30 Best Online Counseling Degree Programs [2024 Guide]

If you enjoy helping people, an online counseling degree can qualify you for many jobs in healthcare, education and academia.

Some degree programs won’t even require you to take classes on campus. You can learn from the comfort of your own home.

Universities Offering Online Counseling Master’s Degree Programs

Methodology: The following school list is in alphabetical order. To be included, a college or university must be regionally accredited and offer degree programs online or in a hybrid format.

1. Auburn University

This public school was established in 1856 and originally just open to male students. It’s since become gender-diverse and boasts upwards of 23,000 undergraduate students per year. Located in Auburn, Alabama, Auburn University is ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the top places for students to get their business degrees in the state.

• MEd in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling
• MS in Rehabilitation Counseling

Auburn University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

2. Bradley University

Founded in 1897, Bradley University is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the top private schools in the country. It’s located in Peoria, Illinois and has plenty of different options for both graduate and undergraduate degrees. Students can choose from nearly 100 majors at this legacy school.

• MA in Counseling – Clinical Mental Health Counseling
• MA in Counseling – Professional School Counseling

Bradley University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

3. Capella University

Capella University is a private online school that is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Founded in 1993, Capella University is one of the oldest online institutions in the country and is regarded as being a fantastic scholastic option for those who want to get their graduate or undergraduate degrees online.

• MS in Addiction Studies
• MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
• MS in Marriage and Family Therapy
• MS in School Counseling

Capella University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

4. Clarks Summit University

Founded in 1932, Clarks Summit University is a private Christian school located in the heartland of rural Pennsylvania. Students can get graduate or undergraduate degrees at Clarks Summit University in a variety of different majors. Work at your pace with flexible programs that allow you to customize your schooling.

• MS in Counseling

Clarks Summit University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

5. Creighton University

This private Jesuit university is one of the oldest in the country. Creighton University was founded in 1878 by the Society of Jesus and has since gained quite a fantastic reputation for its graduate and undergraduate degree programs. It’s a relatively small school, with roughly 8,393 students, but its programs are reputable and recognized nationally.

• MS in School Counseling and Preventive Mental Health

Creighton University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

6. Fort Hays State University

Fort Hays State University has gone through a number of different changes in its tenure as a public university in Hays, Kansas. It was originally founded in 1902 when it was called the Western Brand of the Kansas Normal School.

Eventually, it became Fort Hays State University in 1977. Today, 15,100 students go to the school to get their graduate and undergraduate degrees.

• MS in Counseling – Clinical Mental Health
• MS in Counseling – School

FHSU is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

7. Grand Canyon University

Founded in 1949, Grand Canyon University is a private Christian school located right near Phoenix, Arizona. It’s famous for being the biggest Christian university on the planet and has well over 70,000 online students and 20,000 traditional students getting their graduate and undergraduate degrees there. Students interested in a Christian counseling degree may see the list below for GCU’s specializations.

• MEd in School Counseling
• MS in Addiction Counseling
• MS in Christian Counseling of Substance Use and Addictive Disorders
• MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling – Childhood and Adolescence Disorders
• MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling – Christian Counseling
• MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling – Marriage and Family Therapy
• MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling – Trauma

GCU also offers online theological degrees for students interested in this option.

Grand Canyon University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

8. Gwynedd Mercy University

This Catholic university is located right outside of Philadelphia and was founded in 1948. With locations on their Gwynedd Mercy University campus, as well as Bensalem and Philadelphia, this university is a sprawling institution of the northeastern United States.

Offering degrees for all levels of schooling, Gwynedd Mercy University is a fantastic option for lifelong learners.

• MS in Counseling – Clinical Mental Health
• MS in Counseling – College Counseling Student Affairs
• MS in Counseling – School Counseling

Gwynedd Mercy University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

9. Indiana Wesleyan University

Founded in 1920, Indiana Wesleyan University is the largest private university in all of Indiana. Offering both undergraduate and graduate degrees in a variety of different studies, Indian Wesleyan University is an excellent choice for anyone looking to complete their education in business administration or accounting.

• MA in Counseling Community Care
• MA in Counseling – Clinical Addictions Counseling
• MA in Counseling – Clinical Mental Health Counseling
• MA in Counseling – Marriage and Family Counseling/Therapy
• MA in Counseling – School Counseling
• MA in Counseling – Student Development Administration

Indiana Wesleyan University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission.

