Choosing an online counseling master's is not just about getting admitted. You need a program whose clinical training fits your schedule and whose coursework supports the Tennessee license you want. This guide examines those decisions alongside cost, time, and career prospects. It also features a 2027 Easiest Online Clinical Mental Health Counseling Degree Programs Ranking in Tennessee, created by the Research.com team of data scientists to help students make an informed choice about programs worth considering. Use the comparisons below to identify promising options - and the questions to ask before applying.
Key findings about online Clinical Mental Health Counseling degrees in Tennessee
A clinical mental health counseling master's typically requires about 60 semester credits and supervised fieldwork; online classes do not eliminate the need to arrange clinical training near home (Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs).
The U.S. median annual pay for the relevant counseling occupation was $59,350 in May 2025, and national employment is projected to grow 18% from 2025 to 2035. Neither figure predicts an individual graduate's Tennessee earnings (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
For Tennessee licensure, verify the degree's coursework and supervised-training fit with the state board before enrolling. A convenient online format or a high ranking does not establish eligibility (Tennessee Board for Licensed Professional Counselors, Licensed Marital and Family Therapists and Licensed Clinical Pastoral Therapists).
What can I expect from an online Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree in Tennessee?
Expect a graduate degree centered on assessing and treating mental health concerns through counseling. Students study clinical interviewing, diagnosis, ethics, treatment planning, and culturally responsive practice, then apply those skills under supervision. It is a different preparation route from school counseling, which focuses on educational settings and may lead to a different credential.
"Online" usually describes coursework, not the entire degree. Ask whether skills courses require live attendance or campus visits, who approves practicum sites, and whether the school helps students secure placements in their part of Tennessee. A program that works well for someone near Nashville may pose a placement challenge for someone who cannot travel from a smaller community.
This path makes sense if you want to pursue clinical counseling and can accommodate supervised training. If your goal is exclusively school counseling, social work, or psychology, compare those professions' distinct degrees and licensing routes before committing.
Where can I work with an online Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree in Tennessee?
Potential settings include community mental health agencies, hospitals, substance-use treatment programs, group practices, and, after meeting applicable requirements, independent practice. Employers and responsibilities differ substantially between supervised entry-level work and licensed clinical practice (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics; Tennessee licensing board).
Location affects the search. Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, and Chattanooga offer different mixes of health systems, agencies, and private practices; a local field placement can help you learn which employers hire counselors at your stage of licensure. Before accepting a placement, ask whether its supervisor and clinical duties will satisfy the Tennessee board's rules for the credential you intend to pursue.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a $59,350 national median annual wage for May 2025 for the counseling occupation relevant to clinical mental health practice. That is a midpoint across workers, not a Tennessee starting salary or an estimate of what this particular degree will add to your pay. Experience, licensure, employer, and practice setting can change an offer substantially.
For a useful return-on-investment comparison, request local salary ranges for positions you could hold immediately after graduation and positions you could pursue after licensure. Compare those ranges with your current earnings, expected debt, and time spent completing clinical requirements. The most valuable clinical mental health counseling programs are another starting point, not a substitute for that personal calculation.
The programs' published degree descriptions point to different starting questions for applicants. In particular, a counseling degree title does not establish that every course is online or that its curriculum satisfies Tennessee's clinical licensure rules. Use these distinctions to direct your follow-up with each school (Lincoln Memorial University; Southern Adventist University; Carson-Newman University; Freed-Hardeman University; Johnson University).
Lincoln Memorial University: Its catalog identifies a Master of Education in Professional Counseling with a clinical mental health pathway. That pathway-specific description is useful if you are comparing counseling tracks; ask the university to document the pathway's current delivery format and how its courses map to Tennessee licensure requirements.
Southern Adventist University: Southern presents counseling within its graduate studies offerings rather than through a page titled solely for a clinical mental health degree. Applicants interested in this option should confirm the precise degree and track, then obtain a course schedule showing which activities require live or in-person attendance.
Carson-Newman University: Its published option is an MS in Counseling. If you prefer that degree structure, request the clinical mental health plan of study rather than assuming the broader degree title identifies your eventual license or placement requirements.
Freed-Hardeman University: Its program information specifically identifies clinical mental health counseling. That direct focus makes it a useful comparison for applicants with a clinical goal; confirm the current field-placement process and online attendance expectations before deciding it fits your location.
Johnson University: Johnson describes a Master of Arts in Counseling. Students considering it should verify which counseling pathway they would enter and request written confirmation of its Tennessee clinical-licensure alignment, particularly if they plan to complete fieldwork outside the university's immediate area.
