2027 Most Popular Counseling Degree Programs Ranking in Minnesota

Counseling pay depends on the occupation, setting, experience, and credential - not the degree title alone. The following U.S. occupational medians are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' May 2025 wage reference period; the projections cover 2025-2035. They are useful for comparing career directions, but they are not Minnesota starting salaries or estimates of what a particular program's graduates earn.

The faster national growth projected for mental health and addiction counseling may support interest in those fields, but it does not guarantee a job in a preferred Minnesota community. For a realistic pay comparison, inspect current local postings for the exact license, supervision status, and setting you expect to pursue.

The programs associated with this ranking serve different goals; they should not be treated as interchangeable merely because each involves counseling. These program-specific distinctions can help you decide which schools deserve a closer look. Confirm current curriculum, fieldwork, cost, and licensure disclosures directly with each institution before applying.

• Capella University - MS in School Counseling: The program is offered online and is directed at school counseling rather than clinical mental health practice (Capella University). It merits consideration if you need remote coursework, but verify how school-based placements work where you live and whether the curriculum meets Minnesota educator-licensing requirements.
• Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School - online master's: Its addiction-studies focus makes it a more targeted option for substance use treatment than a general counseling program (Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School). Ask which Minnesota addiction or clinical credentials the specific degree is designed to support before treating the two pathways as equivalent.
• Minnesota State University, Mankato - MS in Mental Health Counseling: This named track lets applicants evaluate a clinical goal separately from the university's school counseling track (Minnesota State University, Mankato). It is the more relevant of the two to investigate for an LPC or LPCC plan, pending a course-by-course review against state rules.
• Minnesota State University Moorhead - graduate counseling: Its counseling graduate-program information gives applicants a place to compare available counseling pathways within one institution (Minnesota State University Moorhead). If your intended credential is not settled, clarify the current track, fieldwork, and license alignment rather than applying under the broad "counseling" label.
• Bethany Lutheran College - clinical mental health counseling: This is a specifically identified clinical mental health option at a Lutheran institution (Bethany Lutheran College). Students interested in its educational environment should still separate institutional fit from the independent question of Minnesota clinical-licensure eligibility.
• University of Minnesota Twin Cities - counselor education master's: The degree sits within an educational psychology setting, a relevant distinction for students drawn to counselor education as well as practice (University of Minnesota Twin Cities). Check the current master's pathway and placement requirements against your intended job; an academic department name alone does not establish a license outcome.
• Winona State University - clinical mental health counseling: Its explicitly clinical mental health program is a direct comparison for applicants pursuing that specialty outside the Twin Cities (Winona State University). Ask where students complete supervised placements if you intend to remain in another part of Minnesota.
• Bethel University - graduate counseling: Bethel provides a graduate counseling option within a Christian university (Bethel University). Applicants for whom that setting matters should examine the specific degree's courses and fieldwork, then confirm that their intended Minnesota credential - not just the program's overall emphasis - is supported.
• St. Cloud State University - clinical mental health counseling: This program's stated clinical mental health focus makes it relevant to applicants comparing practice-oriented master's degrees (St. Cloud State University). Its location may be especially practical if you can attend required activities and pursue appropriate placements in or near central Minnesota.
• Minnesota State University, Mankato - MS in Professional School Counseling: Unlike the university's mental health track, this degree is explicitly aimed at school counseling (Minnesota State University, Mankato). Choose it to investigate a school-based career, then obtain written confirmation of the current Minnesota school counselor licensure pathway.

For a comparison centered on outcomes and other ranking measures rather than these individual program features, review the best counseling programs. Neither list replaces a check of current program disclosures.

A full-time counseling bachelor's typically takes about four years; a full-time master's commonly takes about two to three years, with part-time study taking longer. Actual completion depends on the credit requirements, course sequence, transfer-credit decisions, and when practicums and internships are available. Ask for a term-by-term plan based on your intended enrollment pace rather than relying on a school's fastest advertised timeline.

