Choosing a counseling master's program means choosing a path toward licensure, not just a campus or tuition price. This guide is for Missouri students and career changers comparing clinical training, cost, scheduling, and career prospects. It accompanies the 2027 Most Popular Clinical Mental Health Counseling Degree Programs Ranking in Missouri, created by the Research.com team of data scientists to help students make an informed choice about programs worth considering. You'll learn what to verify before enrolling and how to judge whether the degree fits your goals and budget.
Key findings about Clinical Mental Health Counseling degrees in Missouri
For a Missouri clinical counseling applicant, the decisive check is whether the specific curriculum and supervised training satisfy the Missouri Committee for Professional Counselors' current licensure requirements; graduation alone does not confer a license.
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, with employment projected to grow 18% from 2025 to 2035. Neither figure predicts an individual graduate's pay or job offer.
CACREP's entry-level clinical mental health counseling standards specify at least 60 semester credits. Compare a program's full tuition, fees, fieldwork travel, and time away from paid work - not its advertised per-credit price alone.
What can I expect from a Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree in Missouri?
Clinical mental health counseling is graduate preparation to assess mental health concerns, develop treatment plans, and provide counseling under appropriate supervision. In Missouri, prospective counselors should distinguish a degree title from eligibility for a professional counselor license: the Missouri Committee for Professional Counselors evaluates education and other licensing requirements separately.
Programs may award an MA, MS, or MEd. The letters alone do not determine whether the degree qualifies you for licensure. The comparison below shows what matters more when selecting a path.
Path
Best fit
Key check
Clinical mental health counseling master's
Applicants seeking a route toward professional counseling practice
Missouri education requirements, clinical placements, and accreditation status
School counseling master's
Applicants focused on counseling in schools
School credential requirements; do not assume they match clinical licensure
Counseling certificate or short course
People adding a skill or exploring the field
Whether it awards any credit applicable to a qualifying master's
A clinical master's is a sensible investment if you want counseling practice and can accommodate supervised fieldwork. If your goal is school employment, research, or a nonclinical support role, compare the credential for that role before committing to a clinical degree.
Where can I work with a Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree in Missouri?
Clinical counseling training can lead toward roles in outpatient behavioral health, community mental health agencies, hospitals, residential programs, and private practice. Which duties you may perform independently depends on your license and employer requirements, not simply possession of a master's degree (Missouri Committee for Professional Counselors).
Location affects training as well as employment. Students considering St. Louis or Kansas City placements can compare multiple urban service settings, while those studying elsewhere should ask how far approved sites are from home and whether a program helps arrange placements. A placement that requires substantial travel can change the real cost of an otherwise affordable degree.
The national median annual wage for the Bureau of Labor Statistics occupation grouping substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors was $59,350 in May 2025 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook). This is a midpoint across workers in several related roles - not a Missouri starting salary or a figure specific to newly licensed clinical counselors.
When estimating your own return, request recent, program-specific employment information and examine Missouri job postings for your intended setting. Compare their pay and supervision expectations with your current earnings, projected borrowing, and the time you would spend in school and post-degree supervised practice. Private-practice income should not be treated as equivalent to an employee salary because expenses and caseloads differ.
The programs below offer different degree structures and institutional settings. These are starting points for comparison, not claims that one program produces better licensing or employment outcomes; ask each school for its current curriculum, placement policies, and program-level results.
Missouri State University-Springfield: Its dedicated clinical mental health counseling graduate pathway keeps the clinical route distinct from a school-counseling goal (Missouri State University). Applicants seeking to train in Springfield should compare its placement arrangements and total public-university cost with the other local options.
Missouri Baptist University: Its clinical mental health counseling degree is an MA offered within a Christian university, rather than a seminary-based counseling degree (Missouri Baptist University). That distinction may matter if you want a faith-influenced university setting while preparing for clinical work; confirm how its curriculum addresses Missouri licensing requirements.
University of Missouri-St. Louis: The clinical mental health counseling pathway awards an MEd, distinguishing its degree structure from the MA and MS options here (University of Missouri-St. Louis). St. Louis-area applicants should ask how the program's course schedule and approved placements fit their work commitments.
Covenant Theological Seminary: Its Master of Arts in Counseling places counselor preparation within a seminary setting (Covenant Theological Seminary). This is the clearest institutional fit for applicants who specifically want theological study alongside counseling preparation; verify the current clinical curriculum against the license you intend to pursue.
