counselor this year. Located in the city of Prescott, Prescott College is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,490. Students borrow a median of $27,230 to complete the mental health counseling/counselor program here. Soon after graduation, mental health counseling/counselor degree recipients from Prescott College generally make around $42,966. That is a strong return on a $27,230 median debt. The acceptance rate is 94%.
Grand Canyon University landed the #8 spot for mental health counseling/counselor value this year. Set in the city of Phoenix, Grand Canyon University is a very large private for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,508. Typical student debt for mental health counseling/counselor graduates is $39,560. Early-career mental health counseling/counselor graduates make about $47,062. Set against $39,560 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Grand Canyon University admits about 79% of applicants.
[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. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong mental health counseling/counselor education at a price that pays off.