Graduation and independent practice are separate milestones. Minnesota clinical licensure can require supervised experience and an examination beyond the degree, depending on the credential (Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy). If you must keep working, compare the expected time away from paid work during field placements as well as the number of semesters in class.

Online delivery changes where you complete coursework; it does not remove supervised counseling practice. A campus program may simplify access to in-person classes and nearby placement networks, while an online program may let a working adult remain in their community. Neither format is automatically better for licensure: the relevant questions are the curriculum, supervised experience, state approval rules, and whether appropriate placements are available where you live.

Before choosing online study, ask which activities require live attendance, who finds a field site, whether supervisors must meet particular qualifications, and what happens if a proposed site is rejected. This is especially important if you live far from the school: the cheapest or most flexible-looking format may involve substantial travel or a delayed internship.

There is no single useful statewide average for these options: undergraduate and graduate prices, public residency rates, private-institution charges, and program credit requirements are not interchangeable. Institution-wide tuition figures can also miss counseling-specific fees and fieldwork costs. Compare current published program charges for your residency status and enrollment pace rather than assuming that a public or private nonprofit institution is always the better value (National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS).

Request a full-program estimate that includes tuition, mandatory fees, books, travel or relocation for placements, and the cost of any extra terms. Then compare that estimate with grants or employer assistance and likely borrowing. The most affordable counseling programs can help identify schools to price out, but the lowest listed tuition may not produce the lowest personal cost.

Start with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), then ask each program about institutional grants, assistantships, scholarships, and employer tuition benefits. Eligibility varies by student, credential level, enrollment, and institution. Minnesota residents should also check current state-aid rules rather than assuming an award available to undergraduates applies to a counseling master's (Federal Student Aid; Minnesota Office of Higher Education).

Graduate borrowers should pay particular attention to federal loan rules. Under rules effective July 2026, new graduate students generally cannot obtain Graduate PLUS loans; qualifying students who previously borrowed Graduate PLUS for their current program may have a limited transition period. Confirm your own status and remaining options with the school's aid office and Federal Student Aid before committing to a program that requires borrowing.

For an investment comparison, account for aid, debt, completion likelihood, earnings you would give up while studying, and the time before a credential could change your pay. The most valuable counseling programs offer another comparison point, but no ranking can calculate your personal return without those details.

Master's applicants generally need a completed bachelor's degree. Schools may also request transcripts, recommendations, a statement of purpose, an interview, or specified prerequisite coursework; requirements vary by program (institutional admissions information). A psychology major is not necessarily required, but an applicant changing careers should ask whether missing prerequisites add time or cost.

Admissions eligibility is different from licensure eligibility. Before accepting an offer, send the program your intended credential - such as Minnesota LPCC or school counselor licensure - and request its current explanation of how the curriculum and placements address that pathway. Check that explanation against the Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy or the Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board, as applicable. If you already hold graduate credits, obtain a written transfer-credit evaluation before counting on a shorter degree.

Master's curricula commonly cover counseling theories, human development, ethics, assessment, research, and supervised practicum or internship work. The specialized coursework matters more than a familiar course title: clinical students should examine preparation for mental health assessment and treatment, school counseling students should examine school-based practice, and addiction-focused students should examine substance use treatment content (institutional program curricula).

Compare course descriptions with the educational rules for your intended Minnesota credential, then ask the program to identify where each required topic appears. A red flag is a school that describes a degree as "licensure-ready" without specifying the license, state, required placements, and any steps remaining after graduation.

Relevant options include clinical mental health, professional school counseling, addiction counseling, and rehabilitation counseling. They are not simply interchangeable concentrations: the populations served, work settings, and applicable credentials can differ (Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy; Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Choose the specialization by working backward from a role. Someone who wants to counsel students in schools should investigate school counselor preparation, not assume a clinical mental health degree is sufficient. Someone who wants independent mental health practice should check the clinical degree against the intended licensing board's requirements. If your goal is still uncertain, compare required courses and speak with programs before selecting the shortest track.

The best choice is the program that fits your target credential, finances, location, and realistic completion pace - not necessarily the highest-ranked or lowest-priced option. Use the same checks for every school so that an appealing format does not distract from a missing requirement.

