Best Online Counseling Degree Programs

Treating mental health conditions is becoming more commonplace, and counselors play a role in this epoch.

According to a 2022 Gallup poll, 23% of Americans visited a mental health professional in 2022, up from just 13% in 2004. Therefore, it should come as little surprise that employment of substance use, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors is projected to grow by 19% from 2023 to 2033, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Enrolling in an online counseling program has many benefits, as the first step in becoming a licensed counselor is to earn a bachelor’s degree in counseling or a related field.

When trying to find the best online counseling degree program for you, you’ll want to consider factors such as cost, program length, application requirements, and whether the program is accredited by a reputable agency.

Online counseling degree program costs can vary widely from institution to institution.

One primary cost differentiator is whether you would be considered an in-state or out-of-state student. This difference is based on your official address of residence, and most public colleges and universities charge significantly reduced tuition to in-state students. In some instances, out-of-state tuition can be four times more expensive than in-state tuition.

The type of institutions will also impact costs. The annual net price of attendance for fully online institutions is typically cheapest at public colleges and universities ($11,920), according to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). Costs tend to be higher if you attend a private, nonprofit ($15,450) or private, for-profit ($20,240) school.

Federal, state, and institutional aid can help you meet these costs. Grants and scholarships are preferable, as you won’t need to pay back these funds.

Most bachelor’s in counseling programs are designed to be completed in four years. However, in practice, only about 65% of bachelor’s program students finish within six years, according to 2023 data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center (NSCRC).

Rayelle Davis, a licensed clinical professional counselor, advises not to rush your degree. “It’s tempting to want to finish as soon as possible, but overloading your schedule can make it take longer if it causes you to have to repeat classes. Some online programs allow you to take classes at your own pace or offer a variety of start dates throughout the year,” Davis says. “By choosing a program that works best for your lifestyle and academic needs, you can avoid common setbacks and achieve your goal.”

There are some accelerated online counseling degree programs across the U.S. These programs, however, typically do not shorten the time to earn a bachelor’s degree. Instead, you would take graduate-level courses while pursuing a bachelor’s so that you can earn your subsequent master’s degree more quickly.

Attending an accredited online counseling program ensures that your degree will have value, that your program meets certain standards, and that you can receive federal financial aid.

The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) is the primary programmatic accreditor for counseling programs. You’ll want to ensure that the online program you choose is accredited by CACREP or another agency recognized by the Department of Education. Most schools list on their website what agency they are accredited by, or you can search the accreditor’s database directly.

A bachelor’s in counseling degree is a good first step in becoming a counselor, but you’ll likely need a master’s degree to fully break into the profession. That’s because most states require a minimum of a master’s degree and 1,000 hours of supervised clinical experience to become a licensed counselor.

Still, a bachelor’s degree can equip you with the skills necessary to work alongside licensed counselors in some roles. For example, with a bachelor’s degree, you can work as a mental health technician to administer counseling and care to patients under the supervision of a psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse.

Most states allow addiction counselors to practice in a limited scope with just a bachelor’s degree. However, if you want to become a licensed mental health counselor, you’ll need to earn a master’s degree.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Counseling is a fast-growing profession. According to the BLS, employment of substance use, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors is projected to grow by 19% from 2023 to 2033. That’s much faster than the average projected job growth rate of 4% across all professions.

In a 2024 BestColleges survey, 92% of online psychology, education, and social sciences students and graduates said they believe that their online degree has had or will have a positive return on investment.

The benefits of an online counseling degree include the flexibility to decide when you watch lectures or turn in assignments. Many online students also enjoy the ability to continue working while pursuing a degree.

On the other hand, online degree programs typically offer fewer networking opportunities for students.

An online counseling degree may be worth it if you intend to pursue a master’s degree in counseling or psychology. This allows you to become a licensed counselor and earn an average starting salary of $61,594, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE).

It is recommended that you pursue a master’s or doctoral degree after earning a bachelor’s in counseling degree.

Most jobs in the counseling or psychology field — including licensed mental health counselor — require a graduate degree. Many states won’t allow you to practice as a counselor until you have earned at least a master’s degree and undergone 1,000 hours of supervised clinical practice.

“With a bachelor’s degree, you can gain relevant experience in the mental health field, but career options are generally limited to entry-level or supportive roles,” Davis says. “A master’s degree opens the doors to many career options … to provide psychotherapy, diagnose mental health disorders, and have your own practice.”

In 2017, approximately 44% of people with a bachelor’s in psychology degree also earned a graduate degree, according to the American Psychological Association.