Choosing a counseling master's program in Louisiana means looking beyond a familiar university name: the degree must fit your budget, schedule, clinical training needs, and plans for licensure. This guide explains those trade-offs for future students and working professionals. It also features the 2027 Most Popular 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 programs worth considering. Use the ranking alongside the practical comparisons below to build a shortlist that fits your goals.
Key findings about Clinical Mental Health Counseling degrees in Louisiana
For a Louisiana clinical counseling career, compare master's programs against the Louisiana Licensed Professional Counselors Board of Examiners' education and supervised-experience requirements; graduation alone does not confer a license.
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% U.S. employment growth for 2025-2035. Neither figure predicts a Louisiana graduate's pay or job prospects.
A program's real price depends on credits, residency-based tuition, fees, clinical-placement travel, and income forgone while studying. Request a full-program estimate before comparing public and private nonprofit options.
What can I expect from a Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree in Louisiana?
Clinical mental health counseling programs prepare students to assess concerns, develop treatment plans, provide counseling under appropriate supervision, and work ethically with diverse clients. For someone seeking Louisiana professional counselor licensure, the relevant path is generally a graduate counseling degree - not an undergraduate psychology major or a short certificate. The Louisiana Licensed Professional Counselors Board of Examiners determines whether an applicant's education meets its rules.
Expect classroom work and supervised clinical training. A program's title alone does not establish licensure eligibility: ask for its current curriculum, accreditation status, placement requirements, and a written explanation of how it addresses Louisiana's educational rules. CACREP accreditation is program-specific, not a blanket attribute of a university, and should be checked for the particular degree and campus or delivery option under consideration.
This degree is a strong fit if you want to provide counseling and can commit to supervised practice after graduation. If your goal is prescribing medication, conducting psychological testing as a psychologist, or entering a nonclinical student-support role, compare the education and licensing paths for those professions before committing to a counseling master's.
Where can I work with a Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree in Louisiana?
Depending on the role, license, and employer, clinical mental health counselors may work in outpatient clinics, community mental health organizations, hospitals, substance-use treatment settings, and private practices. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics identifies these kinds of settings within the broader occupation covering substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors. Independent practice and some clinical duties require the appropriate state license; a new graduate should not assume that a master's degree alone authorizes them.
Location affects training as well as employment. A student living outside Louisiana's larger metropolitan areas should ask how a program secures approved practicum and internship sites within reasonable traveling distance. Someone planning to move after graduation should check the destination state's licensing board before choosing a curriculum or clinical placement; Louisiana approval does not automatically establish eligibility elsewhere.
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 occupational grouping most relevant to this degree. It is a midpoint across workers with different experience levels, credentials, settings, and locations - not a starting salary or a Louisiana-specific estimate.
To judge earning potential locally, compare current Louisiana job postings for roles you could hold immediately after graduation with postings requiring full licensure. Ask employers about supervision, benefits, caseload expectations, and whether compensation is salaried or tied to billable sessions. Those terms can matter more to an early-career budget than a national median.
The programs below differ in credential naming, institutional setting, and location. Those differences can change a student's commute, clinical-placement options, and questions for admissions staff. They are not substitutes for checking current credit totals, accreditation, cost, and licensure alignment on the specific program record; published program information may change.
Southeastern Louisiana University: Its M.S. in Counseling identifies clinical mental health counseling as a concentration, giving applicants a clearly named route to examine within the broader counseling degree. Students near Hammond should ask which clinical sites are available to their cohort and whether the concentration appears on official academic records.
Loyola University New Orleans: Loyola identifies a clinical mental health counseling pathway in New Orleans. It may suit applicants seeking placements in that metropolitan area, but they should compare the full private nonprofit program cost with nearby public options rather than assuming institutional type determines value.
Nicholls State University: Nicholls lists a graduate program specifically titled Clinical Mental Health Counseling, making the intended clinical field clear at the point of application. For students based around Thibodaux, placement availability and travel demands are particularly useful comparisons with programs in larger cities.
Louisiana State University-Shreveport: Its M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling gives northwest Louisiana applicants a local program to compare with options elsewhere in the state. Ask whether required courses and approved clinical placements fit your work schedule before treating proximity as a cost saving.
University of Louisiana at Lafayette: Its mental health counseling program places this training option in Acadiana rather than the New Orleans or Baton Rouge areas. Applicants who intend to practice locally should ask about area placement partners and confirm how the published curriculum maps to state licensure rules.
New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary: Its catalog lists a Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling within a seminary setting, a materially different educational environment from a public university. Students attracted to that setting should still verify the program's clinical requirements, current accreditation, and suitability for the jobs and license they intend to pursue.
