University Headquarters (HQ) is an industry-leading, independent educational organization that provides independent college rankings using a proprietary formula to create first class, unbiased rankings. The team at University HQ strives to provide accurate and trustworthy rankings that highlight the best programs for a masters in mental health counseling.
The subject of mental health continues to increase in importance year after year. As a result, mental health counselors alone are expected to grow as a profession by roughly 23% in the next 10 years, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). These mental health professionals help to observe, diagnose, and treat individuals who suffer from various mental health concerns. Such concerns and issues might include anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression, eating disorders, PTSD, schizophrenia, and more. Earning a master’s in mental health counseling degree, also referred to as a master's in clinical mental health counseling degree program, is essential for most mid-level and higher career paths and you must already have a baccalaureate degree to earn it. You could work in a wide array of environments such as a hospital, clinic, school, corporate office, private practice, or community center. Additionally, now that insurance companies are providing more coverage for mental health services, this industry could be experiencing some much-needed financial injections in both the public and private sectors.
While student's core courses in counseling will depend on their specialization, those students who attend master's in mental health counseling on-campus or online programs, and related educational programs, will study a variety of subjects, including many of the following.
- Human Development
- Mental Illness
- Courses in Counseling Theory and Practice
- Substance Abuse Counseling
- Marriange and Family Counseling
- Clinical Psychology Theory and Practice
- School Counseling
- And More
Top 25 Best Online Masters in Mental Health Counseling Programs
North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Score: 84.18
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,895
- Out-of-State:$31,767
- Net Price: $14,852
- Acceptance Rate: 47%
- Retention Rate: 94%
- Graduation Rate: 85%
- Total Enrollment: 36,700
- Undergrad Students: 26,254
- Graduate Students: 10,446
- Grads Salary: $82,000
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
New York University
Score: 84
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $60,438
- Out-of-State:$60,438
- Net Price: $29,499
- Acceptance Rate: 12%
- Retention Rate: 95%
- Graduation Rate: 87%
- Total Enrollment: 59,144
- Undergrad Students: 29,401
- Graduate Students: 29,743
- Grads Salary: $87,000
- Student-to-faculty: 8:1
William & Mary
Score: 82.06
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $25,040
- Out-of-State:$49,412
- Net Price: $25,688
- Acceptance Rate: 33%
- Retention Rate: 95%
- Graduation Rate: 91%
- Total Enrollment: 9,654
- Undergrad Students: 6,797
- Graduate Students: 2,857
- Grads Salary: $80,000
- Student-to-faculty: 12:1
Wake Forest University
Score: 82.05
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $64,758
- Out-of-State:$64,758
- Net Price: $26,197
- Acceptance Rate: 21%
- Retention Rate: 94%
- Graduation Rate: 90%
- Total Enrollment: 8,963
- Undergrad Students: 5,447
- Graduate Students: 3,516
- Grads Salary: $79,000
- Student-to-faculty: 10:1
Truman State University
Score: 75.5
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $9,470
- Out-of-State:$17,870
- Net Price: $13,993
- Acceptance Rate: 45%
- Retention Rate: 81%
- Graduation Rate: 71%
- Total Enrollment: 3,960
- Undergrad Students: 3,622
- Graduate Students: 338
- Grads Salary: $71,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
LeTourneau University
Score: 74.91
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $35,500
- Out-of-State:$35,500
- Net Price: $26,974
- Acceptance Rate: 49%
- Retention Rate: 77%
- Graduation Rate: 67%
- Total Enrollment: 3,536
- Undergrad Students: 3,350
- Graduate Students: 186
- Grads Salary: $87,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
Bradley University
Score: 74.21
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $39,680
- Out-of-State:$39,680
- Net Price: $24,053
- Acceptance Rate: 75%
- Retention Rate: 83%
- Graduation Rate: 76%
- Total Enrollment: 5,552
- Undergrad Students: 4,143
- Graduate Students: 1,409
- Grads Salary: $78,000
- Student-to-faculty: 12:1
Marquette University
Score: 73.79
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $48,700
- Out-of-State:$48,700
- Net Price: $33,136
- Acceptance Rate: 87%
- Retention Rate: 89%
- Graduation Rate: 83%
- Total Enrollment: 11,167
- Undergrad Students: 7,528
- Graduate Students: 3,639
- Grads Salary: $82,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
Freed-Hardeman University
Score: 73.05
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $25,000
- Out-of-State:$25,000
- Net Price: $18,556
- Acceptance Rate: 91%
- Retention Rate: 92%
- Graduation Rate: 70%
- Total Enrollment: 2,330
- Undergrad Students: 1,850
- Graduate Students: 480
- Grads Salary: $74,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
Wayne State University
Score: 72.8
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $14,297
- Out-of-State:$30,419
- Net Price: $15,347
- Acceptance Rate: 75%
- Retention Rate: 84%
