Best Online Counseling Programs in Columbus, NE (2026)

Columbus, Nebraska has 5 accredited schools offering counseling programs. Columbus has a population of about 24,188. Median household income is $67,212 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 23.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In Nebraska, the top-earning counseling-related role is Social and Community Service Manager at a median $73,790 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.

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

#1

Northeast Community College

Norfolk, NE 42.3 miles from Columbus BOC Score71.4
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes

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#2

Southeast Community College Area

Lincoln, NE 57.4 miles from Columbus BOC Score55.6
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes

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#3

Wayne State College

Wayne, NE 58.4 miles from Columbus BOC Score49.0
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes

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#4

Doane University

Crete, NE 60.2 miles from Columbus BOC Score50.0
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes

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#5

Central Community College

Grand Island, NE 64.9 miles from Columbus BOC Score59.4
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes

Visit website

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


Counseling Wages Near Columbus

OccupationMedian Annual Wage (Nebraska, statewide)
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselor$63,770
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselor and Advisor$62,500
Marriage and Family Therapist$62,610
Rehabilitation Counselor$47,050
Counselor, All Other$40,530
Social and Community Service Manager$73,790

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

MetricValueSource
Population24,188Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$67,212Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+23.3%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Counseling-related employment in Platte County155 workers, 60 establishmentsBLS QCEW 2024 annual

Other Columbus-Area Cities With Counseling Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited counseling schools are near Columbus, NE?

Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering counseling programs near Columbus. The closest is Northeast Community College in Norfolk, NE (42.3 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Central Community College (64.9 miles). 5 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.

What are the highest-paying counseling roles in Nebraska?

Based on BLS May 2025 state wage data, the top-paying counseling-related roles in Nebraska are: Social and Community Service Manager ($73,790), Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselor ($63,770), Marriage and Family Therapist ($62,610). Wages for Columbus workers will track these statewide medians, adjusted for local cost of living.

Should I look at programs in Norfolk instead of Columbus?

Norfolk, NE is 41.5 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 $67,212 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Columbus while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Nebraska 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 Columbus

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

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.