Choosing a counseling master's in Missouri means choosing a career pathway, not just a campus: school counseling and clinical mental health counseling lead toward different credentials and workplaces. This guide explains program fit, licensure, cost, training, and career prospects so you can compare options before committing. It also features the 2027 Best Master's in Counseling Degree Programs Ranking in Missouri, created by the Research.com team of data scientists to help students make an informed choice about which counseling programs are worth considering.
Key findings about Counseling degrees in Missouri
Start with the credential: Missouri school-counselor certification and professional counselor licensure are distinct pathways, so a similarly named master's may not serve the same goal (Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education; Missouri Committee for Professional Counselors).
For CACREP-accredited programs operating under its 2024 standards, required supervised training includes a 100-clock-hour practicum and a 600-clock-hour internship. Confirm when and where a program expects you to complete that work (Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs).
National median annual pay in May 2025 was $59,350 for the BLS category covering substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors and $64,330 for school and career counselors and advisors. Those occupational medians are not Missouri graduate starting salaries (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What can I expect from a Counseling degree in Missouri?
A counseling master's combines coursework in human development, assessment, ethics, and counseling methods with supervised practice. The crucial distinction is which professional role the curriculum prepares you for. A clinical mental health track targets counseling in settings such as clinics and community agencies; a school counseling track targets work with students within school systems. A rehabilitation or addiction emphasis may support a more specific population or setting.
Missouri regulates these paths differently. The Missouri Committee for Professional Counselors oversees professional counselor licensure, while the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) oversees school-counselor certification. Admission, graduation, certification, and licensure are separate milestones: earning the degree does not itself grant a credential. Before applying, request a written explanation of how the program's courses and supervised placements align with the Missouri credential you want - and with another state's rules if you may move.
This investment makes the most sense if you want the work of counseling, can accommodate supervised fieldwork, and understand the steps after graduation. If your goal is a different licensed profession, such as social work or psychology, compare those degree and licensing pathways before choosing a counseling curriculum.
Where can I work with a Counseling degree in Missouri?
Potential settings depend more on your track and credentials than on the word "counseling" in your diploma. Clinical mental health graduates may pursue roles in community mental health organizations, hospitals, behavioral health practices, or substance-use treatment programs, subject to employer and licensing requirements. School-counseling graduates generally prepare for K-12 school roles and the applicable DESE credential (Missouri Committee for Professional Counselors; Missouri DESE).
Location affects your placement search as well as your eventual job search. A student near St. Louis, Kansas City, or Springfield may be able to compare multiple agencies or districts; someone farther from those centers should ask whether approved sites are available within a workable commute. A program's ability to support a placement in your area can be more valuable than a convenient class schedule.
National occupation data offer a benchmark, not a prediction of Missouri earnings. The following U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics figures refer to occupational median annual pay in May 2025 and projected national employment change over 2025-2035. The occupations include workers with different experience levels; they are not outcomes reported for graduates of the programs in this guide.
Counseling-related path
U.S. median annual pay, May 2025
Projected U.S. growth, 2025-2035
Clinical mental health or addiction counseling
$59,350
18%
School counseling
$64,330
3%
Marriage and family counseling
$66,940
14%
Rehabilitation counseling
$46,850
2%
The faster national projection for mental health and addiction counseling may make that path attractive, but it does not show what a particular Missouri employer will pay or how quickly a new graduate will secure a role. Compare local job postings by credential, setting, and experience level; do not treat a national median as an entry-level offer (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
The programs below illustrate why a shortlist should be organized by intended credential and training fit, not school name alone. Their published degree pathways provide different starting points for comparison; verify current credit totals, accreditation status, fieldwork arrangements, and credential disclosures directly with each program before applying (institutions' official program pages).
University of Missouri-St. Louis, M. Ed. in School Counseling: This is a school-counseling degree rather than the university's clinical mental health pathway. It merits a closer look if your intended setting is a school and you need the program to document its alignment with Missouri educator certification.
Missouri State University-Springfield, School Counseling: Its school-counseling option sits within the university's graduate counseling offerings, alongside a clinical option. Comparing the two course plans can help applicants who are still deciding whether their goal is school certification or clinical licensure.
University of Central Missouri, M.S. in Counseling: Its counseling degree is presented as an M.S. program rather than a separately titled school- or clinical-only degree. Ask the department which available pathway, electives, and placements match your intended credential before treating the degree title as an answer.
