The 11 Best Therapy Degrees in New York for 2026 (Programs & Career Paths)

New York offers access to some of the nation’s top counseling programs with strong career prospects when you pick a therapy degree. The state projects job growth for counselors at 10% from 2022 to 2032. Graduates earn competitive salaries such as $76,000 as an Intervention Specialist each year or $60,080 as an Addiction Counselor. This page gets into 11 leading therapist masters degrees and includes masters in mental health counseling New York programs that help you find the right fit for your career goals.

1. New York University – Masters in Mental Health Counseling

NYU Steinhardt offers an online Master of Arts in Counseling for Mental Health and Wellness that prepares you to pursue licensure as a mental health counselor. The program requires 60 graduate-level credits and can be completed in 21 to 30 months, which varies with your start date. The curriculum combines core courses in counseling foundations, theories, multicultural counseling, ethics, human development, and research methods with elective options such as cognitive behavioral therapy, substance-related disorders, marriage and family counseling, and trauma perspectives.

The Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC) has accredited the program from January 2015 to January 2025. NYU faculty teach all courses through live online classes and add interactive simulations in a counseling lab. You must attend one three-day immersion at the New York City campus. Travel and lodging costs are your responsibility. Admission does not require GRE scores.

Tuition & Costs

Tuition and fees for the 2025-2026 academic year that begins with the September 2025 cohort are shown below:

You must pay registration and service fees calculated per term along with tuition. The Board of Trustees reserves the right to alter the fee schedule without notice, and moderate increases are expected each academic year. Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans of up to $20,500 per academic year are accessible to most graduate students. The admissions team may award scholarships to Counseling@NYU applicants through their admission application. No separate scholarship application is necessary.

Admission Requirements

You need a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited university and a minimum 3.0 GPA. Submit a résumé or CV, transcripts, two letters of recommendation, five short-answer responses plus a case study, and a TOEFL score of at least 100 if applicable. The admissions team accepts applications on a rolling basis for multiple start dates per year. The September 2026 cohort has an early priority deadline of April 14, 2026, priority deadline of May 4, 2026, and final deadline of May 15, 2026.

Clinical Training & Practicum Hours

You must complete a 100-hour practicum that requires a minimum of 40 direct contact hours with clients under supervision of a licensed mental health professional. This involves 8-10 hours per week under licensed supervision. A 600-hour internship split across two consecutive terms requires 300 hours per term with at least 240 total direct practice hours. You train at the same site throughout both internship terms for a minimum of three full days or 19 hours per week. The placement team secures approved placements within a 75-mile radius of your preferred address.

Career Outcomes & Licensure

New York State has registered the program as a license-qualifying program in mental health counseling. Graduates meet academic requirements for licensure and diagnostic privilege in New York State. This allows independent diagnosis of mental disorders and creation of assessment-based treatment plans. You may be eligible for licensure in states outside New York, though requirements vary. Graduates pursue careers in community mental health programs, university counseling centers, substance abuse treatment centers, outpatient care centers, hospitals, and private practice.

2. Columbia University – Mental Health Counseling Program

Teachers College at Columbia University delivers an Ed.M. in Mental Health Counseling that trains you in assessment, evaluation, and treatment of socio-emotional disorders. The program requires 60 points of sequential study beyond your bachelor’s degree, with at least 42 points completed at Teachers College. You must pass a detailed examination and complete a special project to earn the degree.

The program earned accreditation from the Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC) for the period of February 2016 through September 2026. Teachers College received state approval in 2005 to offer a license-qualifying program in mental health counseling. The curriculum covers human growth and development, social and cultural foundations, counseling theory and practice, psychopathology, group dynamics, career development, assessment, research methods, professional ethics, and clinical instruction.

Full-time students complete the program in about five semesters. Part-time completion varies with your enrollment load each term. Courses are scheduled in afternoon and evening slots. This allows flexibility for part-time attendance, though some required courses may run during daytime hours on occasion.

Tuition & Costs

Tuition rates per credit for therapist masters degrees at Columbia vary by academic year:

Additional mandatory fees include the Columbia Health Fee and student health insurance, with specific amounts depending on your enrollment status and citizenship.

