The University of Montana
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
Best Online Counseling Programs in Missoula, MT (2026)
Missoula, Montana has 3 accredited schools offering counseling programs. Missoula has a population of about 75,600. Median household income is $65,329 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 51.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the Missoula, MT metro area, the top-earning counseling-related role is Social and Community Service Manager at a median $73,510 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Closest Counseling Schools to Missoula
The 3 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 3 schools in our directory that offer counseling programs near Missoula. Distances are calculated from Missoula 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 Missoula. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
Salish Kootenai College
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programs--
Flathead Valley Community College
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Montana schools on the Montana counseling page.
Counseling Wages Near Missoula
Missoula is part of the Missoula, MT metro area (BLS area code 33540). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Montana statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselor | $59,480 | Missoula, MT | $61,701 |
| Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselor and Advisor | $50,860 | Missoula, MT | $52,759 |
| Marriage and Family Therapist | $46,960 | MT statewide | $48,714 |
| Rehabilitation Counselor | $58,000 | Missoula, MT | $60,166 |
| Counselor, All Other | $39,260 | MT statewide | $40,726 |
| Social and Community Service Manager | $73,510 | Missoula, MT | $76,255 |
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.
Missoula at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 75,600 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $65,329 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 51.7% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 96.4 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Counseling-related employment in Missoula County | 2,795 workers, 414 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Missoula-Area Cities With Counseling Programs
- Butte, MT – 92.8 mi away (30,584 pop)
- Kalispell, MT – 94.2 mi away (36,304 pop)
- Helena, MT – 96.1 mi away (49,812 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited counseling schools are near Missoula, MT?
Our directory has 3 accredited schools offering counseling programs near Missoula. The closest is The University of Montana in Missoula, MT (0.7 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Flathead Valley Community College (95.3 miles). 2 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying counseling roles near Missoula?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying counseling-related roles near Missoula are: Social and Community Service Manager ($73,510), Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselor ($59,480), Rehabilitation Counselor ($58,000). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Montana statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Butte instead of Missoula?
Butte, MT is 92.8 miles from Missoula 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 Missoula an affordable place to study counseling?
Missoula’s median household income of $65,329 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Missoula while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Montana 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 Montana
- Counseling programs by state
Other Programs Available in Missoula
Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Missoula:
- Criminal Justice programs in Missoula, MT
- Nursing programs in Missoula, MT
- Business Administration programs in Missoula, MT
- Computer Science programs in Missoula, MT
- Psychology programs in Missoula, MT
- Education programs in Missoula, MT
- Engineering programs in Missoula, MT
- Technology programs in Missoula, MT
- Liberal Arts programs in Missoula, MT
- Healthcare programs in Missoula, MT
- Cybersecurity programs in Missoula, MT
- Accounting programs in Missoula, MT
- Healthcare Administration programs in Missoula, MT
- Social Work programs in Missoula, MT
Related from Our Editorial Library
- Best Accredited Online Colleges (2026)
- Best Online Colleges Ranking
- Effective Learning Strategies for Online Students
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.