University of Missouri-St. Louis, M. Ed. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling: This clinical degree provides a distinct alternative to UMSL's school-counseling M. Ed. It is the more relevant UMSL curriculum to investigate if your aim is Missouri professional counselor licensure rather than a school role.
Southeast Missouri State University, M.A. in School Counseling: Its school-focused M.A. gives applicants in southeast Missouri an option to investigate without assuming that fieldwork must be based in a larger metro area. Ask where recent students completed approved school placements and whether those sites fit your commute.
Missouri Baptist University, M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling: This is a clinical mental health pathway at a private institution. Compare its full program charges and placement support with public options rather than assuming institution type alone determines affordability or career value.
Covenant Theological Seminary, Master of Arts in Counseling: The seminary setting is a meaningful curricular consideration for applicants interested in the relationship between counseling education and faith commitments. Examine the course plan and obtain written confirmation of its fit with your intended state license; a program's orientation and licensure alignment are separate questions.
Evangel University, M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling: This clinical pathway is distinct from Evangel's school-counseling degree. It is worth comparing if you want to study in Springfield while preparing for clinical settings rather than K-12 certification.
Missouri State University-Springfield, Clinical Mental Health Counseling: This option lets applicants evaluate a clinical pathway within the same graduate counseling department that offers school counseling. Ask how clinical placements are arranged and whether the resulting education meets the Missouri requirements relevant to your licensing plan.
Evangel University, M.S. in School Counseling: Evangel's separately identified school-counseling degree gives prospective school counselors a clearer track to investigate than its clinical degree. Confirm educator-certification alignment and the logistics of school-based fieldwork before deciding between the two.
These distinctions identify useful questions, not guaranteed outcomes. A published fieldwork plan, recent program-level results, and written credential guidance should carry more weight than a broad claim of career preparation.
Plan on roughly two to three years for many full-time counseling master's pathways; part-time study commonly takes longer. Your actual timeline depends on course sequencing, whether summer courses are offered, prerequisites, and when you can start and finish supervised placements. Ask each school for a term-by-term plan for your intended track rather than relying on a university-wide estimate.
For programs following CACREP's 2024 standards, the practicum and internship requirements are 100 and 600 clock hours, respectively (Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs). Those hours can constrain an otherwise flexible schedule. Time after graduation to meet any additional Missouri licensing conditions must be considered separately from time to degree (Missouri Committee for Professional Counselors).
Online delivery can reduce trips to class, but it does not remove in-person supervised practice. Campus study may make regular contact with faculty and nearby placement networks easier; online study may be more workable if you need to remain employed or live far from a campus. Neither format is inherently the better route to a Missouri credential - the relevant questions are curriculum alignment, approved fieldwork, supervision, and student support.
Ask an online program whether it will arrange or approve a placement near you, who secures a qualified supervisor, and whether any campus visits are mandatory. For a campus program, check how often classes meet and whether placements require a separate commute. You can use the most popular counseling programs as another way to build a shortlist, but popularity cannot verify licensure fit or local placement access.
There is no single reliable statewide price that represents every Missouri counseling master's: public resident and nonresident rates, private-school charges, required credits, and fees differ. A quoted per-credit rate is not a total-degree cost. Get each school's current written estimate for the entire track, including required courses, fees, books, and any travel or reduced work hours during fieldwork.
The comparison below shows why the lowest advertised tuition may not be the least expensive path for a particular student. Use the most affordable counseling programs to identify candidates, then request program-specific totals and confirm residency eligibility where relevant.
Cost factor
What to compare
Why it changes the decision
Tuition
Required credits and your applicable resident, nonresident, or private-school rate
A lower rate may be offset by more required coursework.
Fees and materials
Program fees, books, background checks, and other stated requirements
These may be missing from a tuition-only quote.
Fieldwork and time
Placement travel, scheduling, and ability to maintain paid work
Lost earnings can outweigh a modest tuition difference.
Net price
Scholarships and employer assistance you actually qualify to receive
Published prices do not necessarily reflect your final cost.
Begin with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), then compare each school's graduate scholarships, assistantships, and payment options. Eligible graduate students may be able to use federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans; employer tuition assistance can also matter for working professionals. Confirm eligibility and award terms with the school's financial aid office and Federal Student Aid rather than assuming undergraduate aid rules carry over.
