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The 21 Most Affordable Online Bachelor’s Degree in Counseling


Pursuing an online bachelor’s degree in counseling will substantially increase student’s career opportunities, or often lead to master’s or doctorate degree programs and on to licensure. Entry-level positions for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, or mental health counselors will see a job outlook of 22% through 2028 according to the BLS, a much faster than average rate of increase.

There are several different types of counseling degrees shaped by fieldwork opportunities, religious perspectives, diversity-specific research, pre-professional goals, and more. Counseling licensure and certification is often state-specific, and students should consider seeking out their state’s educational requirements. While planning out an academic career in lieu of the many factors influencing one’s choice can be daunting, GetEducated believes that the financial access to degrees should not stand in the way of customizing the journey.

GetEducated has surveyed 40 accredited online bachelor’s degrees in counseling from 34 different schools to create this “Best Buy” list for you. With a difference in tuition price of up to $62,000, taking the time to seek out the most valuable program can secure financial stability. Explore the list and find the degree best suited to your academic, professional, and financial needs.

Average Cost (In-state): ~52,500
Least Expensive: Union College ~$30,050
Most Expensive: Drexel University ~$92,340

Our data-driven research creates a truly reliable system of scientific rankings. There are no fancy formulas here. We meticulously calculate total full-time tuition—including any fees—for the most accurate total cost. Our rankings cannot be bought, and therefore factually showcase the cheapest online bachelor’s degree in counseling. The online counseling degrees listed above the gray dividing line are official 2020 “Best Buys” and cost less than the national average.

21 Most Affordable Online Bachelor’s Degree in Counseling

William Carey University
Earn your BS in Psychology online from William Carey University. With psychology being a broad academic discipline, graduates can tailor this program to suit their personal interests and graduate with the knowledge and skills needed to pursue careers and/or graduate degrees in a number of specialties. Graduates of this program are…
With 40 years of history, Alvernia’s Addictions and Mental Health Treatment degree is one of the oldest and best of its kind to be found at the college or university level.Now, you can experience this same level of excellence in a flexible, online degree program.Alvernia’s Bachelor of Arts in Addictions…
Launch your career in human services. The online B.A. in Psychology from Rivier University gives you an in-depth understanding of the scientific study of individualized and societal human behavior. It also offers a Substance Use Disorders track to become a licensed alcohol and drug counselor (LADC). Topics of study include drugs…
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Military
RankSchool / DegreeStatePriceNote
1
Union Commonwealth University
(KY)
$30,050.00
All Students
2
Empire State University
(NY)
$30,520.00
$36,160.00
In-State
Out-of-State
3
Western New Mexico University
(NM)
$31,977.04
$64,524.96
In-State
Out-of-State
4
Nicholls State University
(LA)
$35,604.48
All Students
5
Southern New Hampshire University
(NH)
$38,550.00
$27,150.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
6
Indiana Wesleyan University
(IN)
$41,460.00
$30,000.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
7
University of South Dakota
(SD)
$42,150.00
All Students
8
Toccoa Falls College
(GA)
$43,438.00
All Students
9
Rivier University
(NH)
$44,375.00
All Students
10
Northwestern State University of Louisiana
(LA)
$45,000.00
$23,040.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
11
Saint Leo University
(FL)
$45,525.00
$31,125.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
12
University of Cincinnati
(OH)
$46,640.00
$48,080.00
In-State
Out-of-State
13
Clarks Summit University (School Closed)
Bachelor of Science in Addictions Counseling 14
(PA)
$47,970.00
$35,870.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
14
Bay Path University
(MA)
$48,000.00
$42,000.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
15
Liberty University
(VA)
$48,492.00
$30,100.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
16
Clarks Summit University (School Closed)
Bachelor of Science in Counseling 14
(PA)
$48,760.00
$36,460.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
17
New England College
(NH)
$49,800.00
$22,500.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
18
Ottawa University
(KS)
$50,351.00
$31,875.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
19
Lindsey Wilson College
(KY)
$50,780.00
All Students
20
Ohio Christian University
(OH)
$50,960.00
$33,200.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
21
Regent University
(VA)
$51,800.00
$34,400.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
NOTE: The following schools did not make our Best Buy ranking but are also great online options.
School / DegreeStatePriceNote
The Chicago School
(TX)
$55,175.00
All Students
Notre Dame College (School Closing)
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology / Clinical & Counseling Psychology 14
(OH)
$57,150.00
All Students
Crown College
(MN)
$60,495.00
All Students
DeSales University
(PA)
$60,960.00
All Students
Colorado Christian University
(CO)
$61,200.00
$34,920.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
Walden University
(MN)
$61,385.00
$52,561.30
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
Alvernia University
(PA)
$65,040.00
All Students
Southwestern Assemblies of God University
(TX)
$67,249.00
All Students
Thomas University
(GA)
$67,760.00
$34,000.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
Florida National University
(FL)
$68,560.00
$32,560.00
In-State/Out-of-State
Military
Drexel University
(PA)
$92,340.00
All Students

 

14 Options for this program have changed since publication.

Accreditation Note: To qualify for a ranking, a program must be regionally accredited. Additional programmatic accreditation is noted in the rank table.

NASAC    National Addiction Studies Accreditation Commission

Rankings Note: These online college rankings are based on a GetEducated Summer 2020 review of regionally accredited online bachelor’s degree in counseling programs. Total cost includes full-time tuition and fees and was valid at the time of collection and specific to the online learning program. School profiles for the Request More Information in our directory may reflect a slightly different cost based on different editorial update schedules. The published cost is an estimated sticker price for the entire online degree including fees. Actual costs may vary by student. Factors such as transfer credits, prerequisite courses, professional licensing and financial aid availability will affect final cost.

Editorial Note: Online schools do NOT pay to be included in any GetEducated online degree ranking. These rankings are editorially independent, open to any regionally accredited or candidate college that offers a bachelor degree that is available at least 80 percent through online learning and that is open to enrollment by the public. If your online college is regionally accredited and not currently reviewed by GetEducated, please contact us for inclusion.

These rankings of the cheapest online schools for counseling may NOT be re-posted online or reprinted in any format without a license from GetEducated ®. Consumer finance bloggers and writers can contact our editors for a free custom article on the best online bachelor’s degree in counseling for use on your website. Our mission: Help consumers GetEducated ® about the best online colleges for cost and credibility.