The 11 Best Masters in Counseling Psychology Programs in New York State in 2026
Your search for a masters in counseling psychology program in New York comes at the right time. Employment for mental health counselors is projected to grow 17% from 2024 to 2034 and creates career opportunities for qualified professionals. New York offers many counseling psychology graduate programs and masters in mental health counseling NYC options. Each has strengths in accreditation and career support. This piece gets into 11 top programs throughout the state. You’ll find details on admission requirements, tuition, and career outcomes that help you make an informed decision.
1. Columbia University Teachers College – Mental Health Counseling EdM
Program Overview
Teachers College, Columbia University offers a 60-point EdM in Mental Health Counseling that prepares counselors to aid normal and optimal development for groups and organizations. The program received approval from New York State in 2005 to offer license-qualifying training. Full-time students complete the degree in five semesters, while part-time completion varies based on credit enrollment each term.
The program trains you in assessment, evaluation, amelioration and treatment of socio-emotional disorders and dysfunctions. You can also apply for an M.A. en passant degree in Psychological Counseling beyond the EdM. This requires a minimum of 32 points and successful completion of the Comprehensive Examination.
Key Features and Accreditation
The EdM in Mental Health Counseling holds accreditation from the Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC) for the period of February 2016 through September 2026. The program stands out for its racial-cultural and social justice framework integrated throughout every course and experience, not limited to designated multicultural courses.
Teachers College houses the only Bilingual Latina/o Mental Health (BLMH) concentration in New York State and the entire Tri-State area, approved in 2015. This concentration trains bilingual students with intermediary Spanish fluency to provide culturally responsive care to Spanish-dominant and bilingual multi-racial Latinx clients. Bilingual faculty teach all BLMH courses and bilingual licensed supervisors oversee fieldwork sites.
Admission Requirements
You must maintain a minimum grade of B in all classes to remain in good standing. The program requires completion of a comprehensive examination that you take during the semester when you complete 45 credits. You must take at least 42 of the 60 required points at Teachers College.
Curriculum Structure
The curriculum covers ten core content areas: human growth and development, social-cultural foundations of counseling, counseling theory and practice, psychopathology, group counseling, lifestyle and career development, assessment and appraisal, research and program evaluation, professional orientation and ethics, and foundations of mental health counseling and consultation.
Clinical training has a practicum in career and personal counseling (1 point) and one year of supervised fieldwork totaling 6 points spread over two or three semesters. Students complete around 20 hours per week at fieldwork sites. They accumulate a minimum of 300 hours per semester and 600 hours each year. You must complete a special project and pass a comprehensive examination in addition to coursework.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Tuition is $2,131 per credit for the 2025-2026 academic year. The 2026-2027 tuition is estimated at $2,216 per credit. Each term carries a mandatory college fee of $528 (2025-2026) or $538 estimated (2026-2027).
Career Outcomes
You become eligible for licensure after passing a national examination once you complete the required coursework and 3,000 hours of post-master’s supervised experience in mental health counseling practice. Graduates work in a variety of settings that include outpatient clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, social agencies, schools, colleges, career counseling centers, rehabilitation facilities and private practice. The program prepares you for roles in clinical practice, administration, assessment, research, policy development and implementation, and independent practice.
2. New York University – Counseling Psychology MA
Program Overview
NYU Steinhardt offers a Master of Arts in Counseling for Mental Health and Wellness designed to prepare professional clinical counselors for a variety of settings. The program requires 60 credits and provides both on-campus and online delivery options. Students pursuing the online format can complete their degree in as few as 21 months or five terms, depending on their start date. Applications are accepted year-round with multiple start dates each year, and the program operates on a rolling admissions basis.
Key Features and Accreditation
The Master’s in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC) has accredited the program for the period of 2015 through 2025. Graduates meet academic requirements for licensure in New York State and qualify for diagnostic privileges. Licensed mental health counselors with this privilege can diagnose mental disorders and create assessment-based treatment plans, a credential many employers prefer or require.
International students benefit from extended work authorization opportunities. F-1 students receive 12 months of Optional Practical Training (OPT), but those in this program may qualify for the STEM OPT extension, allowing up to 36 months total of degree-related work experience in the United States.
Admission Requirements
You need a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited university with a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA. GRE scores are not required. The application has two letters of recommendation from academic references who can speak to your qualifications. International applicants whose native language is not English must submit TOEFL scores of at least 100, unless they completed a four-year U.S. undergraduate degree taught in English.