Northwestern State University of Louisiana: Northwestern State lists a Master of Arts in Counseling, a broader degree title than the explicitly clinical titles of several alternatives. Ask which track or coursework serves clinical mental health counseling applicants and how its field placements work for students living away from campus.
Southern University and A&M College: Southern offers a Baton Rouge-area institutional option to investigate, but applicants should obtain the exact current degree plan and clinical concentration details rather than rely on a general departmental listing. This is especially important when comparing it with programs whose clinical track is named directly on their program pages.
Xavier University of Louisiana: Xavier's academic catalog provides a program-specific starting point for checking its counseling offering in New Orleans. Because catalog requirements govern the credential a student actually completes, request the current catalog year's course and fieldwork plan and compare it with your intended licensing pathway.
These distinctions help narrow a shortlist, but popularity and location cannot establish clinical fit. For another perspective on program quality, compare the best clinical mental health counseling programs and then verify the facts that matter most to your own application.
A full-time clinical mental health counseling master's typically takes about two to three years; part-time study often takes longer. This is a planning range, not a promised completion date. Course sequencing, summer availability, and the timing of practicum and internship can prevent an otherwise fast student from finishing early.
Ask each program for a term-by-term plan that includes clinical placements, not just classroom credits. Working professionals should also ask when placements occur: a program with convenient evening classes may still require daytime client hours. After the degree, Louisiana licensure involves separate supervised-experience and examination requirements set by the Louisiana Licensed Professional Counselors Board of Examiners, so graduation and independent practice are different milestones.
Online study can reduce trips to campus, but it does not make clinical training virtual by default. Counseling students still need approved supervised experiences, and programs may require scheduled live sessions or campus visits. Campus study can make in-person access to faculty and nearby placement networks easier, but commuting and fixed meeting times may be costly for working students.
The choice turns on where you will practice, not simply where lectures are delivered. Before accepting an online offer, get written answers about Louisiana licensure alignment, placement approval near your home, any required travel, and who arranges supervision. A campus applicant should ask the same placement questions; neither format guarantees a convenient clinical site.
There is no single defensible Louisiana-wide average price for the specific clinical mental health counseling programs discussed here: published tuition measures can mix degree levels, residency categories, and fees. An institution's average graduate tuition in NCES/IPEDS is useful context, but it is not necessarily the price of this particular master's. Request a current full-program cost estimate from each school instead of multiplying one advertised semester rate without checking the course plan.
The comparison below shows which costs change the decision most often. It separates charges from expenses that may not appear on a tuition page.
Cost factor
What to compare
Why it matters
Tuition
Program credit requirements and the rate that applies to your residency and course format
An out-of-state or format-specific rate can erase an apparent price advantage.
Mandatory charges
University, course, technology, and clinical-training fees
These may be excluded from an advertised tuition figure.
Placement expenses
Travel, screening, insurance, and other site requirements
Clinical training can create costs even when coursework is online.
Time away from work
Scheduling demands throughout the degree
Lost earnings can materially change the investment.
Louisiana residents comparing public universities should verify residency classification before using an in-state price. Use the most affordable clinical mental health counseling programs as a shortlist, then compare written estimates on the same full-program basis.
Eligible graduate students can explore federal aid by submitting the FAFSA and reviewing each school's offer. Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans, university assistantships, departmental scholarships, employer tuition benefits, and placement-related employment arrangements are possibilities, but eligibility and availability differ. Federal Student Aid and individual institutions provide the governing terms; do not assume an undergraduate Louisiana award continues into graduate school.
Before borrowing, ask the financial aid office what funding remains available during the internship term and whether the program's enrollment pattern affects aid eligibility. Compare aid that does not need repayment with loan principal, interest, and likely earnings during supervised early-career work. A lower sticker price may not be the lower net cost if another program offers dependable grant or assistantship support.
View the chart data as a table
Median wage by U.S. state - Mental Health Counselors (BLS OEWS, May 2025) (Source: BLS)
State
Value
AK
80,770
AL
47,310
AR
51,580
AZ
65,300
CA
59,250
CO
62,390
CT
63,590
DC
60,450
DE
56,020
FL
56,790
GA
58,960
HI
60,090
IA
60,880
ID
63,360
IL
60,730
IN
53,760
KS
59,470
KY
54,190
LA
37,910
MA
59,890
MD
59,530
ME
59,970
MI
61,690
MN
58,780
MO
56,910
MS
46,990
MT
59,000
NC
55,490
ND
68,630
NE
63,770
NH
54,840
NJ
62,820
NM
74,100
NV
57,210
NY
59,450
OH
58,360
OK
59,350
OR
74,590
PA
52,010
PR
46,790
RI
65,120
SC
52,370
SD
53,650
TN
49,580
TX
62,630
UT
63,890
VA
59,880
VT
61,810
WA
68,910
WI
62,220
WV
49,430
WY
62,980
Applicants generally need a bachelor's degree and must meet the individual program's graduate admissions rules. Schools may ask for transcripts, recommendations, a statement of purpose, an interview, or specified preparatory coursework; the official program admissions page, rather than a statewide assumption, controls. A bachelor's in psychology is not automatically required by every counseling program.
