2027 Most Affordable Counseling Degree Programs Ranking in Mississippi

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a May 2025 national median annual wage of $59,350 for the occupation encompassing substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors. That is a midpoint for employed workers nationwide - not an entry-level offer, a Mississippi-specific wage, or a return attributable to a particular master's program.

For school and career counselors and advisors, the corresponding national median was $64,330 in May 2025 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). Compare the occupation that fits your intended credential, then check current local job advertisements for pay, required licensure, and supervision provisions. This is more useful for budgeting than applying a national median to your first post-graduation job.

The programs below differ most clearly in the credential and professional direction they offer. Those distinctions matter more than a general claim that every program provides counseling training. Program descriptions are drawn from the institutions' published program pages; confirm current curriculum, placement arrangements, accreditation status, and costs before applying.

• University of Mississippi - Master of Education in Counselor Education: The M. Ed. places counseling preparation within an education degree rather than a seminary or marriage-and-family-specific degree. It is worth examining if you want counselor education training, but ask the university which concentration and Mississippi credential requirements your proposed course plan satisfies (University of Mississippi).
• Mississippi Christian University - M. Ed. in School Counseling: This is a school-focused education degree, unlike the university's separate mental health and marriage-and-family master's options. It is the relevant option to investigate if your goal is work in schools; verify Mississippi Department of Education certification requirements against its current curriculum (Mississippi Christian University).
• Mississippi Christian University - M.S. in Mental Health Counseling: The M.S. identifies mental health counseling as its practice focus rather than school certification. Prospective clinical practitioners should compare its required clinical placements and coursework with Mississippi professional counselor licensure rules (Mississippi Christian University; Mississippi State Board of Examiners for Licensed Professional Counselors).
• Mississippi Christian University - M.S. in Marriage and Family Counseling: Its distinct marriage-and-family focus offers a clearer starting point for applicants interested in relationship-centered practice than the institution's school counseling M. Ed. Ask which Mississippi license the current degree is designed to support; a program title alone does not establish eligibility (Mississippi Christian University).
• Mississippi State University - Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Meridian: The published Meridian location distinguishes this clinical mental health option for students assessing campus access and nearby fieldwork. Confirm where required classes and placements occur before assuming the location reduces commuting throughout the degree (Mississippi State University).
• Mississippi State University - Master's in School Counseling: This school-counseling route targets a different credential from the university's clinical mental health option. Compare its certification alignment and placement requirements with the clinical program rather than choosing between them on tuition alone (Mississippi State University; Mississippi Department of Education).
• University of Mississippi - Ph.D. in Counselor Education: The doctorate is a research and advanced-professional pathway, not a lower-cost substitute for an entry-to-practice master's. It deserves consideration if your goal includes counselor education or scholarship and you can evaluate funding and time out of the workforce (University of Mississippi).
• Mississippi State University - Doctoral Program in Counselor Education: This is another doctoral-level choice rather than the university's school-counseling master's route. Compare its current research, teaching, and funding expectations directly with those of the University of Mississippi before choosing a doctoral program (Mississippi State University).
• Reformed Theological Seminary - Master of Arts in Counseling: A seminary-based counseling degree offers a substantially different institutional setting from the university programs. Students interested in that environment should still obtain written confirmation of how the curriculum meets the particular state credential they intend to pursue (Reformed Theological Seminary; Mississippi State Board of Examiners for Licensed Professional Counselors).

These are program comparisons, not claims that every option has the same accreditation, licensure pathway, or price. For a broader quality-oriented comparison, see Mississippi's best counseling programs.

A counseling master's commonly takes about two to three years of full-time study; part-time enrollment can take longer. A bachelor's degree typically takes about four years before graduate study, while a counselor education doctorate adds multiple years after prior graduate preparation. These are planning ranges, not promised completion times: required courses, field-site availability, and a school's sequencing determine the actual schedule.

Ask for a term-by-term plan showing when practicum and internship begin. An accelerated course calendar saves little time if placement hours cannot fit your job schedule; a slower plan may be more affordable if it lets you remain employed.

Online study can reduce routine travel for students far from a campus, while on-campus study may make scheduled interaction and local faculty access easier. Neither format eliminates supervised field training. Before choosing an online program, ask whether any residencies are required, who secures placements, and whether sites near your home will be approved.