Experience in mental health settings helps, and this can be paid or volunteer work at suicide hotlines, psychiatric centers, or crisis centers. You must also complete five short answer questions and a case study as part of the application. The application fee is $75 and non-refundable, reduced to $45 if submitted by the priority deadline.
Curriculum Structure
Core courses cover counseling foundations, theory and process, ethical issues, group dynamics, cross-cultural counseling, abnormal psychology, and human growth and development. The curriculum blends theoretical knowledge with practical skills through counseling labs and fieldwork experiences.
Clinical training has a 100-hour practicum and a 600-hour internship conducted in accredited mental health facilities. Students complete intake assessments and clinical evaluations, and they create counseling strategies under licensed supervision. All students must pass the Counselor Education Comprehensive Examination (CECE) in their final semester, with up to two attempts allowed.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Tuition costs $2,272 per credit for the 2025-2026 academic year. The registration and service fee for the first credit each term is $571, with an additional $79 per credit after that. Students in the online program can expect to pay around $136,320 in total tuition over the course of the program. Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans provide up to $20,500 per academic year for most graduate students.
Career Outcomes
Graduates work in community mental health programs, college counseling centers, trauma-focused programs, and substance abuse treatment centers. The program prepares you to assess clients within various socio-historical contexts while addressing issues of power and privilege related to gender, race, ethnicity, class, sexual orientation, and disability.
3. Fordham University – Mental Health Counseling MA
Program Overview
Fordham University’s Graduate School of Education delivers an M.S.E. in Mental Health Counseling that lines up with Jesuit education principles of cura personalis and social justice. The 60-credit program prepares you for diverse counseling careers through culturally responsive, science-based approaches. You can complete the degree full-time in two years with summers or part-time in three years with summers. All courses are delivered in an on-ground format.
The program maintains a reflective practitioner orientation with strong multicultural counseling emphasis. Therefore, this rigorous applied training has 60 course credits plus a minimum 600-hour mental health counseling internship.
Key Features and Accreditation
The M.S.E. in Mental Health Counseling holds accreditation from the Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC) for the period of July 2015 through July 2026. The program objectives prepare you to integrate psychological knowledge and demonstrate ethical decision-making competency. You will apply social justice points of view within evidence-based practices and encourage self-awareness with commitment to professional development.
Recent survey results from students, alumni, faculty and site supervisors reflect strong preparation in ethics, multicultural counseling and individual counseling.
Admission Requirements
You need a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA. The application requires a personal statement, CV or resume, official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate coursework, and two letters of recommendation. The application fee is $80. You must show evidence of professional promise through personal, interpersonal and intellectual characteristics appropriate to the profession. Proof of immunization against measles, mumps, meningitis and rubella is required.
During the 2024-2025 academic year, Fordham received 267 applications and accepted 176 applicants (65.9%). The program matriculated 37 students (21.0%). The mean undergraduate GPA for admitted students was 3.5.
Curriculum Structure
The 60-credit curriculum has courses in professional counseling foundations, human development, assessment, group counseling, counseling theory and practice, career counseling, general psychopathology, ethics, multicultural counseling, family counseling theories, trauma interpretation neurobiology and research methods. The 600-hour supervised internship spans fall and spring semesters. You must complete 300 hours each term. You must complete a master’s exam and maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Tuition costs $1,799 per credit during the 2025-2026 academic year. Additional fees include a general fee of $95 per term, technology fee of $356 per term and assessment fee of $190.
Career Outcomes
Graduates work in mental health clinics, community mental health centers, hospitals, nonprofit counseling agencies and college and university counseling centers. You become eligible for New York State licensure as a Mental Health Counselor after passing the licensing exam and accruing 3,000 hours of post-master’s supervised experience.
4. Brooklyn College CUNY – Mental Health Counseling MA
Program Overview
Brooklyn College CUNY administers a 60-credit Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling that trains you to work within medical, community, and private practice settings. The program structure is different from typical graduate programs through its cohort model. Each entering class completes the degree together as a peer support group in 21 months. You must enroll on a full-time basis. Part-time study is not permitted.
The curriculum provides in-depth exposure to three principal therapeutic approaches: psychodynamic, experiential/humanistic, and cognitive/behavioral therapy. This counseling psychology graduate program mainly focuses on clinical work with adults and families. It also offers opportunities for working with children and adolescents.
