2026 Best Value Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling Schools
[Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling](/majors/health-care-professions/mental-social-health-services/substance-abuse-addiction-counseling/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 460 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value substance abuse/addiction counseling schools.
What’s on this page:
Finding the Best Value Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling School for You
Where you study substance abuse/addiction counseling affects both what you pay and what you earn. That is why we developed our Best Value Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling Schools ranking. It weighs the cost of a degree against the outcomes graduates go on to achieve, so you can find the strongest return on your investment.
Read more about our methodology
Customize Your Rankings
We offer a number of rankings, including this Best Value Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling Schools list, to help you decide. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
See how we build our rankings
2026 Best Value Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling Schools in the United States
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the substance abuse/addiction counseling degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling Schools
For return on investment in substance abuse/addiction counseling, no school beat Mt San Antonio College this year. Mt San Antonio College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Walnut. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,364, compared with $10,464 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,000 to complete the substance abuse/addiction counseling program here. Early-career substance abuse/addiction counseling graduates make about $59,278. Set against $10,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
San Diego City College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in substance abuse/addiction counseling, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego City College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,146, while out-of-state students pay about $10,002. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates carry a median of $9,514 in student loans. Early-career substance abuse/addiction counseling graduates make about $26,218. Set against $9,514 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes Fresno City College one of the best values for substance abuse/addiction counseling. Set in the city of Fresno, Fresno City College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,378, while out-of-state students pay about $8,638. Typical student debt for substance abuse/addiction counseling graduates is $7,234. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates of Fresno City College earn a median of $37,470 early in their careers. Set against $7,234 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Oxnard College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value substance abuse/addiction counseling schools. Set in the city of Oxnard, Oxnard College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,426, compared with $9,615 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $41,393 ten years after entry.
St Petersburg College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in substance abuse/addiction counseling, landing the #5 spot this year. St Petersburg College is a very large public school located in the city of St. Petersburg. In-state tuition and fees average $2,682, while out-of-state students pay about $9,286. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates carry a median of $24,385 in student loans. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates of St Petersburg College earn a median of $48,218 early in their careers. Set against $24,385 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
El Centro College landed the #6 spot for substance abuse/addiction counseling value this year. El Centro College is a very large public school located in the city of Dallas. Students from in state pay about $2,730 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $6,900. Students borrow a median of $22,011 to complete the substance abuse/addiction counseling program here. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates of El Centro College earn a median of $41,295 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Alvin Community College landed the #7 spot for substance abuse/addiction counseling value this year. Set in the suburb of Alvin, Alvin Community College is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,906, while out-of-state students pay about $4,402. Typical student debt for substance abuse/addiction counseling graduates is $8,600. Early-career substance abuse/addiction counseling graduates make about $55,057. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Saddleback College placed #8 among the best values for substance abuse/addiction counseling. Located in the suburb of Mission Viejo, Saddleback College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,432 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $14,812. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates carry a median of $5,707 in student loans. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates of Saddleback College earn a median of $15,890 early in their careers. Set against $5,707 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Suffolk County Community College earned the #9 position for value in substance abuse/addiction counseling this year. Suffolk County Community College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Selden. Students from in state pay about $6,630 in tuition and fees, compared with $12,460 for out-of-state students. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates carry a median of $11,246 in student loans. Soon after graduation, substance abuse/addiction counseling degree recipients from Suffolk County Community College generally make around $35,667. Set against $11,246 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Clover Park Technical College landed the #10 spot for substance abuse/addiction counseling value this year. Set in the city of Lakewood, Clover Park Technical College is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,634. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates carry a median of $15,154 in student loans. Soon after graduation, substance abuse/addiction counseling degree recipients from Clover Park Technical College generally make around $42,209. Set against $15,154 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Cuny Kingsborough Community College placed #11 among the best values for substance abuse/addiction counseling. Set in the city of Brooklyn, Cuny Kingsborough Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $5,252 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,132. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates carry a median of $5,939 in student loans. Early-career substance abuse/addiction counseling graduates make about $31,072. Set against $5,939 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Northern Essex Community College earned the #12 position for value in substance abuse/addiction counseling this year. Northern Essex Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Haverhill. Students from in state pay about $6,732 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,516. Typical student debt for substance abuse/addiction counseling graduates is $12,033. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates of Northern Essex Community College earn a median of $27,799 early in their careers. Set against $12,033 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Elgin Community College placed #13 among the best values for substance abuse/addiction counseling. Elgin Community College is a large public school located in the city of Elgin. In-state tuition and fees average $3,252, with out-of-state students paying around $9,516. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates carry a median of $7,727 in student loans. Early-career substance abuse/addiction counseling graduates make about $43,975. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cypress College came in at #14 for value in substance abuse/addiction counseling this year. Set in the city of Cypress, Cypress College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,150, with out-of-state students paying around $12,379. Graduates go on to earn a median of $43,533 ten years after entry.
