2026 Best Mental Health Counseling/Counselor Schools in the Middle Atlantic Region
Mental Health Counseling/Counselor degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 72 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for mental health counseling/counselor students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Mental Health Counseling/Counselor in the Middle Atlantic Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall mental health counseling/counselor education in the Middle Atlantic Region.
Top Schools in Mental Health Counseling/Counselor
George Washington University tops our 2026 ranking of the best mental health counseling/counselor schools. Located in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 84% of students finish within six years. About 28 mental health counseling/counselor degrees were awarded at George Washington University in the most recent year. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates of George Washington University earn a median of $56,852 early in their careers. George Washington University graduates carry a median of $22,910 in student loans.
More information about a degree in mental health counseling/counselor from George Washington University
Fordham University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in mental health counseling/counselor, landing the #2 spot this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Bronx. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. There were roughly 41 mental health counseling/counselor students who graduated with this degree at Fordham University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the mental health counseling/counselor program make about $48,341 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $25,643 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in mental health counseling/counselor from Fordham University
A rank of #3 makes University Of Rochester one of the top schools for mental health counseling/counselor. University Of Rochester is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Rochester. University Of Rochester graduates 85% of students within six years. There were roughly 34 mental health counseling/counselor students who graduated with this degree at University Of Rochester in the most recent data year. Students who receive their mental health counseling/counselor degree from University Of Rochester earn around $48,836 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,517 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong mental health counseling/counselor program will find one at Cuny Hunter College, which ranked #4. Cuny Hunter College is a very large public school located in the city of New York. Roughly 57% of students complete a degree within six years here. Cuny Hunter College awarded about 64 mental health counseling/counselor degrees in the most recent data year. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates of Cuny Hunter College earn a median of $50,493 early in their careers. Cuny Hunter College graduates carry a median of $11,091 in student loans.
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A rank of #5 makes Philadelphia College Of Osteopathic Medicine one of the top schools for mental health counseling/counselor. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Philadelphia. About 45 mental health counseling/counselor degrees were awarded at Philadelphia College Of Osteopathic Medicine in the most recent year. Students who receive their mental health counseling/counselor degree from Philadelphia College Of Osteopathic Medicine earn around $50,635 in the first couple years of their career.
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University At Buffalo placed #6 among the best mental health counseling/counselor schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Buffalo. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. University At Buffalo awarded about 34 mental health counseling/counselor degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, mental health counseling/counselor degree recipients from University At Buffalo generally make around $52,403. University At Buffalo graduates carry a median of $22,232 in student loans.
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Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best mental health counseling/counselor schools. Set in the town of Bloomsburg, Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania is a large public institution. Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania graduates 56% of students within six years. About 72 mental health counseling/counselor degrees were awarded at Commonwealth University Of Pennsylvania in the most recent year.
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University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus came in at #8 for mental health counseling/counselor this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Pittsburgh. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus graduates 86% of students within six years. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus awarded about 30 mental health counseling/counselor degrees in the most recent data year. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates of University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earn a median of $56,926 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,958 to complete this degree.
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St Johns University New York ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best mental health counseling/counselor schools. Set in the city of Queens, St Johns University New York is a very large private not-for-profit institution. St Johns University New York graduates 66% of students within six years. About 26 mental health counseling/counselor degrees were awarded at St Johns University New York in the most recent year. Graduates of the mental health counseling/counselor program make about $59,299 in their early career. St Johns University New York graduates carry a median of $25,521 in student loans.
See the full mental health counseling/counselor program report for St Johns University New York
Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice earned the #10 position for mental health counseling/counselor this year. Set in the city of New York, Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice is a large public institution. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 111 mental health counseling/counselor students who graduated with this degree at Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice in the most recent data year. Students who receive their mental health counseling/counselor degree from Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice earn around $55,275 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $12,678 to complete this degree.
See the full mental health counseling/counselor program report for Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice
Cuny Bernard M Baruch College landed the #11 spot for mental health counseling/counselor this year. This very large public university is located in the city of New York. The six-year graduation rate is 72%. About 20 mental health counseling/counselor degrees were awarded at Cuny Bernard M Baruch College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, mental health counseling/counselor degree recipients from Cuny Bernard M Baruch College generally make around $52,721. Students borrow a median of $11,691 to complete this degree.
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Marist College placed #12 among the best mental health counseling/counselor schools. Set in the suburb of Poughkeepsie, Marist College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Marist College graduates 80% of students within six years. About 17 mental health counseling/counselor degrees were awarded at Marist College in the most recent year. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates of Marist College earn a median of $49,936 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,962.
