Welcome to our ranking of the seven top value master’s degrees in counseling in Tennessee.
If you’re thinking about earning your master’s or Ph.D. in counseling and you live in Tennessee (or you would like to) take a look at these top-ranked schools. Tennessee has one of the widest selections of counseling graduate degrees in the Southeast United States – and not just because of the number of schools that offer accredited programs. From nationally ranked colleges like Vanderbilt to small-town gems like MTSU, this state has something for everyone.
Click here to see the methodology we used for this best master’s in counseling degree ranking.
7. Lincoln Memorial University
Harrogate, TN
Clinical Mental Health Counseling, M.Ed.
School Counseling, M.Ed.
Website
When it comes to counseling master’s degrees at Lincoln Memorial University, there really is no wrong answer — at least when it comes to your specialization! LMU provides accredited programs in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling, both of which fall under the umbrella of the same general counseling curriculum. All students take the same “Common Counseling Core,” which consists of 36 credit-hours in courses like “Psychopathology” and “Counseling Theories.” Beyond the common core, you’ll hone your skills in your chosen specialty through a rigorous series of case studies, research papers, and practicum experiences.
Tuition and Fees: $20,484/yr
Score: 55
6. University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Chattanooga, TN
School Counseling, M.Ed.
Clinical Mental Health Counseling, M.Ed.
Website
Earning a master’s degree in counseling is a serious commitment, and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga takes its responsibility as an educator seriously, too. To graduate from this program, students will need to dive head first into a training program that includes seminars, field experiences, in-class discussions, and other experiential learning activities. But despite the overlap in didactic approach, the M.Ed. in School Counseling and the M.Ed. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling have distinct differences. When you’re not in the classroom, you can meet students all across the counseling program through community outreach opportunities with local organizations like the Interfaith Homeless Network.
Tuition and Fees: $17,729/yr
Score: 69
5. East Tennessee State University
Johnson City, TN
Student Affairs and College Counseling, M.A.
School Counseling, M.A.
Clinical Mental Health Counseling, M.A.
Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling, M.A.
Website
East Tennessee University may not come in 1st place on this top counseling master’s degree ranking, but there is at least one area where it blows the competition out of the water. ETU offers more accredited graduate degrees in counseling than any other school on this list — four, to be exact. That is to say, while many other schools offer a combination of accredited and non-accredited programs, all of the counseling degrees at ETU sport full CACREP curriculum approval. In fact, it has the only accredited counseling master’s degrees in Tennessee with specialties in Student Affairs/College and Marriage, Couples, and Family.
Tuition and Fees: $16,128/yr
Score: 71
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4. Tennessee Technological University
Cookeville, TN
Clinical Mental Health Counseling, M.A.
Website
Tennessee Technological University only just earned accreditation for its Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree in 2015, but it’s off to a great start so far. Most recently, 100% of the graduates of this top master’s degree in counseling found jobs and successfully passed the national licensing exam — no small feat for any college, but a significant accomplishment for a so-called new kid on the block. What drives this success? At least in part, this affordable counseling master’s degree owes its status to a unique philosophy that places emphasis on students’ personal as well as professional development and intentionally seeks applicants who will contribute diverse perspectives to the community.
Tuition and Fees: $16,971/yr
Score: 78
3. Lipscomb University
Nashville, TN
Clinical Mental Health Counseling, M.S.
Website
Students who want to combine their love of helping others with their devotion to spiritual principles will be the first to label this program as the best counseling master’s degree in Tennessee. That’s because Lipscomb University has developed an interdisciplinary curriculum that unites accredited clinical mental health counseling coursework with faith-based studies. This combination is most evident in the “Integration of Psychology and Christianity Seminar” and electives such as “Psychology of Religion and Spirituality,” although the vast majority of courses are secular in nature. Lipscomb also offers an optional specialization in addictions, making it the only accredited counseling master’s degree in Tennessee with such a unique subject focus.
Tuition and Fees: $18,432/yr
Score: 85
2. Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro, TN
School Counseling, M.Ed.
Clinical Mental Health Counseling, M.Ed.
Website
You won’t find Middle Tennessee State University in the middle of this top counseling graduate degrees ranking — because it’s sitting very near the top! Coming in 2nd overall, MTSU provides an affordable education with an impressive reputation. From year to year, an overwhelming majority of students successfully complete the program, pass the licensing exam, and land competitive job offers — and this is no coincidence. Students gain a wealth of on-the-job experience through the university’s own Center for Counseling and Psychological Services, where they acquire the kind of real-world training that you simply can’t get from lectures alone.
Tuition and Fees: $15,903/yr
Score: 90
1. Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN
School Counseling, M.Ed.; Clinical Mental Health Counseling, M.Ed.
Website
Vanderbilt University is widely known as one of the best universities in the nation, period, and now it can claim one additional honor as the school with the best master’s degrees in counseling in Tennessee. Stellar job placement and exam pass rates and an impressive reputation for productivity in research make Vanderbilt a smart choice for master’s and Ph.D. counseling degree students alike. And while we understand that the price might make you cringe a little bit, you’ll be all smiles when you can proudly declare yourself a “Vandy” alum and a graduate of one of the top master’s in counseling degrees in Tennessee.
Tuition and Fees: $44,050/yr
Score: 100
This concludes our ranking of the best graduate degrees in counseling in Tennessee.
Sources:
College Navigator
Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Academic Programs
Thomson Reuters Essential Science Indicators
Published May 2016