Best Online Bachelor’s of Counseling Degree Programs for 2024
Find top-ranked online bachelor’s in counseling degree programs to prepare students with patience, compassion, and the desire to help others to become professional counselors.
Key Takeaways
- Counseling is an important discipline that requires professionals to be patient and active listeners and communicators.
- Undergraduate counseling students gain fundamental knowledge of the discipline, and learn research strategies that qualify them for administrative work.
- While a bachelor’s program in counseling gives your career a headstart, a master’s degree is required to become a licensed professional counselor.
Top 10 Online Bachelor's in Counseling Degrees
- University of Cincinnati
- Lipscomb University
- Bay Path University
- Colorado Christian University
- Regent University
- Peru State College
- Lindsey Wilson College
- Toccoa Falls College
- Faulkner University
- Ohio Christian University
- University of Cincinnati
- Regent University
- Lipscomb University
- Faulkner University
- Methodist University
- Southwestern Assemblies of God University
- Paine College
- East Central University
- Peru State College
- Bay Path University
- Columbia College 98%
- University of Cincinnati 86%
- Southwestern Assemblies of God University 86%
- Faulkner University 82%
- Methodist University 76%
- Bay Path University 76%
- Lipscomb University 71%
- East Central University 70%
- Arizona Christian University 70%
- Toccoa Falls College 68%
- Regent University 21 to 1
- Peru State College 20 to 1
- University of Cincinnati 18 to 1
- Southwestern Assemblies of God University 17 to 1
- Toccoa Falls College 17 to 1
- East Central University 17 to 1
- Lindsey Wilson College 17 to 1
- Colorado Christian University 16 to 1
- Arizona Christian University 15 to 1
- Lipscomb University 13 to 1
- Methodist University $38,138
- Lipscomb University $37,152
- Bay Path University $35,781
- Arizona Christian University $31,650
- Union College, Kentucky $30,946
- Lindsey Wilson College $26,228
- Faulkner University $23,920
- Kentucky Christian University $23,700
- Ohio Christian University $23,050
- Toccoa Falls College $22,350
- Methodist University $39,825
- Bay Path University $19,235
- Lipscomb University $17,370
- Regent University $16,028
- Faulkner University $15,325
- Colorado Christian University $13,931
- Columbia College $13,232
- University of Cincinnati $13,224
- Toccoa Falls College $12,240
- Ohio Christian University $11,160
- Arizona Christian University
- Paine College
- Methodist University
- Columbia College
- Kentucky Christian University
- East Central University
- Southwestern Assemblies of God University
- Union College, Kentucky
- Ohio Christian University
- Faulkner University
- Ohio Christian University
- Columbia College
- Lindsey Wilson College
- Arizona Christian University
- Union College, Kentucky
- Toccoa Falls College
- Kentucky Christian University
- Colorado Christian University
- Bay Path University
- Peru State College
- Regent University 32%
- Kentucky Christian University 44%
- Paine College 52%
- Union College, Kentucky 53%
- Toccoa Falls College 68%
- Arizona Christian University 70%
- East Central University 70%
- Lipscomb University 71%
- Bay Path University 76%
- Methodist University 76%
- Ohio Christian University 8 to 1
- Methodist University 9 to 1
- Union College, Kentucky 9 to 1
- Paine College 10 to 1
- Bay Path University 11 to 1
- Columbia College 11 to 1
- Lipscomb University 13 to 1
- Kentucky Christian University 13 to 1
- Faulkner University 13 to 1
- Arizona Christian University 15 to 1
- East Central University $6,001
- Peru State College $7,920
- University of Cincinnati $10,656
- Paine College $14,596
- Colorado Christian University $17,476
- Southwestern Assemblies of God University $17,782
- Regent University $19,680
- Columbia College $22,050
- Toccoa Falls College $22,350
- Ohio Christian University $23,050
- East Central University $4,555
- Kentucky Christian University $4,950
- Southwestern Assemblies of God University $8,280
- Peru State College $9,120
- Lindsey Wilson College $9,635
- Union College, Kentucky $11,040
- Ohio Christian University $11,160
- Toccoa Falls College $12,240
- University of Cincinnati $13,224
- Columbia College $13,232
Featured Programs
Exploring Counseling As A Degree and Career Path
If you have a desire to help people overcome life’s challenges and hopefully improve their lives, consider a bachelor’s degree in counseling. Graduates of online bachelor’s in counseling can join the workforce as social workers, abuse counselors, probation officers, and community service managers.
For others, a degree in counseling is a pathway to earning a graduate degree and licensure as a family and marriage therapist, school counselor, or mental health counselor.
