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 highlights fully online counseling master's programs across the country, with coursework completed through online platforms rather than regular on-campus classes. Lesley University and Antioch University are not on this list because their clinical mental health counseling programs use low-residency and hybrid formats; those programs are covered in the next section. The schools below are ordered to help you see which fully online options best balance academic quality and graduate outcomes.
Details
- Independent program research
- College Scorecard graduate earnings — collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Internal program database
- NCES-IPEDS federal institutional data — nces.ed.gov
Florida State University
This university offers a fully online School Counseling pathway that combines a master's and specialist degree, with a curriculum focused on data-driven interventions, individual and group counseling, and family collaboration. The program emphasizes equity and advocacy for diverse K-12 student populations and prepares graduates for school counselor roles in public and private schools. No GRE is required, and close faculty mentorship is built into the online format.
- Earns both master's and specialist degree
- No entrance exam required
- 3.0 GPA minimum, 3 recommendation letters
- Covers data-driven interventions and family collaboration
- 12.6% projected job growth; average salary $60,160
- Financial aid and scholarships available
- Prepares for K-12 school counselor careers
- Online format with close faculty mentorship
School Counseling — Online
William & Mary
This school's online counseling programs offer CACREP-accredited school counseling and clinical mental health counseling tracks with a strong social justice emphasis. The low-residency M.Ed. in Counseling can be completed in about three years with small classes and 700 clinical hours across a practicum and internship. The clinical mental health track includes a military and veterans counseling focus and prepares graduates for Virginia LPC licensure.
- CACREP and CAEP accredited
- 700 clinical hours: 100-hour practicum plus 600-hour internship
- Two three-day on-campus residencies required
- Average class size of 14 students
- No entrance exam required
- Can complete in as few as three years
- Meets Virginia licensure coursework requirements
- Social justice and cultural responsiveness emphasis
- CACREP-accredited clinical counseling track
- 60 total credit hours
- Military and veterans counseling focus
- Prepares for NBCC national certification
- Aligns with Virginia LPC requirements
- One-semester practicum and two-semester internship
- Field placements tailored to individual interests
- Full-time and part-time options
Master of Education in Counseling: School Counseling — Online
Master of Education in Counseling: Clinical Mental Health Counseling — Online
Northwestern University
This university offers online graduate training in marriage and family therapy and clinical mental health counseling, with synchronous live classes and in-person immersion experiences. The COAMFTE-accredited MFT track requires 400 clinical hours and can be completed in as little as 21 months, while the CACREP-accredited counseling tracks include a 200-hour practicum and 600-hour internship. Clinical placement assistance helps students find sites near their home communities.
- COAMFTE-accredited program
- 25 graduate-level courses
- 400 clinical hours, including 100 relational hours
- Full-time: 21 months; part-time: 36 months
- Synchronous online classes with live instruction
- No GRE required
- Placement assistance for clinical sites near home
- $95 application fee
- Child and adolescent counseling focus
- 24-course specialization curriculum
- In-person immersion experiences
- Bridge program for non-psychology backgrounds
- Experiential, self-reflective counselor training
- Practicum and internship at approved sites
- CACREP-accredited counseling degree
- 18-month program; 24 total courses
- Synchronous and asynchronous course options
- 200-hour practicum and 600-hour internship
- Designed for counseling licensure preparation
- Full-time and part-time options
Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy — Online
Master of Arts in Counseling: Child and Adolescent Specialization — Online
Master of Arts in Counseling — Online
North Carolina State University at Raleigh
This school offers online and hybrid counseling degrees at the master's level, including a CACREP-accredited school counseling M.Ed. and a part-time clinical mental health counseling cohort. The school counseling track includes a 600-hour K-12 internship and a 1:10 faculty advising ratio, while the clinical mental health track is structured as a three-year online cohort. Graduates are prepared for North Carolina licensure and national counseling exams.
- CACREP-accredited school counseling program
- 60 total credit hours
- 600-hour internship in K-12 schools
- No GRE required
- Small classes, 1:10 faculty advising ratio
- Online, on-campus, or hybrid delivery
- Prepares for PRAXIS and NCE
- Three-year, part-time cohort program
- No entrance exam required
- Starts summer
- Online delivery with lecture videos and activities
- Prepares for professional licensure in NC
- Career paths include therapist and family counselor
- Summer II start in June
School Counseling (M.Ed.) — Online
Clinical Mental Health Counseling (M.Ed.) — Online
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
This health sciences center delivers a CACREP-accredited online clinical mental health counseling M.S. with a distinctive telehealth training emphasis, one of the first such programs in the country. The 60-credit curriculum includes a 12-credit practicum and internship and prepares graduates for LPC licensure and the Board Certified Telemental Health Provider credential. The school also offers an addiction counseling track with a certificate in telehealth and interprofessional health care collaboration.
