2027 Most Popular Clinical Mental Health Counseling Degree Programs Ranking in Illinois

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a May 2025 U.S. median annual wage of $59,350 for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors. This is an occupational median - not an Illinois starting salary, a figure for every license level, or a predicted return from a particular school. Setting, experience, caseload, location, and whether a position is salaried or fee-based can substantially affect pay.

For a useful investment test, ask programs for recent outcomes by credential and compare likely earnings after graduation with your current pay. Include tuition, required fees, placement-related travel, borrowing costs, and income forgone if clinical hours reduce your ability to work. A lower-priced degree is not necessarily the stronger financial choice if its schedule makes completion difficult.

The programs below merit comparison for different reasons, not because any one feature proves better outcomes. Confirm current credit requirements, delivery options, placement arrangements, and accreditation directly with each program before applying.

• Northwestern University, Counseling@Northwestern: The program's online delivery is its clearest distinction for students who cannot relocate to the Chicago area. Its required in-person clinical training still makes local placement support and scheduling essential questions (Northwestern University, Counseling@Northwestern).
• Lewis University: Lewis identifies its award specifically as a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. That focused degree title makes its catalog a useful starting point for checking whether required courses and fieldwork match an Illinois licensure plan (Lewis University graduate catalog).
• Northwestern University, The Graduate School: Its graduate-program listing provides a second way to verify the counseling degree's official academic requirements, rather than relying solely on delivery-focused descriptions. Students comparing applications should reconcile that listing with the counseling program's current admissions and clinical-training guidance (Northwestern University, The Graduate School).
• The Chicago School at Chicago: Its Chicago-based MA places students in a major metropolitan clinical-training market. Applicants should ask how the program secures and approves placements and whether site availability matches the population they hope to serve (The Chicago School).
• National Louis University: Its Illinois MS in Counseling is worth examining for applicants comparing a broader counseling degree with programs explicitly titled clinical mental health counseling. Verify the applicable concentration and course sequence rather than assuming every counseling pathway serves the same license goal (National Louis University).
• Northeastern Illinois University: Its catalog identifies a clinical mental health counseling MA within counselor education. Applicants seeking a public-university option in Chicago can compare its published degree requirements and total charges with private-university alternatives (Northeastern Illinois University catalog).
• University of Illinois Springfield: Clinical mental health counseling is a concentration within its MA in Human Development Counseling. That structure makes it particularly important to review the concentration-specific courses and fieldwork, rather than evaluating the MA title alone (University of Illinois Springfield).
• Chicago State University: Its clinical mental health counseling offering gives students another public-university option in Chicago. Compare its course rotation and placement arrangements with other local programs to determine whether the timetable works alongside employment (Chicago State University).
• Adler University: Adler's clinical mental health counseling MA explicitly connects counselor preparation with its social justice orientation. Students interested in community-focused practice should ask how that emphasis appears in required training and approved clinical sites (Adler University).
• Adler University, clinical training: Beyond a program's stated mission, the consequential comparison is how its MA organizes supervised experience. Request Adler's current practicum and internship handbook and compare site approval, supervision, and scheduling requirements with those of other programs (Adler University).

A full-time counseling master's commonly takes about two to three years; part-time study can take longer. Your actual timeline depends on the school's course sequence, whether clinical placements run during the summer, and when required courses are offered. Ask for a term-by-term plan for your intended start date, not just an advertised minimum completion time.

An accelerated schedule can reduce time away from full-time earnings, but it can also make unpaid or daytime fieldwork harder to manage. If you work full time, compare the number of semesters requiring on-site clinical hours before deciding that the shortest program is the most practical one.

Online programs can reduce commuting for coursework; campus programs can make face-to-face contact with faculty and nearby sites easier. Neither format removes supervised clinical requirements. For an Illinois resident, the deciding question is whether the school accepts appropriate local sites and prepares students for the license they intend to pursue (Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs; Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation).

This comparison separates the convenience of classes from the logistics of clinical training:

An online label is not proof of Illinois licensure fit. Obtain a written explanation of the program's Illinois-focused coursework and field-placement process before paying a deposit.

