An affordable counseling master's degree can become an expensive mistake if its clinical placements or coursework do not fit your licensing goal. This guide is for Louisiana residents and working professionals comparing online options, total costs, training requirements, and career prospects. It accompanies the 2027 Most Affordable Online Clinical Mental Health Counseling Degree Programs Ranking in Louisiana, created by the Research.com team of data scientists to help students make an informed choice about which programs are worth considering. Use it to identify a workable path - not just a low tuition figure.
Key findings about online Clinical Mental Health Counseling degrees in Louisiana
The lowest advertised tuition is not necessarily the lowest-cost route to Louisiana licensure: compare required credits, fees, travel, placement expenses, aid, and the coursework accepted by the Louisiana Licensed Professional Counselors Board of Examiners.
Online coursework does not eliminate in-person clinical training. Before enrolling, obtain written confirmation that the program can support supervised placements where you live and that its curriculum fits your intended Louisiana credential.
The national median annual pay for the relevant mental health and substance use counseling occupation was $59,350 in May 2025; U.S. employment is projected to grow 18% from 2025 to 2035, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Neither figure predicts a particular Louisiana graduate's earnings or job prospects.
What can I expect from an online Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree in Louisiana?
Expect a graduate degree that combines counseling theory, assessment, ethics, diagnosis, and supervised work with clients. "Online" generally describes how academic courses are delivered, not how clinical skills are acquired: practicum and internship require arrangements with approved supervisors and sites. Some programs also require scheduled video classes, campus visits, or other live activities.
The degree is a sensible investment for someone who wants to pursue professional counseling and can make time for fieldwork, including hours that may conflict with a full-time job. It is a poor shortcut for someone seeking independent practice without post-degree supervision, or for someone whose goal is school counseling, psychology, or social work; those paths have different educational and credentialing requirements. Louisiana's Licensed Professional Counselors Board of Examiners, not a university's marketing description, determines whether education and subsequent training satisfy the state's LPC requirements.
Where can I work with an online Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree in Louisiana?
Clinical mental health counselors may work in community mental health agencies, hospitals, substance use treatment settings, group practices, and other behavioral health services. The employer and the work a graduate may perform depend on the position and their current credential; a newly earned degree is not an independent-practice license.
Location affects the practical value of an online program. Someone outside Louisiana's larger employment centers may be able to take classes without relocating but still needs an accessible, approved clinical site and supervisor. Ask each school which placements it can help arrange near your home and whether its graduates commonly pursue the settings that interest you. Program access to a placement can matter more than a modest tuition difference if travel or reduced work hours would be substantial.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a $59,350 national median annual salary in May 2025 for the mental health and substance use counseling occupation relevant to this field. That is an occupational midpoint, not an entry-level offer, a Louisiana-specific wage, or an estimate of what a particular degree will add to your earnings. Pay can differ by employer, location, experience, and licensure status.
To judge whether the degree pays off for you, compare likely earnings with and without the credential over a realistic time horizon. Include tuition, fees, borrowing costs, any work hours lost to training, the time required for post-degree supervision, and the chance of finishing. A lower-cost program is especially valuable when it meets the same licensing goal without extending time out of the workforce; a cheaper program that cannot support your intended credential is not a bargain.
These Louisiana options are not interchangeable. Their degree titles, delivery models, and professional emphases should be checked against your intended credential before you compare prices.
Nicholls State University: Its graduate offering is specifically identified as clinical mental health counseling, making it a direct option for applicants seeking that curriculum rather than selecting a broader counseling degree first. Confirm the current mix of remote instruction and any required campus participation before treating it as a workable online choice; Nicholls State University is the source for its program description.
University of Louisiana at Monroe: ULM presents its counseling master's through its online-degree offerings, making delivery a central point of comparison with programs that may require more campus attendance. Working applicants should still ask about live class times, residency requirements, and approval of local clinical placements; the University of Louisiana at Monroe is the source for its program description.
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-New Orleans: Its Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling program has a rehabilitation-focused identity rather than being simply another general clinical mental health option. That distinction may suit applicants interested in counseling people with disabilities, but prospective LPC applicants should check the exact curriculum and licensing fit with the state board; LSU Health Sciences Center-New Orleans is the source for its program description.
University of Holy Cross: Its counseling offering is an MA housed within the university's counseling education programs. Applicants comparing it with a degree explicitly titled clinical mental health counseling should identify the precise track, clinical requirements, and delivery format they would enter; the University of Holy Cross is the source for its program description.
