2026 Best Value Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology Schools in Illinois
[Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology](/majors/psychology/clinical-counseling-applied-psychology/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 33 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for clinical, counseling & applied psychology students.
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2026 Best Value Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology Schools in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in clinical, counseling & applied psychology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology Schools
For return on investment in clinical, counseling & applied psychology, no school beat Governors State University this year. Located in the suburb of University Park, Governors State University is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $12,004 in tuition and fees. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates carry a median of $24,990 in student loans. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates of Governors State University earn a median of $52,581 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,990 median debt. Governors State University admits about 48% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in clinical, counseling & applied psychology will find it at University Of Illinois At Chicago, which ranked #2. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public school located in the city of Chicago. Students from in state pay about $15,949 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $32,009. Students borrow a median of $20,115 to complete the clinical, counseling & applied psychology program here. Early-career clinical, counseling & applied psychology graduates make about $61,829. Set against $20,115 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 77%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at University Of Illinois At Springfield earned it the #3 place for clinical, counseling & applied psychology. Located in the city of Springfield, University Of Illinois At Springfield is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $12,557 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $20,139. Typical student debt for clinical, counseling & applied psychology graduates is $24,925. Soon after graduation, clinical, counseling & applied psychology degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Springfield generally make around $48,357. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 86% of applicants are accepted.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value clinical, counseling & applied psychology schools. Set in the suburb of Edwardsville, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,092. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates carry a median of $23,917 in student loans. Soon after graduation, clinical, counseling & applied psychology degree recipients from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville generally make around $54,302. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 98% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in clinical, counseling & applied psychology will find it at Chicago State University, which ranked #5. Set in the city of Chicago, Chicago State University is a mid-sized public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $12,754, compared with $12,757 for out-of-state students. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates carry a median of $43,322 in student loans. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates of Chicago State University earn a median of $47,477 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $43,322 median debt. Chicago State University admits about 43% of applicants.
Eastern Illinois University placed #6 among the best values for clinical, counseling & applied psychology. Set in the town of Charleston, Eastern Illinois University is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,377, compared with $15,859 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for clinical, counseling & applied psychology graduates is $24,293. Soon after graduation, clinical, counseling & applied psychology degree recipients from Eastern Illinois University generally make around $55,825. That is a strong return on a $24,293 median debt. The acceptance rate is 65%.
National Louis University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value clinical, counseling & applied psychology schools. Set in the city of Chicago, National Louis University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $13,245. Typical student debt for clinical, counseling & applied psychology graduates is $29,242. Early-career clinical, counseling & applied psychology graduates make about $57,591. That is a strong return on a $29,242 median debt. National Louis University admits about 95% of applicants.
Concordia University Chicago earned the #8 position for value in clinical, counseling & applied psychology this year. Set in the suburb of River Forest, Concordia University Chicago is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,488. Typical student debt for clinical, counseling & applied psychology graduates is $26,956. Early-career clinical, counseling & applied psychology graduates make about $51,374. Set against $26,956 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 93%.
University Of Chicago came in at #9 for value in clinical, counseling & applied psychology this year. Set in the city of Chicago, University Of Chicago is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $69,324. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the clinical, counseling & applied psychology program here. Early-career clinical, counseling & applied psychology graduates make about $39,808. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 4% of applicants are accepted.
North Park University landed the #10 spot for clinical, counseling & applied psychology value this year. North Park University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $36,710. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates carry a median of $27,360 in student loans. Early-career clinical, counseling & applied psychology graduates make about $55,960. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 68% of applicants are accepted.
Illinois State University landed the #11 spot for clinical, counseling & applied psychology value this year. Illinois State University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Normal. Students from in state pay about $14,410 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $26,058. Typical student debt for clinical, counseling & applied psychology graduates is $21,896. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates of Illinois State University earn a median of $49,660 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $21,896 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
Elmhurst College landed the #12 spot for clinical, counseling & applied psychology value this year. Located in the suburb of Elmhurst, Elmhurst College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $42,955 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $22,400 to complete the clinical, counseling & applied psychology program here. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates of Elmhurst College earn a median of $72,270 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $22,400 median debt. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Roosevelt University earned the #13 position for value in clinical, counseling & applied psychology this year. Set in the city of Chicago, Roosevelt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $21,315 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for clinical, counseling & applied psychology graduates is $23,879. Early-career clinical, counseling & applied psychology graduates make about $59,141. Set against $23,879 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 97%.
Benedictine University landed the #14 spot for clinical, counseling & applied psychology value this year. Located in the suburb of Lisle, Benedictine University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $32,648. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates carry a median of $25,338 in student loans. Early-career clinical, counseling & applied psychology graduates make about $52,276. Set against $25,338 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Benedictine University admits about 95% of applicants.
Mckendree University came in at #15 for value in clinical, counseling & applied psychology this year. Set in the suburb of Lebanon, Mckendree University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $34,740. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates carry a median of $24,362 in student loans. Early-career clinical, counseling & applied psychology graduates make about $51,068. That is a strong return on a $24,362 median debt. Mckendree University admits about 72% of applicants.
Judson University earned the #16 position for value in clinical, counseling & applied psychology this year. Set in the city of Elgin, Judson University is a small private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $30,297. Typical student debt for clinical, counseling & applied psychology graduates is $27,685. Soon after graduation, clinical, counseling & applied psychology degree recipients from Judson University generally make around $45,486. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Judson University admits about 48% of applicants.
Wheaton College Illinois came in at #17 for value in clinical, counseling & applied psychology this year. Set in the suburb of Wheaton, Wheaton College Illinois is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $45,546 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,292 to complete the clinical, counseling & applied psychology program here. Early-career clinical, counseling & applied psychology graduates make about $56,094. Set against $23,292 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Wheaton College Illinois admits about 87% of applicants.
Northwestern University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best value clinical, counseling & applied psychology schools. Set in the city of Evanston, Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $68,322. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $43,591 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $16,616 median debt. The acceptance rate is 8%.
Depaul University placed #19 among the best values for clinical, counseling & applied psychology. Depaul University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $45,405. Students borrow a median of $25,310 to complete the clinical, counseling & applied psychology program here. Soon after graduation, clinical, counseling & applied psychology degree recipients from Depaul University generally make around $55,226. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 76%.
Loyola University Chicago came in at #20 for value in clinical, counseling & applied psychology this year. Loyola University Chicago is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $53,710. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates carry a median of $23,521 in student loans. Soon after graduation, clinical, counseling & applied psychology degree recipients from Loyola University Chicago generally make around $67,469. Set against $23,521 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 82%.
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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 · 33 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 19 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.
