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2023 Most Affordable Online Master's Degrees in School Counseling

By OnlineU Staff Writers | Updated 7/20/2023
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An online master's degree in school counseling prepares graduates to work in a counselor's role at K-12 schools. Because this role involves mentoring and guiding young students through their most formative years, students are required to earn a master's degree and obtain a state-issued license to become professional school counselors. 

An alternative to this educational path is to earn an affordable master's degree in counseling with a concentration or endorsement in school counseling. Some students may choose to go on to complete an affordable doctoral degree in counseling.

View our methodology for details about rankings or learn more about us. You can also check out our overall list of the most affordable online degrees for more inspiration.

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All tuition numbers were manually collected and verified
Rank School Locations Annual Tuition
# 1 #1 Fort Hays State University Hays (KS) $4,478
# 2 #2 University of Central Arkansas Conway (AR) $5,850
# 3 #3 Arkansas State University Jonesboro (AR) $5,958
# 4 #4 Adams State University Alamosa (CO) $6,525
# 5 #5 Chadron State College Chadron (NE) $6,840
# 6 #6 Southern Arkansas University Magnolia (AR) $7,395
# 7 #7 Touro University Nevada Henderson (NV) $7,470
# 8 #8 Lamar University Beaumont (TX) $7,788
# 9 #9 Delta State University Cleveland (MS) $8,360
# 10 #10 Salem College Winston Salem (NC) $8,700
#1
#1
Annual Tuition: $4,478
Annual Tuition: $4,478
Annual Tuition: $4,478

Fort Hays State University (FHSU) is a public institution offering a Master of Science in Counseling - School Counseling requiring 48 credit hours. Typically, students complete this online degree in three years on a full-time study schedule. FHSU has an acceptance rate of 91%, with 57% of students graduating.

Online students at FHSU utilize the Blackboard learning management system (LMS) for their remote learning needs. Virtual courses may come in an asynchronous or synchronous format. The curriculum for this program focuses on developing the academic and social skills students need to succeed in a professional counseling environment. Among the required coursework, such as Management of Counseling Programs, Lifestyle and Career Development, and Lifespan Human Development, students must also finish an internship and practicum to build real-world experience. These experiences contribute to their license requirements upon graduation. Alumni can become eligible for roles as school counselors, careers counselors, and social and community service managers.

  • Financial Aid Recipients: 96%
  • Undergrad Online Enrollment: 4,138
  • Graduate Online Enrollment: 2,462
  • School Type: Nonprofit
  • School Accreditation: HLC
#2
#2
Annual Tuition: $5,850
Annual Tuition: $5,850
Annual Tuition: $5,850

University of Central Arkansas (UCA) is a public university with a Master of Science in School Counseling requiring between 45 and 48 credit hours. Most students complete this program in one to three years, depending on how much time per semester they can dedicate to studying. Students choose from two tracks: (1) Initial Licensure Track and (2)Add-On Licensure Track. The Initial Licensure Track is designed for students who do not have a teacher's license, while the Add-On Licensure Track is meant for those who already possess a license. The acceptance rate at UCA is 94%, with 44% of students graduating.

Blackboard is the primary LMS software for online students, allowing them to complete their work through asynchronous sessions that are 100% online. Each curriculum track helps prepare students for professional work in a K-12 school as a counselor, with core classes such as Foundations of School Counseling, Individual and Group Counseling Skills, and Career Guidance. Additionally, a practicum and internship are required for both tracks. After graduation, students may pursue school counseling roles.

  • Financial Aid Recipients: 96%
  • Average SATs: 980 -1160
  • Undergrad Online Enrollment: 437
  • Graduate Online Enrollment: 858
  • School Type: Nonprofit
  • School Accreditation: HLC
#3
#3

Arkansas State University

Jonesboro (AR)
Annual Tuition: $5,958
Annual Tuition: $5,958
Annual Tuition: $5,958

Arkansas State University (A-State) is a public institution offering two remote master's degrees in school counseling: Master of Science in Education in School Counseling - Crisis and Trauma and Master of Science in Education in School Counseling – Special Populations. Each online program requires 48 credit hours, which students may complete in as little as two years on a full-time schedule. As a whole, 67% of students are admitted to A-State, whereas 51% earn their diplomas.

