Choosing a Chicago counseling master's program means comparing more than a school's reputation: clinical training, Illinois licensure fit, schedule, and total cost can change the value of the degree. This guide is for prospective students and career changers weighing those trade-offs. It accompanies the 2027 Most Popular Clinical Mental Health Counseling Degree Programs Ranking in Chicago, created by the Research.com team of data scientists to help students make an informed choice about programs worth considering. You'll learn what to verify before applying and how to judge whether the investment fits your career goal.
Key findings about Clinical Mental Health Counseling degrees in Chicago
A Chicago clinical mental health counseling master's is primarily a route toward professional counseling licensure, not licensure by itself; check each curriculum against Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation requirements before enrolling.
Full-time study commonly takes about 2-3 years. Compare the schedule of supervised fieldwork as carefully as classroom delivery, especially if you intend to keep working.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a $59,350 national median annual wage for the relevant counseling occupation in May 2025 and projects 18% employment growth for 2025-2035; neither figure predicts an individual Chicago graduate's pay or job prospects.
What can I expect from a Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree in Chicago?
A clinical mental health counseling degree prepares students to assess concerns, plan treatment, provide counseling under appropriate supervision, and work within ethical and professional boundaries. The usual entry credential is a master's degree; a bachelor's degree alone is not a substitute for graduate preparation for Illinois professional counselor licensure (Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation).
Expect coursework alongside supervised practicum and internship placements. Chicago's range of hospitals, community agencies, university services, and private practices can give students different placement possibilities, but availability, travel time, supervision, and work-hour expectations vary by program. Ask who secures placements and whether evening or weekend opportunities actually exist.
This path fits someone who wants to provide ongoing mental health counseling and can commit to graduate study plus postdegree licensure steps. If your goal is prescribing medication, school counseling, or a role that does not require clinical licensure, compare the separate educational and licensing routes before paying for a clinical counseling program.
Where can I work with a Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree in Chicago?
Chicago-area counseling graduates may pursue roles in community mental health organizations, hospitals and outpatient clinics, substance-use treatment programs, nonprofit agencies, and, after meeting applicable licensure requirements, private practice. The employer and role determine what credential is required; a graduate who is still completing supervised experience should not assume access to positions reserved for independently licensed clinicians (Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation).
Placement setting is therefore a career decision, not just a graduation requirement. A student interested in community-based work should ask about agency partnerships and client populations; someone aiming for private practice should ask how training covers diagnosis, documentation, referral, and later supervised practice.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a $59,350 national median annual wage in May 2025 for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors, the occupation most closely aligned with clinical mental health counseling. This is an occupational median across workers with differing experience, credentials, and settings - not a Chicago starting salary or a forecast for degree holders.
Compare local job advertisements for the exact credential you expect to hold at graduation and after independent licensure. Agency pay, benefits, supervision support, and caseload may make one offer more valuable than a higher advertised salary elsewhere. Private-practice revenue is particularly unsuitable for comparison with employee wages without accounting for expenses and time spent building a caseload.
The Chicago options differ in degree title, academic home, location, and stated educational focus. Those differences can help narrow a shortlist, but they do not replace checking each school's current curriculum, accreditation status, fieldwork arrangements, and Illinois licensure disclosures.
The Chicago School at Chicago: Its Chicago-campus MA is specifically titled Clinical Mental Health Counseling (The Chicago School). It is a direct starting point for applicants who want a campus-based program with that degree focus; confirm the current placement process and course schedule before comparing it with broader counseling degrees.
National Louis University: Its Illinois offering is an MS in Counseling rather than a degree whose title alone specifies clinical mental health counseling (National Louis University). Applicants should verify the applicable pathway and its Illinois licensure alignment instead of assuming every counseling option leads to the same credential.
Northeastern Illinois University: Its MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling sits within counselor education (Northeastern Illinois University). As a public-university option in this group, it warrants a close net-cost comparison with private institutions, including any residency-based tuition differences and the actual time needed for fieldwork.
Chicago State University: Its clinical mental health counseling program is housed in psychology (Chicago State University). Students interested in that academic setting should examine the required counseling courses and clinical placements, rather than assuming a psychology departmental home changes the professional license sought.
Adler University: Its MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling explicitly connects counseling preparation with Adler's social-justice orientation (Adler University). That emphasis may appeal to applicants interested in community context; ask how it appears in required courses and placements, not just program descriptions.
Roosevelt University: Its MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling appears in the university's graduate health-science catalog (Roosevelt University). Use that published curriculum to map required courses and sequencing against competing programs, particularly if you must plan employment around clinical training.
