2026 Best Value Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology Schools in Connecticut

[Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology](/majors/psychology/clinical-counseling-applied-psychology/) 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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 10 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 Connecticut
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
Western Connecticut State University earned the #1 spot for value among clinical, counseling & applied psychology schools in Connecticut. Western Connecticut State University is a mid-sized public school located in the city of Danbury. Students from in state pay about $13,401 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $16,901. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates carry a median of $25,332 in student loans. Early-career clinical, counseling & applied psychology graduates make about $59,556. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 87% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #2 makes Post University one of the best values for clinical, counseling & applied psychology. Set in the city of Waterbury, Post University is a very large private for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $15,922. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates carry a median of $35,364 in student loans. Early-career clinical, counseling & applied psychology graduates make about $60,893. That is a strong return on a $35,364 median debt.
A rank of #3 makes Southern Connecticut State University one of the best values for clinical, counseling & applied psychology. Set in the city of New Haven, Southern Connecticut State University is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,442, with out-of-state students paying around $16,942. Typical student debt for clinical, counseling & applied psychology graduates is $24,660. Soon after graduation, clinical, counseling & applied psychology degree recipients from Southern Connecticut State University generally make around $59,067. Set against $24,660 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Students looking for strong value in clinical, counseling & applied psychology will find it at University Of Connecticut, which ranked #4. Located in the town of Storrs, University Of Connecticut is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $21,044, with out-of-state students paying around $43,712. Students borrow a median of $23,637 to complete the clinical, counseling & applied psychology program here. Soon after graduation, clinical, counseling & applied psychology degree recipients from University Of Connecticut generally make around $55,022. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 52%.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Saint Joseph College earned it the #5 place for clinical, counseling & applied psychology. Located in the city of West Hartford, Saint Joseph College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $47,278. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates carry a median of $27,798 in student loans. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates of Saint Joseph College earn a median of $56,452 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $27,798 median debt. Saint Joseph College admits about 79% of applicants.
University Of Hartford ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best value clinical, counseling & applied psychology schools. Located in the city of West Hartford, University Of Hartford is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $49,075. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates carry a median of $25,648 in student loans. Early-career clinical, counseling & applied psychology graduates make about $75,719. Set against $25,648 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Hartford admits about 96% of applicants.
University Of New Haven came in at #7 for value in clinical, counseling & applied psychology this year. University Of New Haven is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of West Haven. In-state tuition and fees average $47,332. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates carry a median of $26,244 in student loans. Early-career clinical, counseling & applied psychology graduates make about $62,342. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 60% of applicants are accepted.
Fairfield University came in at #8 for value in clinical, counseling & applied psychology this year. Fairfield University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Fairfield. In-state tuition and fees average $58,400. Typical student debt for clinical, counseling & applied psychology graduates is $26,687. Soon after graduation, clinical, counseling & applied psychology degree recipients from Fairfield University generally make around $66,305. Set against $26,687 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Fairfield University admits about 33% of applicants.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published 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 · 10 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 8 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.