2026 Best Value Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling Schools in the Great Lakes Region
[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 schools below stand out for delivering a strong substance abuse/addiction counseling education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 76 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value substance abuse/addiction counseling schools.
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2026 Best Value Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling Schools in the Great Lakes Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in substance abuse/addiction counseling, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling Schools
Elgin Community College earned the #1 spot for value among substance abuse/addiction counseling schools in the Great Lakes Region. Elgin Community College is a large public school located in the city of Elgin. Students from in state pay about $3,252 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,516. Students borrow a median of $7,727 to complete the substance abuse/addiction counseling program here. Soon after graduation, substance abuse/addiction counseling degree recipients from Elgin Community College generally make around $43,975. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Sinclair Community College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value substance abuse/addiction counseling schools. Set in the city of Dayton, Sinclair Community College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,675 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $8,556. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates carry a median of $13,613 in student loans. Early-career substance abuse/addiction counseling graduates make about $29,812. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at College Of Dupage earned it the #3 place for substance abuse/addiction counseling. Set in the suburb of Glen Ellyn, College Of Dupage is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $4,560, compared with $12,750 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for substance abuse/addiction counseling graduates is $12,492. Soon after graduation, substance abuse/addiction counseling degree recipients from College Of Dupage generally make around $43,025. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Students looking for strong value in substance abuse/addiction counseling will find it at City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College, which ranked #4. City Colleges Of Chicago Kennedy King College is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Chicago. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,590, with out-of-state students paying around $15,150. Typical student debt for substance abuse/addiction counseling graduates is $10,250. Early-career substance abuse/addiction counseling graduates make about $48,264. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Wayne County Community College District earned it the #5 place for substance abuse/addiction counseling. Located in the city of Detroit, Wayne County Community College District is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $3,112 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $4,067. Typical student debt for substance abuse/addiction counseling graduates is $20,820. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates of Wayne County Community College District earn a median of $48,892 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Ivy Tech Community College earned the #6 position for value in substance abuse/addiction counseling this year. Ivy Tech Community College is a very large public school located in the city of Indianapolis. Students from in state pay about $5,154 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,935. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates carry a median of $16,067 in student loans. Early-career substance abuse/addiction counseling graduates make about $29,954. That is a strong return on a $16,067 median debt.
Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College landed the #7 spot for substance abuse/addiction counseling value this year. Set in the town of Rice Lake, Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $4,926, compared with $7,169 for out-of-state students. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates carry a median of $11,259 in student loans. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates of Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College earn a median of $25,557 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Columbus State Community College came in at #8 for value in substance abuse/addiction counseling this year. Set in the city of Columbus, Columbus State Community College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $5,488, with out-of-state students paying around $11,224. Typical student debt for substance abuse/addiction counseling graduates is $9,041. Graduates go on to earn a median of $39,435 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Stark State College placed #9 among the best values for substance abuse/addiction counseling. Located in the suburb of North Canton, Stark State College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,790, while out-of-state students pay about $7,886. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates carry a median of $17,349 in student loans. Early-career substance abuse/addiction counseling graduates make about $42,724. That is a strong return on a $17,349 median debt.
Cincinnati State Technical And Community College placed #10 among the best values for substance abuse/addiction counseling. Cincinnati State Technical And Community College is a large public school located in the city of Cincinnati. Students from in state pay about $5,517 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,044 for out-of-state students. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates carry a median of $17,477 in student loans. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates of Cincinnati State Technical And Community College earn a median of $29,883 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value substance abuse/addiction counseling schools. Located in the city of Green Bay, Northeast Wisconsin Technical College is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,960, with out-of-state students paying around $7,203. Students borrow a median of $14,997 to complete the substance abuse/addiction counseling program here. Soon after graduation, substance abuse/addiction counseling degree recipients from Northeast Wisconsin Technical College generally make around $42,016. That is a strong return on a $14,997 median debt.
Governors State University earned the #12 position for value in substance abuse/addiction counseling this year. Located in the suburb of University Park, Governors State University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $12,004 in tuition and fees. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates carry a median of $24,990 in student loans. Early-career substance abuse/addiction counseling graduates make about $44,369. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 48%.
Blackhawk Technical College landed the #13 spot for substance abuse/addiction counseling value this year. Blackhawk Technical College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Janesville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,747, with out-of-state students paying around $6,803. Typical student debt for substance abuse/addiction counseling graduates is $13,715. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates of Blackhawk Technical College earn a median of $44,256 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $13,715 median debt.
Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis earned the #14 position for value in substance abuse/addiction counseling this year. Set in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,762, while out-of-state students pay about $34,891. Students borrow a median of $23,146 to complete the substance abuse/addiction counseling program here. Soon after graduation, substance abuse/addiction counseling degree recipients from Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis generally make around $56,930. Set against $23,146 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Chippewa Valley Technical College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value substance abuse/addiction counseling schools. Chippewa Valley Technical College is a large public school located in the city of Eau Claire. Students from in state pay about $4,844 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,087. Typical student debt for substance abuse/addiction counseling graduates is $14,234. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates of Chippewa Valley Technical College earn a median of $45,531 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Northcentral Technical College earned the #16 position for value in substance abuse/addiction counseling this year. Located in the city of Wausau, Northcentral Technical College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,889, with out-of-state students paying around $7,132. Typical student debt for substance abuse/addiction counseling graduates is $16,882. Soon after graduation, substance abuse/addiction counseling degree recipients from Northcentral Technical College generally make around $31,865. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Madison Area Technical College earned the #17 position for value in substance abuse/addiction counseling this year. Set in the city of Madison, Madison Area Technical College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $4,977 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $7,141. Students borrow a median of $16,812 to complete the substance abuse/addiction counseling program here. Soon after graduation, substance abuse/addiction counseling degree recipients from Madison Area Technical College generally make around $44,279. Set against $16,812 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
University Of Southern Indiana landed the #18 spot for substance abuse/addiction counseling value this year. University Of Southern Indiana is a large public school located in the suburb of Evansville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,066, while out-of-state students pay about $22,907. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates carry a median of $21,999 in student loans. Soon after graduation, substance abuse/addiction counseling degree recipients from University Of Southern Indiana generally make around $48,165. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Wayne State University placed #19 among the best values for substance abuse/addiction counseling. Wayne State University is a very large public school located in the city of Detroit. In-state tuition and fees average $16,159, with out-of-state students paying around $34,650. Students borrow a median of $26,689 to complete the substance abuse/addiction counseling program here. Soon after graduation, substance abuse/addiction counseling degree recipients from Wayne State University generally make around $69,328. That is a strong return on a $26,689 median debt. Wayne State University admits about 81% of applicants.
Purdue University Global came in at #20 for value in substance abuse/addiction counseling this year. Purdue University Global is a very large public school located in the city of West Lafayette. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,101, with out-of-state students paying around $14,412. Students borrow a median of $46,968 to complete the substance abuse/addiction counseling program here. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates of Purdue University Global earn a median of $33,954 early in their careers. Set against $46,968 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Indiana University Bloomington placed #21 among the best values for substance abuse/addiction counseling. Located in the city of Bloomington, Indiana University Bloomington is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,144, with out-of-state students paying around $41,891. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates carry a median of $20,542 in student loans. Soon after graduation, substance abuse/addiction counseling degree recipients from Indiana University Bloomington generally make around $52,123. Set against $20,542 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Indiana University Bloomington admits about 78% of applicants.
University Of Akron Main Campus placed #22 among the best values for substance abuse/addiction counseling. Set in the city of Akron, University Of Akron Main Campus is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,135, with out-of-state students paying around $20,815. Typical student debt for substance abuse/addiction counseling graduates is $25,347. Soon after graduation, substance abuse/addiction counseling degree recipients from University Of Akron Main Campus generally make around $45,096. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Akron Main Campus admits about 60% of applicants.
Wright State University Main Campus placed #23 among the best values for substance abuse/addiction counseling. Located in the suburb of Dayton, Wright State University Main Campus is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,991, compared with $20,691 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for substance abuse/addiction counseling graduates is $25,836. Early-career substance abuse/addiction counseling graduates make about $49,077. Set against $25,836 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 96%.
Central Michigan University landed the #24 spot for substance abuse/addiction counseling value this year. Located in the town of Mount Pleasant, Central Michigan University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,480. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates carry a median of $31,000 in student loans. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates of Central Michigan University earn a median of $40,333 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
University Of Detroit Mercy earned the #25 position for value in substance abuse/addiction counseling this year. Set in the city of Detroit, University Of Detroit Mercy is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $32,946 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $29,053 to complete the substance abuse/addiction counseling program here. Soon after graduation, substance abuse/addiction counseling degree recipients from University Of Detroit Mercy generally make around $76,755. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Detroit Mercy admits about 75% of applicants.
Rest of the Top 32 Best Value Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in substance abuse/addiction counseling:
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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 · 76 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 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.
