2026 Best Value Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology Schools in Virginia
[Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology](/majors/psychology/clinical-counseling-applied-psychology/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 16 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 Virginia
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the clinical, counseling & applied psychology degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology Schools
For return on investment in clinical, counseling & applied psychology, no school beat George Mason University this year. Set in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $14,220 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $38,688. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates carry a median of $23,529 in student loans. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates of George Mason University earn a median of $60,240 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $23,529 median debt. The acceptance rate is 88%.
A rank of #2 makes Mary Baldwin College one of the best values for clinical, counseling & applied psychology. Mary Baldwin College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Staunton. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,187. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates carry a median of $29,562 in student loans. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates of Mary Baldwin College earn a median of $60,386 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $29,562 median debt.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Regent University earned it the #3 place for clinical, counseling & applied psychology. Set in the city of Virginia Beach, Regent University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,650. Typical student debt for clinical, counseling & applied psychology graduates is $29,451. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates of Regent University earn a median of $77,356 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Regent University admits about 38% of applicants.
Virginia Commonwealth University is a great value for students pursuing a degree in clinical, counseling & applied psychology, landing the #4 spot this year. 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 clinical, counseling & applied psychology program here. Soon after graduation, clinical, counseling & applied psychology degree recipients from Virginia Commonwealth University generally make around $68,489. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 93% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes College Of William And Mary one of the best values for clinical, counseling & applied psychology. Located in the suburb of Williamsburg, College Of William And Mary is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $25,734, compared with $51,038 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for clinical, counseling & applied psychology graduates is $18,935. Early-career clinical, counseling & applied psychology graduates make about $53,338. Set against $18,935 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 34%.
University Of Virginia Main Campus came in at #6 for value in clinical, counseling & applied psychology this year. University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public school located in the suburb of Charlottesville. In-state tuition and fees average $23,118, with out-of-state students paying around $61,591. Typical student debt for clinical, counseling & applied psychology graduates is $18,627. Soon after graduation, clinical, counseling & applied psychology degree recipients from University Of Virginia Main Campus generally make around $54,093. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 17% of applicants are accepted.
Marymount University earned the #7 position for value in clinical, counseling & applied psychology this year. Set in the city of Arlington, Marymount University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $40,120 in tuition and fees. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates carry a median of $26,880 in student loans. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates of Marymount University earn a median of $50,490 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,880 median debt. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Liberty University came in at #8 for value in clinical, counseling & applied psychology this year. Located in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a very large private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $16,173. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates carry a median of $27,414 in student loans. Soon after graduation, clinical, counseling & applied psychology degree recipients from Liberty University generally make around $56,178. Set against $27,414 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Liberty University admits about 99% of applicants.
Shenandoah University earned the #9 position for value in clinical, counseling & applied psychology this year. Set in the city of Winchester, Shenandoah University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $36,950. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates carry a median of $26,005 in student loans. Early-career clinical, counseling & applied psychology graduates make about $62,948. That is a strong return on a $26,005 median debt. Roughly 77% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 16 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.
