Choosing a counseling degree in New York means choosing a career pathway - not just a school. A clinical mental health program, a school counseling program, and a rehabilitation counseling program can lead toward different credentials and workplaces. This guide explains how to compare their requirements, costs, timelines, and career prospects. It also features the 2027 Best Counseling Degree Programs Ranking in New York, created by the Research.com team of data scientists to help students make an informed choice about which programs are worth considering.
Key findings about Counseling degrees in New York
Choose the credential first: New York's licensed mental health counselor, school counselor, and rehabilitation counseling pathways have different education and employment implications; a counseling degree does not automatically confer a license or certificate (New York State Education Department).
Clinical mental health and addiction-related counseling roles have a $59,350 national median annual wage as of May 2025 and projected employment growth of 18% for 2025-2035. These occupational figures are not graduate salary forecasts (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
For prospective licensed mental health counselors, New York requires qualifying graduate education and post-degree supervised experience. Check the program's state eligibility before comparing tuition or delivery format (New York State Education Department).
What can I expect from a Counseling degree in New York?
Expect counseling theory, assessment, ethics, supervised practice, and work with clients or students. The essential distinction is which credential the curriculum supports. A bachelor's degree can build relevant skills or prepare you for graduate admission, but it is not, by itself, the qualifying graduate education for New York mental health counselor licensure (New York State Education Department).
A clinical mental health master's is the route to investigate if you want to pursue licensed therapy practice. School counseling programs instead prepare candidates for work in K-12 schools under New York's school counselor certification rules. Rehabilitation counseling emphasizes disability, employment, and independent-living services; its graduates may pursue different roles or credentials depending on their coursework and goals (New York State Education Department).
The degree is most likely worth considering if a specific counseling role requires it and you can accommodate supervised training and potential post-graduation credentialing. If your goal is research or teaching rather than direct practice, compare doctoral study; if you want a different clinical scope, compare social work or marriage and family therapy before committing.
Where can I work with a Counseling degree in New York?
Work settings depend on specialization and credentials. Mental health counseling graduates may seek roles in community clinics, hospitals, group practices, or private practice when appropriately licensed. School counselors work in educational settings; rehabilitation counselors may work with disability-service organizations, vocational programs, or healthcare teams (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics; New York State Education Department).
Location affects your placement options as well as your eventual job search. A student based near New York City may have access to a different mix of clinical agencies than a student studying elsewhere in the state. Ask each program where its recent students completed fieldwork and whether sites are realistically accessible from your home or workplace; an available placement is more useful than a long list of possible employers.
There is no single "counseling degree salary." The table shows national occupational medians from the May 2025 wage reference period and national employment projections for 2025-2035. Use them to compare career directions, not to predict a New York job offer or a new graduate's pay (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook and Employment Projections).
Career direction
National median annual wage, May 2025
Projected national job growth, 2025-2035
Clinical mental health or addiction counseling
$59,350
18%
School counseling
$64,330
3%
Rehabilitation counseling
$46,850
2%
The stronger projected growth for mental health and addiction-related work may make that pathway attractive, but it does not establish that it pays more than a particular school counseling job. For a personal return-on-investment estimate, compare likely local job offers with your current earnings, then account for tuition, borrowing, time away from paid work, and the period needed to qualify for independent practice.
These programs are most useful to compare by intended credential and degree level, not by institution name alone. The published program descriptions establish the distinctions below; verify current credits, placements, outcomes, and tuition with each department before treating a shortlist as final (CUNY Hunter College; Touro University; Pace University).
CUNY Hunter College, School Counseling MSEd: This education-focused graduate program is the relevant Hunter option for applicants aiming at school counseling rather than clinical therapy. Ask how its curriculum and field placements align with New York school counselor certification and the grade levels where you hope to work (CUNY Hunter College).
