Choosing an Ohio counseling master's program means comparing more than tuition: the degree must fit your schedule, clinical training needs, and path to state licensure. This guide is for prospective students and career changers weighing those trade-offs. It accompanies the 2027 Most Valuable Clinical Mental Health Counseling Degree Programs Ranking in Ohio, created by the Research.com team of data scientists to help students make an informed choice about programs worth considering. You'll learn how to compare costs, formats, requirements, and career prospects before committing.
Key findings about Clinical Mental Health Counseling degrees in Ohio
Ohio clinical mental health counseling programs should be compared against the state's LPC and LPCC requirements, not just their degree titles; graduation alone does not confer a license (Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, and Marriage and Family Therapist Board).
The U.S. median annual wage for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors was $59,350 in May 2025; BLS projects 18% employment growth from 2025 to 2035. Neither figure predicts an individual Ohio graduate's pay or prospects (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
The most useful cost comparison includes tuition, fees, clinical-placement expenses, borrowing, and earnings forgone while studying. An online format may reduce travel to class but does not remove supervised fieldwork.
What can I expect from a Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree in Ohio?
A clinical mental health counseling degree is generally a graduate program preparing students to assess concerns, provide counseling under appropriate supervision, and work toward professional licensure. Coursework and supervised practice cover areas such as diagnosis, treatment planning, ethics, and counseling across the lifespan. It is a different path from a school counseling degree, which is oriented toward school-based practice and its own credential requirements.
In Ohio, distinguish the academic credential from the license you want. The Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, and Marriage and Family Therapist Board oversees licensed professional counselor (LPC) and licensed professional clinical counselor (LPCC) credentials. Educational review, examinations, and supervised experience matter; an admissions statement that a program "prepares students for licensure" is not the same as a guarantee of eligibility. Ask the program how its current curriculum and placements map to the board's requirements, especially if you intend to seek a license outside Ohio.
This investment is most compelling if you want to provide clinical counseling and can accommodate supervised work. If your goal is primarily school counseling, social work, or a nonclinical helping role, compare the credential required for that job before choosing a counseling master's.
Where can I work with a Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree in Ohio?
Depending on licensure, experience, and employer requirements, counseling graduates may work in community mental health agencies, hospitals, outpatient practices, substance-use treatment, or college counseling services. The degree alone should not be treated as permission to practice independently: Ohio's LPC and LPCC credentials have different scopes and supervision implications (Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, and Marriage and Family Therapist Board).
Location affects the training decision as well as the eventual job search. A student planning to remain in Columbus, Cleveland-Akron, Cincinnati, Dayton, or a less densely served area should ask where a program places interns and whether its supervisors and schedules are workable from home. A strong placement match can be more valuable than a convenient classroom if it builds experience with the population you hope to serve.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a $59,350 median annual wage in May 2025 for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors. This national occupational median includes workers with different experience levels and credentials; it is not an Ohio starting salary or a forecast of what a new graduate will earn.
When evaluating a program's return, compare likely pay in the Ohio setting and role you want with your current earnings, expected debt payments, and the time needed to qualify for the positions you seek. Ask programs for recent, clearly defined graduate employment outcomes, but do not treat a placement rate or the national median as a salary promise.
These programs differ in academic home, institutional setting, and stated approach to counselor preparation. Those distinctions can guide a shortlist, but confirm current credits, clinical hours, delivery, costs, and outcomes with each program before comparing offers.
Ohio State University: Its clinical mental health counseling option sits within a Master of Arts in Educational Studies in counselor education. That structure may appeal to students who want to explore counselor education and research alongside clinical preparation; ask how the curriculum supports your intended Ohio credential (Ohio State University, program description).
University of Akron: Akron offers a dedicated clinical mental health counseling master's through its School of Counseling. For applicants seeking a public-university option in northeast Ohio, its location makes local placement availability and commuting requirements particularly useful points of comparison (University of Akron, program description).
Ashland University: The degree is offered through Ashland Theological Seminary, a meaningful distinction for students interested in the relationship between clinical counseling and faith-informed study. Verify how the clinical curriculum and supervision serve your intended employment setting, rather than assuming a seminary-based degree is a ministry credential (Ashland Theological Seminary, program description).
