Best Online Counseling Programs in Bristol, CT (2026)

Bristol, Connecticut has 5 accredited schools offering counseling programs. Bristol has a population of about 61,129. Median household income is $83,458 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 30.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Connecticut, the top-earning counseling-related role is Marriage and Family Therapist at a median $86,250 annually (BLS, May 2025).


Closest Counseling Schools to Bristol

The 5 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 5 schools in our directory that offer counseling programs near Bristol. Distances are calculated from Bristol 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 Bristol. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

#1

Central Connecticut State University

New Britain, CT 9.1 miles from Bristol BOC Score63.6
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes

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#2

Post University

Waterbury, CT 12.5 miles from Bristol BOC Score22.3
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes

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#3

University of Saint Joseph

West Hartford, CT 13.0 miles from Bristol BOC Score60.9
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes

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#4

Connecticut State Community College

Hartford, CT 15.1 miles from Bristol BOC Score47.6
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes

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#5

Southern Connecticut State University

New Haven, CT 24.1 miles from Bristol BOC Score54.8
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes

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Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Connecticut schools on the Connecticut counseling page.


Counseling Wages Near Bristol

OccupationMedian Annual Wage (Connecticut, statewide)
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselor$63,590
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselor and Advisor$73,910
Marriage and Family Therapist$86,250
Rehabilitation Counselor$56,340
Counselor, All Other$53,310
Social and Community Service Manager$75,520

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.


Bristol at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population61,129Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$83,458Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+30.5%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)

Other Bristol-Area Cities With Counseling Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited counseling schools are near Bristol, CT?

Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering counseling programs near Bristol. The closest is Central Connecticut State University in New Britain, CT (9.1 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Southern Connecticut State University (24.1 miles). 5 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying counseling roles in Connecticut?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying counseling-related roles in Connecticut are: Marriage and Family Therapist ($86,250), Social and Community Service Manager ($75,520), Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselor and Advisor ($73,910). Wages for Bristol workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in New Britain instead of Bristol?

New Britain, CT is 8.0 miles from Bristol and has its own set of local counseling programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.

Is Bristol an affordable place to study counseling?

Bristol’s median household income of $83,458 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Bristol while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Connecticut 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

Other Programs Available in Bristol

Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Bristol:

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.