Graduate PLUS rules have changed for students beginning graduate borrowing under the newer federal framework. New graduate borrowers generally should not build a financing plan around a Graduate PLUS loan; transitional eligibility may apply to some students who borrowed for the same program before July 1, 2026. Check your individual status and current loan limits with Federal Student Aid before accepting an offer (Federal Student Aid, Graduate PLUS guidance).
A practical aid comparison uses net borrowing over the whole degree, not the size of an initial award. Ask whether funding renews, whether an assistantship conflicts with fieldwork hours, and how much you would need to borrow if you study part time.
View the chart data as a table
Projected job growth 2025-2035 by counseling career path (U.S., BLS) (Source: BLS)
Category
Value
Mental Health Counselors
18
Marriage & Family Therapists
14
Postsecondary Teachers
7
Psychologists
6
School & Career Counselors
3
Rehabilitation Counselors
2
All occupations
3
Programs typically require a bachelor's degree and an application that may include transcripts, recommendations, a statement of purpose, and an interview. Specific GPA thresholds, prerequisite courses, tests, and experience expectations vary by institution; consult the current admissions page for each track rather than assuming all counseling master's programs use the same checklist (institutions' official admissions information).
Before applying, ask whether missing undergraduate coursework can be completed after admission and whether prior graduate courses can transfer into the counseling degree. A school's acceptance of transfer credit does not by itself establish that the resulting education meets Missouri credential requirements. If you have already taken counseling coursework, request both a written transfer evaluation and a credential-alignment review.
Common subjects include counseling theories, helping relationships, human development, assessment, group counseling, research, and professional ethics. A clinical track may place greater emphasis on diagnosis and treatment planning; a school track may emphasize student development, school systems, and counseling in educational settings. Practicum and internship translate coursework into supervised work with clients or students (Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs).
Compare required courses, not just elective lists. If you want a Missouri license or educator certificate, ask the program to identify the exact courses and field experiences it uses to address that credential's educational requirements (Missouri Committee for Professional Counselors; Missouri DESE).
The most consequential choice in this set of Missouri programs is between school counseling and clinical mental health counseling. Other interests - such as addiction, couples and families, or rehabilitation - may be addressed through electives, placements, or separately designated programs. An emphasis printed on a transcript is not necessarily a separate professional credential.
Choose a specialization by working backward from the job and credential you want. For example, an applicant who wants to counsel students in a K-12 school should investigate school-counselor certification alignment; an applicant targeting independent clinical practice should investigate professional counselor licensure requirements and post-degree steps. If you are uncertain, ask admissions staff how difficult it would be to switch tracks and whether doing so would add courses or time (Missouri DESE; Missouri Committee for Professional Counselors).
Start with the credential and setting you want, then eliminate programs that cannot explain their fit in writing. The most valuable counseling programs can add an outcomes-and-cost perspective, but value for you also depends on the time required, aid, borrowing, likelihood of completion, current earnings, expected post-degree opportunities, and how long you plan to work in the field.
Use these questions to test the claims most likely to change your decision:
Which Missouri license or certificate is this exact track designed to support, and which requirements remain after graduation?
What is the total cost and term-by-term schedule for my residency status and enrollment pace?
Who approves and helps arrange practicum and internship sites near where I will live?
What recent program-level completion, credential-exam, and employment outcomes can the school document?
Is the exact program currently CACREP-accredited, if that designation matters to my goals, and what does the school disclose about other states?
Check accreditation against CACREP's program directory and verify state requirements with the relevant Missouri authority (Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs; Missouri Committee for Professional Counselors; Missouri DESE). Red flags include an undocumented promise of licensure, a cost quote that omits fieldwork-related expenses, or an online program that leaves local placement arrangements unclear. A ranking is a starting point; written answers to these questions make it a decision tool.
View the chart data as a table
Programs by specialization (Source: Research.com)
Category
Value
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
6
School Counseling
5
Graduates may pursue school counseling, clinical mental health counseling, addiction counseling, or related behavioral health work, depending on their education, supervised experience, and credentials. A master's can also precede doctoral study, but a doctorate is a separate educational decision, not an automatic next step. Job titles alone can be misleading: check each employer's required Missouri license or certificate before treating an opening as a realistic outcome of your degree (Missouri Committee for Professional Counselors; Missouri DESE).