Xavier University: Xavier presents a specifically named clinical mental health counseling program within its Jesuit university setting. Applicants drawn to that educational environment should compare its current field-placement arrangements and total cost with other Cincinnati-area options (Xavier University, program description).
Franciscan University of Steubenville: Its clinical mental health counseling master's is an option for students seeking counselor preparation in a Catholic university context. Ask how its stated approach translates into clinical coursework and placements that fit the clients and workplaces you intend to serve (Franciscan University of Steubenville, program description).
University of Dayton: Dayton awards a Master of Science in Education in clinical mental health counseling. The degree title distinguishes it from MA routes, but does not itself indicate a different counseling license; compare the actual curriculum and clinical preparation if degree nomenclature matters to your goals (University of Dayton, program description).
None of these features replaces an outcomes comparison. Request each program's current completion, licensure-exam, and placement information using the same reporting periods and definitions before drawing conclusions.
Plan on roughly two to three years of full-time study for a clinical mental health counseling master's; part-time study generally takes longer. Actual timing depends on course sequencing, when practicum and internship are offered, and whether you can complete required clinical work alongside a job. Ask for a term-by-term plan rather than relying on a school's shortest advertised completion time.
Graduation is not necessarily the end of the timeline. Ohio licensure may also involve examinations and supervised experience, depending on the credential sought (Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, and Marriage and Family Therapist Board). If you need to keep working, compare the longer part-time route against the earnings you would give up by studying full time.
Online coursework can make attendance feasible for someone far from campus or working set hours. Campus study may make in-person peer practice and access to nearby placement relationships easier. Neither format eliminates supervised clinical training, and an online student still needs an approved site and supervisor.
For an Ohio-based student, the decisive questions are where clinical work may be completed, whether any campus visits are required, and how placements are secured. An online program based outside Ohio also warrants a direct check of Ohio licensure alignment with both the program and the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, and Marriage and Family Therapist Board. Accreditation and board eligibility concern the specific program and requirements, not whether lectures arrive on a screen.
There is no single reliable statewide price for this particular degree: schools differ in tuition basis, required credits, fees, residency rules, and aid. IPEDS reports institutional tuition and charges, but an institution-wide figure should not be presented as the price of its clinical counseling program (National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS). Request a program-specific estimate covering the entire expected enrollment period.
Compare the most affordable clinical mental health counseling programs using net cost, not a per-credit price alone. Include required fees, books, travel to placements, any reduced ability to work, and likely borrowing costs. At a public university, establish whether you qualify for resident tuition; do not assume an online student or a recent arrival qualifies automatically. A lower sticker price may cease to be cheaper if required courses or placements delay graduation.
Start with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and each university's graduate-aid office. Depending on eligibility and program participation, options may include Direct Unsubsidized Loans, institutional scholarships, assistantships, employer tuition benefits, and applicable service-based loan-repayment programs (Federal Student Aid; individual institutions). Ask whether an assistantship covers tuition, pays a stipend, requires work hours, or affects your clinical schedule.
Do not assume Graduate PLUS is available to every new graduate borrower. Federal Student Aid's current rules restrict new Graduate PLUS borrowing beginning July 1, 2026, while certain students already enrolled and borrowing for the same program before that date may qualify for a limited transition. Confirm your individual eligibility with your financial-aid office before building a budget around that loan (Federal Student Aid). Compare aid offers by the amount you must repay, not merely the total labeled "aid."
View the chart data as a table
Wage range - Mental Health Counselors in Ohio (BLS OEWS, May 2025) (Source: BLS)
Category
Value
10th percentile
39,010
25th percentile
47,660
Median
58,360
75th percentile
68,850
90th percentile
83,730
Expect to need a bachelor's degree and an application that allows the program to assess academic preparation and suitability for clinical training. Schools set their own requirements for transcripts, recommendations, statements, interviews, and any prerequisite coursework; check each current admissions page rather than assuming a psychology major is required. Admission to the university and eligibility for later licensure are separate decisions.