Key Features and Accreditation
The program holds registration approval from the New York State Education Department and meets all NYSED laws, rules, and regulations based on national accreditation standards. Brooklyn College’s educational programs carry accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. You perform intake evaluations and psychotherapy at the college’s counseling center in addition to internship requirements.
Admission Requirements
You need a minimum of 15 credits in undergraduate psychology courses. These must include child or adolescent developmental psychology, general or introductory psychology, psychological disorders/abnormal psychology/psychopathology, and psychology statistics. The application requires a personal statement that discusses related work, internship, and personal experiences. You must also submit three letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with your professional and academic experience. At least one recommendation must come from a college instructor or academic setting. Applications are due by May 1st.
Curriculum Structure
The degree requires 60 total credits. A minimum of 48 credits must be taken in the Psychology Department. You must pass a complete examination after completing 48 credits. Failure to earn a grade of B (3.00) or better in Psychology 7431G, 7449G, 7591G, or 7592G may result in implementation of a student remediation plan.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Tuition costs $5,545 per semester for 12 or more credits for New York State residents. It costs $470 per credit for fewer than 12 credits. Nonresident and international students pay $855 per credit. You should expect to pay tuition for four academic semesters, one summer course after year one, and two January courses in years one and two. Brooklyn College’s tuition compares favorably with most private university programs.
Career Outcomes
You become eligible to take the licensure examination after completing the degree and 3,000 hours of supervised post-degree experience. This permits private and independent practice of mental health counseling.
5. St. John’s University – Clinical Mental Health Counseling MSEd
Program Overview
St. John’s University’s Department of Counselor Education operates a 60-credit Master of Science in Education in Clinical Mental Health Counseling rooted in Vincentian values. The program prepares motivated, competent and culturally literate counselors who just need to work in varied settings. You can complete the degree full-time in 24 months. The New York State Department of Education Office of Professions has approved the program as license qualifying and it meets education requirements to become a Licensed Mental Health Counselor.
Key Features and Accreditation
The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) accredits the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program. This programmatic accreditation provides recognition that content and quality meet standards the profession sets. Besides LMHC eligibility, the Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS) has approved the curriculum as qualifying to become a Certified Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor in Training (CASAC-T).
St. John’s partners with New York State Office of Mental Health through a fast-track program. Eight students who complete fieldwork in OMH facilities receive a $4,000 stipend. The Audacia Foundation partnership through the NYS Clinical Practical Training program provides 14 CMHC students up to $72,000 in tuition assistance each. These students must serve three years post-graduation with organizations that serve at least 30% Medicaid and Medicare populations.
Admission Requirements
You need a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution with a B (3.0) average in general coursework and your major field. The program requires a minimum of 18 credits in Psychology and that must include research and statistics. You must submit two letters of recommendation from college instructors or field supervisors, participate in a faculty interview and provide a one-to-two-page personal essay. Your essay should outline your reasons to pursue the degree and career goals. An additional graduate entrance examination is not required.
Curriculum Structure
The 60-credit curriculum has orientation to mental health counseling, group dynamics, counseling skills and techniques, assessment, psychopathology, multicultural counseling, career development, research, case studies and treatment planning. Clinical training has practicum and two internship courses. You must pass the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE), a national exit exam required to graduate. The program managed to keep passing rates of 91% for the Fall 2023 cohort.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Tuition costs approximately $40,350 per year. The application fee is $70. Financial aid applicants must submit FAFSA by February 1. Graduate assistantships and scholarships support both full-time and part-time students.
Career Outcomes
Career Center data from December 2025 shows that 87% of Clinical Mental Health Counseling graduates secured employment in counseling-related positions within six months following graduation. Alumni work in inpatient settings, outpatient settings, PROS programs, community clinics, university settings and private practice.
6. Long Island University – Mental Health Counseling MS
Program Overview
Long Island University offers a 60-credit Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at multiple campus locations: Brooklyn, Post, and Hudson. The program takes two years and trains you to work in mental health and social service agencies, clinics, hospitals, and private practice. An integrated CASAC curriculum track lets you pursue employment opportunities in substance abuse counseling.
Key Features and Accreditation
The LIU Post campus holds full accreditation from the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). The Brooklyn campus maintains registration with the New York State Education Department and meets educational standards required for licensure. The curriculum follows 2016 CACREP programmatic goals and learning standards. Graduates qualify for licensure in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Most states outside New York require a syllabus review.
