What you’ll learn in this article…
- Both programs require 60 credits, but Antioch costs notably less per credit.
- Lesley holds CACREP accreditation while Antioch's online CMHC status differs.
- Antioch offers low residency delivery; Lesley's program is primarily on campus.
Both Lesley University and Antioch University run CACREP-accredited Clinical Mental Health Counseling programs, yet they solve the same licensure requirement in nearly opposite ways. Lesley, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, builds its 60-credit CMHC track around in-person clinical training and campus-based coursework in psychopathology, counseling technique, and ethics. Antioch leans into low-residency and online delivery, spreading its curriculum across distributed cohorts with periodic in-person intensives.
That structural split creates real consequences: per-credit tuition, residency obligations, and relocation demands diverge sharply between the two, even though both satisfy the same CACREP framework state boards use to evaluate licensure eligibility.
For most applicants, the decision hinges less on program prestige than on whether their life circumstances tolerate a campus-anchored schedule or require distributed, low-residency flexibility instead.
Where Lesley and Antioch Rank in Our Online CMHC Rankings
This ranking includes fully online counseling master's programs only, ordered by a composite that weighs affordability and student need most heavily and folds in earnings, debt, and completion more lightly. Lesley University and Antioch University do not appear here because both deliver their counseling master's through low-residency or hybrid formats rather than fully online study, and those formats are covered in the next section. Cost and outcome figures below are institution-wide, not program-specific.
Factors considered
- Pell enrollment share
- Cost-of-living adjusted tuition
- Median graduate debt
- Completion and retention rates
- Earnings ten years after enrollment
- Program-level records maintained in house
- Original research on individual programs — cacrep.org
- National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS) covering retention rates, student-faculty ratios and graduation rates — nces.ed.gov
- Bureau of Economic Analysis cost-of-living index by state — bea.gov
- Federal College Scorecard outcomes data — collegescorecard.ed.gov
- CACREP accreditation directories — cacrep.org
Arizona State University
Arizona State University runs its counseling master's degrees entirely online, with weekly live group supervision and no online designation printed on the diploma. The clinical mental health track spans 60 credits and three semesters of supervised practice, while the addiction counseling master's covers 45 credits of NAADAC-approved coursework. Median earnings ten years after enrollment are about $62,700 with median federal debt of $19,500, and listed yearly tuition runs near $11,500 in state and $13,800 out of state. An institution-wide graduation rate is not reported in the federal data we used.
- 60 total credit hours across 20 courses
- Three semesters of supervised clinical practice
- Includes a practicum plus two internships
- Prepares graduates for LPC licensure
- Weekly live group supervision in the online format
- Two start dates per year, fall and spring
- 3.0 GPA minimum and two letters of recommendation
- No online designation on the diploma
- 45 total credit hours across 15 courses
- 33 addiction-related credit hours
- NAADAC approved education provider
- Includes a six-credit practicum and applied project
- 7.5-week courses per term
- Capstone required for graduation
- 3.0 GPA minimum and two letters of recommendation
Master of Counseling in Clinical Mental Health Counseling — Online
Master of Science in Addiction Psychology — Online
Texas A & M International University
Texas A&M International University concentrates on school counseling rather than clinical mental health, and admission requires a valid Texas teaching certificate plus two years of classroom experience. The 48-credit master's runs about 16 months with six start dates a year and prepares students for the TExES school counselor exam. Net price after aid averages roughly $3,600, the lowest in this ranking, with median debt near $15,000. Median earnings ten years after enrollment are about $48,400, and the institution-wide graduation rate is about 46 percent.
- 48 total credit hours across 16 courses
- 16-month completion timeline with six start dates a year
- Two practicums totaling 160 clock hours
- Requires a valid Texas teaching certificate
- Requires two years of teaching experience
- Prepares students for the TExES School Counselor exam
- Listed total program tuition of $17,616, or $367 per credit
- State approval through the Texas State Board for Educator Certification
Master of Science in School Counseling — Online
North Carolina State University at Raleigh
North Carolina State University offers CACREP-accredited training in both school counseling and clinical mental health counseling, with the clinical track delivered as a three-year part-time cohort that starts each summer. The school counseling M.Ed. requires 60 credits and 600 internship hours and can be completed on campus, online, or in a blended format. Net price averages about $17,300 and median debt about $20,100, while median earnings ten years after enrollment reach roughly $68,800. The institution-wide graduation rate sits near 85 percent.
