Choosing a counseling degree in Miami starts with a career question: Do you want to provide mental health care, work in schools, or help people navigate disability and employment? The answer changes which program, field placement, and Florida credential you need. This article features the 2027 Most Popular Counseling Degree Programs Ranking in Miami, created by the Research.com team of data scientists to help students make an informed choice about programs worth considering. Use it alongside the cost, training, and licensure comparisons below to build a practical shortlist.
Key findings about Counseling degrees in Miami
For Florida mental health counselor licensure, choose a graduate program by its coursework and supervised-training fit - not popularity alone - and confirm eligibility with the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a May 2025 national median wage of $59,350 for the occupation encompassing mental health and substance abuse counselors, with employment projected to grow 18% from 2025 to 2035. Neither figure predicts an individual graduate's earnings.
Miami applicants can compare clinical mental health, school, and rehabilitation counseling options at Barry University and Florida International University; the right choice depends first on the population and credential they intend to pursue.
What can I expect from a Counseling degree in Miami?
A counseling master's degree combines human development, assessment, ethics, counseling techniques, and supervised work with clients or students. In Miami, the decisive distinction is the practice setting: clinical mental health counseling prepares students for behavioral health work; school counseling focuses on students and school systems; rehabilitation counseling centers on disability, independent living, and employment barriers.
Expect to arrange fieldwork around classes and paid employment. Before accepting an offer, ask whether the program finds placements, whether evening or weekend placements are realistic, and which Florida credential its graduates typically pursue. A counseling-related bachelor's degree can introduce the field, but it does not replace the graduate education and subsequent steps required for Florida mental health counselor licensure (Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling).
Where can I work with a Counseling degree in Miami?
Clinical mental health graduates may seek roles in community behavioral health agencies, hospitals, treatment providers, or private practices once appropriately licensed. School counseling graduates generally target public or private schools; rehabilitation counseling graduates may work in vocational rehabilitation, disability services, or related agencies. Employers set their own hiring requirements, and some roles require a Florida license or education certificate rather than the degree alone.
Miami's mix of school systems and health and social-service providers makes placement location worth investigating. Ask each program where students complete supervised training and whether those sites serve the population you hope to work with. A nearby placement may be more useful than a distant option whose schedule conflicts with your job.
National occupational medians offer a benchmark, not a Miami salary quote. These U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics figures refer to occupations - not entry-level offers or the earnings of graduates from a particular program - and use May 2025 wages.
Potential direction
National median annual wage, May 2025
How to interpret it
Clinical mental health or addiction counseling
$59,350
Reflects an occupational group that includes workers at different career stages.
School counseling
$64,330
Does not account for a particular school district's pay schedule.
Rehabilitation counseling
$46,850
Should be weighed against the roles and settings the degree qualifies you to pursue.
For a personal earnings estimate, compare actual Miami-area job postings and employer pay schedules for the credential you expect to hold. Also separate jobs available immediately after graduation from positions that require supervised post-degree experience or licensure.
The programs below differ most clearly in career destination and institution type. Their program descriptions establish these distinctions, but applicants should obtain current credit requirements, placement policies, and credential-eligibility confirmation directly from each department before comparing offers.
Barry University - MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling: This is Barry's clinical pathway rather than its school counseling pathway, making it the relevant Barry option for applicants focused on mental health practice. As a private-university option, it is worth comparing with FIU's clinical program on net cost and the availability of suitable supervised placements (Barry University program descriptions).
Florida International University - MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling: FIU offers a public-university route to clinical mental health training. Students weighing it against Barry's clinical program should compare current Florida-resident pricing and field-placement arrangements, rather than assume the two programs offer the same total cost or schedule (FIU program description).
Florida International University - MS in Rehabilitation Counseling: Its rehabilitation focus sets it apart from both clinical mental health and school counseling options. It is the most directly aligned choice in this group for students interested in counseling connected to disability, vocational goals, and access to services (FIU program description).
Barry University - MS in School Counseling: This is Barry's school-focused pathway, not a substitute for its clinical mental health degree. Applicants who want to work in schools should compare its school-based fieldwork and Florida certification alignment with FIU's school counseling option (Barry University program description).
Florida International University - MS in School Counseling: FIU provides a public-university school counseling option distinct from its clinical and rehabilitation degrees. It merits a close comparison with Barry's school pathway on certification preparation, placement support, and net price for your residency status (FIU program description).
None of these distinctions establishes that graduation automatically confers a Florida credential. Check the current program requirements and the applicable state authority before enrolling.
