Mastering Behavioral Health: Is a Master’s Degree Right for You?

According to the KFF/CNN Mental Health In America Survey, 90% of American adults believe the country is facing a mental health crisis. Increased rates of depression and anxiety, especially in teenagers, are fueling concern and prompting more people to seek care and guidance from behavioral health specialists.¹

A Master’s in Behavioral Health is a graduate program that will teach you about human behavior and interaction and how to improve it on a more advanced level. This type of graduate degree develops well-rounded behavioral health professionals who can improve healthy systems by improving patient outcomes, reducing healthcare costs, and promoting mental health and well-being to increase health equity.²

If you have a career interest in mental health, continue reading to learn more about what a Master’s in Behavioral Health entails and see if it's the right program for you. 

Behavioral health care providers also address psychosocial factors that can affect patient self-care, health behavior, and participation in health care. If a patient is having trouble paying for prescriptions, accessing safe transportation, or other issues that affect their access to health care, behavioral health providers step in to provide supplemental interventions to address psychosocial issues and coordinate care with social and human services.

As a graduate student majoring in behavioral health, you can expect to develop the knowledge and skills you need to address the mental health needs of various diverse populations.
Some examples of the competencies and key skills you will develop during your two-year program include:⁵

The demand for behavioral health providers who can address the mental needs of diverse populations in the United States is growing.⁶ If you decide to pursue a career in behavioral health science, you can explore a range of career paths to impact your patients’ lives like the following:⁷

Behavioral health graduate students also have a lot of potential job settings:

As you consider a Master’s in Behavioral Health, think about the length of these programs and their associated costs.

On average, completing this graduate degree can take one to two years for full-time students—meaning you take at least 12 credit hours or four classes each semester. Part-time college students who take 11 credit hours or fewer each semester could take between two to four years to complete the program.

Another factor to consider when pursuing a behavioral health master’s degree is the cost of tuition.

On average, in-state full-time students pay about $11,400 per year for these degrees, with public universities typically costing less than private institutions.⁷ While these programs can be a bit pricey, some schools offer financial aid, including scholarships, grants, fellowships, graduate assistantships, and other opportunities.

If you would like to know more about what financial aid is available for a particular graduate program, contact the program director to get more information on how you can apply for those opportunities. 

While a Master’s in Behavioral Health takes time and money, it has a pretty good return on investment, depending on what career you decide to pursue. For example, a behavioral health director earns an average of $115,519 per year, with the highest earnings being $197,000 annually.⁸

If you look up Master’s of Behavioral Health programs, you’ll likely come across similar programs, including:

While these are all spectacular programs to pursue if you have a passion for mental health education, you need to understand their differences to choose the best program for your professional goals.

Here’s a breakdown of these programs and how they differ from a Master’s in Behavioral Health.

Choosing the right master’s program in behavioral health is essential because it shapes your career trajectory and professional growth. The right program aligns with your career goals, provides specialized training, and equips you with the skills and credentials needed to excel in the field.

There are a couple of ways you can choose the right program:

Attend Information Sessions or Tours

Narrow down your list of schools by attending information sessions or tours.

Come prepared with a set of questions to ask staff and faculty members about their Master’s in Behavioral Health program.

Below are some questions you can ask:

• What specializations are offered in the program?

• Do the supervised clinicals count towards licensure requirements in my state?

• Is this program accredited by CACREP or MPCAC?

• Are there advisors available to guide students through licensure processes?

• Is the program affiliated with any clinics, community organizations, or agencies?

Connect with Current Students or Alumni

Connect with current students or alumni for further insights as a prospective student.

Here are some tips you can use to connect with these individuals:

• Attend events, such as open houses, webinars, or networking events that the program hosts.

• Use LinkedIn to search for current students or alumni and send them a personalized message about your interest in learning more about educational experiences.

• Join discussion groups or forums on platforms like Facebook or Reddit where students and alumni may share their experiences and advice.

Use a Checklist of Important Factors

Use a checklist to narrow down your list of potential master’s programs in behavioral sciences.

Consider the following factors when choosing a mental health counseling program:

Accreditation

School accreditation ensures an institution meets established standards set by an accrediting body. It verifies the legitimacy of degree programs and credits awarded by an institution and is one of the first things you should look for when selecting a master’s program.

Master’s of Behavioral Health programs should be accredited by the Master’s in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC) or the Council on Accreditation for Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) for accredited counselor education.

Most programs will share this information on their website, but you can always double-check their accreditations by visiting the accrediting agency’s website. 

Faculty expertise

The instructor’s or assistant professor’s expertise in behavioral health concepts can directly impact the quality of education, mentorship, and even career opportunities you’ll receive in this field.

Ideally, you want to learn from teaching faculty with specialized behavior science knowledge and real-world experience in clinical practice, program management, public health initiatives, and networking.

Program reputation

The reputation of a school’s Master’s in Behavioral Health program is a significant factor to consider, as it can impact the quality of your educational experience, future career opportunities, and credibility as a behavioral health care provider.

Ensure your chosen program has a rigorous curriculum, accreditation, a strong alumni network, and a history of producing successful behavioral health professionals. 

Availability of specializations

Many schools offer specializations that allow students to personalize their degree to their career aspirations, such as clinical mental health counseling, behavioral research and outcomes evaluation, and community mental health.

• Adding a specialization to your degree can provide more in-depth knowledge and skills in certain areas that you can apply to your future career.

Accreditation is crucial for any behavioral health program you apply to.

If your chosen Master’s in Behavioral Health program doesn’t hold accreditation from the Master’s in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC) or the Council on Accreditation for Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), you may face challenges in becoming eligible for licensure, should you choose to pursue it. Make sure to review a school’s accreditation to ensure they meet the standards for delivering programs on behavioral health.

On the licensure front, if you want to provide mental health care at a more advanced level, you will likely need to obtain professional licensure. A professional counselor license attests that you’ve met your state’s minimum standards for practicing as a counselor. Every state determines the scope of practice and diagnostic authority its counseling license allows.

If you want to become a licensed behavioral health care professional, you must first meet the standards established by your state’s licensure laws and regulations, which usually require you to:

Some Master’s in Behavioral Health programs will prepare you for licensure as an LPC or substance abuse counselor through intensive coursework, supervised clinical practicums, specialization tracks, and exam preparation.

Behavioral health is an essential aspect of mental health and public health, as professionals in this field work to support individuals' emotional and mental health needs.

The demand for behavioral health professionals across the United States is growing. If you have a passion for mental wellness and want to impact people’s lives directly, a Master’s in Behavioral Health may be a good fit for you. As you research these programs, make sure the curriculum, teaching staff, program reputation, and accreditation align with your career goals and personal interests in behavioral health.

Take the time to evaluate each program and conduct thorough research before you make a final decision.

If you’re ready to take the next step toward your career in behavioral health, we highly recommend you download program brochures, reach out to admissions counselors to get detailed information on the application process and set up informational interviews with teaching faculty or program directors to get a better idea of what their behavioral program entails.