2026 Best Mental Health Counseling/Counselor Schools in Tennessee
Mental Health Counseling/Counselor programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their mental health counseling/counselor programs.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 9 schools to find the best for mental health counseling/counselor students.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Mental Health Counseling/Counselor in Tennessee
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall mental health counseling/counselor education in Tennessee.
Top Schools in Mental Health Counseling/Counselor
Leading the list is Belmont University, our #1 school for mental health counseling/counselor. Belmont University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. Belmont University graduates 70% of students within six years. There were roughly 22 mental health counseling/counselor students who graduated with this degree at Belmont University in the most recent data year. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates of Belmont University earn a median of $49,699 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $23,447 to complete this degree.
Read more about the mental health counseling/counselor program at Belmont University
Students looking for a strong mental health counseling/counselor program will find one at Lipscomb University, which ranked #2. Located in the city of Nashville, Lipscomb University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. Roughly 72% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 30 mental health counseling/counselor degrees were awarded at Lipscomb University in the most recent year. Graduates of the mental health counseling/counselor program make about $34,077 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,529 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in mental health counseling/counselor from Lipscomb University
Lincoln Memorial University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best mental health counseling/counselor schools. Set in the town of Harrogate, Lincoln Memorial University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 47% of students finish within six years. Lincoln Memorial University awarded about 13 mental health counseling/counselor degrees in the most recent data year. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates of Lincoln Memorial University earn a median of $64,307 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,693.
Get the full mental health counseling/counselor details for Lincoln Memorial University
Milligan College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best mental health counseling/counselor schools. Set in the suburb of Milligan, Milligan College is a small private not-for-profit institution. About 63% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 14 mental health counseling/counselor students who graduated with this degree at Milligan College in the most recent data year. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates of Milligan College earn a median of $64,327 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $26,150 to complete this degree.
See the full mental health counseling/counselor program report for Milligan College
A rank of #5 makes Johnson University one of the top schools for mental health counseling/counselor. Johnson University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Knoxville. Roughly 54% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 10 mental health counseling/counselor students who graduated with this degree at Johnson University in the most recent data year. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates of Johnson University earn a median of $34,290 early in their careers. Johnson University graduates carry a median of $22,913 in student loans.
More information about a degree in mental health counseling/counselor from Johnson University
Austin Peay State University placed #6 among the best mental health counseling/counselor schools. Set in the city of Clarksville, Austin Peay State University is a large public institution. About 39% of students finish within six years. About 22 mental health counseling/counselor degrees were awarded at Austin Peay State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, mental health counseling/counselor degree recipients from Austin Peay State University generally make around $44,360. Austin Peay State University graduates carry a median of $24,530 in student loans.
See the full mental health counseling/counselor program report for Austin Peay State University
Carson Newman College ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best mental health counseling/counselor schools. Set in the suburb of Jefferson City, Carson Newman College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 52% of students finish within six years. Carson Newman College awarded about 12 mental health counseling/counselor degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their mental health counseling/counselor degree from Carson Newman College earn around $42,054 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,843 to complete this degree.
Read more about the mental health counseling/counselor program at Carson Newman College
More Mental Health Counseling/Counselor Rankings
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Notes and References
This ranking is produced 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 · 9 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.
