An online degree in school counseling or educational counseling can provide current education professionals with the knowledge and skills they need to take their careers to the next level. Administrators and teachers who wish to pursue work as academic advisors, educational psychologists, guidance counselors, or in educational assessment will likely need an advanced degree in a relevant field. In addition, a Master’s in Educational Counseling can open up doors for students looking to enter the field of educational counseling for the first time. The following is a list of the top 10 Master’s in Educational Counseling degrees online.
Methodology
In order to help students choose the best school to meet their academic and career goals as they relate to educational counseling, we took the liberty of compiling the following ranking based on a specific set of factors. To start, we used the College Navigator Tool at the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) website and conducted a search for the term “Master’s in Educational Counseling degree online.” We were provided with an initial pool of 40 schools that matched our search terms, and we then narrowed down these results to find the top 10 institutions based on the following ranking methodology.
Average Cost of Graduate Attendance
When beginning the search for a potential school, most students first look at each institution’s cost of attendance. Unfortunately, some may automatically be drawn to those with the most inexpensive rates, despite the fact that these schools may not offer high-quality, accredited programs. For the purpose of this ranking, we have given more points to the more affordable schools while still taking into consideration accreditation and quality of the programs offered.
Points:
Under $20,000 per year: 3 points
$20,001 to $24,999 per year: 2 points
$25,000+ per year: 1 point
College Ranking
U.S. News & World Report and other similar American media companies are responsible for analyzing schools across the country, ranking each institution’s tuition rates, quality of degrees, the degrees offered, and other factors to develop lists comparing schools to one another. For the purpose of our list, we provided more points to those institutions that ranked higher on these national lists in categories that include specific academic programs, national rankings, regional statuses, and overall value.
Points:
U.S. News & World Report: Best Regional University, Best Value School, and Top Public School Ranking
Top 50: 3 points
Top 100: 2 points
Top 150: 1 point
U.S. News & World Report: Best National University, Best Education School, Graduate Psychology Program, Graduate Education Program Ranking:
Top 50: 5 points
Top 100: 3 points
Top 150: 2 point
Top 200: 1 point
Accreditation
Aside from tuition and ranking, one of the most important factors to look at when analyzing schools is whether or not they are accredited. Accreditation indicates that the school has undergone a peer-review process and that the institution meets or exceeds high standards of quality in areas such as its faculty, the quality of its programs, and the overall student learning experience. In this list, all schools hold regional accreditation, but we awarded additional points for program-specific accreditation.
Points:
American Psychological Association: 3 points
Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP): 3 points
Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), which includes the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and the Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC): 3 points
Regional Accreditation: 2 points
Ranking Master’s in Educational Counseling
10. Creighton University
Omaha, Nebraska
Points: 14
Program Website
Founded in 1878 and located just outside of Omaha on a 140-acre urban campus, Creighton University is the largest private religious university in Nebraska. The school offers an online M.S. in School Counseling and Preventive Mental Health. The 36-credit-hour program provides students with their choice of three tracks: PK-12 School Counseling, Secondary School Guidance Counselors, or Elementary School Guidance Counselors. Before choosing a track, however, all students must complete 24 hours of required courses. Core classes delve into areas of educational counseling such as career perspectives for children and adolescents, social justice and diversity in school counseling, and data-driven perspectives in school counseling.
Degree Options:
Master of Science in School Counseling and Preventive Mental Health
Average Program Cost: $10,080
U.S. News & World Report Ranking:
#1 (tie) in Regional Universities Midwest
#4 in Best Value Schools
Accreditations:
National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE)
Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
9. Indiana Wesleyan University
Marion, Indiana
Points: 16
Program Website
Located 85 miles northeast of Indianapolis, Indiana Wesleyan University is a private Christian school based in the city of Marion and affiliated with the Wesleyan Church. IWU provides an online M.A. in School Counseling program that integrates counseling practice and theory with Christian morals, training students to serve as professional counselors in school settings who can address each student’s social and academic needs. The curriculum includes a six-credit internship, a three-credit practicum, a three-credit elective class, nine credits in specialization classes, and a 27-credit program core. Although coursework is delivered mostly online, students are required to attend two weekend on-campus intensive sessions.