There is a constant high demand for professionals in this area. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, between 2020 and 2030, the demand for community service managers will grow by 12%, and a 22% demand for substance abuse counselors.
Counseling Degree Career Paths
- Substance Abuse Counselor: Also called addiction counselors, substance abuse counselors handle and care for people who are struggling with addictions to alcohol, drugs, sex, and gambling. These professionals also help individuals with eating disorders and other common behavioral issues.
- Social and Community Service Manager: These managers supervise community programs that support groups and individuals. They serve a very diverse group of people, including veterans, children, and people who are dealing with specific challenges like hunger, homelessness, or substance abuse.
- Probation Officer: Probation officers assist and support people who are under probation. They make and implement rehabilitation plans, provide supervision and resources, and regularly check progress. These professionals work closely with courts, law enforcement, and social service agencies.
- Career Counselor: Career counselors are trained and knowledgeable in helping people identify possible career options and qualifications. By assessing education and training and using aptitude evaluations, career counselors can help people find suitable jobs. These professionals are often seen working at colleges, social service offices, staffing agencies, or private practice.
Counselors develop individualized treatment plans that teach their clients effective coping methods and guide them in discovering the underlying triggers of their addictions. Note that counseling degree professionals who plan to go into private practice must have a master’s degree and a license.
Other duties include hiring and supervising employees, creating and managing programs, and assessing these programs for efficiency. Although most of these roles only require a bachelor’s in counseling, some positions require a master’s degree.
Probation officers can also provide other services like support for people struggling with addictions, or career training. In most jurisdictions, probation officers should have completed professional training at a state police academy.
Online Bachelor’s in Counseling: What to Expect
Students who complete counseling programs need strong communication skills, empathy, and patience. Online counseling programs take 3-4 years, and 120-130 credits of full-time study to complete. While many schools strongly focus on the online bachelor’s program, there are also institutions that offer a combination of bachelor’s and master’s in counseling, allowing students to earn these degrees in just 5 years.
Concentrations of the Online Bachelor’s in Counseling:
- Addiction
- Mental Health
- Human Services
- Child and Adolescent Development
- Christian Counseling
Frequently Asked Questions About Counseling Degrees
A bachelor’s degree in counseling is an excellent program for those with patience, compassion, and the desire to help others.
Back to TopWhether students choose to earn their bachelor’s in counseling online or on campus, they can expect to take courses in psychology, sociology, human development, and psychotherapy.
Back to TopEarning a bachelor’s in counseling requires between 120-129 credits, which most students complete in four to five years.
Back to TopThough most counseling-related positions require a master’s degree in counseling and a few years of supervised clinical work, students with an undergraduate degree in counseling can gain experience as research or administrative assistants to psychologists. Those who earn their bachelor’s degree in counseling, however, typically go on to choose a specialty and earn their master’s.
Back to TopHow We Rank the Best Online Bachelor of Counseling Programs
What’s in an online bachelor’s degree in counseling program and when can it be considered an “excellent” option for students? The answer lies in, among other things, the comprehensiveness of the coursework!
Excellent coursework allows students pursuing mental health counseling and similar other types of counseling concentrations to obtain the counseling skills and academic knowledge of the program to prepare them for a graduate degree or entry-level practice.
Professional counselors make up the faculty and teaching staff of the online counseling degree programs on our list. With experienced teachers, students learn only from the best!
The online programs that we’ve listed here are also regionally accredited, which means they are compliant with academic standards and offer students a superior learning environment and experience.
