Best Online Counseling Programs in Columbus, MS (2026)

Columbus, Mississippi has 5 accredited schools offering counseling programs, with tuition ranging from $8,832 to $33,200 per year for indexed programs. Columbus has a population of about 23,616. Median household income is $40,588 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 25.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Mississippi, the top-earning counseling-related role is Social and Community Service Manager at a median $67,330 annually (BLS, May 2025).

Closest Counseling Schools to Columbus

The 5 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 5 schools in our directory that offer counseling programs near Columbus. Distances are calculated from Columbus city center.

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

Counseling Wages Near Columbus

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.

Columbus at a Glance

Other Columbus-Area Cities With Counseling Programs

• Starkville, MS – 24.2 mi away (32,441 pop)
• Northport, AL – 50.1 mi away (25,045 pop)
• Tupelo, MS – 55.2 mi away (46,095 pop)
• Meridian, MS – 79.3 mi away (39,478 pop)
• Bessemer, AL – 83.7 mi away (26,511 pop)

Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited counseling schools are near Columbus, MS?

Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering counseling programs near Columbus. The closest is The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, AL (54.2 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is University of North Alabama (99.0 miles). 5 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying counseling roles in Mississippi?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying counseling-related roles in Mississippi are: Social and Community Service Manager ($67,330), Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselor and Advisor ($58,710), Counselor, All Other ($54,090). Wages for Columbus workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Starkville instead of Columbus?

Starkville, MS is 24.2 miles from Columbus 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 Columbus an affordable place to study counseling?

Columbus’s median household income of $40,588 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Columbus while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Mississippi 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 Mississippi
• Counseling programs by state

Other Programs Available in Columbus

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

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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.