Our rankings use our methodology to compile a list of the most affordable online master's in school counseling programs. Counseling programs prepare professionals for fulfilling careers advising students who need help with academic and social challenges. Distance learning offers the same quality education as on-campus programs, but saves time and commuting costs. According to the 电竞小游戏在线全球网址 of Labor Statistics (BLS),
school counseling professionals
earn a median annual salary of $57,040. Job prospects look promising for school counselors, particularly in California, New York, and Texas. The BLS projects that jobs for school counselors will grow 8% between 2019-2029. Online school counseling programs may include self-paced asynchronous or scheduled synchronous classes, along with an in-person supervised internship at a local K-12 school. Students can graduate with their online master's in school counseling in 2-3 years. A typical school counselor degree curriculum includes coursework in research methods and data analysis, school counseling ethics, and student affairs. Programs may culminate with a seminar and/or thesis project. This list provides more information about affordable programs in school counseling, including typical application requirements.
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Applying to an Affordable Online Master's in School Counseling Program
Common admission requirements for online school guidance counselor programs include a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university, transcripts, a resume or CV, and 2-3 letters of recommendation from professors or work supervisors. Applicants must also submit a personal statement that discusses their academic and professional goals, relevant prior experience, and reasons for choosing to pursue a master's in school counseling. Some programs may require GRE scores. Programs usually don't require specific undergraduate majors, but prefer applicants with counseling degrees and prior coursework in biology, psychology, and statistics. Most schools list minimum GPAs of 2.7-3.0, but competitive candidates possess higher undergraduate GPAs. Some school counseling programs look for applicants with teaching experience and/or credentials and may also require a background check.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to become a school counselor?
School counselors spend about four years earning their bachelor's degree, 2-3 years obtaining their master's degree, and 1-2 years logging teaching or classroom experience, either pre- or post-master's. States have
varying licensure requirements,
but all require school counselors to hold a license. Completing the entire process can take 8-9 years.
What is accreditation and why is it important?
Students should ensure that their online master's in school counseling program holds accreditation from the
Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs
(CACREP). CACREP accreditation ensures that the program's curriculum and internship components comply with state licensing standards. Employers tend to prefer applicants who graduate from CACREP-approved programs.
Is an online master’s in school counseling a good degree?
Most state boards require licensure applicants to hold master's degrees in school counseling. Earning the degree allows graduates to pursue licensing and work in K-12 schools. Students interested in helping children and teens succeed in school should find obtaining their online master's in school counseling to be worthwhile.
What can I do with a master’s in school counseling?
School counselor degree-holders find positions helping students in elementary, middle, and high schools. Depending on the age group, typical duties include guidance on behavioral issues, academic struggles, bullying, and selecting careers and colleges. Counselors also advise teachers, school staff, and families on helping students succeed.
MSU, based in Morehead, Kentucky, offers an online
master's in school counseling
that prepares graduates for Kentucky provisional certification in preK-12 counseling. Enrollees can complete the degree in two years, including a practicum.
Students must pass a comprehensive written final exam to graduate. Course delivery follows an asynchronous format where distance learners can access lecture and course materials on their own schedules. Online resources include library and bookstore access, tutoring, and academic advising.
Each applicant must possess a baccalaureate GPA of 2.75 or a master's GPA of 3.0, along with a GRE verbal and quantitative score of 286 and a minimum 143 verbal score or an MAT raw score of 33.
Courses Include
Advanced Human growth and development
Measurement principles and techniques
Practices and techniques in counseling
Psycho-social and multicultural counseling
Research methods in education
Unique Features
Cost: $570 per credit
Credits Required: 36
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Students can earn a master's degree in
professional school counseling
at Searcy, Arkansas' Harding University, which equips graduates with strategies and competencies needed to help K-12 students in Arkansas schools.
Prospective students need a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited school, along with transcripts demonstrating either a master's degree, a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.5 or higher, or a 2.75 GPA for the last 60 undergraduate hours for admission. An applicant must also possess a current teaching license or test scores, e.g., 380 on the MAT, 900 combined quantitative and verbal on the GRE, along with submitting reference letters and a resume. Each candidate also completes a personal interview and writing prompt.
Courses Include
Career counseling
Crisis, abuse, and trauma counseling
Data-informed evaluation for school improvement
Legal and ethical issues in counseling
Practical use of the DSM
Unique Features
Cost: $575 per credit
Credits Required: 48
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission; Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs
NYU, located in New York City, includes a
master's in school counseling
among its online programs. Each enrollee can complete their degree in as little as 18 months, which includes labs, a 100-hour practicum, and a 600-hour internship. Graduates can qualify for nationwide certification but should check their
state's requirements
.
