2026 Best Value Counseling Psychology Schools in Pennsylvania
[Counseling Psychology](/majors/psychology/clinical-counseling-applied-psychology/counseling-psychology/) 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 35 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for counseling psychology students.
What’s on this page:
2026 Best Value Counseling Psychology Schools in Pennsylvania
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in counseling psychology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Counseling Psychology Schools
Holy Family University tops our 2026 list of the best value counseling psychology schools in Pennsylvania. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Holy Family University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $35,330 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for counseling psychology graduates is $26,562. Soon after graduation, counseling psychology degree recipients from Holy Family University generally make around $50,692. Set against $26,562 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania earned it the #2 place for counseling psychology. Set in the town of Slippery Rock, Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $10,568 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $14,676. Students borrow a median of $26,330 to complete the counseling psychology program here. Counseling Psychology graduates of Slippery Rock University Of Pennsylvania earn a median of $42,731 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,330 median debt. Roughly 72% of applicants are accepted.
Rosemont College came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value counseling psychology schools. Rosemont College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Rosemont. In-state tuition and fees average $23,854. Counseling Psychology graduates carry a median of $29,211 in student loans. Early-career counseling psychology graduates make about $48,735. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value counseling psychology schools. Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Kutztown. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,206, compared with $16,330 for out-of-state students. Counseling Psychology graduates carry a median of $26,867 in student loans. Soon after graduation, counseling psychology degree recipients from Kutztown University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $43,166. Set against $26,867 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Geneva College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in counseling psychology, landing the #5 spot this year. Geneva College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Beaver Falls. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $33,450. Students borrow a median of $26,396 to complete the counseling psychology program here. Soon after graduation, counseling psychology degree recipients from Geneva College generally make around $43,369. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
La Salle University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value counseling psychology schools. Located in the city of Philadelphia, La Salle University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,800. Typical student debt for counseling psychology graduates is $25,462. Early-career counseling psychology graduates make about $62,148. That is a strong return on a $25,462 median debt. Roughly 97% of applicants are accepted.
Marywood University landed the #7 spot for counseling psychology value this year. Marywood University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Scranton. Students from in state pay about $41,420 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,744 to complete the counseling psychology program here. Soon after graduation, counseling psychology degree recipients from Marywood University generally make around $45,851. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 61%.
Pennsylvania State University Penn State Harrisburg landed the #8 spot for counseling psychology value this year. Pennsylvania State University Penn State Harrisburg is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Middletown. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,972, with out-of-state students paying around $26,958. Graduates go on to earn a median of $63,435 ten years after entry. The acceptance rate is 98%.
Chatham University placed #9 among the best values for counseling psychology. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Chatham University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,001. Counseling Psychology graduates carry a median of $24,261 in student loans. Early-career counseling psychology graduates make about $38,037. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 62%.
Arcadia University came in at #10 for value in counseling psychology this year. Set in the suburb of Glenside, Arcadia University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $49,610 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $26,921 to complete the counseling psychology program here. Counseling Psychology graduates of Arcadia University earn a median of $50,655 early in their careers. Set against $26,921 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Arcadia University admits about 80% of applicants.
Eastern University came in at #11 for value in counseling psychology this year. Eastern University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Davids. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $38,400. Typical student debt for counseling psychology graduates is $28,584. Early-career counseling psychology graduates make about $44,946. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 91%.
Lebanon Valley College placed #12 among the best values for counseling psychology. Lebanon Valley College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Annville. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $52,080. Students borrow a median of $26,767 to complete the counseling psychology program here. Soon after graduation, counseling psychology degree recipients from Lebanon Valley College generally make around $49,801. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 84%.
Delaware Valley College came in at #13 for value in counseling psychology this year. Located in the suburb of Doylestown, Delaware Valley College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $44,850. Students borrow a median of $25,000 to complete the counseling psychology program here. Early-career counseling psychology graduates make about $36,737. Set against $25,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Temple University came in at #14 for value in counseling psychology this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Temple University is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $23,005, with out-of-state students paying around $38,805. Students borrow a median of $26,259 to complete the counseling psychology program here. Early-career counseling psychology graduates make about $55,074. That is a strong return on a $26,259 median debt. Temple University admits about 80% of applicants.
Thomas Jefferson University came in at #15 for value in counseling psychology this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Thomas Jefferson University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $47,355. Typical student debt for counseling psychology graduates is $47,976. Counseling Psychology graduates of Thomas Jefferson University earn a median of $46,828 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 81% of applicants are accepted.
Immaculata University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value counseling psychology schools. Located in the suburb of Immaculata, Immaculata University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $28,980 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,738 to complete the counseling psychology program here. Early-career counseling psychology graduates make about $48,279. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Immaculata University admits about 86% of applicants.
Philadelphia Biblical University Langhorne placed #17 among the best values for counseling psychology. Located in the suburb of Langhorne, Philadelphia Biblical University Langhorne is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $33,659. Counseling Psychology graduates carry a median of $28,212 in student loans. Early-career counseling psychology graduates make about $40,120. Set against $28,212 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Philadelphia Biblical University Langhorne admits about 88% of applicants.
Chestnut Hill College placed #18 among the best values for counseling psychology. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Chestnut Hill College is a small private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $39,870. Typical student debt for counseling psychology graduates is $30,824. Counseling Psychology graduates of Chestnut Hill College earn a median of $49,828 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Chestnut Hill College admits about 74% of applicants.
University Of Scranton landed the #19 spot for counseling psychology value this year. Located in the city of Scranton, University Of Scranton is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $53,777. Counseling Psychology graduates carry a median of $26,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, counseling psychology degree recipients from University Of Scranton generally make around $42,756. That is a strong return on a $26,500 median debt. The acceptance rate is 81%.
University Of Pennsylvania earned the #20 position for value in counseling psychology this year. Located in the city of Philadelphia, University Of Pennsylvania is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $68,686. Counseling Psychology graduates carry a median of $16,155 in student loans. Soon after graduation, counseling psychology degree recipients from University Of Pennsylvania generally make around $52,641. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 5% of applicants are accepted.
Lehigh University earned the #21 position for value in counseling psychology this year. Lehigh University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Bethlehem. Students from in state pay about $64,980 in tuition and fees. Counseling Psychology graduates carry a median of $23,008 in student loans. Soon after graduation, counseling psychology degree recipients from Lehigh University generally make around $70,321. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 26%.
More Counseling Psychology Rankings
View All Counseling Psychology Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 35 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 15 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.
