Best Online Counseling Programs in Austin, MN (2026)

Austin, Minnesota has 5 accredited schools offering counseling programs. Austin has a population of about 26,167. Median household income is $66,488 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 23.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Minnesota, the top-earning counseling-related role is Social and Community Service Manager at a median $84,220 annually (BLS, May 2025).


Closest Counseling Schools to Austin

The accredited institutions listed below are the closest in our directory that offer counseling programs near Austin, ranked by BOC Score and straight-line distance from Austin city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS data on every site update.

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 Austin. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.

#1

Minnesota State University-Mankato

Mankato, MN 60.5 miles from Austin BOC Score 58.9
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 57%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $56,922
Avg net price $19,139/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 80%
  • Programs offered: 81

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#2

Bethany Lutheran College

Mankato, MN 61.1 miles from Austin BOC Score 39.2
  • 4 year
  • Accredited
Acceptance rate 39%
Graduation rate 57%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $46,110
Avg net price $20,148/yr
Tuition
In‑state$31,360
Out‑of‑state$31,360
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 76%
  • Programs offered: 17

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#3

Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

Winona, MN 68.8 miles from Austin BOC Score 71.4
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 67%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $58,170
Avg net price $11,704/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 76%
  • Programs offered: 44

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#4

Winona State University

Winona, MN 71.3 miles from Austin BOC Score 66.8
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 65%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $58,532
Avg net price $17,503/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 78%
  • Programs offered: 42

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#5

Adler Graduate School

Minnetonka, MN 87.0 miles from Austin
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Programs offered: 1

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#6

Bethel University

Saint Paul, MN 88.5 miles from Austin BOC Score 68.3
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
  • Accredited
Acceptance rate 88%
Graduation rate 73%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $63,764
Avg net price $28,556/yr
Tuition
In‑state$44,226
Out‑of‑state$44,226
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 86%
  • Programs offered: 27

Source:Accreditor: Higher Learning CommissionIPEDSCollege Scorecard

#7

University of St Thomas

Saint Paul, MN 88.5 miles from Austin BOC Score 73.5
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 78%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $73,739
Avg net price $29,155/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 87%
  • Programs offered: 55

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

#8

Metropolitan State University

Saint Paul, MN 88.9 miles from Austin BOC Score 60.6
  • 4 year
  • Campus + Online
Graduation rate 57%
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry $64,705
Avg net price $16,863/yr
TuitionContact school for pricing
Contact
Key stats
  • Retention rate: 70%
  • Programs offered: 43

Source:IPEDSCollege Scorecard

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


Counseling Wages Near Austin

OccupationMedian Annual Wage (Minnesota, statewide)
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselor$58,780
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselor and Advisor$64,600
Marriage and Family Therapist$72,470
Rehabilitation Counselor$48,010
Counselor, All Other$47,740
Social and Community Service Manager$84,220

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.


Austin at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population26,167Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$66,488Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+23.2%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Counseling-related employment in Mower County495 workers, 115 establishmentsBLS QCEW 2024 annual

Other Austin-Area Cities With Counseling Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited counseling schools are near Austin, MN?

Accredited schools offering counseling programs near Austin are listed on this page, ranked by BOC Score and distance from the city center. The list is rebuilt from federal IPEDS and College Scorecard data on every site update, so it stays current as programs open and close.

What are the highest-paying counseling roles in Minnesota?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying counseling-related roles in Minnesota are: Social and Community Service Manager ($84,220), Marriage and Family Therapist ($72,470), Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselor and Advisor ($64,600). Wages for Austin workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Owatonna instead of Austin?

Owatonna, MN is 31.7 miles from Austin 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 Austin an affordable place to study counseling?

Austin’s median household income of $66,488 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Austin while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Minnesota 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 Austin

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

Data verified: July 23, 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.