Mental Health Counseling: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries

Q: Which universities have the largest Mental Health Counseling programs?

Currently 292 accredited institutions offer Mental Health Counseling degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Walden University (880 graduates), Grand Canyon University (GCU) (725 graduates), and Capella University (663 graduates).

Q: Is enrollment in Mental Health Counseling growing or declining?

Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 2,844 in 2010 to 10,855 in 2023-24. This represents a 282% increase overall from 2010.

Program Overview

Mental Health Counseling is a specialized field dedicated to equipping professionals with the knowledge and skills to support individuals navigating emotional challenges, personal crises, and psychological distress. This program focuses on developing expertise in assessment, intervention, and referral practices to promote mental well-being and resilience across diverse populations.

Human Development: Explores the psychological, emotional, and cognitive growth across the lifespan, providing a foundation for understanding developmental milestones and transitions.
Psychopathology: Examines the nature, causes, and manifestations of mental disorders, enabling accurate identification and contextual understanding of psychological conditions.
Individual and Group Counseling: Develops techniques for facilitating one-on-one and group therapeutic sessions to address emotional, behavioral, and interpersonal concerns.
Personality Theory: Investigates established models of personality structure and dynamics to inform clinical assessment and therapeutic approaches.
Career Assessment: Integrates tools and methods to help individuals explore vocational interests, strengths, and goals in alignment with mental health and personal fulfillment.
Patient Screening and Referral: Focuses on systematic evaluation protocols to determine client needs and guide appropriate access to specialized care or community resources.
Observation and Testing Techniques: Teaches the application of standardized instruments and observational methods to gather reliable data for diagnosis and treatment planning.
Interviewing Skills: Builds competencies in active listening, empathic engagement, and structured questioning to establish therapeutic rapport and gather critical information.
Professional Standards and Ethics: Emphasizes adherence to ethical guidelines, confidentiality protocols, and best practices in clinical practice.
Applicable Laws and Regulations: Addresses legal frameworks governing mental health practice, including licensure requirements, mandated reporting, and patient rights.

Mental Health Counseling Graduate Trends (2010-2024)

10,855

Total Graduates (2023-2024)

292

Universities & Colleges

N/A

Career Pathways

Career & Salary Outlook Schools Offering This Program Related Programs

Mental Health Counseling Career Pathways & Salary Outlook

The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Mental Health Counseling degrees, including . These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements.

Career salary data is not available for this program.

Top Universities for Mental Health Counseling by Graduate Enrollment

Below are the top 100 institutions offering Mental Health Counseling programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Mental Health Counseling is found at Walden University (880 graduates), Grand Canyon University (GCU) (725 graduates), Capella University (663 graduates), Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) (358 graduates), and Colorado Christian University (CCU) (241 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 8,213 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.