Touro University, Mental Health Counseling: Touro places this pathway in its School of Health Sciences, distinguishing its academic setting from Hunter's school counseling route. It is an option to investigate for clinical practice, particularly if its supervised placement arrangements fit your location and schedule (Touro University).
Pace University, Mental Health Counseling MS: The MS is Pace's graduate practice pathway, as distinct from its research-oriented PhD. It is the more pertinent Pace program to examine if your immediate goal is master's-level preparation for New York mental health counselor licensure (Pace University).
Pace University, Mental Health Counseling PhD: This doctoral program differs in level and purpose from the master's options: it merits consideration for applicants seeking advanced scholarship or counselor education, rather than a first qualifying clinical degree. Confirm admission prerequisites and whether your existing education meets the requirements for any license you plan to pursue (Pace University).
CUNY Hunter College, Rehabilitation Counseling MSEd: Its rehabilitation focus sets it apart from Hunter's K-12 school counseling program and the mental health programs. It better fits applicants interested in disability-related counseling and vocational goals; check the curriculum against any additional credential you intend to seek (CUNY Hunter College).
Do not read a program title as proof of licensure eligibility. Request its current curriculum, fieldwork requirements, credential-alignment statement, and program-level outcomes before applying.
A counseling master's commonly takes about 2-3 years of full-time study; part-time attendance can take longer. Actual completion depends on course sequencing and when a required practicum or internship is available. A doctorate typically adds several years beyond a master's, with research and dissertation timing varying by student and program.
For prospective New York licensed mental health counselors, graduation is not the end of the timeline: qualifying supervised experience and examination requirements also apply (New York State Education Department). If you need to remain employed while studying, ask whether required daytime fieldwork is compatible with your job. An accelerated classroom schedule may not accelerate access to a placement or license.
Online delivery may reduce commuting and make coursework easier to fit around employment; campus study may make scheduled in-person collaboration simpler. Neither format eliminates supervised field training, and neither makes a program automatically eligible for a New York credential.
Before choosing an online program, obtain written answers about where you may complete fieldwork, who secures and approves the site, whether any campus visits are required, and how the curriculum satisfies the credential you want. This matters especially if you live far from the university - or plan to qualify in New York while studying through an institution based elsewhere. New York's education and licensure requirements still need to be checked against the specific program (New York State Education Department).
There is no reliable single price for the programs discussed here: they differ by degree level, required credits, attendance pattern, and institution. A statewide average would be a poor substitute for the total cost of the particular program you could attend. IPEDS publishes institutional tuition and fee data, but an institution-wide figure may not equal a counseling graduate student's bill (National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS).
Request a current program-specific estimate covering tuition, mandatory fees, fieldwork-related expenses, and the number of terms you expect to enroll. At public institutions, confirm the residency classification applied to your quote rather than assuming every New York student receives the same rate. Compare that estimate - and your likely grant aid and borrowing - with most affordable counseling programs. A cheaper term is not necessarily a cheaper degree if the schedule extends enrollment or reduces your ability to work.
Start with each university's graduate assistantships, scholarships, and payment options, then submit the FAFSA to determine eligibility for federal aid. Graduate students should not assume that aid advertised to undergraduates - including Pell Grants - will apply to a counseling master's. Ask the financial aid office for an award estimate based on your actual enrollment pattern (Federal Student Aid).
Graduate PLUS requires particular attention for 2027 entrants. Under the federal transition rules beginning July 1, 2026, new graduate borrowers generally cannot take out Graduate PLUS loans. Certain students who were already enrolled in a program and had received a Direct Loan for that program before that date may retain limited eligibility during the transition; confirm your individual status and applicable time limit with Federal Student Aid and your school (Federal Student Aid).
Compare net cost after grants with the debt you would need to take on. The most valuable counseling programs offer another comparison point, but your own assessment should include completion prospects, forgone earnings, repayment, and the type of job you expect to pursue.
