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Key takeaway: Online counseling degrees are offered at the certificate, associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral level by accredited schools nationwide, and a master’s degree is the entry credential for licensed clinical practice in every state. College Scorecard data shows counseling master’s graduates earning a median $49,015 one year after graduation, rising to $59,222 at four years1, and related occupations pay a median $46,850 to $80,390 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025)2. Compare accredited programs below.
An online counseling degree prepares students to help people manage mental health conditions, relationship challenges, addiction, career decisions, and life transitions, combining counseling theory, assessment skills, ethics, and supervised clinical practice. Unlike many fields, counseling has a clearly defined licensure ladder: a bachelor’s degree builds the foundation, but independent clinical practice as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) or Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) requires a master’s degree, supervised post-graduate clinical hours, and a passing national exam score. Licensure requirements – including the title used and the number of supervised hours – vary by state and are set by state licensing boards.
These accredited schools offer online programs, report counseling completions, and are ordered by our independent BOC Score. Request information to compare programs, costs, and formats.
Every school list on this site is ordered by the BOC Score, computed from the most recent school-level data published by the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS). To qualify, a school must be currently operating and accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Each eligible school is then scored on five measures, percentile-ranked against schools at the same credential level:
Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
Source:Accreditor: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard
Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard
Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard
Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard
Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard
Source:Accreditor: Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard
Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard
Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard
Can You Get A Counseling Degree Online? explains how accredited online counseling programs work, including specializations, cost, and salary outcomes.
Browse counseling programs by state ->
Online counseling programs cover counseling theories, human development, group counseling, assessment and diagnosis, multicultural competency, ethics, and supervised clinical practice.
A master’s degree in counseling or a closely related field is the entry credential for clinical licensure in every state. Bachelor’s and associate degrees lead to support roles – such as case management aide, behavioral health technician, or substance abuse support positions – and serve as preparation for graduate study.
Coursework can usually be completed online. According to College Scorecard data, 71.9% of master’s-level counseling programs offer distance education1. However, every clinical counseling program requires in-person practicum and internship hours, which schools typically help students arrange at sites near where they live.
The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) is the primary programmatic accreditor for master’s and doctoral counseling programs. Many state licensing boards align their education requirements with CACREP standards, so graduating from a CACREP-accredited program often simplifies the path to licensure – especially if you may move between states.
Plan on roughly six to eight years total: four years for a bachelor’s degree, two to three years for a master’s degree, and then a period of supervised post-graduate clinical practice before full licensure. The number of supervised hours required varies by state, so always verify with your state licensing board.
They are largely equivalent credentials with different names. Most states use Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC); some states use Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) or Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC). All denote a master’s-level clinician authorized to diagnose and treat mental health conditions independently.
College Scorecard earnings data shows the master’s degree is the inflection point in counseling, and across levels median earnings rise step by step with credential level.
| Degree level | Median earnings |
|---|---|
| Certificate | $42,777 |
| Associate | $40,366 |
| Bachelor's | $51,434 |
| Master's | $59,222 |
| Credential | 1-Yr Median Earnings | 4-Yr Median Earnings | Median Debt | Programs Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate | $31,975 | $42,777 | $15,515 | 71.1% |
| Associate | $32,481 | $40,366 | $17,072 | 75.6% |
| Bachelor’s | $39,676 | $51,434 | $25,443 | 51.4% |
| Master’s | $49,015 | $59,222 | $45,408 | 71.9% |
| Doctoral | $76,300 | $75,482 | $84,055 | 70.5% |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data for counseling-related programs (CIP 51.15 Mental and Social Health Services; CIP 13.11 Student Counseling and Personnel Services), latest reporting year.
Tuition varies widely by institution type, and the full licensure path includes both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree; many online programs charge the same rate regardless of residency. For lower-cost options and the full value discussion, see Affordable Counseling Programs and Is a Counseling Degree Worth It.
Counseling curricula follow a well-defined professional core – the eight CACREP common-core areas shape most master’s programs. Coursework progresses through counseling theories and helping relationships, human growth and development, assessment and diagnosis, group counseling, multicultural and social justice counseling, and ethics and professional practice, culminating in supervised practicum and internship at approved clinical sites. Most programs let you focus through a specialization – clinical mental health, school, substance abuse, or marriage and family therapy – that often determines which license you can pursue.
See the full breakdown on the Counseling Curriculum and Counseling Concentrations pages.
Counseling graduates work across mental health agencies, schools, hospitals, private practice, and community organizations. Most clinical roles require a master’s degree and state licensure for independent practice; social and community service manager roles emphasize program leadership and may be reached with a bachelor’s degree plus experience.
| Occupation | Avg. annual openings |
|---|---|
| Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselor | 48,300/yr |
| Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselor and Advisor | 31,000/yr |
| Social and Community Service Manager | 18,600/yr |
| Rehabilitation Counselor | 10,000/yr |
| Marriage and Family Therapist | 7,700/yr |
| Counselor, All Other | 7,400/yr |
| Career | Median Salary (May 2025) |
|---|---|
| Social and Community Service Manager | $80,390 |
| Marriage and Family Therapist | $66,940 |
| Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselor and Advisor | $64,330 |
| Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselor | $59,350 |
| Counselor, All Other | $50,860 |
| Rehabilitation Counselor | $46,850 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.
Independent clinical practice has three pillars: a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling or a related specialization (typically 60 credits including practicum and internship), supervised post-graduate clinical hours under an approved supervisor, and a passing score on a national exam – most states use the National Counselor Examination (NCE) or the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE). A bachelor’s degree in counseling or psychology does not qualify for independent clinical practice anywhere in the United States. See our master’s in counseling guide for the licensure-track credential.
The Counseling Compact, an interstate licensure agreement, is expanding the ability of licensed counselors to practice across member states – another reason to prefer programs aligned with CACREP standards.
Because the post-graduate supervision period is state-controlled, the single best timeline decision is choosing a program aligned with the state where you intend to practice from the start.
Counseling, psychology, or social work? Choose counseling for the most direct, therapy-focused route to talk-therapy practice; choose psychology for a broader behavioral-science field, or social work for a systems-and-advocacy lens alongside therapy.
Compare programs by level or specialty:
U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data for counseling-related programs (CIP 51.15, CIP 13.11), latest reporting year. ↩︎ ↩︎
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. ↩︎
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