Best Online Counseling Programs in Jackson, MI (2026)

Jackson, Michigan has 5 accredited schools offering counseling programs, with tuition ranging from $29,778 to $43,178 per year for indexed programs. Jackson has a population of about 31,206. Median household income is $42,848 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 15.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the Jackson, MI metro area, the top-earning counseling-related role is Social and Community Service Manager at a median $85,860 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).


Closest Counseling Schools to Jackson

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

#1

Spring Arbor University

Spring Arbor, MI 8.2 miles from Jackson BOC Score54.5
Published tuition$32,580 - $43,178
Online programsYes

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#2

Siena Heights University

Adrian, MI 30.5 miles from Jackson BOC Score66.0
Published tuition$29,778 - $42,802
Online programsYes

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#3

Michigan State University

East Lansing, MI 34.0 miles from Jackson BOC Score80.6
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes

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#4

Madonna University

Livonia, MI 52.0 miles from Jackson BOC Score60.3
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes

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#5

Stautzenberger College-Maumee

Maumee, OH 58.7 miles from Jackson BOC Score41.4
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes

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


Counseling Wages Near Jackson

Jackson is part of the Jackson, MI metro area (BLS area code 27100). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Michigan statewide.

OccupationMedian WageSourceCOL-Adjusted (US=100)
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselor$53,820Jackson, MI$58,627
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselor and Advisor$48,870Jackson, MI$53,235
Marriage and Family Therapist$52,270MI statewide$56,939
Rehabilitation Counselor$41,140Jackson, MI$44,815
Counselor, All Other$37,390MI statewide$40,730
Social and Community Service Manager$85,860Jackson, MI$93,529

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.


Jackson at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population31,206Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$42,848Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+15.3%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100)91.8 (below U.S. average)BEA RPP 2024
Counseling-related employment in Jackson County407 workers, 195 establishmentsBLS QCEW 2024 annual

Other Jackson-Area Cities With Counseling Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited counseling schools are near Jackson, MI?

Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering counseling programs near Jackson. The closest is Spring Arbor University in Spring Arbor, MI (8.2 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Stautzenberger College-Maumee (58.7 miles). 5 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying counseling roles near Jackson?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying counseling-related roles near Jackson are: Social and Community Service Manager ($85,860), Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselor ($53,820), Marriage and Family Therapist ($52,270). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Michigan statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in Adrian instead of Jackson?

Adrian, MI is 30.0 miles from Jackson 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 Jackson an affordable place to study counseling?

Jackson’s median household income of $42,848 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Jackson while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Michigan 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 Jackson

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

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.