Before paying an application fee, ask whether the curriculum satisfies the education requirements for the Ohio credential you want, whether your previous graduate credits could transfer, and what limits apply to those credits. A transferred course saves money only if the program accepts it toward the required sequence and doing so does not disrupt access to clinical placements (Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, and Marriage and Family Therapist Board; individual institutions).
Typical study includes counseling theory and skills, assessment, diagnosis, ethics, research, multicultural counseling, group work, and career development, followed by supervised practicum and internship. CACREP's counseling accreditation standards provide a useful framework for examining curricular and fieldwork coverage, but individual course names and sequences differ (Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs).
Read the catalog alongside the clinical-training handbook. A course list tells you what is taught; the handbook should clarify when you can enter placement, who approves sites, and what happens if a suitable site is unavailable. That distinction matters especially to working students whose daytime availability may be limited.
Programs may let students focus through electives and placements on concerns such as addiction, trauma, child and adolescent mental health, or community-based care. A focus is not automatically a separate degree, certification, or license. Ask whether a named specialization changes required coursework, access to supervisors, or the credential for which the degree prepares you.
Choose a focus after checking local placement opportunities. Someone interested in addiction treatment, for example, gains more from a relevant supervised site and suitable clinical coursework than from a specialization label without either. If your intended role requires a credential outside counseling, verify that requirement before enrolling.
Use the best clinical mental health counseling programs as a starting shortlist, then test fit against your actual goal. CACREP recognition, where applicable, is program-specific; check the named program's status and the Ohio board's educational rules rather than assuming university accreditation alone settles licensure eligibility (CACREP; Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, and Marriage and Family Therapist Board).
Ask each finalist the same questions so its answers are comparable:
Which Ohio counseling credential does the current curriculum prepare students to pursue, and what must happen after graduation?
Who finds and approves practicum and internship sites, and can placements fit my location and work schedule?
What is my estimated total net cost and realistic time to completion, including any transferred credits?
What do recent completion, examination, and employment figures measure, and which graduating cohorts do they cover?
A common mistake is choosing the shortest or cheapest advertised route without checking clinical scheduling and licensure fit. For return on investment, weigh completion probability, aid, debt, earnings forgone during study, likely earnings relative to your current job, and the years over which you expect to use the degree. Rankings help narrow options; they cannot supply those personal inputs.
View the chart data as a table
Median wage by U.S. state - Mental Health Counselors (BLS OEWS, May 2025) (Source: BLS)
State
Value
AK
80,770
AL
47,310
AR
51,580
AZ
65,300
CA
59,250
CO
62,390
CT
63,590
DC
60,450
DE
56,020
FL
56,790
GA
58,960
HI
60,090
IA
60,880
ID
63,360
IL
60,730
IN
53,760
KS
59,470
KY
54,190
LA
37,910
MA
59,890
MD
59,530
ME
59,970
MI
61,690
MN
58,780
MO
56,910
MS
46,990
MT
59,000
NC
55,490
ND
68,630
NE
63,770
NH
54,840
NJ
62,820
NM
74,100
NV
57,210
NY
59,450
OH
58,360
OK
59,350
OR
74,590
PA
52,010
PR
46,790
RI
65,120
SC
52,370
SD
53,650
TN
49,580
TX
62,630
UT
63,890
VA
59,880
VT
61,810
WA
68,910
WI
62,220
WV
49,430
WY
62,980
A graduate might pursue supervised counseling work and, after meeting applicable requirements, roles in outpatient mental health, community agencies, addiction services, or other clinical settings. With further experience and the appropriate Ohio credential, a counselor may pursue positions involving greater clinical independence or supervision. Job titles alone do not establish whether a role permits independent practice (Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, and Marriage and Family Therapist Board).
If you are comparing entry routes, examine programs' placement partners and the kinds of clients students see. That evidence is more directly connected to a first counseling role than a broad claim that graduates can work "anywhere." The most popular clinical mental health counseling programs offer another way to explore options, but enrollment popularity should not stand in for licensure fit or outcomes.