Admission Requirements

You need a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution to apply. The program accepts transfer credits upon admission, but you cannot transfer credits after matriculation begins. Non-matriculated students who later gain acceptance can transfer up to 9 points, with a maximum of 8 points in the major.

Clinical Training & Practicum Hours

Fieldwork spans one year with you working at an outside agency, school, college, or hospital setting for approximately 20 hours per week. You complete a minimum of 300 hours at your site per semester, totaling 600 hours over the year. Submit a fieldwork application and secure placements the semester before you begin fieldwork. The program also has a practicum in career and personal counseling as part of clinical instruction.

Career Outcomes & Licensure

You become eligible for licensure after completing coursework and accumulating 3,000 hours of post-master’s supervised experience in mental health counseling practice and passing a national examination. Licensed counselors work in clinics, schools, hospitals, agencies, human resource units, and private practice. The education law describes mental health counseling as evaluation, assessment, amelioration, and treatment of behavioral, emotional, and personality disorders using verbal or behavioral methods with individuals, couples, families, or groups.

3. Fordham University – Counseling for Mental Health and Wellness

Fordham’s Graduate School of Education provides an M.S.E. in Mental Health Counseling with a practitioner-scientist orientation grounded in multicultural and social justice counseling principles. The program lines up with Fordham’s Jesuit education emphasis on cura personalis (care of the whole person) and prepares you for a variety of careers through culturally responsive, science-based approaches. You complete 60 course credits plus a minimum 600-hour mental health counseling internship. The Lincoln Center campus delivers all courses in an on-ground format.

The program accommodates full-time completion in two years (with summers) or part-time completion in three years (with summers). The program received 267 applications during the 2024-2025 academic year and accepted 176 applicants (65.9% acceptance rate). Of these, 37 students enrolled (21.0% matriculation rate). The retention rate into the second year stands at 94.6%, with 86.5% of students graduating in two years. The M.S.E. in Mental Health Counseling holds accreditation from the Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC) for the period of January 2015 through January 2026.

Tuition & Costs

Tuition and fees are structured as follows for the 2025-2026 academic year:

Admission Requirements

You need a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum grade point average of approximately 3.0 (B or better). Submit two reference reports and demonstrate proof of immunization against measles and mumps. Your application must show evidence of professional promise, including personal and interpersonal characteristics appropriate to the profession and the ability to communicate well. The priority deadline falls on January 15, with applications due by February 1.

Clinical Training & Practicum Hours

The 600-hour supervised internship is completed during fall and spring semesters. You must complete 300 hours per term. This internship can only start in the fall semester. You must maintain a minimum overall graduate grade point average of 3.0 throughout the program and complete an end-of-program assessment.

Career Outcomes & Licensure

You become eligible to get a New York State License as a Mental Health Counselor after graduation. You must pass the licensing exam and accrue 3,000 hours of post-master’s supervised mental health counseling experience. Career opportunities include mental health clinics, community mental health centers, hospitals, nonprofit counseling agencies, college and university counseling centers, corporate mental health services, and independent private practices after licensure.

4. CUNY Hunter College – Mental Health Counseling MA

Hunter College’s School of Education administers an MSEd in Mental Health Counseling that prepares you to work in hospital, agency, community settings and private practice. The program requires 60 credits and guides you to professional licensure in New York State, which is mandatory to practice mental health counseling. The mission focuses on training practitioners with clinical insight who can serve New York City’s diverse population.

Courses run in afternoon and evening time slots. You complete a minimum of 700 field hours over three semesters through practicum and internship courses. The program’s acceptance rate from Fall 2019 to Spring 2025 was 29%, with 435 accepted applicants registering out of 2,771 total applications. Fall 2024 data shows 129 acceptances from 422 applications (31% acceptance rate), and 68 students registered.

Tuition & Costs

The School of Education program has these tuition rates for 2025:

New York State residents receive these rates. Non-residents pay $945 per credit. Additional fees include a $125 technology fee for full-time students and $62.50 for part-time enrollment.

Admission Requirements

You need a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a minimum 3.0 GPA. The program requires 15 to 25 credits from approved fields including anthropology, economics, education, psychology and sociology. Submit two essays: a 400 to 600-word statement describing a meaningful event that shaped your counseling interest, plus an additional 400 to 600-word essay addressing difficult client situations and coping strategies. Two letters of recommendation from professional or academic references are mandatory. The application deadline is February 1 for fall start. No GRE scores are required.