There is no single reliable statewide average that captures the total price of an Illinois clinical mental health counseling degree. IPEDS publishes institutional graduate tuition and fee data, but those figures do not necessarily equal the price of a particular counseling program or include clinical-placement expenses (National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS). Use each school's current program-specific figures instead of applying an undergraduate tuition figure to a master's degree.

Request a complete estimate covering credits, mandatory fees, books, any residency or travel, clinical-site requirements, and living costs during internship. At public universities, confirm whether residency affects your rate; at any institution, subtract only aid you are actually offered. The most affordable clinical mental health counseling programs can help start a price comparison, but compare projected net total cost for your own enrollment plan.

Graduate students can submit the FAFSA to be considered for eligible federal aid. Direct Unsubsidized Loans, institutional scholarships, assistantships, and employer tuition assistance are potential funding sources, subject to their individual rules (Federal Student Aid; individual institutions). Ask financial aid offices whether awards continue during internship terms and whether part-time enrollment changes eligibility.

Do not build a 2027 financing plan around unrestricted access to Graduate PLUS. Under federal changes taking effect in 2026, new graduate borrowers generally cannot use that program; limited transitional eligibility may apply to qualifying students already enrolled and borrowing before the change. Confirm your individual status with the school and Federal Student Aid before relying on those loans (Federal Student Aid). Illinois state grants aimed at undergraduates should not be assumed available for this master's degree (Illinois Student Assistance Commission).

After licensure, some counselors working in qualifying shortage-area or service settings may be able to pursue loan-repayment programs. Those are conditional employment benefits, not upfront tuition discounts. Compare actual aid offers alongside the most valuable clinical mental health counseling programs when weighing cost against likely outcomes.

Most applicants need a bachelor's degree and must meet the program's stated academic and application requirements. Schools may ask for transcripts, recommendations, a statement of purpose, an interview, or prerequisite coursework; requirements vary, so an undergraduate psychology major should not be assumed mandatory (individual institution admissions pages).

Before applying, check two separate questions: Will the school admit me? and Will the completed degree support my intended Illinois license? The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, not an admissions office, sets licensure requirements. Applicants with prior graduate coursework should also request a written transfer-credit evaluation: accepted credits may reduce tuition without replacing required clinical training or residency rules.

Expect study in counseling theory, assessment, diagnosis, ethics, multicultural counseling, research, and treatment approaches, followed by supervised practice. CACREP's 2024 standards provide a useful framework for examining accredited programs, but schools differ in electives and course sequencing (Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs).

Compare syllabi and clinical handbooks, not just course titles. For example, a student aiming for community mental health work should examine preparation for crisis response, co-occurring substance use concerns, and coordination with other services. Ask whether key courses must be completed before practicum; a missed prerequisite can delay the whole degree.

Programs may offer electives or placements focused on trauma, addictions, children and adolescents, or other client populations. A specialization is usually a curricular emphasis, not a separate state license or proof of eligibility for every related job. Compare the actual elective sequence, faculty supervision, and availability of suitable clinical sites before treating a concentration name as a deciding factor.

If your goal is school counseling rather than clinical mental health practice, investigate a school-counseling pathway and its distinct credential requirements. Likewise, a short certificate can deepen an existing professional's knowledge but generally does not replace the graduate education and supervised experience required for Illinois counselor licensure (Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation; Illinois State Board of Education).

Start with license compatibility, then narrow your choices by completion feasibility and net cost. The best clinical mental health counseling programs offer a shortlist, but the best fit depends on your intended credential, where you can train, and how much you can afford to borrow.

Ask each finalist for evidence that answers these decision-critical questions:

1. Which Illinois LPC and LCPC educational requirements does the current curriculum address, and who will review my individual eligibility questions?
2. Is the specific program CACREP-accredited? If not, what documentation will I need for licensure review?
3. Who finds and approves practicum and internship sites, and can I train near where I live?
4. What is my estimated net cost through graduation, including fees and semesters with clinical placements?
5. What recent program-level completion, exam, and employment outcomes can the school document?

Two common mistakes are treating institutional accreditation as equivalent to programmatic CACREP accreditation and assuming admission guarantees a license. Verify each separately with the accreditor and the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. For return on investment, also account for completion probability, current earnings, potential post-degree earnings, debt, and the time and income required to finish.