Illinois Institute of Technology: Its offering is titled a master's in Clinical Counseling (Illinois Institute of Technology). Because that title differs from Clinical Mental Health Counseling, applicants should request a written explanation of how the current curriculum and fieldwork meet the Illinois credential they intend to pursue.
For a different lens on program quality, compare the best clinical mental health counseling programs. Treat any ranking as a shortlist tool, not a substitute for program-specific verification.
A full-time clinical mental health counseling master's commonly takes about 2-3 years; part-time enrollment can extend the timeline. The decisive constraint is often the sequence of prerequisite courses, practicum, and internship rather than the number of online lectures available. A school's advertised completion time may assume full-time study and a promptly available placement.
Working applicants should request a term-by-term plan showing when fieldwork begins, how many weekdays it requires, and whether courses needed for the next clinical stage run every term. An accelerated schedule can reduce time away from higher earnings but may be a poor fit if it forces an unsustainable reduction in paid work.
Online delivery can reduce commuting for a Chicago student, but it does not remove supervised clinical training. Campus programs may make scheduled face-to-face practice easier; online or hybrid programs can offer more flexibility for coursework while still requiring approved, accessible field placements. Neither format is automatically more suitable for Illinois licensure (Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation).
Before choosing an online option, obtain written answers about in-person requirements, placement responsibility, supervisor approval, and whether the program's education meets the licensing rules of the state where you intend to practice. A remote program outside Illinois may be convenient academically but costly to correct if its courses or placements do not align with your intended license.
There is no single reliable Chicago-wide price for these specific programs: schools differ in required credits, tuition policies, fees, and completion time. Published institutional graduate tuition averages from NCES/IPEDS can provide context, but they are not the price of a particular counseling degree. Request each program's current per-credit rate and required-credit total, then add fees, books, commuting, and costs associated with clinical placement.
Compare net total cost through graduation, not the tuition shown for one term. A lower per-credit price may not be the cheaper route if a program requires more credits or more time away from work. The most affordable clinical mental health counseling programs can help start a cost-focused comparison; confirm the current bill and aid offer with each institution.
Eligible graduate students can submit the FAFSA for federal aid consideration and ask schools about institutional scholarships, assistantships, and paid opportunities that can coexist with clinical training. Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans are a common graduate borrowing option, subject to eligibility and limits; school aid and outside awards vary (Federal Student Aid).
Do not build a financing plan around assumed Graduate PLUS access. Federal Student Aid's rules distinguish eligible continuing borrowers under transitional provisions from new graduate borrowers affected by the program's phaseout; confirm your own eligibility and current borrowing limits with the school's financial aid office and Federal Student Aid before committing. Ask whether scholarships renew during internship terms, when paid work may be hardest to maintain.
View the chart data as a table
Graduates (2024-25) distribution across ranked programs (Source: Research.com)
Category
Value
5–9
2
10–14
0
15–19
0
20–24
0
25–29
4
30–34
2
Applicants generally need a bachelor's degree and the materials specified by the individual program, which may include transcripts, recommendations, a statement of purpose, and an interview. Do not assume a psychology major is mandatory - or that an unrelated major is automatically acceptable. Use each institution's current admissions page to identify prerequisite courses, minimum academic standards, and application deadlines.
Admissions eligibility and licensure eligibility are separate questions. Illinois regulates professional counselor licensing through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation; a school's acceptance of your application does not establish that its degree, your eventual supervised experience, and examination results will satisfy licensing requirements. Request a written licensure-alignment disclosure for your intended credential.
Common subjects include counseling theories and skills, assessment, diagnosis, ethics, multicultural counseling, research, group work, and treatment planning, followed by supervised clinical practice (Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs). The useful comparison is not whether two catalogs share course names, but whether required courses build the competencies and documented training needed for the license you seek.
Request a curriculum map that identifies which courses precede practicum and internship. Also ask how the program teaches risk assessment, documentation, telehealth ethics, and referrals - skills that can matter in the varied clinical settings available across Chicago.
Students may find electives or placement opportunities involving trauma, substance use, child and adolescent counseling, or community mental health. Availability differs by school and may depend on whether an appropriate supervisor and placement are available when the student needs them. An advertised interest area is not necessarily a formal concentration or a separate professional credential.
If specialization is central to your decision, ask which relevant courses are required, how often electives run, and whether recent students obtained placements in that setting. Compare the answer with the license and jobs you actually want; a broader clinical degree may offer more flexibility than a narrow option with limited fieldwork access.
Start with the intended job and Illinois license, then compare programs that plausibly support both. The following checks help expose costly mismatches before you accept an offer:
Confirm the current program's accreditation status with the accreditor, including CACREP if that recognition matters to your goals; distinguish programmatic accreditation from the institution's accreditation (Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs).