Clinical Training & Practicum Hours

Practicum requires eight hours per week in the field for one semester. You begin a two-semester internship at 20 hours per week minimum after successful completion with a B grade or higher. Internship totals 600 hours across two consecutive semesters (300 hours each term), and at least 240 hours of direct service are required. You must complete all internship hours at the same site. Individual supervision of one hour per week is mandatory throughout fieldwork.

Career Outcomes & Licensure

Graduates qualify for Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) credentials in New York State. Employment data reveals 79% of graduates work full-time in counseling-related occupations, with 11% hired part-time. Furthermore, 80% hold positions requiring certification or licensure.

5. Manhattan University – Mental Health Counseling MS

Manhattan University’s 60-credit M.S. in Mental Health Counseling satisfies New York State education requirements for licensure as a mental health counselor. The program trains you to treat mental health, human relationship, education and career concerns within ethical, developmental, preventive and treatment contexts. Faculty members are either licensed psychologists or mental health counselors who bring real-life knowledge and experience to their teaching.

You complete the degree anywhere between two years (including two summers with two sessions each) and five years. Most students finish within 2.5 to 3 years though. The program combines 54 credits of core courses with 6 credits of elective coursework. Both practicum and internship experiences occur in some of the most ethnically and economically diverse areas in the United States. About 90% of students secure employment upon graduation.

Tuition & Costs

Graduate tuition in the Kakos School of Arts and Sciences is structured as follows for the 2025-2026 academic year:

All graduate students are considered for a 10% tuition scholarship at admission, provided you maintain a 3.0 GPA from your undergraduate institution and remain in good academic standing.

Admission Requirements

You need a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or institution with a minimum 3.0 GPA. Submit an online application, undergraduate transcripts, personal statement that reflects program interest and professional goals, at least one professional recommendation letter, current resume and $75 application fee. International applicants educated outside the United States must provide a course-by-course evaluation report from a NACES-listed agency. Non-native English speakers need TOEFL scores of at least 80, IELTS scores of 6.5, or Duolingo scores of 110 out of 160.

Clinical Training & Practicum Hours

You get 700 hours of supervised, on-site counseling experience through one semester practicum and two semester internship. New York State licensure requires 3,000 clock hours of supervised post-graduation experience in a mental health counseling licensed organization or private practice beyond program coursework.

Career Outcomes & Licensure

Graduates work at mental health agencies, hospital settings, private practice and nonprofit organizations such as the Children’s Aid Society. The program meets licensure curriculum requirements for Connecticut, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. Career paths include mental health counselors, social service counselors, rehabilitation counselors and social and community service managers.

6. Brooklyn College – Mental Health Counseling MA

Brooklyn College’s Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling uses a cohort-based learning model. Each entering group completes the 60-credit program together as a peer support system in 21 months. The Psychology Department delivers detailed exposure to three principal counseling approaches: psychodynamic, experiential/humanistic, and cognitive/behavioral therapy. You work in clinical settings with adults and families, though the program has opportunities to work with children and adolescents.

Beyond internship requirements, you perform intake evaluations and psychotherapy at the college’s counseling center. The curriculum prepares you to work within medical, community, and private practice settings through academic coursework and clinical internship training. You must pass an examination after completing 48 credits. A minimum of 48 credits must be taken in the Psychology Department out of the total 60 required.

Tuition & Costs

Brooklyn College’s tuition structure compares well with private university programs while it maintains small class sizes:

You pay tuition for four academic semesters (fall, spring, fall, spring), one summer course after year one, and two January courses in years one and two. The Psychology Department offers small grants to MHC students at times, contingent on funding availability.

Admission Requirements

You need a minimum of 15 credits in undergraduate psychology courses. At least one course must be in each of these areas: child or adolescent developmental psychology, general or introductory psychology, and psychological disorders/abnormal psychology/psychopathology. You also need psychology statistics. Submit a personal statement that discusses related work, internship, and personal experiences. You must also provide three letters of recommendation from people familiar with your professional and academic experience. At least one recommendation should come from a college instructor or academic setting.

