Choosing a counseling master's program in New Jersey means looking beyond the degree name: the curriculum must fit your career goal, the clinical training must work with your schedule, and the cost must make sense. This guide explains those trade-offs for prospective students and working professionals. It also features the 2027 Best Clinical Mental Health Counseling Degree Programs Ranking in New Jersey, created by the Research.com team of data scientists to help students make an informed choice about which programs are worth considering.
Key findings about Clinical Mental Health Counseling degrees in New Jersey
For a clinical mental health counseling path, compare the complete curriculum and fieldwork - not just the title. CACREP's 2024 standards specify at least 60 graduate semester credits for clinical mental health counseling programs, along with supervised practicum and internship requirements.
The national median annual wage for the BLS counseling occupation encompassing mental health and substance use counseling was $59,350 in May 2025; projected employment growth is 18% for 2025-2035. Neither figure predicts an individual graduate's earnings or job prospects.
In New Jersey, a master's degree alone does not confer independent practice authority. Confirm how a program's coursework and supervised training align with the Professional Counselor Examiners Committee's associate counselor and professional counselor requirements before committing.
What can I expect from a Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree in New Jersey?
A clinical mental health counseling master's prepares students to assess concerns, develop treatment plans, provide counseling under appropriate supervision, and respond to ethical and crisis situations. Coursework and supervised practice are both central: a program that is convenient academically may still be difficult to complete if its placement hours conflict with your job.
Degree titles differ. An MA or MS specifically in clinical mental health counseling may make the intended path clear, while an MA or MEd in counseling can contain a clinical mental health track. A rehabilitation counseling degree may serve a different professional focus. What matters for New Jersey licensure is the actual degree, courses, supervised experience, and examinations - not the title alone (New Jersey Professional Counselor Examiners Committee).
This path fits people who want sustained, direct work with clients and can plan for supervised experience after graduation. Someone seeking a shorter route into a helping role, or intending to practice psychology or social work, should compare the education and licensing pathways for those occupations instead.
Where can I work with a Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree in New Jersey?
Potential settings include community mental health organizations, outpatient practices, hospitals, substance use treatment providers, and integrated care teams. The role available to you depends on your credential and an employer's supervision arrangements; a new graduate seeking supervised experience should not assume that an independently licensed clinician's job posting is an entry-level opening.
Location affects placement and employment choices. A student attending a program in northern New Jersey may have different commuting options from someone studying near the Shore or in South Jersey. Ask where recent students completed placements, whether sites accept associate-level counselors, and whether travel between work, class, and clinical hours is realistic.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a $59,350 national median annual wage in May 2025 for the occupation covering substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors. This occupational figure is useful for planning, but it is not a New Jersey starting salary or a return promised by any degree. Setting, experience, credential, hours, and caseload can all affect pay (BLS, Occupational Outlook Handbook).
When estimating whether a program is worth its cost, compare plausible associate-level openings with the jobs you could pursue after independent licensure. Do not use an experienced private-practice clinician's advertised earnings as the baseline for your first year after graduation. The most valuable clinical mental health counseling programs can provide another comparison point, but your own financing and completion timeline matter too.
The most useful distinctions are the credential a curriculum is designed around, its clinical focus, and where students can realistically attend classes and complete placements. The program descriptions below identify differences to investigate; none should be treated as confirmation of New Jersey licensure eligibility without a current course-by-course review by the school and licensing committee.
The College of New Jersey: Its MA is explicitly named clinical mental health counseling, making it a direct option to investigate for that career goal rather than a general counseling degree whose track must first be identified. Students considering its Ewing location should ask how placement choices fit their commute and whether every required course aligns with New Jersey's counselor education rules (The College of New Jersey, program description).
Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus: Its Florham Park MA is another explicitly clinical mental health counseling option, with a northern New Jersey campus location that may change the practical cost of attendance for commuters. Compare its required clinical schedule and placement support with nearby programs rather than assuming that similar degree names mean identical training (Fairleigh Dickinson University, program description).
William Paterson University of New Jersey: Its MEd identifies a professional counseling and clinical mental health counseling pathway rather than using an MA or MS title. That structure is worth examining if you want the clinical route within an education-school setting; request the current degree audit to distinguish clinical requirements from other counseling options (William Paterson University, program description).