Each school should provide a current catalog, tuition-and-fee schedule, clinical-training handbook, and written explanation of how its program addresses Louisiana LPC education requirements. Compare those documents rather than assuming that similar program names mean identical preparation.
Plan on roughly two to three years of full-time graduate study for a clinical counseling master's; part-time study can take longer. Actual completion time depends on the required course sequence, how often courses run, and when you can complete supervised clinical placements. A school's shortest advertised timeline may assume continuous enrollment and access to a placement when needed.
Ask for a term-by-term plan based on your proposed course load, including the first possible practicum and internship dates. If finishing sooner is essential, compare the fastest clinical mental health counseling programs against your ability to maintain work hours and secure field training. A faster schedule saves time only if it is feasible to complete.
The important difference is where and when you complete coursework, not whether you need clinical practice. This comparison helps identify which format creates fewer obstacles to completing the same intended training.
Decision factor
Online program
On-campus program
Academic attendance
Remote classes may reduce commuting, but scheduled sessions or visits may still apply.
Regular travel to campus is usually necessary.
Clinical placement
A local site may be possible if the program approves the site and supervisor.
Campus-area partnerships may be convenient, but placement still requires planning.
Best fit
Students who need geographic flexibility and can meet remote-learning and fieldwork requirements.
Students who prefer routine in-person instruction or access to campus-based training.
Neither format should be assumed to satisfy Louisiana licensing rules automatically. Confirm the specific curriculum and clinical arrangements with the school and the Louisiana Licensed Professional Counselors Board of Examiners. If academic fit matters more to you than delivery alone, review the best clinical mental health counseling programs alongside each program's current requirements.
There is no reliable single average that represents the price of every Louisiana online clinical counseling pathway. Programs differ in required credits, tuition rules, fees, course load, and clinical-placement expenses; published institutional graduate tuition is not necessarily the total price of a specific master's degree. NCES IPEDS institutional cost data can support comparisons, but it should not be mistaken for a personalized program bill.
Request each school's estimate for the entire degree, including mandatory online and university fees, books, any campus travel, and clinical-site costs. Confirm whether residency changes tuition and whether rates can change while you are enrolled. For a value comparison, the most valuable clinical mental health counseling programs provide another lens - but your own net price, completion timeline, and licensing fit should determine which offer is affordable.
Students at eligible institutions can explore federal graduate aid through the FAFSA, as well as institutional scholarships, assistantships, employer tuition assistance, and any state aid for which their program and enrollment status qualify. Federal aid eligibility depends on factors including the institution, the student, and the program; online enrollment alone does not establish or remove eligibility, according to Federal Student Aid. Ask Louisiana schools whether their graduate counseling students actually qualify for the awards they advertise.
Graduate PLUS rules require particular care for a 2027 start. Under federal changes taking effect in July 2026, new graduate borrowers generally cannot begin borrowing through Graduate PLUS; qualifying students who borrowed for the same program before the change may have limited continuing eligibility. Federal Student Aid is the authority on individual eligibility. Get an aid offer showing what remains uncovered after grants, scholarships, and available federal loans, then compare that gap across programs before relying on private borrowing.
View the chart data as a table
Reported total program cost by program (Source: Research.com)
Category
Value
Nicholls State Universit
28,897.3
University of Louisiana
33,000
Louisiana State Universi
36,160
University of Holy Cross
46,960
A bachelor's degree is the usual starting point, but schools set their own admissions rules. Depending on the program, applicants may need transcripts, references, a statement of purpose, an interview, or specified preparation for graduate study. A particular undergraduate major should not be assumed to be required unless the school says so; check each institution's current admissions page.
Admission is only the first checkpoint. Ask whether the program accepts relevant transfer graduate credits, how many can apply to the degree, and whether transferring would affect required clinical sequences. Also ask whether background-check or site requirements could limit placement options. If you are comparing the easiest clinical mental health counseling programs to enter, do not confuse a more accessible admissions process with an easier route to supervised training or licensure.
Clinical mental health counseling curricula commonly address helping relationships, counseling theories, human development, assessment, diagnosis, group counseling, ethics, multicultural practice, and research. Supervised practicum and internship apply these subjects with clients. Course titles alone can be misleading: for Louisiana LPC planning, compare each course's content, credit assignment, and clinical experience with the Louisiana Licensed Professional Counselors Board of Examiners' current education requirements.
Give particular attention to whether electives are truly optional for your goal. A student interested in trauma or substance use work may value those courses, but not if choosing them displaces coursework needed for licensure. Request a written curriculum map from the program before committing.
