Top 25 Most Affordable Master's Degrees in Counseling in the Midwest

The Graduate Counseling Program at Missouri State University offers a CACREP accredited Master of Science in Counseling. This program offers courses designed both for students earning their degree and professionals in the field who may need additional courses to maintain their license. The counseling program faculty shares their expertise with students and the community through courses covering their areas of expertise such as advanced play therapy and rehabilitative counseling. The program also offers unique study abroad opportunities for counseling students who have the opportunity to enhance students understanding and awareness of multicultural diversity.

Courses include: problems in counseling; school counseling foundations and ethics; mental health counseling foundations and ethics; orientation to personal and professional development; human development and personality; child counseling theories and techniques; the helping relationship; diversity and multicultural issues in counseling; substance use and addiction issues in counseling; couple and family counseling; theories and techniques of counseling; group counseling; elementary group counseling through play; research seminar in counseling; crisis counseling and disaster mental health response; mental health counseling practicum; mental health counseling internship; and advanced play therapy.

• Average Graduate Tuition: $9,324.00
• Application Deadline: October 1st for spring and February 1st for summer/fall,
• Credits Required: 48 – 60

The School of Education at Drake University offers a Master of Science in Counseling. Three areas of specialization are available: clinical mental health counseling; clinical rehabilitation counseling; and school counseling. Students can select one or more areas of specialization that they would like to pursue. Everyone completes a core set of courses followed by the courses for the chosen specialization or specializations. Students can enter the program in the fall or the spring. Courses are offered in the evening and weekends in order to accommodate the needs of working students. Graduates will be prepared to pursue certification and licensure in their area of specialization.

Courses include: introduction to the counseling profession; counseling research; theoretical foundations of individual and family counseling; career development and occupational information; methods and procedures of counseling; assessment of families and individuals; human development and life issues; psychopathology and psychiatric disorders; group procedures; theoretical foundations of family counseling; and counseling diverse populations.

• Average Graduate Tuition: $9,930.00
• Application Deadline: September 1st for Spring, February 15th for Fall
• Credits Required: 48 – 60

A graduate degree in marriage and family therapy, offered with core Quaker values, is available at Friends University. This 60 credit Master of Science in Family Therapy is accredited by the COAMFTE and can be completed in 24 months. Students have the opportunity to complete coursework and engage in rich and meaningful practicum and internship placements in either Wichita or Kansas City. Friends University offers a number of unique electives in the family therapy program including: MFT and business; infidelity; understanding and treating step-families; and emotion focused approaches to therapy.

Courses include: history of MFT and systems theory; professional ethics in marriage and family therapy; developmental influences of emotion, attachment, and trauma; research in marriage and family therapy; intergenerational family theories; relational models of psychopathology and behavioral health; diagnostic assessment of psychopathology; classic theories of therapeutic intervention in MFT; postmodern theories of therapeutic intervention in MFT; sexuality, intimacy, and sex therapy; social and cultural diversity issues in human development; and family development, stress and violence.

• Average Graduate Tuition: $10,068.00
• Credits Required: 60

Winona State University offers a CACREP accredited counseling program. Concentrations are available in clinical mental health counseling (60 credits), school counseling (49 credits), and professional development (non-clinical/ 34 credits). The Counselor Education Department also offers an Addiction Counseling Certificate. Courses are offered in the evenings and on weekends on both the Rochester and Winona campuses. The program reports that 86% of students in the school/community counseling programs graduate within 2-3 years with 100% of students passing their licensure exams.

Courses include: multiculturalism and diversity; foundations of counseling; development over the lifespan; group theory and practice; tests and measurements; research design; family systems counseling; career development and appraisal; ethical practice and social change; orientation to clinical mental health counseling; theory of practice of sexual, substance abuse, and crisis counseling; orientation to school counseling; school counseling practice; counseling theory and practice; counseling practicum; internship; and capstone project.

• Average Graduate Tuition: $10,120.00
• Application Deadline: November 15th for Summer start
• Credits Required: 49 – 60

The Department of Counseling and Human Development at Malone University offers a Master of Arts in Education in Counseling through a Christian framework. Concentrations are available in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (60 credits) and School Counseling (48 credits). Both concentrations in the counseling graduate program are accredited by the CACREP. Students can also earn a dual degree in both Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling (84 credits). Students focus on and complete one course during each eight week session. The majority of courses are offered on campus along with some online course requirements. Both programs report a high pass rate on the licensure examination from 95%-100%.