If you studied another subject, ask whether any prerequisites can be completed before enrollment or alongside graduate courses. If you already hold graduate counseling credits, request a written transfer-credit evaluation and confirm whether transferred courses satisfy both the degree plan and the Louisiana board's education rules. Acceptance of credit by a university is not, by itself, a licensing decision.
Clinical counseling curricula commonly cover counseling theories, helping skills, assessment, diagnosis, ethics, research, group counseling, human development, and multicultural counseling, followed by supervised practicum and internship. Course names and clinical requirements vary, so compare syllabi and degree plans rather than relying on identical-sounding program titles. CACREP publishes program standards, while the Louisiana Licensed Professional Counselors Board of Examiners sets state licensing requirements.
Look closely at how a program teaches documentation, risk assessment, and professional boundaries alongside counseling technique. These are practical considerations when seeking a placement and, later, a supervised role. If addiction treatment or work with children is your goal, check whether relevant electives and placements are routinely available rather than merely listed in a catalog.
Within or alongside clinical mental health counseling, students may encounter focused coursework or placement options in substance-use counseling, trauma-informed care, child and adolescent counseling, or work with couples and families. Availability depends on the school, faculty, and approved sites; an elective is not the same thing as a formally designated concentration or an additional license.
Choose a focus by working backward from the role you want. For example, an applicant interested in addiction services should ask whether the program provides relevant supervised placements and whether a separate credential has requirements beyond the counseling degree. Someone seeking school counseling should compare that distinct program and credential pathway rather than assume a clinical mental health concentration covers school-based certification requirements.
The right program is the one you can realistically complete and use toward your intended credential, at a cost your likely career path can support. Start with a shortlist from the popularity ranking, then ask every school the same decision-critical questions:
Does this exact degree and concentration meet the Louisiana board's current educational requirements, and where can I verify its current programmatic accreditation status?
What is the written full-program price at my tuition rate, including mandatory fees and likely clinical-placement expenses?
Who approves or finds placements, where have students in my area trained, and what hours will I need to be available?
What is the realistic term-by-term completion plan for someone working my schedule, and what happens if a required course or placement is delayed?
What program-level completion, examination, or employment information is available, and what period does it cover?
A common mistake is choosing by rank or tuition alone. To assess value, consider aid and debt, time to completion, income you may give up, the chance of completing clinical requirements, your earnings without the degree, and realistic post-degree opportunities over time. Discounting future earnings and costs can also change a return-on-investment comparison. The most valuable clinical mental health counseling programs offer another comparison, but your own assumptions should determine the final decision.
View the chart data as a table
Graduates (2024-25) distribution across ranked programs (Source: Research.com)
Category
Value
5–9
2
10–14
2
15–19
1
20–24
2
25–29
1
30–34
0
35–39
1
A graduate may seek supervised counseling work and, after meeting all applicable requirements, pursue Louisiana professional counselor licensure. Possible directions include community mental health, outpatient behavioral health, addiction services, and eventually private practice where the license and setting permit it. Job titles do not reliably reveal credential requirements, so check both employer postings and the Louisiana Licensed Professional Counselors Board of Examiners.
Think of the master's as entry into a licensure pathway, not the end of it. If you want to provide psychotherapy independently, compare programs by their clinical preparation and your ability to complete supervised post-degree work. If you mainly want research, prescribing authority, or a school-based role, investigate the separate degree and credential normally required for that goal before taking on counseling-program debt.
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 substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors. That indicates broad U.S. demand for the occupation, but it is not a Louisiana forecast and does not measure openings for new graduates in any particular parish or clinical specialty.
For a local decision, review recent openings within commuting distance and separate positions accepting graduates under supervision from those requiring an established license. Compare the availability of approved supervisors and clinical placements in the same area. A program near a preferred future employer may help you explore that market during training, but no placement or job offer should be assumed.
