Cheapest CACREP Accredited Online Master’s in Mental Health Counseling

Key Takeaways:

• CACREP accreditation ensures high-quality standards in mental health counseling education.
• Cheaper tuition doesn’t compromise accreditation or program quality.
• Look for programs with flexible schedules, scholarships and robust student support services.

If you are looking for an accredited online master’s in mental health, you should start by seeing if the program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). A CACREP accreditation is often required for any type of endorsement. Once you have found accredited master’s mental health counseling programs, you can compare each program’s cost. The following list includes some of the most affordable master’s in clinical mental health counseling degrees available. 

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The Most Affordable Master’s in Mental Health Counseling Programs  

The typical master’s program in mental health counseling takes one to three years to complete. When comparing different programs, you should look at the overall cost of the degree instead of just the cost of a single year of tuition. If you need to complete prerequisite courses first, you should take this added expense into consideration as well. 

1. Adams State University 

Adams State University is known for offering an affordable online master’s in mental health counseling. In addition to its master’s in mental health counseling, it also has a Ph.D. in counselor education that has CACREP accreditation. While the Ph.D. requires summer residencies, the accredited online master’s in mental health involves only online classes and two week-long labs. 

In total, the master’s in mental health counseling online takes 60 credit hours to complete. The online program costs in-state and out-of-state residents $444 per credit hour, so the entire degree works out to $26,640. If you decide to pursue the Ph.D. afterward, the Ph.D. program is $587 per credit hour.     

Adams State University offers more than 100 scholarships, and 91% of students get financial aid. Because of this, you may be able to pay significantly less than the advertised tuition cost. Before you enroll, talk to an admissions counselor about your options. 

2. Bradley University 

If you are searching for a master’s in clinical mental health counseling, Bradley University is the place to go. It offers two online counseling degrees. Other than the master’s in clinical mental health counseling, Bradley University also has a master’s degree in professional school counseling. 

The counseling degrees at Bradley University take 60 credits to complete. They include practicum training and internships, so students will be completely prepared for licensure requirements. While students have to pay $1,039 per semester hour, many students receive up to 100% off of their tuition. Bradley University is known for having renewable assistantships and scholarships, so the advertised rate is almost never what students will actually pay.  

3. Lindsey Wilson College 

At Lindsey Wilson College, students can enroll in a master’s mental health counseling online program. This Master of Education program includes 60 credit hours that are broken down into eight-week courses. Because this master’s degree in mental health counseling is designed to be military-friendly, a sizable portion of the student population has served in the military at some point.  

The master’s program in mental health counseling charges $510 per credit hour, so you can expect the entire program to cost $30,600. A total of 95% of undergraduate students receive financial aid, and many master’s degree students do as well. If you need extra help funding your master’s program in mental health counseling, Lindsey Wilson College has a number of scholarships and grants you may qualify for. 

4. Fort Hays State University 

If you are searching for clinical mental health counseling master’s programs, Fort Hays State University is one of the best places to go. The master’s in clinical mental health counseling is offered virtually, so you can take it from any location. You are required to come to the campus for five-day workshops during two different summer semesters. While it is intended for students who plan on working in Kansas, students from any location can pursue this master’s in clinical mental health counseling.   

There is no spring admittance for virtual students, so you must apply for the fall semester before March 15. Once you are admitted, you can complete the program in four semesters of coursework and an additional two semesters spent interning in the career field. In total, it takes about three years to complete this accredited online master’s in mental health.  

To pursue this degree program, you must pay $319.45 per credit hour. The entire degree takes 62 credits to complete, so you can expect the total cost to be $19,805.90. Fortunately, the college also offers many financial aid options that can make your master’s in mental health counseling a little more affordable.   

5. Grace College

Grace College has a clinical mental health program that is based on Biblical scripture. It is designed to help students get their counseling licensure in Indiana. When you apply for the accredited online master’s in mental health, you can transfer up to 12 credits of graduate work. 

Altogether, you must finish 60 credits to get your degree. Since tuition costs $470 per credit hour, you can expect the entire master’s degree to cost $28,200. Fortunately, most students do not end up paying this much. You can defray the cost of school significantly by applying for financial aid. Grace College has many grants and scholarships available. Some of these are awarded by merit, and other aid programs are based on your financial need.  

6. North Carolina State University 

Another one of the best master’s in mental health counseling online programs can be found at North Carolina State University. This master’s program in mental health counseling takes two years to complete on a full-time basis. If you only take the program part-time, it will take three years to finish it. 

The master’s program focuses on clinical mental health, so it involves a significant amount of clinical training. For online programs, North Carolina residents can expect to pay $525.50 per credit hour. Non-residents must pay $1,635.17 per credit hour. Because the master’s in clinical mental health counseling takes at least two years of full-time study to finish, students can expect to pay $24,654 as residents or $66,200 as non-residents to finish their degree.  

7. East Carolina University 

If you’re searching for an inexpensive master’s in mental health counseling that has CACREP accreditation, East Carolina University is worth checking out. This program involves 60 credit hours in total. While 15 credit hours are devoted to electives, 45 credits are focused on theory and core research. Among other electives, you can take classes on human environmental sciences, education, health, psychology, and sociology.  

Other than picking your electives, you can also choose a specialization. You can focus on clinical mental health counseling or school counseling. There is also a specialization in student affairs and college counseling. No matter what your specialization is, you will conclude your program with a clinical practicum and internship. 

To attend this university, you will be expected to pay $18,361 for your tuition and fees if you are a non-resident. Residents pay just $5,213 for their tuition and fees. The online option is significantly cheaper than studying on campus. If you decide to go to your classes in person, you can expect to pay about 30% to 40% more.  

8. The University of the Cumberlands 

The University of the Cumberlands is a popular university for online students. Through the master’s program in mental health counseling, you can expect to pay $449 per credit. Because the program takes 60 credits to complete, you can expect the total cost to be about $26,940. 

This university is exceptional because of the way it works to keep students from taking on excessive college debt. If you are a new student, you are eligible to be a part of the Cumberlands Commitment Fund. This fund pledges to charge you no more than $2,000 per semester for school. If you qualify, the rest of your school costs will be made up of zero-interest loans, scholarships, and grants. There is also a range of merit-based scholarships offered, such as the Cumberland Scholars, Patriot Scholars, and Lewis Appalachian Scholarship.

Check for CACREP Accreditation 

If you are searching for an online master’s in mental health counseling on your own, you can often find the program’s CACREP accreditation on the college’s website. Sometimes, the program doesn’t list its accreditation online. In these cases, you can easily look up the master’s degree in mental health counseling on the CACREP website. 

Instead of searching through the entire directory of accredited degrees, you can simply use the “filter” button. Then, type in the college’s name in the “keyword” field. If the college has a CACREP accreditation, it will appear in this section.  

Learn More About an Accredited Online Master’s in Mental Health

If you want to become a mental health counselor, master’s degree programs are the next step toward your career goals. You can find a master’s program in mental health counseling that offers online courses for an affordable tuition rate. With the right master’s in clinical mental health counseling, you can finish your degree and land a career as a mental health counselor.