25 Top Mental Health Counseling Graduate Programs

Founded in 1946, the Counselor Education Program at NC State in Raleigh, North Carolina, boasts a rich history of educating future mental health counselors. Offered in both on-campus and online formats, this online Master of Education in clinical mental health counseling focuses on promoting wellness in future clients through preventive interventions.  

This top mental health counseling graduate program commits to multicultural diversity, reflected in the courses and the faculty and students. This program has increased its culturally-diverse proportions from less than 5% to 20%. Through this degree, graduates will be able to work as culturally competent counselors across a variety of counseling environments.

You can complete the on-campus option in just two years if you are full time. The online option entails a three-year part-time cohort that requires you to take one class in the summer and two each fall and spring semester. If you’re interested in applying, you need to submit:

• GRE or MAT scores
• Three letters of recommendation
• Official post-secondary coursework transcripts

The University of Buffalo’s master’s in mental health counseling focuses on:

• Personal and professional growth
• Human diversity
• Multicultural competence
• Social justice

This full-time on-campus degree requires 60 credit hours and typically takes 2-3 years. Graduates can prepare to work in professional settings such as hospitals, mental health centers, state government institutions, and substance abuse centers.

This top graduate program includes counseling foundations such as:

• Psychopathology
• Evidence-Based Interventions
• Self-Care in Service

You will also complete a 600-hour internship during the third and fourth semesters. The majority of internships are in non-profit mental health centers in surrounding areas. This program is accredited by the Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC).

To apply for this program, you need an undergraduate degree with a 3.0 minimum GPA. While UB states the undergraduate degree does not need to be psychology or counseling-related, having a related degree is highly recommended. GRE scores, letters of recommendation, unofficial transcripts, and a statement of intent are also required.

The master’s in clinical health mental counseling at Fitchburg State University is among the best in the nation. This graduate program encompasses psychotherapy, human development, and intervention planning to prepare you for counseling careers in various settings. The 60-hour program includes flexible offerings, including evening, online, and hybrid courses.

Fitchburg’s graduate program emphasizes human development and proactive techniques to promote well-being and growth. Some required courses are:

• Life Span Development
• Lifestyles and Career Development
• Family and Systems: Models and Interventions

You will complete a 600 hour internship in a professional counseling agency during your last year.

To apply for this program, you need:

• A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited school
• Three letters of recommendation (two professional and one academic)
• A 300-word personal statement

GRE and GMAT scores are not required. In addition, you must complete these prerequisite courses:

• Developmental Psychology and Statistics
• Psychological Statistics
• Applied Statistics for Counselors

OSU’s master’s of counseling in clinical mental health counseling is a part-time 90-credit hybrid degree. This graduate program provides students with the theory and application practice to provide mental health services in settings like:

• Community-based organization
• Hospitals
• Mental health clinics
• Residential facilities
• Other mental health settings

This program includes online courses and on-campus classes on two Fridays and Saturdays each semester.

Ideal for those who need a flexible education option, you can finish this program in 3.5 to 4 years. The collaborative cohort model creates inclusion among students, all progressing toward the common goal of becoming competent, respected counselors. This program focuses on eight common core areas that prepare students for future helping professions.

To apply, you should hold a bachelor’s degree with a cumulative GPA of 3.0. Undergraduate work in psychology and counseling is preferable. Experience with openness to diversity, multiculturalism, and social justice are also requirements for admission. In addition, you need to provide:

• Official transcripts
• A curriculum vitae (CV)
• A statement of goals
• Three letters of recommendation from professional references

UNT’s master’s of counseling ranks among the best mental health counseling graduate programs in the nation. UNT offers a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling on the Denton/Frisco campus. This curriculum prepares you for counseling careers in various clinical settings. As a UNT graduate student, you will choose to specialize in working with children, youth, college populations, or adults.

UNT’s counseling program is rigorous, competitive, and fulfilling. Many of the faculty are renowned experts in the counseling field, earning national awards. Throughout this program, you will complete:

• 33 credits of required counseling coursework
• 27 credits of coursework in your chosen program track
• a 100-hour practicum
• a  600-hour internship

UNT screens applicants holistically, and admission is competitive. You should hold an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 overall or for the last 60 semester hours. GRE scores (no minimum required score), three references, and a one-page writing sample are also required.

UNT’s counseling programs exceed strict academic standards and is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs.