Students at A-State use Canvas, a popular LMS, to complete their degrees online via asynchronous coursework. The curriculum differs slightly between each program, with the Crisis and Trauma degree focusing on how trauma affects students' education. In contrast, the Special Populations degree focuses on supporting students with disabilities. Core classes for both programs include Group Counseling, Theories of Professional School Counseling, and Counseling Children and Adolescents. A-State also offers a Master of Science in College Student Personnel Services for those who want to counsel college students about their careers and education. Graduates of these programs may apply for specific school counseling roles related to their areas of expertise.

  • Financial Aid Recipients: 100%
  • Average SATs: 1030 -1200
  • Undergrad Online Enrollment: 1,593
  • Graduate Online Enrollment: 3,686
  • School Type: Nonprofit
  • School Accreditation: HLC
#4
#4

Adams State University

Alamosa (CO)
Annual Tuition: $6,525
Annual Tuition: $6,525
Annual Tuition: $6,525

Adams State University is a public institution with a Master of Arts in Counseling - School Counseling requiring 60 credit hours. Students may complete this program in around two years if studying on a full-time schedule. Importantly, online students must attend campus for one week during two consecutive summers. Since Adams accepts 100% of applicants who want to attend the school, there's a slightly lower graduation rate of 38%.

At Adams, students use Blackboard for all remote coursework, which is delivered in both synchronous and asynchronous formats. The curriculum for this program teaches students to create their own school counseling program through practical and theoretical studies. In addition to a practicum and professional internship, several required courses include Life Span Development, Group Counseling, and Career Development. Students who earn their degrees may pursue school counseling roles in K-12 institutions.

  • Financial Aid Recipients: 99%
  • Average SATs: 920 -1140
  • Undergrad Online Enrollment: 382
  • Graduate Online Enrollment: 734
  • School Type: Nonprofit
  • School Accreditation: HLC
#5
#5

Chadron State College

Chadron (NE)
Annual Tuition: $6,840
Annual Tuition: $6,840
Annual Tuition: $6,840

Chadron State College (CSC) is a public college offering a Master of Arts in Education - School Counseling. This online degree program requires 39 credit hours and may take students between one and two years to complete on a full-time study schedule. All students who apply are accepted into CSC, with 43% who graduate.

Sakai is the online LMS used by CSC students, with courses delivered asynchronously. This allows students to study on their own time. The curriculum prepares students for professional work as school counselors through two options: Option 1 is for students who already possess a valid Nebraska teaching certificate, and Option 2 is for those who still need to meet their licensure requirements. Example core classes include Fundamentals of Assessment, Multicultural Counseling, and Counseling Theories. Field experience is also necessary for each program by way of an internship and practicum. Graduates are prepared for K-12 counseling roles.

  • Financial Aid Recipients: 98%
  • Undergrad Online Enrollment: 534
  • Graduate Online Enrollment: 437
  • School Type: Nonprofit
  • School Accreditation: HLC
#6
#6
Annual Tuition: $7,395
Annual Tuition: $7,395
Annual Tuition: $7,395

Southern Arkansas University (SAU) is a public university with a Master of Education in College Counseling and Student Affairs that requires 51 credit hours. By taking two classes per semester, students may complete this program in three years. Overall, 69% of students are accepted to SAU, while 40% graduate with degrees.

Blackboard is the LMS used by remote students at SAU, who can complete the majority of the coursework online. The curriculum prepares students for professional counseling through skills in communication, personal and professional responsibility, and critical thinking. Along with required courses — such as Career Counseling: Theory and Practice, Counseling Theories, and Research and Program Evaluation — students must also complete a supervised practicum and an internship. Alums may pursue administrative, leadership, and counseling roles in K-12 schools.

