by our College Data Analytics Team
[Mental & Social Health Services](/majors/health-care-professions/mental-social-health-services/) 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 6 schools to find the best return on investment for mental & social health services students.
What’s on this page:
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the mental & social health services degrees they offer, see the list below.
Sinte Gleska University earned the #1 spot for value among mental & social health services schools in South Dakota. Located in the rural area of Mission, Sinte Gleska University is a small public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,714. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $20,948.
A rank of #2 makes Lake Area Technical Institute one of the best values for mental & social health services. Located in the town of Watertown, Lake Area Technical Institute is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $6,718. Mental & Social Health Services graduates carry a median of $13,674 in student loans. Mental & Social Health Services graduates of Lake Area Technical Institute earn a median of $43,424 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,674 median debt.
A rank of #3 makes University Of South Dakota one of the best values for mental & social health services. University Of South Dakota is a large public school located in the town of Vermillion. Students from in state pay about $9,432 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,942. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the mental & social health services program here. Mental & Social Health Services graduates of University Of South Dakota earn a median of $44,527 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Roughly 99% of applicants are accepted.
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The ranking above is published 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 · 6 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 1 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.