Delivery format does not by itself establish Mississippi licensure or certification eligibility. Check the specific program and concentration against the appropriate state authority, including any requirements tied to where you intend to practice after graduating (Mississippi State Board of Examiners for Licensed Professional Counselors; Mississippi Department of Education). For another view of student demand, compare the state's most popular counseling programs; popularity does not establish credential fit.

There is no single reliable average that represents every Mississippi counseling degree: undergraduate tuition, graduate tuition, program fees, residency status, and required credits are different measures. NCES IPEDS publishes institution-level tuition and fees, but those figures are not necessarily the total price of a particular counseling program. Rather than substitute an institution-wide average for a program quote, request a current written estimate from each school (National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS).

Compare tuition for all required credits, mandatory fees, books, travel to placements, and any lost earnings during fieldwork. Check resident and nonresident rates at public universities and ask how residency is determined. A lower per-credit price can lose its advantage if a program requires more paid credits or a schedule that prevents you from working.

Submit the FAFSA and ask each financial aid office for a graduate-specific award estimate. Depending on eligibility and the school, options may include federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans, assistantships, institutional scholarships, and employer tuition support; undergraduate aid rules should not be assumed to apply to a master's or doctorate (Federal Student Aid). Ask whether funding continues during internships and whether assistantship duties conflict with field hours.

Compare net cost and likely borrowing, not the size of an initial aid offer. An assistantship may improve affordability but extend completion time; employer support may require continued employment. Check current federal loan eligibility and terms through Federal Student Aid before accepting a financing plan.

Master's applicants generally need a completed bachelor's degree and must meet the school's published academic and application requirements. Programs may request transcripts, recommendations, a statement of purpose, an interview, or prerequisite coursework; doctoral admissions usually assess previous graduate preparation and research interests. Requirements vary by program, so rely on its current admissions page rather than assuming that a psychology major - or an existing counseling license - is universally required (University of Mississippi; Mississippi State University; Mississippi Christian University).

Before paying an application fee, ask admissions which previous credits can transfer and whether a transfer would reduce both required tuition and time to completion. Separately ask the relevant state board or education authority whether the completed program, not merely admission to it, would satisfy the educational portion of your intended credential.

Practice-oriented programs commonly cover counseling theories and techniques, ethics, assessment, lifespan development, multicultural counseling, research, and supervised practicum or internship. School counseling also emphasizes work in educational settings; clinical mental health programs focus on clinical assessment and treatment; marriage-and-family study centers relationship and family systems. Exact titles and required hours depend on the program (University of Mississippi; Mississippi State University; Mississippi Christian University).

Read the required-course sequence rather than counting electives alone. If a school cannot show how its courses and supervised training map to the credential you want, treat that as a reason to pause before enrolling.

The clearest choices among the identified Mississippi programs are school counseling, clinical mental health counseling, and marriage-and-family counseling, plus doctoral study in counselor education. School counseling suits applicants seeking a school-based role; clinical mental health better matches an interest in behavioral health practice. Marriage-and-family counseling warrants a closer look if relationship-centered work is the primary goal, while a counselor education doctorate fits advanced academic or supervisory ambitions (program pages of University of Mississippi, Mississippi State University, and Mississippi Christian University).

Do not assume a concentration label confers a license. For each option, compare the official course plan with the Mississippi authority governing your intended credential - and with another state's rules if you expect to move.

Start with the job and credential, then compare only programs that plausibly meet that goal. A ranking can narrow the field, but accreditation, eligibility, completion logistics, and total price require program-level confirmation. The following checks help expose costly mismatches before enrollment:

1. Identify the intended role and ask the Mississippi licensing board or Department of Education which degree, coursework, supervised experience, and examinations apply.
2. Verify the institution's recognized accreditation, the program's current CACREP status where relevant, and the state's actual educational rules; do not assume that CACREP recognition is either universal or sufficient by itself.
3. Request a written degree map and full program cost, including fieldwork timing, fees, likely aid, and any transferable credits.
4. Ask where recent students completed placements and what happens if a local site is unavailable.
5. Compare the resulting debt and time away from work against realistic jobs you could pursue, not a promised salary.

For an additional outcomes-and-cost perspective, consult Mississippi's most valuable counseling programs. A warning sign is any claim that graduation alone grants professional licensure: degree completion, examination, supervised experience, and state approval are distinct steps (Mississippi State Board of Examiners for Licensed Professional Counselors).

