If you’re among those hoping to enter the increasingly in-demand field of mental health counseling, we’ve made a list of top online counseling programs for 2025 to help you sort through the wealth of options out there. While not an exhaustive list, our collection is a great place to start your search for programs that suit your goals and needs. Each program we’ve collected satisfies requirements in most states for academic requirements for licensure as a mental health clinician. However, it’s always a good idea to check with your state’s individual requirements to make sure internship and practicum hours line up and coursework meets minimal standards.
Key Takeaways
Top Programs:
- M.A. in Counseling – Walden University
- M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling – Evangel University
- M.Ed. in Counseling – College of William and Mary
- Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling – Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania, Lock Haven Campus
- M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling – Adler University
- M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling – University of Kentucky
- M.A. in Counseling – Bluefield University
- Master of Health (MHS) in Clinical Mental Health Counseling – Catawba College
- Master of Arts in Education (MAE) in Clinical Mental Health Counseling – Chadron State College
- Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling – Colorado Christian University
- M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) – Adams State University
- M.A. in Counseling: Clinical Mental Health – Concordia University, Irvine (Townsend Institute)
- M.A. in Counseling – Geneva College
- Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling – George Fox University
- M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling – Indiana Wesleyan University
- Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling – LaGrange College
- M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling – Liberty University
- M.A. in Counseling – Messiah University
- M.A. in Counseling – Waynesburg University
- M.S. in Counseling – Pennsylvania Western University
- Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling – Mississippi State University
- Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling – Nelson University
- M.Ed. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling – NC State University
- M.S.Ed. in Counseling – Old Dominion University
The Best Online Counseling Programs
Our list of top online counseling programs had us assessing multiple factors as we considered which to include here. We looked at multiple factors, but the ones that held the most weight included cost, accreditation, overall length, and the quality of the faculty leading and teaching the programs.
Cost
The tuition for a counseling master’s degree can vary per year depending on the school. In-person programs tend to cost between $11,554 to $20,000 per year. Online programs tend to be more affordable, with the average tuition per year coming to $12,000 or lower, according to BestColleges.com in 2025. The school’s we’ve included on this list we’ve tried to keep as close to this average as possible, though other benefits in a given program might have made us make some allowances for a higher cost for some inclusions on this list.
Accreditation
For a given state to approve someone’s license as a mental health therapist, the candidate’s education and academic background (the master’s degree) needs to meet minimum requirements. Accreditation is a helpful part of that process. The biggest accrediting agency for mental health counseling programs is the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). CACREP’s standards already meet the requirements set out by most states, so a program that has been CACREP-accredited is already assumed to meet minimum standards. So, while you can go through the process of auditing a program’s academic program to make sure it fits your state’s licensing requirements, it’s often simpler to look for that CACREP accreditation label. For that reason, the programs on this list have been accredited by either CACREP or a similar agency.
Length
Online counseling programs average between 2 and 3 years to complete, but this depends on the program, a student’s enrollment status as full or part time, and whether or not the student is participating in an accelerated program. We prioritized programs that average being completed in 2 or 3 years to keep with the average.
Faculty
While student-faculty ratio was a big consideration, with smaller class sizes being weighed more heavily, we also looked for faculty members who are both teaching and involved in their academic life while also either continuing their work as licensed clinicians or who have an extensive background working with clients.
Top Online Counseling Programs
M.A. in Counseling – Walden University
- Minneapolis, MN
- 90 credits
- Online
Key Highlights:
- Multiple specialization options
- M.S. Dual Degree Program (for CMHC and School Counseling degrees)
- Omega Zeta chapter of Chi Sigma Iota
- Virtual simulations to practice skills in counseling
- No GRE required
Accreditation: CACREP
Format: Online
Student population: 892 students graduated the program between Fall 2023 and Summer 2024
Institution Type: Private For-Profit Online University
Credits: 90 credits (base credit requirement)
Tuition: $535 per credit; $48,150 total
Program Overview:
Walden’s online CMHC program hits higher on our list at number 1 because it impresses with its extensive list of specialization options, its dual degree program, prioritizing of virtual skills simulations using Skillsetter, and its active chapter of the Chi Sigma Iota counselor honors society.