One of the best schools with a master’s in counseling is Boston’s public research university, UMass. This Master of Science in mental health prepares you for all types of professional counseling careers. The graduate program uses a close-knit cohort model where you will work with other students to complete the program at the same pace. While the majority of this program is online, two weeks of on-campus study is required in the first summer semester.

UMass mental health counseling graduates are eligible to obtain licensure through the MA Board of Allied Health Professions. With three additional credits, you can also choose to pursue a school adjustment counselor license. The MS mental health program is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.

UMass states that applicants must demonstrate evidence of the ability to complete graduate courses with distinction. What does this mean?

Evidence may include:

• An undergraduate degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0
• At least five social science courses
• At least one year of employment or volunteer experience in a mental health setting
• Acceptable GRE scores

Do note that if you already have a master’s degree, the GRE scores are waived.

Auburn University offers an M.Ed. in clinical mental health counseling to prepare you to become a licensed professional counselor. This 60-credit master’s degree can be completed in five semesters for full-time students and tailored for part-time students. Most of the classes are on-campus, with a few online offerings.

You will take courses in topics such as counseling children, crisis counseling, and substance-abuse counseling. You will then apply the theories and framework of your courses in a 100-hour practicum course and 600 hours in clinical practice or an internship. The practicum and internship coordinator will place you in internships within a 90-mile radius of Auburn by the end of year one.

For admission to Auburn’s top mental health counseling program, you need to submit:

All official undergraduate work transcripts

• Three references
• A statement of intent
• A diversity statement
• Either complete an in-person or online video interview

No GRE scores are required. This mental health counseling program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).

If you are interested in becoming a rehabilitation counselor, this nationally recognized program may be for you. Ranked #4 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, Virginia Commonwealth University’s master’s in mental health and rehabilitation counseling prepares you for both Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) licensure. 

As a VCU grad student, you will complete:

• 48 credit hours of required didactic courses
• Nine internship credits
• Three elective credits

Courses are offered both on-campus and online. This program is unique in that students are eligible to take the CRCC examination after they finish 75% of the coursework. After passing the exam and graduating from this program, you are already qualified as a certified rehabilitation counselor.

To apply, you need a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 overall or in your last 60 credit hours. You also need:

• GRE or MAT scores
• Three professional reference letters
• A professional statement
• Evidence of past counseling work (either paid or volunteer)

Governors State University’s nationally ranked Master of Arts in counseling program equips students to work with clients through “preventive interventions to bring life-changing results through counseling.” Depending on your career goals, you will choose one of three focus tracks:

• Clinical mental health counseling
• Marriage, couple, and family counseling
• K-12 school counseling

This mental health counseling graduate program is offered on-campus or in a hybrid format with flexible evening and online courses. As a Governors State grad student, you will complete 100 practicum hours and a 600-hour internship. Students must earn at least a B in all courses, and if they earn lower than a B, they must retake the course to proceed in the program.

If you’re interested in Governors State’s mental health counseling degree, you need a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher on all undergraduate coursework or a 3.0 of the last 60 credit hours of a completed bachelor’s degree. If your GPA is between 2.5 and 2.74, you can submit GRE scores or earn Bs or higher in three prerequisite courses.

Open since 1886, National University has a long history of preparing students for successful careers. NLU’s College of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences offers both an on-campus and an online Master of Science in counseling. This graduate program prepares you for successful counseling careers in clinical mental health agencies or schools. You can choose among three concentration options:

• Addictions counseling
• School counseling
• Clinical mental health counseling

Over the course of this program, you will complete 60-67 credit hours, 100 practicum hours, and a 600 hour internship. Courses offered include:

• Educational Psychology
• Psychopharmacology for Counselors
• Trauma and Crisis Intervention

If you choose to pursue this degree online, you will take courses in real-time in the virtual live classrooms. These classes typically meet in the evenings to ensure flexibility.

If you’re interested in applying for this mental health graduate program, you need a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution and a minimum 3.0 GPA. If you don’t meet these requirements, you still may be admitted on a provisional status. Also required are:

• An admission interview
• Three recommendation letters
• A written response to questions from the office of admissions

If you live in or near Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Nova Southeastern University’s master’s in counseling may be for you. This innovative mental health counseling graduate program is designed for those already working in the field of counseling and offers four concentrations:

• Clinical mental health counseling
• School counseling
• Substance abuse counseling and education
• Applied behavior analysis

Depending on your chosen track, you will complete between 48-63 credit hours in this program. These credits include core classes, track concentration classes, and a comprehensive final exam.