If you are changing careers, compare your likely entry point with your current pay and benefits. Someone seeking clinical practice should account for any supervised post-degree stage, while a prospective school counselor should consider the school calendar and district hiring requirements. Those distinctions matter more to return on investment than a broad "counselor" salary figure.
View the chart data as a table
Best score distribution across ranked programs (Source: Research.com)
Category
Value
87-87
2
88-88
0
89-89
1
90-90
0
91-91
4
92-92
1
93-93
2
94-94
1
The national outlook is stronger for some counseling occupations than for others. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 18% employment growth for its substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselor category over 2025-2035, versus 3% for school and career counselors and advisors. These are U.S. projections, not forecasts of Missouri openings or assurances of employment in either path.
For a local read, search Missouri vacancies by the credential you expect to hold and by the area where you can work. Compare community agencies, health systems, and school districts; note whether postings require independent licensure, supervised status, or educator certification. That exercise can reveal a mismatch between an appealing specialization and the jobs accessible in your preferred part of the state before you take on graduate debt.
2027 Best Master's in Counseling Degree Programs Ranking in Missouri
Education is a significant investment, so Research.com designed its ranking to make program comparisons more credible and useful. The team evaluates graduate outcomes, accreditation, applicable licensure-exam results, and cost rather than relying on reputation alone; it applies the same method to online and on-campus programs.
For the Best ranking, Research.com first combines program completion (40%), employment or doctoral admission (20%), applicable licensure-exam pass rates (20%), CACREP programmatic accreditation (16%), and institutional Title IV eligibility (4%). Inapplicable criteria are excluded and the remaining shares renormalized. Cost then contributes about 7% of the final score. The underlying ranking draws on these data sources:
IPEDS database - institutional enrollment, completions, and cost reporting.
The ranking can narrow a shortlist, but no composite score can establish whether a particular curriculum meets your intended credential requirements or whether its placement schedule fits your life. Review the program's current disclosures alongside the ranking. Research.com explains its approach further on its methodology page.
# 1 position
University of Missouri-St Louis
Master
Master of Education in School Counseling
Delivery mode: campus
94.17
/ 100
Final score
Specialization
School Counseling
Required credits
60 semester credits
GPA range
3.00 - 4.00
Program completion rate
97% (2024-25)
Employment or doctoral admission
100% (2024-25)
Licensure exam pass rate
100% (2024-25)
Application deadline
Fall: March 1; Spring: October 1
Application process
direct
GRE
optional
Prerequisites
Earned baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university with an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher
Additional requirements
Online UMSL Graduate School Application (Personal Essays, Supplemental Application), official transcripts from all colleges/universities, 2 letters of recommendation evaluating recent academic performance, GRE optional
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 Counseling Program Score of 94.17/100, supported by 100% licensure exam pass rate and 97% program completion rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2033-10-31.
# 2 position
Missouri State University-Springfield
Master
M.S. in Counseling
Delivery mode: campus
93.75
/ 100
Final score
Program length
2.5 years (full-time)
Specialization
School Counseling
Program completion rate
100% (2023-24)
Employment or doctoral admission
100% (2023-24)
Licensure exam pass rate
90% (2023-24)
Application deadline
Fall: January 25; Spring: September 22
Prerequisites
For school counseling certification, Missouri requires either a teaching certificate or three additional education courses, and a passing score on the Missouri Educator Gateway Assessment (MEGA) for Student Services-Counselor.
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 Counseling Program Score of 93.75/100, supported by 90% licensure exam pass rate and 100% program completion rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2032-03-31.
# 3 position
University of Central Missouri
Master
Master of Science in Counseling
Delivery mode: hybrid
93.29
/ 100
Final score
Program length
36-48 months
Specialization
School Counseling
Required credits
60 semester credits
GPA range
2.50 - 4.00
Application process
direct
GRE
yes
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).
University of Central Missouri earned a Research.com Counseling Program Score of 93.29/100. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2034-10-31.
# 4 position
University of Missouri-St Louis
Master
Master of Education in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Delivery mode: campus
92.35
/ 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 Counseling Program Score of 92.35/100, supported by 97% licensure exam pass rate and 88% program completion rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2033-10-31.