In the base program, students learn about theories of counseling, multicultural counseling, career counseling, crisis management, and couples and family therapy. In addition, they can choose from the following specializations to further enrich their education as they prepare to enter their practicum and internship period: Addiction Counseling; Forensic Counseling; General; Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling; Military Families and Culture; Play Therapy; Rehabilitation Counseling; Telehealth Counseling, Private Practice, and Supervision; and Trauma and Crisis Counseling.
M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling – Evangel University
- Springfield, MO
- 60 credits
- Online
Key Highlights:
- Affordable tuition
- Skills labs and residency incorporated into the program
- Christian worldview
- Accelerated plan option
- No GRE needed for GPAs 3.0 or above
Accreditation: CACREP
Format: Online
Student population: 730 graduate students (2023)
Institution Type: Private Christian University and Seminary
Credits: 60 credits
Tuition: $420 per credit; $25,200 total
Program Overview:
Evangel University’s program gets the number 2 spot for its accelerated program, which can take as few as 7 semesters to complete. Without the accelerated option, students can finish the degree in 9 semesters. We also like that this program offers both synchronous and asynchronous coursework and instruction, so students get the chance to work with peers and faculty in a more traditional sense while preserving the convenience of distance learning.
While most of the program is online, students complete an in-person residency every summer semester they are enrolled in the program. For the rest of the program, students study coursework in areas such as foundations and techniques of counseling, human development, assessment, integration of faith into work, crisis and trauma, and career counseling.
M.Ed. in Counseling – College of William and Mary
- Williamsburg, VA
- 60 credits
- Online
Key Highlights:
- Rich history as the nation’s second oldest higher education institution
- No GMAT or GRE required
- Cohort model
- Strong alumni network and name recognition increase prospects post-graduation
- Scholar-practitioner faculty
Accreditation: CACREP
Format: Online
Acceptance rate: 34%
Institution Type: Public research university
Credits: 60 credits
Tuition: $825 per credit; $49,500 total
Program Overview:
The College of William and Mary’s online counseling master’s degree had to make our list at number 3 for its rich history, recognizable name as a “small Ivy,” and its depth or resources for graduates through a strong alumni network. While it costs a bit more than others on this list, we weighed the other benefits stronger than we might for a different school without the resources and name recognition that William and Mary holds.
With its cohort model class setup and scholar-practitioner faculty, the program gives students the option of two concentrations and an additional specialization. Students can pursue the clinical mental health counseling concentration along with a military and veteran specialization, or they can go the school counseling concentration route.
Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling – Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania, Lock Haven Campus
- Lock Haven, PA
- 60 credits
- Online
Key Highlights:
- 2 in-person residencies
- Pennsylvania Counseling Association’s 2023 Outstanding Counselor Education Program
- Flexible start dates
- Concentrations in Counseling Military Veterans and Their Families, Counseling Children and Adolescents, and General CMHC
- No GMAT or GRE
Accreditation: CACREP
Format: Online
Acceptance Rate: 94.7%
Institution Type: Public University
Credits: 60 credits
Tuition: $516 per credit; $30,960 total
Program Overview:
With an emphasis on adapting to your needs as a student and a professional, this online CMHC grad program takes number 4 for its multiple concentration options, its four certification program options, multiple start dates, and overall flexibility in how to complete the program.
Taking 2.5 to 3 years to complete full-time and 3.5 to 4 years to complete part-time, the program is 100 percent online except for 2 residencies, and classes can be taken year-round, making school work easier on those who are working or have families.
