Best and Affordable Mental Health Counseling Programs in North Dakota
Across North Dakota, five nonprofit colleges and universities award master’s degrees in mental health counseling (MHC), clinical mental health counseling (CMHC), or a related discipline.1 Three of the five offer at least some coursework in an online or hybrid format, while the other two are taught on campus. The sections below profile each program leading to North Dakota’s Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) credentials, along with the job outlook for counselors across the state, what the work typically pays, and the professional organizations active in the field.
Table of Contents
- North Dakota MHC Program Comparison
- Best MHC Programs
- Most Affordable MHC Programs
- Online MHC Programs
- North Dakota MHC Salary and Outlook Information
- Additional Resources
Comparison of North Dakota Schools With Mental Health Counseling Programs
The table below compares the five North Dakota mental health counseling programs on key factors, including accreditation status, institution type, program format, US News & World Report rankings, in-state and out-of-state tuition, and total number of credit hours required. All institutions listed below are not-for-profit. If we’ve missed a North Dakota school with a mental health counseling program, please let us know. For more information on these schools, please visit our North Dakota counseling degrees page, master’s in mental health counseling degree guide, or individual school websites.
| School Name | Accreditation2,3 | MHC Degrees Offered | Program Format | US News National Rank4 | In-State Tuition Per Credit Hour | Out-of-State Tuition Per Credit Hour | Total Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minot State University | — | MS Mental Health and Substance Use Counseling | Traditional | — | $399 | $399 | 60 |
| North Dakota State University | CACREP | MS/M.Ed. CMHC | Traditional | #232 tie | $473 | $601-$710 | 60 |
| University of Jamestown | — | MS Clinical Counseling | Online | — | $680 | $680 | 60 |
| University of Mary | CACREP | MS CMHC | Traditional; Hybrid; Online | #343 tie | $665 | $665 | 60 |
| University of North Dakota | — | MA Counseling | Traditional; Online | #242 tie | $800 | $800 | 60-66 |
Best Mental Health Counseling Programs in North Dakota
The schools below offer the top-ranked mental health counseling programs in North Dakota, as determined by program accreditation and third-party school ratings. Tiebreakers are determined by total in-state program cost.
North Dakota State University
North Dakota State University (NDSU) offers a Master of Science (MS) or a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) within its Counselor Education program in Fargo. Both versions run 60 credits and carry CACREP accreditation. The two paths differ mainly in emphasis: the MS leans more heavily on research and requires a thesis alongside 600 internship hours, while the M.Ed. skips the thesis and folds in an additional supervised internship instead. Coursework is delivered primarily face-to-face and moves through areas like counseling theories and techniques, group counseling, psychopathology and diagnosis, and advanced clinical assessment. Hands-on training is built in throughout, with a 100-hour practicum in NDSU’s on-campus Community Counseling Services clinic followed by internship work in community settings. Most students finish in about three years and complete a comprehensive exam along the way. Graduates leave prepared to pursue North Dakota’s counseling credentials, working toward the LPC and, ultimately, the LPCC license that allows for independent practice.
University of Mary
The University of Mary (UMary), a Catholic institution in Bismarck, offers a CACREP-accredited Master of Science (MS) in Counseling with a specialization in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC). The 60-credit degree is built around a blended format: most coursework is completed online, paired with a weekly class that students attend either on the Bismarck campus or remotely through video conferencing. That structure lets motivated full-time students move quickly, with completion possible in as little as 20 months. Students share a common counseling core and then add advanced coursework in clinical mental health diagnosis and treatment specific to the specialization. The program prepares graduates for the full sequence of North Dakota credentials, from the entry-level Licensed Associate Professional Counselor (LAPC) through the LPC and on to the LPCC. For practitioners who already hold a related master’s degree but need to close a gap, UMary also runs a shorter CMHC certificate, though the MS is the path to a full qualifying degree.
Other Notable Programs
- University of North Dakota
Most Affordable Mental Health Counseling Programs in North Dakota
The following four schools offer the most cost-effective mental health counseling degrees, based on their minimum tuition, not including additional fees. Required credit hours may differ depending on the concentration area, so be sure to check with schools of interest for more details on specific program options. For a detailed comparison, you can refer to the comparison table above to find the quality indicators that align with your needs. Tuition shown is the lowest per-credit rate published as of the most recent catalog; confirm totals with each school.
- Minot State University ($23,940)
- North Dakota State University ($28,380)
- University of Mary ($39,900)
- University of Jamestown ($40,800)
Online Mental Health Counseling Programs in North Dakota
The following schools offer online or hybrid degrees in mental health counseling:
- University of Jamestown (Online)
- University of Mary (Hybrid; Online)
- University of North Dakota (Online)
North Dakota Mental Health Counselor Salary and Outlook Information
Projections for North Dakota mental health counselors are more favorable than national trends, with an expected growth rate of 19.5% in the state compared to 16.8% nationwide.5 This growth is likely to result in an average of 130 annual openings in North Dakota through 2034.5 The table below shows salaries by metro area for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors, compared to the statewide average.
| City | Number Employed6 | 10th Percentile Salary6 | 25th Percentile Salary6 | 50th Percentile (Median) Salary6 | 75th Percentile Salary6 | 90th Percentile Salary6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Statewide | 1,290 | $43,270 | $55,450 | $68,630 | $77,320 | $86,630 |
| Bismarck | 360 | $42,760 | $60,330 | $70,810 | $76,310 | $85,790 |
| Fargo | 610 | $44,860 | $46,620 | $60,130 | $75,310 | $84,040 |
| Grand Forks | 180 | $45,490 | $48,760 | $60,970 | $74,640 | $84,690 |
| Minot | 120 | $37,840 | $49,830 | $60,130 | $71,830 | $80,150 |
Additional Resources
- Counseling Degrees Guide: Explore counseling degree options by level and specialization, including online and on-campus programs.
- Counseling Interviews and Advice: Read our interviews page for career advice from experienced clinical mental health counselors.
- Counseling School Accreditation Information: Learn about accreditation at both the institutional and program levels.
- Mental Health Counselor Career Guide: An overview of the counseling profession, including job duties, required skills, and common work environments.
- North Dakota Board of Counselor Examiners (NDBCE): The state licensing authority for professional counselors, with information on the LAPC, LPC, and LPCC credentials, the NCE and NCMHCE examinations, application forms and supervision plans, regulations, and renewals.
- North Dakota Counseling Association (NDCA): The North Dakota branch of the American Counseling Association (ACA), offering continuing education, legislative advocacy, and networking for counselors statewide, including clinical mental health counselors.
- North Dakota Counseling Schools: Find counseling programs in North Dakota, including on-campus, online, and hybrid options.
- North Dakota Behavioral Health Division: Part of the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services, this division oversees the state’s publicly funded behavioral health system, supporting mental health, substance use, prevention, crisis, treatment, and recovery services statewide.
- North Dakota LPC Licensing Process: Step-by-step guidance on becoming licensed in North Dakota, including education, supervised experience, and examination requirements.
References:
1. National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
2. Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs, Accredited Programs: https://www.cacrep.org/directory/
3. Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council Accredited Programs: https://mpcacaccreditation.org/accredited-programs/
4. US News & World Report 2025 Best National University Rankings: https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-universities
5. Projections Central, Long Term Occupational Projections: https://projectionscentral.org/longterm
6. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oessrcma.htm