Monmouth University: Its MS is specifically in clinical mental health counseling. For someone based near the Shore, its location could make repeated trips for coursework more workable than a northern campus, but compare actual field-placement locations before assigning a commute advantage (Monmouth University, program description).
Montclair State University: Its MA is titled counseling, so the relevant comparison is the clinical mental health pathway and its required courses, not the broad degree name alone. Students interested in more than one counseling setting should determine whether their chosen track - not simply the MA - matches their intended license (Montclair State University, program description).
Rutgers School of Health Professions: Its MS is in rehabilitation counseling, a materially different professional emphasis from a degree explicitly titled clinical mental health counseling. It merits a close look for students drawn to disability and rehabilitation work; applicants targeting New Jersey LPC licensure should obtain a specific assessment of course and experience eligibility before treating it as interchangeable with a clinical mental health program (Rutgers School of Health Professions, program description).
Stockton University: Its counseling graduate program offers a South Jersey option within this group. That geography may make ongoing attendance more practical for students based near the Atlantic County area, but the decisive check is the current clinical track, placement network, and fit with the credential you want (Stockton University, program description).
Georgian Court University: Its graduate program is explicitly named clinical mental health counseling, offering a focused option to compare with broader counseling degrees. Lakewood-area students should weigh the full tuition and clinical-placement plan against commute savings rather than judging value by the program title alone (Georgian Court University, program description).
Kean University: Its MA is titled counseling, making track selection especially important for applicants seeking clinical practice. Its Union location may suit some commuters, but ask for the clinical mental health course sequence and fieldwork requirements before comparing it with specifically titled degrees (Kean University, program description).
A similar-sounding degree is not evidence that two programs produce the same licensing outcome. For each finalist, request the current catalog, accreditation status, clinical placement policies, and a written explanation of how its graduates typically pursue New Jersey counselor credentials.
Full-time clinical mental health counseling master's study commonly takes about two to three years; part-time study may take longer. The schedule depends on course sequencing and when a student can complete supervised fieldwork. CACREP's 2024 clinical mental health counseling standards call for a program of at least 60 graduate semester credits, but that standard does not establish every school's completion time (CACREP, 2024 Standards).
Ask for a term-by-term plan based on your intended enrollment pace. A seemingly faster option may not save time if required courses are offered infrequently or you must reduce paid work to complete daytime clinical hours. Graduation is also separate from the subsequent supervised experience and other steps toward independent New Jersey licensure (New Jersey Professional Counselor Examiners Committee).
Online study can reduce trips to class; it does not remove the need for supervised clinical training or satisfy licensure rules automatically. The comparison below separates the delivery decision from the credential decision, which is the more consequential issue.
Consideration
Online or hybrid
On campus
Course attendance
May reduce travel, but scheduled live sessions or campus visits can remain.
Regular campus attendance can make in-person contact with faculty and peers easier.
Clinical placement
Local placement still requires site approval and supervision.
Placement still occurs at an approved clinical site, not necessarily on campus.
Best fit
Students who need course-delivery flexibility and can secure appropriate local fieldwork.
Students who prefer in-person instruction or can readily reach campus.
For either format, ask who finds placements, what happens if a site falls through, and whether the school will document that the curriculum meets New Jersey educational requirements. If you might later relocate, check the destination state's rules separately; New Jersey approval does not establish eligibility everywhere (New Jersey Professional Counselor Examiners Committee).
There is no single statewide price that accurately represents these graduate programs. Published charges vary by institution, residency classification where applicable, credits, fees, and enrollment pace; institution-wide tuition figures can also differ from a counseling program's actual bill (NCES, IPEDS). Compare total expected program cost, not one semester's tuition or a general graduate-student average.
Request a current per-credit rate and multiply it by the credits in your approved course plan, then add mandatory fees, books, travel to clinical sites, and any income you expect to give up during fieldwork. Confirm whether a public university classifies you as an in-state student; living in New Jersey does not, by itself, establish how every institution will bill you. The most affordable clinical mental health counseling programs are a useful shortlist, but aid and time to completion can change your final cost.
