2027 Best Master's in Counseling Degree Programs Ranking in Jackson

The most useful salary comparison starts with the job you want, not the degree title. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports a $59,350 national median annual wage for May 2025 for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors. The median describes employed workers across experience levels and locations; it is not a starting salary or a Jackson wage estimate.

For school and rehabilitation counseling, compare the corresponding occupation rather than applying the clinical figure. Before estimating a return on your degree, review current Jackson-area job postings for pay, credential requirements, and supervision arrangements. An offer that requires post-degree supervised work may have a different early-career financial profile from an independently licensed role.

The program pages point to different decisions within the Jackson market. The distinctions below concern degree focus and curriculum information - not a claim that any program guarantees a credential or job. Because published program documents can outlast curriculum changes, confirm current requirements with an advisor.

• Jackson State University counseling department: Its department-level program information is useful for comparing counseling pathways within one institution rather than assuming every counseling master's has the same career destination. Start here if you are deciding which JSU track to investigate, then request the current catalog and field-placement requirements (Jackson State University).
• Reformed Theological Seminary, Master of Arts in Counseling: The seminary setting makes the program's integration of counseling education and a theological perspective a material fit question that differs from JSU's public-university setting. Students who value that approach should still verify the current curriculum against the Mississippi credential they intend to pursue (Reformed Theological Seminary).
• Jackson State University clinical mental health counseling: The dedicated master's program document identifies a clinical route rather than a general-purpose counseling credential. It is the more relevant JSU document to examine if your goal is mental health practice, but its 2021 file date makes confirmation of current coursework and supervised-training rules essential (Jackson State University).
• Jackson State University rehabilitation counseling: Its separate Master of Science program document gives disability- and rehabilitation-focused applicants a specific curriculum to evaluate instead of treating clinical training as interchangeable with rehabilitation training. Ask how its current fieldwork and coursework align with your intended employer and credential; the linked document's 2021 file date warrants a current-version check (Jackson State University).

Compare the most popular counseling programs if you want another view of program interest, but use curriculum and credential fit to make the final shortlist.

A counseling master's commonly takes about two to three years full-time; part-time study generally takes longer. The calendar depends not only on classes but also on the sequence of practicum and internship requirements. Ask whether fieldwork can start only after specific courses, when required classes are offered, and whether a missed placement term delays graduation.

For someone working in Jackson, a slower schedule may preserve earnings and benefits, while a faster schedule may reduce the time to a credential. Compare both options using the expected graduation date and the hours you would need to stop working. If you have previous graduate credit, obtain a written transfer-credit evaluation rather than assuming it will shorten supervised training.

Online counseling programs deliver some or most academic instruction remotely; they do not eliminate supervised in-person training. Campus programs make face-to-face classes and faculty contact easier to schedule, but commuting can be a substantial constraint for students working across the Jackson area.

The better format is the one that allows you to complete approved fieldwork, meet faculty and cohort requirements, and satisfy the rules for your intended Mississippi credential. Ask an online program whether it approves placements in Jackson, who supervises them, and whether any campus visits are mandatory. A shorter or cheaper online option is a poor trade if it cannot support an acceptable local placement.

There is no single reliable Jackson-wide average that describes the price of every counseling master's track. A useful estimate is program-specific: multiply the current required credits by the tuition rate that applies to you, then add mandatory fees, books, travel, and any fieldwork-related expenses. National Center for Education Statistics IPEDS tuition figures can provide institutional context, but an institution-level average is not a quote for a particular master's program.

Check residency rules when comparing a Mississippi public university with other options, and request a full-program estimate rather than a single-term bill. The most affordable counseling programs can help identify schools to price first; compare their final net costs after aid and their likely completion timelines before deciding.

Eligible graduate students can explore federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans through the FAFSA, alongside institutional scholarships, assistantships, employer tuition assistance, and any aid for which their program and enrollment status qualify (Federal Student Aid). Aid eligibility is not the same as receiving enough funding to cover living expenses, so request an award estimate for your actual course load.

Ask each financial aid office whether an assistantship is open to counseling students, whether it includes tuition support, and how supervised fieldwork affects your capacity for paid work. Before borrowing, compare the amount you would need to finance under full-time and part-time plans; a lower tuition bill can still be the costlier choice if it requires substantially more time away from earnings.

Expect to provide evidence of a bachelor's degree and an application that may include transcripts, recommendations, a statement of purpose, or an interview. Whether you need particular undergraduate courses, a minimum GPA, or test scores depends on the school and program; obtain the current admissions checklist from the institution rather than relying on an older program PDF.

Admissions eligibility and professional eligibility are separate questions. Before applying, ask the program to identify the Mississippi license or school credential its current curriculum is intended to support. Then verify the educational, supervised-experience, and examination requirements with the Mississippi State Board of Examiners for Licensed Professional Counselors or, for school roles, the Mississippi Department of Education. Admission alone does not establish eligibility for either credential.