Admission Requirements
You need a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a minimum 3.0 GPA. The Brooklyn campus requires at least 12 semester hours of psychology courses or related social science courses plus a statistics course. International applicants must submit TOEFL scores of 79 or IELTS scores of 6.5 [243]. The application has a written statement of professional goals, an academic writing sample, two professional letters of reference, current resume, and a personal interview with the Program Director or designated faculty member.
Curriculum Structure
The 60-credit program requires completion with a 3.0 GPA or better. You complete 700 hours of clinical fieldwork: 100 hours in practicum and 600 hours in internship. Students must pass a complete examination and demonstrate interpersonal competencies associated with counseling outcomes that work.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Total tuition is $31,800.
Career Outcomes
Licensed mental health counselors in NYC earn between $70,000 and $120,000. LIU Post awarded master’s degrees in mental health services to 67 students in 2022.
7. New York Institute of Technology – Mental Health Counseling MS
Program Overview
New York Institute of Technology delivers a 60-credit M.S. in Mental Health Counseling that is fully online and combines high-quality training with flexible scheduling. The program’s cross-disciplinary approach integrates a comprehensive 700-hour practicum and internship experience. You work among expert faculty on research with broad applications that benefit the profession. The curriculum emphasizes social justice and cultural sensitivity to address the changing human services world.
Key Features and Accreditation
The Department of Psychology and Counseling maintains an active research environment with formative clinical experiences. The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) has accredited the Master of Science in School Counseling. Students benefit from hands-on investigation in psychology labs that extend to internships and externships with New York-area schools and organizations.
Admission Requirements
You must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0. Applicants with GPAs between 2.85 and 2.99 may receive conditional acceptance. They must maintain a 3.0 GPA in the first 12 credits to continue [273]. The application has a personal essay that outlines your rationale for choosing NYIT and the mental health counseling profession, plus career objectives upon graduation [273]. You provide three letters of reference from employers and professors [273]. A face-to-face interview with the program chairperson completes the process [273].
Curriculum Structure
Clinical training has approximately 20 hours per week at fieldwork sites through supervised practicum and internship experiences that total 700 hours.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Annual tuition totals $40,320 for both in-state and out-of-state students. Research assistantships are available to qualified students, though admission does not guarantee financial assistance.
Career Outcomes
The median annual wage for social workers reached $58,380 in May 2023. The highest 10 percent earned more than $94,910. Employment of mental health and substance abuse social workers will grow as more people seek treatment for opioid use disorder recovery. Overall employment of social workers is projected to grow 7 percent from 2022 to 2032, with about 63,800 openings projected yearly.
8. Hofstra University – Mental Health Counseling MA
Program Overview
Hofstra University’s 60-credit MA in Mental Health Counseling qualifies you to obtain licensure as a mental health counselor in New York State. Full-time students complete the program in 2.5 to 3 years, and part-time students can finish within five years. The program carries STEM designation. International F-1 students can request a 24-month OPT extension and gain additional work authorization.
Key Features and Accreditation
The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) accredits the program. Graduates report 94% satisfaction with the program and 94% likelihood to recommend it. Faculty instruction and applying multicultural knowledge to practice received 100% satisfaction ratings. You can complete CASAC educational requirements through OASAS alongside the MA. This credits you with 4,000 of the 6,000 total hours needed to achieve full certification.
Admission Requirements
You need a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA. Preferred application deadlines are August 15 and January 15. Prerequisites include child psychology, adolescent psychology, personality theory or abnormal psychology, and nine semester hours in behavioral sciences.
Curriculum Structure
The program requires 48 credits of core coursework plus 12 elective credits. You complete 600 hours of supervised internship, with an optional 300-hour extension available.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Graduate tuition rates change yearly. Check the Bursar site to see current pricing. The program reviews merit-based scholarships upon application automatically.
Career Outcomes
Among alumni, 69% found job searching at least somewhat easy, and 86% secured positions within four months. Graduates work in private practice, community agencies, hospitals, employee assistance programs, and substance abuse centers.
9. Pace University – Mental Health Counseling MS
Program Overview
Pace University’s Dyson College in Westchester delivers a 60-credit MS in Mental Health Counseling that can be completed in 24 months. The program provides specialized knowledge in loss and grief counseling, substance abuse, post-traumatic stress and resilience, and positive psychology. Students complete 700 hours of supervised practicum and internship experiences at clinical settings that include NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and Montefiore Medical Center.