2027 Most Popular Clinical Mental Health Counseling Degree Programs Ranking in Louisiana
Investing in graduate education is a significant decision, so Research.com evaluates counseling programs using multiple measures rather than treating visibility or name recognition as proof of quality. Its team checks program outcomes, accreditation, licensure-exam results where applicable, institutional eligibility for federal aid, and cost; the resulting rankings emphasize the dimension named in each ranking. A popularity ranking is therefore a starting point for discovery, not a finding that the most popular program is the best fit for every student.
Research.com uses the following sources to develop and check its rankings:
IPEDS database: institutional enrollment, completion, and related education data.
Peterson's database: program and institution information used in comparisons.
For its Best ranking, Research.com first combines program completion, employment or doctoral admission, applicable licensure-exam pass rates, CACREP accreditation, and Title IV eligibility. Cost then contributes a smaller share of the final score. Criteria that do not apply to a program are excluded and the remaining shares adjusted; the approach is the same for online and campus programs. Readers can find further details on Research.com's methodology. Use these rankings to identify candidates, then confirm current program-level facts directly with each school before enrolling.
# 1 position
Southeastern Louisiana University
Master
Counseling, MS – Clinical Mental Health Counseling Concentration
Delivery mode: campus
50.60
/ 100
Final score
Program length
2.5 to 3 years (full-time)
Specialization
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Required credits
60 semester credits
GPA range
2.80 - 4.00
Program completion rate
100% (2024-25)
Employment or doctoral admission
100% (2024-25)
Licensure exam pass rate
100% (2024-25)
Application deadline
Summer/Fall: April 1; Spring: November 1
Application process
direct
GRE
Conditional: GRE required if GPA (cumulative or last 60 hours) is below 3.0
Prerequisites
Nine hours of undergraduate or graduate study in behavioral studies (e.g. psychology, sociology, social work)
Additional requirements
Graduate school application; undergraduate GPA of 2.8 or last 60 hours; GRE if GPA below 3.0; completed application portfolio to the Counseling Program Admissions committee
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
Southeastern Louisiana University earned a Research.com Student Interest Score of 50.6/100, supported by 37 graduates (2024-25) and 100% program completion rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2030-10-31.
# 2 position
Loyola University New Orleans
Master
M.S. in Counseling – Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Delivery mode: campus
45.40
/ 100
Final score
Specialization
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Required credits
60 semester credits
GPA range
3.00 - 4.00
Program completion rate
75% (2024-25)
Employment or doctoral admission
100% (2024-25)
Application deadline
Early Decision: Aug 1 - Dec 1; Regular Decision: Mar 1
Application process
direct
GRE
Conditional: GRE required if undergraduate GPA is below 3.0 (not required for applicants who already hold a graduate degree)
Prerequisites
Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university
Additional requirements
Application; 1-3 page statement of educational goals; resume; official transcripts; GRE if UG GPA below 3.0 (or no prior graduate degree); three letters of recommendation; in-person writing sample; in-person individual and group 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).
Loyola University New Orleans earned a Research.com Student Interest Score of 45.4/100, supported by 25 graduates (2024-25) and 75% program completion rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2029-03-31.
# 3 position
Nicholls State University
Master
Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Delivery mode: hybrid
43.00
/ 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 Student Interest Score of 43.0/100, supported by 21 graduates (2023-24) and 10% program completion rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2031-10-31.
# 4 position
Louisiana State University-Shreveport
Master
M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Delivery mode: campus
42.40
/ 100
Final score
Program length
2 years full-time
Specialization
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Required credits
60 semester credits
GPA range
2.50 - 4.00
Program completion rate
91% (2023-24)
Employment or doctoral admission
92%
Licensure exam pass rate
100% (2023-24)
Application deadline
March 30
Application process
direct
Additional requirements
Graduate application and transcripts; at least three letters of reference; MS Program Application Form; letter of intent on reasons for counseling, clinical interests, plans and program fit; resume/CV; formal interview with program faculty.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
Louisiana State University-Shreveport earned a Research.com Student Interest Score of 42.4/100, supported by 20 graduates (2023-24) and 91% program completion rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2027-10-31.
# 5 position
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Master
M.S. in Counselor Education – Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Delivery mode: campus
41.70
/ 100
Final score
Specialization
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Required credits
60 semester credits
Acceptance rate
33%
GPA range
2.75 - 4.00
Program completion rate
100% (2024-25)
Employment or doctoral admission
100% (2024-25)
Application deadline
March 1
Application process
direct
GRE
yes
Prerequisites
No specific undergraduate major required (typical majors include psychology, sociology, child and family studies, and education); coursework in developmental psychology, learning, and abnormal psychology expected.
