2027 Most Valuable Clinical Mental Health Counseling Degree Programs Ranking in Mississippi

The U.S. median annual wage for the Bureau of Labor Statistics category covering substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors was $59,350 in May 2025. This is a national occupational median, not a Mississippi starting salary, a licensed-counselor-only figure, or a forecast of what a particular program's graduates will earn (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook).

For a useful personal estimate, compare current Mississippi openings that match your expected credential and preferred location. Separate supervised entry roles from positions requiring full licensure, then weigh likely earnings against your current pay, borrowing, and any work hours you would give up during practicum or internship.

The clearest distinctions among these options concern degree framing, campus access, and program focus. Use those differences to form a shortlist, then request current credit requirements, placement policies, costs, and outcomes directly from each school before making a final comparison.

• University of Mississippi: Its counseling option sits within a Master of Education in Counselor Education, a useful distinction for applicants comparing degree structure rather than school name alone. Ask the program to identify the clinical mental health course sequence on your proposed plan of study and explain how it aligns with your intended license (University of Mississippi, Counselor Education program).
• Mississippi State University: The clinical mental health counseling program is presented through MSU's Meridian location. That makes Meridian-area access a concrete advantage for students who can complete classes and arrange supervised training there; applicants elsewhere should check attendance and placement expectations before treating it as a local option (Mississippi State University-Meridian, Clinical Mental Health Counseling program).
• Mississippi Christian University: Its graduate offering is explicitly an M.S. in Mental Health Counseling, giving applicants a clearly identified mental-health degree to compare with counselor-education programs. Request its current curriculum map and clinical-site policy to determine whether that focus fits your licensing plan and where you can complete fieldwork (Mississippi Christian University, Mental Health Counseling M.S. program).

These distinctions are starting points, not evidence that one program produces better licensing or employment outcomes. Compare the published curriculum and verified results in the ranking of best clinical mental health counseling programs, then confirm details with the programs.

Plan on approximately two to three years of full-time graduate study for a clinical mental health counseling master's; part-time study can take longer. Your actual timeline depends on course scheduling, prerequisites, and when you can complete supervised training. The degree timeline is also different from the time needed to satisfy any post-degree supervision and examination requirements for licensure (program curricula; Mississippi State Board of Examiners for Licensed Professional Counselors).

Ask for a term-by-term plan showing when practicum and internship begin. An accelerated course schedule may not accelerate graduation if required placements are available only at particular times or conflict with your paid work.

Online study can reduce travel for coursework, but it does not remove supervised clinical training. CACREP's 2024 standards call for at least 100 supervised practicum hours and 600 supervised internship hours in accredited counseling programs, so an online applicant still needs an approved site and supervision (CACREP, 2024 Standards). On-campus study may simplify contact with faculty and nearby placement partners, but it can require more commuting or relocation.

Choose the format around the least flexible requirement: fieldwork. Before paying a deposit, get written answers about live class attendance, where placements may occur, who finds them, any travel requirements, and whether the degree's curriculum supports licensure in the state where you plan to work. "Online" describes course delivery, not automatic approval of an out-of-state placement or license.

There is no single reliable statewide average that tells an applicant what these particular master's programs will cost. Published graduate tuition can differ from a student's actual bill because institutions set their own rates and fees, and residency, enrollment pace, aid, and required fieldwork expenses vary. NCES/IPEDS reports institutional graduate tuition and fees, but those figures should not be mistaken for a verified program-wide price (National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS).

Request a written estimate for your residency status that includes required credits, per-credit tuition, mandatory fees, books, travel, and any costs associated with placements. Multiply the charges by your expected enrollment pattern only after checking which fees recur. Use the most affordable clinical mental health counseling programs ranking as a shortlist, then compare each school's current total - not just its advertised tuition.

Eligible graduate students can complete the FAFSA to be considered for federal student aid, including Direct Unsubsidized Loans; schools may also offer assistantships, scholarships, or employer-supported tuition benefits. Federal loan eligibility and terms depend on current Federal Student Aid rules and the student's circumstances, while institutional awards depend on each school's funding and application deadlines (Federal Student Aid; individual institutions).

Ask each financial aid office whether assistantships include tuition support, what work they require, and whether support continues during internship. Compare the net amount you expect to borrow with the schedule of payments and your realistic post-degree work options. Aid that reduces a bill is different from a loan that postpones it.

Applicants generally need a bachelor's degree and the materials specified by each graduate program, which may include transcripts, recommendations, a statement of purpose, and an interview. A psychology bachelor's degree should not be assumed necessary - or sufficient - without checking the institution's current admissions page. Admissions decisions and any prerequisite coursework are program-specific (institutional graduate admissions offices).

If you are changing careers, send an unofficial transcript to the program and ask which prerequisites you would have to complete before or after admission. Also ask whether previous graduate credits can transfer: a school's willingness to award transfer credit does not, by itself, establish that your resulting course sequence will meet Mississippi licensing requirements (institutional policies; Mississippi State Board of Examiners for Licensed Professional Counselors).

Expect study in counseling theory, assessment, diagnosis, ethics, research, group work, multicultural counseling, and clinical practice, followed by supervised practicum and internship. Course titles and required sequencing differ by program. CACREP's standards provide a framework for accredited counseling curricula, but the Mississippi licensing board - not a course title alone - determines how an applicant's education is evaluated for licensure (CACREP; Mississippi State Board of Examiners for Licensed Professional Counselors).

When comparing catalogs, look beyond a list of topics. Ask whether the courses required for your intended license are included in the standard plan, offered often enough for your timeline, and completed before you are eligible for field placement.