A full-time counseling master's commonly takes about two to three years; part-time study can take longer. The practical constraint is often supervised fieldwork: a shorter classroom schedule does not necessarily shorten the period needed to secure and complete an approved placement.
Ask for a term-by-term plan showing when practicum and internship begin, whether courses are offered every term, and what happens if a placement is delayed. Working professionals should compare the total time away from paid work, not just the advertised graduation timeline. A bachelor's degree generally takes about four years of full-time study and is a starting point, not the full clinical licensure pathway.
Online delivery changes where coursework happens; it does not remove supervised practice or Florida credential requirements. Campus study may make face-to-face collaboration easier, while online or hybrid classes may reduce commuting. Either format can be a poor fit if required live sessions or fieldwork conflict with your schedule.
If considering an online program outside Florida, request written confirmation of how its curriculum and placement process address the Florida credential you want. Check where you may complete fieldwork, who approves the site, and whether the program supports students placed in Miami. Do not treat an institution's general accreditation - or a claim that a degree is available online - as proof of licensure eligibility (Florida licensing board; Florida Department of Education).
There is no single reliable Miami price that describes undergraduate degrees, graduate counseling programs, and public and private institutions alike. Published tuition is only one part of the bill. Compare each offer using the same expected enrollment period and include mandatory fees, books, travel to placements, and income you may forgo while completing fieldwork.
Florida residency can materially affect the price of a public-university option such as FIU; a private university such as Barry may use a different tuition structure and aid package. Ask both schools for a program-specific cost estimate and the conditions attached to grants or scholarships. The most affordable counseling programs comparison can help build a shortlist, but the lowest published tuition is not necessarily the lowest net cost to you.
Start with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and each school's aid office. Depending on the student, program, and current rules, support may include federal loans, institutional grants or scholarships, employer tuition assistance, and graduate assistantships. Federal Student Aid explains that aid eligibility and borrowing limits depend on factors including enrollment and the student's existing federal borrowing; confirm your specific options before relying on a projected award.
Ask whether aid covers summer enrollment and whether a placement's required schedule limits paid work. For students comparing a public and private offer, calculate the amount they would actually borrow across the whole degree. A scholarship that covers one term should not be treated as a program-wide discount unless its renewal terms say so.
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
Master's applicants generally need a bachelor's degree and must meet the individual program's academic and application requirements; schools may request transcripts, recommendations, a statement of purpose, or an interview. An undergraduate psychology major is not necessarily required. Verify prerequisites and any field-placement screening directly with Barry or FIU because admissions rules can change (Barry University; FIU).
Admission and professional eligibility are separate checks. For Florida mental health counselor licensure, examine the board's educational requirements, supervised experience, and examination requirements. For school counseling, check the Florida Department of Education's certification pathway. Before paying an enrollment deposit, ask the program to identify the specific Florida credential it prepares students to pursue and any requirements graduates must complete afterward.
Counseling master's curricula commonly cover counseling theories, human development, assessment, research, ethics, and supervised practicum and internship. The specialization changes what those subjects are used for: a clinical student may study mental health diagnosis and treatment; a school counseling student may focus on student development and school-based services; a rehabilitation student may study disability and vocational counseling (Barry University; FIU program descriptions).
Compare course sequences against your intended Florida credential, not just course titles. If you are transferring graduate credits, obtain a written decision on which courses count toward the degree and whether transferred work satisfies any credential-related content requirement. A shorter remaining course list is useful only if it still supports your career goal.
Among the listed Miami options, the clearest choices are clinical mental health, school, and rehabilitation counseling. Clinical mental health fits applicants who want to work with mental health concerns in clinical settings. School counseling fits those committed to supporting students within education systems. Rehabilitation counseling fits those drawn to disability-related services and employment or independent-living goals (Barry University; FIU).
A specialization is not merely an elective preference: it shapes fieldwork and may lead toward a different credential. If your goal is independent mental health practice, do not select a school-focused degree solely because its classes or price are attractive. If you want to work in schools, ask whether a clinical program actually meets the relevant Florida educator-certification requirements.
Use the best counseling programs comparison to identify candidates, then test each candidate against your intended job and budget. A highly ranked program in the wrong specialization is a poor investment for a regulated career.
Before applying, put these questions to each department and request answers tied to the current curriculum:
Which Florida license or certificate is this program designed to support, and what steps remain after graduation?
Is the program's relevant accreditation current, and does the accreditor recognize this specific program?
Who secures and approves placements, and can I complete them on a schedule compatible with my work?
What is my estimated total net cost, and how many terms will I need to finish?
