20 Best Online Master’s in Mental Health Counseling Programs

The University of the Cumberlands is a  private university with a big impact in Kentucky. UC offers a top mental health counseling degree. UC’s master’s in mental health counseling program is excellent because of:

• The program’s mission
• The academic rigor
• The affordability
• The flexible online format

UC’s mission is to prepare graduate professionals “who are committed to integrity of the individual, client-centered counseling, diversity, social change, and academic excellence.” The goal is to give students the knowledge and skills to make a positive difference as a mental health counselor.

In this mental health counseling online masters program, you will delve into courses such as:

• Theory and Practice of Multicultural Counseling
• Advanced Counseling Theories and Techniques
• Private Practice and Clinical Supervision

Along with 60 credit hours of core and clinical mental health courses, you will complete a 100-hour counseling practicum and a 600-hour counseling internship, divided into two parts.

The #1 public university in New England is the University of Massachusetts, fondly known as UMass. UMass spans across six campuses throughout the state, as well as an online “campus,” UMass Online. The Master of Science in mental health counseling from UMass Boston will prepare you for exciting careers as professional counselors in settings such as:

• Mental health agencies
• Health clinics
• Rehabilitation centers
• Schools

UMass uses a cohort model, and while this mental health counseling program is online, you are required to attend two clinical courses during your first summer term. While this mental health counseling program leads to licensure in the state of Massachusetts, there are additional clinical experience requirements after graduation. Another perk is that for just three additional credits, you can earn another license as a school adjustment counselor.

Interested in UMass? To apply, you need:

• A bachelor’s degree (minimum 3.0 GPA)
• Five social science courses
• GRE scores
• At least one year of paid or volunteer work in the mental health/counseling field
• Two recommendation letters
• A statement detailing your interest and future goals

Do note that you can only enter this master in mental health counseling online program in the summer.

Founded in 1948, Grace College and Theological Seminary is a Christian academic institution located in the scenic Winona Lake, Indiana. Grace features an online mental health counselor degree that emphasizes psychology and social sciences from a Christian worldview. 

This online master’s in mental health counseling program is described as “spiritually grounded, professionally skilled, interpersonally competent.”

You can complete this program in six, seven, or eight semesters, depending on your own schedule. Courses include:

• Theological Foundations in Counseling
• Advanced Clinical Practices and Treatment
• Lifestyle and Career Counseling

While this mental health counseling program is online, you will complete a seven-day residency on the Grace College campus once per year.

To apply, you need a bachelor’s degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA, professional references, and a background check. The good news is that you can apply for admission at least one month before the next term starts. Grace’s master’s program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).

The University of Tennessee includes four campuses, one of which is UT Martin. At UT Martin, you will find the nationally ranked best value counseling program:

The Master of Science in Education in Counseling with a clinical mental health track.

This program’s mission is to promote a sense of community while preparing “socially ethical and competent professionals in clinical mental health settings.”

This mental health counseling program may be online, but you will feel connected to your professors and classmates through twice-a-year, three-day residencies and group social media pages where you can keep in contact with current classmates and alumni. From day one to the day you graduate, you will be in close contact with your advisor, who will guide you through the program.

You can complete this 60-credit hour program in just two years. You will take courses such as Principles of Crisis Intervention and Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counseling before you complete your practicum and internships.

Other benefits to this mental health counseling degree include:

• No teaching experience is required to apply.
• Transfer credits are accepted towards your 60 hours.
• No GRE scores are necessary to apply.

Founded in 1909, Messiah University is currently a nationally ranked college in scenic central Pennsylvania. Messiah incorporates the Christian faith with quality academic programs. Accredited by CACREP, Messiah University offers one of the best online masters in clinical mental health counseling. The flexible online format will prepare you to become a mental health counselor.