- CACREP accredited through 2030
- 60 total credit hours with 600 clinical hours
- No entrance exam required
- Available on campus, online, or in a blended format
- Class sizes of 20 to 25 students
- Prepares students for the NCE and PRAXIS exams
- Scholarships and financial aid available
- Faculty to student advising ratio of 1 to 10
- CACREP accredited
- Three-year part-time cohort that starts each summer
- Online delivery with lecture videos and activities
- No entrance exam required
- Three letters of recommendation required
- Prepares students for professional licensure in North Carolina
- Field experience through internships
School Counseling (M.Ed.), Master's — Online
Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Master's — Online
Touro University
Touro University pairs a school counseling master's built around New York State certification with an addiction counseling specialization inside its counseling master's. The school counseling program spans 60 credits and a 600-hour internship, and most students finish in about three years. Net price after aid averages roughly $29,600 with median debt near $15,500, and median earnings ten years out are about $53,400. Roughly 72 percent of students graduate institution-wide.
- 60 total credit hours, typically finished in three years
- 600-hour internship in the final year
- Prepares students for New York State school counselor certification
- Fully online coursework
- Covers counseling families of exceptional children
- Addresses high-risk behavior and community relations
- Also prepares students for national NBCC certification
- 60 total credit hours across 20 courses
- Priced at $500 per credit
- Two practicum and four internship courses
- 2.5 GPA minimum for admission
- Scholarships available
- State licensing regulations vary
Master's in School Counseling — Online
Counseling: Addiction Specialization, Master's — Online
William & Mary
William & Mary combines a 60-credit clinical mental health counseling M.Ed. that includes a military and veterans counseling concentration with a school counseling track that requires two brief on-campus residencies. Average class size in the school counseling program is about 14 students, and field training totals 700 clinical hours. Median earnings ten years after enrollment are about $73,500, the highest in this ranking, though published tuition runs near $25,900 in state and $51,000 out of state before aid. Net price after aid averages about $19,100, median debt is about $18,500, and the graduation rate is near 89 percent.
- 700 clinical hours: a 100-hour practicum plus a 600-hour internship
- Two three-day on-campus residencies required
- Average class size of 14 students
- No entrance exam required
- Completable in as few as three years
- Prepares students for K-12 school counselor licensure
- Meets Virginia licensure coursework requirements
- Program lists both CACREP and CAEP accreditation
- 60 total credit hours, completable in as few as three years
- Military and veterans counseling concentration
- Four concentration options available
- CACREP accredited
- Full-time and part-time options
- One-semester practicum plus a two-semester internship
- Meets Virginia LPC licensure requirements
- Prepares students for NBCC national certification
Master of Education in Counseling, School Counseling — Online
M.Ed. in Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Counseling (Military & Veterans Counseling), Master's — Online
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri's school counselor master's follows a cohort model with a scientist-practitioner approach and can be completed online or on campus. The program is recognized by the American School Counselor Association and asks for a 3.0 GPA, three letters of recommendation, and a February 1 deadline for the fall cohort. Net price averages about $20,300 and median debt about $20,500, with median earnings ten years after enrollment near $63,400. About 75 percent of students graduate institution-wide.
- Cohort-based program starting each fall
- ASCA-recognized curriculum
- Online and on-campus delivery options
- 3.0 GPA minimum and three letters of recommendation
- February 1 application deadline for the fall cohort
- Scientist-practitioner training model
- Prepares students for K-12 school counseling certification
Master of Education in School Counselor: Elementary and Secondary — Online
West Virginia University
West Virginia University's CACREP-accredited clinical mental health counseling master's is a low-residency program: 60 credits online plus two in-person immersion weeks. Students can finish in two years full time or four years part time, and the curriculum covers addiction, couples and family therapy, grief, crisis, and trauma. Net price averages about $15,600 and median debt about $22,500, while median earnings ten years after enrollment are roughly $55,900. The institution-wide graduation rate is about 65 percent.
- CACREP accredited
- 60 total credit hours across 17 courses
- Two in-person immersion weeks
- Full-time in two years or part-time in four
- Two start dates per year, fall and spring
- Synchronous and asynchronous course options
- Curriculum spans addiction, couples, families, grief, and trauma
- Structured personal interview required for admission
Counseling, M.S. with an Emphasis in Clinical Mental Health, Master's — Online
Western Kentucky University
Western Kentucky University's clinical mental health counseling master's is CACREP-accredited and blends online coursework with in-person requirements. Students choose between clinical mental health and marriage, couple, and family counseling concentrations, and complete 60 credits plus a comprehensive exam and a faculty admission interview. Net price after aid averages about $11,000, but median debt runs near $22,100 and median earnings ten years out are about $43,900. The institution-wide graduation rate is roughly 56 percent.