What program-level completion, exam, or employment outcomes can the department document, and for which reporting period?
Check programmatic accreditation directly with CACREP when it matters to your goal, and distinguish it from institutional accreditation and federal aid eligibility. The U.S. Department of Education and the Florida licensing board serve different verification purposes; neither a ranking position nor institutional recognition alone confirms that a particular curriculum meets every credential requirement.
View the chart data as a table
Graduates (2024-25) distribution across ranked programs (Source: Research.com)
Category
Value
0–9
1
10–19
2
20–29
0
30–39
1
40–49
1
A clinical mental health graduate may pursue supervised post-degree practice and, after meeting Florida's requirements, licensure as a mental health counselor. A school counseling graduate may pursue Florida educator certification and school-based roles. Rehabilitation graduates may consider disability services, vocational rehabilitation, and other counseling positions whose requirements vary by employer (Florida licensing board; Florida Department of Education).
If you are changing careers, compare the time until you could qualify for your target role with the income you currently earn. A certificate or shorter training route may make more sense for a support role that does not require counseling licensure; it is not a substitute for the required degree and supervised steps if independent clinical practice is the goal. The most valuable counseling programs comparison is one input, but your return also depends on aid, debt, completion likelihood, foregone earnings, and how long you plan to work in the new field.
View the chart data as a table
Median wage by U.S. state - Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors (BLS OEWS, May 2025) (Source: BLS)
State
Value
AK
80,770
AL
47,310
AR
51,580
AZ
65,300
CA
59,250
CO
62,390
CT
63,590
DC
60,450
DE
56,020
FL
56,790
GA
58,960
HI
60,090
IA
60,880
ID
63,360
IL
60,730
IN
53,760
KS
59,470
KY
54,190
LA
37,910
MA
59,890
MD
59,530
ME
59,970
MI
61,690
MN
58,780
MO
56,910
MS
46,990
MT
59,000
NC
55,490
ND
68,630
NE
63,770
NH
54,840
NJ
62,820
NM
74,100
NV
57,210
NY
59,450
OH
58,360
OK
59,350
OR
74,590
PA
52,010
PR
46,790
RI
65,120
SC
52,370
SD
53,650
TN
49,580
TX
62,630
UT
63,890
VA
59,880
VT
61,810
WA
68,910
WI
62,220
WV
49,430
WY
62,980
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 18% national employment growth from 2025 to 2035 for the occupation encompassing mental health and substance abuse counselors. That is a reason to investigate the clinical pathway, not evidence that a particular Miami graduate will receive an offer. School and rehabilitation counseling have different occupational outlooks, so use the projection for the job you actually intend to seek.
For a local reality check, review current Miami-area postings by required credential, work setting, and experience level. Count how many fit your anticipated status at graduation rather than treating licensed-counselor vacancies as immediately available. Ask placement supervisors which skills local employers seek and whether entry-level openings provide the supervision you would need.
2027 Most Popular Counseling Degree Programs Ranking in Miami
Research.com recognizes that investing in an education is a consequential decision. Its team evaluates program information and checks multiple education datasets so readers can compare options on more than a school name or a single advertised outcome.
Research.com's counseling rankings consider graduate outcomes, applicable licensure exam pass rates, accreditation, federal Title IV eligibility, and cost. Its Best ranking first combines completion (40%), employment or doctoral admission (20%), applicable exam pass rates (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 their titles, so a popularity ranking should not be read as a licensure or value ranking.
The following sources inform the rankings and help readers check institutional and program information:
IPEDS database: institutional enrollment, completions, and cost reporting.
These measures make the ranking a useful starting point, not a substitute for checking a program's current curriculum and Florida credential eligibility. Readers can review further details on Research.com's methodology.
# 1 position
Barry University
Master
Counseling, MS – Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Delivery mode: campus
54.70
/ 100
Final score
Program length
~ 2-2 ½ years (full-time)
Specialization
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Required credits
60 semester credits
GPA range
3.00 - 4.00
Program completion rate
95% (2024-25)
Employment or doctoral admission
95% (2024-25)
Application process
direct
GRE
no
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited or internationally recognized college or university.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
Barry University earned a Research.com Student Interest Score of 54.7/100, supported by 50 graduates (2023-24) and 95% program completion rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2027-10-31.
