Andrews University
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
Best Online Counseling Programs in South Bend, IN (2026)
South Bend, Indiana has 5 accredited schools offering counseling programs, with tuition ranging from $15,298 to $28,655 per year for indexed programs. South Bend has a population of about 102,866. Median household income is $52,512 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 29.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI metro area, the top-earning counseling-related role is Social and Community Service Manager at a median $74,380 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Closest Counseling Schools to South Bend
The 5 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 5 schools in our directory that offer counseling programs near South Bend. Distances are calculated from South Bend 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 South Bend. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
Grace College and Theological Seminary
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
Valparaiso University
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
Western Michigan University
Published tuition$15,298 - $28,655
Online programsYes
Indiana University-Northwest
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Indiana schools on the Indiana counseling page.
Counseling Wages Near South Bend
South Bend is part of the South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI metro area (BLS area code 43780). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Indiana statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselor | $51,740 | South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $55,694 |
| Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselor and Advisor | $58,320 | South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $62,777 |
| Marriage and Family Therapist | $56,810 | IN statewide | $61,152 |
| Rehabilitation Counselor | $37,870 | South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $40,764 |
| Counselor, All Other | $45,360 | IN statewide | $48,827 |
| Social and Community Service Manager | $74,380 | South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI | $80,065 |
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.
South Bend at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 102,866 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $52,512 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 29.4% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 92.9 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Counseling-related employment in St. Joseph County | 5,128 workers, 311 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other South Bend-Area Cities With Counseling Programs
- Elkhart, IN – 15.9 mi away (147,181 pop)
- LaPorte, IN – 23.5 mi away (21,732 pop)
- Benton Harbor, MI – 31.7 mi away (60,298 pop)
- Warsaw, IN – 37.0 mi away (32,622 pop)
- Portage, IN – 47.4 mi away (36,505 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited counseling schools are near South Bend, IN?
Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering counseling programs near South Bend. The closest is Andrews University in Berrien Springs, MI (20.8 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Indiana University-Northwest (55.8 miles). 5 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying counseling roles near South Bend?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying counseling-related roles near South Bend are: Social and Community Service Manager ($74,380), Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselor and Advisor ($58,320), Marriage and Family Therapist ($56,810). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Indiana statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Elkhart instead of South Bend?
Elkhart, IN is 15.9 miles from South Bend 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 South Bend an affordable place to study counseling?
South Bend’s median household income of $52,512 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in South Bend while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Indiana 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 Indiana
- Counseling programs by state
Other Programs Available in South Bend
Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for South Bend:
- Criminal Justice programs in South Bend, IN
- Nursing programs in South Bend, IN
- Business Administration programs in South Bend, IN
- Computer Science programs in South Bend, IN
- Psychology programs in South Bend, IN
- Education programs in South Bend, IN
- Engineering programs in South Bend, IN
- Technology programs in South Bend, IN
- Liberal Arts programs in South Bend, IN
- Healthcare programs in South Bend, IN
- Cybersecurity programs in South Bend, IN
- Accounting programs in South Bend, IN
- Healthcare Administration programs in South Bend, IN
- Social Work programs in South Bend, IN
Related from Our Editorial Library
- Best Accredited Online Colleges (2026)
- Best Online Colleges Ranking
- Effective Learning Strategies for Online Students
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.