by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 902 U.S. colleges awarded 36,116 degrees and certificates in Mental & Social Health Services. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 75% of graduates. College Factual ranks 581 schools in its 2027 Best Mental & Social Health Services Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $45,762 one year after completing, rising to $55,481 after four years.
A degree in Mental and Social Health Services allows you to work closely with both children and adults to help them overcome difficult mental or emotion stress and maintain a healthy and happy life.
Mental and Social Health Services professionals work with patients to diagnose and treat mental illness, manage emotional disorders, deal with life stresses, and change behavioral issues. You will take classes in psychology, social work, substance abuse, public health, counseling, physiology, and human services to gain the skills to work with others and prepare to earn an advanced degree.
Some specific areas of this field that you may be interested in concentrating on are Addiction Counseling, Mental Health Services Technician, Clinical Social Work, Community Health Services, Marriage and Family Counseling, Clinical Pastoral Counseling, Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy, and Genetic Counseling, among others.
A degree in Mental & Social Health Services covers Mental And Social Health Services And Allied Professions.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, mental & social health services is a widely-pursued major, with 36,116 degrees awarded annually. 902 colleges award mental & social health services degrees, an average of 40 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 2,216.
By level, the 36,116 awards include 1,995 certificates, 3,400 associate degrees, 2,650 bachelor’s degrees, 27,148 master’s degrees and 390 doctorates.
Women earned 81% of mental & social health services degrees and certificates in the latest year (29,206 of 36,116). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (18,819) and Black or African American (6,081), and international students earned 619.
College Factual ranks 581 schools in its 2027 Best Mental & Social Health Services Schools ranking, including 115 for associate degrees, 41 for bachelor’s degrees, 349 for master’s degrees and 9 for doctorates. It also ranks mental & social health services schools within 47 states. In all, 902 colleges offer mental & social health services programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Mental & Social Health Services Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common mental & social health services credential is the master’s degree: 27,148 of the 36,116 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to mental & social health services call most for Active Listening, Speaking and Social Perceptiveness, and for knowledge of Psychology, Therapy and Counseling and English Language, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Written Comprehension.
A degree in Mental and Social Health Services leads to a career working with others, usually one on one. This places a strong emphasis on interpersonal communication, and listening skills. You must be able to listen to what patients are telling you in order to understand their stressors and help them. You must also be compassionate and understand patients may feel insecure, uncomfortable, or scared. Since you will have access to patient files along with the information they share, it is extremely important to be trustworthy and maintain patient-doctor confidentiality.
Graduates with a degree in this field have full time jobs working in hospitals, schools, doctors' offices, and with social services. Some professionals set their own hours, but keep night and weekend hours to accommodate patients' schedules.
In order to practice in the Mental and Social Health Services field, students must earn at least a master's degree, or in some cases, a Ph.D. or Psy.D. may be required along with state certification.
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How long a mental & social health services degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 1,995 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 3,400 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 2,650 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 27,148 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 390 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to mental & social health services, at 58.3%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 58.3% |
| Doctoral degree | 10.6% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 8.6% |
| Some college courses | 5.2% |
| Post-doctoral training | 4.4% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.7% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 3.2% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.2% |
| First professional degree | 1.9% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.9% |
Source: O*NET Online.
19 occupations are related to Mental & Social Health Services, with an average median salary of $64,920; the strongest outlook belongs to Clinical and Counseling Psychologists, at 14.7% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Case Manager, Counselor, Genetic Counselor and Genetic Counseling Medical Specialist.
Mental and Social Health Services graduates work in a variety of locations from hospitals and medical clinics to social service offices. Depending on your specialization, you may work with adults, children and families with different types of mental and social disorders or issues. Graduates can find jobs in a multitude of locations, or can open their own practice and have their own patients.
The occupation related to mental & social health services with the most projected jobs is Genetic Counselors, at 3,289,795.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Genetic Counselors | 3,289,795 | 13.4% |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
| Psychiatric Aides | 845,589 | 3.6% |
| Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary | 839,680 | 7.7% |
| Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary | 513,614 | -3.0% |
| Psychiatric Technicians | 507,255 | 12.5% |
| Community Health Workers | 300,538 | 13.4% |
| Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers | 253,503 | 5.8% |
Mental & Social Health Services graduates earn a median $45,762 one year after completing their program, $55,481 after four years and $50,915 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $45,762 |
| 4 years | $55,481 |
| 5 years | $50,915 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to mental & social health services is Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary, with a median salary of $98,479.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary | $98,479 |
| Counselors, All Other | $81,766 |
| Health Education Specialists | $81,726 |
| Healthcare Social Workers | $78,044 |
| Marriage and Family Therapists | $74,325 |
| Community Health Workers | $73,901 |
| Mental Health Counselors | $72,983 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $68,140 |
Mental & Social Health Services includes 13 concentrations that together award 36,116 degrees a year; by graduates, the largest are Mental Health Counseling/Counselor (12,039), Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling (6,362) and Marriage and Family Therapy/Counseling (4,547). It has 30 similar majors in the Health Professions field, which together award 1,001,344 degrees a year; the largest are Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (318,053), Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants (110,132) and Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (98,474). Browse all Health Professions majors or the full list of college majors.
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