7 Affordable Masters in Counseling Programs in East Texas

If you’re looking for Masters in Counseling Programs in East Texas, you’re entering a field with really strong momentum. Texas adds more licensed professional counselors than almost any other state, with a projected growth rate of 17% through 2034. And, qualified mental health professionals are needed across the region more than ever. Whether you’re pursuing a masters for the first time or switching careers altogether, cost does matter. The seven programs featured here offer strong outcomes and CACREP accreditation options with available financial aid options to help you start your counseling career.

1. East Texas A&M University – MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Program Overview and Highlights

East Texas A&M University offers a 60-credit-hour MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling designed for students pursuing licensure as Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC) in Texas. The program takes 2.5 to 3 years to complete and combines specialized coursework with extensive field experience.

Your curriculum has courses tailored to clinical mental health practice among required field experiences where you’ll work directly with client populations under supervision. The program requires three field experiences: one practicum and two internships. You’ll complete a minimum of 100 contact hours during your practicum, with 40 hours dedicated to providing direct service to clients. Each internship experience consists of a minimum of 300 contact hours, with 120 hours in direct client service.

The program managed to keep strong outcomes for graduates. 95% of graduates who sought employment in the counseling field gained employment within six months of graduation, based on recent alumni surveys. License exam pass rates range from 91-100% and show the program’s effectiveness in preparing students for professional credentialing.

You must pass the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE) before graduation, a nationally standardized test administered on-campus once per semester. Students needing additional attempts may test at specified professional testing centers. The program also requires grades of A or B in five foundational courses: COUN 501, 510, 516, 528, and 548.

Tuition and Affordability

East Texas A&M positions itself as one of the most affordable options around the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Tuition and fees for graduate students taking nine credit hours are $3,669 for Texas residents and $7,341 for non-residents.

Several additional fees may apply to your program costs beyond base tuition:

Fee Type // Cost

The university offers a Guaranteed Tuition Plan that locks in tuition and mandatory fees from registration to graduation. This plan protects you from annual rate increases and allows you to budget with certainty. The two-year rate plan was $3,683 per semester based on nine graduate credit hours for Texas residents for incoming graduate students. Non-resident statutory tuition rates are set by the state of Texas each year and cannot be guaranteed under this plan.

Financial aid options are need-based and non-need-based loans. The program offers six competitive counseling-specific scholarships, plus several College of Education and Human Services-level competitive scholarships.

CACREP Accreditation Status

The Clinical Mental Health Counseling program holds full accreditation from the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). First accredited as a Community Counseling program in March 1992, it transitioned to Clinical Mental Health Counseling in January 2016 and has kept continuous accreditation.

Your current accreditation status extends through October 31, 2031. Graduates of this program are considered CACREP graduates beginning July 14, 2014. This accreditation ensures your degree meets the highest national standards in counselor education and provides portability for licensure if you relocate to other states.

The program operates under CACREP’s 2016 standards, which require training in eight core areas: professional orientation and ethical practice, social and cultural diversity, human growth and development, career development, counseling and helping relationships, group counseling and group work, assessment and testing, and research and program evaluation.

Delivery Format and Schedule

The program uses a hybrid delivery format that combines online instruction with face-to-face requirements. You’ll experience the convenience of online courses and traditional in-person classes held at the main campus in Commerce, with select offerings available in Dallas and Mesquite.

This hybrid structure gives flexibility to working professionals while keeping the quality of in-person clinical training intact. More than 50% but less than 100% of instructional activities take place online, with students and instructors in different physical locations. The remaining instruction occurs in traditional face-to-face settings on campus in Commerce.

Applications are accepted for fall, spring, and summer starts. Application deadlines are June 1 for fall start, October 1 for spring start, and February 15 for summer start. Your application requires an APPLY TEXAS application with a $50 fee, three recommendations, an essay, Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores with no minimum score requirement, and transcripts of all previous postsecondary education.

2. UT Tyler – MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Program Overview and Highlights

The University of Texas at Tyler delivers a student-centered, experience-oriented approach to clinical mental health counseling education. Your 60-credit-hour MA program satisfies all coursework and clinical requirements needed to apply for licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor in Texas and many other states.