M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling – Adler University
- Chicago, IL
- 62 credits
- Online + Campus
Key Highlights:
- No GRE required for admission
- Dual degree options
- 200-hour social justice practicum
- 100-hour clinical practicum and 600-hour internship
- 2 in-person residencies
- 2 years (full-time) and 2.5 to 3 years (part-time) to complete
Accreditation: CACREP
Format: Online or on-campus
Student Population: 126 students in the program in the 2022-2023 school year
Institution Type: Private university
Credits: 62 credit hours
Tuition: $562 per credit, $34,844
Program Overview:
Number 5 on this list stood out to us for its unique focus on Adlerian counseling and theory. Developed by psychotherapist Alfred Adler, Adlerian counseling (or individual psychology) focuses on viewing the client in the context of their social environment, helping them overcome self-consciousness, and gain belonging and fulfillment. Adler University’s program is the only one on this list that places an emphasis on this area of psychotherapy.
It takes 62 credits to complete this program. Along with Adlerian theory and counseling, students learn about crisis and trauma, addictions counseling, group therapy, couples and family therapy, and multicultural counseling. Along with the 600-hour internship and 100-hour practicum requirements, this program also has students complete a 200-hour community-based social justice practicum, a unique requirement among CMHC programs.
M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling – University of Kentucky
- Lexington, KY
- 60 credits
- Online
Key Highlights:
- No GRE required
- 100 percent employment rate post-graduation
- 200-hour practicum; 600-hour internship
- Counselor Education Program includes speciality in CMHC and Rehabilitation
- Assistantships and fellowships available
- Accelerated master’s pathway
Accreditation: CACREP
Format: Online
Student Population: 114 students in the program (2024)
Institution Type: Public land-grant research university
Credits: 60 credits
Tuition: $753 per credit; $45,180 total
Program Overview:
Number 6 on our list is a specialty of University of Kentucky’s Counselor Education Program. We put it at number 6 because of the strong emphasis on addictions counseling and rehabilitation. We were also impressed by the nationally recognized faculty members on staff.
University of Kentucky’s CMHC master’s is one that offers an accelerated option on this list. Students who complete both the undergraduate and graduate degree at University of Kentucky can finish both degrees in five years. Regardless of whether students go the accelerated route or not, they get coursework in addictions counseling, crisis and trauma, psychopharmacology, and others.
M.A. in Counseling – Bluefield University
- Bluefield, VA
- 60 credits
- Online
Key Highlights:
- Yellow Ribbon school
- Faith-based
- 100-hour practicum; 600-hour internship
- Choose from two concentration areas (CMHC and school counseling)
- Also accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and the Virginia Department of Education.
- No GRE needed
Accreditation: CACREP
Format: Online
Student Population: 1,200 students enrolled overall
Institution Type: Private Baptist university
Credits: 60 credits
Tuition: $515 per credit; $30,900 total
Program Overview:
Virginia-based Bluefield University’s online counseling graduate degree made it to number 7 on our list for its status as a Yellow Ribbon school (meaning it offers discounts and incentives to service members and veterans), its concentration options in either school counseling or CMHC, and choice to prioritize guest speakers in the online curriculum. We like the option this gives students to hear from those active in the field on a variety of subjects.
Taking an average of two years to complete, the master’s in counseling requires students to complete a 100-hour practicum and 600-hour internship, including more than 200 hours in face-to-face client hours. Students also learn about crisis, trauma, research, application of DSM diagnosis, group counseling, addictions counseling, and career development, among others.
Master of Health (MHS) in Clinical Mental Health Counseling – Catawba College
- Salisbury, NC
- 60 credits
- Online
Key Highlights:
- Average of 2 years to complete
- No GMAT or GRE required for admission
- Small class sizes
- Emphasis on experiential learning
- Scholar-practitioner faculty
Accreditation: CACREP
Format: Online
Student Population: 33 students in the program
Institution Type: Private college
Credits: 60 credits
Tuition: $599 per credit; $35,940 total
Program Overview:
A combination of focus on hands-on experience, affordability, and scholar-practitioners who lead small classes put Catawba College’s online grad degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at number 8 on this list. Students can finish 60 credits in around 2 years without breaking the bank compared to many schools, making this a more approachable program for those looking to satisfy their academic requirements as they pursue the path to licensure as a mental health counselor.