College Name	Award Levels	Graduates	Admissions	Location	Control	Website
Walden University	Master's	880	N/A	Minneapolis, Minnesota	Private	waldenu.edu
Grand Canyon University (GCU)	Master's Post-Master's Doctorate (R)	725	SAT: 1058-1175 ACT: 19-24	Phoenix, Arizona	Private	gcu.edu
Capella University	Postbac Cert. Master's	663	N/A	Minneapolis, Minnesota	Private	capella.edu
Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU)	Master's	358	N/A	Manchester, New Hampshire	Private	snhu.edu
Colorado Christian University (CCU)	Master's	241	N/A	Lakewood, Colorado	Private	ccu.edu
Lesley University	Master's	224	N/A	Cambridge, Massachusetts	Private	lesley.edu
Lamar University (LU)	Postbac Cert. Master's	214	SAT: 910-1130 ACT: 18-24	Beaumont, Texas	Public	lamar.edu
Antioch University (AUNE)	Postbac Cert. Master's	190	N/A	Keene, New Hampshire	Private	antiochne.edu
University of Phoenix (UOPX)	Master's	161	N/A	Phoenix, Arizona	Private	phoenix.edu
Bellevue University	Master's	137	N/A	Bellevue, Nebraska	Private	bellevue.edu
Alfred University	Master's Post-Master's	134	SAT: 1100-1280 ACT: 24-31	Alfred, New York	Private	alfred.edu
Cambridge College	Postbac Cert. Master's	127	N/A	Boston, Massachusetts	Private	cambridgecollege.edu
CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice	Master's	111	SAT: 1000-1250	New York, New York	Public	jjay.cuny.edu
The University of Texas (UTSA)	Postbac Cert. Master's	111	SAT: 1000-1200 ACT: 19-26	San Antonio, Texas	Public	utsa.edu
The Chicago School (TCSPP)	Master's	105	N/A	Los Angeles, California	Private	thechicagoschool.edu
Saint Edward's University	Master's	104	SAT: 1030-1235 ACT: 20-25	Austin, Texas	Private	stedwards.edu
Palo Alto University (PAU)	Master's	96	N/A	Palo Alto, California	Private	paloaltou.edu
Antioch University (AUS)	Postbac Cert. Master's Doctorate (R)	93	N/A	Seattle, Washington	Private	antiochseattle.edu
Long Island University (LIU)	Master's Post-Master's	77	SAT: 1140-1350 ACT: 25-30	Brookville, New York	Private	liu.edu
Southern Methodist University (SMU)	Master's	73	SAT: 1320-1480 ACT: 30-34	Dallas, Texas	Private	smu.edu
Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania (CU)	Postbac Cert. Master's	72	SAT: 970-1180 ACT: 18-25	Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania	Public	commonwealthu.edu
John Brown University (JBU)	Master's	71	SAT: 1130-1345 ACT: 21-30	Siloam Springs, Arkansas	Private	jbu.edu
University of West Alabama (UWA)	Master's	69	SAT: 820-978 ACT: 17-22	Livingston, Alabama	Public	uwa.edu
Prescott College (PC)	Master's	68	N/A	Prescott, Arizona	Private	prescott.edu
William James College (MSPP)	Master's	66	N/A	Newton, Massachusetts	Private	williamjames.edu
Palm Beach Atlantic University (PBA)	Master's	65	SAT: 970-1210 ACT: 19-26	West Palm Beach, Florida	Private	pba.edu
Pace University	Master's Doctorate (R)	65	SAT: 1130-1328 ACT: 24-29	New York, New York	Private	pace.edu
Marquette University	Master's	65	SAT: 1190-1360 ACT: 26-31	Milwaukee, Wisconsin	Private	marquette.edu
Mercer University	Master's	64	SAT: 1180-1350 ACT: 25-31	Macon, Georgia	Private	mercer.edu
CUNY Hunter College	Master's Post-Master's	64	SAT: 1210-1470	New York, New York	Public	hunter.cuny.edu
Xavier University (XU)	Postbac Cert. Master's	64	SAT: 1060-1298 ACT: 22-29	Cincinnati, Ohio	Private	xavier.edu
Houston Christian University (HCU)	Master's	64	SAT: 970-1200 ACT: 19-28	Houston, Texas	Private	hc.edu
Adler Graduate School (AGS)	Master's Post-Master's	63	N/A	Minnetonka, Minnesota	Private	alfredadler.edu
Cleveland State University (CSU)	Master's	62	ACT: 17-25	Cleveland, Ohio	Public	csuohio.edu
Oakland University (OU)	Master's	57	SAT: 995-1185	Rochester Hills, Michigan	Public	oakland.edu