  • Financial Aid Recipients: 98%
  • Average SATs: 930 -1140
  • Undergrad Online Enrollment: 455
  • Graduate Online Enrollment: 929
  • School Type: Nonprofit
  • School Accreditation: HLC
#7
#7

Touro University Nevada

Henderson (NV)
Annual Tuition: $7,470
Annual Tuition: $7,470
Annual Tuition: $7,470

Touro University Nevada (TUN) is a private university with a Master of Education - School Counseling requiring 36 credit hours. While studying full time, students may complete their degree in around two years. TUN has a graduation rate of 88%.

Touro students use Canvas for their online courses, which are taken in a cohort-based format and mostly online. The program is suitable for students with prior work or life commitments. The curriculum is designed for certified teachers and non-certified students looking to advance their careers in school counseling. Some required courses include Legal Issues in School Counseling, Child and Family Counseling, and Individual Counseling in a School Setting. An in-person internship is also required. Graduates may explore various counseling careers in an educational environment.

  • Undergrad Online Enrollment: 55
  • Graduate Online Enrollment: 420
  • School Type: Nonprofit
  • School Accreditation: MSCHE
#8
#8

Lamar University

Beaumont (TX)
Annual Tuition: $7,788
Annual Tuition: $7,788
Annual Tuition: $7,788

Lamar University (LU) is a public institution with an online Master of Education in Counseling and Development - Professional School Counseling. This degree requires the completion of 60 credit hours, which most students finish in as little as 30 months on a full-time schedule. The acceptance rate at LU is 83%, while 37% of enrolled students graduate.

Students at LU use Blackboard LMS, allowing them to complete their degrees 100% online and on a flexible study schedule. The curriculum teaches students to use ethical, developmental, and gender-appropriate strategies to learn how they can best counsel young students. Core classes include Human Growth and Development, Counseling Skills, and Multicultural Counseling. A practicum and internship are also required, both of which require in-person fieldwork. Graduates become eligible for a professional career in school counseling.

  • Financial Aid Recipients: 90%
  • Average SATs: 910 -1100
  • Undergrad Online Enrollment: 2,571
  • Graduate Online Enrollment: 7,139
  • School Type: Nonprofit
  • School Accreditation: SACS COC
#9
#9

Delta State University

Cleveland (MS)
Annual Tuition: $8,360
Annual Tuition: $8,360
Annual Tuition: $8,360

Delta State University (DSU) is a public university with an online Master of Education in Counseling - School Counseling. Students must take 60 credit hours to graduate, which most complete in around two years while studying full time. DSU's acceptance rate is 100%, with 41% of students graduating.

DSU students use Canvas' LMS to complete their degree fully online, though faculty deliver courses in a synchronous format rather than at students' own pace. The curriculum covers practical and theoretical studies to develop professional skills. Career Development and Placement, Group Counseling, and Counseling Theory are among the required courses. A counseling pre-practicum and school counseling internship are also required. Graduates may apply for school counseling roles.

  • Financial Aid Recipients: 98%
  • Average SATs: 950 -1190
  • Undergrad Online Enrollment: 194
  • Graduate Online Enrollment: 568
  • School Type: Nonprofit
  • School Accreditation: SACS COC
#10
#10

Salem College

Winston Salem (NC)
Annual Tuition: $8,700
Annual Tuition: $8,700
Annual Tuition: $8,700

Salem College is a private college with a Master of Education in School Counseling requiring 48 credit hours. This program is currently only available to North Carolina residents. Typically, full-time students complete this online graduate program in 36 months. While 85% of students are accepted in Salem, 58% graduate with degrees.

Salem students use Moodle as their web-based course management system, where all coursework is completed online through a cohort model. This program's curriculum focuses on skill development and ensuring students have a firm understanding of various aspects of counseling, such as advocacy, assessment, ethics, and evaluation. Required coursework includes 21st Century Career and Educational Counseling Development, Managing the Comprehensive School Counseling Program, and Introduction to School Counseling Profession. While students can take these courses virtually, they must finish the internship experience and two-weekend seminars on campus. Graduates may pursue careers as school counseling in K-12 institutions.