Diagnosis, addictions counseling, theories and techniques of counseling, human growth and development, couples and family therapy, and group counseling round out the in-class coursework while the internship and practicum gain students hands-on hours in working with clients and supervisors needed to satisfy state and graduation requirements.
Master of Arts in Education (MAE) in Clinical Mental Health Counseling – Chadron State College
- Chadron, NE
- 60 credits
- Online
Key Highlights:
- Affordable
- No GMAT or GRE required
- Flexible start dates
- Department of Health & Human Services/Division of Public Health/Licensure Unit approved the program
- Scholar-practitioner faculty
Accreditation: CACREP
Format: Online
Student Population: 445 graduate students enrolled (2022) overall
Institution Type: Public college
Credits: 60 credits
Tuition: $400 per credit; $24,000 total
Program Overview:
We like that this program satisfies requirements for students to work toward a Provisional Licensed Alcohol & Drug Counselor (PLADC) in Nebraska, we love the affordable price tag, and also notice the emphasis on developing a professional identity as a counselor, all aspects of this program that put it in our number 9 spot on the list.
Hands-on experience earned through the required practicum and internship are supplemented by coursework in addiction, crisis, research, data analysis, family and couples therapy, and others. Students work under the tutelage of scholar-practitioners throughout the program.
Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling – Colorado Christian University
- Lakewood, CO
- 60 credits
- Online
Key Highlights:
- 3 in-person residencies
- No GMAT or GRE required
- Biblical worldview
- Emphasis on mentorship from scholar-practitioner faculty
- Courses taken 2 at a time to accommodate busy schedules
Accreditation: CACREP
Format: Online, in-person, and hybrid
Student population: At least 1,400 students in the School of Counseling
Institution Type: Private Christian university
Credits: 60 credits
Tuition: $698 per credit; $41,880 total
Program Overview:
We put this online graduate degree in mental health counseling at number 10 for its concentration options in marriage and family therapy or substance use disorders, its option to complete a dual degree in CMHC and school counseling, and its emphasis on mentorship through the clinically active faculty.
Designed for adult professionals, the program is flexible and can be completed in 30 months whether full-time or part-time. And it blends hands-on experience through the internship and practicum, academic coursework, and a faith-based understanding of the field of counseling.
M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) – Adams State University
- Alamosa, CO
- 60 credits
- Online
Key Highlights:
- No GRE required for admission
- Active in CSI counseling honors society
- 2 pre-practicum in-person labs
- Practicum and internship
- Cohort model
Accreditation: CACREP
Format: Online
Student population: 992 students in the program (2025)
Institution type: Public liberal arts university
Credits: 60 credits
Tuition: $475 per credit, $28,500 total
Program Overview:
Coming in at 11 on our list, Adams State University’s counseling master’s caught our eye for its comparatively affordable tuition. At $475 per credit hour, it’s among the less costly on this list. We also like that the school is an active participant in the Chi Sigma Iota (CSI) national counseling honor’s society.
The 60-credit program takes between 5 and 7 semesters to complete, according to the website. During the course of the program, students complete all coursework online, but they do attend two mandatory week-long labs on Adams State’s campus where they get hands-on experience practicing counseling skills with peers and faculty members.
M.A. in Counseling: Clinical Mental Health – Concordia University, Irvine (Townsend Institute)
- Irvine, CA
- Credits
- Online
Key Highlights:
- Accelerated 24 to 36 months completion timeline
- Courses taught by author and psychologist Dr. John Townsend
- Christian worldview
- Scholar-practitioner faculty and access to Townsend fellows
- No GMAT or GRE needed
Accreditation: CACREP
Format: Online
Student population: 2,016 graduate students (2024)
Institution Type: Private Christian University
Credits: 60 credits
Tuition: $695 per credit; $41,700 total
Program Overview:
The number 12 spot on our list, Concordia’s online mental health master’s impressed with its faculty, who are Institute Fellows and faculty who work in the field of mental health as well as teach. Students also get the chance to learn from psychologist, author, and Christian thought leader Dr. John Townsend, according to the school’s website. The accelerated option is also an attractive feature of the program, which can take students as few as 24 months to complete.