Lenoir-Rhyne University	Master's	57	N/A	Hickory, North Carolina	Private	lr.edu
Texas Woman's University (TWU)	Master's	57	N/A	Denton, Texas	Public	twu.edu
Divine Mercy University (DMU)	Master's	54	N/A	Sterling, Virginia	Private	divinemercy.edu
The Chicago School	Master's	51	N/A	Chicago, Illinois	Private	thechicagoschool.edu
Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions (RMU)	Master's Post-Master's	51	N/A	Provo, Utah	Private	rm.edu
Lewis & Clark College	Master's	50	SAT: 1210-1390 ACT: 28-31	Portland, Oregon	Private	lclark.edu
Kent State University	Master's	48	SAT: 1000-1230 ACT: 18-25	Kent, Ohio	Public	kent.edu
Lindenwood University	Master's	47	ACT: 19-24	Saint Charles, Missouri	Private	lindenwood.edu
Bradley University	Master's	46	SAT: 1090-1300 ACT: 25-31	Peoria, Illinois	Private	bradley.edu
Pennsylvania Western University (PennWest)	Master's Other Award	46	SAT: 940-1170 ACT: 20-26	California, Pennsylvania	Public	pennwest.edu
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM)	Master's	45	N/A	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	Private	pcom.edu
Central Michigan University (CMU)	Master's	44	SAT: 960-1210 ACT: 21-27	Mount Pleasant, Michigan	Public	cmich.edu
Regent University	Master's	44	SAT: 1050-1250 ACT: 21-26	Virginia Beach, Virginia	Private	regent.edu
University of Massachusetts	Master's	43	SAT: 1080-1290 ACT: 24-30	Boston, Massachusetts	Public	umb.edu
Indiana Wesleyan University	Master's	43	N/A	Marion, Indiana	Private	indwes.edu
Fordham University	Master's	41	SAT: 1330-1490 ACT: 30-33	Bronx, New York	Private	fordham.edu
Adelphi University	Master's	40	SAT: 1140-1310 ACT: 24-30	Garden City, New York	Private	adelphi.edu
Northeastern Illinois University (NEIU)	Master's	39	N/A	Chicago, Illinois	Public	neiu.edu
Emporia State University (ESU)	Master's	39	ACT: 18-24	Emporia, Kansas	Public	emporia.edu
University of Minnesota (UMN)	Master's	39	SAT: 1310-1480 ACT: 27-31	Minneapolis, Minnesota	Public	twin-cities.umn.edu
Youngstown State University (YSU)	Master's	39	SAT: 940-1210 ACT: 17-24	Youngstown, Ohio	Public	ysu.edu
Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP)	Master's	39	SAT: 940-1170 ACT: 17-24	Indiana, Pennsylvania	Public	iup.edu
Marymount University	Master's	39	N/A	Arlington, Virginia	Private	marymount.edu
Lynn University	Master's	38	SAT: 1030-1200 ACT: 22-27	Boca Raton, Florida	Private	lynn.edu
Indiana University (IUB)	Master's	38	SAT: 1170-1400 ACT: 27-32	Bloomington, Indiana	Public	indiana.edu
Merrimack College	Master's	38	N/A	North Andover, Massachusetts	Private	merrimack.edu
Northern Arizona University (NAU)	Master's	37	N/A	Flagstaff, Arizona	Public	nau.edu
Seton Hall University (SHU)	Master's	37	SAT: 1220-1400 ACT: 27-31	South Orange, New Jersey	Private	shu.edu
University of Akron	Postbac Cert. Master's	37	SAT: 950-1190 ACT: 18-25	Akron, Ohio	Public	uakron.edu
John Carroll University (JCU)	Master's	36	SAT: 1190-1350 ACT: 25-30	University Heights, Ohio	Private	jcu.edu
St. Mary's University	Master's	36	SAT: 980-1150 ACT: 16-23	San Antonio, Texas	Private	stmarytx.edu
Lakeland University	Master's	36	N/A	Plymouth, Wisconsin	Private	lakeland.edu
East Carolina University (ECU)	Master's	35	SAT: 1050-1200 ACT: 20-26	Greenville, North Carolina	Public	ecu.edu
University of Florida (UF)	Master's	34	SAT: 1300-1480 ACT: 28-33	Gainesville, Florida	Public	ufl.edu
Springfield College	Master's	34	SAT: 1070-1260	Springfield, Massachusetts	Private	springfield.edu
Monmouth University	Master's	34	SAT: 1125-1270 ACT: 24-28	West Long Branch, New Jersey	Private	monmouth.edu
Mercy University	Master's	34	N/A	Dobbs Ferry, New York	Private	mercy.edu
University of Rochester	Master's	34	SAT: 1400-1540 ACT: 31-34	Rochester, New York	Private	rochester.edu