Not only can you choose from flexible start dates, but you can decide if you want to complete this counseling program in two, three, or four years. Each course is eight weeks, and one-week intensive courses are offered in person in both January and July. You will take synchronous online courses such as:

• Professional Issues and Ethics for Counselors
• Spiritual Formation and Faith-Based Counseling
• Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling

Interested in Messiah University? To apply for the clinical mental health counseling program, along with a bachelor’s degree (cumulative GPA of 3.0), you need to submit the following:

• A statement of purpose
• Your response to the counseling admission questions
• Recommendation letters
• A current resume

Nestled in the breathtaking San Luis Valley in Colorado, you will find Adams State University. Adam State University just celebrated its 100-year anniversary and stands by its mission:

To enhance “educational opportunity, economic development, and cultural enrichment.” Nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report for social mobility, Adams State University offers an online Master of Arts in clinical mental health that is worth checking out.

The MA in clinical mental health features four goals for graduate students:

1. Personal growth
2. Development of a broad knowledge of counseling and research
3. Development of individual and group counseling skills
4. Knowledge of auxiliary services and follow-up

To achieve these goals, you will take a combination of core courses and clinical mental health counseling courses before you take the practicum and complete internship hours.

Adams State enrolls students every fall, spring, and summer semester, and though there are no specific deadlines, you should submit your application as early as you can. To apply, you need a bachelor’s with a minimum 2.75 GPA, but if yours falls below that, you can include an explanation as to why you are a successful candidate for this program.

Founded in 1897 as a watch-making school, Bradley University is a private institution in Peoria, Illinois. Bradley offers over 185 academic programs to nearly 5,600 students. Through Bradley University’s online Master of Arts in Counseling – clinical mental health or professional school counseling track, you can prepare for the National Counselor Examination and pursue a fulfilling counseling career.

In this online mental health master’s program, you will complete 60 credits of coursework which includes:

• Interpersonal Behavior and Organizational Leadership
• Counseling Diverse Populations
• A counseling practicum
• Two internships

 In addition, you will attend two one-week campus residencies, one during your first term and one during your last.

Since 2014, the NCE pass rate among Bradley graduates has been 100%. Graduates go on to work in an array of clinical mental settings, including:

• Hospitals
• Private practice
• Clinics
• Rehabilitation centers

This online mental health counseling degree also serves as a gateway for doctoral work, as many graduates have successfully completed Ph.D.’s in counseling or related fields.

More than 16,000 students call Lamar University home. Nationally recognized in academic quality, LU offers over 100 undergraduate and graduate programs. Lamar University’s Master of Education in clinical mental health counseling provides a competitive, high-quality, and affordable program for those who want to pursue clinical mental health counseling.

While LU’s program is online, two residency courses are required on campus. Each one is five weeks and includes face-to-face instruction and personal support and feedback. In addition to preparing graduate students to become professional counselors, the devoted faculty are clinicians and researchers in the clinical mental health counseling field.

All courses are offered in five-week formats. Required courses include:

• Group Counseling Theories and Techniques
• Measurement and Assessment
• Abnormal Human Behavior

Lamar University’s admission requirements are competitive: you need at least a 3.5 GPA, satisfactory GRE score scores, and three letters of recommendation to apply. Because courses are five weeks each, you can choose from multiple start dates throughout the year.

Regent University is one of the leading Christian academic institutions in the nation. The MA in clinical mental health counseling combines counseling theory and practice with biblical principles to prepare students for fulfilling careers as licensed counselors.

One of the best parts of RU’s program is the “small but challenging core of fellow students and professors.” You will take online courses such as Crisis, Trauma, and Clinical Mental Health and Treatment Planning and complete two one-week residencies at Regent. You can choose from one of three-degree progressions to allow you as much or as little flexibility as you need.

Interested in Regent University? To apply, you need a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited university and GRE or MAT scores. While an undergraduate in counseling or psychology is desirable, it is not required. You do need a minimum 3.0 GPA. If you have a 3.5 or above, you can waive the GRE or MAT exam scores.

A continuously nationally ranked school, the University of Louisiana at Monroe’s ULM Online offers a Master of Science in counseling – clinical mental health counseling track.  ULM is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and these values encompass every aspect of the program.