Unique feature: A unique feature of this program is the opportunity to earn a dual degree in both Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling for a total of 84 credits.

• Average Graduate Tuition: $10,260.00
• Credits Required: 48 – 60

Students can earn a Master of Arts in Counseling at Chicago State University. Two CACREP accredited tracks of study are available in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (60 credits) and School Counseling (51 credits). The program is designed to support students who may wish to pursue a doctoral degree in either counselor education or counseling psychology. A unique feature of the graduate counseling program at Chicago State University, for students who are interested, is that a bilingual specialization is available. The bilingual specialization is set up to support students who are interested in providing clinical counseling services to the (frequently under-served) Latino population.

Courses include: principles of clinical mental health counseling; counseling theories and ethics; micro-counseling; advanced lifespan development and counseling applications; principles and techniques of group counseling; multicultural issues in counseling; lifestyle and career development; techniques of assessment and diagnosis; treatment interventions for urban youth and families; family systems counseling; introduction to school counseling; lifestyle and career development; advanced school counseling applications; and advanced psychopathology and treatment planning.

• Average Graduate Tuition: $10,782.00
• Application Deadline: March 1st
• Credits Required: 51 – 60

Xavier University offers a CACREP accredited Clinical Mental Health Counseling program and a CACREP accredited School Counseling Program. The graduate counseling programs at Xavier have well established relationships throughout the community that support students in obtaining practicum and internship experiences that match their personal and professional career goals. Courses are offered at times designed to be convenient for working students. Small classes sizes are a priority in order to provide a quality learning experience to all students with classes capped at 23 students. Graduates will be prepared to pursue professional licensure.

Courses include: lifespan development; counseling theories and techniques; group process; career counseling; psychological and achievement testing; introduction to mental health counseling; counseling issues and ethics; family relations; cross cultural counseling; crisis counseling; treating addictions; personality and abnormal behavior; intervention skills for the severely mentally disabled; introduction to school counseling; consultation and supervision; and special education-identification and issues.

• Average Graduate Tuition: $10,908.00
• Application Deadline: October 1st for Spring, March 1st for Summer & Fall
• Credits Required: 60

A Master of Science in Counseling is available at National Louis University. Students can choose between a concentration in School Counseling or Clinical Mental Health Counseling, both of which are accredited by the CACREP. The program follows a cohort model. Students will have the support of peers and faculty while they work their way through the program. The program is designed to be flexible with the understanding that students often have other work and family commitments. Graduates will be prepared to pursue national certification and licensure.

Courses include: fundamentals of counseling; counseling and human development in a multicultural society; clinical techniques of counseling; clinical assessment and diagnosis; introduction to theory and practice of family therapy; theories and techniques of group counseling; introduction to clinical mental health counseling; trauma and crisis intervention theory, response models and techniques; structure and organization of the educational system for school counselors; counseling for career development; and introduction to the theory and practice of counseling children and adolescents.

• Average Graduate Tuition: $10,962.00
• Credits Required: 60 – 67

Valparaiso University offers a CACREP accredited, 60 credit, Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Coursework will prepare graduates to pursue licensure as professional counselor. Additional courses are available for students who plan to work towards a Licensed Clinical Addictions Counselor (LCAC) certificate. The program aims to attract culturally diverse students to serve clients in diverse communities in a variety of settings. The program aims to support students in developing a strong professional identity, a sound understanding of cultural diversity and spirituality, and a strong foundation in clinical theory and skills.

Courses include: introduction to psychopathology; helping relationships-counseling theories; foundations of professional and ethical issues in counseling; community and health counseling; social and cultural basis of behavior; career counseling-appraisal and intervention; group counseling; child and adolescent development; adulthood and aging; family counseling and dynamics; and substance abuse counseling.