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Pace University New York ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best mental health counseling/counselor schools. Pace University New York is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Pace University New York graduates 60% of students within six years. About 65 mental health counseling/counselor degrees were awarded at Pace University New York in the most recent year. Graduates of the mental health counseling/counselor program make about $49,125 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,670.
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Monmouth University came in at #14 for mental health counseling/counselor this year. Monmouth University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of West Long Branch. Monmouth University graduates 72% of students within six years. There were roughly 34 mental health counseling/counselor students who graduated with this degree at Monmouth University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their mental health counseling/counselor degree from Monmouth University earn around $53,196 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,847 to complete this degree.
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Saint Josephs University came in at #15 for mental health counseling/counselor this year. Saint Josephs University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. Saint Josephs University graduates 79% of students within six years. About 15 mental health counseling/counselor degrees were awarded at Saint Josephs University in the most recent year. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates of Saint Josephs University earn a median of $65,421 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,426 to complete this degree.
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Yeshiva University placed #16 among the best mental health counseling/counselor schools. Yeshiva University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Yeshiva University graduates 85% of students within six years. About 25 mental health counseling/counselor degrees were awarded at Yeshiva University in the most recent year. Graduates of the mental health counseling/counselor program make about $52,838 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,625.
More information about a degree in mental health counseling/counselor from Yeshiva University
Rider University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best mental health counseling/counselor schools. Rider University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Lawrenceville. About 61% of students finish within six years. Rider University awarded about 33 mental health counseling/counselor degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, mental health counseling/counselor degree recipients from Rider University generally make around $51,657. Rider University graduates carry a median of $26,241 in student loans.
See the full mental health counseling/counselor program report for Rider University
Suny At Albany earned the #18 position for mental health counseling/counselor this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Albany. The six-year graduation rate is 61%. There were roughly 27 mental health counseling/counselor students who graduated with this degree at Suny At Albany in the most recent data year. Graduates of the mental health counseling/counselor program make about $53,103 in their early career. Suny At Albany graduates carry a median of $23,521 in student loans.
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Adelphi University earned the #19 position for mental health counseling/counselor this year. Located in the suburb of Garden City, Adelphi University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 67% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 40 mental health counseling/counselor students who graduated with this degree at Adelphi University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the mental health counseling/counselor program make about $47,687 in their early career. Adelphi University graduates carry a median of $25,487 in student loans.
See the full mental health counseling/counselor program report for Adelphi University
Pennsylvania Western University came in at #20 for mental health counseling/counselor this year. This large public university is located in the town of California. Roughly 52% of students complete a degree within six years here. Pennsylvania Western University awarded about 46 mental health counseling/counselor degrees in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in mental health counseling/counselor from Pennsylvania Western University
Hood College landed the #21 spot for mental health counseling/counselor this year. Set in the city of Frederick, Hood College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Hood College graduates 57% of students within six years. Hood College awarded about 28 mental health counseling/counselor degrees in the most recent data year. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates of Hood College earn a median of $56,107 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,703 to complete this degree.
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Suny College At Oswego placed #22 among the best mental health counseling/counselor schools. Suny College At Oswego is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Oswego. Suny College At Oswego graduates 60% of students within six years. About 24 mental health counseling/counselor degrees were awarded at Suny College At Oswego in the most recent year. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates of Suny College At Oswego earn a median of $51,339 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $25,163 to complete this degree.
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Touro College landed the #23 spot for mental health counseling/counselor this year. Located in the city of New York, Touro College is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 76% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 30 mental health counseling/counselor students who graduated with this degree at Touro College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their mental health counseling/counselor degree from Touro College earn around $48,131 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,285.
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Mercy College placed #24 among the best mental health counseling/counselor schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Dobbs Ferry. Roughly 45% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 34 mental health counseling/counselor students who graduated with this degree at Mercy College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their mental health counseling/counselor degree from Mercy College earn around $56,693 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $28,304.
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Molloy College came in at #25 for mental health counseling/counselor this year. Set in the suburb of Rockville Centre, Molloy College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 70% of students finish within six years. About 16 mental health counseling/counselor degrees were awarded at Molloy College in the most recent year. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates of Molloy College earn a median of $65,544 early in their careers. Molloy College graduates carry a median of $27,420 in student loans.
See the full mental health counseling/counselor program report for Molloy College
Rest of the Top 50 Mental Health Counseling/Counselor Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s mental health counseling/counselor ranking:
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 72 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.