Coursework at the Townsend Institute includes human sexuality, Gottman method couples therapy, and play therapy, to name a few. Students kick off their academic career with a 4-day residency at the Townsend Institute, where students meet Dr. Townsend and other fellows who conduct various trainings.
M.A. in Counseling – Geneva College
- Beaver Falls, PA
- 60 credits
- Online + Campus + Hybrid
Key Highlights:
- Flexible learning options
- Low residency
- Christian worldview
- Hands-on clinical skills are practiced under supervision of scholar-practitioner faculty
- No GRE needed
Accreditation: CACREP
Format: Online, on-campus, or hybrid
Student population: 12 CMHC graduate students (2024)
Institution Type: Private Christian University
Credits: 60 credits
Tuition: $699 per credit; $41,940 total
Program Overview:
Geneva’s online master’s in counseling has three concentrations: marriage, couples, and family; school counseling; and clinical mental health. We chose Geneva’s online clinical mental health graduate program for number 13 on our list because of its low-residency requirement, the flexibility in program offering, and the scholar-practitioner faculty whom the program website says are actively engaged in research.
Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling – George Fox University
- Newberg, OR
- 60 credits
- Online
Key Highlights:
- Emphasis on multicultural understanding
- Flexibility and personalization
- Christian worldview
- Specialization in play therapy and trauma-informed care available
- No GRE
Accreditation: CACREP
Format: Online
Student population: 4,324 students overall (2024)
Institution Type: Private Christian University
Credits: 60 credits
Tuition: $826 per credit; $49,560 total
Program Overview:
The 60-credit CMHC graduate program from George Fox University lands at number 14 on our list for its flexibility for students, its multiple specialization and certification options, and its 10:1 student-faculty ratio. We like the low class size and options students have to personalize their learning as they explore their professional identity.
The program takes between 2 and 4 years to complete, and students can choose to specialize in play therapy or trauma-informed care while they explore other areas of therapy in their practicum, internship, and coursework on subjects like group therapy, human development, human sexuality, and trauma. All courses are taught from a systemic perspective by scholar-practitioner faculty.
M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling – Indiana Wesleyan University
- Marion, IN
- 60 credits
- Online
Key Highlights:
- Scholar-practitioner faculty
- Prioritization of skills building and clinical experience
- Christian worldview
- Up to 35% of required credit hours can be transfer credits
- No GRE for students with GPA above 3.25
Accreditation: CACREP
Format: Online
Student population: 126 CMHC students (2024)
Institution Type: Private Christian University
Credits: 60 credits
Tuition: $602 per credits
Program Overview:
We put Indiana Wesleyan’s CMHC program at number 15 for its focus on research and multicultural counseling as well as its heavy emphasis on skills-building from the first semester. Students gain hands-on experience in the practicum and internship placements, but students are also given access to live supervision and feedback using session recordings of their work with clients.
Taking 24 months to complete, the program has 15 courses encompassing subjects related to human development, integration of faith and counselor identity, multicultural counseling, research and evaluation, and assessment and intervention in mental health.
Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling – LaGrange College
- LaGrange, GA
- 60 credits
- Online
Key Highlights:
- Social justice and community service emphasis
- 2 years to complete
- Heavy emphasis on professional development
- GRE and GMAT scores not required
- Access to Courageous Conversations social justice program
Accreditation: CACREP
Format: Online
Student population: 126 CMHC students (2024)
Institution Type: Private College
Credits: 60 credits
Tuition: $755 per credit; $45,300 total
Program Overview:
We like that LaGrange College’s online CMHC program puts students to work in identifying their identity as a counselor, and we also like that the program hits hard at professional development through research, conference presentation, and training opportunities for students before they even graduate. This priority made LaGrange stand out to us enough to put it at number 16 on the list.
Not only does the program teach coursework in areas like addiction counseling, family counseling, career counseling, crisis intervention, trauma therapy, and grief counseling, but the program designers emphasize social justice initiatives and community service projects. Students are encouraged to contribute in the community, and they are also invited to engage in the virtual Courageous Conversations social justice program.