  • Financial Aid Recipients: 99%
  • Average SATs: 1053 -1200
  • Undergrad Online Enrollment: 0
  • Graduate Online Enrollment: 69
  • School Type: Nonprofit
  • School Accreditation: SACS COC

Overview of Online School Counseling Master's Degrees

The role of a school counselor can be quite varied. Depending on your work environment, you may spend most of your time helping young children overcome any obstacles that may hinder their ability to learn. Alternatively, you may devote most of your days to supporting high school students in making important life decisions.

To equip you with the tools and knowledge you'll need to assist K-12 students through the educational process, online master's programs in school counseling incorporate a broad range of subjects. These include educational psychology, child and adolescent development, and ethics in counseling. Some programs may also give you the opportunity to focus on an area of concentration, such as mental health counseling.

In terms of technical skills, you'll learn to use various counseling techniques, conduct assessments and evaluations, interpret data, and develop and implement comprehensive school counseling programs. Some of the soft skills you're likely to develop are empathy, effective communication, problem-solving, patience, and cultural competence. 

Assignments and projects may include analyzing case studies, designing mock counseling programs, creating intervention plans for hypothetical scenarios, and writing reflective essays on counseling techniques.

Online master's programs in school counseling can require 30-50 credit hours, which means they can take anywhere from two to four years to complete. To be accepted into most accredited master's programs, you'll need to hold a bachelor's degree, but it doesn't necessarily have to be in school counseling or a related field. If your degree is not in school counseling, you may need to take one or more prerequisites before starting on your program's courses.

Discover more options for earning a graduate degree in school counseling with our list of the best online school counseling master's programs.

Common Courses

In addition to the prescribed courses, most school counseling master's programs include at least one practicum or internship experience to give you supervised, real-world counseling experience. Some of the courses you may find in your program include:

Counseling Theories and Techniques

This course introduces students to various counseling theories, helping them understand their practical applications and implications in a school setting. Role-playing and other experiential exercises help students put these theories into practice.

Ethical and Legal Issues in Counseling

Students learn about the ethical principles and legal obligations governing the counseling profession, including privacy, confidentiality, and professional conduct.

Multicultural Counseling

Culture and other environmental factors can have a significant impact on a student's ability to navigate the educational process. This course focuses on the understanding and appreciation of cultural differences and diversity, fostering skills to deliver culturally competent counseling.

Child and Adolescent Counseling

Students gain insights into the developmental issues, mental health disorders, and intervention strategies applicable to children and adolescents. Topics may also include common learning disabilities and strategies for addressing them.

Career Counseling

This course explores the strategies and tools for helping students understand their strengths, interests, and possible education and career paths.

Funding an Online School Counseling Degree

Achieving a master's-level education is a significant financial investment, especially when you combine the cost of your bachelor's degree and a master's. Recent data from the National Center for Education Statistics indicate that the average total annual tuition and fees for graduate programs at public universities is $12,394, and at private institutions, it's $26,621. Multiplying these figures by two or more years, you start to get a sense of the cost of an advanced degree.

However, with some careful planning and savvy decisions, you may be able to save on the cost of your graduate education. Consider some of these possibilities.

  • Choosing an online degree program — like the most affordable online school counseling degrees shown above — may allow you to score some significant savings on tuition, the biggest factor in the total cost. Many colleges charge in-state tuition rates or slightly reduced tuition rates for online students. It's true that distance education programs are not for everyone, but studying remotely means you won't have to pay for on-campus room and board or for commuting to and from school. 

  • Opting for a public university could also save you thousands of dollars in tuition. Given the NCES figures shown above, tuition and fees at private universities are about double that of public schools.

  • Moving to an inexpensive place to live can minimize the cost of housing, food, and other common living expenses while you're in school.  

  • Working at a full-time or part-time job could generate extra income to help pay for your college education. Working while going to school may mean taking fewer courses each semester, but it may be worth it to finish your degree with less debt. 