Best Online Bachelor’s in Counseling Degree Programs
- #11 15 Best Online Colleges for Veterans to Start Their Careers #2 Most Affordable Colleges in Ohio 2024 #2 Best Public Colleges in Ohio 2024 #3 Best Grad Schools in Ohio 2024
Other Rankings
- #3 Best Research Universities in Ohio 2024
- #3 Best Colleges in Ohio 2024
- #1 Best Online Associate in Accounting
- #1 Best Online Bachelor's of Game Design Degree Programs for 2024
- #1 Best Online Associate in Early Childhood Education
- #1 Best Online Associate in Marketing
- #1 Best Online Colleges in Ohio 2024
- #1 Best Online Associate in Information Technology
- #1 Best Online Associate in Health Information Technology & Informatics
- #1 Best Online Associate in Paralegal Studies
- #1 Best Online Master’s in Information Technology
- #1 Best Online Associate in Finance
- #1 Best Online Bachelor’s of Health Science Degree Programs Ranked for 2024
- #1 Best Online Associate Degrees in Ohio 2024
- #1 Best Online Associate in Business Management
- #1 Best Online Bachelor's in Public Health Degree Programs for Students
- #1 Best Online Associate in Business Administration
- #2 Best Online Master's in Behavior Analysis Degree Programs
- #2 Best Online MBA Programs in Ohio
- #2 Best Online Master's Programs in Ohio 2024
- #2 Best Online Bachelor's in Law and Legal Studies Degree Programs for 2024
- #2 Best Online Master's in Nursing MSN
- #2 Fastest Accelerated Online Doctorate of Nursing Programs (PhDs)
- #2 Best Online Master's in Sports Management
- #3 Best Online Bachelor’s of Early Childhood Education Degree Programs for 2024
- #3 Best Online Master's in Marketing and Advertising
- #3 Best Online Bachelor's in Criminal Justice
- #3 Fastest Accelerated Online Master's of Information Technology
- #3 Best Online MBA in Marketing Degree Programs Ranked for Students in 2024
- #3 Best RN to BSN Online
- #4 Best Online Master's in Criminal Justice
- #4 Best Online Master’s in Finance
- #5 20 Best Online Master's of Speech Pathology Degree Programs
- #5 Best Online Master’s in Health Informatics
- #5 Best Online Master's in Special Education
- #5 Best Online Master’s in Engineering
- #7 Best Online Bachelor's in Social Work Degree Programs Ranked for 2024
- #8 Best Online Degrees for a Career in Teaching Ranked 2024
- #8 The Best Online MBA Degree Programs in 2024 Ranked for Students
- #8 The Best Online Colleges Ranked for Students in 2024
- #8 Best Online Bachelor’s of Communications Degree Programs for 2024
- #10 Fastest Online Associate Degrees Ranked for 2024
- #11 Best Online Master's in Management
- #11 Top 15 Most Affordable Online Economics PhD Programs (Doctorates) 2024
- #12 Top 20 Best Online MBA Programs that Can Be Completed in One Year 2024
Tuition + fees
$12K
Acceptance
86%
Graduation
72%
Student body
48K
Median SAT/ACT
1260/26
Career Outlook for Counseling degree at University of Cincinnati
Cost of Degree: $12,334Expenses: $16,990Starting Salary: $37,925Salary after 4 years: $51,584Cost Recoup Time: 11 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
BS in Substance Abuse Counseling
- Required Credits: 60-120
- Completion time: 2-4 years
- Format: Online
- #19 Best CCCU Colleges and Universities 2024 #4 Best Christian Colleges in Tennessee 2024 #5 Best Small Colleges in Tennessee 2024 #7 Best Private Colleges in Tennessee 2024
Other Rankings
- #10 Best Grad Schools in Tennessee 2024
- #3 Best Online Bachelor's in Cybersecurity in Tennessee
- #7 Best Online Colleges in Tennessee 2024
- #9 Best Online Master's Programs in Tennessee 2024
- #10 Best Online Bachelor's in Psychology Degree Programs for Students
- #11 Best Online Bachelor’s in Public Administration Degree Programs for 2024
- #14 Best Online Bachelor’s of Data Science and Analytics Degree Programs for 2024
- #15 Best Online Bachelor’s of Data Science and Analytics Degree Programs for 2024
- #18 Best Online Master’s in Sustainability and Green Technologies
Tuition + fees
$37K
Acceptance
71%
Graduation
69%
Student body
6K
Median SAT/ACT
1225/26
Career Outlook for Counseling degree at Lipscomb University
Cost of Degree: $37,152Expenses: $19,536Starting Salary: $39,243Salary after 4 years: $53,543Cost Recoup Time: 17 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
BA in Professional Studies in Psychology
Concentrations
- Licensed Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor (LADAC)
- Required Credits: 126
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA/BS in Psychology
Concentrations
- Licensed Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor (LADAC)
- Required Credits: 126
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #3 Best Online Associate Degrees in Massachusetts 2024 #5 Best Online Degrees for a Career in Teaching Ranked 2024 #5 Best Online Bachelor’s in Child Development Degree Programs for 2024 #6 Best Online Bachelor's of Cybersecurity Degree Programs in Massachusetts