Courses are offered in a flexible hybrid or completely online format. All concentrations require a supervised practicum or internship to complete the degree. Most students complete this program between two and five years.

To apply, you must present evidence of:

• Academic ability
• Counseling interest
• Personal stability
• Strong character
• A bachelor’s degree in a related field
• GPA of at least 2.5
• A total score of 300 or higher on the GRE

You also need at least two recommendation letters and a five-paragraph personal statement reflecting academics and character.

If you want to work with people across lifespans and cultures while promoting social justice and equity, check out NYU’s top mental health counseling program. NYU’s master’s in counseling for mental health and wellness is a 60-credit hour program that can be completed either full or part-time. Graduates will be eligible to pursue fulfilling careers in different settings, including:

Community health facilities

• College centers
• Trauma-focused programs
• HIV and AIDS outreach programs
• Substance-abuse facilities

Combining course work with counseling labs and internships, NYU’s graduate program teaches:

• Counseling foundation
• Theory and process
• Ethical issues
• Group dynamics
• Cross-cultural counseling
• Abnormal psychology
• Human growth and development

As a NYU mental health counseling graduate student, you will receive a well-rounded education that will take you places! NYU’s mental health graduate program is accredited by the Master in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC).

To apply, submit official transcripts from all postsecondary schools attended, a resume or CV, two letters of recommendation, and a 2-3 page statement of purpose. Your statement of purpose should detail how your experiences led you to pursue a counseling degree. No specific bachelor’s degree or GRE scores are required to apply to this program.

The University of Illinois at Springfield’s Department of Human Development Counseling offers an on-campus master’s in clinical mental health counseling. At UIS, You will learn how to effectively counsel others using a “self as instrument” theoretical approach. This self-care approach applies the principle that knowing yourself ensures that you can know your clients.

This mental health counseling program involves 49 core credit hours along with 12 additional concentration courses, totaling 61 hours. Concentration courses include:

• Foundations of Clinical Mental Health Counseling
• Social Justice and Advocacy in Counseling
• Multicultural Counseling

You will complete both a practicum and internship experiences during your final year of the program.

The application process at UIS is completed in three phases, and the progression to the next stage entails acceptance of the previous stage. You will submit three letters of recommendation in phase one. Phase two is a supervised written essay and group interview. Stage three for full admission status entails submitting all undergraduate transcripts with a minimum 3.0 GPA.

A 2017 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s M.S. Ed. in counseling and mental health services said this:

“Ultimately, the one-year program gave me the foundation to be a successful Ph.D. student, and one day, develop interventions that I hope will change lives.”

The University of Pennsylvania’s graduate program is unique because students can earn the degree in one year after taking ten courses. This top mental health counseling program emphasizes:

• Social justice
• Diversity
• Person-centered counseling

Penn Graduates are eligible to move into the M.Phil.Ed. in professional counseling for licensure or continue in a doctoral program.

The typical course load for this program is four courses per semester and two in the summer in order to finish in one year. Expect to take courses such as:

• Diagnosis and Psychopathology
• Counseling Interventions
• Sociocultural Foundations in Counseling

Eight to ten hours per week of practicum hours are also required.

Penn graduates must demonstrate their knowledge learned in this program by passing a comprehensive exam and submitting a final portfolio. To apply to this program, you need to submit:

• Undergraduate coursework transcripts
• A current resume
• Three recommendation letters
• GRE scores
• A 750-word statement of purpose

Webster University’s Master of Arts in counseling with a clinical mental health counseling emphasis is known as one of the best counseling master’s programs in the United States. The high-quality curriculum prepares students to become professional counselors in a wide range of mental health settings. Webster’s graduate program is conveniently offered:

• On the main campus in Webster Groves, Missouri
• all three South Carolina campuses
• Online

You will complete 60 credit hours of coursework, which includes a 15-month clinical experience to gain hands-on training in a clinical setting. Notable courses include:

• Trauma, Crisis, and Emergency Relief Counseling
• Lifestyle and Career Development
• Techniques of Group Counseling

WU’s counseling program is accredited by The Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).

If you’re interested in applying for WU’s mental health counseling graduate program, you need:

• A bachelor’s degree (minimum cumulative 2.75 GPA)
• A short essay that details personal and professional interests in counseling and career goals,
• Three professional recommendations
• A resume that includes work and volunteer experience and relevant leadership roles

Bradley University’s Master of Arts in counseling with a clinical mental health counseling emphasis features an impressive 12:1 student to faculty ratio. As a mental health counseling grad student, you will complete nine semesters, including summers. 

