2026 Best Value Mental & Social Health Services Schools in Illinois
[Mental & Social Health Services](/majors/health-care-professions/mental-social-health-services/) 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 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 37 schools to find the best return on investment for mental & social health services students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Mental & Social Health Services Schools in Illinois
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the mental & social health services degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Mental & Social Health Services Schools
For return on investment in mental & social health services, no school beat Elgin Community College this year. Elgin Community College is a large public school located in the city of Elgin. In-state tuition and fees average $3,252, while out-of-state students pay about $9,516. Students borrow a median of $7,727 to complete the mental & social health services program here. Mental & Social Health Services graduates of Elgin Community College earn a median of $43,975 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College earned it the #2 place for mental & social health services. Set in the city of Chicago, City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,590, compared with $15,150 for out-of-state students. Mental & Social Health Services graduates carry a median of $7,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, mental & social health services degree recipients from City Colleges Of Chicago Richard J Daley College generally make around $33,326. That is a strong return on a $7,500 median debt.
City Colleges Of Chicago Malcolm X College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in mental & social health services, landing the #3 spot this year. City Colleges Of Chicago Malcolm X College is a large public school located in the city of Chicago. Students from in state pay about $4,590 in tuition and fees, compared with $15,150 for out-of-state students. Mental & Social Health Services graduates carry a median of $12,272 in student loans. Early-career mental & social health services graduates make about $38,982. That is a strong return on a $12,272 median debt.
College Of Dupage is a great value for students pursuing a degree in mental & social health services, landing the #4 spot this year. College Of Dupage is a very large public school located in the suburb of Glen Ellyn. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,560, with out-of-state students paying around $12,750. Typical student debt for mental & social health services graduates is $12,492. Mental & Social Health Services graduates of College Of Dupage earn a median of $43,025 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #5 makes City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College one of the best values for mental & social health services. City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $4,590, with out-of-state students paying around $15,150. Students borrow a median of $10,250 to complete the mental & social health services program here. Soon after graduation, mental & social health services degree recipients from City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College generally make around $48,264. Set against $10,250 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Parkland College landed the #6 spot for mental & social health services value this year. Parkland College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Champaign. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,284, compared with $13,266 for out-of-state students. Mental & Social Health Services graduates carry a median of $10,168 in student loans. Early-career mental & social health services graduates make about $40,409. Set against $10,168 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Heartland Community College earned the #7 position for value in mental & social health services this year. Set in the suburb of Normal, Heartland Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,550 in tuition and fees, compared with $13,110 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for mental & social health services graduates is $13,266. Mental & Social Health Services graduates of Heartland Community College earn a median of $48,710 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Governors State University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value mental & social health services schools. Located in the suburb of University Park, Governors State University is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,004. Students borrow a median of $24,990 to complete the mental & social health services program here. Early-career mental & social health services graduates make about $44,369. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 48%.
Northern Illinois University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value mental & social health services schools. Located in the suburb of Dekalb, Northern Illinois University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,060. Mental & Social Health Services graduates carry a median of $29,804 in student loans. Soon after graduation, mental & social health services degree recipients from Northern Illinois University generally make around $41,139. Set against $29,804 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Northern Illinois University admits about 70% of applicants.
Northeastern Illinois University came in at #10 for value in mental & social health services this year. Northeastern Illinois University is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Chicago. In-state tuition and fees average $12,383, while out-of-state students pay about $22,726. Typical student debt for mental & social health services graduates is $17,600. Early-career mental & social health services graduates make about $50,825. Set against $17,600 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 75%.
Lewis University came in at #11 for value in mental & social health services this year. Set in the suburb of Romeoville, Lewis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $39,200. Students borrow a median of $24,838 to complete the mental & social health services program here. Early-career mental & social health services graduates make about $38,831. That is a strong return on a $24,838 median debt. The acceptance rate is 71%.
Roosevelt University placed #12 among the best values for mental & social health services. Located in the city of Chicago, Roosevelt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,315. Typical student debt for mental & social health services graduates is $23,879. Early-career mental & social health services graduates make about $47,220. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Stautzenberger College Rockford Career College ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value mental & social health services schools. Set in the city of Rockford, Stautzenberger College Rockford Career College is a small private for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $16,699. Mental & Social Health Services graduates carry a median of $18,007 in student loans. Mental & Social Health Services graduates of Stautzenberger College Rockford Career College earn a median of $30,486 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Bradley University placed #14 among the best values for mental & social health services. Bradley University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Peoria. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $42,160. Students borrow a median of $26,380 to complete the mental & social health services program here. Soon after graduation, mental & social health services degree recipients from Bradley University generally make around $50,358. That is a strong return on a $26,380 median debt. Bradley University admits about 77% of applicants.
Trinity International University Illinois earned the #15 position for value in mental & social health services this year. Set in the suburb of Deerfield, Trinity International University Illinois is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,320. Typical student debt for mental & social health services graduates is $26,892. Mental & Social Health Services graduates of Trinity International University Illinois earn a median of $41,182 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,892 median debt. Roughly 100% of applicants are accepted.
Moody Bible Institute ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value mental & social health services schools. Located in the city of Chicago, Moody Bible Institute is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,786. Students borrow a median of $13,318 to complete the mental & social health services program here. Mental & Social Health Services graduates of Moody Bible Institute earn a median of $40,708 early in their careers. Set against $13,318 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Moody Bible Institute admits about 83% of applicants.
Wheaton College Illinois placed #17 among the best values for mental & social health services. Wheaton College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Wheaton. In-state tuition and fees average $45,546. Mental & Social Health Services graduates carry a median of $23,292 in student loans. Early-career mental & social health services graduates make about $43,719. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 87%.
Northwestern University placed #18 among the best values for mental & social health services. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $68,322. Mental & Social Health Services graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans. Soon after graduation, mental & social health services degree recipients from Northwestern University generally make around $67,518. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 8% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 37 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 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.
