2027 Most Popular Master's in Counseling Degree Programs Ranking in Miami

National occupational medians offer a benchmark, not a starting-salary quote for Miami. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports the following May 2025 median annual wages for occupations associated with these paths. Actual pay depends on role, employer, experience, and credentials.

These are occupation-level medians, not earnings measured for graduates of particular master's programs. For an investment decision, compare plausible post-degree earnings with what you would earn without enrolling, then account for debt, time out of work, and the time needed to qualify for a desired credential.

The clearest distinction among these Miami-area options is the professional direction each curriculum serves. Compare the specific degree requirements and current program disclosures - not the university name alone - before treating any option as a match.

• Barry University, M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling: This is Barry's clinical counseling route rather than its school counseling route. It is the more relevant option to investigate if your goal is mental health practice; confirm its current Florida licensure-alignment disclosure and placement arrangements with Barry University.
• Florida International University, M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling: FIU offers a clinical pathway distinct from its school and rehabilitation programs. Students comparing clinical options should ask FIU how its field placement process, scheduling, and stated licensure preparation differ from Barry's (Florida International University).
• Florida International University, M.S. in Rehabilitation Counseling: Its rehabilitation focus distinguishes it from the clinical mental health and school routes in this group. It merits a closer look if disability-related counseling and vocational goals interest you more than a school counselor position (Florida International University).
• Barry University, M.S. in School Counseling: This route centers school counseling rather than Barry's clinical mental health track. Ask how Barry arranges school-based placements and documents alignment with Florida school counselor certification requirements (Barry University).
• Florida International University, M.S. in School Counseling: FIU's school-focused route should be compared directly with Barry's on certification alignment, placement access, and total cost. It is a better match to investigate for a K-12 goal than FIU's clinical or rehabilitation degrees (Florida International University).

Program descriptions establish the focus of each route, but they do not establish that every applicant will secure a preferred placement or qualify for a credential. For a broader comparison, review the best counseling programs alongside current program handbooks.

Plan on approximately two years for a full-time counseling master's; part-time enrollment may take longer. The decisive scheduling constraint is often practicum or internship attendance, not the number of evening classes. Ask for a term-by-term plan showing when fieldwork starts, how placements are assigned, and whether courses required for a chosen track are offered every term.

Finishing coursework is also different from becoming licensed. Florida mental health counselor applicants must meet education, examination, and supervised-experience requirements set by the state board. Build that post-graduation period into your career and earnings plan (Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling).

Online study can reduce trips to class, but it does not remove supervised fieldwork. A campus-based program may make in-person contact easier, while an online format can better suit a working student whose class schedule is restrictive. Neither format, by itself, establishes Florida credential eligibility.

For any online or hybrid option, ask whether the school arranges Miami-area placements or expects you to find one, whether supervision meets the relevant program requirements, and whether the curriculum is intended to satisfy Florida rules. If you may move, check the destination state separately; licensure requirements vary by state.

There is no single reliable "Miami counseling master's average" that captures differences in program length, residency pricing, fees, and aid. Use each school's current graduate tuition schedule to calculate the price of the entire required program, then add books, commuting, and placement-related costs. For a public option, confirm whether you qualify for Florida resident tuition; for a private option, compare the actual aid offer rather than assuming the published price is final.

Two programs with similar tuition can impose different costs if one takes longer or makes paid employment difficult during fieldwork. Compare net cost and borrowing with the most affordable counseling programs, then request a written estimate from each school.

Start with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and each school's graduate-aid office. Potential funding includes institutional scholarships, assistantships, employer tuition benefits, and federal graduate loans, subject to eligibility. Ask whether an award renews during internship terms and whether it requires a course load you can realistically maintain (Federal Student Aid).

Do not assume Graduate PLUS will fill a funding gap. Federal rules effective in 2026 restrict new graduate borrowers' access to Graduate PLUS, while certain continuing borrowers may qualify under transition provisions; check your own eligibility with Federal Student Aid and the school before relying on it. Compare repayment exposure and likely earnings, not just the size of an aid package (Federal Student Aid).

The most valuable counseling programs offer another comparison, but value for you also depends on your aid, existing earnings, completion prospects, and intended career.

Expect to need a bachelor's degree and to submit the materials required by the individual program, which may include transcripts, recommendations, a statement of purpose, and an interview. Schools can differ on prerequisite coursework and admission standards; confirm these directly with Barry University or Florida International University rather than assuming one policy applies to every counseling track.

Before applying, ask admissions two separate questions: "Am I eligible to enter?" and "Does this particular curriculum meet the educational requirements for my intended Florida credential?" Admission is not a determination of future licensure or certification.

Common subjects include counseling theories, ethics, assessment, multicultural counseling, research, and supervised practicum or internship. Track-specific study changes the decision: clinical students should inspect preparation in diagnosis and treatment; school counseling students should inspect school systems and student-support practice; rehabilitation students should inspect disability and vocational counseling content.

