University of Akron Main Campus
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
Best Online Counseling Programs in Akron, OH (2026)
Akron, Ohio has 5 accredited schools offering counseling programs, with tuition ranging from $12,846 to $45,817 per year for indexed programs. Akron has a population of about 189,526. Median household income is $48,544 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 23.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. In the Akron, OH metro area, the top-earning counseling-related role is Social and Community Service Manager at a median $72,500 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Closest Counseling Schools to Akron
The 5 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 5 schools in our directory that offer counseling programs near Akron. Distances are calculated from Akron 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 Akron. Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
Kent State University at Kent
Published tuition$12,846 - $29,345
Online programsYes
Stark State College
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
Stautzenberger College-Brecksville
Published tuitionContact school for pricing
Online programsYes
Walsh University
Published tuition$34,595 - $45,817
Online programsYes
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Ohio schools on the Ohio counseling page.
Counseling Wages Near Akron
Akron is part of the Akron, OH metro area (BLS area code 10420). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Ohio statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselor | $60,030 | Akron, OH | $64,272 |
| Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselor and Advisor | $61,330 | Akron, OH | $65,664 |
| Marriage and Family Therapist | $70,240 | OH statewide | $75,203 |
| Rehabilitation Counselor | $40,800 | Akron, OH | $43,683 |
| Counselor, All Other | $45,840 | OH statewide | $49,079 |
| Social and Community Service Manager | $72,500 | Akron, OH | $77,623 |
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.
Akron at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 189,526 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $48,544 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 23.3% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 93.4 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Counseling-related employment in Summit County | 9,118 workers, 781 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Akron-Area Cities With Counseling Programs
- Cuyahoga Falls, OH – 5.8 mi away (49,206 pop)
- Barberton, OH – 6.5 mi away (26,120 pop)
- Stow, OH – 8.1 mi away (34,711 pop)
- Green, OH – 9.4 mi away (25,673 pop)
- Kent, OH – 9.6 mi away (30,071 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited counseling schools are near Akron, OH?
Our directory has 5 accredited schools offering counseling programs near Akron. The closest is University of Akron Main Campus in Akron, OH (0.3 miles), and the farthest of the schools shown is Walsh University (16.4 miles). 5 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying counseling roles near Akron?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2025 wage data, the top-paying counseling-related roles near Akron are: Social and Community Service Manager ($72,500), Marriage and Family Therapist ($70,240), Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselor and Advisor ($61,330). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Ohio statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Cuyahoga Falls instead of Akron?
Cuyahoga Falls, OH is 5.8 miles from Akron 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 Akron an affordable place to study counseling?
Akron’s median household income of $48,544 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Akron while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Ohio 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 Ohio
- Counseling programs by state
Other Programs Available in Akron
Compare every accredited online degree program with city-level data for Akron:
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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.