10. Lamar University

This public university was founded in 1923 and is ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the best schools in the country. Lamar University is often known but it’s nickname, LU and is the number one school of The Texas State University System. 15,460 students are enrolled at the university, where you can get your undergraduate or graduate degree.

• MEd in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
• MEd in Counseling and Development

Lamar University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

11. Malone University

Founded in 1892, Malone University is a private college located in Canton, Ohio. With undergraduate and graduate programs, this school is one of the top liberal arts schools, included in America’s Best Colleges by U.S. News & World Report, and is known for its pleasant atmosphere and unique teaching style.

• MA in Education – Clinical Mental Health Counseling

Malone University is accredited and/or recognized by the Higher Learning Commission.

12. Missouri Baptist University

This private Southern Baptist school was established in 1957 and has been going strong ever since. Located in Creve Coeur, Missouri, it’s one of the best universities in Midwest, according to U.S. News & World Report. They offer plenty of undergraduate options as well. Their campus is absolutely stunning.

• MA in School Counseling

Missouri Baptist University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

13. New York University

Founded in 1831, New York University is a private school located right in bustling New York City. It is a cosmopolitan campus that offers a rich and varied student life, as well as plenty of undergraduate and graduate programs for learners of all ages and skillsets.

• MA in Counseling and Guidance
• MA in Counseling for Mental Health and Wellness

New York University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

14. North Carolina State University

This public research university is located in Raleigh, North Carolina and was founded in 1887. It is the biggest school in all of the Carolinas, and one of the largest in the country. North Carolina State University offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees and is one of the most prestigious educational institutions in the entire country.

• MEd in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
• MEd in College Counseling and Development

North Carolina State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

15. Nova Southeastern University

Founded in 1964, Nova Southeastern University is ranked by the Washington Monthly as one of the best universities in the country. Located in the beautiful municipality of Davie, Nova Southeastern University has 150 different majors and study programs and offers degrees for all levels of education. It’s a smaller school with a lot to offer both Floridians and students from out of state.

• MS in Counseling

NSU is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

16. Oregon State University

Oregon State University is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the top schools in the country with over 200 undergraduate degree options and plenty of graduate and doctoral options as well. Founded in 1868, Oregon State University is a legacy school with a student body that tops out at 32,000 in any average year. It’s the biggest school in Oregon.

• Master of Counseling – Clinical Mental Health
• Master of Counseling – School Counseling

Oregon State University is regionally accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

17. San Diego State University

This school was initially founded as San Diego Normal School in 1897 but has since changed its name to San Diego State University. It’s a public school in California and is one of the oldest universities in the state. Offering graduate and undergraduate degrees, San Diego State University has an average student body of 35,000 every single year.

• MS in Rehabilitation Counseling

San Diego State is accredited by WASC Senior College and University Commission.

18. Seton Hall University

Founded in 1856, Seton Hall University is a private school with a heavy Roman Catholic background, located in South Orange, New Jersey. It was named after the founder’s aunt, Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, and is one of the most prestigious universities in the United States. Students can get undergraduate and graduate degrees there.

• MA in Professional Counseling
• MA in School Counseling

Seton Hall is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.

19. St Bonaventure University

Recognized by The Princeton Review as one of the best colleges in the nation, St. Bonaventure University’s Journalism school is prized throughout the country. Get your undergraduate or graduate degree at this famous Franciscan school, founded in 1858.

It’s a smaller private school with only 2,381 undergraduate and graduate students, but it’s quite prestigious and has great name recognition.

• MS in Education – Clinical Mental Health Counseling
• MS in Education – School Counseling

St Bonaventure University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

20. University at Buffalo

The University at Buffalo is one of the top SUNY schools in the state by U.S. News & World Report and a well-respected public school for both undergraduate and graduate degrees. Founded in 1846, the University of Buffalo has plenty of students across its city and suburban campuses and is known for its lively campus life and great programs.

• MS in Mental Health Counseling
• MS in Rehabilitation Counseling

The University at Buffalo is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

21. University of Alabama

The University of Alabama is a public school that was established in 1820 and is one of the most respected and well-known institutions in the United States. It’s the oldest public university in Alabama and has comprehensive graduate and undergraduate programs for students of all levels.

