by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 305 U.S. colleges awarded 12,039 degrees and certificates in Mental Health Counseling/Counselor. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 98% of graduates. College Factual ranks 233 schools in its 2027 Best Mental Health Counseling/Counselor 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 Health Counseling/Counselor covers Mental Health Counseling/counselor. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Provide Evaluations, Referrals, And Short-Term Counseling Services To Help People Prevent Or Remediate Personal Problems, Conflicts, And Emotional Crises. Includes Instruction In Human Development, Psychopathology, Individual And Group Counseling, Personality Theory, Career Assessment, Patient Screening And Referral, Observation And Testing Techniques, Interviewing Skills, Professional Standards And Ethics, And Applicable Laws And Regulations.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., mental health counseling/counselor draws strong interest, with 12,039 degrees awarded annually. 305 colleges award mental health counseling/counselor degrees, an average of 39 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 953.
By level, the 12,039 awards include 18 certificates, 129 associate degrees, 13 bachelor’s degrees, 11,815 master’s degrees and 51 doctorates.
Women earned 83% of mental health counseling/counselor degrees and certificates in the latest year (9,996 of 12,039). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (6,938) and Black or African American (1,693), and international students earned 243.
College Factual ranks 233 schools in its 2027 Best Mental Health Counseling/Counselor Schools ranking, including 7 for associate degrees, 11 for bachelor’s degrees and 219 for master’s degrees. It also ranks mental health counseling/counselor schools within 42 states. In all, 305 colleges offer mental health counseling/counselor programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Mental Health Counseling/Counselor Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common mental health counseling/counselor credential is the master’s degree: 11,815 of the 12,039 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to mental health counseling/counselor call most for Active Listening, Social Perceptiveness and Speaking, and for knowledge of Therapy and Counseling, Psychology and Customer and Personal Service, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Comprehension, Oral Expression and Problem Sensitivity.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a mental health counseling/counselor degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 18 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 129 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 13 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 11,815 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 51 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to mental health counseling/counselor, at 89.3%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 89.3% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 7.1% |
| First professional degree | 3.6% |
Source: O*NET Online.
1 occupations are related to Mental Health Counseling/Counselor, with an average median salary of $72,983; the strongest outlook belongs to Mental Health Counselors, at 2.8% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC), Group Counselor, Treatment Coordinator and Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC).
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to mental health counseling/counselor, at 246,978.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Mental Health Counselors | 246,978 | 2.8% |
Mental Health Counseling/Counselor 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 same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to mental health counseling/counselor, with a median salary of $72,983.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Mental Health Counselors | $72,983 |
Mental Health Counseling/Counselor has 12 similar majors in the Health Professions field, which together award 24,077 degrees a year; the largest are Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling (6,362), Marriage and Family Therapy/Counseling (4,547) and Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions, Other (3,934). Browse all Health Professions majors or the full list of college majors.
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