You’ll involve yourself in experiential learning that transforms theoretical knowledge into practical application from your first class. The program requires 100 hours of hands-on training in clinical skills. You’ll complete 600 supervised hours working with actual clients in a variety of community settings. This direct client contact prepares you to guide through ground counseling scenarios with confidence.

Your training extends beyond technical skills to cultural competency. The program emphasizes preparing you to work with sensitivity and effectiveness with diverse populations. You’ll gain exposure to varied experiences and points of view through interactions with fellow students and community clients.

Faculty members bring multiple roles to your education: practicing counselors, skilled teachers, active scholars, innovative researchers and community members. Their diverse expertise provides insight into the counseling profession, from client support to current field issues, and offers guidance on licensure and career entry.

The curriculum covers eight CACREP common core areas: professional counseling knowledge and practice, social and cultural diversity, human growth and development, career development, counseling theories, group counseling, assessment and research. Students develop competencies in diagnosis and assessment, evidence-based counseling techniques, group processes, addiction counseling and career counseling.

You must pass the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE) before graduation. The exam is offered each fall, spring and summer in the on-campus student testing center.

Tuition and Affordability

UT Tyler positions affordability as a core value and ensures that preparing for your counseling career doesn’t create overwhelming debt. Estimated tuition for full-time, in-state, on-campus enrollment totals $26,250 for the complete program. Tuition varies by delivery method and hours taken per semester.

Graduate students at UT Tyler pay $499 per credit hour for in-state rates or $987 per credit hour for out-of-state enrollment. This translates to approximately $29,940 for in-state students or $59,220 for out-of-state students before financial aid for a 60-credit program.

Financial support opportunities exist through scholarships and aid programs. 68% of enrolled students have received grants or scholarships, with the average aid amount reaching $8,874. This assistance can cover 36.20% of full tuition costs.

Graduate assistantships are not available for this program. Financial aid consists of need-based and non-need-based loans.

CACREP Accreditation Status

UT Tyler’s clinical mental health counseling program holds full CACREP accreditation through 2032. This reaffirmation came after a rigorous three-year process with reassessment of student outcomes, self-study, peer evaluation, site visit and final council review.

The program was accredited in 2012. CACREP accreditation allows you to sit for a national exam that enables licensure in any state. Clients and consumers benefit from the rigorous preparation of professional counselors who graduate from CACREP-accredited programs.

This accreditation reflects the program’s rigorous structure for licensure preparation, emphasis on personal and professional development, and coursework integrating mental health, research, service and advocacy with the goal of serving broad populations.

Delivery Format and Schedule

UT Tyler’s CMHC program operates through face-to-face formats with a few courses each semester offered online. This is a fully in-person program that ensures you receive hands-on training, face-to-face mentorship and experiential learning opportunities necessary for professional development.

The program delivers instruction through didactic and experiential teaching methods. Your learning experience has instructor lectures, class presentations, small group discussions and projects, clinical role plays, clinical work with clients and case conceptualization. Instructors incorporate clinical work and tangible ground learning to create meaningful educational experiences.

Application deadlines are firm: March 1st for fall admission and October 1st for spring admission. Admission is competitive and based on holistic review of multiple criteria that include academic potential, written statement of purpose and grade point average.

Your application requires a bachelor’s degree, with a GPA of 3.0 or greater preferred. All applications receive case-by-case review. Work experience, volunteer activities, life experiences, goals and motivation can boost your application. GRE scores are not required.

The program is not STEM designated.

3. Stephen F. Austin State University – MA in Professional Counseling

Program Overview and Highlights

Stephen F. Austin State University earned the No. 1 ranking from topcounselingschools.org for having the top-value counseling master’s degree in Texas. This recognition reflects vital metrics like program completion rate, job placement rate, licensing exam pass rate, accreditation length, research productivity and tuition costs.

Your 60-hour MA in Professional Counseling offers three distinct concentrations: clinical mental health counseling, school counseling and clinical rehabilitation counseling. The clinical rehabilitation counseling concentration no longer accepts new applications, though existing students can complete their degree requirements. The program plans to continue offering courses that allow clinical mental health students to pursue rehabilitation counselor certification with additional coursework and internship requirements.

