A master’s in clinical mental health can launch you into a meaningful career as a licensed counselor, helping people overcome challenges and improve their quality of life.
Explore our top-ranked clinical mental health master’s programs. Learn about degree requirements, costs, and career and earning possibilities after completing your master’s degree.
Popular Online Master's in Counseling Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
The Best Online Master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Programs
#1 Best Online Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Programs
Southwestern Assemblies of God University
- Waxahachie, TX
- 4 years
- Online + Campus
Cost per Credit: $545
Credits to Graduate: 60
The online master's in clinical mental health counseling program at Southwestern Assemblies of God University takes a Christian approach to preparing graduates for Texas licensure or doctoral study. Out-of-state students may qualify for licensure but should confirm with their state boards.
In addition to online classes, distance learners attend two week-long summer intensives on the Waxahachie, Texas, campus and complete 700 in-person practicum and internship hours. Grants and scholarships can help enrollees graduate with 20% less debt than those at other private universities.
Percent Online Enrollment
70%
Percentage of all students who are enrolled online.
Accreditation
Yes
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
#2 Best Online Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Programs
The Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Los Angeles
- Los Angeles, CA
- 4 years
- Online + Campus
Programmatic Accreditation: Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs
Cost per Credit: $1,368
Credits to Graduate: 60
The Chicago School of Professional Psychology offers a clinical health counseling master's program online that students can complete in less than four years. The curriculum emphasizes counselor identity, ethics, multiculturalism, prevention, and program evaluation. Two required on-campus residencies take place during the first and second years.
Distance learners identify their own practicum and internship sites where they complete 700 supervised clinical hours. The program meets the educational requirements for licensure in all states, except Kansas and California. Students can contact their state board for additional information.
Percent Online Enrollment
91%
Percentage of all students who are enrolled online.
Accreditation
Yes
Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
#3 Best Online Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Programs
University of the Cumberlands
- Williamsburg, KY
- 4 years
- Online + Campus
Programmatic Accreditation: Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs
Cost per Credit: $449
Credits to Graduate: 60
The University of Cumberlands' online clinical mental health counseling graduate program awards a master's degree and prepares graduates for licensure. Specialization courses cover child and adolescent counseling, marriage and family counseling, private practice and clinical supervision, and process and techniques in counseling. Enrollees need a passing score on the counseling department's comprehensive exam to graduate.
The program welcomes applications from bachelor's degree-holders and professionals from other fields. Admitted students can transfer up to 18 semester credits earned at a regionally accredited school.
Percent Online Enrollment
95%
Percentage of all students who are enrolled online.
Accreditation
Yes
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
#4 Best Online Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Programs
Palo Alto University
- Palo Alto, CA
- 4 years
- Online + Campus
Programmatic Accreditation: Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs
Cost per Credit: $580
Credits to Graduate: 94.5 quarter credits
Palo Alto University offers a master's in clinical mental health counseling online (with two residencies) or in a hybrid format. Students can complete their degree in two years and apply for licensure in California and, potentially, in other states. The program features a marriage and family therapist emphasis that qualifies students for California licensure but may not in other states.
Learners can choose on-campus evening courses or attend Zoom sessions. They also must complete 700 hours of in-person fieldwork placements.
Retention Rate
Not provided
Acceptance Rate
Not provided
Percent Online Enrollment
100%
Percentage of all students who are enrolled online.
Accreditation
Yes
Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
#5 Best Online Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Programs
LeTourneau University
- Longview, TX
- 4 years
- Online + Campus
Cost per Credit: $625
Credits to Graduate: 66
Offering a Christian Polytechnic education, LeTourneau University offers a master's in clinical mental health counseling among its graduate programs. The online program meets the requirements for Texas licensure; interested out-of-state students should check with their state boards. LeTourneau reports a 93% graduate counseling placement rate and a 90% rate of enrollees receiving financial aid.
The curriculum includes clinical theology coursework and specialization classes in abnormal human behavior: case conceptualization and treatment planning; professional orientation in clinical mental health counseling; and psychopharmacology.
Percent Online Enrollment
63%
Percentage of all students who are enrolled online.
Accreditation
Yes
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
At BestCounselingDegrees.net, we use data from reputable sources like the U.S. Department of Education to help you find the best school for your needs. The most important metric in our rankings -- affordability -- accounts for 60% of our formula. We also consider academic quality, program offerings, online enrollment, and graduation rates. To learn more, consult our ranking methodology.
Why Get a Master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling?
Earning a master’s in mental health counseling expands opportunities in many career paths, helping individuals, families, and communities in need.
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Growing Job Opportunities
The demand for clinical mental health counselors continues to increase. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects an 18% job growth for substance use, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors between 2022 and 2032, a much faster rate than the national average of 3% for all occupations.
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Career Advancement
A master’s in clinical mental health counseling prepares you for state licensure, broadening your job prospects and ensuring you have the training and credentials to qualify for employment opportunities in various practice settings and specialized treatment areas.
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Personal Fulfillment
A graduate degree in clinical mental health counseling provides you with the knowledge and skills to make a positive change in people’s lives. Clinical mental health counselors engage in meaningful work, helping clients confront challenges and improve the quality of their lives.
What to Expect From a Master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
A master’s program in clinical mental health counseling typically requires 60 credit hours completed over two years. You can expect to take core courses in
- Counseling theory
- Individual and group counseling
- Research methods and statistics
- Ethical and legal considerations
Whether you choose an online or campus-based program, you must complete supervised in-person field placements and internships.