A perk of Bradley’s graduate program is that you will complete coursework and practicum experiences simultaneously. Therefore, completing practicum hours early ensures that you can practice what you learn right away.

Another unique aspect of Bradley University’s clinical mental health counseling program is the faculty. With an expertise in neuroscience, the faculty teach mental health counseling through cutting-edge science-based technologies. Expect to take coursework like Counseling Diverse Populations and Theories and Techniques of Counseling.

Internships and practicums take place in surrounding areas, such as the OSF Saint Francis Medical Center and the Children’s Hospital of Illinois.

During the final semester, you will take the National Counselor Examination (NCE). Since 2014-2015, 100% of graduates have passed this exam. To apply to Bradley’s mental health counseling grad program, you need:

• A 3.0 GPA in the last 60 hours of undergraduate work
• Or a bachelor’s degree with a 3.0 GPA
• GRE scores
• Three letters of recommendation (one from a current supervisor)
• A 250-500 word admission essay

Concordia University’s master’s clinical mental health counseling prepares students to work with a variety of diverse populations to promote growth and healthy mindsets and habits. This mental health counseling graduate program emphasizes Christian beliefs through its curriculum such as “integrity, competency, and leadership skills.” Courses are offered on-campus and in a hybrid format.

The 60-credit hour graduate program includes:  

• 48 required hours
• A three-hour practicum
• A six-hour internship

You will take courses such as:

• Transforming Crisis to Wellness
• Multicultural Counseling
• Brief Therapy

You will take the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE) during your senior year, which also serves as a capstone experience.

To apply, you must have earned both a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution and have completed 12 credits in counseling or a related educational program. You need grades of Cs or better in all counseling courses. Additionally, you need two letters of recommendation and an objective statement. You may begin this program in either the fall, spring, or summer semesters.

Conveniently, you can complete the Master of Health Science in mental health from John Hopkins University in as little as one year. While in this program, you can  also earn a certificate at no extra cost in a variety of studies, including:

• Community-based public health (CBPH)
• Global health
• Health and human rights
• Public health advocacy
• Public mental health research

The on-campus master’s degree consists of four terms of coursework and a final research paper. This graduate counseling program focuses heavily on population-based research in mental health and drug dependence disorders. The final research paper should reflect your interests and show the ability to synthesize and apply the coursework’s knowledge and skills.

John Hopkins graduates typically take project coordinator jobs, work for the government or private practice, or pursue medical school or Ph.Ds. If you’re interested in John Hopkins’ master’s in mental health, you should apply online through the platform Sophas.org. To apply, you need:

• GRE or MCAT scores
• A CV or resume
• A 2-3 page statement of goals/experiences
• Three recommendation letters
• Official transcripts for all previous coursework and degrees earned

If you are interested in working with kids in a school setting, check out Cambridge College’s master’s of education in mental health and school counseling. This top counseling graduate program trains students to become licensed professional counselors working with PreK-12 students and their families in educational and clinical settings.

The 60-credit hour graduate program emphasizes all the roles of a professional school counselor, especially in working in a multicultural setting and providing guidance to students, parents, and families.

 In addition, you will study normal and abnormal academic, social, mental, and emotional development and how to best address needs in the PreK-12 population.

You must pass the Massachusetts Communication and Literacy Test (MTEL) before you can begin the program. To apply, you also need:

• A bachelor’s degree (minimum 3.0 GPA)
• Two professional recommendations
• A current resume
• A 1-2 page personal statement detailing academic background, professional experience, and future goals

If you are interested in working with deaf and/or blind clients from diverse backgrounds, the 69-credit Master of Arts in clinical mental health counseling may be for you. This program teaches you how to work with a variety of multicultural populations, including those who are deaf, hard of hearing, or blind.

This hybrid-format program includes on-campus coursework at Gallaudet University in Washington DC during the first year and a combination of field experience and online courses during the second. Practicum and internships typically include:

• State, local, and private mental health institutions
• Psychiatric hospitals
• Educational programs serving deaf and/or blind clients and their family members

During your final semester, you are eligible to take the NCE exam. To apply, you need to be proficient in American Sign Language to complete the admission interview. In addition, you must submit four personal essays, two written in English and the other two in ASL, to best illustrate your interest in working with the deaf population.

Union Institute & University offers a Master of Arts in clinical mental health counseling in a flexible hybrid format. This top graduate program combines online courses with face-to-face residency experiences at the Cincinnati, Ohio academic center twice each year. You can complete this 60-credit hour degree either full or part time and begin in  January, May, or August.