• MA in Rehabilitation Counseling

The University of Alabama is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

22. University of Louisiana – Monroe

Founded in 1931, the University of Louisiana-Monroe is a public university that is credited as being an integral part of the University of Louisiana school system. Additionally, it offers a number of different programs for students of all levels and is an acclaimed institution.

• MS in Counseling

The University of Louisiana at Monroe is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

23. University of North Dakota

The University of North Dakota is located in Grand Forks, North Dakota and is the oldest public university in the state. Its campus is well-known for being exceptionally attractive and serene. Established in 1883, this school is one of the top places for students from all over the country to get their undergraduate or graduate degrees, being in U.S. News & World Report’s Best National Universities.

• MA in K-12 School Counseling

The University of North Dakota is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

24. University of North Texas

Established in 1890, the University of North Texas is a vast public school that spans across 11 colleges, two major universities, and one math and science academy. Its primary facility is located in Denton, Texas, and it’s known for being one of the top educational facilities in the entire country, making it to U.S. News & World Report’s Best National University Rankings.

• MS in Rehabilitation Counseling

The University of North Texas is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

25. University of Southern California

Founded in 1880, the University of Southern California is a private school that offers graduate and undergraduate courses. It is a massive university that generally has 20,000 undergraduate students enrolled at any given time, and is highly acclaimed both in California and the rest of the United States.

• MEd in School Counseling

USC is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

26. University of Texas – Tyler

This public university is one of the top schools in the country by U.S. News & World Report, and recognized as part of the University of Texas system. Founded in 1971, the University of Texas-Tyler is a school that specializes in both undergraduate and graduate programs and hosts students from all over the world.

• MA in School Counseling

The University of Texas at Tyler is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

27. University of the Cumberlands

Founded in 1888, the University of the Cumberlands is a private school located in Williamsburg, Kentucky. It was originally founded by Baptist ministers and offers undergraduate and graduate degrees for students of all ages. It’s a mid-sized university with about 13,000 students enrolled at any given time.

• MA in Addiction Counseling
• MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

The University of the Cumberlands is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

28. Wake Forest University

Wake Forest University offers graduate and undergraduate degree programs and is one of the most respected private research schools in North Carolina. Located in Winston-Salem, it was founded in 1834 and has been going strong ever since. The physical campus is absolutely serene and breathtaking.

• MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
• MA in School Counseling

Wake Forest University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

29. Walden University

Founded in 1970, Walden University is a fully online private school whose administrative offices are located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Students can get your bachelor’s or master’s degrees from this school, and it caters mostly to business administration degrees and degrees in the scientific field.

• MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
• MS in School Counseling

Walden is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission.

30. West Virginia University

This public university is located in Morgantown, West Virginia and is one of the top universities in the state by U.S. News & World Report. With a beautifully appointed campus and a commitment to scholastic excellence, West Virginia University an affordable option for graduate and undergraduate students. It was founded in 1867.

• MS in Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling

West Virginia University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Counseling Degrees Online

Some schools offer a straightforward counseling degree. Others might only have a psychology degree with a counseling emphasis, or they might require you to choose a specialization before you can graduate.

The latter is common with counseling degrees that incorporate state licensing requirements into the program. Which counseling degree is right for you? It depends on your future career and education goals as you may want to consider pursuing an online masters in counseling or an online PhD in counseling.

Specializations in Counseling

Click on the area you’re interested in to jump to that part of the page.

• Counseling (General)
• Marriage and Family Therapy
• Mental Health Counseling
• Substance Abuse Counseling

Each of these master’s degrees can prepare you for rewarding but different careers.

Counseling

A general counseling degree can prepare you to work with people from all walks of life. It can teach you both theoretical concepts and real-world skills for helping people, and its coursework usually draws from subjects like psychology, sociology, ethics, human development and clinical research.

If you want to become a counselor, a master’s degree is usually the minimum. However, there are opportunities available for associate and bachelor’s degree holders. They’re just rarer.

Marriage and Family Therapy

Marriage and family therapy revolves around the family unit. It can be broken down into two separate categories of “marriage” and “family,” or it can be taught together in a single degree program since it covers the same general range of topics.

You don’t have to become a counselor to work in marriage and family therapy. You could also become a social worker or case manager, or you could specialize in something like art therapy, light therapy or cognitive therapy at a hospital or rehabilitation clinic.