Programs may offer a distinct clinical mental health track or opportunities to focus through electives and placements on areas such as substance use, trauma, or rehabilitation. Availability varies by school, and an elective emphasis is not necessarily a separate degree, license, or certification.
The clearest comparison in this group is between a clinical mental health pathway and LSU Health Sciences Center-New Orleans's clinical rehabilitation counseling focus. If your goal is disability-related counseling, that distinction merits close study; if your goal is Louisiana LPC practice, verify the exact degree plan against board requirements rather than relying on the specialization label. A school counseling pathway should likewise be evaluated for its own credential, not treated as an interchangeable clinical track.
Start with the credential and work setting you want, then eliminate programs that cannot explain how their curriculum and placements support that goal. These checks turn a ranking into a shortlist you can act on:
Ask the Louisiana Licensed Professional Counselors Board of Examiners which current education requirements apply to your intended credential, and ask each school to map its courses to them.
Verify the institution's accreditation and the program's current status in the CACREP directory if CACREP recognition matters to your plans; institutional and programmatic accreditation are different checks.
Obtain a complete degree plan and written details on clinical sites, supervisor approval, live classes, and any campus visits.
Compare net degree cost and likely completion time after aid - not tuition per credit alone - and identify any income you may forgo during fieldwork.
Ask for program-level completion, placement, and applicable exam results, including the reporting period and the number of students represented.
A red flag is a school that describes its degree as "licensure-ready" but will not explain state-specific coursework or clinical-placement responsibilities. Another is a low advertised price that excludes mandatory fees or assumes a course load you cannot manage.
The central path is toward professional counseling, beginning with the degree and continuing through Louisiana's required licensing steps. Graduates may seek supervised roles in community or other behavioral health settings while progressing toward independent practice, subject to board rules and employer requirements. Substance use and rehabilitation settings may also be relevant, depending on the person's preparation and the position.
Do not choose this degree solely because "counselor" appears in a job title. School counseling, marriage and family therapy, and psychology can involve different credentials and training. Read actual job postings for the settings that interest you, then confirm the credential requested with the appropriate Louisiana authority before choosing a program.
View the chart data as a table
Wage range - Mental Health Counselors in Louisiana (BLS OEWS, May 2025) (Source: BLS)
Category
Value
10th percentile
29,860
25th percentile
33,970
Median
37,910
75th percentile
55,370
90th percentile
65,720
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 18% national employment growth from 2025 to 2035 for the mental health and substance use counseling occupation. That projection indicates broad demand, but it does not measure openings in a particular Louisiana parish, the share open to newly qualified applicants, or the ease of finding a clinical supervisor.
For a more useful local test, examine current postings in the areas where you could realistically work. Note whether employers seek an associate-level or fully licensed counselor, which settings are hiring, and whether positions involve travel or nonstandard hours. This also tests the value of a program's placement network: a degree is a stronger investment when its clinical training can connect you to the kind of work available where you intend to live.
2027 Most Affordable Online Clinical Mental Health Counseling Degree Programs Ranking in Louisiana
Investing in graduate education is a consequential decision, so Research.com evaluates more than a program's advertised price. Its counseling rankings consider graduate completion and employment or doctoral admission, applicable licensure-exam pass rates, CACREP programmatic recognition, federal Title IV eligibility, and program cost. The most-affordable ranking orders eligible programs by its cost dimension; affordability should still be weighed against licensure fit and the likelihood of completing the degree.
The Research.com team uses multiple education datasets to check the credibility and accuracy of its rankings:
IPEDS database: Institutional reporting on programs, enrollment, completion, and costs.
Peterson's database: Program and institutional information used to supplement comparisons.
College Scorecard database: Federal information on institutions, costs, and student outcomes where available.
For the Best ranking, graduate outcomes and accreditation are combined first: completion contributes 40%, employment or doctoral admission 20%, applicable licensure-exam results 20%, CACREP recognition 16%, and Title IV eligibility 4%. Inapplicable criteria are reweighted, and cost contributes about 7% of the final Best score. The same approach applies to online and campus programs; other rankings emphasize the dimension in their names. See Research.com's methodology for further detail. No ranking can replace confirmation of a program's current price, delivery format, and licensing suitability.