View the chart data as a table
Projected job growth 2025-2035 - Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors (U.S.) (Source: BLS)
Category
Value
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors
18
All occupations
3
Master's applicants generally need a bachelor's degree; individual programs set their own rules for prerequisite courses, grades, recommendations, statements, interviews, and any testing. Doctoral applicants should check whether a relevant master's degree, clinical experience, or a research proposal is expected. Use the current admissions page for each program rather than assuming that requirements transfer between schools (CUNY Hunter College; Touro University; Pace University).
Admission and professional eligibility are separate checks. If you aim to become a New York licensed mental health counselor, ask whether the degree is New York State Education Department-registered as licensure-qualifying or how the school documents that its coursework meets state requirements. Also verify institutional accreditation and any claimed CACREP program accreditation directly; CACREP status and New York licensure eligibility are not interchangeable claims (New York State Education Department; Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs).
Clinical mental health curricula commonly cover counseling techniques, human development, diagnosis, assessment, ethics, research, and supervised clinical work. School counseling shifts attention toward student development and the school setting; rehabilitation counseling gives greater emphasis to disability, vocational needs, and access to services. Exact courses and required field hours vary by program and credential pathway (New York State Education Department; CUNY Hunter College; Touro University; Pace University).
Read the course sequence, not only the catalog description. A missing required course or a placement that cannot be completed on your schedule can matter more than an appealing elective. If you have graduate transfer credits, request a written evaluation of which courses will count toward the degree and the intended credential.
The clearest choice is often among clinical mental health, school, and rehabilitation counseling. Clinical mental health is the route to examine for therapy-oriented practice; school counseling fits applicants committed to supporting students in educational settings; rehabilitation counseling fits those drawn to disability and vocational services. Addiction-related coursework may also be relevant within a clinical pathway, but an elective focus alone does not establish eligibility for a separate credential (New York State Education Department).
Choose the specialization by working backward from a job description and its required New York credential. For applicants who want to see where student interest is concentrated, the most popular counseling programs provide context - but popularity does not resolve whether a curriculum fits your intended work.
Start with the job you want, then eliminate programs that cannot demonstrate a workable path toward its required credential. For the remaining options, request comparable answers from admissions, the program director, and financial aid:
Identify the exact New York license or school certificate required by your target role, and ask the program to document its curricular alignment (New York State Education Department).
Confirm the institution's accreditation, any relevant programmatic accreditation, required fieldwork, and who is responsible for finding an approved placement.
Get a written total-cost and aid estimate for your intended pace; ask how part-time study, transfer credit, or delayed fieldwork would change it.
Request recent program-level completion, placement, and applicable examination outcomes, including the reporting period and how each measure was defined.
A common mistake is choosing the lowest advertised tuition or highest-ranked name before checking credential eligibility and placements. Another is treating a projected occupational wage as personal post-graduation income. The best investment is the program you can afford and complete that prepares you for the work you actually intend to do.
View the chart data as a table
Best score distribution across ranked programs (Source: Research.com)
Category
Value
78–79
1
80–81
1
82–83
0
84–85
1
86–87
1
88–89
1
A qualifying mental health counseling master's can be a step toward New York licensed mental health counselor practice, subject to the state's additional supervised-experience and examination requirements. A school counseling graduate pathway points toward school counselor certification. Rehabilitation counseling can lead toward vocational or disability-service roles, although the credential required depends on the position (New York State Education Department; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
These are not interchangeable entry routes. If you want independent clinical practice, investigate a qualifying clinical program before a research doctorate; if you want to work in K-12 schools, examine school counselor certification before paying for a general clinical degree. A doctorate may make more sense later for research, teaching, or advanced academic goals than as a substitute for a required practice credential.
View the chart data as a table
Median wage by counseling career path (U.S., BLS May 2025) (Source: BLS)
Category
Value
Psychologists
99,110
Postsecondary Teachers
85,330
Marriage & Family Therapists
66,940
School & Career Counselors
64,330
Mental Health Counselors
59,350
Rehabilitation Counselors
46,850
The national outlook differs sharply by occupation: employment in clinical mental health and addiction-related counseling is projected to grow 18% from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3% for school counseling (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections). That makes career direction a consequential choice, but national growth does not measure openings near a particular New York campus.