The curriculum emphasizes equity and social justice through interactive weekly online sessions, and students can opt to specialize in bilingual school counseling. NYU's admission requirements include a statement of purpose, a resume, transcripts, and two letters of recommendation. The admissions process does not require GRE scores.
Courses Include
Assessment of children and adolescents
Development of immigrant-origin youth
Drug and alcohol education/school violence prevention/child abuse recognition
Language development
Sexual decision-making and risk-taking in adolescence
Unique Features
Cost: $1,867 per credit
Credits Required: 48
Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education; Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council
The master of science in
professional school counseling
at ASU, based in San Angelo, Texas, prepares graduates for careers as Texas K-12 counselors. Asynchronous online course delivery allows students to access class materials on their own schedules. Distance learners interact with classmates and instructors through email, chat rooms, and discussion boards. Internships and practicums must be completed in person.
Admission requires transcripts demonstrating a bachelor's degree with a 2.75 GPA. An applicant planning to obtain Texas counselor certification must possess two years of teaching experience at an accredited public school prior to taking the examination. ASU boasts that 88% of its students receive financial aid in some form.
Courses Include
Dysfunctional behavior
Professional writing for educators
Roles of the school counselor
Social and cultural influences
Tests and measurements
Unique Features
Cost: $779 per credit in-state; $1,188 out-of-state
Credits Required: 48
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges; Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation
Hobbs, New Mexico's USW counts a
master of science in education
, school counseling among its many online programs. Distance learners participate in practicums and internships in person but can complete asynchronous courses on their own schedules.
Graduates emerge ready to foster interactions and break down barriers among K-12 students and their school environments, assisting in achieving their academic and career goals. The curriculum prepares students for the New Mexico school counseling licensure exam.
A prospective master's in school counseling student must hold a bachelor's degree with a 3.0 from a regionally accredited institution. Admission requirements include a 500-word personal essay and a professional resume. USW reports that over 80% of students receive some kind of financial aid.
Located in Grand Forks, UND offers a master's-level
K-12 school counselor degree online
. The program trains graduates to advise on academic and career issues, along with helping students with social and emotional challenges. Enrollees can complete coursework entirely online, with required in-person attendance for practicums in students' home communities.
Admission requires a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited school, undergraduate coursework in abnormal psychology and developmental psychology, and a 2.75 GPA (or 3.0 for the last two years of undergraduate work). Each applicant must submit a personal statement, responses to questions, three recommendation letters, and a resume. Candidates may participate in online interviews.
Courses Include
Assessment in counseling
Group theory and process
Lifespan development in counseling
School counseling and program management
Trauma and crisis counseling
Unique Features
Cost: $800 per credit
Credits Required: 60-65
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission; Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation
Students at Wake Forest in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, can earn an
online master's in school counseling
degree to work with K-12 students. Wake Forest reports a 95% pass rate on the National Counselor Examination. The curriculum includes online instruction and in-person clinical experience.
Each student completes a pre-internship practicum in a school or community setting, followed by a 600-hour internship in a local school. Admission requirements include a bachelor's degree from an accredited school with a 2.5 GPA, a GRE writing score of at least 300, a personal statement, three letters of recommendation, and a virtual interview.
Courses Include
Addiction counseling
Appraisal procedures for counselors
Consultation and program development in counseling
Counseling children
Group procedures in counseling
Unique Features
Cost: $1,510 per credit
Credits Required: 60
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges; Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs
The affordable
school counseling and leadership
master's program at ATU blends cohort-based online learning with monthly in-person meetings at its Russellville campus and internships at local schools. Internships include 600 hours of direct services and completion of action plans, case studies, and group counseling sessions with K-12 students. ATU boasts a 100% pass rate for its students on the school counselor PRAXIS exam.
Admission requires a teaching license or a bachelor's degree in psychology, rehabilitation science, or sociology from an accredited institution. Applicants without teaching licenses provide test scores from the PRAXIS 1, CORE, or ACT with writing. Candidates with a master's degree can also submit GRE scores.