- CACREP accredited
- 60 total credit hours with a practicum and internship
- Blends online coursework with in-person requirements
- Concentrations in clinical mental health or marriage, couple, and family counseling
- Prepares students for LPCC licensure in Kentucky
- Comprehensive exam required for graduation
- Faculty interview required for admission
- Application deadlines of October 1 and March 1
Master of Arts in Education in Clinical Mental Health Counseling — Online
University of the Cumberlands
University of the Cumberlands keeps tuition flat at about $9,900 a year regardless of residency and markets a locked per-credit rate for its counseling master's. The clinical mental health program is CACREP-accredited, spans 60 credits, and requires a comprehensive exam, while a separate 30-credit school counseling track serves already-licensed educators and finishes in just over a year. Net price after aid averages about $14,100 and median debt about $14,900, while median earnings ten years after enrollment are about $45,000. The institution-wide graduation rate is near 50 percent.
- 30 total credit hours
- Designed for already-licensed educators
- Leads to additional school counseling certification
- Completable in just over a year
- Fully online delivery
- CACREP accredited
- 60 total credit hours
- Priced at $449 per credit with a locked tuition rate
- 3.0 GPA minimum and two letters of recommendation
- Practicum and internship included
- Comprehensive exam (CPCE) required
Master of Arts in Education, School Counseling — Online
Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling — Online
Valdosta State University
Valdosta State University's counselor education master's offers a CACREP-accredited clinical mental health counseling track alongside a school counseling option, with 60 credits and supervised clinical hours. Yearly in-state tuition is listed near $6,100, the lowest sticker price in this group, and net price after aid averages about $10,900. Median earnings ten years after enrollment are about $49,400, while median debt runs near $24,800, the highest here. About 42 percent of students graduate institution-wide.
- CACREP accredited
- 60 total credit hours
- Two concentration options: clinical mental health or school counseling
- Summer and fall start dates
- Supervised clinical hours required
- Prepares graduates for professional counselor licensure
Master of Education in Counselor Education, Clinical Mental Health Counseling — Online
At a Glance: Lesley vs Antioch Online CMHC Programs
This quick reference compares Lesley University and Antioch University on delivery, accreditation, cost, and clinical training. One immediate distinction: Lesley's CMHC is not a fully online program, while Antioch's approach is built around online clinical mental health counseling programs and low-residency delivery.
Side-by-side at a glance
- Delivery: Lesley: on-campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts.1 Antioch: online and low-residency formats, with residential weekend options in Keene, New Hampshire, Yellow Springs, Ohio, and Seattle-based formats.2
- CACREP status: Lesley: not CACREP-accredited.3 Antioch: CACREP-accredited.4
- Specializations: Lesley: trauma studies, holistic studies, school and community counseling, and expressive therapies.1 Antioch: art therapy concentration, with optional art and drama therapy specialties.5
- Credits: Lesley: 60.3 Antioch: 60 core, with art therapy concentration at 66.5
- Per-credit tuition: Lesley: $1,474.6 Antioch: $884 to $992, with residential weekend delivery generally higher than low-residency.5
- Residency: Lesley: no short-term intensives; supervised field placements around 700 to 1,300 hours depending on track.1 Antioch: two-week intensives or weekend classes, depending on format.2
What the tuition math looks like
At 60 credits, Lesley's listed rate puts tuition near $88,400 before fees.6 Antioch's range puts tuition around $53,000 to $59,500 before fees, but travel, lodging for residencies, and additional fees can add meaningfully to the total.5
State licensure alignment
- Lesley: Designed to meet Massachusetts licensure requirements; the holistic studies track may align with most states. Because the CMHC program is not CACREP-accredited,3 check online counseling program accreditation and your state board's education and supervised practice rules carefully.