Other Rankings
- #6 Best Online Associate in Early Childhood Education
- #12 Best Online Bachelor’s of Elementary Education Degree Programs for 2024
- #17 Best Online Bachelor’s of Early Childhood Education Degree Programs for 2024
- #17 Best Online Colleges in Massachusetts 2024
- #20 Best Online Bachelor’s of Education Degree Programs for 2024
- #20 Best Online MBA Programs in Massachusetts
- #24 Best Online Bachelor's in Hospitality and Tourism Degree Programs for 2024
Tuition + fees
$36K
Acceptance
76%
Graduation
47%
Student body
4K
Career Outlook for Counseling degree at Bay Path University
Cost of Degree: $35,781Expenses: $16,499Starting Salary: $34,137Salary after 4 years: $46,577Cost Recoup Time: 17 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
BA in Counseling Foundations
- Required Credits: None Reported
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Foundations In Alcohol And Drug Abuse Counseling
- Required Credits: None Reported
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #2 Best Christian Colleges in Colorado 2024 #7 Best Private Colleges in Colorado 2024 #1 Best Online Associate Degrees in Colorado 2024 #1 Best Online Bachelor's in Cybersecurity in Colorado
Other Rankings
- #2 Best Online Associate in Psychology
- #5 How To Get an Online Master’s Degree in Biblical Studies
- #5 Best Online Colleges in Colorado 2024
- #6 Best Online Associate in Human Resources
- #8 Best Online MBA Programs in Colorado
- #9 Best Online Associate in Biblical Studies
- #10 Fastest Accelerated Online Bachelor's of Accounting Programs
- #13 Best Online Associate in Marketing
- #13 Best Online Bachelor’s of Data Science and Analytics Degree Programs for 2024
- #13 Best Online Bachelor’s in Biblical Studies
- #14 Best Online Associate in Communications
- #14 Best Online Bachelor’s of Data Science and Analytics Degree Programs for 2024
- #15 Best Online Bachelor's in Network Administration Degree Programs for 2024
- #16 Best Online Bachelor’s of Christian Ministry Degree Programs for 2024
- #19 Best Online Bachelor's of Economics Degree Programs for 2024
- #19 Best Online Master's in Economics
- #20 Best Online Master’s in Counseling
- #21 Best Online Associate in Information Technology
- #12 20 Fastest Online Associate's of Business Degree Programs Ranked 2024
Tuition + fees
$18K
Graduation
61%
Student body
16K
Career Outlook for Counseling degree at Colorado Christian University
Cost of Degree: $26,846Expenses: $12,774Starting Salary: $33,985Salary after 4 years: $46,369Cost Recoup Time: 15 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
BS in Applied Psychology
Concentrations
- Clinical Counseling
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion time: 4 years
- Format: Online
- #13 Best CCCU Colleges and Universities 2024 #1 Best Christian Colleges in Virginia 2024 #5 Best Private Colleges in Virginia 2024 #9 Best Research Universities in Virginia 2024
Other Rankings
- #1 Best Online Bachelor’s of Graphic Arts Degree Programs for 2024
- #2 Best Online Bachelor's in Cybersecurity in Virginia
- #2 Best Online Associate in Christian Ministry
- #2 Best Online Bachelor's in Cybersecurity in the District Of Columbia
- #2 Top 15 Fastest Accelerated Online Counseling Doctorates (PhDs)
- #2 Best Online Doctorate of Educational Psychology (PhDs) 2024
- #3 Best Online Associate in History Degrees
- #3 Top 10 Best Online Counseling PhD Degree Programs (Doctorates)
- #3 How To Get an Online Master’s Degree in Biblical Studies
- #3 Best Online Associate Degrees in Virginia 2024
- #3 Top 16 Most Affordable Online Counseling PhDs (Doctorates)
- #3 Best Online Bachelor's in Music Degree Programs Ranked for 2024
- #4 Best Online History Doctorate Degree Programs (PhDs) 2024
- #5 Best Online MBA Programs in Virginia
- #5 Best Online Bachelor's in Law and Legal Studies Degree Programs for 2024
- #5 Best Online Bachelor’s of Christian Ministry Degree Programs for 2024
- #5 Best Online Associate in Psychology
- #6 Best Online Bachelor’s in Biblical Studies
- #6 Fastest Accelerated Online Bachelor's of Information Technology
- #7 Best Online Master's in Organizational Psychology
- #7 Best Online Colleges in Virginia 2024
- #7 Best Online Master's in Theology
- #7 15 Fastest Accelerated Online Master's of Psychology Programs
- #8 Fastest Online Associate Degrees Ranked for 2024
- #8 Best Online MBA in Entrepreneurship Ranked for Students in 2024
- #8 Best Online Master’s in Human Services
- #8 Most Affordable Online PhDs in Psychology Ranked for 2024
- #9 Top 20 Easiest Online Degrees from Accredited Schools in 2024
- #9 Best Online Master's Programs in Virginia 2024