Ask for written Illinois licensure disclosures covering the degree, required courses, supervised experience, and examinations; graduation does not itself grant a license (Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation).
Get a term-by-term completion plan and ask who finds, approves, and supervises Chicago-area placements.
Compare full program cost after grants and scholarships, expected borrowing, lost work income, and the probability of finishing on your planned schedule.
If you have prior graduate credit, obtain a written transfer-credit evaluation before assuming it will shorten the degree or satisfy clinical requirements.
A useful return-on-investment comparison includes baseline earnings, plausible postdegree earnings, debt, aid, opportunity cost, completion probability, time horizon, and the value of money received later rather than sooner. Institution type alone does not settle it. The most valuable clinical mental health counseling programs offer another comparison point, but your own aid offer and work schedule may change the result.
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
A graduate may begin in a supervised counseling role and pursue independent clinical practice only after satisfying the applicable Illinois requirements for experience and examination (Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation). Over time, counselors may focus on particular client populations, move into clinical supervision if qualified, or take on program leadership. Each step depends on experience and employer requirements, not the degree title alone.
Compare adjacent professions before committing. School counseling follows a different preparation and credentialing path; marriage and family therapy and social work also have distinct educational and licensing rules. A clinical counseling master's makes the most sense when providing mental health counseling - not simply working somewhere in the mental health sector - is the intended outcome.
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 projection supports investigating the field, but it does not measure Chicago openings or guarantee a position after graduation. Local hiring also depends on the credential an employer accepts, the clinical population served, and whether a role provides the supervision a new graduate needs.
Use current Chicago-area postings as a reality check: separate jobs open to graduates working toward licensure from those requiring independent licensure, and note recurring requirements for setting, schedule, and documentation skills. That distinction is more useful for choosing placements and electives than applying a national growth rate to an individual job search.
2027 Most Popular Clinical Mental Health Counseling Degree Programs Ranking in Chicago
Investing in a counseling degree is a consequential decision. Research.com's team uses education and outcomes data to make its rankings more credible and useful, while recognizing that a popularity ranking answers a different question from a ranking focused on cost or overall program performance. Popularity alone does not establish licensure eligibility or a strong financial return.
The ranking draws on these data sources, which readers can also use to check institutional information:
IPEDS database - institutional enrollment, completion, and cost reporting.
Across Research.com's counseling rankings, the Best methodology first combines program completion (40%), employment or doctoral admission (20%), applicable licensure-exam pass rates (20%), CACREP programmatic accreditation (16%), and institutional Title IV eligibility (4%). Weights are renormalized when a criterion does not apply; program cost then contributes about 7% of the final Best score. The same approach applies to online and campus programs, while other rankings order programs by the dimension named in their titles. See Research.com's methodology for further detail. Use the ranking to build a shortlist, then confirm current requirements and prices directly with each school.
# 1 position
The Chicago School at Chicago
Master
M.A. Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Chicago Campus
Delivery mode: campus
49.90
/ 100
Final score
Program length
2 years full-time
Specialization
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
GPA range
3.00 - 4.00
Application deadline
rolling
Application process
direct
GRE
no
Prerequisites
Bachelor’s degree from an institutionally accredited university; GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Additional requirements
Application, $50 application fee, and official transcripts from all schools where a degree was earned. Transcripts from all schools where credit was received are recommended.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).
The Chicago School at Chicago earned a Research.com Student Interest Score of 49.9/100, with 35 graduates (2023-24) among the verified supporting factors. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2028-03-31.
# 2 position
National Louis University
Master
M.S. in Counseling: Illinois
Delivery mode: campus
49.50
/ 100
Final score
Specialization
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
GPA range
3.00 - 4.00
Employment or doctoral admission
86% (2025)
Licensure exam pass rate
84% (2025)
Application deadline
rolling
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
National Louis University earned a Research.com Student Interest Score of 49.5/100, supported by 34 graduates (2024-25) and 84% licensure exam pass rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2028-03-31.
# 3 position
Northeastern Illinois University
Master
Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Delivery mode: campus
46.90
/ 100
Final score
Program length
2 calendar years
Specialization
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Required credits
60 semester credits
GPA range
2.75 - 4.00
Licensure exam pass rate
95% (2024-25)
Application deadline
Fall: Feb 1
Application process
direct
GRE
no
Additional requirements
Application form, application fee, official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended, two professional recommenders, current resume, signed informed consent, and an essay (500-700 words)
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Northeastern Illinois University earned a Research.com Student Interest Score of 46.9/100, supported by 28 graduates (2023-24) and 95% licensure exam pass rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2033-03-31.