Common graduate subjects include counseling theories, lifespan development, ethics, assessment, research, and counseling skills, followed by supervised practicum and internship. The professional emphasis changes the course mix: clinical mental health students should expect preparation for mental health assessment and treatment, while rehabilitation students should look for disability and vocational content and school counseling students for school-based practice.

Read the current course sequence alongside the Mississippi rules for your intended role. A course with a relevant-sounding title is not proof that a licensing board will accept it; ask the program for its credential-alignment documentation, particularly if you plan to transfer credits or study online.

For this decision, the clearest distinction is among clinical mental health counseling, rehabilitation counseling, and school counseling. Addiction or couple and family work may also be interests within a counseling career, but a few elective courses do not necessarily create a separate credential pathway. Check the exact degree title, required courses, and supervised placement before treating a stated interest area as a formal specialization.

Choose the clinical route if your primary aim is mental health treatment and its associated licensure process; consider rehabilitation if disability and vocational services are central to your goal. If you want a school-based job, prioritize a curriculum explicitly aligned with Mississippi educator credential requirements rather than assuming any counseling master's will qualify.

Begin with the job and credential you want, then compare only programs that can plausibly support that path. CACREP programmatic accreditation can be an important comparison point, but verify a program's current status directly with CACREP; institutional accreditation, programmatic accreditation, and Mississippi licensure approval answer different questions (CACREP; Mississippi State Board of Examiners for Licensed Professional Counselors).

Use this sequence to turn a shortlist into a decision:

1. Ask each program which Mississippi credential its current curriculum supports and what graduates must complete after the degree.
2. Confirm current accreditation status, required fieldwork, who secures placements, and whether you can complete them near Jackson.
3. Request a written total-cost and aid estimate, plus a realistic full-time or part-time completion plan.
4. Ask for recent program-level completion, exam, and career-outcome information where available; distinguish missing data from strong results.

A common mistake is choosing solely by ranking, tuition, or delivery format and discovering later that the degree does not fit the intended credential. For a broader cost-and-outcomes lens, review the most valuable counseling programs, then test the options against your own projected debt, lost earnings, completion likelihood, and career goal.

A master's can be a step toward clinical counseling, addiction counseling, rehabilitation counseling, or school counseling, depending on the curriculum and subsequent credential requirements. Entry-level work under supervision and later independent practice are different career stages; a degree alone does not authorize independent clinical practice (Mississippi State Board of Examiners for Licensed Professional Counselors).

The degree is most likely to be a worthwhile investment if the required credential leads to work you want, you can complete the supervised training, and the likely financial return supports your costs. If you mainly want to explore helping professions without committing to a regulated counseling role, compare less costly entry-level behavioral health or education work before taking on graduate debt.

National demand is a useful signal, not a Jackson hiring forecast. BLS projects 18% employment growth from 2025 to 2035 for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors. That outlook makes clinical and addiction pathways worth investigating, but local openings may differ by employer, specialty, and required license.

Jackson applicants should examine postings from healthcare providers, community behavioral health organizations, and school districts before selecting a track. Note whether employers accept candidates completing supervision, require an existing license, or specify school credentials. Those details tell you more about your immediate job prospects than a national projection alone.

Education is a significant investment, so Research.com designed its counseling rankings to make program comparisons more transparent. The team evaluates graduate outcomes, accreditation and eligibility, licensure exam results where applicable, and cost rather than treating a school's reputation as a substitute for evidence.

For the Best ranking, the graduate-outcomes-and-accreditation score weights program completion at 40%, employment or doctoral admission at 20%, applicable licensure exam pass rates at 20%, CACREP programmatic accreditation at 16%, and institutional Title IV eligibility at 4%. Weights are adjusted when a criterion does not apply. Program cost contributes a smaller component - about 7% of the final score. The method applies to campus and online programs; other Research.com counseling rankings sort by the dimension named in their titles.

To support credible, accurate comparisons, the ranking draws on these data sources:

• IPEDS database: institutional reporting on programs, enrollment, completion, and costs.
• Peterson's database: program and institutional information used in comparisons.
• College Scorecard database: federal information on institutions and student outcomes.
• National Center for Education Statistics: federal education data and definitions.

The ranking is a starting point, not a determination of Mississippi licensure eligibility or personal affordability. Readers can use it to narrow their choices, then confirm current program details directly with each school. Research.com explains the approach further on its methodology page.

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• 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/
• Jackson State University - Master of Science in Education: School Counseling
  Official program page (curriculum, tuition, admissions).
  https://www.jsums.edu/commcounseling/
• Reformed Theological Seminary - Master of Arts in Counseling
  Official program page (curriculum, tuition, admissions).
  https://rts.edu/degree/mac/
• Jackson State University - Counseling (M.S.) Concentration in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
  Official program page (curriculum, tuition, admissions).
  https://www.jsums.edu/commcounseling/files/2021/04/Masters-in-Clinical-Mental-Health-Counseling.pdf
• Jackson State University - Master of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling
  Official program page (curriculum, tuition, admissions).
  https://www.jsums.edu/commcounseling/files/2021/04/Master-of-Science-Rehabilitation-Counseling-CURRENT.pdf