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
| Rank | School / Degree | State | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
| School / Degree | State | Price | Note | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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.