A graduate may pursue supervised counseling roles, then seek the license and experience needed for positions with greater clinical independence. Community mental health, outpatient counseling, hospital-affiliated services, and substance use treatment are possible directions, but job titles and duties depend on employer requirements and credential status (Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Choose coursework and placements with the intended first job in mind. Someone drawn to agency-based care may value experience with complex cases and team coordination; someone hoping eventually to practice independently should plan for the post-degree supervision, examination, and licensure steps before assuming that a master's diploma is the final credential.

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 indicates a growing national occupation, not an Illinois-specific hiring guarantee or a forecast for a particular graduate.

For a local job search, compare postings in the communities where you would actually work and note whether they require an LPC, an LCPC, or eligibility for supervised practice. Illinois graduates weighing Chicago against smaller markets should examine both the number of suitable employers and the availability of qualified supervision. A program with workable clinical placements in your intended job market may be more useful than one chosen solely for its ranking position.

Investing in graduate education is a consequential decision. Research.com's team uses multiple education datasets and checks program information to make its rankings more credible and useful than a popularity claim alone. Readers can use the ranking to build a shortlist, then verify current tuition, clinical placements, and Illinois licensure fit with each school.

The ranking draws on these data sources:

• IPEDS database: institutional enrollment, completions, and cost information.
• Peterson's database: program and institutional information.
• College Scorecard database: federal institutional outcomes and aid information.
• National Center for Education Statistics: federal education data and definitions.

Research.com's counseling rankings assess graduate outcomes, applicable licensure-exam pass rates, accreditation and federal aid eligibility, and program cost. The Best ranking gives the greatest weight to completion and other graduate outcomes; a ranking named for another dimension orders programs by that dimension. The same approach applies to online and campus programs. The Research.com methodology explains the scoring in more detail. No ranking substitutes for confirming a program's current requirements and outcomes directly.

• 2027 Most Popular Clinical Mental Health Counseling Degree Programs Ranking in Indiana
• 2027 Most Popular Clinical Mental Health Counseling Degree Programs Ranking in Wisconsin
• 2027 Most Popular Clinical Mental Health Counseling Degree Programs Ranking in Iowa
• 2027 Most Popular Clinical Mental Health Counseling Degree Programs Ranking in Missouri
• 2027 Most Popular Clinical Mental Health Counseling Degree Programs Ranking in Kentucky
• 2027 Most Popular Clinical Mental Health Counseling Degree Programs Ranking in Michigan
• 2027 Most Popular Clinical Mental Health Counseling Degree Programs Ranking in Minnesota
• 2027 Most Popular Clinical Mental Health Counseling Degree Programs Ranking in Ohio
• 2027 Most Popular Clinical Mental Health Counseling Degree Programs Ranking in Tennessee
• 2027 Most Popular Clinical Mental Health Counseling Degree Programs Ranking in Arkansas

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Counselors
  Used to verify salary, employment outlook, and typical education requirements.
  https://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/
• CACREP - Directory of Accredited Programs
  Used to verify CACREP accreditation status of specific programs.
  https://www.cacrep.org/directory/
• NBCC - NCE / NCMHCE
  Verified professional/licensure/career reference.
  https://www.nbcc.org/exams
• Northwestern University - Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
  Official program page (curriculum, tuition, admissions).
  https://counseling.northwestern.edu/counseling/
• Lewis University - Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
  Official program page (curriculum, tuition, admissions).
  https://catalog.lewisu.edu/graduate/education-social-sciences/psychology/clinical-mental-health-counseling-master-arts/
• Northwestern University - Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
  Official program page (curriculum, tuition, admissions).
  https://www.tgs.northwestern.edu/admission/academic-programs/explore-programs/counseling.html
• The Chicago School at Chicago - M.A. Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Chicago Campus
  Official program page (curriculum, tuition, admissions).
  https://www.thechicagoschool.edu/programs/counseling/clinical-mental-health-counseling/ma-chicago/
• National Louis University - M.S. in Counseling: Illinois
  Official program page (curriculum, tuition, admissions).
  https://nl.edu/college-of-psychology-and-behavioral-sciences/programs/ms-in-counseling-illinois/