• Average Graduate Tuition: $11,070.00
• Application Deadline: February 15th
• Credits Required: 60

Students can earn a number of counseling degrees from St. Cloud State University. Available degrees include the CACREP accredited Master of Science programs in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling and the COAMFTE accredited Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy. The programs offer small supportive classes and flexible scheduling. Students at St. Cloud are trained to be multiculturally competent with the ability to work with individuals, couples, families, and students in a wide range of clinical settings.

Courses include: foundations of mental health counseling; prevention, wellness, and crisis intervention in counseling; group counseling theory and practice; counseling theories; counseling procedures; ethics in mental health counseling; multicultural counseling; theories of marriage and family therapy; diagnosis and treatment of childhood disorders; counseling across the lifespan; career development; family systems; family conceptual frameworks; clinical issues in marriage and family therapy; and family, school, and organizational partnerships.

• Average Graduate Tuition: $11,201.00
• Application Deadline: January 15th for Clinical Mental Health degree; February 1st for Marriage and Family Therapy degree, March 1st for School Counseling degrees
• Credits Required: 52 – 61

Butler University offers a CACREP accredited Master of Science degree in School Counseling. This 48 credit program can be completed in three years, or there is a fast track option for students who wish to complete the program one semester earlier. This fast track option is available to up to 10 students of each 24 student cohort. Graduates will be prepared for professional careers as school counselors in K-12 settings. Students who are interested may take additional courses to prepare for licensure as a mental health counselor. The program reports that 98% of graduates establish careers in the field of school counseling.

Courses include: professional, legal and ethical issues in counseling; human development over the lifespan; fundamental counseling theory and techniques; valuing diversity and similarity; research for school counselors; administration of counseling and guidance services; assisting grieving children and families; career and life planning; and consultation in counseling.

• Average Graduate Tuition: $11,460.00
• Application Deadline: February 1st
• Credits Required: 48

The Department of Counselor Education at Western Illinois University Quad Cities offers a CACREP accredited Master of Science in Education in Counseling. Students will choose an area of specialization in either School Counseling (56 credits) or Clinical Mental Health Counseling (61 credits). The program values diversity and works to attract a diverse student population. The International Honor Society for counseling students is Chi Sigma Iota (CSI). They strive to support students in excellence in the field of professional counseling.

Unique feature: Graduate students enrolled full time in the Counselor Education Program at Western Illinois University Quad City are eligible to apply for an assistantship position. Assistantships are awarded on a competitive basis and qualify students for a tuition waiver and a stipend while they work for the department.

• Average Graduate Tuition: $11,651.00
• Application Deadline: January 15th
• Credits Required: 56-61

Students can earn a Master of Arts in the field of counseling at Southeast Missouri State University. A Master of Arts in School Counseling (48 credits), a Master of Arts in Career Counseling (48 credits); and a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (60 credits) are all available. The Clinical Mental Health Counseling requires a few more credits than the other degrees and also offers suggested electives in treating sex offenders and eating disorders. Graduates will be well prepared to work with the population they have focused on during their graduate career while working towards professional licensure.

Courses include: counseling orientation and ethics; developmental theories; counseling theories; social and cultural aspects of counseling; counseling skills; career development; group counseling; assessment in counseling; advanced career counseling; crisis intervention and consultation; foundations of mental health counseling; mental health systems and prevention; and addictions counseling.

• Average Graduate Tuition: $11,767.00
• Application Deadline: February 1st
• Credits Required: 48

The University of Nebraska at Kearney offers a Master of Science in Education in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. This 60 credit CACREP accredited program is designed to prepare graduates to provide clinical services to diverse populations of individuals, couples, families, and groups. Students in the program will receive supervised clinical training in the on-site clinic. The University of Nebraska at Kearney is able to provide financial assistance to graduate students through scholarships and assistantships. Graduates will be prepared to pursue national certification and professional licensure.

Courses include: research methods in psychology and education; child and adolescent development and interventions; clinical treatment issues in addictions counseling; ethical, legal, and professional counseling; adult development; introduction to counseling and social advocacy; techniques of counseling; multicultural counseling; diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional disorders; theories of counseling; group counseling; marriage and family counseling; career and lifestyle development; and appraisal and evaluation of individuals and systems.

• Average Graduate Tuition: $11,886.00
• Application Deadline: June 15th
• Credits Required: 60