Best Master’s Programs in Mental Health Counseling for 2025
Psychology.org is committed to delivering content that is objective and actionable. To that end, we have built a network of industry professionals across higher education to review our content and ensure we are providing the most helpful information to our readers.
Drawing on their firsthand industry expertise, our Integrity Network members serve as an additional step in our editing process, helping us confirm our content is accurate and up to date. These contributors:
- Suggest changes to inaccurate or misleading information.
- Provide specific, corrective feedback.
- Identify critical information that writers may have missed.
Integrity Network members typically work full time in their industry profession and review content for Psychology.org as a side project. All Integrity Network members are paid members of the Red Ventures Education Integrity Network.
Whether you’ve decided to pursue a mental health counseling degree or are still considering your options, this guide helps you learn more about the top counseling schools and programs for you — and some possibilities for how to finance your education.
Featured Online Counseling Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Best Master’s in Mental Health Counseling Programs of 2025
CUNY Lehman College
Bronx, NY- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$6,930
- Out-of-state$14,880
- In-State$11,090
- Out-of-state$20,520
- Retention Rate71%
- Acceptance Rate55%
- Students Enrolled15,143
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment73%
- AccreditationYes
University of Florida
- Gainesville, FL
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$4,477
- Out-of-state$25,694
- In-State$10,770
- Out-of-state$27,335
- Retention Rate97%
- Acceptance Rate24%
- Students Enrolled54,814
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment57%
- AccreditationYes
Johns Hopkins University
- Baltimore, MD
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$60,480
- Out-of-state$60,480
- In-State$60,480
- Out-of-state$60,480
- Retention Rate98%
- Acceptance Rate8%
- Students Enrolled30,363
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment62%
- AccreditationYes
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
- Champaign, IL
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$12,474
- Out-of-state$30,446
- In-State$14,891
- Out-of-state$29,176
- Retention Rate94%
- Acceptance Rate44%
- Students Enrolled56,563
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment62%
- AccreditationYes
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College
- New York, NY
- 4 year
- Campus
- In-State$6,930
- Out-of-state$14,880
- In-State$11,090
- Out-of-state$20,520
- Retention Rate88%
- Acceptance Rate51%
- Students Enrolled19,698
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment53%
- AccreditationYes
Boston College
- Chestnut Hill, MA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$62,950
- Out-of-state$62,950
- In-State$33,912
- Out-of-state$33,912
- Retention Rate93%
- Acceptance Rate17%
- Students Enrolled14,734
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment17%
- AccreditationYes
University of Miami
- Coral Gables, FL
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$55,440
- Out-of-state$55,440
- In-State$41,580
- Out-of-state$41,580
- Retention Rate92%
- Acceptance Rate19%
- Students Enrolled19,593
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment26%
- AccreditationYes
Fairfield University
- Fairfield, CT
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$53,630
- Out-of-state$53,630
- In-State$20,034
- Out-of-state$20,034
- Retention Rate90%
- Acceptance Rate45%
- Students Enrolled6,289
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment21%
- AccreditationYes
George Washington University
- Washington, DC
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$60,856
- Out-of-state$60,856
- In-State$33,930
- Out-of-state$33,930
- Retention Rate92%
- Acceptance Rate44%
- Students Enrolled25,568
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment25%
- AccreditationYes
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
- Minneapolis, MN
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$14,496
- Out-of-state$34,410
- In-State$18,468
- Out-of-state$28,578
- Retention Rate91%
- Acceptance Rate77%
- Students Enrolled54,890
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment37%
- AccreditationYes
Our Ranking Methodology
Psychology.org ranks education programs using data from reputable sources like the U.S. Department of Education. Our vetting process also includes a quality assurance team that assesses datasets for accuracy.
Psychology.org reserves the right to exclude any schools that lack significant data from the rankings to ensure accurate calculations. This list is for 2025. For more about how Psychology.org evaluates and ranks education programs, visit our full ranking methodology.
What to Look For in a Mental Health Counseling Program
When researching grad schools for counseling, you’ll want to pay attention to factors including accreditation, tuition, fees, and financial aid options.
Make sure you know the school’s admission requirements, which typically include a minimum GPA, relevant work experience, a background check, and GRE scores.
Accreditation for Counseling Master’s Programs
To be eligible for state licensure or professional certification from the National Board for Certified Counselors, you must graduate from an accredited master’s in counseling program. All top graduate schools for counseling will likely maintain proper accreditation.
Many of the best master’s-level counseling schools and programs also hold accreditation from the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). This additional, programmatic accreditation indicates that an individual program meets established requirements for training counselors. All of the programs in our school rankings are accredited.
Practical Experience Requirements
If you want to become a licensed professional counselor (LPC), make sure that your counseling school’s program meets the practical experience requirements of your state board.
Typically, grad schools for counseling offer internships and practicums, where students apply what they’ve learned in the classroom to real-world settings. Generally, internships include supervised hands-on experience, while practicums provide opportunities to observe an LPC.
Programs may help you locate and secure internship and practicum placements. Others require you to arrange your own position. Ensure that the program you choose has an option that works for you and that the experience satisfies your state’s requirements.
Mental Health Specializations for Counseling Program Graduates
Though exact licensing qualifications vary by state, becoming a mental health counselor typically requires successful completion of a master’s degree in counseling, supervised internship hours, supervised postgraduate experience hours, and passing an approved certification exam.
Examples of possible specializations and certifications for mental health counselors include:
| Specialization | Relevant Certifications |
|---|---|
| Substance Use and Addiction Counseling | National Certified Counselor (NCC), Master Addictions Counselor |
| Clinical Mental Health Counseling | NCC, Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor |
| Marriage, Family, and Relationship Counseling | NCC |
| Behavioral Counseling | NCC |
| Rehabilitation Counseling | NCC, Certified Rehabilitation Counselor |
| Trauma Counseling | NCC, Clinical Trauma Professional |
The median annual pay for substance use, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors is $53,710, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The BLS projects that these jobs will grow by 19% from 2023-2033, which is much faster than average.
Paying for a Mental Health Counseling Program
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the average annual cost of tuition and fees for a master’s degree in a health professions field, including counseling, was $15,401 in 2020. Additional costs often include books, supplies, transportation and parking for class and/or internships, and technology and background check fees.
Research and apply for financial aid options to help offset the costs of a mental health counselor degree. Available funding usually includes federal loans and grants and departmental, institutional, and private scholarships.
Graduate students may also find teaching or research assistantships or fellowships through their counseling schools or professional organizations.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mental Health Counseling Master’s Programs
Popular mental health therapist degrees include a master’s in counseling, psychology, or a closely related field. Most states require a master’s degree or higher to become a licensed professional counselor.
