2026 Best Value Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling/Counselor Schools in the Southeast Region

[Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling/Counselor](/majors/health-care-professions/rehab-and-therapeutic-professions/vocational-rehabilitation-counseling-counselor/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong vocational rehabilitation counseling/counselor education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 23 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value vocational rehabilitation counseling/counselor schools.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling/Counselor Schools in the Southeast Region
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the vocational rehabilitation counseling/counselor degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling/Counselor Schools
University Of South Florida Main Campus earned the #1 spot for value among vocational rehabilitation counseling/counselor schools in the Southeast Region. Located in the city of Tampa, University Of South Florida Main Campus is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,410, while out-of-state students pay about $17,324. Typical student debt for vocational rehabilitation counseling/counselor graduates is $21,829. Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling/counselor graduates of University Of South Florida Main Campus earn a median of $40,855 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,829 median debt. The acceptance rate is 43%.
Students looking for strong value in vocational rehabilitation counseling/counselor will find it at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill, which ranked #2. University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill is a very large public school located in the city of Chapel Hill. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,994, while out-of-state students pay about $41,203. Typical student debt for vocational rehabilitation counseling/counselor graduates is $15,117. Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling/counselor graduates of University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earn a median of $58,000 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,117 median debt. The acceptance rate is 15%.
Students looking for strong value in vocational rehabilitation counseling/counselor will find it at West Virginia University, which ranked #3. Located in the city of Morgantown, West Virginia University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $10,104, compared with $28,608 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for vocational rehabilitation counseling/counselor graduates is $23,772. Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling/counselor graduates of West Virginia University earn a median of $64,049 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,772 median debt. West Virginia University admits about 89% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes Winston Salem State University one of the best values for vocational rehabilitation counseling/counselor. Located in the city of Winston-Salem, Winston Salem State University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $6,126 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $16,782. Typical student debt for vocational rehabilitation counseling/counselor graduates is $28,000. Soon after graduation, vocational rehabilitation counseling/counselor degree recipients from Winston Salem State University generally make around $58,227. Set against $28,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Winston Salem State University admits about 78% of applicants.
Georgia State University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in vocational rehabilitation counseling/counselor, landing the #5 spot this year. Set in the city of Atlanta, Georgia State University is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $8,664, compared with $24,840 for out-of-state students. Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling/counselor graduates carry a median of $26,091 in student loans. Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling/counselor graduates of Georgia State University earn a median of $70,035 early in their careers. Set against $26,091 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Georgia State University admits about 55% of applicants.
East Carolina University placed #6 among the best values for vocational rehabilitation counseling/counselor. Set in the city of Greenville, East Carolina University is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $7,361, compared with $23,638 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the vocational rehabilitation counseling/counselor program here. Soon after graduation, vocational rehabilitation counseling/counselor degree recipients from East Carolina University generally make around $56,764. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. East Carolina University admits about 89% of applicants.
Alabama State University came in at #7 for value in vocational rehabilitation counseling/counselor this year. Set in the city of Montgomery, Alabama State University is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $11,248 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,576 for out-of-state students. Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling/counselor graduates carry a median of $33,000 in student loans. Soon after graduation, vocational rehabilitation counseling/counselor degree recipients from Alabama State University generally make around $54,040. That is a strong return on a $33,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 98%.
University Of Kentucky ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best value vocational rehabilitation counseling/counselor schools. Located in the city of Lexington, University Of Kentucky is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $13,502, with out-of-state students paying around $34,140. Typical student debt for vocational rehabilitation counseling/counselor graduates is $24,094. Early-career vocational rehabilitation counseling/counselor graduates make about $67,402. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Kentucky admits about 93% of applicants.
University Of Arkansas At Little Rock came in at #9 for value in vocational rehabilitation counseling/counselor this year. Set in the city of Little Rock, University Of Arkansas At Little Rock is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,911 in tuition and fees, compared with $22,721 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for vocational rehabilitation counseling/counselor graduates is $27,093. Soon after graduation, vocational rehabilitation counseling/counselor degree recipients from University Of Arkansas At Little Rock generally make around $48,029. Set against $27,093 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 59% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Arkansas landed the #10 spot for vocational rehabilitation counseling/counselor value this year. Set in the city of Fayetteville, University Of Arkansas is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,104 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $29,966. Students borrow a median of $24,019 to complete the vocational rehabilitation counseling/counselor program here. Early-career vocational rehabilitation counseling/counselor graduates make about $52,555. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Arkansas admits about 74% of applicants.
Virginia Commonwealth University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value vocational rehabilitation counseling/counselor schools. Located in the city of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $16,720, compared with $39,884 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,813 to complete the vocational rehabilitation counseling/counselor program here. Soon after graduation, vocational rehabilitation counseling/counselor degree recipients from Virginia Commonwealth University generally make around $62,881. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Virginia Commonwealth University admits about 93% of applicants.
Southern University And A And M College earned the #12 position for value in vocational rehabilitation counseling/counselor this year. Located in the city of Baton Rouge, Southern University And A And M College is a moderately-sized public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,922, compared with $17,272 for out-of-state students. Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling/counselor graduates carry a median of $38,000 in student loans. Early-career vocational rehabilitation counseling/counselor graduates make about $30,636. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 35% of applicants are accepted.
Mercer University earned the #13 position for value in vocational rehabilitation counseling/counselor this year. Mercer University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Macon. In-state tuition and fees average $31,565. Students borrow a median of $32,463 to complete the vocational rehabilitation counseling/counselor program here. Early-career vocational rehabilitation counseling/counselor graduates make about $74,161. Set against $32,463 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 69%.
Auburn University placed #14 among the best values for vocational rehabilitation counseling/counselor. Located in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $12,890 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $34,922. Typical student debt for vocational rehabilitation counseling/counselor graduates is $22,803. Soon after graduation, vocational rehabilitation counseling/counselor degree recipients from Auburn University generally make around $55,422. That is a strong return on a $22,803 median debt. Auburn University admits about 46% of applicants.
University Of South Carolina Columbia came in at #15 for value in vocational rehabilitation counseling/counselor this year. Located in the city of Columbia, University Of South Carolina Columbia is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,688, while out-of-state students pay about $36,298. Students borrow a median of $24,472 to complete the vocational rehabilitation counseling/counselor program here. Soon after graduation, vocational rehabilitation counseling/counselor degree recipients from University Of South Carolina Columbia generally make around $73,174. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of South Carolina Columbia admits about 60% of applicants.
Narrow Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling/Counselor Schools by State
More Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling/Counselor Rankings
View All Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling/Counselor Rankings >
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 · 23 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 12 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.