You can also choose to work with parents, kids or both. For example, you could be a couples therapist that focuses on adult relationship issues, or you could become a child counselor or child welfare advocate who works within the foster care system.

If you’re thinking that this sounds a lot like social work, you’re right. There can be many similarities between counselors and social workers, so even though there are different licenses and degree programs for these career tracks, you’re usually learning the same things and working within the same systems.

In fact, some schools will even allow you to get an undergraduate counseling degree before moving on to a Master of Social Work (MSW).

Long story short, you’ll have plenty of options when you go into marriage and family therapy. It can be a difficult line of work, especially when you’re dealing with vulnerable children, but it can also be quite rewarding.

Mental Health Counseling

Mental health counseling is a wide-ranging field that can involve everything from trauma to mood and personality disorders. As a mental health professional, you should be prepared to wear many different hats as you tackle whatever problems that your patients are facing.

Some people might be struggling with anxiety, depression, stress, abuse or obsessive-compulsive disorder. Others might be hospitalized with conditions like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.

Some people just want to talk. They might be dealing with problems in their job or marriage, or they might be overcoming a major life event like an illness or the loss of a loved one. All of these things fall under the umbrella of “mental health issues,” and it’s the job of mental health counselors to address them.

If you don’t want to deal with such a diverse range of patients, that’s okay. You can also choose to specialize in certain areas of mental health. Here are just a few of the certifications available for mental health professionals:

• Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor
• National Certified Adolescent Addictions Counselor
• Certified Co-Occurring Disorder Specialist
• Certification in Thanatology
• Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist

As you can see, it’s a varied list. It also crosses over into many other sub-sets of counseling such as addiction, trauma and bereavement. If this sounds intriguing to you, consider a counseling degree with a mental health emphasis.

Substance Abuse Counseling

Also known as “addiction counseling,” substance abuse counseling is for people who struggle with drugs and alcohol. It can involve everything from private, one-on-one talks to group therapy sessions in rehabs and hospitals.

Addiction counseling is a bit of an outlier in the counseling world. It’s such an big, expansive field that it has many of its own degree programs and accrediting boards, so don’t be surprised if your chosen college offers substance abuse degree tracks that are completely separate from other psychology and counseling tracks.

Substance abuse is also a field where qualification rules can be a little more relaxed. For example, some jobs in addiction counseling can be obtained with nothing more than a high school diploma and a certain amount of supervised clinic hours. This is a marked difference from other counseling jobs that require a master’s degree or higher.

Consider a career as a substance abuse counselor if you want to help people overcome their addiction. It will require patience, compassion, dedication and plenty of study, but it’s a worthwhile specialization for those who are interested in counseling.

Counseling Curriculum & Courses

What classes can you expect to take as a counseling major? While your exact schedule will depend on your school and specialization, here are a few topics that are generally covered in a counseling program.

• Psychology: Be prepared to take multiple psychology courses to get a counseling degree. Common ones include Abnormal Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Systems of Psychology.
• Crisis Intervention: You’ll need to learn how to identify risk factors to prevent crisis situations and how to manage and minimize their damage when it’s too late to stop them.
• Statistics: Statistics can play a vital role in tracking the trends, demographics and success rates of various patients and therapies.
• Diversity: Diversity is another wide-ranging subject that can be incorporated into many classes, especially ones dedicated to psychology, medicine, communication and health science.
• Interpersonal Communications: If you’re headed into a career that requires one-on-one counseling, you’ll need to understand the interpersonal dynamics behind it.
• Human Growth and Development: These classes can teach you about the physical and psychological development of human beings, including those who are at an increased risk of things like abuse and addiction.
• Case Management: These courses can teach critical organization skills to future therapists and social workers.
• Fundamentals of Counseling: Counseling is a complex practice, but many skills and theories can be traced to the fundamentals of the subject, and they’ll form the underlying basis of your study.
• Research Methods: Also called “Research Methodology,” these courses can teach you how to pull and interpret data from studies, databases, clinical trials and patient networks.
• Ethics: You could face a myriad of moral and ethical dilemmas as a counselor, and these classes can help give you a framework for dealing with them.

You should also know that many counseling programs require fieldwork in the form of internships or supervised clinic hours. It’s possible to fulfill these requirements through an online degree program, but you’ll need to talk to the school to learn about their specific workarounds.