- #9 Top 10 Best Online Communications PhD Degree Programs (Doctorates)
- #10 Best Online Associate in General Studies
- #10 Fastest Accelerated Online Public Health Doctorates (PhDs)
- #10 Best Online Bachelor's of Theology Degree Programs in 2024
- #10 Best Online Bachelor’s of Digital Media for 2024
- #10 Best Online Bachelor's in Computer Science Degree Programs
- #10 Most Affordable Online Applied Behavioral Analysis PhD Programs
- #12 Top 20 Most Affordable Online Bachelor's of Cybersecurity
- #12 20 Fastest Accelerated Online English Doctorates (PhDs) 2024
- #14 Best Online Bachelor's of Economics Degree Programs for 2024
- #14 Best Online Master’s in Biblical Studies
- #15 Best Online Bachelor's in Sports Management Degree Programs for 2024
- #16 Most Affordable Online PhD Programs Ranked for Students in 2024
- #17 Best Online Bachelor's of English Degree Programs for 2024
- #19 Best Online Bachelor’s in Information Technology Degree Programs for 2024
- #21 Best Online Master’s in Emergency Management
- #23 Best Online Bachelor’s of Early Childhood Education Degree Programs for 2024
- #24 Best Online Bachelor’s of History Degree Programs Ranked for 2024
- #24 Best Online Master’s in Counseling
- #10 20 Fastest Accelerated Online MBA Degree Programs Ranked for 2024
Tuition + fees
$20K
Acceptance
32%
Graduation
55%
Student body
14K
Median SAT/ACT
1140/22
Career Outlook for Counseling degree at Regent University
Cost of Degree: $19,680Expenses: $11,182Starting Salary: $34,747Salary after 4 years: $47,409Cost Recoup Time: 12 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
BS in Psychology-Clinical And Counseling
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion time: 4 years
- Format: Online
- #6 Best Public Colleges in Nebraska 2024 #7 Best Small Colleges in Nebraska 2024 #7 Most Affordable Colleges in Nebraska 2024 #9 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Nebraska 2024
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$8K
Graduation
34%
Student body
3K
Career Outlook for Counseling degree at Peru State College
Cost of Degree: $7,920Expenses: $14,226Starting Salary: $30,218Salary after 4 years: $41,102Cost Recoup Time: 11 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
BA in Criminal Justice
Concentrations
- Counseling
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #9 Best Grad Schools in Kentucky 2024 #10 Best Christian Colleges in Kentucky 2024 #14 Best Online MBA Programs in Kentucky #18 Best Online Bachelor’s of Human Services Degree Programs Ranked for 2024
Tuition + fees
$26K
Graduation
37%
Student body
3K
Career Outlook for Counseling degree at Lindsey Wilson College
Cost of Degree: $26,228Expenses: $15,929Starting Salary: $23,850Salary after 4 years: $32,542Cost Recoup Time: 19 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
BS in Human Services And Counseling
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion time: 4 years
- Format: Online
- #10 Best Christian Colleges in Georgia 2024 #7 Best Online Certificate in Liberal Arts and Humanities Ranked for Students #7 Best Online Associate Degrees in Georgia 2024 #14 Best Online Associate in Education
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$22K
Acceptance
68%
Graduation
46%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1115/21
Career Outlook for Counseling degree at Toccoa Falls College
Cost of Degree: $22,350Expenses: $13,600Starting Salary: $24,536Salary after 4 years: $33,477Cost Recoup Time: 17 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
BS in Social Science
Concentrations
- Counseling Psychology
- Required Credits: 126
- Completion time: 48 months
- Format: Online
- #17 Best CCCU Colleges and Universities 2024 #2 Best Christian Colleges in Alabama 2024 #3 Best Private Colleges in Alabama 2024 #4 Best Small Colleges in Alabama 2024
Other Rankings
- #5 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Alabama 2024
- #10 Best Grad Schools in Alabama 2024
- #2 Best Online Associate Degrees in Alabama 2024
- #3 Best Online Colleges in Alabama 2024
- #6 Best Online Associate in Liberal Arts
- #7 Best Online Bachelor’s in Biblical Studies
- #10 Best Online Master's Programs in Alabama 2024
- #11 Best Online Master's in Biology
- #12 Best Online MBA Programs in Alabama
- #15 Best Online Colleges in Alabama 2024
- #17 Best Online Master’s in Biblical Studies
- #25 Best Online Bachelor’s in Liberal Arts and Humanities Degree Programs for 2024
Tuition + fees
$24K
Acceptance
82%
Graduation
33%
Student body
4K
Median SAT/ACT
1040/20
Career Outlook for Counseling degree at Faulkner University
Cost of Degree: $23,920Expenses: $14,420Starting Salary: $31,013Salary after 4 years: $42,314Cost Recoup Time: 15 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
