2026 Best Value Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling Schools in Pennsylvania
[Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling](/majors/health-care-professions/mental-social-health-services/substance-abuse-addiction-counseling/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 25 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for substance abuse/addiction counseling students.
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2026 Best Value Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling Schools in Pennsylvania
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
Montgomery County Community College earned the #1 spot for value among substance abuse/addiction counseling schools in Pennsylvania. Set in the suburb of Blue Bell, Montgomery County Community College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,690, with out-of-state students paying around $17,250. Students borrow a median of $15,824 to complete the substance abuse/addiction counseling program here. Early-career substance abuse/addiction counseling graduates make about $39,025. That is a strong return on a $15,824 median debt.
A rank of #2 makes Community College Of Allegheny County one of the best values for substance abuse/addiction counseling. Community College Of Allegheny County is a large public school located in the city of Pittsburgh. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $4,956, while out-of-state students pay about $12,583. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates carry a median of $14,771 in student loans. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates of Community College Of Allegheny County earn a median of $47,420 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #3 makes Reading Area Community College one of the best values for substance abuse/addiction counseling. Located in the city of Reading, Reading Area Community College is a moderately-sized public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $6,480, compared with $12,510 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for substance abuse/addiction counseling graduates is $13,979. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates of Reading Area Community College earn a median of $49,248 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pennsylvania State University Penn State Abington came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value substance abuse/addiction counseling schools. Located in the suburb of Abington, Pennsylvania State University Penn State Abington is a mid-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $15,268 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $25,664. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $63,435. Pennsylvania State University Penn State Abington admits about 97% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in substance abuse/addiction counseling will find it at East Stroudsburg University Of Pennsylvania, which ranked #5. Set in the town of East Stroudsburg, East Stroudsburg University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,236 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,202. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates of East Stroudsburg University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $30,550 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. East Stroudsburg University Of Pennsylvania admits about 92% of applicants.
Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania came in at #6 for value in substance abuse/addiction counseling this year. Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania is a large public school located in the town of Bloomsburg. In-state tuition and fees average $11,046, with out-of-state students paying around $22,870. Median earnings reach $52,416 ten years out. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Pennsylvania Western University came in at #7 for value in substance abuse/addiction counseling this year. Located in the town of California, Pennsylvania Western University is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,436, compared with $16,054 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $47,295 ten years out. Roughly 94% of applicants are accepted.
Carlow University landed the #8 spot for substance abuse/addiction counseling value this year. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Carlow University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $35,874. Students borrow a median of $30,222 to complete the substance abuse/addiction counseling program here. Soon after graduation, substance abuse/addiction counseling degree recipients from Carlow University generally make around $66,938. That is a strong return on a $30,222 median debt. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
Saint Vincent College earned the #9 position for value in substance abuse/addiction counseling this year. Set in the suburb of Latrobe, Saint Vincent College is a small private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $42,396. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the substance abuse/addiction counseling program here. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates of Saint Vincent College earn a median of $54,916 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Saint Vincent College admits about 62% of applicants.
Lackawanna College landed the #10 spot for substance abuse/addiction counseling value this year. Lackawanna College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Scranton. In-state tuition and fees average $18,400. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates carry a median of $33,011 in student loans. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates of Lackawanna College earn a median of $37,408 early in their careers. Set against $33,011 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Waynesburg University landed the #11 spot for substance abuse/addiction counseling value this year. Waynesburg University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the town of Waynesburg. Students from in state pay about $30,480 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for substance abuse/addiction counseling graduates is $27,000. Soon after graduation, substance abuse/addiction counseling degree recipients from Waynesburg University generally make around $55,588. Set against $27,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Alvernia University came in at #12 for value in substance abuse/addiction counseling this year. Alvernia University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Reading. Students from in state pay about $45,000 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $54,779 to complete the substance abuse/addiction counseling program here. Early-career substance abuse/addiction counseling graduates make about $41,115. That is a strong return on a $54,779 median debt. The acceptance rate is 58%.
Duquesne University came in at #13 for value in substance abuse/addiction counseling this year. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Duquesne University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $48,986 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for substance abuse/addiction counseling graduates is $26,297. Early-career substance abuse/addiction counseling graduates make about $54,826. Set against $26,297 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Duquesne University admits about 84% of applicants.
Saint Josephs University earned the #14 position for value in substance abuse/addiction counseling this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Saint Josephs University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $53,260. Students borrow a median of $26,426 to complete the substance abuse/addiction counseling program here. Soon after graduation, substance abuse/addiction counseling degree recipients from Saint Josephs University generally make around $65,421. Set against $26,426 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Saint Josephs University admits about 89% of applicants.
Drexel University landed the #15 spot for substance abuse/addiction counseling value this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $62,412 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete the substance abuse/addiction counseling program here. Soon after graduation, substance abuse/addiction counseling degree recipients from Drexel University generally make around $43,065. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 79%.
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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 · 25 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 4 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.