These distinctions do not establish which program is easier to enter or complete. For a broader comparison of program quality, see the best clinical mental health counseling programs, then confirm current details with admissions and the program director.
Plan on roughly two to three years for a master's completed at a substantial course load; part-time enrollment can take longer. Clinical mental health programs commonly require about 60 semester credits, with practicum and internship scheduled around available sites and supervisors (Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs). Graduation is not the end of the timeline if your goal requires post-degree supervised experience and licensure.
Ask each school for a term-by-term schedule that includes fieldwork, not just classroom courses. An accelerated option may reduce time away from full-time earnings, but only if its course sequence, clinical hours, and placement availability are realistic for your work schedule. Compare the fastest clinical mental health counseling programs on the time to complete the whole degree, not advertised coursework alone.
The central difference is where and when you complete coursework - not whether you must practice counseling skills. Both formats can include supervised clinical training and live interaction. Compare the actual delivery requirements rather than treating either label as a complete schedule (Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs; individual program requirements).
This comparison helps identify the format that fits your location and working hours:
Consideration
Online program
On-campus program
Class access
Can reduce routine travel; live sessions may still be required
Requires regular travel at scheduled times
Clinical placement
May allow a site near home, subject to approval
May be easier to coordinate near the campus
Best fit
Students who need geographic flexibility and can arrange local supervision
Students who value in-person instruction and access to nearby placement networks
Neither format is automatically better for licensure. If you expect to practice outside Tennessee, ask about that state's educational rules before choosing a program or field site.
There is no single reliable price for this mix of Tennessee counseling programs: total cost depends on credits required, each school's graduate tuition, mandatory fees, residency rules where applicable, and time enrolled. Published tuition may also omit travel for campus meetings, background checks, insurance, or costs associated with clinical placement. Compare current institutional charges using the same full-degree basis rather than an undergraduate tuition average (National Center for Education Statistics; institutional tuition schedules).
Request a written estimate covering every term through graduation, including expected fee increases and any difference between online, in-state, and out-of-state rates. A lower per-credit price may not be the cheaper choice if it requires additional credits or more unpaid time away from work. The most affordable clinical mental health counseling programs can help you build a shortlist; your net cost after aid is the figure to compare.
Start with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and each university's graduate-aid office. Eligible students may have access to federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans, while institutional scholarships, assistantships, and employer tuition benefits depend on the school or employer. Tennessee aid programs often target undergraduates, so do not count on a state scholarship until its graduate eligibility is confirmed (Federal Student Aid; Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation).
Graduate PLUS rules changed for new borrowers beginning July 2026. Under the federal transition rules, some students who had already borrowed for the same graduate program before that date may retain limited access, while a new entrant should not assume Graduate PLUS will cover a funding gap. Ask the financial-aid office to assess your individual eligibility under current Federal Student Aid rules before accepting an offer (Federal Student Aid).
Borrowing is most defensible when the net price and repayment plan work against a cautious earnings estimate - not the highest salary you hope to reach after licensure.
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
Applicants generally need a bachelor's degree and must meet the university's graduate admissions requirements. Schools may also request transcripts, recommendations, a statement of purpose, an interview, or prerequisite coursework; requirements vary by program (individual university admissions offices). A psychology major is not automatically required, but relevant experience can help you assess whether clinical work suits you.
Before applying, ask the program to distinguish admission requirements from licensure requirements. Tennessee's licensing board - not an admissions office - determines whether an applicant has met the applicable education, examination, and supervised-experience rules. Also ask how any prior graduate credits would transfer and whether accepting them changes your clinical-course sequence (Tennessee licensing board; individual program policies).
Typical study covers counseling theories, helping skills, assessment and diagnosis, group counseling, research, ethics, and counseling across cultures. Clinical preparation also includes supervised practicum and internship rather than classroom work alone (Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs).
Course titles are less useful than content when checking Tennessee licensure fit. Request the current plan of study and, if necessary, syllabi; ask the program director to explain how clinical diagnosis, supervised training, and other board-relevant topics are documented. Do not assume a similarly named certificate can replace a required master's course or field experience (Tennessee licensing board).
Depending on the university, clinical mental health students may encounter focused coursework or placements involving substance use, trauma, children and adolescents, or couples and families. A topic offered as an elective is not necessarily a formal concentration, and a concentration does not itself confer a separate license (individual program curricula; Tennessee licensing board).
Choose a focus around the population and setting in which you can obtain appropriate supervised experience. If your main goal is school counseling or marriage and family therapy licensure, compare the degree designed for that route instead of assuming a clinical mental health elective will meet a different credential's rules.
