Mississippi State University · Department of Counseling, Higher Education Leadership, Educational Psychology, and Foundations

Counselor Education – Clinical Mental Health Counseling (M.S., MSU Meridian)

Awarded degree: Master of Science in Counselor Education with Clinical Mental Health Counseling Concentration

Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Master'sMS CACREP

Overview

The Meridian campus offering of the 60-hour M.S. in clinical mental health counseling uses hybrid delivery (face-to-face, live online and asynchronous online) and requires 700 hours of clinical experience across three semesters, plus the CPCE.

Official program name: Counselor Education – Clinical Mental Health Counseling (M.S., MSU Meridian)
Awarded degree: Master of Science in Counselor Education with Clinical Mental Health Counseling Concentration
Source: meridian.msstate.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Degree level: Master's
Counseling specialty: Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Source: meridian.msstate.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Professional purpose: Clinical counselor preparationThe institution states the program prepares students for professional counselor licensure. Licensure itself also requires post-degree supervised experience, an examination and a state application.
Source: meridian.msstate.edu · verified October 12, 2026
School: Mississippi State University — Department of Counseling, Higher Education Leadership, Educational Psychology, and Foundations
Source: catalog.msstate.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Location: Mississippi State, MS
Required credits: sixty (60) graduate hours
Source: meridian.msstate.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Duration: Not verified
Start terms: Spring, Summer, Fall
Source: meridian.msstate.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Teaching language: English (not separately stated)

Why this program is listed

Master's degree in clinical mental health counseling offered at the Meridian campus with its own admission requirements and deadlines.

Source: meridian.msstate.edu · verified October 12, 2026

We list counseling bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees whose official program is counselor preparation in a named specialty, and — separately labelled — counseling psychology. Generic psychology, education, social work and standalone MFT degrees are excluded. Eligibility rules

Format and campus attendance

How coursework is delivered and whether you must come to campus for it. Practicum and internship are a separate requirement, shown in the next section. “Fully online coursework” appears only when the school says no campus attendance is required.

Academic delivery: HybridA substantial part of the coursework meets in person and part is online.
Source: meridian.msstate.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Campus attendance for coursework: Hybrid campus schedule
Source: meridian.msstate.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Class schedule: Not verified
Study intensity: Full-time or Part-time
Source: meridian.msstate.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Practicum, internship and placements

Supervised fieldwork in a clinical, community or school setting, as the school publishes it. For online programs this happens in person, usually near where you live — whatever the coursework format.

Practicum: Required100 hours. Practicum, 100 hours.
Source: meridian.msstate.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Internship: Required600 hours. Internship I (300 hours) and Internship II (300 hours).
Source: meridian.msstate.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Placement arrangements and supervision

Supervision: 700 hours of clinical experience in a clinical mental health counseling setting across three semesters under a licensed professional.
Source: meridian.msstate.edu · verified October 12, 2026

How practicum and internship placements work

Curriculum

Comprehensive examination

Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE).
Source: meridian.msstate.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Admissions

Required, optional, waived and not-required items are shown exactly as the university states them. Anything not listed is not verified — not “not required”.

Minimum GPA: RequiredMinimum 2.75 — Minimum 2.75 GPA (bachelor's degree) for M.S. programs.
Source: meridian.msstate.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Statement / essay: RequiredStatement of purpose addressing readiness for the digitally delivered program, professional goals and wellness balance.
Source: meridian.msstate.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Recommendation letters: Required3 letters — Three references: two professional contacts and one instructor/professor.
Source: meridian.msstate.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Transcripts: RequiredOfficial transcripts to the graduate school.
Source: meridian.msstate.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Other requirement: RequiredCurrent medical immunization record.
Source: meridian.msstate.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Tests

GRE General Test: OptionalScores may be submitted but are not required.
Source: chef.msstate.edu · verified October 12, 2026

We do not publish acceptance rates or estimate admission chances.

Start dates and deadlines

Dates are shown with the term the university printed. A past date is marked passed and is never carried into a new cycle.

Application deadline
December 1 · for Spring
The university does not print a year with this date.
Source: meridian.msstate.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Year not printed
Application deadline
May 15 · for Summer
The university does not print a year with this date.
Source: meridian.msstate.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Year not printed
Application deadline
August 1 · for Fall
The university does not print a year with this date.
Source: meridian.msstate.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Year not printed

Tuition and fees

Each amount keeps its student category, academic year and basis. Per-credit, per-term and whole-program figures are not comparable with each other, and tuition is not the full cost of attendance.

Category	Amount	Basis and year
Resident (in-state) — Graduate, Resident, total per credit hour (1-8 hours), Meridian campusFrom the university-wide rate table covering online students at this level	$613.62	per credit · Fall 2026 or Spring Includes feesEstimated tuition$36,817.20 = 60 credits × $613.62 per credit. Excludes mandatory fees, books, travel for any required in-person sessions, transfer credit reductions and rate changes. Not the full cost of attendance.Source: controller.msstate.edu · verified October 12, 2026
Nonresident (out-of-state) — Graduate, Non-Resident, total per credit hour (1-8 hours), Meridian campusFrom the university-wide rate table covering online students at this level	$1,668.87	per credit · Fall 2026 or Spring Includes feesEstimated tuition$100,132.20 = 60 credits × $1,668.87 per credit. Excludes mandatory fees, books, travel for any required in-person sessions, transfer credit reductions and rate changes. Not the full cost of attendance.Source: controller.msstate.edu · verified October 12, 2026

Estimated total tuition: $100,132.20 (60 credits × $1,668.87 per credit)

Comparison basis: Nonresident (out-of-state) — Graduate, Non-Resident, total per credit hour (1-8 hours), Meridian campus, Fall 2026 or Spring . Excludes mandatory fees, books, living costs and any rate changes during the program. How we calculate

Funding

Funding policy and awards exactly as the school publishes them. Competitive scholarships and assistantships are not guaranteed funding; loans must be repaid and are not scholarships. Counseling tuition and scholarships

Funding classification: Funding not verified

We have not verified an official funding policy for this program. That does not mean funding is unavailable.