Through convenient eight-week courses, you will study subjects such as:

• Methods of Counseling
• Lifespan Development
• Trauma Counseling
• Play Therapy

You can also choose electives geared toward specific counseling populations, such as gerontology or marriage and family. After you finish your required coursework, you will complete a one-year clinical experience of one semester of practicum and two semesters in an internship.

While some schools require you to enroll full-time, at ULM, you can choose a full or part-time course sequence. In addition, all coursework is completely online, and a residency on campus is not required. Students are admitted to this program through regular or conditional status, dependent on undergraduate GPA and GRE scores.

Settled in the picturesque mountains of central Pennsylvania, Commonwealth University-Lock Haven features tons of perks, including:

• More than 60 degree programs
• Small classes
• All the individualized support you need to succeed

Commonwealth University offers an online master of clinical mental health counseling, and this program has a lot to offer.

You will study topics such as:

• Counseling theory and research
• Individual, family, couples, and group counseling
• Ethical, legal, and professional counseling issues

When it comes time for your counseling internship, you will get help to choose an approved site in or near your hometown. The CMHC also offers two graduate certificates focused on trauma, and you can add these to your course of study if you wish to enhance your knowledge, skills, and marketability.

Through both synchronous and asynchronous formats, this online mental health counseling degree allows you the opportunity to meet with your class and professors both in real time, as well as complete your coursework on your own time. You can complete the program in its entirety online, as no campus residencies are required. Full-time students can complete this CACREP-accredited program in under three years.

Wake Forest University’s motto is Humanitate, which means “to serve humanity.” Their motto radiates through all the programs, including our 12^th ranking. Through WFU’s online master’s in counseling – mental health counseling program, you won’t just be earning a graduate degree; “you will be a catalyst for positive change.”

This 60-credit-hour online mental health counseling program includes coursework, practicum, and internships that cover eight specific areas:

1. Human growth and development
2. Social and cultural foundations
3. Helping relationships
4. Group work
5. Career and lifespan development
6. Appraisal
7. Research and program evaluation
8. Professional orientation 

Most graduate students work at odd hours, like 3 AM. Thankfully, at WFU, you will have access to 24/7 technical support and tutoring! In addition, the 3 AM study sessions tend to pay off because Wake Forest graduates have a 95% pass rate on the National Counselor Exam.

Ready to look into Wake Forest? You need a bachelor’s degree (minimum 2.5 GPA), GRE scores, personal statements, and three recommendation letters.

Palo Alto University, a private, non-profit academic institution in California, is devoted to offering CACREP-accredited clinical psychology and counseling bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs. PAU’s online Master of Arts in Counseling –clinical mental health counseling is the first step to earn a LPCC license, but you can also explore other career options with this degree.

As a Palo Alto grad student, you can specialize in certain career tracks, such as:

• Private practice
• Addiction counseling
• Rehabilitation counseling

In addition, you can choose the non-licensed options and pursue careers in:

• Education
• Research
• Administration
• Business
• Further doctoral-level education

The practicum and internship require 700 counseling-related hours over a 9-12 month timespan. While this mental health counseling program is online, you will participate weekly in live video conferences and attend a one-week residency on campus.

If your undergraduate degree is in psychology or a related field with a minimum 3.0 GPA, you’re qualified to apply. However, if your degree is in another field and you have a GPA lower than 3.0, you can still apply. While GRE scores are not required, you can still submit them for additional consideration.

Northwestern University is a private four-year college in Illinois offering a CACREP-accredited online Master of Arts in Counseling. The program prepares students to become clinical mental health counselors.

Students benefit from a mix of live classes and asynchronous activities. Full-time students can complete their degree in just 18 months. The curriculum consists of coursework, a practicum, an internship, and in-person immersions. Students can choose to pursue a child and adolescent specialization to enhance their career options.

There is no set minimum for an undergraduate GPA, and GRE scores are not required as part of the admission process. Applicants must submit an application and participate in a group interview to be considered.