Programs may offer electives or field experiences related to substance use, trauma, children and adolescents, or other client needs. Availability changes by school and placement site, so treat an advertised interest area as a question about actual courses and supervision - not as a separate professional credential.

If you already know the population you want to serve, ask whether you can complete both relevant coursework and an approved internship with that population. If your goal is school counseling rather than clinical mental health practice, compare the school-counseling pathway separately; similarly named counseling degrees can lead toward different credentials and employers (institutional program descriptions; Mississippi licensing authorities).

Start with your intended job and licensing state, then compare only programs that can explain how their current curriculum and clinical training support that goal. A popular program may suit many applicants without being the right financial or logistical choice for you; the most popular clinical mental health counseling programs ranking is one perspective, not a substitute for a personal fit check.

Use these questions when speaking with admissions and program staff:

1. Is the specific program currently CACREP-accredited, and where can I verify its status? If it is not, how does the school document alignment with the Mississippi licensing board's education rules?
2. What will my full course and fieldwork schedule look like, and who is responsible for finding and approving an internship site?
3. What is my estimated total cost after likely aid, including fees and placement-related expenses?
4. What recent, clearly defined program-level completion, licensure-exam, and employment outcomes can the school document?

Avoid two common mistakes: assuming university accreditation is the same as CACREP accreditation of a counseling program, and assuming the lowest tuition produces the best return. A personal return-on-investment comparison should account for completion likelihood, aid, debt, time away from work, earnings before and after the degree, and how long you expect to use the credential. If supervised clinical work is not your goal, a different graduate path may be a better investment.

The most direct path is supervised counseling work followed, if you meet the applicable requirements, by professional licensure. Depending on qualifications and employer needs, graduates may pursue clinical roles in behavioral health or substance use services. A master's degree can also inform later supervisory or doctoral ambitions, but those steps have separate experience and education requirements (Mississippi State Board of Examiners for Licensed Professional Counselors; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Choose the degree for the work you want to perform, not for a broad job title. Someone seeking to provide mental health counseling should examine clinical training and licensure alignment; someone primarily interested in school-based student services should first investigate the credential required for that setting.

National employment in the BLS category covering substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors is projected to grow 18% from 2025 to 2035 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections). That signals strong U.S. demand for the occupation, but it is not a Mississippi-specific forecast and does not show how many openings will be available to a newly graduated, not-yet-licensed applicant.

To test the local market before enrolling, review openings in the Mississippi communities where you could realistically work. Note which require full licensure, which accept supervised candidates, and whether the setting matches the clinical experience you can obtain. This is especially important if you need to remain in one area after graduation rather than move for a first position.

Investing in graduate education is an important decision. Research.com designed its counseling rankings to help readers assess program value using outcomes, accreditation, eligibility for federal aid, and cost rather than relying on reputation alone. The team draws on multiple education datasets and checks the information used to make comparisons credible and useful.

The Best ranking first scores graduate outcomes and accreditation: program completion carries 40%; employment or doctoral admission, 20%; licensure-exam pass rates where applicable, 20%; CACREP programmatic accreditation, 16%; and institutional Title IV eligibility, 4%. Shares are adjusted when a measure does not apply. Program cost then contributes about 7% of the final score. The approach is the same for online and on-campus programs; other rankings order programs by the dimension named in the ranking.

The ranking draws on these data sources:

• IPEDS database - institutional enrollment, completion, and cost reporting.
• Peterson's database - program and institutional information used in comparisons.
• College Scorecard database - federal institutional and student-outcome information.
• National Center for Education Statistics - federal education data and context.

A ranking can narrow a shortlist, but it cannot confirm that a particular course sequence meets your licensing needs or predict your personal return. Use it alongside current program disclosures and the Mississippi State Board of Examiners for Licensed Professional Counselors' requirements. See Research.com's methodology for more information about how the ranking was created.

• 2027 Most Valuable Online Clinical Mental Health Counseling Degree Programs Ranking in Louisiana
• 2027 Most Valuable Online Clinical Mental Health Counseling Degree Programs Ranking in Alabama
• 2027 Most Valuable Online Clinical Mental Health Counseling Degree Programs Ranking in Tennessee
• 2027 Most Valuable Online Clinical Mental Health Counseling Degree Programs Ranking in Florida
• 2027 Most Valuable Online Clinical Mental Health Counseling Degree Programs Ranking in Missouri
• 2027 Most Valuable Online Clinical Mental Health Counseling Degree Programs Ranking in Georgia
• 2027 Most Valuable Online Clinical Mental Health Counseling Degree Programs Ranking in Kentucky
• 2027 Most Valuable Online Clinical Mental Health Counseling Degree Programs Ranking in Texas
• 2027 Most Valuable Online Clinical Mental Health Counseling Degree Programs Ranking in Indiana
• 2027 Most Valuable Online Clinical Mental Health Counseling Degree Programs Ranking in Illinois

• 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/
• Counseling Compact - Participating States
  Verified professional/licensure/career reference.
  https://counselingcompact.org/
• University of Mississippi - M. Ed. in Counselor Education - Clinical Mental Health Counseling
  Official program page (curriculum, tuition, admissions).
  https://olemiss.edu/programs/educ/master-education-counselor-education/
• Mississippi State University - Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
  Official program page (curriculum, tuition, admissions).
  https://www.meridian.msstate.edu/counselor-education-clinical-mental-health-counseling
• Mississippi Christian University - Mental Health Counseling (M.S.)
  Official program page (curriculum, tuition, admissions).
  https://www.mc.edu/academics/departments/counseling/graduate-programs/mental-health-counseling-ms