# 2 position
Florida International University
Master
MS in Counselor Education: Clinical Mental Health Counseling Major
Delivery mode: campus
48.70
/ 100
Final score
Program length
The length of study is 2.5 years
Specialization
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Required credits
60 semester credits
GPA range
3.20 - 4.00
Application deadline
Fall 2027 (fall intake only): February 15, 2027, 5 p.m. EST
Application process
direct
GRE
no
Prerequisites
Non-psychology majors must complete 9 hours of prerequisite psychology (introductory Psychology; Educational/Abnormal Psychology or Personality Theories; Research/Statistics), each with a C or better and a 3.0+ GPA across these prerequisite courses…
Additional requirements
Unofficial transcripts, autobiographical sketch/letter of intent, 3 letters of recommendation, resume, interview by the admissions committee (if selected), and a proctored writing sample (if selected).
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
Florida International University earned a Research.com Student Interest Score of 48.7/100, with 32 graduates (2025) among the verified supporting factors. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2030-03-31.
# 3 position
Florida International University
Master
MS in Counselor Education: Rehabilitation Counseling Major
Delivery mode: hybrid
33.40
/ 100
Final score
Program length
The length of study is 2.5 years
Specialization
Rehabilitation Counseling
Required credits
60 semester credits
GPA range
3.00 - 4.00
Application deadline
Spring 2027: November 1, 2026, 5 p.m. EST; Fall 2027: March 15, 2027, 5 p.m. EST
Class size
18
Application process
direct (FIU Graduate Application)
GRE
no
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree with a 3.0 GPA in the last 60 credits of undergraduate work; GRE not required; unofficial transcripts, autobiographical sketch/letter of intent, 3 letters of recommendation, resume, interview and proctored writing sample if selected.
Additional requirements
Unofficial transcripts; autobiographical sketch/letter of intent; 3 letters of recommendation; resume; interview by admissions committee; proctored writing sample
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
Florida International University earned a Research.com Student Interest Score of 33.4/100, with 10 graduates (2024-25) among the verified supporting factors. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2026-10-31.
# 4 position
Barry University
Master
M.S. in Counseling – School Counseling
Delivery mode: campus
22.40
/ 100
Final score
Program length
~2-2 ½ years (full-time)
Specialization
School Counseling
GPA range
3.00 - 4.00
Program completion rate
85% (2024-25)
Employment or doctoral admission
90% (2024-25)
Application process
direct
GRE
no
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited or internationally recognized institution; statement of purpose and goals; two professional recommendations including one from a former professor; resume; GPA 3.0 or higher.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
Barry University earned a Research.com Student Interest Score of 22.4/100, supported by 4 graduates (2022-23) and 85% program completion rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2027-10-31.
# 5 position
Florida International University
Master
MS in Counselor Education: School Counseling Major
Delivery mode: hybrid
35.70
/ 100
Final score
Program length
The length of study is 2.5 years
Specialization
School Counseling
Required credits
60 semester credits
GPA range
3.20 - 4.00
Licensure exam pass rate
100% (2024-25)
Application deadline
Spring 2027: November 1, 2026, 5 p.m. EST; Fall 2027: March 15, 2027, 5 p.m. EST
Class size
31
Application process
direct
GRE
no
Prerequisites
Students entering with an undergraduate degree in an area other than education must enroll in general professional education courses as required by FLDOE to meet state certification requirements.
Additional requirements
Unofficial transcripts, autobiographical sketch/letter of intent, 3 letters of recommendation, resume, interview by admissions committee (if selected), proctored writing sample (if selected), pass the Florida Teacher Certification General Knowledge exam.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
Florida International University earned a Research.com Student Interest Score of 35.7/100, with 100% licensure exam pass rate among the verified supporting factors. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2030-03-31.
Frequently asked questions about Counseling degree in Miami
Is a counseling master's worth it in Miami?
It can be if the program matches a specific credential and career you want, and its total cost is manageable relative to your likely earnings. Compare net borrowing, time out of work, and post-graduation requirements before deciding.
Can I become a licensed mental health counselor with a bachelor's degree?
No. Florida mental health counselor licensure requires qualifying graduate education and additional supervised experience and examination steps (Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling).
Are school counseling and clinical mental health counseling interchangeable?
No. They prepare students for different settings and credential pathways. Confirm the relevant Florida requirements before choosing either degree (Florida Department of Education; Florida licensing board).
Can I complete a counseling degree online and work in Florida?
Potentially, but online delivery does not establish Florida credential eligibility. Verify the curriculum and local supervised-placement arrangements with the program and the appropriate state authority.
Does the most popular program have the best outcomes?
Not necessarily. Popularity, cost, accreditation, and graduate outcomes answer different questions. Check program-level evidence and fit rather than treating one ranking as a complete verdict.
See What Experts Have To Say About Studying Counseling