Courses Include
Action research and data analysis for higher-performing schools
Assessment and Appraisal
Principles of curriculum development
School organization and leadership for the counselor
Teaming, collaboration, and advocacy
Unique Features
Cost: $292 per credit in-state; $584 out-of-state
Credits Required: 45
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission; Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation
The NC State online
master's in school counseling
adopts a school-college-community collaboration model of student preparation. Distance learners study part-time for three years within cohorts. Enrollees can complete their courses online, but during their final year, they must take some weekend classes on the university's Raleigh campus.
A 100-hour practicum and 600 internship hours require in-person participation in a local school. Graduates qualify to take North Carolina school counseling licensure exams. Online learners must reside in North Carolina. Admission requirements include GRE or MAT scores, a resume, three recommendations, official transcripts.
Courses Include
Group counseling
Multicultural counseling
Orientation to professional counseling, identity, and ethics
Special problems in guidance
Theories and tech of counseling
Unique Features
Cost: $462 per credit
Credits Required: 60
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges; Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs; Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation
Based in Alpine, Texas, Sul Ross includes a
child, adolescent, and school counselor
track among its affordable master of education in counseling options. Each enrollee completes synchronous online courses, along with a 100-hour practicum at Rio Grande College clinic and 600 internship hours at an accredited school.
All counseling graduate students must take a research methodology course and pass a comprehensive oral exam. Graduates qualify to take the National Counselor Examination.
Admission materials include official transcripts demonstrating a baccalaureate degree, GRE scores, and a life statement, along with the completion of an interpersonal communication inventory, the interpersonal reactivity index, and informed consent forms. Applicants also interview with faculty.
Courses Include
Bilingual and bicultural counseling
Counseling at-risk youth
Mindfulness-based approaches
Personality and counseling theories
Principles of advanced human growth and development
Unique Features
Cost: $225 per credit in-state; $634 out-of-state
Credits Required: 60
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
The
master of science
in school counseling at ULM prepares graduates for Louisiana school counselor certification and licensed professional counselor credentials. The online school counseling program trains students to become advocates, change agents, collaborators, and leaders in K-12 schools.
Its synchronous, cohort-based curriculum follows a scientist-practitioner model, which teaches interventions based on theory and supported by research, including one year of clinical experience in a student's local area.
An applicant must provide transcripts showing an undergraduate 2.75 GPA, GRE scores, resumes, letters of interest, and three recommendations. Selected applicants interview with counseling faculty through Zoom. ULM may offer conditional admission for candidates with lower GPAs.
Courses Include
Clinical assessment and psychometrics
Law and ethics in counseling
Lifespan development
Methods of counseling
Principles of administration of school counseling programs
Unique Features
Cost: $500 per credit
Credits Required: 60
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges; Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs
Ole Miss offers a
master of education in counselor education
with a school counselor track. The program's coursework and K-12 school-based internships prepare students for the PRAXIS examination in school counseling and Mississippi school counselor licensure. To graduate, students must pass the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Exam.
Course delivery combines online and hybrid learning with classes one evening a week on the Tupelo, Desoto, and Oxford campuses. Ole Miss accepts applications from candidates with a bachelor's degree from accredited schools with GPAs of 3.0. Requirements include GRE scores, a current resume, statement of purpose, three references, and a faculty interview.
Courses Include
Counseling skills
Crisis intervention
Family counseling
Issues and ethics in counseling
Multicultural counseling
Unique Features
Cost: $484 per credit in-state; $1,388 out-of-state
Credits Required: 48
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges; Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs
UMass Boston's school counseling degree leads to a
master's in education
and eligibility to become a licensed school counselor in Massachusetts. The two-year hybrid program begins in the summer with in-person instruction for two weeks at UMass Dartmouth, where students meet their cohort and complete two clinical courses. The remainder of the program comprises online learning and additional clinical hours. Students can opt to add an adjustment counseling concentration.
Admission requires official transcripts, two letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose, GRE scores, and a resume. Applicants pursuing Massachusetts licensure must also submit MTEL scores. Master's degree-holders may be permitted to waive GRE score submission, and those with low GRE writing scores can provide writing samples.
Courses Include
Career development facilitation and training
Child and adolescent counseling
Psychopathology and diagnosis
Sociocultural considerations in counseling
Trauma and crisis counseling
Unique Features
Cost: $575 per credit
Credits Required: 60-66
Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education
The online master's in counseling degree options at W&M include a
school counseling concentration
. The three-year cohort-based curriculum includes two onsite residences at W&M's Williamsburg, Virginia, campus, a 100-hour practicum with synchronous supervision and coursework, and 600 internship hours in a school setting. W&M's interactive online platform features a social justice dashboard where learners post self-reflections.
