2020 Best Online Master's in Counseling Degree Programs
The 15 schools on this list offer the top online Master's Degrees in Counseling, based on median salary one year after graduation. The school with the highest median starting salary for this degree is Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School of Addiction Studies, at $46,600. The lowest median debt for the best 15 schools is $20,500, at New Mexico Highlands University. Starting median salaries for graduates from the top schools range from $31,400-$46,600.
Tuition, median salaries, and median debt were reported by the U.S. Department of Education in November 2019. View our methodology for more details about these rankings or read more about the top-ranked schools.
| School | Annual Tuition | Median Debt | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Phoenix | $15,208 | $54,059 | $44,900 |
| University of Massachusetts - Boston | $39,352 | $44,854 | $43,200 |
| Capella University | $15,092 | $78,190 | $41,000 |
| Drexel University | $39,261 | $100,664 | $40,900 |
| Northwestern University | $54,655 | $125,882 | $39,800 |
| Nova Southeastern University | $24,830 | $70,341 | $37,500 |
2020 Best Colleges Highlights
Learn more about the top colleges for a Master's in Counseling degree. You can also read student reviews of each school by clicking on the stars. Although student reviews were not used as a ranking factor in this list, we provide ratings and reviews so students can consider the experience of alumni in their decision-making process.
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The University of Phoenix offers a Master of Science in Counseling/Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree that usually takes three and a half years to complete. This degree is offered through the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences and satisfies educational licensing requirements. The college’s counseling program is designed to train competent and ethical students. Through different courses, students can choose to concentrate on topics like substance use and abuse, anxiety and depression, marriage and family issues, and military transition.
This master’s degree requires 60-66 units to complete (depending on the student’s state of residence) and is offered online. All students are required to complete a practicum and two internships as part of their course. Course options include Psychopharmacology, Research Methods for Mental Health Counselors, and Supervision/Management in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. The M.S. in counseling prepares students to sit for the National Counselor Exam.
The Master of Science in Mental Health at the University of Massachusetts-Boston program meets the education requirements for state licensure to work in mental health counseling. The degree has a 60-unit requirement, with sixteen 3-unit courses and two 6-unit courses. The M.S. in mental health is typically completed in two years. There is an online and on-campus option. For students who choose to take the online master’s courses, they will still need to complete several initial courses in person.
The curriculum includes theory, research, and practice. Coursework includes Counseling Theory and Practice, Research and Evaluation in Psychology, Psychopathology and Diagnosis, and Sex and Sexuality in Counseling.
After meeting academic requirements for state licensure, students often have many hours of supervised employment to complete. Not all states have the same licensure requirements, so students are advised to check the regulations of their home state with a local board.