Scholarships, fellowships or assistantships for this program: not verified. We publish this only when the institution states it on an official page.

Accreditation and enrollment restrictions

Institutional accreditation covers the whole school; programmatic accreditation (CACREP) covers only the specialty and degree it lists. Enrollment restrictions for online students are a separate question.

Institutional accreditation

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) — accreditedSource: ope.ed.gov · verified October 12, 2026

Programmatic accreditation

Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)Status: Accredited · Specialty: Clinical Mental Health Counseling · Degree: M.S.Accredited since July 11, 2012 · current cycle ends October 31, 2030 · listed by the accreditor as onlineSource: cacrep.org · verified October 11, 2026

Published enrollment restrictions (state authorization)

MSU participates in SARA (approved July 27, 2016); SARA approval does not extend to programs that lead to professional licensure. Official pageSource: online.msstate.edu · verified October 12, 2026

International applicants

Not verified for this program.

Licensure and professional disclosures

What the school publishes about professional licensure or certification. Meeting a state's educational requirements is only one part of licensure: examinations, post-degree supervised experience, background checks and a board application follow. This directory does not decide whether you qualify.

LicensureDesigned to fulfill the academic requirements for licensure as a Professional Counselor in Mississippi. Official disclosureSource: meridian.msstate.edu · verified October 12, 2026

CACREP accreditation does not guarantee licensure in every state, and school counselor certification is not the same as clinical counselor licensure. LPC, LMHC and other state titles · School counselor credentials

Sources and verification

Every fact on this page comes from the official pages below. Last verified October 12, 2026.

catalog.msstate.edu/graduate/colleges-degree-programs/education/counseling-education-psychology/ — Official catalog / bulletin, verified October 12, 2026
DAPIP — SACSCOC institutional accreditation record (data files downloaded 2026-10-12) — U.S. Department of Education dataset (IPEDS / DAPIP), verified October 12, 2026
CACREP Directory of accredited programs (CSV export downloaded 2026-10-11) — Accreditor directory, verified October 11, 2026
chef.msstate.edu/sites/www.cep.msstate.edu/files/inline-files/Word%20-%20COE%20Graduate%20Student%20 — Official program page, verified October 12, 2026
controller.msstate.edu/accountservices/tuition/meridian-campus — Official tuition and fees page, verified October 12, 2026
meridian.msstate.edu/counselor-education-clinical-mental-health-counseling — Official program page, verified October 12, 2026
online.msstate.edu/state-authorization — Official disclosure page, verified October 12, 2026

Something out of date? Request a correction · Represent this school? Claim the profile

Key facts

Degree
MS · Master'sClinical counselor preparation
Specialty
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
CACREP
Accredited (matched in the CACREP directory)
Delivery
Hybrid
Campus attendance
Hybrid schedule
Practical training
Hybrid classes; practicum and internship required100 practicum + 600 internship hours
Study intensity
Full-time or part-time
Length
sixty (60) graduate hours
Tuition
$613.62 per creditResident (in-state) — Graduate, Resident, total per credit hour (1-8 hours), Meridian campus, Fall 2026 or Spring
Next deadline
No upcoming verified date
Location
Mississippi State, MS

Official program page How to apply

Also at Mississippi State University

Similar programs at other schools

Same degree level, specialty and format family, programs in Mississippi first. Listed for discovery, not ranked.

William & Mary

Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Awarded degree: Master of Education (M.Ed.)

Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Master'sMEd CACREP

Williamsburg, VA

On campusFull-time

On-campus classes; practicum and internship required100 practicum + 600 internship hours (as published)

Two years full-time (full-time) · 60 credits

$606 per credit · Resident (in-state) — In-State Resident, per credit hour (part-time students and summer) · 2026-2027Est. total tuition $97,860 (60 credits × $1,631 per credit; fees excluded)

No upcoming verified deadline

View Program

Bradley University

Clinical Mental Health Counseling (MA)

Awarded degree: Master of Arts in Counseling

Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Master'sMA CACREP

Peoria, IL

On campusStudy intensity not published

On-campus classes; practicum and internship required100 practicum + 600 internship hours (as published)

Length not published · 60 credits

$1,158 per credit · All students — Graduate Tuition, Traditional Graduate Programs · 2026-2027Est. total tuition $69,480 (60 credits × $1,158 per credit; fees excluded)

No upcoming verified deadline

View Program

North Carolina State University

Clinical Mental Health Counseling (On-Campus Option)

Awarded degree: Master of Education (M.Ed.)

Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Master'sMEd CACREP

Raleigh, NC

On campusFull-time or part-time

On-campus classes; practicum and internship required100 practicum + 600 internship hours (as published)

3 years to completion if full time (full-time, following the published sequence starting in summer) · 60 credits

$585.39 per credit · Resident (in-state) — Graduate, Residents of North Carolina (per credit hour, 1 hour) · 2026-2027Est. total tuition $108,246.60 (60 credits × $1,804.11 per credit; fees excluded)

No upcoming verified deadline

View Program

CounselingSchools.net is independent and not affiliated with Mississippi State University. Information is collected from official pages and can change; confirm requirements, costs, deadlines and licensure eligibility with the school and your state board.