by our College Data Analytics Team
[Counseling Psychology](/majors/psychology/clinical-counseling-applied-psychology/counseling-psychology/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong counseling psychology education at a price that pays off.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 32 schools to find the best return on investment for counseling psychology students.
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If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the counseling psychology degrees they offer, see the list below.
Leading the list is University Of North Texas At Dallas, our #1 best value for counseling psychology in Texas. University Of North Texas At Dallas is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Dallas. Students from in state pay about $9,595 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $21,894. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Houston Victoria is a great value for students pursuing a degree in counseling psychology, landing the #2 spot this year. University Of Houston Victoria is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Victoria. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,149, while out-of-state students pay about $16,941. Students borrow a median of $24,081 to complete the counseling psychology program here. Counseling Psychology graduates of University Of Houston Victoria earn a median of $48,689 early in their careers. Set against $24,081 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Texas Womans University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in counseling psychology, landing the #3 spot this year. Texas Womans University is a large public school located in the city of Denton. Students from in state pay about $8,640 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $18,480. Counseling Psychology graduates carry a median of $24,211 in student loans. Soon after graduation, counseling psychology degree recipients from Texas Womans University generally make around $53,700. Set against $24,211 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 96% of applicants are accepted.
Lamar University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in counseling psychology, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Beaumont, Lamar University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,905, while out-of-state students pay about $18,745. Typical student debt for counseling psychology graduates is $26,988. Counseling Psychology graduates of Lamar University earn a median of $61,726 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,988 median debt. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Midwestern State University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best value counseling psychology schools. Set in the city of Wichita Falls, Midwestern State University is a moderately-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,950 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,770. Students borrow a median of $26,415 to complete the counseling psychology program here. Counseling Psychology graduates of Midwestern State University earn a median of $49,638 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,415 median debt. Midwestern State University admits about 94% of applicants.
University Of Houston came in at #6 for value in counseling psychology this year. Set in the city of Houston, University Of Houston is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $9,717, compared with $22,547 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,255 to complete the counseling psychology program here. Counseling Psychology graduates of University Of Houston earn a median of $77,167 early in their careers. Set against $21,255 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Houston admits about 74% of applicants.
Texas A And M University San Antonio came in at #7 for value in counseling psychology this year. Located in the city of San Antonio, Texas A And M University San Antonio is a moderately-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,654, with out-of-state students paying around $23,255. Typical student debt for counseling psychology graduates is $22,771. Early-career counseling psychology graduates make about $45,681. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
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The University Of Texas At Tyler came in at #8 for value in counseling psychology this year. The University Of Texas At Tyler is a large public school located in the city of Tyler. In-state tuition and fees average $9,512, with out-of-state students paying around $24,512. Students borrow a median of $20,959 to complete the counseling psychology program here. Soon after graduation, counseling psychology degree recipients from The University Of Texas At Tyler generally make around $52,767. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The University Of Texas At Tyler admits about 94% of applicants.
Angelo State University landed the #9 spot for counseling psychology value this year. Located in the city of San Angelo, Angelo State University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,460, compared with $18,300 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for counseling psychology graduates is $21,237. Soon after graduation, counseling psychology degree recipients from Angelo State University generally make around $45,229. Set against $21,237 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted.
University Of North Texas came in at #10 for value in counseling psychology this year. University Of North Texas is a very large public school located in the city of Denton. In-state tuition and fees average $11,309, with out-of-state students paying around $21,149. Typical student debt for counseling psychology graduates is $19,583. Soon after graduation, counseling psychology degree recipients from University Of North Texas generally make around $58,758. That is a strong return on a $19,583 median debt. University Of North Texas admits about 72% of applicants.
Sam Houston State University ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best value counseling psychology schools. Sam Houston State University is a very large public school located in the town of Huntsville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $9,228, with out-of-state students paying around $19,068. Typical student debt for counseling psychology graduates is $24,850. Soon after graduation, counseling psychology degree recipients from Sam Houston State University generally make around $44,512. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Sam Houston State University admits about 90% of applicants.