Additional requirements
Graduate School application, official GRE scores, resume of counseling-related work/volunteer experience, 500-750 word writing sample, transcripts, letters of recommendation; possible admissions committee 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 Lafayette earned a Research.com Student Interest Score of 41.7/100, supported by 19 graduates (2024-25) and 100% program completion rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2031-03-31.
# 6 position
New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary
Master
MA in Counseling (Specialization in Clinical Mental Health)
Delivery mode: campus
34.60
/ 100
Final score
Specialization
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Required credits
84 semester credits
GPA range
2.75 - 4.00
Program completion rate
77% (2023-24)
Employment or doctoral admission
100% (2023-24)
Licensure exam pass rate
100% (2023-24)
Application deadline
Fall: July 1; Spring: December 1
Application process
direct
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree or equivalent from a CHEA-accredited institution, minimum 2.75 GPA on a 4.0 scale.
Additional requirements
Standard NOBTS application, graduate counseling orientation (in-person or videoconferencing), Contact Form, NOBTS Counseling Entrance Exam, ACE Survey, and Trauma Symptoms Index; later Phase Two application requires faculty evaluation and 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) and the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools (ATS).
New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary earned a Research.com Student Interest Score of 34.6/100, supported by 11 graduates (2023-24) and 77% program completion rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2031-03-31.
# 7 position
Northwestern State University of Louisiana
Master
Master of Arts in Counseling
Delivery mode: hybrid
28.90
/ 100
Final score
Specialization
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Program completion rate
100% (2025-26)
Employment or doctoral admission
100% (2025-26)
GRE
no
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree
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).
Northwestern State University of Louisiana earned a Research.com Student Interest Score of 28.9/100, supported by 7 graduates (2025-26) and 100% program completion rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2031-10-31.
# 8 position
Southern University and A & M College
Master
M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Delivery mode: campus
24.90
/ 100
Final score
Program length
3 years (full-time)
Specialization
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
GPA range
2.70 - 4.00
Employment or doctoral admission
100% (2023-24)
Licensure exam pass rate
100% (2023-24)
Application deadline
Fall: May 1; Spring: Nov 1
Application process
direct
GRE
yes
Prerequisites
Baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution with a GPA of 2.7 or better
Additional requirements
Combined GRE score (Verbal and Quantitative) of 281; three (3) letters of recommendation with Request for Evaluation form; Personal Statement of Goals; Graduate School Admissions Application
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
Southern University and A & M College earned a Research.com Student Interest Score of 24.9/100, supported by 5 graduates (2023-24) and 100% licensure exam pass rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2027-10-31.
# 9 position
Xavier University of Louisiana
Master
Counseling, M.A.
Delivery mode: campus
37.70
/ 100
Final score
Specialization
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Required credits
60 semester credits
GPA range
2.50 - 4.00
Program completion rate
100% (2019-20)
Employment or doctoral admission
90% (2019-20)
Licensure exam pass rate
100% (2019-20)
Application deadline
Fall: April 1 (priority), May 1 (general); Spring: October 1 (priority), December 1 (general)
GRE
yes
Prerequisites
Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university
Additional requirements
Graduate application and application fee; bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university with a minimum 2.5 GPA; official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended; GRE or MAT scores (no minimum score);
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).
Xavier University of Louisiana earned a Research.com Student Interest Score of 37.7/100, supported by 100% program completion rate and 100% licensure exam pass rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2033-03-31.
Frequently asked questions about Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree in Louisiana
Do I need a master's degree to become a clinical mental health counselor in Louisiana?
Louisiana's professional counselor licensing pathway has graduate education requirements. Check the current rules with the Louisiana Licensed Professional Counselors Board of Examiners before choosing a degree; a bachelor's degree or short certificate is not a substitute for the required graduate preparation.
Does a counseling master's automatically qualify me for an LPC license?
No. The board separately evaluates education, examination, supervised experience, and other application requirements. Ask a prospective program how its curriculum addresses the education requirement, then confirm with the board.
Can I complete the degree online while living in Louisiana?
Potentially, but online classes do not eliminate supervised clinical training. Confirm Louisiana licensure alignment, approved local placements, live-session schedules, and any campus visits before enrolling.
Is a CACREP-accredited program required?
Do not assume that accreditation requirements are identical across states or application routes. Check the Louisiana board's current rules and the specific program's current CACREP status; accreditation belongs to a program, not automatically to every degree at its university.
Is the degree worth the cost?
It can be worthwhile if the program fits your licensing goal and its total cost is manageable relative to your likely career path. Compare net price, borrowing, time away from work, completion prospects, and realistic supervised-work options rather than using a national median wage as a personal earnings promise.
