2026 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/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 7 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 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
Drury University College Of Continuing Professional Studies earned the #1 spot for value among mental health counseling/counselor schools 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 $26,305. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates of Drury University College Of Continuing Professional Studies earn a median of $33,880 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,305 median debt.
Lindenwood University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value mental health counseling/counselor schools. Set in the city of Saint Charles, Lindenwood University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $21,600 in tuition and fees. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates carry a median of $28,663 in student loans. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates of Lindenwood University earn a median of $43,878 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $28,663 median debt. Roughly 57% of applicants are accepted.
Missouri Baptist University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in mental health counseling/counselor, landing the #3 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. Students borrow a median of $27,337 to complete the mental health counseling/counselor program here. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates of Missouri Baptist University earn a median of $45,270 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 7 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 2 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.
