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Best Value Mental & Social Health Services Associate Degree Schools in California

2023 Best Value Mental & Social Health Services Associate Degree Schools in California

Identifying Quality Schools at More Affordable Prices

26 Colleges
$1,251 Avg Tuition & Fees*
$29,728 Avg Salary

Finding the Best Mental & Social Health Services Associate Degree School for You

In 2021-2022, 1,407 degrees and certificates were awarded to mental & social health services students who went to a California college or university. This makes it the #15 most popular major in the state.

With all the trade school programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best for you. Along with traditional schools that require in-person attendence, you can attend one of many reputable online schools. Some programs even offer a hybrid experience.

To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Trade College Search has developed this Best Value Mental & Social Health Services Associate Degree Schools in California ranking. Our analysis looked at 26 schools in California to see which associate degree programs offered the best value experiences for mental health services students with the aim of identifying those quality schools that are more affordable than some of their counterparts.

Our ranking of value is based on the quality of a program as defined in our per sticker price dollar. More specifically, we discount our quality score by the published tuition and fees charged by a school. This gives the cost per unit of quality for each college. The value is determined by how much quality your dollar buys.

In our regional and nationwide rankings, out-of-state tution and fees are used in our calculations. Average in-state tuition and fees are used for our statewide rankings.

2023 Best Value Mental & Social Health Services Associate Degree Schools in California

The colleges and universities below are the best value schools for mental health services majors pursuing a associate degree.

Top 10 Best Mental & Social Health Services Associate Degree Schools

#1

Cuesta College

San Luis Obispo, CA

Our analysis found Cuesta College to be the best value school for mental & social health services students who want to pursue a associate degree in California. Cuesta College is a medium-sized public school located in the small suburb of San Luis Obispo.

In-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Cuesta College are $1,340 per year.

Cuesta College did well in our overall quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our Best Mental & Social Health Services Associate Degree Trade Schools in California list.

Full Mental & Social Health Services at Cuesta College Report

The excellent associate degree programs at West Hills College-Coalinga helped the school earn the #2 place on this year’s ranking of the best value mental & social health services schools in California. West Hills College-Coalinga is a small public school located in the distant town of Coalinga.

The average tuition and fees for an in-state undergraduate at West Hills College-Coalinga are $1,380 a year. After completing their Associate Degree, mental health services graduates from West Hills College-Coalinga carry an average student debtload of $9,001.

Read full report on Mental & Social Health Services at West Hills College-Coalinga

The excellent associate degree programs at Napa Valley College helped the school earn the #3 place on this year’s ranking of the best value mental & social health services schools in California. Located in the city of Napa, Napa Valley College is a public college with a small student population.

In-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Napa Valley College are $1,156 per year.

Napa Valley College also claimed a spot on our Best Mental & Social Health Services Associate Degree Trade Schools in California list. It’s in the top 15% of all schools in this category.

Full Mental & Social Health Services at Napa Valley College Report

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend Mt. San Antonio College. The school came in at #4 on this year’s Best Value Mental & Social Health Services Associate Degree Schools in California list. Located in the suburb of Walnut, Mt. SAC is a public college with a fairly large student population.

In-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Mt. SAC are $1,352 per year.

In addition to its great value ranking, Mt. SAC is in the top 20% of all schools on our Best Mental & Social Health Services Associate Degree Trade Schools in California list.

Read More…

#5

San Bernardino Valley College

San Bernardino, CA

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend San Bernardino Valley College. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Best Value Mental & Social Health Services Associate Degree Schools in California list. San Bernardino Valley College is a fairly large public school located in the midsize city of San Bernardino.

San Bernardino Valley College undergraduate students pay an average of $744 in in-state tuition and fees each year.

Read full report on Mental & Social Health Services at San Bernardino Valley College

#6

Modesto Junior College

Modesto, CA

Modesto Junior College ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Mental & Social Health Services Associate Degree Schools in California list. Located in the medium-sized city of Modesto, MJC is a public school with a fairly large student population.

MJC undergraduate students pay an average of $1,276 in in-state tuition and fees each year.

Full Mental & Social Health Services at Modesto Junior College Report

#7

Yuba College

Marysville, CA

Yuba College came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Mental & Social Health Services Associate Degree Schools in California ranking. Located in the suburb of Marysville, Yuba College is a public college with a medium-sized student population.

In-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at Yuba College are $1,128 per year.

Read full report on Mental & Social Health Services at Yuba College

#8

Santa Rosa Junior College

Santa Rosa, CA

Santa Rosa Junior College landed the #8 spot in the 2023 rankings for the best value associate degree mental & social health services programs. SRJC is a large public school located in the midsize city of Santa Rosa.

SRJC undergraduate students pay an average of $1,318 in in-state tuition and fees each year.

SRJC also claimed a spot on our Best Mental & Social Health Services Associate Degree Trade Schools in California list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category.

Read full report on Mental & Social Health Services at Santa Rosa Junior College

#9

American River College

Sacramento, CA

American River College came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Mental & Social Health Services Associate Degree Schools in California ranking. Located in the large suburb of Sacramento, American River is a public school with a very large student population.

Full Mental & Social Health Services at American River College Report

#10

Santa Barbara City College

Santa Barbara, CA

With a ranking of #10, Santa Barbara City College did quite well on this year’s best value schools for mental & social health services students working on their associate degree. SBCC is a large public school located in the small city of Santa Barbara.

In-state tuition fees for undergraduate students at SBCC are $1,234 per year.

SBCC not only placed well in our value ranking, but it is also #4 on our Best Mental & Social Health Services Associate Degree Trade Schools in California list.

Read More…

Best Value Mental & Social Health Services Colleges in the Far Western US Region

Explore all the Best Value Mental & Social Health Services Colleges in the Far Western US Area or other specific states within that region.

State Degrees Awarded
Washington 445
Oregon 94
Nevada 23
Alaska 60

One of 11 majors within the trade school area of study, mental & social health services has other similar majors worth exploring.

Mental Health Services Concentrations

Major Annual Graduates
Mental Health Counseling/Counselor 8,344
Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling 5,915
Other Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions 3,697
Marriage and Family Therapy/Counseling 3,683
Clinical/Medical Social Work 2,864
Psychiatric/Mental Health Services Technician 2,762
Community Health Services/Liaison/Counseling 2,419
Genetic Counseling/Counselor 299
Clinical Pastoral Counseling/Patient Counseling 217
Trauma Counseling 104
Medical Family Therapy/Therapist 12
Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy 12
Hospice and Palliative Care 3

Majors Similar to Mental Health Services

Related Major Annual Graduates
Health & Medical Administrative Services 88,600
Practical Nursing & Nursing Assistants 85,339
Allied Health Professions 83,905
Allied Health & Medical Assisting Services 83,587
Health Sciences & Services 36,762

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 26 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 the rest 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.

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