Key Features and Accreditation
The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) accredits the program. After licensure, you receive diagnostic privilege in New York State and can diagnose clients.
Admission Requirements
You need a bachelor’s degree in psychology or a related field. The application fee is $70.
Curriculum Structure
The degree requires 16 core courses and 4 electives, with passing grades of B or better and close advisement to ensure proper prerequisite sequencing.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Tuition costs $1,495 per credit, totaling $89,700. Merit-based scholarships award up to $7,000.
Career Outcomes
The program enrolled 137 students and conferred 39 degrees in 2024-2025. Completion rates reached 98%, with 100% field placement rates and 73% job placement based on survey data. The NYS NCMHCE exam pass rate was 60%.
10. Adelphi University – Clinical Mental Health Counseling MA
Program Overview
The Gordon F. Derner School of Psychology at Adelphi University operates a 60-credit MA in Mental Health Counseling. The program takes two years to complete. Working professionals can attend evening classes. The substance abuse counseling concentration prepares you for specialized treatment roles. The program ranked No. 24 among the Top 50 Master’s Counseling Programs and 40th among the Top 75 Addiction Studies Programs.
Key Features and Accreditation
The substance abuse concentration meets New York State’s 350 hours of educational requirements for the Credential in Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counseling Trainee certificate (CASAC-T). You build clinical competency through collaborations with local hospitals and agencies throughout the New York area.
Admission Requirements
You need a minimum 3.1 GPA and prerequisite courses in general psychology, abnormal psychology, developmental psychology and research methods. The application has two letters of recommendation, a personal essay, official transcripts, an admissions interview and a $60 fee. GRE scores are not required for Fall 2025 admission. The priority deadline is March 1. Applications are reviewed on a space-available basis afterward.
Curriculum Structure
Clinical training has a 100-hour practicum and 900-hour internship. This totals 1,000 hours with 400 direct client contact hours.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Annual tuition is $36,070. Scholarships and financial aid options are accessible without separate applications.
Career Outcomes
98% of the Graduate Class of 2020 received job offers within six months after graduation. The mean annual salary for full-time positions was $64,871. Top employment sectors are healthcare at 27.6% and education at 25%, along with counseling and social services.
11. The College of New Rochelle – Counseling Psychology Graduate Programs
Program Overview
Mercy University operates a 60-credit MS in Mental Health Counseling that qualifies you to sit for the New York State professional licensing exam. The program offers part-time and full-time study options to accommodate a variety of schedules. Classes meet during the day and evening at Dobbs Ferry or Bronx campuses, with some online offerings. You need 3,000 hours of supervised experience post-graduation for full licensure.
Key Features and Accreditation
Job growth for mental health counselors stands at 25%. This is a big deal as it means that it exceeds the national average by four times. The program maintains strong relationships with clinics and agencies throughout the greater New York area for fieldwork placements. Students can pursue CASAC-T certification through OASAS with an additional 350 hours in addiction-specific curriculum.
Admission Requirements
You need a baccalaureate degree with a 3.0 GPA minimum. Applicants with lower GPAs may receive provisional acceptance. The application requires two letters of recommendation (one from a professor at minimum), a current resume, and an 800-1,000-word personal statement that addresses your understanding of mental health counseling and career motivations.
Curriculum Structure
The 60-credit program divides into three levels: 18 credits of foundational knowledge, 27 credits of intermediate pre-internship preparation, and 15 credits of advanced specialty concentration with internship. You complete 700 hours of fieldwork and pass a written examination (CPCE).
Tuition and Financial Aid
Median undergraduate tuition is $36,152.
Career Outcomes
Graduates work in family services, outpatient centers, hospitals, government, private practice, substance disorder programs, and community agencies.
Start today
Choosing among these 11 masters in counseling psychology programs in NY state comes down to your specific priorities. You might value CACREP accreditation, specialized concentrations like CASAC-T certification, flexible online formats, or affordable CUNY tuition. Each program offers distinct advantages. All programs require 60 credits and fieldwork hours that position you for New York State licensure after 3,000 supervised post-graduate hours. Mental health counseling careers are projected to grow by 20%, which means your investment in this degree opens doors to work that matters. You can find opportunities in hospitals, private practice and specialized treatment centers. Compare admission requirements, financial aid opportunities, and program specializations that line up with your career goals.