How We Calculated the Academic Price Order
We selected four U.S. online clinical mental health counseling master’s pathways with a published 60-credit minimum and official online price information. We multiplied 60 credits by the applicable tuition-and-fee rate, using counseling-specific rates where required. The order excludes aid, transfer credit, future increases, living costs, books, placement expenses, and one-time charges listed separately. Fort Hays and Adams State identify 2026–27 rates; Cumberlands and ULM use the current posted rates checked September 17, 2026. This is an affordable shortlist ordered by the calculated recurring academic baseline, not a complete national cheapest-degree ranking.
Read our program comparison methodology for sourcing and editorial standards.
60-Credit Academic Price Comparison
| Program | Published Per-Credit Rate | Calculated Baseline | Additional Planning Item |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Hays State | $374.70, Counseling Tuition and Fees | $22,482 | Placement and course-specific expenses |
| University of the Cumberlands | $449, Graduate Counseling Tuition and Fees | $26,940 | Books and placement expenses |
| Louisiana at Monroe | $500, Online Tuition and Mandated Fees | $30,000 | Applicable course or professional fees |
| Adams State | $545 Tuition + $17.80 Technology Fee | $33,768 | One-time/course charges and two lab trips |
Lowest Academic Baseline in This Shortlist
1. Fort Hays State University
MS in Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Counseling
- 60 Credits
- 2026–27 Counseling Rate: $374.70
- Calculated Baseline: $22,482
Fort Hays charges the counseling-specific rate rather than its lower general online graduate rate. Its CACREP-accredited pathway includes online coursework, a practicum, and internships at approved sites. The university describes a degree that meets Kansas educational requirements for counseling licensure.
Who Should Consider This Program?
Students comparing cost who can arrange an approved placement and a suitable course sequence should start with the $22,482 academic baseline.
What Should You Check Before Applying?
Obtain the placement calendar and your state-specific eligibility review. Confirm course charges, required screening, supervision arrangements, and the cost of any extra term before treating the baseline as your final bill.
Read Fort Hays State University’s MS in Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Counseling Details →A Published Counseling Tuition-and-Fee Rate
2. University of the Cumberlands
MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
- 60 Credits
- Posted Rate: $449
- Calculated Baseline: $26,940
Cumberlands’ cost-of-attendance table assigns graduate counseling a $449 tuition-and-fee rate. The 60-credit curriculum includes a practicum, two internship courses, and a clinical specialization alongside the counseling core. CACREP’s entry identifies online delivery.
Who Should Consider This Program?
Students seeking an online professional counseling curriculum can compare the academic charge separately from the university’s estimated living-expense budget.
What Should You Check Before Applying?
Ask how course meetings, field placements, and the comprehensive exam fit your schedule. A maximum transfer allowance is not an individual credit award; any accepted course must be reviewed before you reduce the 60-credit budget.
Read University of the Cumberlands’s MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Details →Online Study Without a Campus Residence Requirement
3. University of Louisiana at Monroe
MS in Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Counseling Concentration
- 60 Credits
- Posted Online Rate: $500
- Calculated Baseline: $30,000
ULM describes a 60-credit online counseling degree with no campus residence requirement. Its online information page states that the $500 graduate rate includes tuition and mandated fees, while allowing applicable course and professional-program charges. The clinical concentration includes preparation in assessment, diagnosis, and counseling.
Who Should Consider This Program?
Students who need to avoid scheduled campus residency travel can compare ULM’s online format and local fieldwork arrangements.
What Should You Check Before Applying?
Review the placement handbook with the coordinator, especially if you intend to use telehealth. The handbook identifies additional training for students undertaking telehealth fieldwork. Verify your state’s requirements and every applicable program fee.
Read University of Louisiana at Monroe’s MS in Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Counseling Concentration Details →Online Coursework With Campus Skills Labs
4. Adams State University
MA in Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Counseling Specialty
- 60 Credits
- 2026–27 Rate With Technology: $562.80
- Calculated Baseline: $33,768
Adams State combines online study with two required one-week campus labs and local practicum and internship experiences. Its 2026–27 online counseling rate comprises $545 tuition and a $17.80 technology fee per credit. Both residents and nonresidents use that rate.