1. Name the intended job and credential. Check the applicable Minnesota licensing authority's current education, examination, and supervised-experience rules.
2. Verify program fit. Ask the school for its current curriculum, accreditation status, licensure disclosures, and placement requirements; do not assume institutional accreditation and programmatic accreditation mean the same thing.
3. Price the whole path. Compare program charges, aid, borrowing, travel, and the income you might forgo during placements.
4. Test the schedule. Request a completion plan for your intended full-time or part-time pace, including how field sites are secured.
5. Check outcomes carefully. Ask for recent program-level completion and credential-exam results where available, including the reporting period and number of students represented.

Be cautious if a school cannot explain the steps between graduation and the license you want. That gap can matter more to your eventual return on investment than a modest difference in tuition.

A bachelor's may support applications for certain human-services or support roles, subject to employer requirements, but it should not be confused with preparation for independent clinical counseling. A relevant master's can support a path toward mental health counseling, school counseling, or addiction services when paired with the applicable credential and supervised experience. Advanced study may appeal to people interested in counselor education, research, or supervision (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics; Minnesota licensing authorities).

If you are changing careers, compare your likely first post-degree role with your long-term goal. A position requiring supervision may be a necessary stage before independent clinical work. Ask prospective employers which credentials they accept for the roles you want; "counselor" in a job title does not establish uniform licensing requirements.

The national employment outlook is strongest among the counseling occupations listed here for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors, with 18% projected growth from 2025 to 2035 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). That signals a field worth investigating, not a forecast of openings in a particular Minnesota county or a guarantee of employment after graduation.

For a Minnesota-specific decision, review current openings in the communities where you could work and record the licenses, experience, and schedules employers request. Compare those requirements with each program's placement network. Someone willing to relocate within the state may have more options than someone who needs both training and a first job in one community; the right program should fit the geographic constraints you actually have.

Investing in a counseling degree is a consequential decision, especially when program costs and licensure pathways differ. Research.com evaluates counseling programs using graduate outcomes, applicable licensure-exam results, accreditation and federal aid eligibility, and cost. Its Best ranking combines completion (40%), employment or doctoral admission (20%), applicable licensure-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 the ranking, and online and campus programs are evaluated using the same approach. The ranking is a starting point for comparison, not a substitute for confirming current program and licensing details.

To support credible, comparable information, the Research.com team used these data sources:

• IPEDS database - institutional enrollment, completion, and cost information.
• Peterson's database - program and institution information used in school comparisons.
• College Scorecard database - federal institutional outcomes and cost information.
• National Center for Education Statistics - federal education data and definitions.

These measures help readers identify programs worth investigating while keeping the limits of any ranking in view: institutional averages may not describe an individual counseling program, and a strong score does not establish eligibility for a particular Minnesota license. See the Research.com methodology for more about how the rankings are created.

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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/
• O*NET OnLine - Mental Health Counselors (21-1014)
  Verified professional/licensure/career reference.
  https://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/21-1014.00
• Capella University - Master of Science in School Counseling
  Official program page (curriculum, tuition, admissions).
  https://www.capella.edu/online-counseling-degrees/ms-school-counseling-program/
• Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School - Master of Arts in Counseling (MA)
  Official program page (curriculum, tuition, admissions).
  https://www.hazeldenbettyford.org/graduate-school-addiction-studies/online-masters
• Minnesota State University-Mankato - Counseling and Student Personnel (MS) - Mental Health Counseling
  Official program page (curriculum, tuition, admissions).
  https://www.mnsu.edu/programs/counseling-and-student-personnel/counseling-and-student-personnel-mental-health-counseling-ms/
• Minnesota State University Moorhead - Master of Science in Counseling
  Official program page (curriculum, tuition, admissions).
  https://www.mnstate.edu/academics/graduate/counseling
• Bethany Lutheran College - Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
  Official program page (curriculum, tuition, admissions).
  https://blc.edu/academics/grad-programs/clinical-mental-health-counseling-cmhc/