A low tuition rate does not necessarily make a counseling master's degree affordable: fees, unpaid clinical hours, and the time until licensure can change the total investment. This guide is for prospective students and working adults comparing Missouri programs. It explains costs, accreditation, clinical training, licensure, and career prospects alongside the 2027 Most Affordable Clinical Mental Health Counseling Degree Programs Ranking in Missouri, 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 Missouri
Compare total program cost, not tuition alone: clinical placements, fees, travel, and time away from work can change which Missouri master's is cheapest in practice.
Check Missouri professional counselor licensure requirements before enrolling. A counseling degree title - or online delivery - does not by itself establish that a program meets them.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a $59,350 national median annual wage for the relevant mental health and substance abuse counseling occupation in May 2025 and projects 18% U.S. employment growth from 2025 to 2035; neither figure predicts an individual graduate's earnings or a Missouri job offer.
What can I expect from a Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree in Missouri?
A clinical mental health counseling master's combines counseling theory, assessment, ethics, and supervised work with clients. It is generally the degree-level route for someone aiming to pursue professional counselor licensure, rather than a short course that authorizes independent practice. In Missouri, the important distinction is whether the specific curriculum satisfies the Missouri Committee for Professional Counselors' education rules - not whether the diploma says MS, MA, or MEd.
The degree label can help you find relevant programs, but it cannot settle the licensure question. Use this comparison to decide what to inspect next.
Program label
What it tells you
What to verify
MS or MA in clinical mental health counseling
The stated program focus is clinical counseling.
Required coursework, clinical placements, accreditation status, and Missouri licensure alignment.
MEd in clinical mental health counseling
The degree is housed in an education-oriented degree structure.
The same clinical and licensure requirements; "MEd" does not make it a school-counseling credential.
Broader counseling master's
The title alone may not identify a clinical track.
Which track appears on the transcript and whether its requirements meet the intended license.
The degree is a sensible investment if you want to provide counseling and can accommodate supervised training during and after school. If your goal is school counseling, psychology licensure, or a nonclinical support role, compare those credential routes before committing. Readers prioritizing outcomes and accreditation alongside price can also examine the best clinical mental health counseling programs.
Where can I work with a Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree in Missouri?
Mental health counselors work in outpatient clinics, community mental health organizations, hospitals, residential services, and private practices, although duties and eligibility depend on licensure and employer rules (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). Missouri students should also consider where they can complete supervised placements: a nearby clinic in the St. Louis or Kansas City area may make a program workable for a commuter, while a student elsewhere may need an approved placement closer to home.
Do not assume a school will place you at a particular employer or that graduation permits independent practice. Ask who secures placements, whether evening or weekend hours are possible, and which roles graduates can pursue before full licensure.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a $59,350 median annual wage in May 2025 for the national occupation encompassing substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors. That is an occupational median across workers with different experience and credentials, not a starting salary or a Missouri-specific estimate.
For an investment decision, request local pay ranges for both pre-licensure and licensed positions. Compare likely take-home pay with loan payments, benefits, supervision costs, and any reduction in work hours while completing clinical training. A higher advertised salary is less useful if the role requires a license you will not yet hold.
The programs below differ in degree framing, setting, and institutional context. Those distinctions can help narrow a shortlist, but none substitutes for confirming current credits, placement arrangements, price, and licensure eligibility directly with the school.
University of Central Missouri: Its MS in Counseling has a broader degree title than the explicitly named clinical programs below. Students should confirm the clinical pathway and the exact coursework that would appear on their transcript before comparing it with a school-counseling route (University of Central Missouri).
Evangel University: Its MS explicitly names clinical mental health counseling, making the intended field clear at the program-title level. For students considering a faith-affiliated institution in Springfield, the useful next comparison is how its clinical training and institutional mission fit their intended practice setting (Evangel University).
University of Missouri-St. Louis: Its MEd in Clinical Mental Health Counseling pairs an education-degree designation with an explicitly clinical program title. St. Louis-area applicants can assess whether its location makes required in-person training practical without assuming that the MEd title changes the licensure route (University of Missouri-St. Louis).
Missouri Baptist University: Its MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling offers another explicitly clinical degree option in the St. Louis area. Students comparing it with UMSL should obtain itemized costs and placement policies rather than treating the MA-versus-MEd distinction as a measure of quality (Missouri Baptist University).