Request the current course sequence and fieldwork handbook. A course title alone cannot show whether its content and supervised experience satisfy a licensing board's or certification authority's rules.

The program choices discussed here represent three distinct directions: clinical mental health, school, and rehabilitation counseling (Barry University; Florida International University). Choose by intended role rather than by a broadly appealing program title. If your goal is independent mental health treatment, investigate the clinical pathway and Florida licensure requirements; if it is K-12 student support, investigate the school pathway and certification rules.

Rehabilitation counseling deserves separate consideration if your preferred work concerns disability and employment or independent-living goals. Someone who wants a different regulated role, such as marriage and family therapy, should verify that a prospective degree specifically prepares them for that credential instead of assuming all counseling specializations are interchangeable.

Start with the job you want, then work backward through its credential and training requirements. A popularity ranking can introduce options, but it cannot tell you whether a program's placements, schedule, and net price fit your circumstances.

Use this sequence when speaking with programs:

1. Identify the Florida license or certification associated with your target role, and check the relevant state authority's current requirements.
2. Verify the institution's accreditation and any programmatic accreditation you need; check CACREP's directory rather than assuming every counseling track has the same status.
3. Request the full course sequence, fieldwork rules, placement support details, and policy on previously earned graduate credits.
4. Compare written total-cost and aid estimates, including the effect of part-time study or reduced work hours.
5. Ask for track-specific completion, exam, and employment information where available, including the reporting period and the number of students represented.

A common mistake is choosing the lowest advertised tuition without checking placement logistics or credential alignment. Another is treating a national occupation median as a promised return on investment. The better choice is the program you can finish, afford, and use toward your specific goal.

Clinical mental health graduates may pursue supervised roles on a path toward Florida mental health counselor licensure; school counseling graduates may pursue positions subject to Florida educator certification and hiring requirements; rehabilitation counseling graduates may seek disability-services and vocational-support roles. Job titles and scope of practice depend on the credential and employer, not the degree name alone (Florida licensing board; Florida Department of Education).

Consider a different degree if your target occupation requires another professional license or if you are unwilling to complete required supervised practice after graduation. If you are changing careers, ask programs how they help students obtain their first relevant placement: that experience can be more useful to evaluate than a general list of possible job titles.

National projections show differing demand across counseling occupations. The BLS projects 18% growth for the occupation associated with mental health and addiction counseling during 2025-2035, compared with 3% for school counseling and 2% for rehabilitation counseling. These U.S. projections indicate the direction of national demand, not the number of openings available to a new graduate in Miami.

For a local decision, review current Miami-area postings for the exact role you want and note whether employers require a license, eligibility for supervision, school certification, bilingual skills, or particular clinical experience. Separate roles open to graduates from roles requiring a completed credential; counting both together can overstate your immediate options.

Investing in a master's degree is a consequential decision. Research.com developed its counseling rankings to give readers a more consistent way to compare programs, using education and outcomes data rather than relying on promotional descriptions alone. Popularity is one way to explore programs; it should not be mistaken for a measure of personal fit or a guaranteed career outcome.

Research.com's counseling rankings assess graduate outcomes, applicable licensure exam pass rates, accreditation, federal Title IV eligibility, and program cost. Its Best ranking first combines program completion (40%), employment or doctoral admission (20%), applicable licensure exam results (20%), CACREP accreditation (16%), and Title IV eligibility (4%); weights are adjusted when a measure does not apply. Cost contributes about 7% of the final Best score. Other rankings order programs by the dimension named in the ranking.

The team used the following sources to check program and institutional information:

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

These sources help readers narrow their options, but program-specific tuition, accreditation status, and licensure eligibility can change. Verify those details directly before applying. Read more about how Research.com creates its rankings.

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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/
• NBCC - NCE / NCMHCE
  Verified professional/licensure/career reference.
  https://www.nbcc.org/exams
• Barry University - Counseling, MS - Clinical Mental Health Counseling
  Official program page (curriculum, tuition, admissions).
  https://www.barry.edu/en/academics/education/counseling-ms/clinical-mental-health-counseling
• Florida International University - MS in Counselor Education: Clinical Mental Health Counseling Major
  Official program page (curriculum, tuition, admissions).
  https://case.fiu.edu/crsp/students/graduate/ms-clinical-mental-health-counseling/
• Florida International University - MS in Counselor Education: Rehabilitation Counseling Major
  Official program page (curriculum, tuition, admissions).
  https://case.fiu.edu/crsp/students/graduate/ms-rehabilitation-counseling/
• Barry University - M.S. in Counseling - School Counseling
  Official program page (curriculum, tuition, admissions).
  https://www.barry.edu/en/academics/education/counseling-ms/school-counseling
• Florida International University - MS in Counselor Education: School Counseling Major
  Official program page (curriculum, tuition, admissions).
  https://case.fiu.edu/crsp/students/graduate/ms-school-counseling/