Southern New Hampshire University, a private non-profit academic institution, has a mission to remove barriers that prevent people from accessing education. That is why SNHU offers high-quality, affordable programs, including one of the best online mental health counseling programs in the country. This graduate program prepares students for counseling licensure in most states (with the exception of Kansas, Missouri, and Wisconsin).

You will complete 60 credit hours in coursework encompassing the areas of:

• Understanding disorders and addiction
• Group dynamics
• Working with diverse populations

In addition to a 100-hour practicum and a 600-hour internship, you will also attend two five-day residencies on campus.

SNHU Alumni state that one of the biggest perks of this program is the support they received from day one to beyond graduation. Another form of support is the low tuition rates and 25% discounts for active and retired U.S. military and their spouses. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, so you can apply at any time and receive a decision within days.  

Step foot into North Carolina Central University, and you will feel the “energy, warmth, and openness” that the faculty, staff, and students describe. NCUU is the first school in the UNC system to require students to volunteer 120 hours before they graduate.

NCCU’s master’s in clinical mental health counseling is specifically for those who want to work in non-profit, private mental health settings. With this degree, you will be prepared for the LPC exam in North Carolina. You will complete 60 hours, including 700 hours of supervised field experience. This CACREP-accredited online program includes both synchronous and asynchronous courses.

Interested in addiction counseling? You can take three additional courses to become a licensed clinical addiction specialist. To apply, you need:

• A bachelor’s degree with a minimum 2.7 GPA
• GRE scores
• Two recommendations
• Admissions essay

If you’re looking for an online master’s counseling program taught from a Christian worldview, check out Grand Canyon University. GCU’s Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is a well-rounded counseling program that emphasizes evidence-based theories and practical applications. This 62-credit hour graduate degree will lead to licensure.

Among the many areas in this counseling program, you will study:

• Substance abuse disorders
• Multicultural counseling
• Group dynamics
• Psychopharmacology

Most courses are eight weeks, although some, like Assessment of Mental and Emotional Health, are four weeks. You will complete a 12-week practicum and two 16-week internships. Other than the practicum and internships, you can complete this program entirely online.

GCU applicants need an undergraduate degree with a 2.8 GPA or higher from an accredited college. If you do not meet the GPA requirement, you may still be granted acceptance into this program if you have appropriate GRE or GMAT scores. While GCU is a Christian university, it welcomes people from all backgrounds and faiths.

Established in 1966, Bellevue University is a non-profit, open-access school. Bellevue is nationally recognized for affordable programs that prepare students for lifelong careers. CACREP accredited, the Master of Science in clinical mental health counseling leads you to a future career as a licensed professional counselor.

You will complete 60 hours of coursework in classes such as:

• Counseling Theory
• Statistics and Research
• Ethical practices

You will then progress into advanced courses, practicums, and internships. You can pursue this master’s degree either online or on campus.

To apply to this online mental health counseling program, you need the following:

• A bachelor’s degree (3.0 minimum GPA)
• Six credits in behavioral sciences
• A 1,000-word statement of interest
• Two recommendation letters
• A current resume

The admissions committee looks at a variety of criteria to determine if you are a good fit for Bellevue.  These factors include how well you work with others in culturally diverse groups, your academic experience, and your admissions essay.

A perk of going to the University of Southwest is not only does this Christian college offer high-quality academic programs, but it also offers free virtual healthcare to all online students. The convenient online master’s in clinical mental health counseling is offered year-round in 8-week terms with synchronous meeting times.

Because USW holds smaller class sizes, you will get to know others in your program well. Consistent with USW’s mission and vision, this 60-credit hour program contains five learning objectives:

1. Foundation
2. Diversity and Advocacy
3. Counseling, prevention, and intervention
4. Assessment and diagnosis
5. Research and evaluation

To meet these objectives, you will take courses such as:

• Addictions Counseling
• Psychopathology
• Introduction to Play Therapy

As standard, you will complete a practicum and internship during your last year.

Because of the convenient eight-week course schedule, you can apply anytime throughout the year. To apply, you need a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university, a 500-word personal essay, and a resume. USW is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).