Central Piedmont Community College came in at #15 for value in substance abuse/addiction counseling this year. Located in the city of Charlotte, Central Piedmont Community College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $2,792, while out-of-state students pay about $8,936. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates carry a median of $11,861 in student loans. Soon after graduation, substance abuse/addiction counseling degree recipients from Central Piedmont Community College generally make around $40,629. That is a strong return on a $11,861 median debt.
Nash Community College placed #16 among the best values for substance abuse/addiction counseling. Set in the rural area of Rocky Mount, Nash Community College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,866 in tuition and fees, compared with $8,866 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for substance abuse/addiction counseling graduates is $16,969. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates of Nash Community College earn a median of $45,512 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Camden County College landed the #17 spot for substance abuse/addiction counseling value this year. Set in the suburb of Blackwood, Camden County College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,320, compared with $4,416 for out-of-state students. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates carry a median of $12,999 in student loans. Early-career substance abuse/addiction counseling graduates make about $39,549. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Lake Washington Institute Of Technology came in at #18 for value in substance abuse/addiction counseling this year. Located in the suburb of Kirkland, Lake Washington Institute Of Technology is a mid-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,997, with out-of-state students paying around $12,062. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates carry a median of $19,695 in student loans. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates of Lake Washington Institute Of Technology earn a median of $60,000 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $19,695 median debt.
Allan Hancock College came in at #19 for value in substance abuse/addiction counseling this year. Allan Hancock College is a large public school located in the city of Santa Maria. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,156, compared with $9,892 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $42,786.
Patrick Henry Community College placed #20 among the best values for substance abuse/addiction counseling. Located in the rural area of Martinsville, Patrick Henry Community College is a mid-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,002, while out-of-state students pay about $11,440. Students borrow a median of $11,235 to complete the substance abuse/addiction counseling program here. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates of Patrick Henry Community College earn a median of $33,358 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Yuba College earned the #21 position for value in substance abuse/addiction counseling this year. Set in the suburb of Marysville, Yuba College is a moderately-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,128, while out-of-state students pay about $8,208. Students borrow a median of $8,729 to complete the substance abuse/addiction counseling program here. Soon after graduation, substance abuse/addiction counseling degree recipients from Yuba College generally make around $89,816. Set against $8,729 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Seattle Community College Central Campus ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best value substance abuse/addiction counseling schools. Seattle Community College Central Campus is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Seattle. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $5,238, while out-of-state students pay about $5,796. Typical student debt for substance abuse/addiction counseling graduates is $14,699. Early-career substance abuse/addiction counseling graduates make about $53,048. Set against $14,699 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Southwestern Community College Sylva placed #23 among the best values for substance abuse/addiction counseling. Set in the town of Sylva, Southwestern Community College Sylva is a mid-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,112, with out-of-state students paying around $13,184. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates carry a median of $13,708 in student loans. Early-career substance abuse/addiction counseling graduates make about $36,418. That is a strong return on a $13,708 median debt.
Gaston College landed the #24 spot for substance abuse/addiction counseling value this year. Gaston College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Dallas. In-state tuition and fees average $3,186, while out-of-state students pay about $9,330. Typical student debt for substance abuse/addiction counseling graduates is $10,915. Early-career substance abuse/addiction counseling graduates make about $39,937. That is a strong return on a $10,915 median debt.
Miami Dade College placed #25 among the best values for substance abuse/addiction counseling. Set in the city of Miami, Miami Dade College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,838, while out-of-state students pay about $9,661. Typical student debt for substance abuse/addiction counseling graduates is $11,967. Soon after graduation, substance abuse/addiction counseling degree recipients from Miami Dade College generally make around $40,267. Set against $11,967 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in substance abuse/addiction counseling:
Narrow Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling Schools by Region
View All Rankings >
Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling is one of many programs to choose from within the area of study. See all related rankings.
Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 460 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 72 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.