# 4 position
Chicago State University
Master
M.A. in Community Counseling
Delivery mode: campus
32.10
/ 100
Final score
Specialization
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Required credits
60 semester credits
GPA range
2.75 - 4.00
Program completion rate
93% (2024-25)
Employment or doctoral admission
100% (2024-25)
Licensure exam pass rate
40% (2024-25)
Application deadline
Priority: March 1 (Fall); Final: July 15
Application process
direct
GRE
no
Prerequisites
Six credit hours of prerequisite courses, including developmental psychology and psychological statistics (B or better in at least one). Conditional admission possible until prerequisites are met.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Chicago State University earned a Research.com Student Interest Score of 32.1/100, supported by 9 graduates (2024-25) and 93% program completion rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2027-10-31.
# 5 position
Adler University
Master
Master of Arts in Counseling: Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Delivery mode: campus
46.40
/ 100
Final score
Program length
2 years full-time
Specialization
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Required credits
62 semester credits
GPA range
3.00 - 4.00
Application process
direct
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited or equivalent international institution; recommended GPA of 3.0 or higher (undergraduate and graduate coursework), with exceptions considered case-by-case.
Additional requirements
Application fee; completed online application; resume/CV; official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions; Statement of Intent; letters of recommendation/references; personal interview as final step (for approved applicants).
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Adler University earned a Research.com Student Interest Score of 46.4/100. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2031-10-31.
# 6 position
Adler University
Master
Master of Arts in Counseling: Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Delivery mode: hybrid
46.40
/ 100
Final score
Program length
2 Year Course Sequence (online); 2-year program, full-time study
Specialization
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Required credits
62 semester credits
GPA range
3.00 - 4.00
Application process
direct
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited or equivalent international institution; recommended GPA of 3.0 or higher (undergraduate and graduate coursework), with exceptions considered case-by-case.
Additional requirements
Application fee; completed online application; resume/CV; official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions; Statement of Intent; letters of recommendation/references; personal interview as final step (for approved applicants).
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Adler University earned a Research.com Student Interest Score of 46.4/100. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2031-10-31.
# 7 position
Roosevelt University
Master
M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Delivery mode: campus
45.40
/ 100
Final score
Program length
3 years full-time
Specialization
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Required credits
61 semester credits
GPA range
3.00 - 4.00
Application deadline
March 1 (priority consideration / graduate assistantship deadline; fall admission only)
Application process
direct
GRE
no
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution; minimum 3.0 GPA on undergraduate coursework; minimum of 120 undergraduate credit hours; undergraduate major in counseling not required.
Additional requirements
Personal statement outlining goals and aspirations; interview by invitation only, required prior to admission; official transcripts; online application.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Roosevelt University earned a Research.com Student Interest Score of 45.4/100. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2030-10-31.
# 8 position
Illinois Institute of Technology
Master
M.S. in Clinical Counseling
Delivery mode: campus
32.10
/ 100
Final score
Program length
2 years (4 semesters)
Specialization
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Required credits
60 semester credits
GPA range
3.00 - 4.00
Application deadline
rolling
Application process
direct
GRE
no
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree with a minimum of 18 credit hours in psychology or a closely related field
Additional requirements
Minimum GPA of 3.0; two letters of recommendation (academic and/or employer); professional statement; GRE not required; finalists contacted for a virtual interview
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Illinois Institute of Technology earned a Research.com Student Interest Score of 32.1/100. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2031-10-31.
Frequently asked questions about Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree in Chicago
Is a clinical mental health counseling master's worth it?
It can be if your goal is clinical counseling and the program aligns with Illinois licensure at a manageable net cost. Compare likely debt and lost work time with the roles available at graduation and after licensure; neither a ranking nor a national median wage establishes your personal return.
Does graduating make me a licensed counselor in Illinois?
No. Illinois licensure involves requirements beyond earning a degree, including applicable examination and supervised-experience requirements. Verify your intended credential with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.
Can I complete the degree online while living in Chicago?
Potentially. Confirm any required campus visits and how supervised placements will be approved locally. Online coursework does not eliminate clinical training or Illinois licensure considerations.
How long should a working student plan for?
Full-time study commonly takes about 2-3 years; part-time study can take longer. Ask for a schedule that includes practicum and internship, not just classroom courses.
Is CACREP accreditation required for every Illinois counseling job?
Do not assume so. CACREP is programmatic accreditation, while licensing rules and employer preferences are separate matters. Check the current Illinois requirements for your intended license and ask employers about any accreditation preference.