Start with your intended license and where you expect to practice. Then compare programs on the requirements that could prevent you from finishing or using the degree - not only on ranking, advertised flexibility, or tuition.
Use this sequence when contacting schools:
Ask the Tennessee licensing board which education and supervised-experience rules apply to your intended credential; ask an out-of-state board separately if you may relocate.
Verify the institution's accreditation and the counseling program's current programmatic accreditation status directly with the accreditor; ask the school how its specific curriculum addresses licensure.
Request a complete term-by-term plan showing live classes, campus visits, practicum, internship, and who must find the field site.
Get a full-degree net-cost estimate and the school's policy for evaluating prior graduate credits.
Ask for current program-level completion and licensure-exam outcomes, including their reporting periods, before relying on a general institutional figure.
A common costly mistake is choosing the shortest or cheapest advertised program without checking whether a workable clinical placement exists. Another is treating CACREP accreditation, institutional accreditation, and state licensure as interchangeable; they answer different questions. Make the final comparison using completion likelihood, time away from work, net debt, your current earnings, plausible post-degree earnings, and how long you expect to practice.
View the chart data as a table
Wage range - Mental Health Counselors in Tennessee (BLS OEWS, May 2025) (Source: BLS)
Category
Value
10th percentile
34,950
25th percentile
39,160
Median
49,580
75th percentile
61,160
90th percentile
76,620
A graduate may seek supervised counseling work in a behavioral health agency, treatment setting, or practice that hires clinicians working toward licensure. After satisfying Tennessee's applicable post-degree requirements, additional clinical roles may become available. A master's degree alone should not be presented to an employer as an independent-practice license (Tennessee licensing board).
If you want to enter the field before committing to graduate study, look for relevant support or case-management roles and speak with licensed counselors about their daily work. If you already work in behavioral health, ask whether your employer provides qualified supervision and whether it hires graduates of the programs you are considering. Those answers can matter more than a broad career list.
View the chart data as a table
Admissions GPA distribution across ranked programs (Source: Research.com)
Category
Value
2.75–2.79
1
2.80–2.84
0
2.85–2.89
0
2.90–2.94
0
2.95–2.99
4
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 18% national employment growth from 2025 to 2035 for the counseling occupation relevant to clinical mental health practice. That points to demand nationally, but it does not measure openings for newly graduated counselors in a particular Tennessee city or guarantee a position at a preferred agency.
Assess your local market alongside the projection. Search Tennessee postings for the credential and supervision status you would hold at graduation, then note which employers accept prelicensure applicants and which require an independently licensed counselor. This separates a promising long-term profession from the jobs you could actually pursue first.
2027 Easiest Online Clinical Mental Health Counseling Degree Programs Ranking in Tennessee
An education investment deserves more scrutiny than a ranking position alone. Research.com evaluates counseling programs using outcomes, accreditation, eligibility for federal aid, and cost, drawing on established education datasets to improve the ranking's credibility and accuracy. The Best ranking first combines program completion, employment or doctoral admission, applicable licensure-exam results, CACREP recognition, and Title IV eligibility; cost then contributes a smaller share. Other rankings order programs by the dimension named in their titles. The same approach applies to online and on-campus programs.
The following sources were used to create the ranking:
IPEDS database: institutional reporting on programs, enrollment, and costs.
The ranking can narrow your search, but "easiest" should not be read as a verified admission rate, lighter clinical workload, or easier path to licensure. Check each program's current requirements directly. Research.com explains its broader approach on its methodology page.
# 1 position
Lincoln Memorial University
Master
MEd in Professional Counseling – Clinical Mental Health Counseling (Non-School)
Delivery mode: hybrid
66.60
/ 100
Final score
Program length
Year 1 Fall - Year 2 Summer (6 consecutive semesters)
Specialization
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Required credits
60 semester credits
GPA range
2.75 - 4.00
Program completion rate
22.73% (2024-25)
Employment or doctoral admission
100% (2022-23)
Licensure exam pass rate
100% (2022-23)
Application deadline
rolling
Application process
direct
GRE
no
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
Lincoln Memorial University earned a Research.com Admissions Accessibility Score of 66.6/100, supported by a minimum GPA of 2.75 and 22.73% program completion rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2030-10-31.
