Bachelor’s in Counseling Program Guide

Mental health is as important to a person’s life as physical health — and with over 130,000 mental health counselors currently working in the U.S., Americans take mental health seriously. Want to join their numbers? An on-campus or online counseling degree is a great first step. Check out the basics you need to know about counseling degrees.

A bachelor’s degree in counseling is usually completed over four years, although it may take longer if you’re studying part time. It could also take less time if you transfer credits or enroll in an accelerated counseling program.

If you’re studying counseling, you can expect to learn the fundamentals of psychology, sociology, and social work.

A counseling degree can lead to graduate studies in psychology, social work, or counseling. After going to graduate school, you’ll qualify to work as a counselor.

If you’re interested in the human mind and mental health and want a career helping people, a counseling degree could be a great fit for you.

Counseling degrees can be personalized to suit your interests, even as you complete your core courses and general education requirements. Some programs offer the opportunity to specialize in subfields, like substance use counseling or community mental health.

With that in mind, here are some foundational courses you might encounter during your counseling degree:

Ready to start your counseling degree? Well, you’ll need to choose a program and apply. Here are some things to bear in mind as you’re looking for the best program for you.

A bachelor’s in counseling takes an average of four years to complete, or around 120 credits.

If you already have college credits, however, such as from AP exams or community college classes, this can shorten the length of your program. Just make sure your college accepts the transfer credits.

Once you’ve decided you want to pursue a bachelor’s degree in counseling, you’ll need to apply as you would for any college program.

Application requirements (and acceptance rates) will vary from school to school, but here are a few things you’ll likely need to submit:

According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the average cost of tuition and required fees at four-year schools in 2022-23 was $17,709. If you’re studying on campus, that figure will increase due to the cost of room and board, which averaged over $13,000 per year in 2022-23. Students studying online may be able to save by living at home.

Either way, you should look at the total cost across multiple years (however many you expect to take depending on transfer credits) when calculating costs.

Once you’ve finished your counseling degree, it’s time to celebrate! But what comes next? Here are some considerations for what comes after graduation.

Once you’ve earned your counseling degree, you’ll be able to choose from a variety of jobs. You can apply for some roles, such as community health worker or substance abuse counselor, directly after graduating. However, other positions — like mental health counselor or psychologist — require a graduate degree.

Whichever job you set your sights on, though, your job prospects are looking good: the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects strong growth in mental health-related jobs through 2033, including especially strong growth in jobs for mental health counselors.

As you can see below, there is a range of salaries you can expect with a counseling degree depending on what job you take after graduation. You can expect to earn anywhere from around $45,000 per year to over six figures, although some higher-paying roles may involve business or administrative aspects as well as health:

If you’re interested in graduate studies after your counseling degree, you have several opportunities to choose from. Which option is the best for you will depend on your career aspirations.

For instance, if you want to become a social worker, you’ll typically need a master of social work (MSW) and state license.

On the other hand, if you want to work in research or academia, you could pursue a master’s degree or doctorate in psychology.

If you would like to work as a therapist or mental health counselor, you will need to complete a master’s degree in counseling and get your state license.

Before you enroll in an on-campus or online counseling degree program, make sure it’s the right fit for you. Here are some key factors to consider.

Before enrolling, you’ll want to know how much your degree will cost and whether it’s a good investment. Be sure to check not only tuition costs but also financial aid opportunities.

You should also explore funding options outside your school, including federal grants, federally subsidized student loans, and private aid.

It’s vital that your degree program is from an accredited school — this means your degree will be recognized as legitimate by future employers and grad schools. Check the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) website to make sure your desired school is accredited.

There are multiple ways you can earn a degree in counseling. Consider if you want to study on campus, with the resources and social opportunities that it provides, or if you prefer the flexibility and cost-saving opportunities of studying online.

If you decide on an online program, you should also consider whether the classes are synchronous vs. asynchronous.

Note: The insights on this page were reviewed by an independent third party compensated for their time by BestColleges. Page last reviewed June 13, 2024.