# 1 position
Nicholls State University
Master
Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Delivery mode: hybrid
90.80
/ 100
Final score
Specialization
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Required credits
60 semester credits
GPA range
2.50 - 4.00
Program completion rate
10% (2023-24)
Employment or doctoral admission
88% (2022-23)
Licensure exam pass rate
100% (2023-24)
Application deadline
rolling
Application process
direct
GRE
yes
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution; minimum GPA 2.50 on final 60 hours of undergraduate coursework
Additional requirements
Graduate Studies application, $20/$30 application fee, official transcripts, GRE scores (unless waived), completed program application, three letters of recommendation, criminal background check (Certified Backgrounds), possible personal 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).
Nicholls State University earned a Research.com Affordability Score of 90.8/100, supported by $28,897 total cost (tuition and fees, estimated) and 60 semester credits. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2031-10-31.
# 2 position
University of Louisiana at Monroe
Master
Master of Science in Counseling
Delivery mode: online
87.80
/ 100
Final score
Program length
2 years and 2 semesters full-time; completion deadline: 6 years
Specialization
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Required credits
60 semester credits
GPA range
2.20 - 4.00
Program completion rate
89% (2025-26)
Employment or doctoral admission
100% (2025-26)
Licensure exam pass rate
100% (2025-26)
Application deadline
Priority: Nov 15; Final: Mar 15
Application process
direct
GRE
Conditional: GRE General Test score of 300+ required if undergraduate GPA is below 2.75 (not required with a graduate GPA of 3.50+)
Additional requirements
Graduate School application, transcripts, resume/vita, letter of interest with an introductory video, three letters of recommendation, and a possible 30-minute Zoom 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).
University of Louisiana at Monroe earned a Research.com Affordability Score of 87.8/100, supported by $33,000 total tuition (estimated) and 60 semester credits. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2028-03-31.
# 3 position
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-New Orleans
Master
Master of Health Sciences in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Delivery mode: hybrid
85.50
/ 100
Final score
Program length
5 semesters (Fall, Spring, Summer, Fall, Spring)
Specialization
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Required credits
60 semester credits
GPA range
2.50 - 4.00
Application deadline
Fall: June 1
Application process
AHCAS
GRE
no
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university (background in behavioral science and/or social services preferred); minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.5 (4.0 system).
Additional requirements
Two letters of recommendation (at least one from an academic source), a typed personal essay addressing career goals/aptitude for graduate study, official transcripts submitted via AHCAS.
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).
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-New Orleans earned a Research.com Affordability Score of 85.5/100, supported by $36,160 total cost (tuition and fees, estimated) and 60 semester credits. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2032-10-31.
# 4 position
University of Holy Cross
Master
MA in Counseling: Clinical Mental Health specialization
Delivery mode: online
77.70
/ 100
Final score
Program length
three years
Specialization
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Required credits
60 semester credits
Program completion rate
100% (2024-25)
Employment or doctoral admission
100% (2024-25)
Application deadline
rolling
Application process
direct
GRE
no
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited university.
Additional requirements
Two-page letter of application, unofficial bachelor's transcript, current resume, three recommendation forms, and proof of immunizations (or signed waiver), sent by email to the Department Chair.
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).
University of Holy Cross earned a Research.com Affordability Score of 77.7/100, supported by $46,960 total cost (tuition and fees) and 60 semester credits. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2031-10-31.
Frequently asked questions about online Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree in Louisiana
Can I become a Louisiana LPC with an online degree?
Possibly. Delivery format alone is not the deciding factor; the Louisiana Licensed Professional Counselors Board of Examiners evaluates the applicable education, examination, and supervised-experience requirements. Confirm the specific program and current rules before enrolling.
Can I complete the whole degree from home?
Do not assume so. Online courses can still include scheduled sessions or campus activities, and clinical practicum and internship require approved supervised work. Ask the school for a written list of all in-person obligations.
Is CACREP accreditation the same as university accreditation?
No. CACREP accredits qualifying counseling programs; institutional accreditation concerns the university. Check both statuses directly with the relevant accreditor and ask the Louisiana board how program accreditation relates to your intended licensing route.
How long should a working adult expect the degree to take?
Full-time study commonly takes about two to three years; part-time schedules can take longer. Request a plan that accounts for course availability and the hours you can devote to clinical placements.
Is the cheapest program the best financial choice?
Not necessarily. Compare total net cost, time away from paid work, likely completion time, and licensing fit. An inexpensive degree that delays graduation or does not support your credential goal may cost more in the long run.
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-New Orleans - Master of Health Sciences in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Official program page (curriculum, tuition, admissions). https://alliedhealth.lsuhsc.edu/crc/default.aspx
