2026 Best Mental Health Counseling/Counselor Schools in Illinois
Mental Health Counseling/Counselor programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 13 schools to find the best for mental health counseling/counselor students.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Mental Health Counseling/Counselor in Illinois
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall mental health counseling/counselor education in Illinois.
Top Schools in Mental Health Counseling/Counselor
Our analysis ranked Elgin Community College the best school in the country for a degree in mental health counseling/counselor. Elgin Community College is a large public school located in the city of Elgin. Elgin Community College awarded about 28 mental health counseling/counselor degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the mental health counseling/counselor program make about $43,975 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $7,727 to complete this degree.
Get the full mental health counseling/counselor details for Elgin Community College
A rank of #2 makes The Chicago School Of Professional Psychology At Chicago one of the top schools for mental health counseling/counselor. The Chicago School Of Professional Psychology At Chicago is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. About 51 mental health counseling/counselor degrees were awarded at The Chicago School Of Professional Psychology At Chicago in the most recent year. Students who receive their mental health counseling/counselor degree from The Chicago School Of Professional Psychology At Chicago earn around $67,118 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $40,645.
Read more about the mental health counseling/counselor program at The Chicago School Of Professional Psychology At Chicago
Bradley University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in mental health counseling/counselor, landing the #3 spot this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Peoria. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. Bradley University awarded about 46 mental health counseling/counselor degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their mental health counseling/counselor degree from Bradley University earn around $50,358 in the first couple years of their career. Bradley University graduates carry a median of $26,380 in student loans.
Read more about the mental health counseling/counselor program at Bradley University
Northeastern Illinois University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in mental health counseling/counselor, ranking #4. Set in the city of Chicago, Northeastern Illinois University is a moderately-sized public institution. Roughly 22% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 39 mental health counseling/counselor degrees were awarded at Northeastern Illinois University in the most recent year. Students who receive their mental health counseling/counselor degree from Northeastern Illinois University earn around $50,825 in the first couple years of their career. Northeastern Illinois University graduates carry a median of $17,600 in student loans.
Get the full mental health counseling/counselor details for Northeastern Illinois University
Parkland College came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best mental health counseling/counselor schools. Set in the city of Champaign, Parkland College is a moderately-sized public institution. There were roughly 15 mental health counseling/counselor students who graduated with this degree at Parkland College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their mental health counseling/counselor degree from Parkland College earn around $40,409 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,168.
See the full mental health counseling/counselor program report for Parkland College
Moody Bible Institute came in at #6 for mental health counseling/counselor this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chicago. Roughly 62% of students complete a degree within six years here. Moody Bible Institute awarded about 33 mental health counseling/counselor degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the mental health counseling/counselor program make about $40,708 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $13,318.
More information about a degree in mental health counseling/counselor from Moody Bible Institute
Roosevelt University placed #7 among the best mental health counseling/counselor schools. Located in the city of Chicago, Roosevelt University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Roosevelt University graduates 46% of students within six years. There were roughly 25 mental health counseling/counselor students who graduated with this degree at Roosevelt University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their mental health counseling/counselor degree from Roosevelt University earn around $47,220 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,879.
Read more about the mental health counseling/counselor program at Roosevelt University
Lewis University earned the #8 position for mental health counseling/counselor this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Romeoville. The six-year graduation rate is 67%. There were roughly 29 mental health counseling/counselor students who graduated with this degree at Lewis University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the mental health counseling/counselor program make about $38,831 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,838 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in mental health counseling/counselor from Lewis University
More Mental Health Counseling/Counselor Rankings
View All Mental Health Counseling/Counselor Rankings >
Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 13 schools evaluated.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
