2027 Best Value Mental Health Counseling/Counselor Schools in Missouri

[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.
For its 2027 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 5 schools to find the best return on investment for mental health counseling/counselor students.
What’s on this page:
2027 Best Value Mental Health Counseling/Counselor Schools in Missouri
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
Our analysis ranked Drury University College Of Continuing Professional Studies the best value for a degree in mental health counseling/counselor in Missouri. Located in the city of Springfield, Drury University College Of Continuing Professional Studies is a small private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $8,054 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for mental health counseling/counselor graduates is $26,560. Early-career mental health counseling/counselor graduates make about $33,881. Set against $26,560 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #2 makes University Of Missouri Kansas City one of the best values for mental health counseling/counselor. Set in the city of Kansas City, University Of Missouri Kansas City is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $13,371 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $32,271. Students borrow a median of $23,741 to complete the mental health counseling/counselor program here. Soon after graduation, mental health counseling/counselor degree recipients from University Of Missouri Kansas City generally make around $60,324. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Missouri Kansas City admits about 72% of applicants.
A rank of #3 makes Lindenwood University one of the best values for mental health counseling/counselor. Lindenwood University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Charles. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,600. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates carry a median of $28,663 in student loans. Early-career mental health counseling/counselor graduates make about $43,878. Set against $28,663 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Lindenwood University admits about 57% of applicants.
Culver Stockton College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in mental health counseling/counselor, landing the #4 spot this year. Culver Stockton College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Canton. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $30,875. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates carry a median of $27,252 in student loans. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates of Culver Stockton College earn a median of $38,725 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Culver Stockton College admits about 99% of applicants.
Missouri Baptist University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in mental health counseling/counselor, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the suburb of Saint Louis, Missouri Baptist University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $33,122. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates carry a median of $27,337 in student loans. Soon after graduation, mental health counseling/counselor degree recipients from Missouri Baptist University generally make around $45,270. That is a strong return on a $27,337 median debt. The acceptance rate is 69%.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 5 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.