Graduate students can investigate institutional scholarships, assistantships, employer tuition benefits, and eligible federal loans. Submit the FAFSA to establish eligibility for federal aid and any school-based aid that uses it. Ask each financial aid office whether support continues through clinical semesters, when work hours may be harder to maintain (Federal Student Aid).
Graduate PLUS availability changed for students entering graduate study under the rules effective July 2026: new graduate borrowers generally cannot rely on that loan, while limited transitional eligibility may apply to qualifying continuing borrowers. Check your individual eligibility and current borrowing limits with Federal Student Aid and the school before building a budget around Graduate PLUS. New Jersey's state aid offerings should likewise be checked by program and student eligibility rather than assumed to cover a master's degree (Federal Student Aid; New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority).
A lower sticker price is not always the lower-debt option. Compare each offer's grants, required borrowing, and whether part-time enrollment or a placement schedule will affect your earnings; loans must be repaid even if you do not finish the degree.
View the chart data as a table
Wage range - Mental Health Counselors in New Jersey (BLS OEWS, May 2025) (Source: BLS)
Category
Value
10th percentile
40,630
25th percentile
49,290
Median
62,820
75th percentile
81,900
90th percentile
104,310
Applicants generally need a completed bachelor's degree, but individual schools set their own GPA, prerequisite-course, recommendation, statement, and interview rules. Some may value helping-profession experience; do not assume that a psychology major - or prior clinical work - is universally required. Check each program's current admissions page rather than relying on requirements from another New Jersey school (institutional admissions offices).
Before applying, ask whether missing prerequisite courses can be completed after admission, whether prior graduate counseling credits may transfer, and whether transferred work can count toward the clinical sequence. An admissions offer confirms entry to a degree program; it does not determine later eligibility for New Jersey licensure (institutional catalogs; New Jersey Professional Counselor Examiners Committee).
Expect graduate work in counseling theories, helping relationships, assessment, diagnosis and treatment planning, ethics, research, group counseling, and multicultural counseling, followed by supervised practicum and internship. CACREP's 2024 standards describe both foundational counseling content and specialized clinical mental health preparation; a school's catalog shows how it actually delivers those requirements (CACREP, 2024 Standards).
Course titles are a poor shortcut for comparing licensure fit. Ask each school for its New Jersey educational-requirements crosswalk, including which courses cover required content and how clinical hours are documented. This is particularly important when comparing a broadly titled counseling MA with a clinical mental health or rehabilitation degree.
Options may take the form of formal tracks, electives, or clinical placements rather than a separate credential. Applicants interested in substance use counseling, trauma-focused work, rehabilitation, or work with particular age groups should check whether a school offers a defined sequence and appropriate supervision - not merely a related elective or a marketing description (institutional program catalogs).
Choose the broad clinical foundation first if independent mental health counseling is your goal. A specialized placement can deepen relevant experience, but it cannot replace required coursework or create a separate state license. Conversely, students primarily interested in rehabilitation services should examine Rutgers' rehabilitation counseling curriculum on its own terms rather than assuming it is the same program type as an explicitly clinical mental health degree (Rutgers School of Health Professions; New Jersey Professional Counselor Examiners Committee).
Start with your intended work and credential, then compare programs that can plausibly support both. Rankings help narrow the field - the most popular clinical mental health counseling programs offer one additional perspective - but popularity does not establish licensure fit or affordability for you.
Use the following sequence with each finalist so a strong reputation does not obscure a costly mismatch.
Confirm the institution's recognized accreditation, the program's current CACREP status if relevant to your goal, and how its exact curriculum aligns with New Jersey counselor education rules.
Request a course-by-course plan, expected completion schedule, and written explanation of who arranges and supervises clinical placements.
Compare complete costs after aid, including fees, travel, borrowing, and income you may forgo during fieldwork.
Ask for program-specific completion, examination, and post-graduation outcomes, including their reporting periods and any missing data.
Check the fit again if you expect to work outside New Jersey, because another state may assess your education differently.
