2027 Best Mental Health Counseling/Counselor Schools in the The Plains States Region
Mental Health Counseling/Counselor degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 21 schools to find the best for mental health counseling/counselor students.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Mental Health Counseling/Counselor in the The Plains States Region
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall mental health counseling/counselor education in the The Plains States Region.
Top Schools in Mental Health Counseling/Counselor
Our analysis ranked University Of Minnesota Twin Cities the best school in the country for a degree in mental health counseling/counselor. This very large public university is located in the city of Minneapolis. About 85% of students finish within six years. About 26 mental health counseling/counselor degrees were awarded at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, mental health counseling/counselor degree recipients from University Of Minnesota Twin Cities generally make around $61,488. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities graduates carry a median of $21,577 in student loans.
See the full mental health counseling/counselor program report for University Of Minnesota Twin Cities
Winona State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in mental health counseling/counselor, ranking #2. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Winona. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. There were roughly 18 mental health counseling/counselor students who graduated with this degree at Winona State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their mental health counseling/counselor degree from Winona State University earn around $53,109 in the first couple years of their career. Winona State University graduates carry a median of $24,551 in student loans.
More information about a degree in mental health counseling/counselor from Winona State University
Students looking for a strong mental health counseling/counselor program will find one at University Of Iowa, which ranked #3. University Of Iowa is a very large public school located in the city of Iowa City. Roughly 75% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Iowa awarded about 15 mental health counseling/counselor degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the mental health counseling/counselor program make about $57,375 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,463.
Read more about the mental health counseling/counselor program at University Of Iowa
Grand View University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in mental health counseling/counselor, landing the #4 spot this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Des Moines. About 54% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 38 mental health counseling/counselor students who graduated with this degree at Grand View University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the mental health counseling/counselor program make about $45,180 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,941 to complete this degree.
See the full mental health counseling/counselor program report for Grand View University
Bellevue University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in mental health counseling/counselor, ranking #5. Located in the suburb of Bellevue, Bellevue University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 33% of students finish within six years. About 178 mental health counseling/counselor degrees were awarded at Bellevue University in the most recent year. Graduates of the mental health counseling/counselor program make about $61,548 in their early career. Bellevue University graduates carry a median of $27,852 in student loans.
Read more about the mental health counseling/counselor program at Bellevue University
Adler Graduate School earned the #6 position for mental health counseling/counselor this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Minnetonka. There were roughly 69 mental health counseling/counselor students who graduated with this degree at Adler Graduate School in the most recent data year. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates of Adler Graduate School earn a median of $51,365 early in their careers.
Get the full mental health counseling/counselor details for Adler Graduate School
University Of Northern Iowa ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best mental health counseling/counselor schools. This large public university is located in the city of Cedar Falls. Roughly 68% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 20 mental health counseling/counselor degrees were awarded at University Of Northern Iowa in the most recent year. Graduates of the mental health counseling/counselor program make about $47,858 in their early career. University Of Northern Iowa graduates carry a median of $22,635 in student loans.
Read more about the mental health counseling/counselor program at University Of Northern Iowa
Minnesota State University Mankato ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best mental health counseling/counselor schools. Located in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public university. Minnesota State University Mankato graduates 54% of students within six years. There were roughly 25 mental health counseling/counselor students who graduated with this degree at Minnesota State University Mankato in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, mental health counseling/counselor degree recipients from Minnesota State University Mankato generally make around $46,691. Students borrow a median of $27,269 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in mental health counseling/counselor from Minnesota State University Mankato
University Of Missouri Kansas City landed the #9 spot for mental health counseling/counselor this year. This large public university is located in the city of Kansas City. University Of Missouri Kansas City graduates 54% of students within six years. University Of Missouri Kansas City awarded about 30 mental health counseling/counselor degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their mental health counseling/counselor degree from University Of Missouri Kansas City earn around $60,324 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Missouri Kansas City graduates carry a median of $23,741 in student loans.
