The Top 30 Master’s Degrees in Counseling in the Midwest

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Updated June 22, 2023

Explore our ranking of the best Master’s Degrees in Counseling in the Midwest.

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Welcome to our list of the Top 30 Master’s Degrees in Counseling in the Midwest. We have put together a list of the best and most affordable graduate programs offering counseling degrees and sorted them by region. All graduate schools in the Midwest were taken into consideration for this ranking. For clarification purposes we considered the Midwest to be the following states: Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota.

For this list, we have selected only the graduate programs that are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) and the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE). For a graduate program to be accredited by the CACREP or the COAMFTE, the program needs to meet rigorous criteria. Certified programs develop their curriculum, internship, and practicum experiences to provide students with a well-rounded education and to meet the requirements of state licensing boards. Programs do this aim to ensure their graduates can successfully navigate the state licensing process without taking additional coursework post-graduation. We recommend that when applying to graduate school for a degree in counseling, all applicants work to evaluate if the program they are interested in meets the academic criteria outlined by their state licensing board for professional licensure in their chosen field.

On this list you will find a diverse range of accredited graduate degrees in counseling including an M.A./M.S. in Counseling; an M.Ed. in Counseling; an M.A./M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling; an M.A./M.S. in School Counseling; an M.Ed. in School Counseling; an M.S. in College Student Affairs; an M.S. in Rehabilitation Counseling; and an M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy.

Students in these graduate programs will engage in coursework on-campus, online, or a combination of both with a hybrid program, and will complete supervised clinical training through practicum and internship experiences. Graduates of these programs are prepared for licensure as a professional counselor, marriage and family therapist, or school counselor. Graduates will have the educational foundation and clinical training to successfully develop careers working with diverse client populations within private practice, community mental health clinics, schools, government agencies, and hospitals.

We are confident you will find a master’s degree in counseling to fit your personal needs and match your professional goals here. Come back soon to check out our upcoming list of the top counseling programs offered at schools in the south and check out our list of the Top 30 Master’s Degrees in Counseling in the West and our list of the Top 30 Master’s Degrees in the Northeast now!

Featured Online Programs

Figuring out where to apply? These top, accredited schools offer a variety of online degrees. Consider one of these accredited programs, and discover their value today.

  1. Cincinnati Christian University
    Location

    Cincinatti, OH

    Cincinnati Christian University offers a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. This is a 60 credit CACREP accredited program that provides training in professional counseling skills integrated with a Christian framework. Graduates are prepared for professional licensure as a counselor and work in secular and nonsecular settings as a Christian counselor. The Master of Arts in Counseling programs most recent program evaluation summary reports that graduates have a 100% licensure completion rate as well as a 100% job placement rate.

    Courses include: Spirituality and Counseling; Counseling Theories and Methods; Diagnosis of Mental and Emotional Disorders; Human and Family Development; Group Counseling; Social and Cultural Foundations; Counseling Assessment; Marriage and Family Counseling; Evaluation of Mental and Emotional Status; and Treatment of Psychopathology.

    • Cost: $ 2,994.00
    • Credits Required: 60
    • Accreditation: CACREP
  2. Central Methodist University
    Location

    Fayette, MO

    A CACREP accredited Master of Science in Clinical Counseling is available at Central Methodist University. This degree is offered at both their Columbia-Parkade location and their Park Hills location. The academic and clinical training experience will prepare graduates to successfully pursue licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). The program emphasizes a commitment to training graduates to work professionally with social awareness and a strong foundation in ethical and evidence-based practices. To be accessible for working students, courses are offered in the evenings once or twice a week along with some online programming.

    Courses include: Individual Intelligence Assessment; Career Development; Counseling Theory; Group Counseling Techniques; Foundations of Sexuality in Counseling; Behavioral Emergencies and Crisis Intervention; Foundations of Addictions Counseling; Techniques of Interviewing; Advanced Counseling with Evidence-Based Therapies; Foundations of Marriage, Couples, and Family Counseling; and Current Issues and Supervision in Clinical Counseling.

    • Cost: $ 5,940.00
    • Accreditation: CACREP
  3. Ashland University / Ashland Theological Seminary
    Location

    Ashland, OH

    Ashland Theological Seminary offers a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. With a focus on biblical principles, students in this CACREP accredited program will engage in a comprehensive academic and training experience focused on the professional growth and development of each student. This program offers a cohort model with students enrolling in and completing the program with the support of their cohort.

    Courses include: Fundamentals of Biblical Interpretation; Fundamentals of Christian Theology; Spiritual Themes in Clinical Counseling; Counseling Techniques; Introduction to Research Methods and Design; Assessment; Professional Ethics and Responsibilities; and Treatment of Mood and Anxiety Disorders.

    • Cost: $ 6,885.00
    • Credits Required: 64
    • Accreditation: CACREP
  4. Minnesota State University Mankato
    Location

    Mankato, MN

    Minnesota State University at Mankato offers four CACREP accredited master of science degrees in counseling. Applicants can choose to pursue a degree in Rehabilitation Counseling; Student Affairs and College Counseling; School Counseling; and Mental Health Counseling. Each degree offers specialized coursework, practicum, and internship experiences in a sequence designed to support the student's progressive education and clinical training. Graduates are prepared to secure professional certification and licensure to work in their area of specialization in the setting of their choice.

    Courses include: Counseling Procedures and Skills; Crisis Intervention Strategies; Counseling in a Multicultural Society; Human Development Through the Family Life Cycle; Career Development; Counseling Theories; Child and Adolescent Counseling Techniques; Introduction to College Student Affairs; Human Development Through the Family Life Cycle; Management and Assessment of Campus Environments; and Case Management in Rehabilitation Counseling.