Covenant Theological Seminary: Its Master of Arts in Counseling is housed in a theological seminary, the clearest institutional-context difference in this group. It may appeal to applicants who want that setting; they should still check the clinical curriculum, placement expectations, and Missouri licensure fit independently (Covenant Theological Seminary).
A clinical counseling master's commonly takes about two to three years of full-time study; part-time study generally takes longer. The precise schedule depends on course sequencing, practicum and internship availability, and whether required classes run year-round. CACREP's clinical mental health counseling standards specify a substantial graduate curriculum and supervised field experience, so an unusually short advertised timeline deserves careful scrutiny (Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs).
Ask for a term-by-term plan that includes the first possible placement date. If you must keep a full-time job, compare the hours when client-facing training occurs - not just whether lectures fit your calendar. Graduation is also distinct from completing any post-degree supervised experience required for Missouri licensure (Missouri Committee for Professional Counselors).
Online coursework can reduce commuting, but it does not remove supervised clinical training. Campus study can make scheduled meetings and local networking simpler, but commuting and fixed class times may increase the effective cost for a working student. In either format, the program must arrange or approve training that meets its requirements and supports your intended licensure path (Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs; Missouri Committee for Professional Counselors).
Before choosing online delivery, ask whether there are required campus visits, who finds a Missouri placement, how supervisors are approved, and what happens if a local site falls through. A student outside commuting distance of a campus may benefit substantially from online classes; someone who cannot access suitable daytime clinical hours may find neither format feasible without changing work arrangements.
There is no single verified Missouri-wide average total price for a clinical mental health counseling master's. Institution-level graduate tuition averages are not reliable substitutes: programs can differ in credits, per-credit charges, fees, and required training expenses (National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS). A public university's resident rate may differ from its nonresident rate, while private universities may use a different pricing structure; neither ownership type determines your final net cost.
For each offer, multiply the school's published charge by its required credits, then add mandatory fees, placement-related travel, and any income you expect to forgo. Subtract grants or scholarships you actually receive, not aid you merely hope to win. Ask whether summer terms, extended enrollment, or repeated placements change the quote. To weigh price against other measures of value, compare the most valuable clinical mental health counseling programs as well as the affordability ranking.
Eligible graduate students may be able to use federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans, institutional scholarships, graduate assistantships, or employer tuition benefits; eligibility and amounts vary (Federal Student Aid; individual institutions). Complete the FAFSA and request a graduate-level aid estimate from each school. Do not assume an aid program advertised for Missouri undergraduates applies to a master's degree.
Because federal graduate borrowing rules and eligibility can change, verify the loan options available for your entry term and borrower status with Federal Student Aid and the school's financial aid office before planning to finance the full program with loans. Compare renewable aid conditions and the total projected balance at graduation, not just first-term assistance.
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; programs may also request transcripts, recommendations, a statement of purpose, an interview, or specified prior coursework. Requirements vary by institution, so do not assume that a psychology major is mandatory - or that any bachelor's degree automatically meets every program's prerequisites (individual program admissions offices).
Before paying an application fee, send admissions staff your transcript and ask which prerequisites must be completed before entry. Separately, ask the program to identify how its completed master's curriculum addresses Missouri licensure education requirements. Admission eligibility and future licensure eligibility are different questions (Missouri Committee for Professional Counselors).
Expect coursework in counseling skills, human development, assessment, diagnosis, group counseling, ethics, research, and work with diverse clients, followed by supervised practicum and internship. CACREP standards provide a useful framework for comparing accredited counseling curricula, but each school's catalog determines its actual requirements (Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs).
Review course descriptions rather than relying on titles alone. In particular, ask where you will learn clinical documentation, treatment planning, crisis response, and appropriate use of telehealth - skills that matter in contemporary service settings. Confirm which courses Missouri's licensing committee will count if you are considering a program with a broad counseling degree title.
Programs may offer electives or placements focused on addiction, trauma, children and adolescents, couples and families, or community mental health. Availability depends on the institution and its approved clinical sites; an elective interest is not necessarily a formal concentration or a separate credential (individual program catalogs).
Choose a specialization by the clients and setting you hope to serve. For example, an addiction-focused placement may be more useful to an aspiring community clinician than an unrelated elective. If your primary goal is school counseling or marriage and family therapy licensure, check those distinct education and licensing pathways before assuming a clinical mental health counseling emphasis will qualify you.
