At a Glance: BestColleges' Top Master's in Counseling Programs
#1: Northwestern University — Northwestern's program stands out for its strong career outcomes, with 80% of graduates securing jobs in the field within six months.
#2: Nova Southeastern University — This program offers a highly hands-on approach, featuring a three-day onsite residency that includes faculty mentoring.
#3: Cornerstone University — The university offers low tuition and multiple concentration options, including marriage and family therapy and Christian, trauma, or addictions counseling.
A career as a professional counselor might be exactly what you're looking for. To get there, you'll need a master's in counseling degree. These are the top master's in counseling programs that you can take online.
If you're looking for flexibility along with high quality, you're in luck. These outstanding universities offer programs designed specifically for people seeking online options.
Here at BestColleges, we've done that homework for you. We've ranked schools based on:
- Affordability
Student outcomes
School reputation
Diversity and social mobility
Check out our list of the best master's in counseling online programs below to learn more.
Start Your Master's in Counseling Journey
Top Online Master's in Counseling Programs 2025
How We Highlight What Schools Do Best
We analyzed each school's program to identify qualities that set it apart, prioritizing factors like affordability, career outcomes, and hands-on experience. Based on these strengths, we assigned each school a superlative category.
Since many programs share similar offerings and outcomes, our goal is to simplify your college decision-making by highlighting the features most relevant to your needs.
We verified these schools' facts in August 2025.
Why You Should Get a Master's in Counseling
The counseling field needs highly trained professionals now more than ever. Ninety percent of Americans believe the nation is in the midst of a mental health crisis, according to a study from the Kaiser Family Foundation.
You can make a meaningful difference in people's lives.
Today's youth have a growing need for mental health counseling and intervention.
A master's degree can qualify you for more advanced roles — and even higher pay. According to the BLS, master's degree-holders earn an average of nearly $300 more per week than bachelor's degree-holders.
Benefits of Getting a Master's in Counseling Online
95% of online master's students and graduates in our 2025 Online Education Trends Report think earning an online degree will have a positive return on investment.
75% of those students believe learning online is equal to or better than learning on campus.
More than 90% of 2023 graduates in the counseling field report positive career outcomes, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE).
How to Choose the Best Master's in Counseling Program for You
When researching the best master's in counseling programs to meet your needs, keep in mind factors such as application requirements, cost and financial aid, accreditation, available concentrations, and career outcomes for graduates.
"Not all programs are created equal, says Rayelle Davis, a licensed clinical professional counselor specializing in addiction, ADHD, and trauma. "It is important to know if your program meets the qualifications to work as a counselor in your state."
How Much Does an Online Master's in Counseling Cost?
Online Master's in Psychology, Public Administration, or Social Services, 2020
Avg. Tuition & Fees
$10,308
Avg. Net Price
$8,490
Source: NCES PowerStats
Master's degrees in counseling can be costly. Still, it's not nearly as costly as some other professional degree programs, such as law, business, and medicine.
On average, a year's tuition will run between $10,000 and $11,000. Because these are online programs, variations between in-state and out-of-state tuition at public universities are minimal.
Completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) can help you qualify for federal loans, federal grants, and institutional aid. You should also look into what scholarship options each school provides.
Find Financial Aid for Your Counseling Degree
How Long Does It Take to Get a Master's in Counseling?
Typical # of Credits
60 Credits
Typical Program Length
2-3 Years
Expect to spend 2-3 years earning your master's in counseling online. That includes necessary coursework and a required practicum or internship.
Naturally, time to degree varies somewhat given your student status (part time versus full time) and each program's specifications.
Consider, too, that some counseling master's programs offer an accelerated option, taking into account prior learning or experience that can satisfy certain requirements. You might be able to complete your degree in fewer than two years.
Master's in Counseling Application Requirements
Official college transcripts, often with a GPA of at least 3.0
GRE scores are sometimes required
Letters of recommendation from faculty or professional colleagues
Resume
Some programs may require an admissions interview
Master's in Counseling Concentrations
Master's in counseling programs offer numerous concentrations based on target population, setting, and types of treatment. Here are some popular counseling concentrations you could study:
School Counseling: School counselors offer guidance to students, addressing social and/or behavioral problems and helping students overcome challenges and succeed academically.
Marriage and Family Counseling: Marriage and family counselors help couples and families find the root causes of marital and familial problems and discover workable solutions through mediation and conflict resolution.
Addiction Counseling: Substance use counselors help people manage and overcome addiction, identifying triggers and forming treatment plans.
Rehabilitation Counseling: Rehabilitation counselors help people with physical, mental, developmental, and/or emotional disabilities live independently.
Clinical Mental Health Counseling: Clinical mental health counselors treat people with mental, emotional, and/or behavioral conditions and encourage behavioral modifications.
Accreditation for Master's in Counseling Programs
When researching online counseling master's programs, prioritize those accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
Programmatic accreditation provides assurance that the program meets academic and professional standards. This "seal of approval" helps protect students.
Some states require those applying for counseling licensure to have graduated from a CACREP-accredited program or a program that aligns with CACREP standards. You can determine which master's in counseling programs have CACREP accreditation by searching the organization's directory.
Ask an Expert: How Important Is Counseling Accreditation?
"[CACREP accreditation] guarantees that the program has met national standards for what is taught in each class, how practicum and internship experiences are created, what qualifies supervisors and faculty, as well as what resources the university must make available to students."
―Francesca Giordano, Ph.D., Program Director at Northwestern University
What Can You Do With a Master's in Counseling?
Earning your master's in counseling opens doors to a variety of career options. You could become a family counselor, a mental health counselor, or a school counselor, among other options.
You might work in a professional setting such as a hospital, clinic, residential treatment center, or school, or you could opt to establish a private practice.
Beyond your counseling master's degree, you'll typically need a license, which is granted by your state. Each state has its own set of requirements, and your academic program should help you determine what's needed.
Bear in mind that certification isn't the same as licensure. Professional certification in a counseling field demonstrates your knowledge in that specialty but doesn't grant you the legal authority to practice.
| Job | Median Annual Salary (May 2024) | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Substance Use, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors | $59,190 | Help people address conditions such as addiction and depression, enabling them to modify behaviors and improve mental health |
| School and Career Counselors and Advisors | $65,140 | Work with students to develop academic and social skills and help determine education and career plans |
| Rehabilitation Counselors | $46,110 | Help people develop strategies to manage their disabilities, transition to employment, and live independently |
Learn More About Counseling Jobs
Is a Master's in Counseling Worth It?
The question of return on investment — is my degree worth it? — comes down to individual priorities, and that's especially true for the counseling field.
Counseling jobs don't promise to make you rich. In 2024, the median salary for substance use, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors was just under $60,000 according to the BLS. But the field is growing — BLS projects 17% job growth for those careers between 2024 and 2034, which is substantially more than the national average.
Education Beyond a Master's in Counseling
Earning your master's in counseling online enables you to enter the counseling profession — but that doesn't necessarily mean your educational journey is over.
Plenty of counseling master's graduates go on to earn advanced degrees, such as a Ph.D. in counseling, a doctor of education (Ed.D.), or a doctor of psychology (Psy.D.).
In fact, 16% of 2023 master's graduates in counseling continued their education after finishing their program, according to NACE.
Earning a terminal degree provides a career springboard to higher-level counseling positions and opens opportunities to teach at the college level.
Frequently Asked Questions About Master's in Counseling Degrees
Getting your master's in mental health counseling is the most direct route to becoming a therapist. This degree enables graduates to treat patients with various mental health conditions, including depression and anxiety. You'll also need to be licensed.