Degree Options:
Master of Arts With a Major in School Counseling
Average Program Cost: $13,104
U.S. News & World Report Ranking:
#32 (tie) in Regional Universities Midwest
#67 in Best Value Schools
Accreditations:
Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
8. North Carolina Central University
Durham, North Carolina
Points: 16
Program Website
North Carolina Central University in Durham, North Carolina offers an online career counseling program that is the only online CACREP-accredited program of its kind in the country. Students are prepared to work as career counselors in academic settings such as colleges as well as in other business and professional environments. Every student must complete 700 hours of supervised field experience before graduating as well as 48 semester-hours of coursework. Students may choose to add additional master’s degrees in school counseling or clinical mental health counseling, and field placement opportunities are available in each student’s geographical region.
Degree Options:
Online Career Counselor Program
Average Program Cost: $6,006
U.S. News & World Report Ranking:
#22 in Top Public Schools
#64 in Regional Universities South
Accreditations:
Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
7. Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Points: 17
Program Website
Founded in 1834 to cater to Baptist ministers, Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina has grown into a nonsectarian university that offers online and on-campus undergraduate and graduate degrees. Wake Forest offers a 60-hour, CACREP-accredited online master’s degree in school counseling that offers clinical instruction through internship and practicum experiences across areas such as professional orientation, research and program evaluation, appraisal, career and lifestyle development, group work, helping relationships, social and cultural foundations, and human growth and development. All students complete a final capstone course in which they compile an e-portfolio of their work and give a presentation about what they’ve learned throughout the program.
Degree Options:
Online Master’s in School Counseling
Average Program Cost: $42,600
U.S. News & World Report Ranking:
#24 in Best Value Schools
#27 (tie) in National Universities
Accreditations:
Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE)
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
6. Oregon State University
Corvallis, Oregon
Points: 20
Program Website
With a total enrollment of more than 30,000 students, Oregon State University is the largest school in the state and home to one of the largest distance education programs in the region. The school’s Master of Counseling degree with an option in school counseling builds skills in individual and group counseling, action research, leadership, consultation, advocacy, and system change. Throughout the 75-credit curriculum, graduates are prepared to deliver counseling programs to K-12 students of all backgrounds. The program is held in a hybrid format, combining classroom learning and online coursework with two campus-based intensive sessions held in Salem every term. Online and in-person practicum and internship experiences are also required.
Degree Options:
Master of Counseling (M.Coun.) With an Option in School Counseling
Average Program Cost: $13,450
U.S. News & World Report Ranking:
#70 (tie) in Top Public Schools
#116 in Best Value Schools
#130 in Best Education Schools
#140 (tie) in National Universities
#148 (tie) in Psychology
Accreditations:
Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE)
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
5. University of Nebraska Kearney
Kearney, Nebraska
Points: 20
Program Website
Located in Kearney, Nebraska, the University of Kearney Nebraska offers a blended online graduate degree in educational counseling in which students complete 75 percent of the coursework online and the remaining 25 percent via an on-campus residency during the summer. Students can choose from a specialization in either secondary education covering grades seven through 12 or elementary education cover prekindergarten through sixth grade. Both specializations consist of 43 credit hours of coursework and prepare students to provide valuable assistance to students and become an important part of the educational leadership team.
Degree Options:
Master of Science in Education in School Counseling Elementary PK-6 or Secondary 7-12
Average Program Cost: $7,617
U.S. News & World Report Ranking:
#10 (tie) in Top Public Schools
#47 in Best Value Schools
#53 (tie) in Regional Universities Midwest
Accreditations:
Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
4. Texas A&M University
College Station, Texas
Points: 22
Program Website
Texas A&M, located in College Station, Texas, offers a master’s degree in educational psychology with a school counseling specialization. Depending on their scheduling preferences, students can choose from an asynchronous or synchronous delivery format. The 48-credit-hour curriculum includes an educational psychology core in areas such as school counseling theories and techniques, career counseling in schools, and issues in child and adolescent development. Elective courses cover special needs individuals, measurements and evaluation in education, and the transition from school to work. A two-semester supervised internship is required in order to graduate from the program.