# 5 position
Southeast Missouri State University
Master
Master of Arts in School Counseling
Delivery mode: campus
91.58
/ 100
Final score
Specialization
School Counseling
Required credits
60 semester credits
GPA range
3.00 - 4.00
Employment or doctoral admission
90%
Application deadline
Fall: Feb 1; Spring: Oct 1; Summer: Feb 1
Application process
direct
GRE
no
Prerequisites
Valid teaching certification, or competency via an exceptional child/special needs course (EX390 or EX635) and an instructional strategies course (EA658 or SE635); these do not count toward the degree.
Additional requirements
GPA 3.0+ (probationary 2.75-2.99 or 3.25 last 60 hrs); three recommendation letters in total; personal statement; faculty interview; CP610 in first semester for full admission; IELTS 7.0/TOEFL iBT 95 for international applicants.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Southeast Missouri State University earned a Research.com Counseling Program Score of 91.58/100, with 90% employment or doctoral admission rate among the verified supporting factors. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2030-10-31.
# 6 position
Missouri Baptist University
Master
Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Delivery mode: hybrid
91.17
/ 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 Counseling Program Score of 91.17/100. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2029-10-31.
# 7 position
Covenant Theological Seminary
Master
Master of Arts in Counseling
Delivery mode: campus
91.09
/ 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 Counseling Program Score of 91.09/100, supported by 80.96% program completion rate and 100% employment or doctoral admission rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2031-03-31.
# 8 position
Evangel University
Master
Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Delivery mode: hybrid
91.02
/ 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 Counseling Program Score of 91.02/100, supported by 70% program completion rate and 100% employment or doctoral admission rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2027-10-31.
# 9 position
Missouri State University-Springfield
Master
Master of Science in Counseling - Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Delivery mode: campus
89.84
/ 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 Counseling Program Score of 89.84/100, supported by 100% program completion rate and 67% employment or doctoral admission rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2032-03-31.
# 10 position
Evangel University
Master
Master of Science in School Counseling
Delivery mode: hybrid
87.93
/ 100
Final score
Program length
9 semesters
Specialization
School Counseling
Required credits
60 semester credits
GPA range
3.00 - 4.00
Program completion rate
50% (2024-25)
Employment or doctoral admission
100% (2024-25)
Application deadline
Summer start (May): Apply by April 1; enroll by April 15.
Application process
direct
GRE
Conditional: GRE (minimum 290 combined and 3.0 writing) required if GPA (last 60 hours) 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 a combined general GRE score of at least 290. Conditional admission may be considered below these 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 Counseling Program Score of 87.93/100, supported by 50% program completion rate and 100% employment or doctoral admission rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2027-10-31.
# 11 position
University of Central Missouri
Master
Master of Science in Counseling – Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Delivery mode: campus
87.80
/ 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 Counseling Program Score of 87.8/100, supported by 26.5% program completion rate and 99% employment or doctoral admission rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2034-10-31.
Frequently asked questions about Counseling degree in Missouri
Is a counseling master's required to become a licensed professional counselor in Missouri?
Graduate counseling education is part of the pathway, but a degree alone does not confer a license. Check the Missouri Committee for Professional Counselors' current education, examination, and supervised-experience requirements against the exact program you are considering.
Can a clinical mental health counseling degree qualify me to be a Missouri school counselor?
Do not assume so. Missouri school-counselor certification is administered by DESE and is distinct from professional counselor licensure. Ask the program and DESE whether your proposed coursework and fieldwork meet the school pathway's requirements.
Is CACREP accreditation necessary for every counseling job?
No single accreditation claim answers every employer's or state's requirements. Verify the exact program's CACREP status, then ask the relevant Missouri credentialing authority how that status affects your intended pathway (Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs; Missouri Committee for Professional Counselors; Missouri DESE).
Can I complete a Missouri counseling master's entirely online?
Coursework may be online, but supervised practicum and internship require approved practical experience. Confirm site approval, supervision, and any campus-visit requirements before enrolling.
How should I compare the return on two programs?
Compare total net cost and likely borrowing alongside completion time, fieldwork-related lost earnings, documented outcomes, and the jobs each track actually prepares you to seek. National occupational medians are context, not a forecast of your first salary.
See What Experts Have To Say About Studying Counseling