Return on investment depends on more than post-degree pay: consider your current earnings, completion probability, program duration, opportunity cost, aid, debt, expected earnings over time, and the value of receiving future earnings later rather than now. A cheaper or accelerated degree is a poor bargain if its placement arrangement or curriculum prevents you from reaching your intended credential.
View the chart data as a table
Median wage by U.S. state - Mental Health Counselors (BLS OEWS, May 2025) (Source: BLS)
State
Value
AK
80,770
AL
47,310
AR
51,580
AZ
65,300
CA
59,250
CO
62,390
CT
63,590
DC
60,450
DE
56,020
FL
56,790
GA
58,960
HI
60,090
IA
60,880
ID
63,360
IL
60,730
IN
53,760
KS
59,470
KY
54,190
LA
37,910
MA
59,890
MD
59,530
ME
59,970
MI
61,690
MN
58,780
MO
56,910
MS
46,990
MT
59,000
NC
55,490
ND
68,630
NE
63,770
NH
54,840
NJ
62,820
NM
74,100
NV
57,210
NY
59,450
OH
58,360
OK
59,350
OR
74,590
PA
52,010
PR
46,790
RI
65,120
SC
52,370
SD
53,650
TN
49,580
TX
62,630
UT
63,890
VA
59,880
VT
61,810
WA
68,910
WI
62,220
WV
49,430
WY
62,980
Clinical counseling, substance use treatment, and rehabilitation counseling overlap in helping skills but are not interchangeable career or licensing paths. The national wage figures below use distinct BLS occupational categories where appropriate; they describe jobs, not what graduates of a particular New Jersey program earn.
Career direction
National median annual wage, May 2025
Decision implication
Mental health or substance use counseling
$59,350
Check New Jersey's associate and independent counselor credential steps for the role you want.
Rehabilitation counseling
$46,850
Compare rehabilitation-focused degrees with clinical mental health curricula before choosing.
School counseling
$64,330
A clinical mental health degree should not be assumed to meet school-specific credential requirements.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, May 2025 national median wages. Occupational medians reflect workers at different career stages; they cannot be used to calculate a reliable new-graduate pay premium. If school-based work is your primary goal, investigate New Jersey school-counselor certification separately from professional counselor licensure (New Jersey Department of Education; New Jersey Professional Counselor Examiners Committee).
View the chart data as a table
Best score distribution across ranked programs (Source: Research.com)
Category
Value
80–81
1
82–83
0
84–85
2
86–87
1
88–89
0
90–91
4
92–93
0
94–95
1
BLS projects 18% U.S. employment growth for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors from 2025 to 2035. That national projection signals demand for the occupation, not an 18% forecast for New Jersey or a guarantee of a position in a particular county (BLS, Employment Projections, 2025-2035).
For a local reality check, search openings by required credential, supervision offered, worksite, and schedule - not only by "counselor." Separate associate-level roles from independently licensed roles, and compare opportunities near likely clinical placements. Changes in telehealth delivery can broaden how services are provided, but employers and licensing boards still determine supervision and practice requirements (New Jersey Professional Counselor Examiners Committee).
2027 Best Clinical Mental Health Counseling Degree Programs Ranking in New Jersey
Investing in graduate education is a consequential decision, so Research.com designed its counseling rankings to weigh evidence about outcomes, accreditation, and cost rather than relying on reputation alone. For the Best ranking, a graduate-outcomes-and-accreditation score combines program completion (40%), employment or doctoral admission (20%), licensure exam pass rates where applicable (20%), CACREP programmatic accreditation (16%), and institutional Title IV eligibility (4%). Shares are renormalized when a criterion does not apply. Program cost contributes a smaller component - about 7% of the final score. The same method applies to online and campus programs; other rankings order programs by the dimension named in their titles.
The Research.com team uses the following sources to check and compare schools. Because reporting coverage differs, readers should still confirm current tuition, accreditation, and licensure fit directly with a program before enrolling.
IPEDS database - institutional reporting on enrollment, completions, and costs.
The ranking is a starting point for a shortlist, not a substitute for checking the requirements of the New Jersey credential you want. More detail about Research.com's approach is available on its methodology page.