M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling – Liberty University
- Lynchburg, VA
- 60 credits
- Online
Key Highlights:
- Transfer up to half of degree total
- Tuition frozen for nine years
- Biblical integration
- Military friendly with benefits and breaks for service members and veterans
- Award-winning online learning environment (2023 Center for Online Education)
Accreditation: CACREP
Format: Online
Student population: 17,600 students enrolled online (2024)
Institution Type: Private Christian University
Credits: 60 credits
Tuition: $580 per credit; $34,800 total
Program Overview:
This online mental health counseling program from Liberty University makes number 17 on our list for a high transfer credit allowance (up to 50%), relatively affordable tuition rates which haven’t increased in 9 years, and overall flexibility. Among the theoretical and technical skills learned and practiced in the program, students gain an understanding of group counseling, psychopathology, diagnosis, treatment planning and interventions, and multicultural counseling before they enter the clinical practicum and internship phase of the program, where students get their face-to-face client hours and supervision.
M.A. in Counseling – Messiah University
- Mechanicsburg, PA
- 60 credits
- Online
Key Highlights:
- Flexible start dates
- Tuition frozen for nine years
- Faith-based
- Scholar-practitioner faculty
- National network of clinical fieldwork sites
Accreditation: CACREP
Format: Online
Student population: 758 graduate students (2024)
Institution Type: Private Christian University
Credits: 60 credits
Tuition: $800 per credit; $48,000 total
Program Overview:
The online counseling graduate program from Messiah has three tracks for students to choose from, including CMHC; marriage, couples, and family counseling; and school counseling. We liked the focus of flexibility in this program, with two, three, and four-year timelines for completion offered and classes starting every 8 weeks, offering flexible start times. The flexibility puts Messiah’s program at 18 on our list. We also especially like that experienced counselors make up the faculty of the program, and students create their own plan of study to meet their own needs. The program also has a national network of field placement sites with whom they have made connections for students to connect with when they begin their clinical practicum and internship placements.
M.A. in Counseling – Waynesburg University
- Waynesburg, PA
- 60 credits
- Online + In-Person + Hybrid
Key Highlights:
- Certification options available
- SARA participant
- Grant opportunities offer potential stipend benefits
- Completed in 20 months (full-time), or 5 semesters
- No GRE required
Accreditation: CACREP
Format: Online, in-person, and hybrid
Student population: 227 graduate students (2023-2024)
Institution Type: Private Christian University
Credits: 60 credits
Tuition: $715 per credit; $42,900 total
Program Overview:
We chose Waynesburg’s online grad program in counseling for our number 19 spot because of its additional concentrations and areas of study, grant opportunities, and its participation in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements NC-SARA), which means that the program satisfies requirements for licensure in all states which also participate in SARA.
Along with the core coursework of the CMHC program, students can choose to gain an additional certification in clinical supervision and substance use disorder counseling. Students can also apply for the Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) and University Workforce Development Program (UWDP) grants, which offer tuition and stipend funding to students completing their fieldwork portion of the program.
M.S. in Counseling – Pennsylvania Western University
- Waynesburg, PA
- 60 credits
- Online
Key Highlights:
- Multiple certification options available
- Scholar-practitioner faculty
- Emphasis on development of self-awareness and cultural humility
- Best Counseling Degrees rated among top programs in the Northeast; ranked #4 among the 10 Best Deals in Online Master’s in School Counseling
- Post-graduation support
Accreditation: CACREP
Format: Online
Acceptance Rate: 93.7% (2023-2024)
Institution Type: Public University
Credits: 60 credits
Tuition: $516 per credit; $30,960 total
Program Overview:
Another program on this list that caught our eye for its concentration and certification options was PennWest’s M.S. in Counseling online. Students can choose certification in art therapy, brain-based trauma and recovery, spiritual and religious counseling, sports counseling and student athlete mental wellness, student affairs practice, and substance use disorders. These offerings mixed with their faculty who mentor, research, and practice professionally have us putting PennWest’s online CMHC program at number 20 on this list.
Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling – Mississippi State University
- Starkville, MS
- 60 credits
- Online
Key Highlights:
- Active Chi Sigma Iota Chapter
- Emphasis on professional development
- Graduate assistantships available
- Emphasis on multicultural awareness and social justice
- No GRE required
Accreditation: CACREP
Format: Online
Student Population: 4,427 graduate students enrolled (2024-2025)
Institution Type: Public Land-Grant Research University
Credits: 60 credits
Tuition: $581 per credit; $34,860 total
Program Overview:
We chose Mississippi State’s online master’s in clinical mental health counseling for our number 21 spot for its heavy emphasis on professional development and encouragement to participate in graduate assistantships. Students are encouraged to join and participate in the school’s Chi Sigma Iota chapter, Mississippi Counseling Association (MCA), American Counseling Association (ACA), and American Mental Health Counseling Association. Students are also encouraged to attend and present at annual conferences, such as the Mississippi Counseling Association.
Coursework in group counseling, research, assessment, psychological testing, career placement and development, counseling chemically dependent clients or family, family counseling, and crisis intervention create a strong foundation for students prior to beginning their clinical experience, including the 100-hour practicum and the 600-hour internship.
Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling – Nelson University
- Waxahachie, TX
- 60 credits
- Online + Campus
Key Highlights:
- Small class size
- Faith-based
- Multiple scholarships, grants, and flexible payment options
- Flexible scheduling for working students
- No GRE required
Accreditation: CACREP
Format: Online and on-campus
Acceptance Rate: 84.2%
Institution Type: Private Christian University
Credits: 60 credits
Tuition: $560 per credit; $33,600 total
Program Overview:
Nelson University takes spot number 22 on our list for its flexibility for working students; commitment to affordability through scholarships, grants, and flexible payment options; and prioritization of the mentoring relationship between student and faculty.
As a student in Nelson’s online CMHC program, you can expect to take courses in couples and family therapy, social and cultural diversity, psychopathology and treatment planning, crisis intervention, addiction treatment, and more both before and during the practicum and internship requirements. Students do need to take two in-person courses to complete the program, which can be satisfied by taking the classes in the evenings or in week-long intensive courses in the summer as a residency-style class.
M.Ed. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling – NC State University
- Raleigh, NC
- 60 credits
- Online + Campus
Key Highlights:
- Cohort model
- School-college-community collaboration model
- Scientist-practitioner model
- Emphasis on multiculturalism
- GRE and GMAT scores not required
Accreditation: CACREP
Format: Online and on-campus
Acceptance Rate: 39.8%
Institution Type: Public Land-Grant Research University
Credits: 60 credits
Tuition: $574.24 per credit; $34,454.40 total
Program Overview:
NC State University’s CMHC M.Ed. places an emphasis on multiculturalism and flexibility that put it at number 23 on our list. Students can complete the program either online or on-campus. The online option is taken part-time and can be finished in three years with students taking one class in the summers and two classes in the spring and fall semesters.
Coursework and clinical practice emphasize multiculturalism, the scientist-practitioner model, school-college-community collaboration model, clinical counseling theory and practice, and developmental theory, among others.
M.S.Ed. in Counseling – Old Dominion University
- Norfolk, VA
- 60 credits
- Online + Campus
Key Highlights:
- Opportunity for assistantships
- Focus on research and assessment
- Scholar-practitioner faculty
- Strong alumni network
- No GRE required
Accreditation: CACREP
Format: Online and in-person
Acceptance Rate: 90.5%
Institution Type: Public Research University
Credits: 60 credits
Tuition: $620 (Virginia residents)/$642 (non-Virginia distance learning) per credit; $37,200 to $38,520 total
Program Overview:
The online master’s in counseling degree at Old Dominion caught our eye and lands at the number 25 spot on our list for its focus on shaping graduates who are well-rounded and ready to enter any setting in the field of mental health counseling.
Coursework covers psychotherapy, trauma, crisis, group counseling, assessment, testing, addiction, career counseling, social and cultural issues, and lifespan development in addition to the internship and practicum where students get first-hand clinical experience.