An online master’s in counseling leads to professional opportunities with greater responsibilities, salaries, and job stability. There are a number of counseling degree options—usually master of science programs—that are designed to prepare you for state licensure and professional certification. However, many accredited online counseling degrees do not lead to licensure, but instead equip students with an added background for work in human services or education jobs that do not require additional certification. This includes careers from academic assessment to juvenile services, research jobs, and substance abuse counseling. Make sure to check if you need licensing to practice in your career path, and look for a degree accordingly. Marriage and family therapy is an included major within this category as it is one of the fastest growing licensed professions in the field.
Consider also that master of science in counseling degrees are designed for those with a bachelor’s in this field, while master of art in counseling programs are pursuable with a general bachelor’s degree. It is important to choose the online master’s in counseling that best suits your academic and professional needs as well as your current budget. Considering the difference between the most expensive and economical programs can reach up to $105, 000, it certainly pays to get educated before you enroll.
GetEducated has surveyed 177 accredited online master’s in counseling, substance abuse counseling, and marriage and family therapy from 97 schools to bring you a “Best Buy” list. This list provides you with the highest caliber programs at the most economical price.
Average Cost (In-state): ~$37,000
Least Expensive: Amberton University ~$9,840
Most Expensive: New York University ~$114,368
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 master’s in counseling programs. The online counseling degrees listed above the gray dividing line are official 2020 “Best Buys” and cost less than the national average.
59 Most Affordable Online Master’s in Counseling
Grand Canyon University 
Arcadia University 
| Rank | School / Degree | State | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Amberton University | (TX) | $9,840.00 | All Students |
2 | Baptist University of Florida | (FL) | $11,850.00 | All Students |
3 | Clarks Summit University (School Closed) Master of Arts in Counseling 14 | (PA) | $13,525.00 $10,525.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
4 | Fort Hays State University | (KS) | $13,812.00 | All Students |
5 | Concordia University-Saint Paul | (MN) | $14,220.00 $12,600.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
6 |  University of West Alabama | (AL) | $14,432.00 | All Students |
7 | University of Oklahoma Master of Prevention Science 14 | (OK) | $14,439.15 $34,595.55 | In-State Out-of-State |
8 | Texas Woman's University | (TX) | $14,538.24 $28,886.24 | In-State Out-of-State |
9 | Governors State University | (IL) | $14,781.00 $26,077.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
10 | Winston-Salem State University | (NC) | $14,918.00 $42,200.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
11 | University of South Dakota | (SD) | $15,371.40 | All Students |
12 | North Carolina Central University | (NC) | $15,398.40 $53,498.40 | In-State Out-of-State |
13 | Fort Valley State University | (GA) | $16,419.00 | All Students |
14 | University of Nebraska-Lincoln | (NE) | $17,309.00 $31,457.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
15 | Liberty University | (VA) | $17,846.00 $8,350.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
16 | Houston Christian University | (TX) | $18,250.00 | All Students |
17 | Pentecostal Theological Seminary | (TN) | $18,286.00 | All Students |
18 | Western New Mexico University | (NM) | $18,937.20 $22,846.20 | In-State Out-of-State |
19 | Montana State University-Billings | (MT) | $19,174.00 $33,496.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
20 | Southwestern Assemblies of God University | (TX) | $20,065.00 | All Students |
21 | Utah State University | (UT) | $21,012.68 $23,920.00 | In-State Out-of-State |
22 | Post University | (CT) | $21,090.00 | All Students |
23 | Western Kentucky University | (KY) | $21,210.00 $7,500.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
24 | Bellevue University | (NE) | $22,060.00 | All Students |
25 | Concordia University Wisconsin & Ann Arbor | (WI) | $22,104.00 | All Students |
26 | Hampton University | (VA) | $22,445.00 | All Students |
27 | West Texas A & M University | (TX) | $23,022.10 $49,357.90 | In-State Out-of-State |
28 | Ottawa University | (KS) | $23,395.00 | All Students |
29 | University of the Cumberlands | (KY) | $24,600.00 | All Students |
30 | The University of Alabama | (AL) | $25,200.00 | All Students |
31 | Drexel University | (PA) | $25,740.00 $21,915.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
32 | University of West Alabama | (AL) | $26,165.00 | All Students |
33 | Huntington University | (IN) | $26,300.00 | All Students |
34 | University of Houston-Victoria | (TX) | $26,429.52 $51,749.52 | In-State Out-of-State |
35 | University of North Texas | (TX) | $27,140.58 $52,460.58 | In-State Out-of-State |
36 | Touro University Worldwide | (CA) | $27,200.00 | All Students |
37 | Lee University | (TN) | $27,500.00 | All Students |
38 | Indiana Wesleyan University | (IN) | $27,744.00 | All Students |
39 |  Liberty University | (VA) | $28,215.00 $13,300.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
40 | University at Buffalo | (NY) | $28,428.48 $30,631.20 | In-State Out-of-State |
41 | University of Louisiana at Monroe | (LA) | $30,000.00 | All Students |
42 | San Diego State University | (CA) | $31,440.00 | All Students |
43 | American International College | (MA) | $32,335.00 | All Students |
44 | Clarks Summit University (School Closed) Master of Science In Counseling 14 | (PA) | $33,175.00 $27,175.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
45 | Crown College | (MN) | $34,280.00 | All Students |
46 | University of Massachusetts-Boston | (MA) | $34,500.00 | All Students |
47 | New England College | (NH) | $34,560.00 | All Students |
48 | Indiana Wesleyan University | (IN) | $34,680.00 | All Students |
49 | University of Wisconsin-Stout | (WI) | $34,800.00 | All Students |
50 | Liberty University | (VA) | $35,393.00 $16,600.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military |