Who Should Consider This Program?
Students who value campus skills practice within an otherwise online pathway can compare the labs with their travel and employment calendar.
What Should You Check Before Applying?
Add the $30 application fee, $100 online matriculation fee, and $58 in the three listed course charges for a $33,956 subtotal before books, travel, lodging, and other applicable expenses. Confirm the exact cohort plan and any additional credits assigned at admission.
Read Adams State University’s MA in Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Counseling Specialty Details →Use the Rate for Your Actual Counseling Degree
The general graduate rate is not always the counseling rate. Fort Hays’ published 2026–27 table lists a separate MS in Counseling price. Adams State likewise separates counselor education from its other graduate programs. Check the degree and delivery format before multiplying a per-credit figure.
Keep the calculation beside the source date. At Fort Hays, 60 multiplied by $374.70 equals $22,482. At Adams State, 60 multiplied by $562.80 equals $33,768. These figures assume every required credit is billed at the current applicable rate and do not predict later increases.
Include Campus Labs and Local Fieldwork
An online course format does not remove clinical practice requirements. Ask who identifies the placement site, what approval is needed, who supervises the work, and when you can begin. Then compare the placement hours with the work schedule you intend to keep.
For Adams State, put both required campus lab weeks on your calendar and price travel and lodging separately. For programs without campus residency, still budget transportation to local fieldwork and any required liability coverage, screening, or supervision expenses identified by the program.
Check the Exact Specialty and Delivery Route
CACREP’s directory identifies the Clinical Mental Health Counseling specialties and online delivery for Fort Hays, Cumberlands, and Adams State. ULM’s official online program page describes its counseling degree as CACREP-accredited. Review the current program entry and the school’s professional-licensure disclosure for your intended state.
Degree completion does not automatically issue a counseling license. Ask the program to explain how the curriculum and placements relate to the state where you expect to practice, including requirements that occur after graduation. Keep that response with your enrollment documents.
Compare the Offer You Can Actually Use
Subtract confirmed scholarships or employer assistance only after you know their conditions. Compare an aid offer over the whole expected program, not just the first term. If assistance is contingent on continued employment, check whether fieldwork would require reducing those hours.
Request a written estimate showing your starting cohort, expected credits, additional fees, travel requirements, and any transfer award. The most useful final comparison is the remaining cost of two realistic schedules, supported by actual admission and aid decisions. For a broader quality-and-format list, explore our online counseling program rankings.
Questions About Online Clinical Mental Health Counseling Costs
Which Program Has the Lowest Cost in This Comparison?
Fort Hays State has the lowest calculated recurring academic baseline in this four-program sample: $22,482 for 60 credits at its $374.70 counseling tuition-and-fee rate. Personal and additional program expenses remain separate.
Are All Four Degrees Completely Online?
Course delivery and fieldwork differ. Adams State requires two one-week campus labs. All four counseling pathways include practical training, and placement requirements need individual planning.
Does CACREP Accreditation Guarantee My License?
No. Accreditation and state licensure are separate. Review the exact specialty, delivery route, school disclosures, and your intended state’s requirements before enrolling.
Official Sources and Review Date
Program and policy sources checked September 17, 2026.
- Fort Hays Counseling Program
- Fort Hays 2026–27 Graduate Rates
- Fort Hays CACREP Directory Entry
- Cumberlands Clinical Counseling Curriculum
- Cumberlands Cost of Attendance
- Cumberlands CACREP Directory Entry
- ULM Online Counseling Degree
- ULM Online Tuition and Fee Policy
- ULM Counseling Fieldwork Handbook
- Adams State Program FAQ and Labs
- Adams State 2026–27 Tuition and Charges
- Adams State CACREP Directory Entry