Prairie View A And M University earned the #12 position for value in counseling psychology this year. Located in the rural area of Prairie View, Prairie View A And M University is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,299, with out-of-state students paying around $26,874. Students borrow a median of $29,824 to complete the counseling psychology program here. Soon after graduation, counseling psychology degree recipients from Prairie View A And M University generally make around $51,831. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 79%.
Texas State University San Marcos landed the #13 spot for counseling psychology value this year. Located in the city of San Marcos, Texas State University San Marcos is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $11,450 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $22,930. Counseling Psychology graduates carry a median of $23,659 in student loans. Soon after graduation, counseling psychology degree recipients from Texas State University San Marcos generally make around $53,083. Set against $23,659 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 89%.
Our Lady Of The Lake University San Antonio landed the #14 spot for counseling psychology value this year. Located in the city of San Antonio, Our Lady Of The Lake University San Antonio is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $32,106. Typical student debt for counseling psychology graduates is $26,759. Soon after graduation, counseling psychology degree recipients from Our Lady Of The Lake University San Antonio generally make around $49,489. Set against $26,759 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
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Texas Tech University earned the #15 position for value in counseling psychology this year. Located in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $11,852, compared with $24,157 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for counseling psychology graduates is $24,271. Soon after graduation, counseling psychology degree recipients from Texas Tech University generally make around $69,689. That is a strong return on a $24,271 median debt. The acceptance rate is 73%.
Texas Wesleyan University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value counseling psychology schools. Texas Wesleyan University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Fort Worth. In-state tuition and fees average $39,582. Counseling Psychology graduates carry a median of $26,461 in student loans. Early-career counseling psychology graduates make about $47,055. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 69% of applicants are accepted.
Southwestern Assemblies Of God University landed the #17 spot for counseling psychology value this year. Southwestern Assemblies Of God University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Waxahachie. In-state tuition and fees average $25,064. Students borrow a median of $28,248 to complete the counseling psychology program here. Early-career counseling psychology graduates make about $38,169. Set against $28,248 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 89% of applicants are accepted.
Tarleton State University placed #18 among the best values for counseling psychology. Set in the town of Stephenville, Tarleton State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $8,302, compared with $18,142 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $23,222 to complete the counseling psychology program here. Soon after graduation, counseling psychology degree recipients from Tarleton State University generally make around $43,238. That is a strong return on a $23,222 median debt. Tarleton State University admits about 90% of applicants.
Wayland Baptist University came in at #19 for value in counseling psychology this year. Located in the town of Plainview, Wayland Baptist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $23,782. Students borrow a median of $30,204 to complete the counseling psychology program here. Soon after graduation, counseling psychology degree recipients from Wayland Baptist University generally make around $43,453. That is a strong return on a $30,204 median debt. Roughly 56% of applicants are accepted.
West Texas A And M University came in at #20 for value in counseling psychology this year. West Texas A And M University is a large public school located in the town of Canyon. In-state tuition and fees average $9,101, with out-of-state students paying around $10,996. Typical student debt for counseling psychology graduates is $22,333. Early-career counseling psychology graduates make about $43,515. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 99%.
Texas A And M University College Station earned the #21 position for value in counseling psychology this year. Located in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,995, compared with $40,124 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for counseling psychology graduates is $20,031. Early-career counseling psychology graduates make about $67,722. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 57%.
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Lubbock Christian University landed the #22 spot for counseling psychology value this year. Located in the city of Lubbock, Lubbock Christian University is a small private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $28,540. Students borrow a median of $28,337 to complete the counseling psychology program here. Counseling Psychology graduates of Lubbock Christian University earn a median of $42,671 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Lubbock Christian University admits about 73% of applicants.
Abilene Christian University placed #23 among the best values for counseling psychology. Located in the city of Abilene, Abilene Christian University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $44,200. Students borrow a median of $23,772 to complete the counseling psychology program here. Early-career counseling psychology graduates make about $52,566. Set against $23,772 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 66%.
Dallas Baptist University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best value counseling psychology schools. Located in the city of Dallas, Dallas Baptist University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $40,190. Students borrow a median of $22,819 to complete the counseling psychology program here. Early-career counseling psychology graduates make about $40,685. That is a strong return on a $22,819 median debt. The acceptance rate is 89%.
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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 · 32 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 19 ranked schools only.
More about our data sources and methodologies.