# 2 position
Southern Adventist University
Master
Master of Science in Professional Counseling – Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Delivery mode: hybrid
51.40
/ 100
Final score
Program length
approximately two and a half years of full-time study
Specialization
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Required credits
60 semester credits
GPA range
3.00 - 4.00
Program completion rate
90% (2024-25)
Employment or doctoral admission
100% (2024-25)
Licensure exam pass rate
100% (2024-25)
Application deadline
Fall: July 15; Winter: November 1
Application process
direct
GRE
no
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree: a four-year degree in any field from an accredited institution; minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0.
Additional requirements
Graduate application; official transcripts; three professional recommendation forms (one may be academic); statement of purpose; resumé; background check; criminal-record release and declaration; personality test; faculty interview.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
Southern Adventist University earned a Research.com Admissions Accessibility Score of 51.4/100, supported by a minimum GPA of 3 and 90% program completion rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2033-10-31.
# 3 position
Carson-Newman University
Master
Master of Science in Counseling – Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Delivery mode: hybrid
51.40
/ 100
Final score
Program length
approximately two and half years (minimum seven semesters)
Specialization
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Required credits
60 semester credits
GPA range
3.00 - 4.00
Program completion rate
77.4% (2023-24)
Employment or doctoral admission
100% (2023-24)
Licensure exam pass rate
100% (2023-24)
Application deadline
Fall: February 1; Spring: October 1
Application process
direct
GRE
no
Prerequisites
Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited university; minimum overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0.
Additional requirements
Professional resume and statement of purpose, plus graduate admission requirements: application form, two recommendations, official transcripts, an interview, and a background records check.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
Carson-Newman University earned a Research.com Admissions Accessibility Score of 51.4/100, supported by a minimum GPA of 3 and 77.4% program completion rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2032-03-31.
# 4 position
Freed-Hardeman University
Master
Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Delivery mode: hybrid
51.40
/ 100
Final score
Program length
2 to 2.5 years (full-time)
Specialization
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Required credits
61 semester credits
GPA range
3.00 - 4.00
Program completion rate
58% (2024-25)
Employment or doctoral admission
100% (2024-25)
Application deadline
August 10
Application process
direct
GRE
no
Prerequisites
Must have the equivalent of 12 semester hours in Behavioral Science (Psychology, Sociology, Social Work, Anthropology, Family Studies).
Additional requirements
Free online application; official transcripts for all undergraduate and graduate degrees (expected GPA of 3.00 or higher); essay of personal goals (300-500 words); interview with the Counseling Admissions Committee.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
Freed-Hardeman University earned a Research.com Admissions Accessibility Score of 51.4/100, supported by a minimum GPA of 3 and 58% program completion rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2028-03-31.
# 5 position
Johnson University
Master
M.A. in Counseling
Delivery mode: hybrid
43.90
/ 100
Final score
Program length
2 ½–5 years
Specialization
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Required credits
60 semester credits
GPA range
3.00 - 4.00
Program completion rate
62.5% (2024-25)
Employment or doctoral admission
100% (2024-25)
Application deadline
Spring: October 1; Fall: February 1
Class size
7
Application process
direct
GRE
Conditional: GRE or MAT required if undergraduate GPA is below 3.0 (such admits are placed on probation)
Prerequisites
At least 15 credit hours in counseling or a related field; three references (two academic, one personal); official transcripts; government-issued photo ID; 5-10 page writing sample; interview with graduate faculty.
Additional requirements
Online graduate application; three references (two academic, one personal); official transcripts; government-issued photo ID; 5-10 page writing sample; interview with School of Social & Behavioral Science graduate faculty.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
Johnson University earned a Research.com Admissions Accessibility Score of 43.9/100, supported by a minimum GPA of 3 and 62.5% program completion rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2033-03-31.
Frequently asked questions about online Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree in Tennessee
Can I complete a Tennessee clinical mental health counseling degree entirely online?
Coursework may be online, but supervised practicum and internship require approved clinical work. Some programs also require live online meetings or campus visits. Confirm the entire schedule with the school.
Does an online master's automatically qualify me for Tennessee licensure?
No. The Tennessee licensing board evaluates applicable education, examinations, and supervised experience. Ask the program how its curriculum aligns with your intended credential, then check the board's current requirements.
Do I need a bachelor's degree in psychology?
Not necessarily. Admissions rules vary, and some programs accept applicants from other majors. Ask whether you need prerequisite courses before applying.
How long should I budget for school?
Approximately two to three years is a reasonable planning range for substantial enrollment, with part-time study potentially taking longer. Ask for a schedule that includes clinical placements; post-degree licensure requirements add time.
Is the easiest-to-enter program the best value?
Not automatically. Compare licensure fit, placement support, total net cost, completion prospects, and the work schedule you can sustain. Do not interpret a ranking label as an individual admission or career outcome.
