2026 Best Value Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling Schools in Texas
[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. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 29 schools to find the best return on investment for substance abuse/addiction counseling students.
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2026 Best Value Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling Schools in Texas
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
El Centro College tops our 2026 list of the best value substance abuse/addiction counseling schools in Texas. Set in the city of Dallas, El Centro College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,730, while out-of-state students pay about $6,900. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates carry a median of $22,011 in student loans. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates of El Centro College earn a median of $41,295 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,011 median debt.
Alvin Community College came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best value substance abuse/addiction counseling schools. Alvin Community College is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Alvin. Students from in state pay about $1,906 in tuition and fees, compared with $4,402 for out-of-state students. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates carry a median of $8,600 in student loans. Soon after graduation, substance abuse/addiction counseling degree recipients from Alvin Community College generally make around $55,057. Set against $8,600 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
San Antonio College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in substance abuse/addiction counseling, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of San Antonio, San Antonio College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $3,412, compared with $9,952 for out-of-state students. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates carry a median of $11,839 in student loans. Soon after graduation, substance abuse/addiction counseling degree recipients from San Antonio College generally make around $37,855. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Tarrant County College District came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value substance abuse/addiction counseling schools. Located in the city of Fort Worth, Tarrant County College District is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,863, with out-of-state students paying around $8,370. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates carry a median of $25,948 in student loans. Soon after graduation, substance abuse/addiction counseling degree recipients from Tarrant County College District generally make around $45,158. 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 Austin Community College District, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Austin, Austin Community College District is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,550, with out-of-state students paying around $10,590. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates carry a median of $19,185 in student loans. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates of Austin Community College District earn a median of $31,821 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Central Texas College earned the #6 position for value in substance abuse/addiction counseling this year. Set in the suburb of Killeen, Central Texas College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $3,750 in tuition and fees, compared with $7,500 for out-of-state students. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates carry a median of $11,290 in student loans. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates of Central Texas College earn a median of $53,086 early in their careers. Set against $11,290 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mclennan Community College landed the #7 spot for substance abuse/addiction counseling value this year. Set in the city of Waco, Mclennan Community College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $3,660, while out-of-state students pay about $5,910. Typical student debt for substance abuse/addiction counseling graduates is $14,073. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates of Mclennan Community College earn a median of $40,499 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $14,073 median debt.
The University Of Texas Pan American placed #8 among the best values for substance abuse/addiction counseling. Set in the city of Edinburg, The University Of Texas Pan American is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,799 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $19,645. Students borrow a median of $14,694 to complete the substance abuse/addiction counseling program here. Soon after graduation, substance abuse/addiction counseling degree recipients from The University Of Texas Pan American generally make around $46,404. That is a strong return on a $14,694 median debt. The University Of Texas Pan American admits about 94% of applicants.
Houston Community College earned the #9 position for value in substance abuse/addiction counseling this year. Located in the city of Houston, Houston Community College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $2,040, compared with $5,460 for out-of-state students. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates carry a median of $19,223 in student loans. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates of Houston Community College earn a median of $40,365 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Kilgore College placed #10 among the best values for substance abuse/addiction counseling. Set in the town of Kilgore, Kilgore College is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $2,160 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $5,256. Students borrow a median of $16,734 to complete the substance abuse/addiction counseling program here. Early-career substance abuse/addiction counseling graduates make about $44,322. Set against $16,734 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Lee College landed the #11 spot for substance abuse/addiction counseling value this year. Set in the city of Baytown, Lee College is a large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,520, compared with $5,045 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for substance abuse/addiction counseling graduates is $10,941. Soon after graduation, substance abuse/addiction counseling degree recipients from Lee College generally make around $53,448. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
San Jacinto Community College landed the #12 spot for substance abuse/addiction counseling value this year. Set in the city of Pasadena, San Jacinto Community College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $2,490, compared with $6,690 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for substance abuse/addiction counseling graduates is $11,376. Soon after graduation, substance abuse/addiction counseling degree recipients from San Jacinto Community College generally make around $38,107. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Houston Clear Lake ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best value substance abuse/addiction counseling schools. Set in the city of Houston, University Of Houston Clear Lake is a moderately-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,346, compared with $22,290 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,100 to complete the substance abuse/addiction counseling program here. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates of University Of Houston Clear Lake earn a median of $51,252 early in their careers. Set against $21,100 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 90%.
University Of St Thomas Texas landed the #14 spot for substance abuse/addiction counseling value this year. Set in the city of Houston, University Of St Thomas Texas is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $34,634. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates carry a median of $23,628 in student loans. Soon after graduation, substance abuse/addiction counseling degree recipients from University Of St Thomas Texas generally make around $58,265. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 90%.
Saint Edwards University came in at #15 for value in substance abuse/addiction counseling this year. Located in the city of Austin, Saint Edwards University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $51,384. Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling graduates carry a median of $25,059 in student loans. Soon after graduation, substance abuse/addiction counseling degree recipients from Saint Edwards University generally make around $39,898. That is a strong return on a $25,059 median debt. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 29 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 9 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.