Clinical Training & Practicum Hours

Clinical practicum and internship courses require you to adhere to professional conduct standards. These standards are outlined by the American Psychological Association, American Counseling Association, American Mental Health Counseling Association, and New York State regulations. Your continued enrollment depends on your demonstration of appropriate professional demeanor.

Career Outcomes & Licensure

You need 3,000 hours of supervised post-degree experience once you complete your degree. This makes you eligible for the licensure examination that permits private and independent practice of mental health counseling. Some insurers cover services that licensed MHC practitioners provide. Individual insurance provider policies govern coverage regulations.

7. Pace University – Therapist Masters Degrees Program

Pace University’s Dyson College delivers a 60-credit MS in Mental Health Counseling accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP). The program prepares you to become a licensed practitioner with specializations in loss and grief counseling, substance abuse, post-traumatic stress and resilience, and positive psychology. The curriculum emphasizes hands-on skills development using role-playing and group exercises, along with interview techniques, research methods, and internships. You complete 16 required core courses and 4 elective courses. Close advisement from the Program Manager and Field Placement Coordinator is required as courses must be completed in a strict specified order with passing grades of B or better.

The program qualifies you for New York State certification in mental health counseling. It prepares you for professional counseling positions, advanced training in specific theoretical approaches, and doctoral-level study [372]. You get 700 hours of supervised practicum and internship experiences at leading clinical settings such as NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, St. Vincent’s Hospital, and Montefiore Medical Center.

Tuition & Costs

Tuition rates are structured as follows for the 2025-2026 academic year:

Admission Requirements

You need a bachelor’s degree in psychology or a related field. Applicants without such a major may be required to complete General Psychology and Social Psychology before beginning graduate study. Submit a personal statement, resume describing at least five years of employment history, two letters of recommendation from academic or professional references, and official transcripts from every accredited institution attended. The application fee is $70.

Clinical Training & Practicum Hours

You complete a 100-hour practicum that requires a minimum of 40 direct service hours with actual clients. This is followed by a 600-hour internship with at least 240 direct service hours. You receive individual or triadic supervision averaging one hour weekly during practicum and internship.

Career Outcomes & Licensure

Graduates get diagnostic privilege designation in New York State. This expands employment opportunities and earning potential. You possess the authority to diagnose clients once you complete the program and obtain licensure. Your diagnostic expertise is recognized as equivalent to social workers, psychologists, and psychiatrists.

8. Touro University – Counseling Masters Program

Touro University’s School of Health Sciences administers a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling requiring 19 courses (60 credits) and a documented seminar in Child Abuse Identification and Reporting. The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) accredits the program. Most students complete the program in three years. Classes are scheduled in evening and Sunday slots to accommodate working professionals. The curriculum fulfills all requirements for the CASAC-Trainee certificate. You study at two locations: 3 Times Square in New York or 902 Quentin Road in Brooklyn.

Tuition & Costs

The 2025-2026 academic year has costs structured as follows:

Admission Requirements

You need a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution with a minimum 3.0 GPA. The program requires 12 semester hours of psychology or related social science courses and an undergraduate statistics course. You must complete an interview with faculty members and provide a writing sample. The priority application deadline for fall admission is March 1, with a final deadline of April 15.

Clinical Training & Practicum Hours

Fieldwork totals 700 hours: 100 hours in practicum placement and 600 hours in two internship courses. You receive weekly one-hour supervision from a mental health professional at your community-based site and weekly 1.5-hour supervision from program faculty.

Career Outcomes & Licensure

Job placement rates reached 100% for graduates from 2022 through 2025. License exam pass rates ranged from 78% to 100% in recent graduation years. Graduates qualify for licensure in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

9. Yeshiva University – Mental Health Counseling Degree

Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology administers a 60-credit MA in Mental Health Counseling. You can choose from three formats: on-campus, live virtual, and fully online. The program spans two years. Students can extend completion to 2.5 years. Three optional concentrations let you specialize in Addictions Counseling, Couples and Family Counseling, or Multicultural Counseling. Faculty members are licensed mental health counselors who maintain active private practices. The New York State Education Department approved the program as meeting licensure-qualifying requirements.