- Graduation Rate: 60%
- Total Enrollment: 23,630
- Undergrad Students: 15,958
- Graduate Students: 7,672
- Grads Salary: $77,000
- Student-to-faculty: 14:1
Lewis University
Score: 72.34
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $37,882
- Out-of-State:$37,882
- Net Price: $19,184
- Acceptance Rate: 74%
- Retention Rate: 81%
- Graduation Rate: 62%
- Total Enrollment: 6,513
- Undergrad Students: 3,933
- Graduate Students: 2,580
- Grads Salary: $79,000
- Student-to-faculty: 14:1
West Virginia University
Score: 72.15
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $9,648
- Out-of-State:$27,360
- Net Price: $12,202
- Acceptance Rate: 88%
- Retention Rate: 79%
- Graduation Rate: 62%
- Total Enrollment: 24,741
- Undergrad Students: 19,059
- Graduate Students: 5,682
- Grads Salary: $75,000
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
Texas Tech University
Score: 72.07
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $11,852
- Out-of-State:$24,451
- Net Price: $17,896
- Acceptance Rate: 67%
- Retention Rate: 86%
- Graduation Rate: 64%
- Total Enrollment: 40,378
- Undergrad Students: 32,579
- Graduate Students: 7,799
- Grads Salary: $76,000
- Student-to-faculty: 21:1
University of Mary
Score: 71.11
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $21,468
- Out-of-State:$21,468
- Net Price: $18,369
- Acceptance Rate: 81%
- Retention Rate: 80%
- Graduation Rate: 64%
- Total Enrollment: 3,652
- Undergrad Students: 2,506
- Graduate Students: 1,146
- Grads Salary: $75,000
- Student-to-faculty: 14:1
St. Bonaventure University
Score: 70.88
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $40,150
- Out-of-State:$40,150
- Net Price: $26,004
- Acceptance Rate: 81%
- Retention Rate: 80%
- Graduation Rate: 73%
- Total Enrollment: 2,602
- Undergrad Students: 1,856
- Graduate Students: 746
- Grads Salary: $75,000
- Student-to-faculty: 11:1
University of St. Thomas-Houston
Score: 70.71
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $33,660
- Out-of-State:$33,660
- Net Price: $19,207
- Acceptance Rate: 97%
- Retention Rate: 71%
- Graduation Rate: 66%
- Total Enrollment: 3,588
- Undergrad Students: 2,646
- Graduate Students: 942
- Grads Salary: $78,000
- Student-to-faculty: 14:1
Messiah University
Score: 70.62
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $40,640
- Out-of-State:$40,640
- Net Price: $24,120
- Acceptance Rate: 79%
- Retention Rate: 86%
- Graduation Rate: 78%
- Total Enrollment: 3,231
- Undergrad Students: 2,495
- Graduate Students: 736
- Grads Salary: $68,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
University of North Dakota
Score: 70.19
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $10,951
- Out-of-State:$15,570
- Net Price: $17,359
- Acceptance Rate: 83%
- Retention Rate: 79%
- Graduation Rate: 63%
- Total Enrollment: 13,876
- Undergrad Students: 9,928
- Graduate Students: 3,948
- Grads Salary: $74,000
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
Indiana Wesleyan University
Score: 70.15
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $31,168
- Out-of-State:$31,168
- Net Price: $21,755
- Acceptance Rate: 87%
- Retention Rate: 78%
- Graduation Rate: 67%
- Total Enrollment: 2,603
- Undergrad Students: 2,236
- Graduate Students: 367
- Grads Salary: $75,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
Creighton University
Score: 70.11
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $47,000
- Out-of-State:$47,000
- Net Price: $32,877
- Acceptance Rate: 76%
- Retention Rate: 92%
- Graduation Rate: 78%
- Total Enrollment: 8,397
- Undergrad Students: 4,290
- Graduate Students: 4,107
- Grads Salary: $73,000
- Student-to-faculty: 11:1
Gwynedd Mercy University
Score: 69.79
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $38,310
- Out-of-State:$38,310
- Net Price: $28,122
- Acceptance Rate: 58%
- Retention Rate: 76%
- Graduation Rate: 57%
- Total Enrollment: 2,091
- Undergrad Students: 1,412
- Graduate Students: 679
- Grads Salary: $82,000
- Student-to-faculty: 8:1
Waynesburg University
Score: 69.79
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $29,460
- Out-of-State:$29,460
- Net Price: $22,281
- Acceptance Rate: 76%
- Retention Rate: 72%
- Graduation Rate: 60%
- Total Enrollment: 1,366
- Undergrad Students: 1,116
- Graduate Students: 250
- Grads Salary: $79,000
- Student-to-faculty: 12:1
Central Michigan University
Score: 69.35
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $14,190
- Out-of-State:$14,190
- Net Price: $15,605
- Acceptance Rate: 79%
- Retention Rate: 72%
- Graduation Rate: 62%
- Total Enrollment: 14,557
- Undergrad Students: 10,401
- Graduate Students: 4,156
- Grads Salary: $72,000
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Score: 69.09
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,640
- Out-of-State:$22,752
- Net Price: $9,450
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 70%
- Graduation Rate: 39%
- Total Enrollment: 6,607
- Undergrad Students: 5,636
- Graduate Students: 971
- Grads Salary: $82,000
- Student-to-faculty: 11:1
Virginia Commonwealth University
Score: 68.6
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $16,458
- Out-of-State:$39,042
- Net Price: $21,294
- Acceptance Rate: 91%
- Retention Rate: 85%
- Graduation Rate: 65%
- Total Enrollment: 28,082
- Undergrad Students: 20,958
- Graduate Students: 7,124
- Grads Salary: $72,000
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