- Antioch: CACREP accreditation may make licensure portability more straightforward, but online and low-residency students should still confirm practicum, internship, and post-graduation requirements in the state where they intend to practice.4
Program Formats and Specializations Compared
How you learn matters almost as much as what you learn, especially when you are juggling work, family, or geography. Lesley and Antioch take distinctly different approaches to delivering their 60-credit CMHC curricula, and the specialization options reflect each school's philosophical identity.
| Feature | Lesley University | Antioch University |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Delivery Format | On-campus in Cambridge, MA (note: a low-residency option exists only for the Expressive Arts Therapy track, not the Holistic or Trauma specializations) | Fully online with required two-week intensive residencies, or weekend low-residency at sites in Seattle, Keene (NH), and Yellow Springs (OH, anticipated) |
| Specialization Tracks | Holistic Studies (integrates mind-body-spirit frameworks) and Trauma Studies (biopsychosocial trauma model), among other tracks | Embedded certificates in Trauma Counseling and Addictions Counseling, earned through careful course selection within the degree |
| Required On-Site Intensives | Traditional on-campus attendance throughout the program; no separate residency model for Holistic or Trauma tracks | Online students complete two-week-long clinical intensives; low-residency students attend two four-day residencies per academic year, plan for travel and housing costs |
| Total Clinical Hours | Approximately 1,300 field-training hours (practicum and internship combined) | Minimum 700 hours (100 practicum + 600 internship), with flexibility to add hours for states that require more |
| Cohort and Pacing | Cohort-based model on campus; Trauma Studies offers either a one- or two-internship sequence, giving some pacing flexibility in the final year | Online cohorts move through coursework together; residency schedules are fixed, but the low-residency weekend format gives working professionals more week-to-week flexibility |
| Clinical Placement Support | Lesley's Cambridge location provides strong access to the greater Boston clinical network; the program coordinates placements but specifics vary by specialization | Students typically secure placements in their own communities with program guidance, a major advantage if you live outside the Northeast, though it requires more self-advocacy |
| Licensure Alignment | Holistic Studies is described as meeting licensure requirements in most states; Trauma Studies explicitly targets Massachusetts licensure, verify your state's requirements before enrolling | Designed to meet licensure standards across multiple states, but students should confirm with their state board, especially regarding clinical-hour minimums |
| Best For | Students who want an immersive, on-campus experience in a major metro area with extensive clinical hours and a holistic or trauma-focused lens | Working professionals or geographically dispersed learners who need online or low-residency flexibility and want to add a trauma or addictions credential without switching programs |
Accreditation and Licensure Alignment
Is Lesley's CMHC CACREP-accredited, and does Antioch's online clinical mental health counseling program carry the same CACREP status as its campus options? The answer is not symmetrical, and the distinction matters when choosing a graduate program in counseling.
What CACREP Accreditation Actually Covers
Institutional accreditation and programmatic accreditation serve different purposes. Institutional accreditors such as NECHE or HLC evaluate the university as a whole. Programmatic CACREP accreditation is narrower: it evaluates whether a counseling curriculum aligns with national preparation standards. Lesley holds institutional accreditation through the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).1 In the CACREP directory materials reviewed for this comparison, Lesley's CMHC program did not appear. That is not a definitive denial of accreditation, but it means you should confirm current status directly with the program before relying on CACREP-based portability.
Antioch's CMHC is CACREP-accredited under the 2016 standards, with accreditation running through April 30, 2034.3 Graduates from January 13, 2018 onward are treated as CACREP program graduates. The accreditation covers the Keene, New Hampshire, online, and Yellow Springs, Ohio deliveries.3
Why CACREP Alignment Affects LMHC and LPC Portability
Many state boards use CACREP alignment as a shorthand pathway for educational requirements. In states that require CACREP or an equivalent, a non-CACREP transcript may trigger a course-by-course review, and some states close the door without a CACREP-aligned degree. Lesley's 60-credit MA is documented as meeting Massachusetts LMHC educational requirements,1 and Lesley states that licensure requirements vary by state.2 The available materials do not make a broader portability claim. Antioch's program is better positioned for CACREP-based portability, but you still need to verify counseling licensure requirements by state, practicum, and internship hour rules.
Format, Residency, and the 2026 In-Person Rule
A new CACREP requirement effective July 1, 2026 adds at least one in-person synchronous experience before practicum for all delivery modes. Antioch's online and low-residency formats use mandatory intensive residencies or weekend low-residency sessions,4 which align with that expectation. Lesley's CMHC is Massachusetts-based, and no online or low-residency delivery was documented in the materials reviewed.1 If you are comparing online study options, that is a practical dividing line.