51 | Houston Christian University | (TX) | $36,000.00 | All Students |
52 | Concordia University Irvine | (CA) | $36,040.00 | All Students |
53 | Adler Graduate School | (MN) | $36,990.00 | All Students |
54 | Bellevue University | (NE) | $37,000.00 | All Students |
| School / Degree | State | Price | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Gwynedd Mercy University | (PA) | $37,190.00 | All Students | |
Gwynedd Mercy University | (PA) | $37,190.00 | All Students | |
Edinboro University of Pennsylvania (part of Pennsylvania Western University) Master of Arts in Counseling CACREP,14 Master of Arts in Counseling / Art Therapy CACREP,14 | (PA) | $37,536.00 $43,806.00 | In-State Out-of-State | |
University of the Southwest | (NM) | $37,590.00 | All Students | |
Auburn University | (AL) | $37,800.00 | All Students | |
Faulkner University | (AL) | $38,355.00 | All Students | |
Northwest University | (WA) | $38,385.00 | All Students | |
Nova Southeastern University | (FL) | $39,050.00 | All Students | |
Lock Haven University (part of Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania) Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling / General CACREP,14 Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling / Military/Veterans & Their Families CACREP,14 Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling / Children & Adolescents CACREP,14 | (PA) | $39,384.00 $58,014.00 | In-State Out-of-State | |
Southwestern Assemblies of God University | (TX) | $39,535.00 | All Students | |
West Virginia University | (WV) | $39,564.00 | All Students | |
Mid-America Christian University | (OK) | $39,720.00 | All Students | |
Antioch University Online | (OH) | $40,082.00 | All Students | |
Grace College and Theological Seminary | (IN) | $40,440.00 | All Students | |
 Southern New Hampshire University Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling 14 | (NH) | $40,570.00 $31,150.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
LeTourneau University | (TX) | $40,740.00 | All Students | |
Nova Southeastern University | (FL) | $41,420.00 | All Students | |
Thomas University | (GA) | $41,750.00 | All Students | |
Cornerstone University | (MI) | $42,085.00 | All Students | |
 National University | (CA) | $42,600.00 $30,000.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
The George Washington University | (DC) | $42,619.00 | All Students | |
Ottawa University | (KS) | $42,700.00 | All Students | |
Walden University | (MN) | $42,730.00 $37,019.50 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
Hope International University | (CA) | $42,800.00 | All Students | |
University of Kentucky | (KY) | $43,092.00 | All Students | |
Mercy College | (NY) | $43,886.00 | All Students | |
Alliant International University | (CA) | $44,015.00 | All Students | |
Nova Southeastern University | (FL) | $44,320.00 | All Students | |
Colorado Christian University | (CO) | $44,490.00 | All Students | |
Eastern University | (PA) | $44,890.00 | All Students | |
Amridge University | (AL) | $45,225.00 $25,725.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
Amridge University | (AL) | $45,225.00 $25,725.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
Meridian University | (CA) | $46,166.00 | All Students | |
Regent University | (VA) | $46,450.00 $35,800.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
Regent University | (VA) | $46,450.00 $35,800.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
 Our Lady of the Lake University | (TX) | $46,730.00 $42,290.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
Walden University | (MN) | $47,590.00 $41,174.50 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
California Baptist University | (CA) | $47,755.00 | All Students | |
Richmont Graduate University | (TN) | $48,223.00 | All Students | |
Abilene Christian University | (TX) | $48,495.00 | All Students | |
Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School of Addiction Studies | (MN) | $48,729.80 | All Students | |
Union Institute & University (Status pending: not enrolling new students) Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling 14 | (OH) | $49,408.00 | All Students | |
Medaille College (School Closed) Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling 14 | (NY) | $51,150.00 $48,600.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
Bay Path University | (MA) | $51,300.00 | All Students | |
Alliance University Master of Arts in Professional Counseling 14 | (NY) | $52,150.00 | All Students | |
Palo Alto University | (CA) | $52,917.00 | All Students | |
Prescott College | (AZ) | $55,775.00 | All Students | |
Adler University | (IL) | $55,948.00 | All Students | |
Our Lady of the Lake University | (TX) | $58,758.00 $53,208.00 | In-State/Out-of-State Military | |
Alliant International University | (CA) | $59,680.00 | All Students | |
Stetson University | (FL) | $60,000.00 | All Students | |
Sofia University | (CA) | $60,025.00 | All Students | |
Divine Mercy University | (VA) | $61,456.00 | All Students | |
The Chicago School | (TX) | $72,095.00 | All Students | |
Wake Forest University | (NC) | $88,050.00 | All Students | |
Syracuse University | (NY) | $97,200.00 | All Students | |
Northwestern University | (IL) | $112,128.00 | All Students | |
New York University | (NY) | $114,368.00 | All Students |
14 Options for this program have changed since publication.
Accreditation Note: To qualify for a ranking, the online master’s in counseling program must be regionally accredited. Additional programmatic accreditation is noted in the rank table.
CACREP Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs
COAMFTE Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education
NASAC National Addiction Studies Accreditation Commission
NASAD National Association of Schools of Art & Design
Rankings Note: These online college rankings are based on a GetEducated Summer 2020 review of regionally accredited online master’s 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 master’s in counseling 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 online master’s in counseling rankings are editorially independent, open to any regionally accredited or candidate college that offers a master’s 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.
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