The program structure provides exposure across all counseling specializations. You’ll complete 48 hours of common core classes taken by all students, then 12 hours in your chosen specialization. This arrangement will give you development as a well-rounded professional whatever your concentration. All three concentrations lead to the Licensed Professional Counselor credential. School counseling and clinical rehabilitation counseling students also earn certification in their specialization as Certified School Counselor or Certified Rehabilitation Counselor.

Your training has courses in orientation to counseling, theories of counseling, skills and techniques, research, assessment, lifespan development, diagnosis and psychopathology, group counseling, career counseling, multicultural counseling, family counseling, drug and alcohol counseling and ethics. You’ll complete a 100-hour Practicum by seeing clients in the SFASU Counseling Clinic. You’ll move into a 600-hour internship in a community, school or rehabilitation setting upon successful completion.

The program maintains enrollment between 65-80 students. This size creates an environment where faculty develop meaningful relationships with each student. Dr. Le’Ann Solmonson, director of SFA’s professional counseling program, explains that this allows faculty to watch students grow both personally and professionally. Employer and internship site supervisors report that SFA students stand out consistently.

Most students complete the program in 24 months. Classes meet one night per week for 2.5 hours and begin at either 4:30 or 7:15. This schedule accommodates working professionals while providing face-to-face interaction and supervision to train qualified counseling professionals.

Tuition and Affordability

Your estimated cost of full-time attendance at nine credit hours is around $300 per semester, plus fees, books and materials. Based on per-credit-hour rates, Texas residents pay $284 per credit hour while out-of-state residents pay $689 per credit hour. Annual tuition averages $29,220. The application fee costs $50. Living expenses run around $12,200 each year.

CACREP Accreditation Status

Your Clinical Mental Health Counseling program holds full CACREP accreditation extending through April 30, 2034. The program was accredited in October 1993 as a Community Counseling program and transitioned to Clinical Mental Health Counseling status in January 2017.

The specialized practice area was found to meet the standards with some minor standards-related deficiencies for which the Board requires further information. Your program operates under CACREP’s 2016 standards. Graduates of this program are CACREP graduates beginning July 5, 2015.

This accreditation confirms the quality of your academic preparation and shows that the curriculum has been reviewed against approved standards. Graduation from a CACREP-accredited program opens doors to employment opportunities that would not otherwise be available.

Delivery Format and Schedule

Your program combines online and face-to-face courses. Faculty recognize the growing demands on student time and offer some classes in an online format. But the program maintains that face-to-face interaction and supervision are needed to train qualified counseling professionals.

You’ll take two face-to-face classes and one online class during Spring and Fall semesters. You’ll enroll in one online class in each of two back-to-back summer sessions in the summer. The modified cohort model puts students admitted in the same semester through the program together and promotes a collaborative learning environment.

Faculty maintain an open-door policy and provide easy access to guidance and mentorship throughout your studies. You’ll benefit from an excellent on-site training clinic where you can apply knowledge in real-life settings under experienced professional supervision.

4. East Texas Baptist University – Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Program Overview and Key Features

East Texas Baptist University integrates biblical faith with clinical training through its MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program. The Christ-centered institution equips students to help individuals and families from a variety of cultural and spiritual backgrounds struggling with emotional and psychological issues. This 60-credit-hour program operates from the ETBU-Tyler site at 1301 S. Broadway, where the university opened its Community Counseling Center in 2020.

Your curriculum follows an expertise development model that makes acquisition of higher-order knowledge, clinical skills, and professional identity easier. The program structures courses based on difficulty level. Less challenging courses appear in your first semester and progress to increasingly complex material in subsequent terms. This additive learning approach refines and reinforces each stage into courses that follow.

Employment outcomes demonstrate the program’s effectiveness. An estimated 90% of graduates secured counseling-related positions within 180 days after graduation. You’ll find robust career preparation throughout your studies given these strong placement rates. The program also shows that 85% of students enrolled in 2021 completed it within three years. Full-time students can expect to finish between 2.5 and 3.5 years.

You must pass the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE) before graduation, a standardized exam assessing your learning across eight core areas. The exam consists of approximately 160 items with 20 items per CACREP area. You’ll have four hours to complete the test. A passing score of one standard deviation from the national mean is required. The exam fee totals $75 payable online when registered. Students have three attempts to pass the CPCE. After that, one attempt at a written comprehensive exam designed by faculty is granted.