Start with eligibility for your intended work, then compare what you would actually pay and how likely you are to finish on schedule. Accreditation is important to investigate, but check the specific program's current CACREP status rather than assuming an accredited university has an accredited counseling program (Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs).
Use these questions when requesting comparable answers from shortlisted schools:
Will the exact track and catalog year I enter meet the Missouri Committee for Professional Counselors' education requirements, and which requirements remain after graduation?
What is my written total-cost estimate, including fees and required clinical terms, after confirmed aid?
Who locates and approves placements, and can I complete the required client hours while keeping my current work schedule?
What are the program's recent completion, placement, and applicable exam results, and what reporting period do they cover?
Also check whether prior graduate credits can transfer and whether accepted credits replace required courses or merely electives. A large program may offer scheduling options, but popularity is not evidence of licensure fit or low net cost; use the most popular clinical mental health counseling programs as another comparison, not a final verdict.
View the chart data as a table
Reported total program cost distribution across ranked programs (Source: Research.com)
Category
Value
$30,000–$34,999
2
$35,000–$39,999
0
$40,000–$44,999
0
$45,000–$49,999
1
$50,000–$54,999
2
The most direct path is supervised clinical counseling work followed, if all requirements are met, by Missouri professional counselor licensure. Counselors may work toward roles in community agencies, outpatient treatment, hospitals, or private practice; employer requirements and permission to practice independently differ by role and license status (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics; Missouri Committee for Professional Counselors).
If your long-term aim is clinical leadership, supervision, or doctoral study, ask whether a prospective program supports that next step. If you mainly want to provide nonclinical peer or case-management support, a counseling master's may cost more time and money than your target role requires. Match the credential to actual job postings before borrowing for it.
View the chart data as a table
Wage range - Mental Health Counselors in Missouri (BLS OEWS, May 2025) (Source: BLS)
Category
Value
10th percentile
37,650
25th percentile
44,140
Median
56,910
75th percentile
72,280
90th percentile
89,400
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 18% national employment growth from 2025 to 2035 for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors. That points to expanding demand in the broad occupation, but it is not a Missouri-specific forecast and does not show how many openings will accept a new graduate awaiting licensure.
For a local reality check, search Missouri postings by credential stage as well as job title: "provisionally licensed" and independently licensed roles can have different duties, supervision arrangements, and pay. Compare employers near potential placement sites, particularly if you plan to remain outside a major metro area. The strongest program choice is one whose training schedule, local placement access, and debt burden still make sense under the jobs you can realistically pursue first.
2027 Most Affordable Clinical Mental Health Counseling Degree Programs Ranking in Missouri
Investing in a counseling degree is a consequential financial decision. Research.com evaluates program information using multiple sources and criteria so readers can compare affordability without losing sight of the outcomes and credentials that affect a program's value.
Research.com's counseling rankings consider program completion, employment or doctoral admission, applicable licensure-exam pass rates, CACREP accreditation, federal Title IV eligibility, and program cost. In the Best ranking, completion carries 40% of the initial outcomes-and-accreditation score; employment or doctoral admission and applicable exam results carry 20% each; CACREP accreditation carries 16%; and Title IV eligibility carries 4%. Inapplicable criteria are reweighted. Cost contributes about 7% of the final Best score, while rankings named for another dimension order programs by that dimension. The same approach applies to online and on-campus programs.
The team uses the following data sources to check institutional and program information:
IPEDS database: institutional enrollment, completion, and cost reporting.
These sources make the ranking a useful starting point, not a substitute for a current written tuition quote or a licensure review. Program-level costs and outcomes may differ from institution-wide measures. See Research.com's methodology for more on how the rankings are created.
# 1 position
University of Central Missouri
Master
Master of Science in Counseling – Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Delivery mode: campus
89.80
/ 100
Final score
Program length
36-48 months
Specialization
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Required credits
60 semester credits
GPA range
2.50 - 4.00
Program completion rate
26.5% (2024-25)
Employment or doctoral admission
99%
Application process
direct
GRE
yes
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
University of Central Missouri earned a Research.com Affordability Score of 89.8/100, supported by $30,240 total cost (tuition and fees, estimated) and 60 semester credits. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2034-10-31.