Each applicant must hold a bachelor's degree with a 3.0 GPA and submit transcripts, three letters of recommendation, a personal essay, and a resume. W&M has suspended GRE score requirements through fall 2021 due to COVID-19 testing center closures.
Courses Include
Advanced issues in professional school counseling
Current trends and legal issues in educating special populations
Prevention and intervention within public schools
Psychological and educational measurements
Substance abuse and society
Unique Features
Cost: $665 per credit
Credits Required: 60
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges; Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs
SOSU, based in Durant, offers an affordable, entirely online
master of education
in school counseling program with accelerated flexible courses. Students can finish their coursework in one year, then focus on their clinical practicums at community K-12 schools.
Admission requirements include a bachelor's degree from an accredited school with a 2.75 GPA (or a 3.0 GPA for the last 60 undergraduate hours or for graduate work of at least six hours) and a valid teaching certificate. An applicant with a 2.0 GPA and no graduate credits must also submit a resume showing two years of teaching experience, a recommendation, and a letter of application.
Courses Include
Assessment in counseling
Group counseling laboratory experience
Human growth and development in counseling
Psychopathology and treatment planning counseling
School counseling orientation and ethical practice
Unique Features
Cost: $265 per credit
Credits Required: 42
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission; Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation
Online learners at A-State, based in Jonesboro, can earn a
master's in school counseling
degree. Graduates qualify for Arkansas licensure and certification for careers supporting students in K-12 schools. The affordable program can be completed in 16-18 months of year-round study, including asynchronous coursework and onsite fieldwork.
Each applicant must hold a bachelor's degree with a 3.0 GPA and provide official transcripts, answers to three short essay questions, and two recommendations. A-State may grant conditional admission to those with 2.5 GPAs. The university requires candidates to propose potential internship site supervisors, and distance learners complete internships in their local communities.
Courses Include
Counseling theory, technique, and consultation
Human psychological and social development
Psychological testing principles and applications
Social and cultural foundations of counseling
Statistics and research in counseling
Unique Features
Cost: $317 per credit
Credits Required: 48
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission; Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation
South Orange, New Jersey's Seton Hall includes a
master's in school counseling
program among their online degree options. The cohort-based curriculum features online coursework covering theoretical, clinical, and professional aspects of school counseling and culminates in a school-based field internship.
The program meets New Jersey school counseling licensure requirements. Course delivery provides flexible access with interactive online multimedia communications tools, such as posts and chats.
Admission requirements include official transcripts, three professional recommendations, a resume, and a personal statement. Seton Hall prefers applicants who possess GPAs of 3.0 or higher. Distance learners can access student services, including advising, financial aid, library resources, career services, and technical support.
Courses Include
Abnormal psychology
Counseling and community agencies
Counselor ethics in practices
Multicultural counseling and psychology
Principles of learning and behavior modification
Unique Features
Cost: $1,304 per credit
Credits Required: 48
Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education; Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation
The MS in counseling
with a concentration in school prepares students for school counseling careers through a hybrid instructional approach. Learning includes in-person instruction at USM's Portland campus and K-12 school fieldwork sites, along with synchronous and asynchronous online course delivery. To graduate, students must pass the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination.
Admission requires a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution with a 2.5 GPA. An applicant with a lower GPA may submit a letter asking for consideration. Candidates undergo interviews that assess their self-awareness and decision-making skills and their understanding of and commitment to counseling. Each candidate must also produce a spontaneous writing sample.
Courses Include
Counseling children and adolescents
Crisis intervention
Perspectives in chemical dependency
School counseling programs and services
The practice of school counseling
Unique Features
Cost: $540 per credit in-state; $1,294 out-of-state
Credits Required: 60
Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education; Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs
FHSU offers a master's-level
school counseling program
that fulfills Kansas licensing requirements for qualifying graduates. Licensure eligibility requires a 3.25 GPA and a passing score on a comprehensive exam. Counseling program students complete a practicum and internship.
Students work with different K-12 student populations during each clinical component. The hybrid program features flexible online course scheduling, combined with in-person experiential learning on the Hays campus and in elementary and secondary schools.
Each applicant must provide transcripts demonstrating a 3.0 GPA for their last 60 hours of undergraduate work, two reference letters, and a professional goals statement. Admission requires a virtual group interview and a background check.
