Alaska Pacific University
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
Best Online Counseling Programs in Anchorage, AK (2026)
Anchorage, Alaska has 2 accredited schools offering counseling programs. Anchorage has a population of about 289,069. Median household income is $98,152 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 37.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the Anchorage, AK metro area, the top-earning counseling-related role is Social and Community Service Manager at a median $98,920 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Closest Counseling Schools to Anchorage
The 2 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 2 schools in our directory that offer counseling programs near Anchorage. Distances are calculated from Anchorage city center.
How We Rank Schools
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:
- Graduation rate 30%
- Median earnings, 10 years after entry 25%
- Average net price (lower is better) 20%
- Retention rate 15%
- Fully online availability 10%
Schools without enough outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score. On this page, schools are ordered by distance from Anchorage. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
University of Alaska Anchorage
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Alaska schools on the Alaska counseling page.
Counseling Wages Near Anchorage
Anchorage is part of the Anchorage, AK metro area (BLS area code 11260). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Alaska statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselor | $81,120 | Anchorage, AK | $76,964 |
| Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselor and Advisor | $82,900 | Anchorage, AK | $78,653 |
| Marriage and Family Therapist | $60,010 | Anchorage, AK | $56,935 |
| Rehabilitation Counselor | $60,700 | Anchorage, AK | $57,590 |
| Counselor, All Other | $45,060 | AK statewide | $42,751 |
| Social and Community Service Manager | $98,920 | Anchorage, AK | $93,852 |
Source: BLS, May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.
Anchorage at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 289,069 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $98,152 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 37.7% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 105.4 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Counseling-related employment in Anchorage County | 5,722 workers, 422 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited counseling schools are near Anchorage, AK?
Our directory has 2 accredited schools offering counseling programs near Anchorage. The closest is Alaska Pacific University in Anchorage, AK (23.2 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is University of Alaska Anchorage (23.8 miles). 2 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying counseling roles near Anchorage?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying counseling-related roles near Anchorage are: Social and Community Service Manager ($98,920), Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselor and Advisor ($82,900), Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselor ($81,120). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Alaska statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Is Anchorage an affordable place to study counseling?
Anchorage’s median household income of $98,152 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Anchorage while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Alaska public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.
How do I verify a program is accredited?
Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.
Learn More About Counseling Programs
- Counseling accreditation: what to look for
- Counseling concentrations and specializations
- Is a Counseling degree worth it?
- Main Counseling degree guide
- Online Counseling programs in Alaska
- Counseling programs by state
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Data verified: June 11, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.