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2026 Best Mental Health Counseling/Counselor Schools in the The Plains States Region

12 Colleges in the United States
1,991 Mental Health Counseling/Counselor Degrees Awarded
$50,474 Avg Early-Career Salary

Mental Health Counseling/Counselor is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.

For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 24 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 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

1

No school ranked higher than University Of Minnesota Twin Cities this year for mental health counseling/counselor. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities is a very large public school located in the city of Minneapolis. About 85% of students finish within six years. University Of Minnesota Twin Cities awarded about 39 mental health counseling/counselor degrees in the most recent data year. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates of University Of Minnesota Twin Cities earn a median of $61,488 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,577. Read more about the mental health counseling/counselor program at University Of Minnesota Twin Cities

2

A rank of #2 makes Winona State University one of the top schools for mental health counseling/counselor. Winona State University is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Winona. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 14 mental health counseling/counselor students who graduated with this degree at Winona State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, mental health counseling/counselor degree recipients from Winona State University generally make around $53,109. Students borrow a median of $24,551 to complete this degree. Get the full mental health counseling/counselor details for Winona State University

3
University Of Iowa crest
University Of Iowa
Iowa City, IA

University Of Iowa is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in mental health counseling/counselor, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Iowa City, University Of Iowa is a very large public institution. University Of Iowa graduates 75% of students within six years. There were roughly 13 mental health counseling/counselor students who graduated with this degree at University Of Iowa in the most recent data year. Graduates of the mental health counseling/counselor program make about $57,375 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,463 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in mental health counseling/counselor from University Of Iowa

4
Grand View University crest
Grand View University
Des Moines, IA

A rank of #4 makes Grand View University one of the top schools for mental health counseling/counselor. Located in the city of Des Moines, Grand View University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Grand View University graduates 54% of students within six years. Grand View University awarded about 23 mental health counseling/counselor degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, mental health counseling/counselor degree recipients from Grand View University generally make around $45,180. Grand View University graduates carry a median of $26,941 in student loans. Get the full mental health counseling/counselor details for Grand View University

5
Bellevue University crest
Bellevue University
Bellevue, NE

Students looking for a strong mental health counseling/counselor program will find one at Bellevue University, which ranked #5. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Bellevue. The six-year graduation rate is 33%. About 137 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. More information about a degree in mental health counseling/counselor from Bellevue University

6
Loras College crest
Loras College
Dubuque, IA

Loras College placed #6 among the best mental health counseling/counselor schools. Loras College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Dubuque. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. There were roughly 10 mental health counseling/counselor students who graduated with this degree at Loras College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their mental health counseling/counselor degree from Loras College earn around $43,117 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $26,528. More information about a degree in mental health counseling/counselor from Loras College

7

Minnesota State University Mankato came in at #7 for mental health counseling/counselor this year. Set in the city of Mankato, Minnesota State University Mankato is a large public institution. About 54% of students finish within six years. About 30 mental health counseling/counselor degrees were awarded at Minnesota State University Mankato in the most recent year. Graduates of the mental health counseling/counselor program make about $46,691 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,269. Read more about the mental health counseling/counselor program at Minnesota State University Mankato

8
Capella University crest
Capella University
Minneapolis, MN

Capella University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best mental health counseling/counselor schools. Located in the city of Minneapolis, Capella University is a very large private for-profit university. Capella University graduates 20% of students within six years. About 663 mental health counseling/counselor degrees were awarded at Capella University in the most recent year. Mental Health Counseling/counselor graduates of Capella University earn a median of $47,787 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $35,998 to complete this degree. Get the full mental health counseling/counselor details for Capella University

9

Bethany Lutheran College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best mental health counseling/counselor schools. Bethany Lutheran College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Mankato. The six-year graduation rate is 55%. There were roughly 12 mental health counseling/counselor students who graduated with this degree at Bethany Lutheran College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, mental health counseling/counselor degree recipients from Bethany Lutheran College generally make around $44,462. Typical student debt for the program is $26,000. More information about a degree in mental health counseling/counselor from Bethany Lutheran College

10
Walden University crest
Walden University
Minneapolis, MN

Walden University earned the #10 position 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 880 mental health counseling/counselor degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their mental health counseling/counselor degree from Walden University earn around $48,538 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $49,361 to complete this degree. See the full mental health counseling/counselor program report for Walden University

11

Bethel University Minnesota earned the #11 position for mental health counseling/counselor this year. Bethel University Minnesota is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Saint Paul. Roughly 71% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 18 mental health counseling/counselor students who graduated with this degree at Bethel University Minnesota in the most recent data year. Students who receive their mental health counseling/counselor degree from Bethel University Minnesota earn around $61,465 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $25,639 to complete this degree. See the full mental health counseling/counselor program report for Bethel University Minnesota

12
University Of Mary crest
University Of Mary
Bismarck, ND

University Of Mary placed #12 among the best mental health counseling/counselor schools. Located in the rural area of Bismarck, University Of Mary is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. University Of Mary graduates 67% of students within six years. About 29 mental health counseling/counselor degrees were awarded at University Of Mary in the most recent year. Graduates of the mental health counseling/counselor program make about $65,565 in their early career. 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

13

Missouri Baptist University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best mental health counseling/counselor schools. Set in the suburb of Saint Louis, Missouri Baptist University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 46% of students finish within six years. About 11 mental health counseling/counselor degrees were awarded at Missouri Baptist University in the most recent year. Students who receive their mental health counseling/counselor degree from Missouri Baptist University earn around $45,270 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $27,337 to complete this degree. Get the full mental health counseling/counselor details for Missouri Baptist University

14
Lindenwood University crest
Lindenwood University
Saint Charles, MO

Lindenwood University placed #14 among the best mental health counseling/counselor schools. Located in the city of Saint Charles, Lindenwood University is a large private not-for-profit university. Lindenwood University graduates 49% of students within six years. About 47 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. Students borrow a median of $28,663 to complete this degree. Read more about the mental health counseling/counselor program at Lindenwood University

15

Drury University College Of Continuing Professional Studies earned the #15 position for mental health counseling/counselor this year. Located in the city of Springfield, Drury University College Of Continuing Professional Studies is a small private not-for-profit university. Roughly 21% of students complete a degree within six years here. Drury University College Of Continuing Professional Studies awarded about 16 mental health counseling/counselor degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the mental health counseling/counselor program make about $33,880 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,305 to complete this degree. Read more about the mental health counseling/counselor program at Drury University College Of Continuing Professional Studies

16

Emporia State University placed #16 among the best mental health counseling/counselor schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the town of Emporia. The six-year graduation rate is 56%. There were roughly 39 mental health counseling/counselor students who graduated with this degree at Emporia State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, mental health counseling/counselor degree recipients from Emporia State University generally make around $48,228. Emporia State University graduates carry a median of $23,131 in student loans. Get the full mental health counseling/counselor details for Emporia State University

17

Sinte Gleska University came in at #17 for mental health counseling/counselor this year. Set in the rural area of Mission, Sinte Gleska University is a small public institution. About 50% of students finish within six years. Sinte Gleska University awarded about 10 mental health counseling/counselor degrees in the most recent data year. Get the full mental health counseling/counselor details for Sinte Gleska University

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Notes and References

This ranking is produced 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 · 24 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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