View the chart data as a table
Annual earnings-to-program-cost ratio distribution across ranked programs (Source: Research.com)
Category
Value
0.75–0.99
2
1.00–1.24
2
1.25–1.49
1
1.50–1.74
0
1.75–1.99
0
2.00–2.24
0
2.25–2.49
0
2.50–2.74
1
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 18% growth from 2025 to 2035 for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors. That national projection signals demand across the occupation, not a guaranteed Ohio opening or an equally strong market in every community.
For a local decision, search the Ohio roles you would actually accept and note which require an LPC, an LPCC, specific experience, or particular hours. Compare those requirements with each program's clinical placements and your expected licensure timeline. Demand is useful context, but the strongest investment case is a program that can help you reach the credential and setting employers in your target area require.
2027 Most Valuable Clinical Mental Health Counseling Degree Programs Ranking in Ohio
Education is a significant investment, so Research.com evaluates counseling programs using multiple sources rather than treating reputation as a substitute for outcomes. The team reviews graduate completion, employment or doctoral admission, applicable licensure-exam results, accreditation, federal aid eligibility, and program cost. This approach helps readers identify programs worth investigating while recognizing that no ranking can determine their personal fit.
The Best ranking first combines completion (40%), employment or doctoral admission (20%), applicable licensure-exam pass rates (20%), CACREP accreditation (16%), and institutional Title IV eligibility (4%). Weights are adjusted when a criterion does not apply. Cost then contributes about 7% of the final score. The same approach applies to online and campus programs; rankings named for another dimension order programs by that dimension. The ranking draws on these sources:
IPEDS database: institutional enrollment, completions, and reported costs.
Readers can use the ranking to build a shortlist, then verify current tuition, placement support, and licensure alignment directly with each school. More detail about the approach appears on Research.com's methodology page.
# 1 position
Ohio State University
Master
Master of Arts in Educational Studies – Counselor Education
Delivery mode: campus
72.20
/ 100
Final score
Specialization
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Required credits
60 semester credits
GPA range
3.00 - 4.00
Program completion rate
100% (2024-25)
Employment or doctoral admission
100% (2024-25)
Licensure exam pass rate
100% (2024-25)
Application deadline
December 1
Application process
direct
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 Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Ohio State University earned a Research.com Value Score of 72.2/100, supported by $78,566 median earnings and 100% licensure exam pass rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2033-10-31.
# 2 position
University of Akron Main Campus
Master
Clinical Mental Health Counseling, MA
Delivery mode: campus
30.10
/ 100
Final score
Specialization
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Required credits
60 semester credits
GPA range
2.50 - 4.00
Program completion rate
90% (2025-26)
Employment or doctoral admission
90% (2025-26)
Licensure exam pass rate
90% (2025-26)
Application deadline
rolling
Application process
direct
GRE
no
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution
Additional requirements
School of Graduate Studies Application; official transcripts; three letters of recommendation; School of Counseling Application Supplement Form; interview required for applicants who meet admission criteria
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 Akron Main Campus earned a Research.com Value Score of 30.1/100, supported by $45,096 median earnings and 90% licensure exam pass rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2033-03-31.
# 3 position
Ashland University
Master
Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Delivery mode: campus
24.80
/ 100
Final score
Program length
4 semesters
Specialization
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Required credits
64 semester credits
GPA range
2.75 - 4.00
Program completion rate
80% (2024-25)
Licensure exam pass rate
89.6% (2024-25)
Application deadline
rolling
Application process
direct
GRE
no
Prerequisites
Baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution with a minimum GPA of 2.75 and a substantial liberal arts foundation; CMHC applicants also complete a personality inventory and a personal interview with the program director.
Additional requirements
Online application, essay responses, two recommendation letters (one pastor/spiritual mentor, one professional), official transcripts, interview if requested; CMHC applicants also complete a personality inventory and follow-up interview.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Ashland University earned a Research.com Value Score of 24.8/100, supported by $45,224 median earnings and 89.6% licensure exam pass rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2030-03-31.
# 4 position
Xavier University
Master
Clinical Mental Health Counseling, M.A.
