Best Online Counseling Programs in Owatonna, MN (2026)

Updated June 11, 2026 BLS data College Scorecard On this page

Owatonna, Minnesota has 5 accredited schools offering counseling programs. Owatonna has a population of about 26,462. Median household income is $81,276 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 32.3% 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 Owatonna

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

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

Counseling Wages Near Owatonna

Occupation	Median 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.

Owatonna at a Glance

Metric	Value	Source
Population	26,462	Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income	$81,276	Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+	32.3%	Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Counseling-related employment in Steele County	73 workers, 117 establishments	BLS QCEW 2024 annual

Other Owatonna-Area Cities With Counseling Programs

Faribault, MN – 14.5 mi away (24,012 pop)
Northfield, MN – 25.3 mi away (22,005 pop)
Austin, MN – 31.7 mi away (25,105 pop)
Mankato, MN – 37.5 mi away (61,115 pop)
Rochester, MN – 37.8 mi away (114,976 pop)

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited counseling schools are near Owatonna, MN?

Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering counseling programs near Owatonna. The closest is Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato, MN (38.1 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is University of St Thomas (58.9 miles). 4 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

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 Owatonna workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Faribault instead of Owatonna?

Faribault, MN is 14.5 miles from Owatonna 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 Owatonna an affordable place to study counseling?

Owatonna’s median household income of $81,276 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Owatonna 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 Owatonna

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

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.

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