See the full mental health counseling/counselor program report for University Of Missouri Kansas City
University Of Mary earned the #10 position for mental health counseling/counselor this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the rural area of Bismarck. About 67% of students finish within six years. University Of Mary awarded about 52 mental health counseling/counselor degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, mental health counseling/counselor degree recipients from University Of Mary generally make around $65,565. Students borrow a median of $26,983 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in mental health counseling/counselor from University Of Mary
Bethany Lutheran College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best mental health counseling/counselor schools. Located in the city of Mankato, Bethany Lutheran College is a small private not-for-profit university. Roughly 55% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 16 mental health counseling/counselor degrees were awarded at Bethany Lutheran College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, mental health counseling/counselor degree recipients from Bethany Lutheran College generally make around $44,462. Bethany Lutheran College graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in mental health counseling/counselor from Bethany Lutheran College
Capella University ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best mental health counseling/counselor schools. Capella University is a very large private for-profit school located in the city of Minneapolis. The six-year graduation rate is 20%. Capella University awarded about 822 mental health counseling/counselor degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their mental health counseling/counselor degree from Capella University earn around $47,787 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $35,998.
Read more about the mental health counseling/counselor program at Capella University
Bethel University Minnesota placed #13 among the best mental health counseling/counselor schools. Set in the suburb of Saint Paul, Bethel University Minnesota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 71% of students complete a degree within six years here. Bethel University Minnesota awarded about 16 mental health counseling/counselor degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the mental health counseling/counselor program make about $61,465 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $25,639.
See the full mental health counseling/counselor program report for Bethel University Minnesota
Walden University landed the #14 spot for mental health counseling/counselor this year. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Walden University is a very large private for-profit institution. Walden University awarded about 953 mental health counseling/counselor degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, mental health counseling/counselor degree recipients from Walden University generally make around $48,538. Walden University graduates carry a median of $49,361 in student loans.
Get the full mental health counseling/counselor details for Walden University
Northern State University earned the #15 position for mental health counseling/counselor this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Aberdeen. Northern State University graduates 55% of students within six years. There were roughly 10 mental health counseling/counselor students who graduated with this degree at Northern State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their mental health counseling/counselor degree from Northern State University earn around $45,824 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $26,143 to complete this degree.
Get the full mental health counseling/counselor details for Northern State University
Missouri Baptist University landed the #16 spot for mental health counseling/counselor this year. Set in the suburb of Saint Louis, Missouri Baptist University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 46%. There were roughly 17 mental health counseling/counselor students who graduated with this degree at Missouri Baptist University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, mental health counseling/counselor degree recipients from Missouri Baptist University generally make around $45,270. Typical student debt for the program is $27,337.
See the full mental health counseling/counselor program report for Missouri Baptist University
Saint Cloud State University placed #17 among the best mental health counseling/counselor schools. Saint Cloud State University is a large public school located in the city of Saint Cloud. Roughly 39% of students complete a degree within six years here. Saint Cloud State University awarded about 13 mental health counseling/counselor degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the mental health counseling/counselor program make about $46,597 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $31,171 to complete this degree.
See the full mental health counseling/counselor program report for Saint Cloud State University
Culver Stockton College ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best mental health counseling/counselor schools. Set in the rural area of Canton, Culver Stockton College is a small private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 39%. About 14 mental health counseling/counselor degrees were awarded at Culver Stockton College in the most recent year. Graduates of the mental health counseling/counselor program make about $38,725 in their early career. Culver Stockton College graduates carry a median of $27,252 in student loans.
More information about a degree in mental health counseling/counselor from Culver Stockton College
Lindenwood University landed the #19 spot for mental health counseling/counselor this year. Lindenwood University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Saint Charles. Roughly 49% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 56 mental health counseling/counselor degrees were awarded at Lindenwood University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, mental health counseling/counselor degree recipients from Lindenwood University generally make around $43,878. Typical student debt for the program is $28,663.
More information about a degree in mental health counseling/counselor from Lindenwood University
Emporia State University placed #20 among the best mental health counseling/counselor schools. Emporia State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Emporia. Emporia State University graduates 56% of students within six years. About 37 mental health counseling/counselor degrees were awarded at Emporia State University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, mental health counseling/counselor degree recipients from Emporia State University generally make around $48,228. Students borrow a median of $23,131 to complete this degree.
Get the full mental health counseling/counselor details for Emporia State University
Drury University College Of Continuing Professional Studies ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best mental health counseling/counselor schools. Set in the city of Springfield, Drury University College Of Continuing Professional Studies is a small private not-for-profit institution. About 21% of students finish within six years. Drury University College Of Continuing Professional Studies awarded about 11 mental health counseling/counselor degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the mental health counseling/counselor program make about $33,881 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,560 to complete this degree.
See the full mental health counseling/counselor program report for Drury University College Of Continuing Professional Studies
Narrow Mental Health Counseling/Counselor Schools by State
More Mental Health Counseling/Counselor Rankings
View All Mental Health Counseling/Counselor Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 21 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.