Counseling Careers, Salaries, and Job Outlook

Counseling is a broad field that can take you down many different paths. Whether you’re interested in healthcare, social work, education, administration or something else entirely, a counseling degree can help prepare you for the rigors of the field.

Your future job will depend on your skills, interests and the amount of schooling that you’re willing to undergo. Many counseling careers require a master’s degree or higher, so it isn’t a “get rich quick” field. If you want to enjoy a high-paying mental health counselor salary, you might need to commit to six years of college or more.

The good news is that the occupational outlook is good. Community and social service careers are expected to grow by 11 percent in the next decade, which translates to more than 306,000 new jobs. This is much faster than the national average.

So what jobs are available for counseling majors?

The most obvious choice is becoming a counselor of some kind. Depending on your specialty, you could find employment in schools, hospitals, prisons, rehab clinics or private companies. There are even counselors who work for government and law enforcement agencies.

Another option is to become something like a social worker or health services manager. You might need additional qualifications to meet state licensing requirements for these jobs, but a degree in counseling can be a good start.

If you’re interested in face-to-face counseling, look for a job with lots of patient interaction. These can include guidance counseling for students or substance abuse counseling for addicts.

If you prefer to work behind a desk, there are also research- and administration-based counseling jobs. These could involve everything from psychological research to office management for a clinic or community center.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, people in the field of “community and social services” make an average of $47,520 per year. However, this figure includes counselors, social workers, addiction therapists and more, so you should look at individual careers to get a more accurate idea of their counseling salary.

An important thing to keep in mind is that a counseling psychology salary can differ between states, industries and specific jobs. For example, social workers in an ambulatory healthcare setting can make $52,850 per year while social workers in the local government make around $57,660 per year.

Accreditation for Online Graduate Counseling Programs

You’ve probably seen a lot of talk about “accreditation” as you search for colleges. But what is it?

Accreditation refers to the review process that colleges undertake to prove their legitimacy and educational value. It’s voluntary, but since it’s a staple of both public and private universities, it’s become an expected standard for schools to meet.

There are three types of accreditation:

• Regional accreditation is granted by six different institutions in the United States. They divide the country into regions like “north,” “northwest” and “south.” This is the most common type of accreditation.
• National accreditation is most often given to trade schools and vocational schools. It’s also given to religious schools since the separation of church and state doesn’t allow them to obtain regional accreditation.
• Programmatic accreditation is for schools and degree programs within a specific industry. They could be devoted to law, business, finance, education, agriculture and more.

Some colleges are accredited by multiple organizations. For example, they might have regional accreditation for the entire school and programmatic accreditation for a specific degree program within it.

Unaccredited colleges are ones that haven’t been reviewed or vetted. Many of them are diploma mills that aren’t respected by employers and aren’t eligible for things like federal financial aid. You’ll want to avoid unaccredited colleges when seeking a degree.

Counseling Licensure Requirements

You’ll need a license before you can practice as a counselor. This is in addition to getting a college degree.

Some counseling programs will prepare you for state licensure by making you take certain classes or work a certain number of clinic hours. After graduation, all that you have to do is take a qualifying exam. Double-check with your chosen school to see if their degree program will satisfy state licensing requirements.

There are two common licenses for counseling majors:

• Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
• Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC)

There are also licenses for unique specializations such as Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) and Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC).

Licensing requirements vary by state. They usually ask for some combination of a bachelor’s or master’s degree with a certain number of supervised clinic hours. You’ll also need to sit for an exam before you can be issued a license. The most common exams are:

• National Counselor Examination for Licensure and Certification (NCE)
• National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Examination (NCMHCE)

Both are administered by the National Board for Certified Counselors. Different states use different exams, and a few states even require both. Again, you’ll want to double-check with your school to learn specifics.

You might also want to get certified as a counselor. Certifications are different from licenses in the sense that they’re usually optional, at least on a state level. However, they can help you prove your skills and increase your prospects in a competitive job market, so they might be worth the trouble for you.

Financial Aid for Counseling Degrees & Programs

Many students turn to financial aid when the burden of college is too much. It’s estimated that more than 13 million people are currently receiving some form of aid.

To get started with your own financial aid, you’ll need to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). It won’t cost you anything to submit the paperwork, and depending on your family’s income levels, you could qualify for several different forms of assistance:

• Grants are financial awards that don’t have to be paid back. The most common is the Pell Grant, which can offer as much as $5,000 – $6,000 per year for tuition and textbooks, but there are others as well.
• Loans have to be paid back, but depending on your income, you might qualify for a subsidized loan. This means that the government will pay the interest while you’re in school. These are also unsubsidized loans for everyone regardless of income level.