For a local reality check, examine current postings in the part of New York where you would work. Note the exact license or certificate requested, whether employers accept limited-permit candidates where applicable, and how much experience they expect. Then ask programs where graduates in your intended specialization have found work. This is more useful than assuming that a statewide market or a national projection describes your first job search.
2027 Best Counseling Degree Programs Ranking in New York
Investing in graduate education is a consequential decision. Research.com designed its counseling rankings to make program comparisons more transparent, using multiple sources and checking outcomes, accreditation, eligibility, and cost rather than relying on reputation alone.
The Best ranking begins with a graduate-outcomes-and-accreditation score: program completion accounts for 40%; employment or doctoral admission, 20%; applicable licensure exam pass rates, 20%; CACREP programmatic accreditation, 16%; and institutional Title IV eligibility, 4%. Weights are adjusted when a criterion does not apply. Program cost then contributes a smaller component - about 7% of the final score. The same approach applies to online and on-campus programs; other Research.com counseling rankings order programs by the dimension named in each ranking.
The team used these data sources to create the ranking:
IPEDS database - institutional reporting on programs, enrollment, completions, and costs.
A ranking is a starting point, not a finding that every listed degree meets your intended license requirements or budget. Use it to build a shortlist, then confirm current program details directly with schools. Research.com explains its broader approach on its methodology page.
# 1 position
CUNY Hunter College
Master
School Counseling (MSEd)
Delivery mode: campus
88.55
/ 100
Final score
Program length
On-time completion defined as 3 years (20 credits per year); part-time or full-time study permitted
Specialization
School Counseling
Required credits
60 semester credits
Acceptance rate
64.8%
GPA range
3.00 - 4.00
Program completion rate
85% (2024-25)
Employment or doctoral admission
73% (2024-25)
Application deadline
Fall: February 1
Class size
21
Application process
direct
GRE
no
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution with a GPA of at least 3.0; 15 to 25 credits of approved courses from anthropology, economics, education, guidance, health sciences, political science, psychology, sociology, and related areas.
Additional requirements
Statement of purpose (400-600 words), an additional essay (400-600 words) on a counseling scenario, two letters of recommendation from professional or academic references; relevant work/volunteer experience highly recommended.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).
CUNY Hunter College earned a Research.com Counseling Program Score of 88.55/100, supported by 85% program completion rate and 73% employment or doctoral admission rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2028-03-31.
# 2 position
Touro University
Master
MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Delivery mode: campus
87.69
/ 100
Final score
Program length
2-year or 3-year plan of study available
Specialization
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Required credits
60 semester credits
GPA range
3.00 - 4.00
Program completion rate
83% (2025-26)
Licensure exam pass rate
83% (2025-26)
Application deadline
Fall: Feb 8 (priority), Mar 25 (final); Spring: Dec 8 (limited to those who completed MNHN 600 or transfer applicants)
Application process
direct
GRE
optional
Prerequisites
Baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution; minimum of 12 semester hours of psychology or related social science courses; an undergraduate course in statistics.
Additional requirements
Baccalaureate degree, min 3.0 GPA, 12 semester hours of psychology/social science coursework, statistics course, an interview with faculty (individual or group) including a brief spontaneous writing sample; English proficiency exam if applicable.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).
Touro University earned a Research.com Counseling Program Score of 87.69/100, supported by 83% licensure exam pass rate and 83% program completion rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2031-10-31.