Evangel University: Its MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling combines a clinical degree title with a Christian university setting in Springfield (Evangel University). For applicants comparing Springfield choices, the useful distinction is whether this degree's academic approach, schedule, and placement support fit better than a public-university route.
University of Central Missouri: Its Counseling MS presents counseling study through a program with clinical mental health and school-focused pathways (University of Central Missouri). That structure is worth examining if you are still deciding between practice settings - but select and verify the requirements for the specific pathway you intend to complete.
For a separate comparison focused on broader evaluation criteria, consult the best clinical mental health counseling programs. Check the date and scope of every school-reported outcome before comparing it with another program.
A full-time clinical counseling master's commonly takes about two to three years; part-time study can take longer. Course sequencing and the availability of practicum and internship sites often matter more than the number of classroom terms. CACREP's entry-level clinical mental health counseling standards call for at least 60 semester credits and specified supervised field experiences (Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs).
Ask for a term-by-term plan based on your intended enrollment load. An accelerated schedule only saves time if required courses are offered when you need them and you can complete fieldwork alongside your other obligations. Graduation is also not the same as completing Missouri's subsequent requirements for independent licensure (Missouri Committee for Professional Counselors).
Online delivery can reduce commuting for coursework, but it does not remove supervised clinical training. On-campus study may simplify access to faculty and nearby placements, yet it can require a less flexible travel schedule. In either format, ask who secures practicum and internship sites, what happens if a site falls through, and whether any in-person meetings are mandatory.
This is particularly important if you live outside a Missouri metro area or plan to complete fieldwork in another state. Before enrolling, get written confirmation that the program's education and placement arrangements are suitable for the state where you intend to seek licensure; states set their own rules (Missouri Committee for Professional Counselors). The better format is the one you can complete without compromising required clinical training.
There is no single reliable statewide average that captures the full price of Missouri clinical mental health counseling master's programs. Institutional graduate tuition figures can cover many unrelated degrees, while counseling programs may have different credit requirements and fees (National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS). A quoted average can therefore be less useful than a written estimate for your specific program.
Compare required credits multiplied by your applicable per-credit rate, then add mandatory fees, books, travel to placements, and any lost earnings during fieldwork. At public universities, establish whether you qualify for the rate being quoted; at private universities, compare the net cost after confirmed aid rather than assuming the published tuition is what you will pay. The most affordable clinical mental health counseling programs can help form a shortlist, but request a current total-cost estimate from each school.
Start with the FAFSA to determine eligibility for federal graduate aid, then ask each program about assistantships, scholarships, employer tuition support, and paid roles compatible with fieldwork. Federal graduate Direct Unsubsidized Loans and school aid have different eligibility rules; neither should be assumed to cover the entire cost (Federal Student Aid).
Graduate PLUS rules are especially important for a 2027 applicant: the program is generally unavailable to new graduate borrowers under changes beginning July 2026. Limited transitional eligibility may apply to students who meet the federal conditions for prior enrollment and borrowing; confirm your individual status with the school's aid office and Federal Student Aid before building a financing plan around it (Federal Student Aid). Compare aid offers by total borrowing and repayment burden, not award amount alone.
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
1
20–24
0
25–29
0
30–34
3
Expect to provide evidence of a bachelor's degree and meet the chosen program's application requirements. Schools may also request references, a statement of purpose, an interview, or relevant preparation; requirements vary, so use the current admissions page for each degree rather than assuming all counseling programs use the same checklist (Missouri State University; University of Missouri-St. Louis).
If you are changing careers, ask whether undergraduate psychology courses are required or merely recommended. If you have prior graduate credit, obtain a written transfer-credit review before accepting an offer: a course that transfers as an elective may not replace a required clinical course. Admission, credit transfer, and eventual licensing eligibility are three separate decisions.
Expect study in counseling theories and techniques, assessment, diagnosis, ethics, multicultural counseling, research, and group work, followed by supervised practicum and internship. CACREP's clinical mental health counseling standards also address the knowledge and skills needed for clinical practice (Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs).
Read the actual course sequence before comparing electives. If you need to keep working, find out when clinical courses meet and how many hours of site attendance the fieldwork terms require. A convenient online lecture schedule will not compensate for an internship timetable you cannot meet.
Depending on the school, students may pursue electives or placements related to addiction, trauma, children and adolescents, or couples and families. An elective emphasis is not necessarily a separate credential, and a clinical mental health degree should not be assumed to satisfy requirements for school counseling or marriage and family therapy licensure (Missouri Committee for Professional Counselors).