BS in Counseling Psychology
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #6 Best Online Associate Degrees in Ohio 2024 #10 Best Online MBA Programs in Ohio #11 Best Online Colleges in Ohio 2024 #13 Best Online Master's Programs in Ohio 2024
Other Rankings
- #17 Best Online Bachelor’s of Data Science and Analytics Degree Programs for 2024
- #18 Best Online Bachelor’s of Data Science and Analytics Degree Programs for 2024
- #18 Best Online Associate in Christian Ministry
- #22 Best Online Bachelor’s in Biblical Studies
- #23 Best Online Bachelor’s of Digital Media for 2024
Tuition + fees
$23K
Graduation
32%
Student body
2K
Career Outlook for Counseling degree at Ohio Christian University
Cost of Degree: $17,597Expenses: $12,580Starting Salary: $25,146Salary after 4 years: $34,309Cost Recoup Time: 15 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
BA in Substance Abuse Counseling
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
Tuition + fees
$31K
Acceptance
53%
Graduation
33%
Student body
1K
Career Outlook for Counseling degree at Union College, Kentucky
Cost of Degree: $30,065Expenses: $13,861Starting Salary: $27,736Salary after 4 years: $37,844Cost Recoup Time: 18 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
BS in Substance Abuse Counseling
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion time: 4 years
- Format: Online
- #20 Best Liberal Arts Colleges for Religious Studies Degrees #2 Best Online Associate in English #4 Best Online Bachelor's in Religious Studies Degree Programs for 2024 #4 Best Online Bachelor's of Theology Degree Programs in 2024
Other Rankings
- #8 Best Online Associate in Christian Ministry
- #10 Best Online Bachelor's in Philosophy Degree Programs Ranked for 2024
- #10 Best Online Associate Degrees in Texas 2024
- #12 Best Online Associate in Biblical Studies
- #15 Best Online Bachelor's of English Degree Programs for 2024
- #15 Best Online Master’s in Human Services
- #15 Best Online Associate in Human Services
- #17 Best Online Bachelor’s in Biblical Studies
- #19 Best Online Bachelor’s of Christian Ministry Degree Programs for 2024
- #19 Best Online Master's in Theology
- #22 Best Online Bachelor's in Social Work Degree Programs Ranked for 2024
Tuition + fees
$18K
Acceptance
86%
Graduation
42%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1018/19
Career Outlook for Counseling degree at Southwestern Assemblies of God University
Cost of Degree: $17,782Expenses: $15,460Starting Salary: $29,489Salary after 4 years: $40,235Cost Recoup Time: 14 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
BA in Counseling
- Required Credits: 126
- Completion time: 4-5 years
- Format: Online
BS in Human Services Counseling
Concentrations
- Counseling
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion time: 4-5 years
- Format: Online
- #4 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2024 #7 Best Small Colleges in Oklahoma 2024 #7 Cheapest Colleges in Oklahoma 2024 #7 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Oklahoma 2024
Other Rankings
- #7 Best Public Colleges in Oklahoma 2024
- #3 Best Online Bachelor's in Kinesiology Degree Programs for 2024
- #6 Best Online Colleges in Oklahoma 2024
- #7 Best Online Master's Programs in Oklahoma 2024
- #24 Best Online Master's in Sports Management
- #25 Best Online Bachelor's in Interdisciplinary Studies Degree Programs for 2024
Tuition + fees
$7K
Acceptance
70%
Graduation
31%
Student body
4K
Median SAT/ACT
1019/19
Career Outlook for Counseling degree at East Central University
Cost of Degree: $7,405Expenses: $13,514Starting Salary: $32,202Salary after 4 years: $43,800Cost Recoup Time: 10 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
BA in Human Services Counseling
Concentrations
- Aging
- Counseling
- Rehabilitation
- Required Credits: 124
- Completion time: 2-4 years
- Format: Online
- #5 Most Affordable Online Master's Degree Programs Ranked for Students #18 Best Online Bachelor's in Social Work Degree Programs Ranked for 2024
Tuition + fees
$24K
Acceptance
44%
Graduation
31%
Student body
<1K
Median SAT/ACT
870/18
Career Outlook for Counseling degree at Kentucky Christian University
Cost of Degree: $23,700Expenses: $15,496Starting Salary: $27,813Salary after 4 years: $37,948Cost Recoup Time: 16 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
BS in Counseling Psychology
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #5 Best Online Bachelor's in Cybersecurity in South Carolina #6 Best Online MBA Programs in South Carolina #9 Best Online Master's in Biology #10 Best Online MBA Programs in South Carolina
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$22K
Acceptance
98%
Graduation
55%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
995/16