Courses Include
Counseling skills development
Educational research
Lifespan human development
Management of counseling programs
Professional counseling in elementary schools
Unique Features
Cost: $299 per credit
Credits Required: 48
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission; National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education
The
master of science in education
in school counseling at Mequon-based CUW meets the standards for Wisconsin school counselor licensure. This online program develops ethical counselors who bring social justice values to their careers.
Each enrollee completes 600 supervised practicum hours and develops a portfolio. Graduates enter their careers skilled in integrating evidence-based counseling theories, techniques, and interventions to serve the diverse needs of K-12 students.
Each applicant must submit an essay, a resume, two letters of recommendation, and transcripts showing completion of a bachelor's degree. Candidates do not need to provide GRE scores. CUW offers $1,000 scholarships to qualifying learners. Distance students can also apply for financial aid and access the school's online writing lab, tutoring, and career services.
Salem College offers an
online master's in school counseling
that includes two on-campus weekend seminars in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and in-person internships. Distance learners progress through the program as a cohort and can finish in 36 months. Graduates qualify to test for North Carolina licensure.
Salem College requires each candidate to possess a 3.0 undergraduate GPA or 12 graduate hours with a 3.0 GPA. Applicants with a 2.7 GPA may receive provisional admission on a space-available basis. Submission requirements include writing samples, background checks, and professional references. Currently, Salem College admits North Carolina residents only.
Courses Include
21st-century career and educational counseling development
Action research and writing for publication for school counseling
SAU features an affordable
master of education
in school counseling that enrollees can complete in 2.5-3 years. The hybrid program requires a summer intensive at the university's Magnolia campus with selected additional courses. Remaining coursework takes place online. Supervised practicum and internship experiences occur at elementary and secondary schools.
Graduate admission requires proof of immunizations and official transcripts from a bachelor's or master's degree. The university does not require GRE or other test scores during the pandemic. Each applicant must submit a letter of application to the program detailing their academic and professional experience, along with reasons for becoming a professional counselor. Candidates may be invited to an interview with faculty.
Courses Include
Career counseling: theory and practice
Counseling children and adolescents
Development and administration of school counseling programs
Educational research
Human development for helping professionals
Unique Features
Cost: $294 per credit in-state; $446 out-of-state
Credits Required: 48
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission; Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation
Graduates can earn a
master of education
in school counseling degree at Mizzou to prepare for licensing in Missouri. The three-year online curriculum trains multiculturally sensitive school counselors and focuses on a science-practitioner model of instruction.
The program does not require campus attendance but does include supervised practicums in approved K-12 school settings. Cohort-based online study provides flexibility for working students, along with access to advising and tech support.
Graduate admission requires transcripts demonstrating a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited school and a 3.0 undergraduate GPA for the last 60 hours of study. Mizzou may accept transfer credits to comprise up to 20% of the program's total credits. Distance learners can apply for scholarships and awards.
The
online master's in school counseling
at USC, based in Los Angeles, focuses on challenges affecting 21st-century K-12 schools and students. Distance learners can study full time or part time and complete their degree in 2-3 years.
Graduates qualify for California school counseling credentials. The curriculum centers on three areas: college and career readiness, restorative justice, and trauma-informed practice. Fieldwork occurs at schools in online learners' communities.
Program admission requires a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited school, a 3.0 GPA, a statement of purpose, and two short-answer responses. USC looks for effective communicators.
Courses Include
School connectedness, climate, and classroom management
Learning and individual differences
Human development theory in school counseling
Counseling for college and career readiness
Research methods and data analysis for counselors
Unique Features
Cost: $1,995 per credit
Credits Required: 49
Accreditation: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission; Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation
Seward-based Concordia offers a master's-level
school counselor degree online
. The program trains student advocates who provide research-based counseling as part of an educational team. Graduates emerge eligible for Nebraska preK-12 professional certification.
Concordia provides assistance in securing 100-hour practicums and 450-hour internships in local preK-12 schools. As part of the culminating capstone course, students produce professional portfolios. Distance learners can access online library resources and technical assistance.
Admission requirements include official transcripts, a letter of intent, and a resume. Incoming students can transfer up to 25% of the school counseling program's credits. Applicants work with student services specialists.
Courses Include
Career and educational development in the schools
Child and adolescent development and learning
Counseling diverse populations
Counseling program development and management
Ethical and legal issues in school counseling
Unique Features
Cost: $425 per credit
Credits Required: 50-62
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
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