The onsite clinic in Tyler allows you to complete all clinical hours required by the program. This convenience eliminates the need to secure external placement sites for your practicum and internship requirements.

Tuition and Affordability

Graduate tuition at ETBU costs $430 per semester hour for the 2025-2026 academic year. Graduate student fees add $325 per semester. Your total tuition reaches $25,800 before fees for a 60-credit program.

Note that tuition and fees are subject to change without notification. The university reviews and approves costs in late spring for the next fiscal year beginning in July.

The ETMC Foundation awarded ETBU a $100,000 grant to help meet the growing need for mental health care in Smith County and greater East Texas. This funding supports both the Community Counseling Center and the MA program. Enrollment has grown 191% since the program’s inception in 2012, with 60% growth just over the last three years.

CACREP Accreditation Status

ETBU’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling program is seeking accreditation from CACREP. The accreditation status is currently listed as “In Process”. Meanwhile, the program’s curriculum meets all CACREP training guidelines. Your coursework also satisfies Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and New Mexico Professional Counselor licensure requirements.

The program corresponds with the curriculum for counselor preparation approved by CACREP. It operates under the 2016 standards. So graduates receive training aligned with national professional standards even as formal accreditation proceeds.

Delivery Format and Schedule

All classes meet in the evenings across three semesters: spring, summer, and fall. Sixty percent of courses are synchronous, while the remaining 40% are asynchronous. This split provides flexibility while maintaining live interaction with faculty and peers.

Your class sizes remain very small. This allows productive interactions between students and faculty. The structure provides better access to faculty for detailed feedback to improve learning experiences. The program emphasizes that counselor preparation extends beyond clinical expertise to synthesizing myriad information for effective clinical judgment.

5. Sam Houston State University – MA in Counseling

Program Overview and Highlights

Sam Houston State University operates two community counseling clinics where you’ll gain supervised clinical experience: the Jack Staggs Counseling Clinic in Huntsville and The Woodlands Center serving the Houston metro area. This dual-clinic model provides free counseling to community members while you complete your first semester of supervised practice under faculty supervision.

Your 60-credit MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling meets the academic and clinical experience requirements to apply for Licensed Professional Counselor-Associate status in Texas. The program requires you to maintain a 3.0 GPA throughout your studies. Faculty evaluate your knowledge, skills and professional dispositional competencies beyond grades on an ongoing basis.

You must earn a positive candidacy vote from faculty before working with clients in fieldwork settings. This vote takes into account your performance across competencies and coursework. You’ll complete nine credit hours of supervised practice during your final course sequence. After your first faculty-supervised semester at the university clinics, you’ll work about 20-25 hours weekly at approved community-based clinical counseling sites for two more semesters.

You must pass the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE) and complete three semesters of fieldwork training after finishing foundational didactic coursework. On top of that, you can pursue specialized training through graduate certificates in Play Therapy, Marriage/Couples/Family Counseling or Trauma and Loss Counseling. Students interested in doctoral study can apply to the Doctoral Preparation Pathway, which provides boosted preparation aligned with doctoral-level expectations that include advanced research literacy, scholarly writing and critical analysis.

Tuition and Affordability

Texas residents pay $467.10 per credit hour for nine semester hours, totaling $4,203.90 per semester. Out-of-state students pay $917.10 per credit hour, reaching $8,253.90 per semester for nine hours.

CACREP Accreditation Status

Your program holds CACREP accreditation through October 31, 2031. The Clinical Mental Health Counseling program was first accredited in July 2006 and transitioned from Community Counseling to Clinical Mental Health Counseling in July 2014. Graduates are deemed CACREP graduates beginning January 10, 2013.

Delivery Format and Schedule

Your coursework combines face-to-face and online courses. Applications are accepted for Fall and Spring admission. The GRE requirement is waived if you possess an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher, or have completed at least nine graduate-level hours with a 3.5 GPA or higher.