# 2 position
Evangel University
Master
Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Delivery mode: hybrid
87.90
/ 100
Final score
Program length
27 months (7-semester accelerated plan, summer start); standard 9 semesters
Specialization
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Required credits
60 semester credits
GPA range
3.00 - 4.00
Program completion rate
70% (2024-25)
Employment or doctoral admission
100% (2024-25)
Application deadline
Spring (January): November 1; Summer (May): April 1
Application process
direct
GRE
Conditional: GRE (combined 290+) required if undergraduate GPA is below 3.0
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution; six hours of psychology or counseling coursework; undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or combined GRE score of at least 290. Conditional admission possible below thresholds.
Additional requirements
Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university; GPA of 3.0 or higher in the last 60 undergraduate hours (or last two years of full-time study), or GRE scores of at least 290 combined with a 3.0 writing score;
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Evangel University earned a Research.com Affordability Score of 87.9/100, supported by $32,925 total cost (tuition and fees, estimated) and 60 semester credits. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2027-10-31.
# 3 position
University of Missouri-St Louis
Master
Master of Education in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Delivery mode: campus
79.10
/ 100
Final score
Specialization
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Required credits
60 semester credits
GPA range
3.00 - 4.00
Program completion rate
88% (2024-25)
Employment or doctoral admission
97% (2024-25)
Licensure exam pass rate
97% (2024-25)
Application deadline
Fall: March 1; Spring: October 1
Application process
direct
GRE
no
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution; CNS ED 6010 Theories of Counseling taken in first semester
Additional requirements
UMSL Graduate School application, personal essays, supplemental application, official transcripts, 2 letters of recommendation, minimum 3.0 GPA; $50 application fee
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
University of Missouri-St Louis earned a Research.com Affordability Score of 79.1/100, supported by $45,060 total cost (tuition and fees) and 60 semester credits. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2033-10-31.
# 4 position
Missouri Baptist University
Master
Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Delivery mode: hybrid
73.80
/ 100
Final score
Program length
Estimated Program Length: 36 Months
Specialization
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Required credits
60 semester credits
GPA range
2.75 - 4.00
Application deadline
rolling
Application process
direct
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution; undergraduate GPA of 2.75 or higher (or 3.00 for last 60 undergraduate/graduate hours)
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Missouri Baptist University earned a Research.com Affordability Score of 73.8/100, supported by $52,390 total cost (tuition and fees, estimated) and 60 semester credits. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2029-10-31.
# 5 position
Covenant Theological Seminary
Master
Master of Arts in Counseling
Delivery mode: campus
72.80
/ 100
Final score
Program length
Three years or more
Specialization
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Required credits
75 semester credits
GPA range
3.00 - 4.00
Program completion rate
80.96% (2024-25)
Employment or doctoral admission
100% (2024-25)
Application process
direct
GRE
no
Prerequisites
Accredited Bachelor's Degree, with minimum 3.0 GPA
Additional requirements
Standard application including transcripts, references, and a personal essay, plus personal interviews with admissions staff and a member of the counseling faculty.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools (ATS).
Covenant Theological Seminary earned a Research.com Affordability Score of 72.8/100, supported by $53,790 total cost (tuition and fees, estimated) and 75 semester credits. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2031-03-31.
Frequently asked questions about Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree in Missouri
Is a master's degree required to become a licensed professional counselor in Missouri?
Missouri's professional counselor pathway includes graduate education, along with other licensure requirements. Confirm that your particular degree and coursework meet the Missouri Committee for Professional Counselors' current rules; graduation alone is not a license.
Does a CACREP-accredited program automatically qualify me for Missouri licensure?
No. CACREP accreditation describes a program's status under accreditor standards. Missouri's licensing committee determines eligibility under state rules, including requirements beyond the degree (CACREP; Missouri Committee for Professional Counselors).
Can I complete a Missouri counseling degree entirely online?
Some academic work may be online, but clinical training requires supervised client-facing experience. Check campus-visit requirements and whether the school can approve a placement where you live.
Is the lowest-tuition program always the most affordable?
No. Compare total credits, fees, aid, travel, and the time you may need away from paid work. Request an itemized estimate for your enrollment plan rather than comparing advertised per-credit prices alone.
Can I work while completing the degree?
Often, but a flexible class schedule does not ensure flexible clinical hours. Ask prospective programs when placements occur and whether their approved sites can accommodate your work commitments.
Covenant Theological Seminary - Master of Arts in Counseling Official program page (curriculum, tuition, admissions). https://www.covenantseminary.edu/mac