Choose the required clinical foundation first and the specialty second. Ask whether your preferred population has an available, approved placement site and whether specialized courses are offered often enough to fit your graduation plan. For addiction-focused work, also check the credential expectations of the specific Missouri employers you hope to join.
Choose backward from your intended license and work setting. A school's rank, degree initials, or low advertised tuition should not substitute for evidence that its current program fits your plans.
Use these checks when contacting admissions and program staff:
Confirm the specific degree's current accreditation status and ask how its curriculum meets Missouri's education requirements for your intended license.
Request a complete cost and term-by-term plan using your residency status, enrollment load, and expected aid.
Ask who arranges clinical placements, where recent students completed them, and what schedule the fieldwork requires.
Request clearly dated, program-specific completion and licensing-exam information, where available, and ask how each measure is defined.
Have prior coursework reviewed in writing and confirm any limits on transfer credit before enrolling.
Accreditation and licensing are related but distinct: verify programmatic CACREP status with CACREP and institutional accreditation through recognized accreditor information, then confirm educational eligibility with the Missouri Committee for Professional Counselors. To weigh cost against the outcomes you value, the most valuable clinical mental health counseling programs offer another comparison point. Your own return-on-investment estimate should include completion likelihood, debt, foregone income, expected earnings over time, and repayment costs - not just tuition divided by a national salary.
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
The most direct path is supervised counseling work followed by pursuit of the appropriate Missouri professional counselor license. With the required credentials and experience, settings can include community agencies, outpatient clinics, hospitals, and private practice; employers may assign different titles and responsibilities to provisionally licensed and independently licensed counselors (Missouri Committee for Professional Counselors).
A clinical counseling master's is less direct if your principal aim is a school counselor position or an academic research career. Compare those paths' distinct credentials before choosing electives or a degree title. For clinical practice, ask prospective employers whether they provide the supervision and case experience you would need after graduation.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 18% U.S. employment growth from 2025 to 2035 for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors. That national projection signals demand across a broad occupational group, but it is not a Missouri-specific forecast or a guarantee that positions will be available in your preferred city or specialty (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections).
For a practical local test, review current Missouri openings for the exact credential you expect to hold when applying. Note whether employers offer supervision, which shifts they require, and whether positions are concentrated near possible placement sites. This matters especially if you cannot relocate: a program with accessible training and employer contacts may be more useful to you than one whose courses are convenient but whose clinical opportunities are not.
2027 Most Popular Clinical Mental Health Counseling Degree Programs Ranking in Missouri
Research.com created its counseling rankings because investing in graduate education is a consequential decision. Its team checks program information against multiple education datasets and evaluates outcomes, accreditation, eligibility for federal aid, and cost rather than relying on a school's description alone. A popularity ranking can help you build a shortlist, but popularity is not evidence that a program meets your licensing needs or offers the best return for you.
The ranking draws on these sources:
IPEDS database: institutional enrollment, completion, and financial information.
Peterson's database: program and institutional information used in comparing schools.
Research.com's counseling methodology evaluates program completion, employment or doctoral admission, applicable licensure-exam results, CACREP recognition, federal Title IV eligibility, and program cost. Its Best ranking gives the largest weight to graduate outcomes and accreditation, then factors in cost; other rankings emphasize the dimension named in their titles. Criteria that do not apply are excluded and the remaining weights adjusted. The same approach applies to online and on-campus programs. See Research.com's methodology for further details. Use the ranking to narrow your choices, then confirm current program terms and Missouri licensure fit directly with each school.
# 1 position
Missouri State University-Springfield
Master
Master of Science in Counseling - Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Delivery mode: campus
49.90
/ 100
Final score
Program length
two and a half years (full-time)
Specialization
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Program completion rate
100% (2023-24)
Employment or doctoral admission
67% (2022-23)
Application deadline
Fall: Jan 25; Spring: Sept 22
Application process
GradCAS
Additional requirements
Three letters of reference (using the program's reference form) submitted via GradCAS.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Missouri State University-Springfield earned a Research.com Student Interest Score of 49.9/100, supported by 35 graduates (2024-25) and 100% program completion rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2032-03-31.
# 2 position
Missouri Baptist University
Master
Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Delivery mode: hybrid
49.10
/ 100
Final score
Program length
Estimated Program Length: 36 Months
Specialization
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Required credits
60 semester credits
GPA range
2.75 - 4.00
Application deadline
rolling
Application process
direct
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution; undergraduate GPA of 2.75 or higher (or 3.00 for last 60 undergraduate/graduate hours)
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Missouri Baptist University earned a Research.com Student Interest Score of 49.1/100, with 33 graduates (2024-25) among the verified supporting factors. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2029-10-31.