Financial Aid

As an online student enrolled in an accredited master's program, you may be able to fund at least part of your degree through financial aid. The federal and state governments, as well as many universities, provide funding for students with financial need, and there may be private scholarships available, too. 

The preferred types of financial aid are grants, fellowships, and scholarships because you don't have to pay back the aid after you graduate. Federal and private student loans, on the other hand, need to be repaid with interest. That interest stacks up quickly and can add a substantial amount of money to your loan. If you feel that a student loan may be your best option, you can use a student loan repayment calculator to calculate the total cost of the loan. 

To apply for most types of financial aid, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). It may take several weeks or months to receive a response, but you'll be notified as to how much aid you're eligible to receive.

Scholarships

Although you'll use the FAFSA to apply for government- and school-sponsored financial aid, you'll probably need to submit separate applications for most private scholarships. Two of the private scholarships available to school counseling master's students include:

The National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) Foundation Scholarships: This organization for counseling professionals offers several fellowships for master's-level students enrolled in CACREP-accredited counseling programs. Awards in varying amounts are available for military service members, underrepresented students, and others.

The American Counseling Association (ACA) Scholarships: ACA members can apply for graduate student scholarships of $100.

What Can You Do With an Online School Counseling Degree?

Once you've earned your online master's in school counseling, you can take your career in a number of different directions. For example, you may decide to seek a job as a school counselor at an elementary, middle, or high school, which may be public or private. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), school counselors in this environment earn a median annual salary of $63,460. You can also serve as a college counselor, but the BLS notes that the median salary for that role is $49,430. Demand for school counselors is growing at 10%, a rate that is higher than average.

Because of the training you receive in a school counseling master's program, you may also qualify for other types of counseling positions. Some options include marriage and family counselor, substance abuse counselor, and mental health counselor. The median annual salary for these positions is roughly $48,000 to $49,000, per the BLS.

At some point in the future, you may decide to pursue a career in research or academia, which means you'll need a doctorate in counseling. With a terminal degree, you're qualified to become a college professor and potentially earn a median annual salary of $79,640.

Licensure and Certification

In order to work with children in the public school system, all states require school counselors to have a state-issued license. Some private schools may also require a license. Although the criteria for obtaining a license vary — for example, some states also require a teaching credential — you'll need to have earned a master's degree from an accredited school. 

Certification for school counselors is optional, but it may make you a more competitive job applicant. Certification demonstrates your commitment to professional development, as well as your mastery of the role. The National Board for Certified Counselors offers several types of certifications.

Want to learn more about career opportunities in the counseling profession? Read How To Become a Counselor

FAQs About Online School Counseling Degrees

How Do I Choose a Master's in School Counseling?


Choosing a master's program in school counseling is a personal decision based on your own preferences and priorities. Among the key factors to consider are the program details, faculty, online support services, and assistance in setting up internships or practical experiences.

Perhaps most important, however, is accreditation. In addition to institutional accreditation, look for programs that have been accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP). This may be another requirement for licensure in your state.

What Are the Admission Requirements for School Counseling Degrees?


Typically, schools require you to have earned a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution with a minimum GPA, usually around 3.0. This degree may be in a related subject, such as a bachelor's in social work, teaching, counseling, or counseling psychology, or in a completely different discipline. If you haven't studied a related field before, however, you may need to take prerequisite courses before enrolling in the master's program.

Along with your application, you may be asked for letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose, a resume, and sometimes GRE scores. Some programs may also require an interview or related work experience.

Is a Master's Degree in School Counseling Worth the Cost?

Deciding whether a school counseling master's degree is worth the cost is a truly personal decision.

On the one hand, the BLS notes that the current median annual salary for all school counselors is $60,510. When you consider the total cost of earning both a bachelor's and a master's degree, this career path may not offer the best financial return on your investment. 

On the other hand, providing guidance and support to K-12 students as they progress in their education can be an incredibly rewarding career. If you're confident that this occupation is right for you, look for ways to reduce the cost of earning your master's so you can improve the financial rewards.

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