6. Lamar University – MEd in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Program Overview and Highlights

Lamar University structures its MEd in Clinical Mental Health Counseling as a 60-hour program. It prepares you to provide clinical counseling services in a variety of professional settings that range from clinics and hospitals to school-based mental health programs and private practice. The curriculum meets coursework requirements for Licensed Professional Counselor or Licensed Marriage, Couple and Family Therapist credentials in Texas and other states.

Your coursework arranges with national and state credentials for National Certified Counselor, Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor, and Licensed Professional Counselor in Texas. The program requires you to complete courses in human growth and development, professional counseling foundations, counseling skills, individual and group theory, multicultural counseling, ethics and law, career development, addiction counseling, psychopathology, assessment, crisis intervention, marriage and family counseling, practicum, and two internships.

Clinical mental health counselors who graduate from this program work in behavioral mental health settings, community agencies, institutions, hospitals, schools, and private practices. They help clients manage transitional difficulties and mental and emotional challenges.

Tuition and Affordability

Your online program costs $360 per credit hour. This translates to $1,080 per course and $21,604 for the complete 60-hour program. University fees are part of this tuition and can be covered by financial aid if you qualify.

Texas residents pay $359.49 per credit hour for on-campus graduate students. Non-residents pay $787.49 per credit hour for Fall 2026 and Spring 2027. Keep in mind that tuition and fees are subject to change without notice due to action by the Board of Regents or the Texas State Legislature.

CACREP Accreditation Status

The Clinical Mental Health Counseling program was accredited by CACREP under the 2009 standards from July 7, 2016, through December 12, 2020. The specialization was denied continued accreditation. Accreditation expired December 12, 2020. Then graduates after this date are not CACREP graduates.

CACREP accreditation is not a requirement in Texas for the National Certified Counselor and Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor credentials. The counseling programs are accredited regionally by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation. Out-of-state students should verify their respective state requirements relating to CACREP before they enroll.

Delivery Format and Schedule

Your coursework is offered in an accelerated five-week online course format. This provides flexibility for work and family balance. The program requires one five-week hybrid course that has a five-day residency you must attend. Multiple start dates accommodate your schedule throughout the year, with summer, fall, and spring options available.

7. Texas A&M University-Commerce – School Counseling Track

Program Overview and Highlights

Texas A&M University-Commerce delivers a School Counseling track that requires 48 credit hours. The program is designed for those seeking certification as Professional School Counselors in Texas. The 60-hour clinical mental health emphasis differs from this program, which focuses on preparing you to work within educational settings. You can complete the program in 2.5 to 3 years, depending on your enrollment pace.

The curriculum gives you the knowing how to serve as a mentor and promote youth development in a variety of educational settings. After graduation, you can transition to LPC preparation with additional coursework if you choose to expand your credentials beyond school counseling. This pathway allows you to pursue Licensed Professional Counselor status in Texas with supplementary hours.

Tuition and Affordability

Your tuition mirrors the rates for other graduate programs at East Texas A&M. Texas residents pay $3,669 for nine credit hours while non-residents pay $7,341. Additional fees include $50 per hour for online courses and $20 per hour for remote locations. Lab fees range from $5 to $30 per course.

CACREP Accreditation Status

The core faculty relinquished CACREP accreditation status for the School Counseling program after Fall 2025. Students enrolled before December 12, 2025, graduated with CACREP-accredited degrees.

Delivery Format and Schedule

Your coursework is offered 100% online with both synchronous and asynchronous courses. This format eliminates traditional in-person class constraints and allows you to balance work and family responsibilities.

Choose Your Program Today

Your choice among these seven programs depends on your specific priorities and circumstances. East Texas A&M, UT Tyler, Stephen F. Austin, and Sam Houston State offer fully accredited options through 2031 or beyond if CACREP accreditation matters for your career goals. Then these programs provide maximum credential portability in states of all types.

Affordability varies, with Stephen F. Austin offering the lowest in-state tuition at about $17,040 and Sam Houston State reaching nearly $30,000. Delivery formats range from fully online at Lamar to primarily in-person at UT Tyler and allow you to match your learning style and schedule constraints.

Review each program’s clinical training sites, faculty expertise, and outcomes data. Your ideal program balances cost, accreditation status and format flexibility while preparing you for a career that lines up with your professional aspirations.