A clinical mental health degree may lead toward behavioral health counseling; a school counseling degree toward school-based counseling; and a marriage-and-family-focused degree toward relationship and family services, subject in each case to employer and credential rules. A counselor education doctorate can support applications for teaching, research, and advanced supervision roles. The degree is a step on a path, not an employment or licensure guarantee.

For someone already working in human services, a graduate degree may be worthwhile if it is required for the specific role sought and the likely career improvement justifies tuition, borrowing, and reduced work hours. Someone seeking a faster move into an unlicensed support position should first compare jobs that accept existing education or a shorter credential. The right calculation includes baseline earnings, expected post-degree earnings, completion probability, aid, debt, opportunity cost, and how long you expect to work after graduating.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 18% national employment growth from 2025 to 2035 for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors. This indicates broad occupational demand, but it is not a Mississippi forecast or a measure of openings for newly licensed graduates. For school and career counselors and advisors, the corresponding national projection is 3%, underscoring why the intended specialty matters (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections).

Check Mississippi postings by setting, location, credential, and experience requirement before enrolling. In less populous areas, the central question may be whether you can secure both a qualifying placement and an appropriate first job within commuting distance. If moving is not feasible, weigh that constraint as heavily as the tuition quote.

Research.com created this ranking because investing in an education is a consequential decision, and a low advertised price is useful only when considered alongside program quality and outcomes. Its team reviews multiple education datasets and program measures to improve the ranking's credibility and accuracy, helping readers build a shortlist rather than treating any one position as a substitute for personal due diligence.

Research.com's counseling rankings consider program completion, employment or doctoral admission, applicable licensure-exam pass rates, CACREP recognition, federal Title IV eligibility, and program cost. For the Best ranking, a graduate-outcomes-and-accreditation score weights completion at 40%, employment or doctoral admission at 20%, applicable exam results at 20%, CACREP recognition at 16%, and Title IV eligibility at 4%; weights are adjusted when a measure does not apply. Cost contributes about 7% of that ranking's final score. Other rankings order programs by the dimension named in their titles; the same approach applies to online and campus programs.

The team used the following sources to check institutional, program, and student-outcome information:

• IPEDS database: institutional reporting on enrollment, completion, and costs.
• Peterson's database: program and institutional information.
• College Scorecard database: federal institutional cost and outcome measures.
• National Center for Education Statistics: federal education data and definitions.

These measures can help identify programs to investigate, but published data may lag current tuition or program changes. Readers can review more about the process on Research.com's methodology page, then confirm current prices and credential eligibility directly with each school.

• 2027 Most Affordable Counseling Degree Programs Ranking in Florida
• 2027 Most Affordable Counseling Degree Programs Ranking in Massachusetts
• 2027 Most Affordable Counseling Degree Programs Ranking in Montana
• 2027 Most Affordable Counseling Degree Programs Ranking in California
• 2027 Most Affordable Online Counseling Degree Programs Ranking in Louisiana
• 2027 Most Affordable Online Counseling Degree Programs Ranking in Alabama
• 2027 Most Affordable Online Counseling Degree Programs Ranking in Tennessee
• 2027 Most Affordable Online Counseling Degree Programs Ranking in Florida
• 2027 Most Affordable Online Counseling Degree Programs Ranking in Missouri
• 2027 Most Affordable Online Counseling Degree Programs Ranking in Georgia

• 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/
• O*NET OnLine - Mental Health Counselors (21-1014)
  Verified professional/licensure/career reference.
  https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/21-1014.00
• University of Mississippi - M. Ed. in Counselor Education - School Counseling
  Official program page (curriculum, tuition, admissions).
  https://olemiss.edu/programs/educ/master-education-counselor-education/
• University of Mississippi - M. Ed. in Counselor Education - Clinical Mental Health Counseling
  Official program page (curriculum, tuition, admissions).
  https://olemiss.edu/programs/educ/master-education-counselor-education/
• Mississippi Christian University - School Counseling, M. Ed.
  Official program page (curriculum, tuition, admissions).
  https://www.mc.edu/academics/departments/counseling/graduate-programs/school-counseling-med
• Mississippi Christian University - Mental Health Counseling (M.S.)
  Official program page (curriculum, tuition, admissions).
  https://www.mc.edu/academics/departments/counseling/graduate-programs/mental-health-counseling-ms
• Mississippi Christian University - Marriage and Family Counseling (M.S.)
  Official program page (curriculum, tuition, admissions).
  https://www.mc.edu/academics/departments/counseling/graduate-programs/marriage-family-counseling-ms