- CACREP-accredited program
- 60 total credit hours
- Telehealth training integrated into curriculum
- Eligible for BC-THM credential
- 12 credit hours of practicum and internship
- Prepares for LPC licensure
- 19% projected job growth through 2033
- Nationwide online delivery
- CACREP-accredited addiction track
- 60-credit curriculum
- Certificate in telehealth included
- Prepares for NCE and LPC licensure
- Addiction-specific clinical experiences
- Starts fall and spring
- Interprofessional health care collaboration
Clinical Mental Health Counseling (M.S.) — Online
Addiction Counseling (M.S.) — Online
Touro University
This university offers fully online counseling programs that include a school counseling master's designed for New York State certification and an addiction counseling specialization structured on a per-credit basis. The school counseling track requires 60 credits and a 600-hour internship, while the addiction track includes practicum and internship courses. Per-credit pricing helps keep the degree accessible for working professionals.
- 60 total credit hours
- 600-hour internship in final year
- Prepares for New York State School Counseling Examination
- Fully online coursework
- Complete in about three years
- Prepares for NBCC national certification
- Covers exceptional children and high-risk behavior
- Builds community relations skills
- $500 per credit
- 60-credit curriculum
- 20 total courses
- 2.5 GPA minimum
- Scholarships available
- Two practicum and four internship courses
- State licensing regulations vary
School Counseling (Master's) — Online
Counseling: Addiction Specialization — Online
University of Missouri
This university offers an online and on-campus school counseling M.Ed. that is recognized by ASCA and follows a scientist-practitioner training model. The cohort-based program requires a 3.0 GPA and three letters of recommendation and prepares graduates for elementary and secondary school counselor roles. A February 1 application deadline for fall entry gives students a clear planning window.
- ASCA-recognized program
- Cohort-based structure
- Scientist-practitioner training model
- Online and on-campus options
- 3.0 GPA minimum
- Three letters of recommendation required
- Application deadline February 1
- Prepares for K-12 school counselor roles
School Counseling (Elementary and Secondary) — Online
West Virginia University
This university's online M.S. in Counseling with a clinical mental health emphasis is CACREP-accredited and built around a low-residency model with two in-person immersion weeks. The 60-credit curriculum covers addiction, couples and family therapy, grief, crisis, and trauma and can be completed in two years full-time or four years part-time. Graduates are prepared for clinical practice in hospitals, agencies, and private practice.
- CACREP-accredited program
- $744 per credit
- 60 total credit hours
- 17 total courses
- Two in-person immersion weeks
- Full-time: two years; part-time: four years
- Curriculum covers addiction, couples, family, grief, trauma
- Low-residency model with online flexibility
Counseling M.S.: Clinical Mental Health Emphasis — On-Campus
Citadel Military College of South Carolina
This military college's online M.Ed. in Counselor Education offers elementary and secondary school counseling concentrations designed for South Carolina licensure. Both tracks require 60 credit hours and a 600-hour internship, with optional pathways toward LPC or NCC credentials. The program combines online delivery with an optional in-person cohort experience.
- 60-credit curriculum
- 600-hour internship in elementary schools
- Prepares for Praxis II Professional School Counselor
- Optional LPC and NCC credentials
- Online delivery format
- Requires 1,500 to 3,000 word personal statement
- Cohort option with in-person sessions
- 3.0 GPA minimum
- Requires 60 credit hours
- 600-hour internship in K-12 schools
- Leads to South Carolina school counselor licensure
- Praxis II required for practicum
- Online program delivery
- Cohort option with in-person experiences
- Optional LPC and NCC pathways
Elementary School Counseling (M.Ed.) — Online
Secondary School Counseling (M.Ed.) — Online
University of Southern California
This university's online counseling programs include a two-year marriage and family therapy master's designed for California licensure and a school counseling M.Ed. that can be completed in about 20 months. The MFT track requires 3,000 clinical hours and emphasizes cultural humility, while the school counseling track includes trauma and substance abuse content and scholarships up to $30,000. A strong national reputation makes this a notable option for students seeking a well-known degree.
- Prepares for California MFT licensure
- Requires 3,000 clinical hours
- Covers California Law and Ethics exam
- Full-time program: two years
- Field work in student's state of residence
- Cultural humility focus
- Online format for MFT training
- 49 total credit hours
- Full-time: 20-21 months
- 100 clinical hours
- Scholarships up to $30,000
- Curriculum addresses trauma and substance abuse
- January and August start dates
- Faculty with school counseling backgrounds
- Prepares for K-12 school counselor roles
Marriage and Family Therapy (M.S.) — On-Campus
School Counseling (M.Ed.) — 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.