Career Outlook for Counseling degree at Columbia College
Cost of Degree: $18,678Expenses: $16,682Starting Salary: $27,584Salary after 4 years: $37,636Cost Recoup Time: 15 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
BS in Human Services
Concentrations
- Counseling
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion time: 4 years
- Format: Online
- #3 Best Online Bachelor's in Cybersecurity Programs in North Carolina #14 Best Online Colleges in North Carolina 2024 #19 Best Online MBA Programs in North Carolina #23 Best Online Master's Programs in North Carolina 2024
Tuition + fees
$38K
Acceptance
76%
Graduation
41%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1131/24
Career Outlook for Counseling degree at Methodist University
Cost of Degree: $38,138Expenses: $16,878Starting Salary: $33,299Salary after 4 years: $45,433Cost Recoup Time: 18 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
BS in Psychology
Concentrations
- Counseling/Clinical Psychology
- Human Performance Psychology
- Required Credits: 124
- Completion time: 3.5-4.5 years
- Format: Online
- #6 Best Christian Colleges in Georgia 2024 #9 Best Online Bachelor's in Religious Studies Degree Programs for 2024 #16 Best Online Colleges in Georgia 2024
Tuition + fees
$15K
Acceptance
52%
Graduation
18%
Student body
<1K
Career Outlook for Counseling degree at Paine College
Cost of Degree: $14,596Expenses: $13,036Starting Salary: $22,631Salary after 4 years: $30,878Cost Recoup Time: 15 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
BA in Social Science
Concentrations
- Psychology - Counseling
- Required Credits: 124
- Completion time: 48 months
- Format: Online
- #2 Best Christian Colleges in Arizona 2024 #2 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Arizona 2024 #3 Best Private Colleges in Arizona 2024 #3 Best Small Colleges Arizona 2024
Other Rankings
Tuition + fees
$32K
Acceptance
70%
Graduation
45%
Student body
1K
Career Outlook for Counseling degree at Arizona Christian University
Cost of Degree: $31,846Expenses: $19,300Starting Salary: $26,593Salary after 4 years: $36,284Cost Recoup Time: 20 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryOnline Degrees
BA in Behavioral Health
Concentrations
- Counseling
- Coaching
- Required Credits: 30
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Family Studies
Concentrations
- Marriage and Family Practicum
- Family Counseling
- Human Sexuality
- Psychology of Marriage
- Required Credits: 30
- Completion time: None Reported
- Format: Online
Career Outlook for Students with Counseling Degree
Go to Degree Finder toolCounseling Psychology
Degree Level: Bachelor's
- Location: The U.S. (Private Schools)
- Avg. Cost of Degree*: $7,688
- Avg. Expenses*: $13,700
- Avg. Starting Salary*: $30,752
- Avg. Salary after 4 Years*: $41,828
- Avg. Cost Recoup Time**: 10 years
- Job Growth: 4.47%
- Number of Jobs: 1,414,900
- * denotes ‘annually’
- ** denotes ‘at 15% of annual salary’
Career Salaries
Career | Job Growth | Avg. Salary |
---|---|---|
Human Resources Managers | 5.22% | $115,604 |
Training and Development Managers | 6.54% | $111,455 |
Managers, All Other | 3.34% | $106,040 |
Industrial-Organizational Psychologists | 4.95% | $103,134 |
Psychologists, All Other | 4.97% | $99,205 |
Average Career Salaries
Bottom 10% | Median | Top 10% |
---|---|---|
$52,579 | $90,945 | $142,495 |
Promising Job Markets
State | Cost of Living | Avg. Salary |
---|---|---|
#2 Delaware | 2% higher than average | $124,685 |
#3 Ohio | 14% higher than average | $95,085 |
#4 New Jersey | 13% higher than average | $124,557 |
#5 Virginia | 5% higher than average | $102,824 |
#6 Texas | 10% higher than average | $96,358 |
Top Industries
Industry | Avg. Salary |
---|---|
Human Resources Managers | $115,604 |
Training and Development Managers | $111,455 |
Managers, All Other | $106,040 |
Online Counseling Programs Looking for You
Online Degree Frequently Asked Questions
If this is your first time taking an online course, the experience may require a time of adjustment. Although you’ll typically learn the same material and take the same exams as your on-campus peers, going online will require greater independence and responsibility than going in person. You’ll be accountable for your own time management, for harnessing the online educational technology that you’ll need to use, and for completing the course requirements, such as listening to lectures, learning lessons, reading texts, and handing in assignments. This means you’ll need to create a suitable workspace for yourself, maintain a realistic schedule, and take the initiative in building relationships with your instructors and classmates. With online college, your goal is to find a balance between independence and engagement.