# 3 position
Pace University
Master
Mental Health Counseling, MS
Delivery mode: campus
85.02
/ 100
Final score
Program length
30–36 months (full-time and part-time)
Specialization
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Required credits
60 semester credits
GPA range
3.00 - 4.00
Program completion rate
98% (2024-25)
Licensure exam pass rate
60% (2024-25)
Application deadline
Fall: January 1, then space available until April 15; Spring: April 1, then space available until July 15
Application process
direct
GRE
no
Prerequisites
Bachelor's in psychology or a related field; others may need two undergraduate psychology courses. Minimum undergraduate GPA 3.0 (3.3 for a completed graduate degree). Provisional acceptance possible with counseling experience.
Additional requirements
Personal statement; resume or outline covering at least five years of employment and significant activities; two academic or professional recommendation letters; official transcripts from every college or university attended.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).
Pace University earned a Research.com Counseling Program Score of 85.02/100, supported by 60% licensure exam pass rate and 98% program completion rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2027-10-31.
# 4 position
Pace University
Doctor
Mental Health Counseling, PhD
Delivery mode: campus
80.63
/ 100
Final score
Specialization
Counselor Education and Supervision
Required credits
60 semester credits
GPA range
3.60 - 4.00
Program completion rate
61.36% (2024-25)
Employment or doctoral admission
100% (2024-25)
Application deadline
Fall: November 1 (then space available basis until January 15)
Application process
direct
GRE
no
Prerequisites
Master's in mental health counseling equivalent to Pace's 60-credit M.S.; graduate GPA 3.6+; NY MHC limited permit eligibility or MHC licensure. Those without graduate statistics in three years must complete a research/statistics course first.
Additional requirements
Letters of recommendation, personal statement, and official academic transcripts; applicants substantially meeting requirements are invited to an interview with the departmental admission screening committee.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).
Pace University earned a Research.com Counseling Program Score of 80.63/100, supported by 61.36% program completion rate and 100% employment or doctoral admission rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2027-10-31.
# 5 position
CUNY Hunter College
Master
Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling (MSEd)
Delivery mode: campus
78.28
/ 100
Final score
Program length
About 2.5 years full-time
Specialization
Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling
Required credits
60 semester credits
Acceptance rate
95.7%
GPA range
2.70 - 4.00
Program completion rate
29% (2024-25)
Employment or doctoral admission
84% (2024-25)
Application deadline
Fall: March 15; Spring: October 15
Class size
16
Application process
direct
GRE
no
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution with a GPA of at least 2.7; 15-25 credits of approved courses from anthropology, economics, education, guidance, health sciences, political science, psychology, sociology, and related areas.
Additional requirements
Statement of purpose (400-600 words); additional essay (400-600 words); two letters of recommendation; a resume.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).
CUNY Hunter College earned a Research.com Counseling Program Score of 78.28/100, supported by 29% program completion rate and 84% employment or doctoral admission rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2028-03-31.
Frequently asked questions about Counseling degree in New York
Do I need a master's degree to become a mental health counselor in New York?
Yes. New York requires qualifying graduate education for licensed mental health counselors, plus applicable examination and supervised-experience requirements. A bachelor's degree alone is not sufficient (New York State Education Department).
Does a counseling master's automatically qualify me for licensure?
No. Eligibility depends on the degree's content and the state's other requirements. Confirm your specific program's New York alignment before enrolling (New York State Education Department).
Is CACREP accreditation required for every New York counseling career?
No single accreditation claim covers every counseling career. Check the requirements for your intended New York license or certificate, and verify any program's claimed CACREP status separately (New York State Education Department; Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs).
Can I complete a New York counseling degree online?
Online coursework may be available, but supervised training still needs an approved arrangement. Ask where placements can occur and whether the program supports the credential you intend to pursue (New York State Education Department).
Should I choose school counseling or mental health counseling?
Choose school counseling if your goal is the school counselor certification pathway and K-12 work. Choose a qualifying mental health counseling program if your goal is clinical mental health counselor licensure; the pathways should not be treated as substitutes (New York State Education Department).
See What Experts Have To Say About Studying Counseling