This master’s in clinical mental health counseling  prepares you for:

• Professional counseling licensure
• Future doctoral studies in counseling
• Related educational programs

The flexible format allows you to maintain your current job while completing courses online and traveling to Cincinnati twice per year. Core classes include:

• Appraisal and Diagnostic Techniques
• Treatment Modalities
• Group Work and Therapy

This CACREP accredited program is designed and led by expert practitioners in the counseling field. These professionals combine decades of science-driven therapy experiences to best prepare students for future counseling careers. To apply, you should hold a bachelor’s degree with a cumulative 3.0 GPA. Three professional references are required, including at least one who evaluates your potential for clinical counseling work.

Freed-Hardeman’s Master of Science in clinical mental health counseling has a mission:

 To “prepare skilled, knowledgeable, and competent helpers for the professional field of clinical mental health counseling.”

As one of Tennessee’s oldest Christian-based universities, Freed-Hardeman incorporates faith and service principles into its counseling curriculum. The goal is to produce highly competent, well-rounded professional counselors, prepared to work with various clients in diverse settings.

At Freed-Hardeman, you will complete 61 credit hours of coursework, including a practicum, an internship, and a comprehensive exam. 

Sample courses include Counseling Diverse Populations and Theories of Personality. Graduates may seek careers in a variety of settings, including:

• Community services
• Churches
• Business-employee assistance programs
• Private practices

Courses are offered in flexible hybrid formats with online and evening and weekend courses available. You need a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution and a 3.0 or higher GPA to apply. In addition, you need 12 semester hours in Behavioral Sciences and a score of 290 or above on the GRE or 380 or above on the MAT.

Located in Miami, Florida, Barry University has ranked among the nation’s top 25 most ethnically diverse universities, according to the U.S. News and World Report. BU offers a Master of Science in counseling with a concentration in clinical mental health counseling. This counseling degree provides education and training to effectively work with individuals, groups, and families dealing with mental health issues.

Committed to promoting diversity and multicultural sensitivity, BU’s MS program includes:

• 42 core courses
• 21 credits in clinical mental health counseling
• A counseling practicum
• An internship

The on-campus CARE center offers a variety of hands-on experiences for you to gain supervised clinical hours. Courses are offered on-campus at either 4 PM or 7 PM to accommodate working students.

Admission requirements include a regionally accredited or nationally recognized university bachelor’s degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0. If your GPA is less than 3.0, you can submit recent GRE or MAT scores. You also need:

• Two professional recommendations (including one from a former professor)
• A statement of purpose
• A current resume

The Master of Science in clinical mental health counseling program at Lubbock Christian University’s mission is to train “ethically and spiritually aware mental health counselors,” to effectively work with diverse populations. This counseling degree is offered in flexible formats to meet the needs and schedule demands of its students:

• Face-to-face traditional setting
• Online setting
• Combination of both (hybrid)

You are required to take 51 hours of core classes, including:

• Advanced Psychopathology
• Crisis Counseling
• Counseling Children, Adolescents, and their Families

You will then complete nine credit hours of clinical experience courses and complete the degree by taking a comprehensive exam. This program also offers counseling internships abroad to either Ecuador or Kenya! 

LCU employs a two-phase admissions process. If you’re interested in applying, you will first submit standard application material such as transcripts and reference letters during the first phase. If your application proceeds to the second phase, you will complete:

• A personality assessment
• Two short counseling essays
• A professional resume
• A 20-minute interview with the graduate faculty panel

Huntington University’s counseling program uses a holistic approach to training future professional counselors to “integrate cognition, emotion, emotion, behavior, and Christian spirituality” into their counseling practices, not just for their clients but also for themselves. Huntington’s MA in clinical mental health counseling is offered both online and on-campus in Huntington, Indiana.

Whether you’re pursuing this graduate degree online or on campus, you will begin the program through a three-day “Personal Development Skills Process Group” held on the Huntington, Indiana campus. Online students will then meet once per week for seven weeks, while face-to-face students will meet once per week (afternoon or evening) for 14 weeks. You are required to complete 700 hours of clinical work.

You must complete the prerequisite courses Biblical Studies and Psychology before beginning this counseling program. However, you can be admitted on a conditional basis if you meet these requirements during the first year. Other admission requirements include a bachelor’s degree (minimum GPA of 3.0) and two recommendations, including one academic reference.