Most states require or prefer that you earn a master’s from a program accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) to become licensed as a counselor. CACREP accreditation demonstrates that your counseling degree meets the academic and professional standards required for state licensure, including 600 supervised internship hours.
This versatile degree prepares you for careers offering direct clinical services in hospitals and clinics, community mental health centers, and private practice. The master’s also provides a strong foundation for doctoral studies, which can lead to advanced career opportunities in higher education and research.
Popular Clinical Mental Health Counseling Courses
You may enroll in an MS program in mental health counseling that emphasizes applying statistical analysis and research to clinical practice or an MA program that focuses on theoretical approaches and therapeutic techniques. Both programs require core coursework in counseling and psychotherapy theories and applications, human development, multicultural approaches, and professional and ethical practice.
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Basic Counseling Skills
Students in this course learn basic counseling and therapeutic relationship-building skills necessary for effective counseling, including active listening, intake interviewing, building rapport, self-reflection, and self-assessment procedures.
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Addiction Counseling
This introduction to addiction counseling explores the different types of addiction and strategies for prevention, intervention, and treatment. Students learn substance use addiction and disorder assessment and treatment approaches for substance use, misuse, abuse, and concurrent disorders.
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Group Counseling
This course examines the principles of group dynamics in counseling, including group process components, development stages of groups, therapeutic factors, the roles and behaviors of group members, and the impact of cultural differences on the group process.
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Multicultural Counseling
This course introduces approaches to effective counseling from a multicultural perspective in a diverse society. Topics include social and cultural identity issues and tensions in the counseling relationship, the effect of power and privilege, and the nature of microaggressions.
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Internship
In this required advanced fieldwork experience, students engage in a supervised internship, applying professional knowledge and skills in clinical settings and working with clients as mental health counselors.
How Much Do Master's Degrees in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Cost?
The average annual cost for graduate tuition in the 2021-22 school year was $20,513, according to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). However, attending a public college or university in your home state can cost considerably less than a private institution because you can qualify for in-state tuition. The yearly average cost for graduate tuition and fees at a public school in 2021-22 was $12,596 compared to $28,017 at a private institution, reports the NCES.
If you enroll in a traditional campus-based program, transportation and living expenses add to your out-of-pocket expenses. An online master’s may save you money on commuting and housing costs. Some online programs offer less expensive in-state tuition rates to out-of-state applicants.
Financial aid opportunities including grants, scholarships, and fellowships targeted for prospective graduate students, can offset the overall cost of earning your degree. You need to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine your eligibility for federal loans,government-sponsored grants, and other forms of financial aid. Many states, schools, and private organizations use FAFSA to establish eligibility for financial assistance.
Careers with a Master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Graduates of clinical mental health master’s programs pursue various careers, including but not limited to those described here. A master's prepares you to become a licensed clinical professional counselor in hospitals, residential facilities, or outpatient clinics. The BLS projects a strong job market for graduates specializing in addiction counseling, marriage and family therapy, and community health counseling.
Licensed Professional Counselor
Licensed professional counselors assess and treat individuals, families, and groups struggling with emotional and mental health issues. They may work with specific populations such as couples, older people, and children or focus on specialized areas such as substance use, grief, and eating disorders.
Median Annual Salary (May 2023): $53,710
Addictions Counselor
Addiction counselors work in individual and group settings to help people recover from substance use and other behavioral addictions. They assist clients, family members, and friends through the recovery process to understand the addiction and repair their relationships.
Median Annual Salary (May 2023): $53,710
Marriage and Family Counselor
Using a family systems approach, marriage and family counselors help individuals, couples, and families to address behavioral, emotional, and psychological concerns that impact marriage and family relationships. They help clients cope with issues such as marital conflict, domestic abuse, parenting problems, and other sources of tension.
Median Annual Salary (May 2023): $58,510
Social and Community Service Managers
Social and community service managers identify, plan, and administer programs and services that support community health. They work in various settings, including social service agencies, nonprofit organizations, and government offices.
Median Annual Salary (May 2023): $77,030
Common Questions About Master's Degrees in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Clinical psychology focuses on research, cognitive testing, and assessments to diagnose and treat severe mental disorders. Mental health counseling emphasizes therapy applied to a variety of behavioral, emotional, and psychological issues that impact day-to-day life and relationships, such as anxiety, depression, and addictions.
A master's degree in mental health counseling offers a pathway to professional opportunities. It has become the standard educational requirement for state counseling licensure in the U.S. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 42,000 job openings annually for mental health counselors through 2032, ranking among the fastest-growing mental health careers.
Mental health counselors and psychologists differ in their educational training and scope of practice. Mental health counselors need a master's to qualify for state licensure, while psychologists must have a Ph.D. or Psy.D.
Mental health counselors use therapeutic techniques to help people overcome behavioral, emotional, and mental health issues that impact their quality of life. Psychologists tend to focus on specific mental illnesses, conducting research, administering cognitive and neurological tests and assessments, and providing evidence-based interventions.
The difference between an MA and an MS in counseling lies in their approaches to the subject matter. An MS in counseling stresses scientific applications that use statistical analysis and empirical evidence in counseling practice.
An MA degree emphasizes theoretical and therapeutic approaches with a strong foundation in the liberal arts. Students with a bachelor's in psychology or a related social science may prefer the approach offered by an MS program. In contrast, a more generalist MA program may appeal to students with undergraduate degrees in the humanities.
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