Another option is finding a scholarship. You don’t have to be an academic superstar to qualify for one; there are scholarships based on age, gender, nationality, sexuality, income, marital status, military service and more. There are even scholarships meant specifically for counseling majors.

While it’s true that having good grades can increase your chances of a scholarship, you shouldn’t write off the possibility of obtaining one just because you aren’t a straight-A student.

What’s the best online school for counseling?

Everyone has their own opinion about the “best” school, but it’s true that some universities have stronger programs than others. This is especially relevant if you’re looking to get your counseling degree online. Here are some questions that you should ask before enrolling:

• What degrees do they offer? Is their counseling program separate from their psychology program? What majors, minors, certifications and specializations can you choose from?
• What’s their online program like? Are the classes synchronous or asynchronous? Can you set your own pace? Is there an “e-campus” for digital learners?
• Do they prepare you for state licensure? Do they offer certification for the LCP or LCPC? Will your exam be the NCE or NCMHCE?

You should also look at things like accreditation and graduation rate in order to find a good, reputable college.

Can you become a counselor online?

You can obtain many different counseling degrees online, including bachelor’s and master’s degrees. However, there’s usually a fieldwork component that requires face-to-face interaction through internships and supervised clinical practice.

You’ll also need to reach a certain number of practice hours to qualify for state licensure after you get your degree. The number is usually between 2,000 – 4,000 hours.

How are these things handled with an online degree program? It depends on the school. Usually, they’ll allow you to complete the fieldwork in your own city through an approved hospital or clinic. They might also use livestreams, simulations or other forms of technology for remote learning. You’ll need to talk to the university to get specifics.

What is the best degree for counseling?

The best degree for counseling depends on your own interests and career goals. Many employers will ask for a master’s degree at the minimum, but you can find entry-level jobs with an associate or bachelor’s degree.

The value of a counseling degree depends on your level of education:

• Associate degree: Associate degrees in counseling are less common than associate degrees in psychology, but they do exist. However, they don’t usually qualify you for more than entry-level jobs.
• Bachelor’s degree: A bachelor’s degree in counseling can open more doors than an associate degree, and it can teach you more specialized subjects to prepare you for particular jobs, but it’s still not the industry standard.
• Master’s degree: Most employers want to see a master’s degree in counseling on your resume. There are also professional licenses and certifications that require a master’s degree before you can sit for their exam.
• Doctorate: A doctorate in counseling isn’t always necessary, but it can improve your job prospects. You can become either a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) or a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD).

You can also obtain a four-year degree in general counseling before specializing in something like family dynamics or substance abuse for a more advanced degree.

How much does it cost to get a counseling degree?

According to College Board’s Trends in College Pricing, the average four-year public university costs $10,560 for in-state students, $27,020 for out-of-state students, and $37,650 for a four-year private nonprofit school.

A master’s degree usually costs between $30,000 – $40,000 for an additional two years of schooling.

How long does it take to get a master’s in counseling degree online?

It usually takes around two years to get a master’s degree, but it could take you anywhere from 1 – 4 years depending on your course load and required credit hours.

If you’re enrolled in a program that will finish with state licensure, you might need additional time to prepare for the licensing exam or complete the 2,000 – 4,000 hours of mandatory clinic work. Ask your school about the length of their online master’s in counseling degrees.

How many years does it take to become a counselor?

The usual timeline for counseling students looks like this:

• Bachelor’s degree: four years
• Master’s degree: two years
• Internships or clinical work: one or two years

If you want to speed things up, however, there are a few ways to get your degree faster. One option is enrolling in a dual degree program that will let you combine bachelor’s and master’s classes in five years of study instead of six.

You can also look for accelerated counseling degree programs that finish a bachelor’s degree in three years instead of four. You might have to take summer classes or night classes to get it done.

Should You Get an Online Degree in Counseling?

A counseling degree isn’t for everyone. If you’re genuinely interested in helping people, however, and if you don’t mind spending a few extra years in school, a counseling degree can be a worthwhile investment for the future.

Average salaries are high, and job outlooks are promising. It’s a degree with potential.