If you're equipped with deep empathy and a passion for helping others, you might enjoy a career as a mental health counselor.
The mental health counseling field is growing quickly and offers plenty of opportunities, whether you want to work with families and couples, students, the elderly, veterans, or people with addictions.
You'll need a master's degree to work in this field. An accredited master's program can give you the skills to help clients manage life challenges such as relationship, academic, and career issues. Find the best master's in mental health counseling programs of the year.
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Top Online Master's Programs in Mental Health Counseling
How We Highlight What Schools Do Best
We analyzed each school's program to identify qualities that set it apart from others on this list, prioritizing factors like cost, programmatic offerings, and student support services. Based on these strengths, we assigned each school a superlative category.
Since many programs share similar offerings and outcomes, our goal is to simplify your college decision-making by highlighting the features most relevant to your needs.
We verified these schools' facts in November 2025.
Why You Should Get a Master's in Mental Health Counseling
Skill Growth: An accredited online master's program in mental health counseling can help you develop important counseling skills like active listening, communication, and empathy.
Change Lives: Mental health counselors help people overcome challenges, improving families, communities, and individual lives.
Diverse Career Paths: Once you graduate from your master's program, you can work in a variety of settings, including schools, clinics, substance abuse programs, and private practice.
Job Stability: Mental health counseling is an in-demand field due to the growing awareness and need for mental health services.
Benefits of Getting a Master's in Mental Health Counseling Online
We surveyed online master's students and graduates to see what they thought about their online programs for our 2025 Online Education Trends Report.
Almost all (99%) of online master's students and graduates we surveyed say they would recommend online education to others.
Most (95%) of online master's students and graduates say they think earning an online degree has had or will have a positive return on investment.
75% of online master's students and graduates say an online learning environment is equal to or better than learning on campus.
How to Choose the Best Master's in Mental Health Counseling Program for You
As you research online master's in mental health counseling programs, consider important factors like program cost and length, as well as accreditation and application requirements.
How Much Does an Online Master's in Mental Health Counseling Cost?
Online Social Sciences Master's Degree, 2019-2020
Avg. Tuition & Fees
$12,107
Avg. Net Price
$10,929
Source: NCES PowerStats
A two-year online master's in mental health counseling degree costs around $24,200 without financial aid, based on 2019-2020 data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).
Financial aid — in the form of loans, grants, and scholarships — can help reduce the cost of college. With financial aid, students paid an average of around $21,900 for their program int he 2019-20 academic year.
You can access financial aid by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid each year you're enrolled in your mental health counseling program.
Find Financial Aid for Your Master's in Mental Health Counseling
How Long Does It Take to Get a Master's in Mental Health Counseling?
Typical # of Credits
60 Credits
Typical Program Length
2 Years
Most master's in mental health counseling programs require two years of study. You'll typically need to earn 60 credits to graduate. You can, however, earn your degree faster in an accelerated program.
For example, the accelerated online master of arts in counseling program and Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, only takes 18 months to complete as a full-time student.
As in many mental health counseling programs, you'll also complete 200 practicum hours and a 600-hour internship before you can graduate from Northwestern.
Master's in Mental Health Counseling Application Requirements
Application and fee
Official transcripts
Resume or CV
GRE scores (if applicable)
Interview (if applicable)
Accreditation for Master's in Mental Health Counseling Programs
As you research master's in mental health counseling programs, look for programmatic accreditation from the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) or the Master's in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC).
These accrediting agencies ensure master's in mental health counseling programs are legitimate and will offer a valuable education, leading to a degree employers will respect.
Programmatic accreditation can also impact your ability to gain licensure.
You can check each program's website to find accreditation information or contact the program directly to ask about their accreditation status.
What Can You Do With a Master's in Mental Health Counseling?
After you've completed your master's in mental health counseling program, you can work in a variety of mental health careers. For example, mental health counselor jobs are projected to grow by 19% from 2023-2033. These professionals earn over $50,000 per year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
With this degree, you'll also be able to work as a marriage and family therapist. Both mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists require licenses. Earning licensure typically involves completing 2-3 years of clinical hours and taking the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE) or the Marital and Family Therapy Examination (MFT Exam). Check with your state licensing board to see the requirements for your state.
If you're looking for a career that takes less time, you can also work as a social and community service manager. These professionals only need a bachelor's degree and on-the-job training.
| Job | Median Annual Salary (May 2024) | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Mental Health Counselor | $59,190 | Provides treatment and support to help people recover from and cope with life's challenges |
| Marriage and Family Therapist | $63,780 | Treats a range of psychological and behavioral challenges in the context of relationships |
| Social and Community Service Manager | $78,240 | Advocates for the well-being and needs of certain communities such as children, elderly, and homeless people |
Learn More About Mental Health Counseling Jobs
Is a Master's in Mental Health Counseling Worth It?
A master's degree in mental health counseling can be worth the time and effort if you're serious about getting a career helping others through counseling. You can't become a licensed counselor without this degree.
Our research shows that nearly all (97%) of online master's students and graduates say they think earning an online degree has had or will have a positive return on investment.
Consider this: The average starting salary for master's in mental health counseling graduates was nearly $61,600 in 2023, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers. You can, however, earn much more, depending on your role, level of experience, and location.
You might also assess the program's concentration offerings to see if those align with your academic and professional interests.
Education Beyond a Master's in Mental Health Counseling
Advanced degrees can improve your clinical, research, and leadership skills. Once you earn your master's in mental health counseling you can apply to a doctorate in counseling program.
You can pursue a Ph.D., Psy.D., or Ed.D. in counseling or mental health counseling. You can also pursue an advanced certificate in clinical mental health counseling to specialize in a specific area of counseling.
The National Board for Certified Counselors has a directory of nearly 1,500 approved continuing education providers. These programs allow counselors to earn certification and learn new skills after their college journey is finished.
The American Counseling Association offers online continuing education courses of varying lengths and credits.
Frequently Asked Questions About a Master's in Mental Health Counseling
Marriage and family therapists earn one of the highest salaries in mental health counseling, with a median annual salary of over $63,000.
Your exact salary in mental health counseling will depend on your specific field, location, and employer. Positions in high-cost areas like California, New Jersey, and New York earn the most, while counselors in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Montana see the lowest wages.