Delivery mode: campus
24.20
/ 100
Final score
Program length
2 years full-time
Specialization
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Required credits
60 semester credits
GPA range
3.00 - 4.00
Program completion rate
90% (2022-23)
Employment or doctoral admission
100% (2022-23)
Licensure exam pass rate
81% (2022-23)
Application deadline
Fall: February 1; Spring: October 1; Summer: February 1
Application process
direct
GRE
optional
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree and solid academic background; applicants from any field are encouraged. Recommended undergraduate GPA of 3.0; applicants below 3.0 may submit MAT or GRE scores to strengthen their application.
Additional requirements
Online application; official transcripts; resume; 500-word statement of purpose; two letters of reference; 3.0 GPA expected; MAT/GRE optional; on-campus interview for selected applicants.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Xavier University earned a Research.com Value Score of 24.2/100, supported by $47,839 median earnings and 81% licensure exam pass rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2031-03-31.
# 5 position
Franciscan University of Steubenville
Master
Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Delivery mode: campus
21.90
/ 100
Final score
Specialization
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Required credits
60 semester credits
Program completion rate
82% (2025-26)
Employment or doctoral admission
86% (2023-25)
Licensure exam pass rate
96% (2025)
Application deadline
Rolling, September–April, for Fall start
Application process
direct
GRE
no
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree (BA or BS) from a regionally accredited university or college
Additional requirements
Online application; official college/university transcripts; a résumé; three professional recommendations rating dispositional fit; English proficiency test results (international applicants); virtual interview with admissions committee
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Franciscan University of Steubenville earned a Research.com Value Score of 21.9/100, supported by $47,693 median earnings and 96% licensure exam pass rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2030-10-31.
# 6 position
University of Dayton
Master
Clinical Mental Health Counseling (MSE)
Delivery mode: campus
18.70
/ 100
Final score
Program length
2.5 or 3.5 years
Specialization
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Required credits
60 semester credits
GPA range
2.75 - 4.00
Program completion rate
85% (2023-24)
Employment or doctoral admission
100% (2023-24)
Licensure exam pass rate
96% (2023-24)
Application deadline
Summer enrollment: Nov 10; Fall enrollment (early admission): Jan 10; Fall enrollment (late admission): Rolling
Application process
direct
GRE
Conditional: GRE or MAT required if undergraduate GPA is below 2.75
Prerequisites
Undergraduate cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher on a 4.0 scale; applicants below 2.75 may be admitted with a qualifying GRE (verbal 149+ and analytical writing 4.0+) or MAT score (raw 40+ or scaled 396+).
Additional requirements
Online application; official transcripts from all previously attended institutions; three letters of recommendation; personal statement regarding career goals; GRE or MAT scores if undergraduate GPA is below 2.75; possible faculty interview.
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 Dayton earned a Research.com Value Score of 18.7/100, supported by $42,415 median earnings and 96% licensure exam pass rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2027-03-31.
Frequently asked questions about Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree in Ohio
Do I need a master's degree to become a clinical mental health counselor in Ohio?
Ohio counseling licensure has graduate education requirements. Check the Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, and Marriage and Family Therapist Board's current rules for the specific LPC or LPCC credential you intend to pursue; a bachelor's degree alone is not the clinical counseling licensure route.
Does a counseling master's automatically qualify me for an Ohio license?
No. The board reviews applicable education, examinations, and supervised-experience requirements. Confirm a program's current licensure alignment before enrolling (Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, and Marriage and Family Therapist Board).
Can I complete the degree entirely online?
Some coursework may be online, but clinical preparation requires supervised practical experience. Ask about campus visits, approved placement locations, and how the program supports Ohio-based students.
Is CACREP accreditation required for every Ohio counseling job?
Employers and credentials may apply different standards. Verify the Ohio board's current educational rules and any employer-specific requirement; check the accreditation status of the exact program, not just the university (Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, and Marriage and Family Therapist Board; CACREP).
Is the degree worth the cost for a career changer?
It can be if clinical counseling is your intended career and you have a feasible route through placement and licensure. Compare total net cost, foregone earnings, likely debt, and the roles available at your expected credential level before deciding.
University of Akron Main Campus - Clinical Mental Health Counseling, MA Official program page (curriculum, tuition, admissions). https://www.uakron.edu/soc/masters/cmhc/