No. The only part of online education that’s easier than campus-based education is ease of access: all you need is a computer and an internet connection for online education. But even this seeming advantage of online education can be misleading: what’s easier, studying online with your computer and internet connection from your home where you need to cook, clean, pay rent, and maintain a job? Or studying on campus in a dorm where all your living needs are handled by the school, and college staff are there to help you every step of the way?
If you take the commute to campus out of the equation, campus-based education is easier. All the support structures available on campus for students, especially with real people to help you in person, are not there online. The demands on you as an online student will largely be the same as for your campus-based counterpart, but without the same helps.
In general, your online courses will present the same material and test you in the same way as traditional in-person courses. In many cases, you’ll even have the same instructors as your on-campus counterparts. In fact, if you are adjusting to the experience of independent learning with remote educational technology for the first time, online college may be considerably more challenging than campus-based college. For a few insights on how to manage this new online experience, check out our 10 Tips for Adjusting to School Online.
Accreditation is especially important when it comes to online college. This is because the online education landscape is a mix of highly-reputable non-profit institutions on the one end and less-than-reputable for-profit institutions on the other end. Accreditation gives you the power to identify the more reputable actors in online education. Accreditation is a stamp of approval from an independent accrediting agency indicating that a college or university is meeting standards of quality and credibility. School-wide accreditation falls into two major categories: regional and national accreditation. Regional accreditors generally hold jurisdiction only over schools in the states comprising their region, whereas national accreditors hold jurisdiction over schools in all states. Regional accreditation is widely regarded as a more rigorous standard of quality and credibility than national accreditation.
Attending a college or university that is not regionally accredited could limit your opportunities. For students seeking an online education, we strongly recommend that they opt for regionally accredited schools. Regional accreditation ensures eligibility for federal loans and grants, ensures your college credits can be transferred between schools, and ensures that your degree credits can be accepted if you wish to earn an advanced degree. For more on this important topic, check out our What is Accreditation and Why Does It Matter? College & University Accreditation Guide.
As long as your online college degree is regionally accredited (see the previous point), you should have little difficulty transferring most of your credits or credentials to another regionally accredited undergraduate school. Every school carries its own standards and procedures for granting a transfer of credits. In many cases, you will encounter some bureaucratic haggling in which some of your credits will be transferred and others may be refused. However, provided that you have attended an online school with recognized regional accreditation, you should be in good shape in transferring your credits earned online.
In most cases, as long you graduate from a well-regarded, regionally-accredited online college, prospective employers won’t look sideways at your degree. In fact, unless you attend an exclusively online college or university, there will likely be no specific indicator on your degree, transcript, or resumé differentiating your school from its brick-and-mortar counterpart. This means that your employer will likely only differentiate between an online and in-person degree if you mention this distinction.
Some employers may express the concern that because you did your degree online, you may need to transition from an online education experience to in-person workplace experience. But in an age of Covid, that concern seems much diminished. The fact is that much employment these days is remote. And collaboration increasingly happens online over Zoom. Many employers will therefore view your online degree as evidence of valuable 21st century professional skills such as independence, self-motivation, time management, and tech savvy.
If you are a student who thrives on the dynamic energy of in-person discussion, who requires the physical surroundings of a classroom to feel engaged, or who considers the social aspects of education to be of equal importance to the actual content of your courses, online education will be less than ideal for you (though depending on your circumstances, it may also be the only viable option).
While there is much in traditional campus-based education that can be substituted or simulated through the online medium, some students may find that there is nothing that can replace the conversation, collaboration, and motivation that occur in an actual in-person classroom setting. As you transition to online education, one of the biggest challenges you will likely face in getting the most out of your online classes is overcoming this difference between “real reality” and “virtual reality.” Fortunately, we’ve got some great Tips for Online Education Beginners.
The advantages of online classes are many. Above all, online courses give you the freedom and flexibility to attend class from anywhere that works for you, whether you’re at home, in a coffee shop, or in a quiet conference room at work. In many cases, you’ll also enjoy the convenience of asynchronous learning opportunities-educational experiences that you can complete at your own pace and on your own schedule. This may include pre-taped lectures, ongoing chat-board discussions, and 24/7 access to digital materials. And of course, just as there are some learners who prefer the energy of a live classroom, there are those who learn best when working in their own personal space, free from distractions. If this sounds like you, you might find the solitude of online learning to be a major advantage.
Resources for Online College-Bound Students
Whether you’re just getting started on your college search, you’re looking for survival tips on your way to a bachelor’s degree, or you’re preparing for the transition into grad school, we’ve got guides, how to’s and tons of other valuable resources to keep you moving forward in your educational journey.