    • Cost: $ 7,404.00
    • Credits Required: 48 – 60
    • Accreditation: CACREP
  5. Spring Arbor University
    Location

    Spring Arbor, MI

    A Master of Arts in Counseling is available through the School of Human Services at Spring Arbor University. This degree is available on the main campus as well as at their several off-campus locations. The program offers a Clinical Mental Health Counseling Track and/or a School Counseling Track. Students that select the Dual Track will complete internships in a school and a clinical mental health setting (600 hours in each setting for CACREP accreditation). The Spring Arbor University Counseling Department is committed to diversity and actively encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.

    Courses include: Clinical Psychopathology; Crisis Intervention; Development and Administration of School Counseling Programs; and Mental Health within the Schools.

    • Cost: $ 7,467.00
    • Credits Required: 60 – 69
    • Accreditation: CACREP
  6. Western Illinois University – Quad Cities
    Location

    Macomb, IL

    Western Illinois University offers a Master of Education in Counseling with specializations offered in School Counseling and Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Students will complete core courses along with electives in their area of focus. Coursework and practicum experiences are focused on valuing diversity and supporting personal and professional growth. Graduates of this CACREP accredited program are well-positioned to pursue a career in diverse settings from community mental health clinics, to schools, to residential treatment programs.

    Courses include: Crisis and Trauma Counseling; Marriage, Family, and Relationship Counseling; Lifestyles and Career Development; Assessment Techniques in Counseling; Counseling Theories and Applications; Counseling/Helping in a Multicultural Society; Diagnosis; and Data-Driven School Counseling Programs and Practices.

    • Cost: $ 7,767.00
    • Credits Required: 48 – 60
    • Accreditation: CACREP
  7. Grace College
    Location

    Winona Lake, IN

    An online Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is available at Grace College. This CACREP accredited online counseling degree requires the completion of 60 credits with an annual 7-day on-campus residency. Students in this program will have the opportunity to complete all coursework from home and clinical internships in their hometown. The annual 7-day residency will support students in developing relationships with peers and faculty while strengthening their clinical skills in a supportive setting.

    Courses include: Theological Foundations in Counseling; Marriage and Family Counseling; Psychopathology; Counseling Skills; Psychotherapy with Children and Adolescents; Spirituality in Counseling; Addictions Counseling; Gender and Sexuality; Advanced Clinical Practices and Treatment; Ethical and Legal Issues; Group Counseling; Social and Cultural Issues; and Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination.

    • Cost: $ 7,860.00
    • Credits Required: 60
    • Accreditation: CACREP
  8. Lincoln Christian University
    Location

    Lincoln, IL

    Lincoln Christian University offers a Master of Arts in Counseling. The program works to support students in integrating a Biblical worldview into their developing practice as counselors and therapists. The 60 credits of coursework in this CACREP accredited program are designed to provide a comprehensive education in preparation for professional licensure. The program strives to provide flexible scheduling for all students with this hybrid program that combines residential classes one evening a week along with online courses and periodic week-long intensive learning experiences.

    Courses include: Research and Evaluation in Counseling; Abnormal Psychology; Developmental Psychology Perspectives for Counseling; Multicultural Counseling; Substance Abuse and Addictions Counseling; and Systematic Theology.

    • Cost: $ 7,920.00
    • Accreditation: CACREP
  9. Wayne State College
    Location

    Wayne, NE

    A Master of Science in Education in Counseling is available at Wayne State College. This CACREP accredited counseling program is offered through a flexible hybrid format. Classes are offered five Saturdays each semester for students to engage with their cohort in person, and summer classes are offered fully online. The program requires students to complete 36 credits in core counseling coursework followed by additional credits in the students chosen area of study. Students can specialize in School Counseling with either an Elementary Endorsement for working with preschool through eighth grade or a Secondary Endorsement for working with 7th through 12th-grade students in middle and high school settings. Additionally, areas of specialty are offered in Clinical Mental Health Counseling as well as in Student Affairs and College Counseling.

    Courses include: Multicultural Counseling; Professional Counselors/ Ethical Standards; Individual Group Assessment; Pre-Practicum in Counseling; Group Counseling; Organization/ Administration of Counseling Services; and Differential Diagnosis of Treatment Planning.

    • Cost: $ 7,965.00
    • Credits Required: 48 – 61
    • Accreditation: CACREP
  10. Viterbo University
    Location

    La Crosse, WI

    Viterbo University offers a CACREP accredited Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling. The program strives to provide students with a well-rounded education to support their graduate's success in pursuing licensure and enhance their professional practice as counselors and therapists serving diverse communities. To support students in having unique learning and clinical growth opportunities students in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program can choose from one of three areas of concentration: Wellness and Integrative Health Care; Child and Adolescent Counseling; and Substance Abuse Counseling.

    Courses include: Promoting Healthy Lifestyle Choice and Interventions; Advanced Child and Adolescent Counseling Skills; Substance Abuse Disorders Counseling; and Couples and Family Counseling.

    • Cost: $ 8,560.00
    • Credits Required: 60
    • Accreditation: CACREP

Methodology: To develop the ranking of The Top 30 Master’s Degrees in Counseling in the Midwest, we used information gathered from the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) and the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) for schools offering master’s level programs in counseling. Next, we sorted out schools that are in the Midwest United States as determined by the United States Census Regions Map. Finally, we sorted the schools by net price as listed on the Institute of Education Sciences’ College Navigator, and we present the top 30 schools in our ranking.

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