University at Buffalo (UB)	Postbac Cert. Master's	34	SAT: 1210-1380 ACT: 27-32	Buffalo, New York	Public	buffalo.edu
Rhode Island College (RIC)	Postbac Cert. Master's	34	SAT: 860-1160	Providence, Rhode Island	Public	ric.edu
Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU)	Master's	34	N/A	San Antonio, Texas	Private	ollusa.edu
University of Alabama (UAB)	Postbac Cert. Other Award	33	SAT: 1130-1400 ACT: 22-30	Birmingham, Alabama	Public	uab.edu
Moody Bible Institute (MBI)	Postbac Cert. Master's	33	N/A	Chicago, Illinois	Private	moody.edu
Rider University	Master's	33	SAT: 1100-1310 ACT: 22-29	Lawrenceville, New Jersey	Private	rider.edu
Bowling Green State University (BGSU)	Master's	32	SAT: 1020-1230 ACT: 20-26	Bowling Green, Ohio	Public	bgsu.edu
University of Dayton (UD)	Postbac Cert. Master's	32	SAT: 1195-1370 ACT: 26-31	Dayton, Ohio	Private	udayton.edu
Bushnell University	Master's	32	SAT: 1010-1315	Eugene, Oregon	Private	bushnell.edu
The University of Texas (UTEP)	Master's	32	SAT: 870-1090 ACT: 17-23	El Paso, Texas	Public	utep.edu
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC)	Master's	32	N/A	Lubbock, Texas	Public	ttuhsc.edu
University of Houston (UHCL)	Master's	31	SAT: 990-1170 ACT: 18-23	Houston, Texas	Public	uhcl.edu
Sacred Heart University (SHU)	Master's	30	N/A	Fairfield, Connecticut	Private	sacredheart.edu
Minnesota State University	Master's	30	ACT: 22-25	Mankato, Minnesota	Public	mnsu.edu
Touro University	Master's	30	SAT: 1275-1440 ACT: 28-33	New York, New York	Private	touro.edu
Malone University	Master's	30	SAT: 885-1236 ACT: 17-24	Canton, Ohio	Private	malone.edu
Carlow University	Master's	30	N/A	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania	Private	carlow.edu
University of Pittsburgh	Master's	30	SAT: 1270-1450 ACT: 29-33	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania	Public	pitt.edu
Lipscomb University	Master's	30	SAT: 1145-1350 ACT: 22-29	Nashville, Tennessee	Private	lipscomb.edu
Rollins College	Master's	29	SAT: 1210-1360 ACT: 26-31	Winter Park, Florida	Private	rollins.edu
Lewis University	Master's	29	SAT: 990-1220 ACT: 22-26	Romeoville, Illinois	Private	lewisu.edu
University of Mary (UMary)	Postbac Cert. Master's	29	N/A	Bismarck, North Dakota	Private	umary.edu
University of St Thomas	Master's	29	SAT: 1075-1340 ACT: 22-28	Houston, Texas	Private	stthom.edu
University of Wisconsin-Stout	Master's	29	ACT: 19-26	Menomonie, Wisconsin	Public	uwstout.edu
George Washington University (GW)	Master's	28	SAT: 1350-1500 ACT: 31-34	Washington, District of Columbia	Private	gwu.edu
Elgin Community College (ECC)	Other Award	28	N/A	Elgin, Illinois	Public	elgin.edu
Grace College and Theological Seminary	Master's	28	SAT: 950-1200 ACT: 20-27	Winona Lake, Indiana	Private	grace.edu

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to the most common questions about Mental Health Counseling programs

Which universities have the largest Mental Health Counseling programs?

Currently 292 accredited institutions offer Mental Health Counseling degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Walden University (880 graduates), Grand Canyon University (GCU) (725 graduates), and Capella University (663 graduates).

Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.

Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.

Is enrollment in Mental Health Counseling growing or declining?

Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 2,844 in 2010 to 10,855 in 2023-24. This represents a 282% increase overall from 2010.

The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.

Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.

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