Degree Options:
M.Ed. in Educational Psychology With an Emphasis in School Counseling
Average Program Cost: $10,096
U.S. News & World Report Ranking:
#24 (tie) in Top Public Schools
#37 in Best Education Schools
#44 in Best Value Schools
#66 in Psychology
#66 (tie) in National Universities
Accreditations:
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
3. University of Missouri
Columbia, Missouri
Points: 23
Program Website
Also known as Mizzou, the University of Missouri is a public, land-grant research university located in Columbia, Missouri. The school was founded as the first public post-secondary institution west of the Mississippi River in 1839. Students can pursue a 34-credit-hour master’s degree in education in educational, school, and counseling psychology with an emphasis in mental health practices in schools. The program is available entirely online with no requirements for campus visits. Coursework covers diversity, evidence-based programs, effective intervention resources and strategies, collaboration with families and professionals, and assessing, identifying, and managing atypical behaviors.
Degree Options:
Master of Education in Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology With an Emphasis in Mental Health Practices in Schools
Average Program Cost: $14,734
U.S. News & World Report Ranking:
#45 in Psychology
#46 in Best Education Schools
#61 (tie) in Top Public Schools
#78 in Best Value Schools
#129 (tie) in National Universities
Accreditations:
Teacher Education Accreditation Council (TEAC)
Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
2. North Carolina State University
Raleigh, North Carolina
Points: 25
Program Website
Located in Raleigh, North Carolina, North Carolina State University is a space-, sea-, and land-grant institution and part of the University of North Carolina System. The school’s M.Ed. in School Counseling with a focus on educational leadership, policy, and human development qualifies graduates for K-12 school counselor licensure. The online option is a part-time, three-year cohort program that requires year-round coursework, and students study both clinical counseling practice and theory as well as multicultural diversity, group counseling, and techniques of counseling. An internship is required prior to graduation, and students are eligible for K-12 school counselor licenses in North Carolina upon completing the training program.
Degree Options:
Master of Education in School Counseling – Educational Leadership, Policy, and Human Development
Average Program Cost: $12,228
U.S. News & World Report Ranking:
#32 (tie) in Top Public Schools
#46 in Best Education Schools
#55 in Best Value Schools
#80 (tie) in National Universities
#112 in Psychology
Accreditations:
Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
1. University of Georgia
Athens, Georgia
Points: 26
Program Website
Founded in 1785, the University of Georgia sits on a 762-acre main campus in Athens, Georgia, and it is one of three schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the U.S. The M.Ed. in Educational Psychology features an applied cognition and development track designed for students who prefer to approach educational psychology from a research standpoint. The curriculum explores how human motivation and development can affect classroom experiences. Students are entered in a cohort of 10 students and must complete a minimum of 34 credit hours of coursework in order to graduate.
Degree Options:
M.Ed. in Educational Psychology, Applied Cognition & Development
Average Program Cost: $12,484
U.S. News & World Report Ranking:
#13 (tie) in Top Public Schools
#37 in Best Education Schools
#46 (tie) in National Universities
#84 in Best Value Schools
Accreditations:
Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
Frequently Asked Questions
What are My Career Options for a Master’s in Educational Counseling Degree?
School counselors are agents of change, both at the school and the individual level. Educational counselors not only advocate on behalf of their students and the profession but they also providing counseling for students from kindergarten to high school, empowering them to reach their potential. A career in educational counseling may also grow beyond the school. Some career paths include:
- Postsecondary Teacher
- School and Career Counselor
- School Psychologist
- Substance Abuse Counselor
- Marriage and Family Therapist
What Curriculum Can You Expect in an Online Master’s Program in Educational Counseling?
The exact courses students can expect in an online master’s degree in educational counseling will vary from school to school, and this may be a deciding factor when choosing a program. However, most institutions provide a similar core curriculum. Classes you may encounter include:
- Counseling Techniques: From modern practical techniques to foundational theory, all master’s degrees in educational counseling offer courses that teach the most appropriate and effective skills.
- Ethical and Legal Issues: There are numerous legal and ethical restrictions in counseling that aim to protect counselors and students. Every graduate student must take at least one course in this area to understand their limitations and rights.
- Internship/Fieldwork: Fieldwork and internships are common in online and on-campus master’s programs in educational counseling as they allow students to gain hands-on, real-world experience before they set out on their career path.
This concludes our ranking of the Top 10 Master’s in Educational Counseling online degree programs.
By OPD Staff