Tuition & Costs

The 2025-2026 academic year has the following cost structure:

Admission Requirements

You need 15 undergraduate psychology credits. These include courses in general psychology, statistics, and abnormal psychology. Submit three letters of recommendation, a 2-3 page personal statement, curriculum vitae, and General GRE scores sent to institution code 2995. Application deadlines fall on February 15 and April 15 for on-campus and live virtual formats. The online format has an additional June 30 deadline.

Clinical Training & Practicum Hours

You complete 600 hours of supervised field placement over four semesters. A licensed mental health professional must provide one hour of weekly clinical supervision.

Career Outcomes & Licensure

Employment rates reach 90% at graduation and 95% within six months post-graduation. You need 3,000 post-master’s supervised hours before taking the NCMHCE licensure examination once you complete the degree.

10. CUNY Baruch College – Counseling Program

Weissman School of Arts and Sciences at Baruch College operates a 60-credit MA in Mental Health Counseling using a cohort model where you complete the same program of study with your entering class. The program accepts full-time students and follows a lock-step sequence with predetermined courses each semester. The New York State Education Department has approved the program, which satisfies all NYSED standards for therapist masters degrees. You need 3,000 hours of supervised post-degree experience before qualifying for the licensure examination once you earn your degree.

Tuition & Costs

Costs vary by a lot based on residency status:

These figures include tuition, academic excellence fees, technology fees, consolidated service fees, and student activity fees for typical four-semester completion.

Admission Requirements

You need 15 credits in psychology. These must cover abnormal psychology, statistics, research methods/experimental psychology, and two psychology electives. The Fall 2026 application deadline is December 1, 2025, with a $75 application fee. Submit your admissions essay, resume, transcripts, and three recommendation letters.

Clinical Training & Practicum Hours

Your experiential training totals 700 hours: 100 hours in practicum during spring of your first year, followed by 300 hours in Internship 1 (fall of second year) and 300 hours in Internship 2 (spring of second year).

Career Outcomes & Licensure

Employment of mental health counselors is expected to grow by 36 percent. Graduates work in a variety of clinical settings that include addiction treatment, forensics, LGBTQ centers, and community-based clinics throughout NYC’s five boroughs, Long Island, Westchester, and New Jersey.

11. New York Tech – Online Mental Health Counseling MS

New York Institute of Technology delivers an online 60-credit M.S. in Mental Health Counseling that targets working professionals who want therapy degrees in New York. You complete the program in an average of 2.5 years and gain 699 practicum and internship hours. The curriculum reflects a steadfast dedication to social justice and cultural sensitivity while preparing you to provide counseling services in social services agencies, mental health centers, and substance abuse programs. You qualify to sit for the National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Examination upon graduation and can practice under supervision with a limited permit.

Tuition & Costs

Costs for the 2026-2027 academic year break down this way:

Admission Requirements

You need a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a minimum 3.0 GPA. Applicants with GPAs between 2.85 and 2.99 may receive conditional acceptance that requires a 3.0 GPA in your first 12 credits to continue. Submit a personal essay that outlines your rationale for choosing this masters in mental health counseling New York program and career objectives. You must also provide three letters of reference from employers and professors and participate in a face-to-face interview with the program chairperson.

Clinical Training & Practicum Hours

Your field experience totals 700 hours: a 100-hour practicum that requires 40 direct client contact hours, followed by a 600-hour internship split over two consecutive terms. Each internship term requires 300 hours with 120 direct hours and 180 indirect hours. You receive weekly structured seminar supervision via Zoom and weekly on-site supervision.

Career Outcomes & Licensure

Employment of mental health and substance abuse social workers will grow as more people seek treatment, especially for opioid use disorder recovery. The median annual wage for social workers reached $58,380 in May 2023. The highest earners made over $94,910. Overall social worker employment projects 7% growth from 2022 to 2032, with about 63,800 annual openings.

Begin Today

Choosing the right mental health counseling program depends on your budget, preferred learning format, and career specialization goals. New York offers a variety of options, from affordable CUNY programs at around $470 per credit to complete private university offerings with specialized concentrations. Job growth projections show a 10% increase through 2032, and competitive salaries reach $76,000 annually for specialists. Your investment in these therapy degrees in New York positions you for a rewarding career. You’ll qualify for licensure after you complete your chosen program and accumulate 3,000 supervised hours. You can then join thousands of professionals serving communities of all types throughout the state.