by our College Data Analytics TeamMental Health Counseling/Counselor was the 118th most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 7,609 degrees in this year alone. This is a difference of 758 over the prior year, a growth of 10.0%.
Our 2023 Best Mental Health Counseling/Counselor Schools ranking analyzes 190 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for mental health counseling/counselor students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of mental health counseling/counselor programs later in this article.
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times is a required skill for mental health counseling/counselor majors. Required skills include being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do and talking to others to convey information effectively.
mental health counseling/counselor degree applicants generally need have finished high school or their GED. Many schools may also have GPA and SAT/ACT score minimums that must be met. Specific mental health counseling/counselor careers may require a certain level of degree attainment or additional certifications beyond that.
There are various different levels of mental health counseling/counselor degrees. You can get anything from a in mental health counseling/counselor to the highest mental health counseling/counselor degree, a . Depending on the mental health counseling/counselor degree you choose, obtaining your diploma can take anwhere from 1 to 4+ years.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A master's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to mental health counseling/counselor, with approximately 62.2% of workers getting one. People currently working in careers related to mental health counseling/counselor tend obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 63.0% |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 34.8% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 1.5% |
| Post-Master’s Certificate | 1.4% |
| Doctoral Degree | 0.7% |
About 64.2% of workers in careers related to mental health counseling/counselor obtain at least master's degrees. See the chart below for the most common degree level workers in mental health counseling/counselor have received.
This of course varies depending on which mental health counseling/counselor career you choose.
Want a job when you graduate with your mental health counseling/counselor degree? Mental Health Counseling/Counselor careers are expected to grow 23.1% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to mental health counseling/counselor.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Mental Health Counselors | 194,200 | 23.1% |
As you might expect, salaries for mental health counseling/counselor graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for mental health counseling/counselor graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers mental health counseling/counselor grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|
With over 356 different mental health counseling/counselor degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased mental health counseling/counselor school rankings to help you with this.
Mental Health Counseling/Counselor is one of 11 different types of Mental & Social Health Services programs to choose from.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling | 5,433 |
| Other Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | 4,069 |
| Marriage and Family Therapy/Counseling | 3,405 |
| Psychiatric/Mental Health Services Technician | 2,779 |
| Clinical/Medical Social Work | 2,534 |
View All Mental Health Counseling/Counselor Related Majors >