# 3 position
University of Missouri-St Louis
Master
Master of Education in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Delivery mode: campus
48.70
/ 100
Final score
Specialization
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Required credits
60 semester credits
GPA range
3.00 - 4.00
Program completion rate
88% (2024-25)
Employment or doctoral admission
97% (2024-25)
Licensure exam pass rate
97% (2024-25)
Application deadline
Fall: March 1; Spring: October 1
Application process
direct
GRE
no
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution; CNS ED 6010 Theories of Counseling taken in first semester
Additional requirements
UMSL Graduate School application, personal essays, supplemental application, official transcripts, 2 letters of recommendation, minimum 3.0 GPA; $50 application fee
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
University of Missouri-St Louis earned a Research.com Student Interest Score of 48.7/100, supported by 32 graduates (2024-25) and 88% program completion rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2033-10-31.
# 4 position
Covenant Theological Seminary
Master
Master of Arts in Counseling
Delivery mode: campus
41.00
/ 100
Final score
Program length
Three years or more
Specialization
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Required credits
75 semester credits
GPA range
3.00 - 4.00
Program completion rate
80.96% (2024-25)
Employment or doctoral admission
100% (2024-25)
Application process
direct
GRE
no
Prerequisites
Accredited Bachelor's Degree, with minimum 3.0 GPA
Additional requirements
Standard application including transcripts, references, and a personal essay, plus personal interviews with admissions staff and a member of the counseling faculty.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools (ATS).
Covenant Theological Seminary earned a Research.com Student Interest Score of 41.0/100, supported by 18 graduates (2024-25) and 80.96% program completion rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2031-03-31.
# 5 position
Evangel University
Master
Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Delivery mode: hybrid
28.90
/ 100
Final score
Program length
27 months (7-semester accelerated plan, summer start); standard 9 semesters
Specialization
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Required credits
60 semester credits
GPA range
3.00 - 4.00
Program completion rate
70% (2024-25)
Employment or doctoral admission
100% (2024-25)
Application deadline
Spring (January): November 1; Summer (May): April 1
Application process
direct
GRE
Conditional: GRE (combined 290+) required if undergraduate GPA is below 3.0
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution; six hours of psychology or counseling coursework; undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or combined GRE score of at least 290. Conditional admission possible below thresholds.
Additional requirements
Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university; GPA of 3.0 or higher in the last 60 undergraduate hours (or last two years of full-time study), or GRE scores of at least 290 combined with a 3.0 writing score;
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Evangel University earned a Research.com Student Interest Score of 28.9/100, supported by 7 graduates (2024-25) and 70% program completion rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2027-10-31.
# 6 position
University of Central Missouri
Master
Master of Science in Counseling – Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Delivery mode: campus
27.10
/ 100
Final score
Program length
36-48 months
Specialization
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Required credits
60 semester credits
GPA range
2.50 - 4.00
Program completion rate
26.5% (2024-25)
Employment or doctoral admission
99%
Application process
direct
GRE
yes
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
University of Central Missouri earned a Research.com Student Interest Score of 27.1/100, supported by 6 graduates (2024-25) and 26.5% program completion rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2034-10-31.
Frequently asked questions about Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree in Missouri
Do I need a master's degree to become a licensed professional counselor in Missouri?
A qualifying graduate education is part of Missouri's professional counselor licensing process. The degree by itself is not a license; confirm the current education, examination, and supervised-experience requirements with the Missouri Committee for Professional Counselors.
Is CACREP accreditation required for every Missouri counseling applicant?
Do not assume that accreditation and licensing eligibility are identical. Check the program's current CACREP status and ask the Missouri Committee for Professional Counselors how your particular degree would be evaluated.
Can I complete a Missouri counseling degree entirely online?
Coursework may be offered online, but clinical practicum and internship still require supervised work. Ask where you may complete fieldwork and whether the program requires any campus visits.
How long should I budget for the degree?
Plan on roughly two to three years for a full-time master's, potentially longer part-time. Request a term-by-term plan that includes clinical placements; post-degree licensing requirements take additional time.
Is the degree worth the cost?
It may be if your goal requires clinical licensure and the program offers a workable route to it at a debt level you can manage. Compare your full net cost and foregone earnings with realistic jobs in your intended Missouri market, rather than treating a national median wage as your expected starting pay.
Covenant Theological Seminary - Master of Arts in Counseling Official program page (curriculum, tuition, admissions). https://www.covenantseminary.edu/mac
