Best Master's Degrees in Counseling

SNHU's online master of arts in clinical counseling offers a convenient pathway for busy adults to prepare for licensure as a professional counselor. Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), this program delivers almost all courses asynchronously with no set class times. The 60-credit curriculum requires a 100-hour practicum, a 600-hour internship, and two in-person residencies.

Recognized as one of the most affordable online counseling degrees in the nation, this MA degree charges lower than average online tuition rates, provides generous tuition discounts to military service members, and grants up to 12 hours of transfer credits from previously attended schools.

The 60-credit master of science in clinical mental health counseling at Bellevue University features the same tuition rate for in-person and online students. The CACREP-accredited program offers convenient class schedules for campus-based students and personalized student coaching for distance learners. Online students may arrange to complete their required clinical hours near their place of residence.

Applicants must hold a bachelor's or master's degree from a regionally accredited college or university, with at least a 2.5 GPA from their most recent 60 undergraduate credits or a minimum 3.0 GPA from previously completed graduate coursework.

Designed for adult learners, the UMass Global master of arts in counseling prepares graduates for public school counselor positions in grades K-12. This uniquely focused degree meets the requirements for the pupil and personnel services credential in school counseling and the child welfare and attendance authorization accredited by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. The 48-credit online curriculum offers distance learners instruction in teletherapy and virtual counseling.

The program offers three annual start dates in the fall, spring, and summer. Candidates for admission should have a minimum 2.75 GPA and demonstrate experience working with children.

The master of arts in counseling psychology at National University offers two specializations: the marriage and family therapy (MFT) track and the combined MFT/licensure professional clinical counselor option. The 20-month MFT specialization prepares graduates to sit for the marriage and family therapy license administered by the Board of Behavioral Sciences in California. The 23-month combined specialization requires three additional courses to meet the eligibility requirements for licensure in California as a professional clinical counselor. 

The curriculum features an accelerated month-by-month structure based on four-week online courses. Because National University admits applicants throughout the year, students may begin their online MA in counseling any month of the year.

Accredited by the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP), Lamar University's master of education in counseling and development focuses on professional school counseling in grades K-12. Graduates meet the educational requirements to qualify for the school counseling certification and professional counselor licensure in Texas.

This 60-credit degree, which typically takes 30 months to complete, follows an accelerated schedule based on five-week online courses. The curriculum includes a 15-week practicum, a 15-week internship, and a week-long in-person residency. Lamar University offers multiple start dates and ​​affordable tuition that allows distance learners to pay for their studies course by course.

A good fit for students interested in a hybrid counseling program, ECU's master of science in clinical counseling offers hands-on research and clinical experience under the direction of faculty mentors. Coursework emphasizes addictive behaviors and their impact on families and society.

This CACREP-accredited degree requires 62 credits, including a 100-hour practicum and 600-hour internship. In addition to these required supervised field placements, students can gain additional experience working in the Navigate Counseling Clinic, a student-run, department-sponsored clinic serving the local community. Applicants to the program need a bachelor's degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA, two letters of recommendation, and a written statement describing their interest in counseling.

Available in an online or hybrid format, Golden Gate University's master of arts in counseling psychology trains students to practice relationally informed psychotherapy. The degree provides the educational requirements to pursue licensure as marriage and family therapists or licensed professional clinical counselors in California and some other states.

Applicants to the 60-credit MA program must have a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university, with at least a 2.5 GPA, and submit a statement of purpose and a resume. Students enrolled in the counseling psychology program must fulfill a psychotherapy requirement by completing 50 hours of therapy with a licensed clinician or therapist.

Emphasizing holistic and systemic approaches to clinical mental health counseling, Saybrook University's master of arts in counseling trains graduates to provide integrative treatment to individuals, families, and communities. The CACREP-accredited degree comprises 60 credits delivered primarily in an asynchronous online format, except for two five-day residential conferences each year. 

The curriculum requires 700 hours of field experience over three semesters in the form of a practicum and two internships. The MA degree satisfies the course requirements to apply for licensure as a licensed professional counselor, licensed professional clinical counselor, or licensed mental health counselor in 43 states and Washington, D.C.

Bay Path University's master of science in clinical mental health counseling features specializations in advanced trauma-informed counseling, alcohol and drug use counseling, or school adjustment counseling.

The 60-credit degree meets the educational requirement to sit for the licensed mental health counselor for Massachusetts and parallel licenses for other states. The MS program delivers almost all coursework in an asynchronous online format. Courses that meet LMHC eligibility requirements may use synchronous delivery to facilitate group supervision.

Admission requirements include an undergraduate degree with a 3.0 minimum GPA, submission of an original essay, a resume, and two letters of recommendation. A working knowledge of statistics, research methods, abnormal psychology, personality, and development is strongly recommended.

Dedicated to promoting advocacy and respect for diverse populations and multiculturalism in counseling, the master of arts in clinical mental health counseling at Midwestern State prepares students for licensed clinical work in Texas and other states or for doctoral studies.

This CACREP-accredited program offers two fully online specializations. The 60-credit clinical mental health counseling track emphasizes the use of research and data to inform ethical counseling practice that serves diverse populations. The 63-credit concentration in school counseling prepares graduates to provide direct counseling to K-12 students; consult with parents, teachers, and administrators; serve as a liaison between the school and external agencies; and facilitate classroom guidance and support.