# 1 position
The College of New Jersey
Master
Clinical Mental Health Counseling, MA
Delivery mode: campus
94.38
/ 100
Final score
Program length
24 months
Specialization
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Required credits
60 semester credits
Program completion rate
98% (2024-25)
Employment or doctoral admission
100% (2024-25)
Application deadline
rolling
Application process
direct
Additional requirements
Online application; official transcripts; two references; essay; resume; $75 fee; Admissions Questionnaire Addendum.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).
The College of New Jersey earned a Research.com Counseling Program Score of 94.38/100, supported by 98% program completion rate and 100% employment or doctoral admission rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2030-10-31.
# 2 position
Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus
Master
MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Delivery mode: campus
91.09
/ 100
Final score
Program length
Minimum of 7 semesters
Specialization
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Required credits
60 semester credits
GPA range
3.00 - 4.00
Program completion rate
86.4% (2024-25)
Employment or doctoral admission
100% (2024-25)
Licensure exam pass rate
100% (2024-25)
Application deadline
March 1
Application process
direct
GRE
no
Prerequisites
Graduation from an accredited college or university with a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 in the major field of study.
Additional requirements
Official undergraduate and graduate transcripts; three letters of recommendation; completed FDU Graduate School Application form; a written personal statement of professional goals; a personal group interview.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).
Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham Campus earned a Research.com Counseling Program Score of 91.09/100, supported by 100% licensure exam pass rate and 86.4% program completion rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2027-10-31.
# 3 position
William Paterson University of New Jersey
Master
MEd in Professional Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Counseling Concentration
Delivery mode: campus
90.97
/ 100
Final score
Program length
3 years full-time
Specialization
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Required credits
60 semester credits
GPA range
2.75 - 4.00
Program completion rate
99% (2024-25)
Employment or doctoral admission
97% (2024-25)
Licensure exam pass rate
88% (2024-25)
Application deadline
Fall: Aug 1; Spring: Dec 1
Application process
direct
GRE
no
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree; evaluation on undergraduate/graduate GPA and/or admissions test scores, interview with counseling faculty, and two professional recommendations; applicants below thresholds may submit other evidence of potential.
Additional requirements
Bachelor's degree with official transcripts; undergraduate GPA of at least 2.75 (or graduate GPA of 3.00 with a master's); essay; two professional letters of recommendation; interview with counseling faculty.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).
William Paterson University of New Jersey earned a Research.com Counseling Program Score of 90.97/100, supported by 88% licensure exam pass rate and 99% program completion rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2027-03-31.
# 4 position
Monmouth University
Master
Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Delivery mode: campus
90.78
/ 100
Final score
Specialization
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Required credits
60 semester credits
GPA range
3.00 - 4.00
Application deadline
Fall: Priority Deadline March 15; Late Deadline July 1 (space available); Spring: December 1
Application process
direct
GRE
no
Prerequisites
Four-year baccalaureate degree with a minimum 3.0 overall GPA in any major
Additional requirements
Two completed recommendation forms; essay responding to questions in the online graduate application; evaluative group interview
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).
Monmouth University earned a Research.com Counseling Program Score of 90.78/100. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2034-04-30.
# 5 position
Montclair State University
Master
M.A. in Counseling
Delivery mode: campus
90.77
/ 100
Final score
Program length
2½ to 3 years (full-time)
Specialization
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Required credits
60 semester credits
GPA range
2.90 - 4.00
Application deadline
Fall: February 1; Spring: October 1
Application process
direct
Prerequisites
Equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree
Additional requirements
Online application and $60 fee, transcripts, essay/personal statement, two letters of recommendation, resume
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).
Montclair State University earned a Research.com Counseling Program Score of 90.77/100. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2033-10-31.
# 6 position
Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, School of Health Professions
Master
M.S. in Rehabilitation Counseling-Clinical Mental Health Counseling Track
Delivery mode: hybrid
86.52
/ 100
Final score
Program length
2-3 years
Specialization
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Required credits
60 semester credits
Program completion rate
74.2% (2020)
Employment or doctoral admission
93% (2024-25)
Licensure exam pass rate
89% (2024-25)
Application deadline
March 1
Application process
AHCAS
GRE
no
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution; all undergraduate majors considered
Additional requirements
Online application with fee, transcripts, personal interview by faculty; TOEFL for non-native English speakers; GRE not required
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).
Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, School of Health Professions earned a Research.com Counseling Program Score of 86.52/100, supported by 89% licensure exam pass rate and 74.2% program completion rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2034-04-30.
# 7 position
Stockton University
Master
M.A. in Counseling
Delivery mode: campus
85.37
/ 100
Final score
Program length
21 months (full-time plan of study)
Specialization
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Required credits
60 semester credits
GPA range
3.00 - 4.00
Program completion rate
94% (2025-26)
Employment or doctoral admission
69% (2025-26)
Licensure exam pass rate
88% (2025-26)
Application deadline
Fall 2027: February 16, 2027
Application process
direct
GRE
yes
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution; minimum GPA of 3.0; prerequisites in statistics and experimental psychology, plus one course in child development or personality psychology, with grades of B or better.
Additional requirements
Online application; graduate application essay; three recommendation letters; resume; official transcripts; faculty interview. GRE scores no more than 10 years old; GRE waived with cumulative GPA of at least 3.51 or a master's degree.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).
Stockton University earned a Research.com Counseling Program Score of 85.37/100, supported by 88% licensure exam pass rate and 94% program completion rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2032-10-31.
# 8 position
Georgian Court University
Master
M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Delivery mode: campus
84.75
/ 100
Final score
Program length
Average completion: 2.5–3 years
Specialization
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Required credits
60 semester credits
GPA range
3.00 - 4.00
Program completion rate
62% (2022-23)
Employment or doctoral admission
100% (2022-23)
Licensure exam pass rate
75% (2022-23)
Application deadline
April 30
Application process
direct
GRE
no
Prerequisites
Baccalaureate degree; minimum 3.0 GPA (below 3.0 considered with special circumstances); introductory psychology and statistics for the behavioral sciences; deficiencies may require undergraduate coursework without graduate credit.
Additional requirements
A completed and signed application; official transcripts from all previously attended colleges and universities; check with program regarding additional required documents.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).
Georgian Court University earned a Research.com Counseling Program Score of 84.75/100, supported by 75% licensure exam pass rate and 62% program completion rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2032-03-31.
# 9 position
Kean University
Master
Counseling - Clinical Mental Health Counseling (M.A.)
Delivery mode: campus
81.98
/ 100
Final score
Specialization
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Required credits
60 semester credits
GPA range
3.00 - 4.00
Program completion rate
48.5% (2024-25)
Application deadline
Fall: February 15; Spring: October 5
Application process
direct
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree; minimum 3.0 GPA (exceptions for 5- and 10-year step-down rule)
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).
Kean University earned a Research.com Counseling Program Score of 81.98/100, with 48.5% program completion rate among the verified supporting factors. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2030-03-31.
Frequently asked questions about Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree in New Jersey
Is a master's degree enough to become an LPC in New Jersey?
No. New Jersey's Professional Counselor Examiners Committee also sets requirements involving qualifying education, examinations, and supervised experience. Confirm the current sequence for associate counselor and professional counselor credentials before enrolling.
Does a counseling degree have to be CACREP-accredited?
Do not assume either that CACREP accreditation is automatically required for every applicant or that any counseling degree qualifies. Verify a program's current accreditation and ask the New Jersey licensing committee how your specific education would be evaluated.
Can I complete the degree entirely online?
Coursework may be online, but supervised practicum and internship require approved clinical training. Ask about campus visits, local placement approval, and who is responsible for securing a site.
How long does it usually take?
Full-time master's study commonly takes about two to three years; part-time enrollment can take longer. Your course sequence and access to clinical placements determine the realistic timeline.
Is a rehabilitation counseling degree the same as a clinical mental health counseling degree?
No. The curricula may overlap, but their professional emphases differ. If New Jersey LPC licensure is your goal, have the school and licensing committee review the rehabilitation degree's specific courses and clinical experience.
Is the degree worth the investment?
It can be if the program supports your intended credential, you can complete its clinical requirements, and the total cost is manageable relative to your realistic career options. Compare aid, borrowing, time away from work, and likely entry-level roles - not just tuition or an occupational median wage.
