University of Kansas
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
Best Online Counseling Programs in Lawrence, KS (2026)
Lawrence, Kansas has 5 accredited schools offering counseling programs, with tuition ranging from $9,578 to $20,949 per year for indexed programs. Lawrence has a population of about 95,459. Median household income is $62,838 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 55.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the Lawrence, KS metro area, the top-earning counseling-related role is Social and Community Service Manager at a median $79,990 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Closest Counseling Schools to Lawrence
The 5 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 5 schools in our directory that offer counseling programs near Lawrence. Distances are calculated from Lawrence 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 Lawrence. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
Washburn University
Published tuition$9,578 - $20,949
Online programsYes
MidAmerica Nazarene University
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
University of Saint Mary
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
Ottawa University-Online
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Kansas schools on the Kansas counseling page.
Counseling Wages Near Lawrence
Lawrence is part of the Lawrence, KS metro area (BLS area code 29940). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Kansas statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselor | $64,370 | Lawrence, KS | $71,364 |
| Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselor and Advisor | $50,850 | Lawrence, KS | $56,375 |
| Marriage and Family Therapist | $68,710 | KS statewide | $76,175 |
| Rehabilitation Counselor | $41,980 | Lawrence, KS | $46,541 |
| Counselor, All Other | N/A | KS statewide | – |
| Social and Community Service Manager | $79,990 | Lawrence, KS | $88,681 |
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.
Lawrence at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 95,459 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $62,838 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 55.1% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 90.2 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Counseling-related employment in Douglas County | 2,339 workers, 223 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Lawrence-Area Cities With Counseling Programs
- Gardner, KS – 20.6 mi away (21,110 pop)
- Topeka, KS – 23.7 mi away (149,220 pop)
- Olathe, KS – 24.5 mi away (135,473 pop)
- Shawnee, KS – 24.8 mi away (65,194 pop)
- Lenexa, KS – 24.8 mi away (52,903 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited counseling schools are near Lawrence, KS?
Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering counseling programs near Lawrence. The closest is University of Kansas in Lawrence, KS (0.9 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Ottawa University-Online (33.8 miles). 5 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying counseling roles near Lawrence?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying counseling-related roles near Lawrence are: Social and Community Service Manager ($79,990), Marriage and Family Therapist ($68,710), Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselor ($64,370). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Kansas statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Gardner instead of Lawrence?
Gardner, KS is 20.6 miles from Lawrence 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 Lawrence an affordable place to study counseling?
Lawrence’s median household income of $62,838 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Lawrence while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Kansas 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 Kansas
- Counseling programs by state
Other Programs Available in Lawrence
Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Lawrence:
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Related from Our Editorial Library
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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.