Tuition and Total Program Cost Comparison
The cost difference between Lesley University and Antioch University CMHC programs is significant and deserves careful attention. Both programs require 60 credits for their core Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree, but per-credit tuition varies considerably depending on the delivery format you choose. All figures below are drawn from the most recently published tuition schedules and should be treated as estimates subject to annual increases. Neither program differentiates between in-state and out-of-state students; both charge a flat tuition rate regardless of where you live.
| Cost Component | Lesley University | Antioch University | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per-Credit Tuition | $1,474 | $884 (low-residency) / $992 (residential weekend) | Antioch's low-residency (predominantly online) format carries the lowest per-credit rate. Lesley's on-campus rate applies uniformly. |
| Total Credits Required | 60 | 60 | Both programs meet the 60-credit standard that most states require for CMHC licensure eligibility. |
| Estimated Base Tuition (60 credits) | $88,440 | $53,040 (low-residency) / $59,520 (residential weekend) | Simple multiplication of per-credit rate by 60 credits. Does not include fees, books, or travel. |
| Required Residency Fees | Not itemized on published tuition page | $2,990 (two clinical intensive residencies at $1,495 each, low-residency format) | Antioch's low-residency track includes two mandatory in-person clinical intensives. Lesley's mandatory fee schedule was not fully itemized in published sources reviewed. |
| Residency Travel and Lodging | Not separately listed | Not separately listed | Both schools require some in-person presence. Students should budget for airfare, lodging, and meals, which vary by location and personal circumstances. |
| Books and Supplies | Not itemized | Not itemized | Typical graduate counseling programs run roughly $1,000 to $2,000 in book and supply costs, but neither school publishes a program-specific estimate. |
| Art Therapy Concentration (Antioch only) | N/A | $884 per credit, 66 credits ($58,344 base tuition) | This concentration adds six credits beyond the standard 60-credit curriculum, plus two required clinical intensive residencies at $1,495 each. |
| Drama Therapy Concentration (Antioch only) | N/A | $884 per credit, 60 credits ($53,040 base tuition) | Also requires two clinical intensive in-person residencies at $1,495 each. |
| New England Campus, On-Campus Rate (Antioch) | N/A | $916 per credit | The Antioch New England campus uses a semester model with a slightly different per-credit rate. Total required credits were not fully confirmed in the source reviewed. |
| Standalone Certificate: Trauma Counseling (Antioch) | N/A | $630 per credit, 9 credits ($5,670) | When pursued independently, not embedded in the MA degree. |
| Standalone Certificate: Addictions Counseling (Antioch) | N/A | $630 per credit, 12 credits ($7,560) | Certificate coursework may overlap with MA requirements if planned carefully, potentially reducing additional cost. |
National LMHC Salary at a Glance
What can licensed mental health counselors expect to earn?
Admissions Requirements and Selectivity
Choosing between two programs often comes down to how each school's application process fits your current credentials and timeline. Here is what prospective CMHC students should know about getting into Lesley University and Antioch University.
Lesley University
Lesley requires a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution and a "satisfactory" undergraduate GPA. The university does not publish a hard numeric GPA minimum for its MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, though some other Lesley graduate programs specify a 3.0 or higher. Applicants typically submit official transcripts, a personal statement, and letters of recommendation. No prerequisite coursework is required for the CMHC program, which lowers the barrier for career changers coming from unrelated undergraduate fields.
Lesley does not require the GRE or any other standardized test for CMHC admission. Application deadlines are program-specific, and late applications may be considered on a case-by-case basis through the admissions office. Neither an acceptance rate nor a formal selectivity indicator is published on current admissions pages.
Antioch University
Antioch University's CMHC programs are offered across multiple campuses and online, and each location may set its own admissions criteria. Prospective students should consult Antioch's current admissions pages directly, as published details on minimum GPA thresholds, essay prompts, interview requirements, and prerequisite coursework can vary by campus and delivery format. Antioch has historically emphasized holistic review, weighing professional experience and personal statements alongside academic records.
Like Lesley, Antioch has not typically required standardized test scores for its counseling programs. Many of Antioch's programs use rolling admissions, giving applicants more flexibility in timing.
Key Takeaway
Both schools set a relatively accessible bar for entry, prioritizing fit and motivation over rigid cutoff scores. If you are a career changer without a psychology background, Lesley's lack of prerequisite coursework is a clear advantage. If you value flexible application timing, confirm whether Antioch's specific campus or online program offers rolling admissions before planning your timeline.
