Best Counseling Psychology Master’s Programs 2024
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Best Counseling Psychology Master’s Programs 2024
If helping people see their strengths and cope with life’s challenges appeals to you, a master’s in counseling psychology will allow you to directly help people with mental health challenges.
As a counseling psychologist, you’ll provide resources and teach patients’ coping strategies to improve their well-being. With a master’s in counseling psychology, you can choose to specialize in family therapy, social work, school counseling, addiction, and many others.
You’ll do great in any of these roles if you’re committed to promoting social justice, cultural sensitivity, and positive change in the patients you meet.
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
2024 Best Counseling Psychology Master’s Programs
Boston University
Boston, MA- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$58,560
- Out-of-state$58,560
- In-State$58,560
- Out-of-state$58,560
- Retention Rate94%
- Acceptance Rate19%
- Students Enrolled36,104
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment15%
- AccreditationYes
California State University-Long Beach
- Long Beach, CA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$5,742
- Out-of-state$17,622
- In-State$7,176
- Out-of-state$16,680
- Retention Rate87%
- Acceptance Rate47%
- Students Enrolled40,190
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment87%
- AccreditationYes
Lehigh University
- Bethlehem, PA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$56,980
- Out-of-state$56,980
- In-State$27,000
- Out-of-state$27,000
- Retention Rate94%
- Acceptance Rate46%
- Students Enrolled7,263
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment19%
- AccreditationYes
Pepperdine University
- Malibu, CA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$59,450
- Out-of-state$59,450
- In-State$37,300
- Out-of-state$37,300
- Retention Rate93%
- Acceptance Rate53%
- Students Enrolled10,446
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment36%
- AccreditationYes
Auburn University
- Auburn, AL
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$10,080
- Out-of-state$30,240
- In-State$10,080
- Out-of-state$30,240
- Retention Rate93%
- Acceptance Rate71%
- Students Enrolled31,526
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment46%
- AccreditationYes
University of Central Florida
- Orlando, FL
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$4,478
- Out-of-state$19,810
- In-State$6,916
- Out-of-state$25,759
- Retention Rate92%
- Acceptance Rate36%
- Students Enrolled70,310
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment9%
- AccreditationYes
Loyola University Maryland
- Baltimore, MD
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$52,130
- Out-of-state$52,130
- In-State$18,540
- Out-of-state$18,540
- Retention Rate88%
- Acceptance Rate84%
- Students Enrolled5,140
- Institution TypePrivate
- Percent Online Enrollment27%
- AccreditationYes
How We Rank Schools
To create this ranking, BestColleges sourced the most recent data available from the National Center for Education Statistics and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. We then ranked each school according to the top variables college students selected in our College Choice and Admissions Survey. To learn more, check out our full rankings methodology or read the summary below.
What Can I Do With a Master’s in Counseling Psychology?
With a master’s in counseling psychology degree, you can open pathways to various jobs in mental health. You can pursue rewarding roles, such as a crisis counselor, career counselor, or addiction counselor, and provide support to individuals, groups, and families facing psychological distress. Some counseling psychology roles require you to diagnose and treat mental health conditions.
Regarding annual wages, you can earn anywhere from $57,010 as a licensed professional counselor (LPC) to $110,710 as a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC), providing counseling and psychotherapy services. Clinical and counseling psychologists take home around $96,100 per year, but require a doctorate and licensure.
These are just a few of the job paths for counseling professionals with master’s degrees that offer meaningful work experience with healthy salaries in a growing field.
| Job | Job Description | Salary |
|---|---|---|
| School and Career Counselor | Works in schools to advise students on their academic and career pathways. | $61,710 |
| Crisis Counselor | Provides immediate support to people in crises, including suicide intervention. | $59,340 |
| Rehabilitation Counselor | Helps people who are recovering from illnesses and injuries live more independently, providing services like career counseling. | $44,040 |
| Substance Use and Mental Health Counselor | Helps people recover from substance misuse and mental health conditions. | $53,710 |
| Family Therapist | Advises families in distress on a range of issues, like navigating divorce and the loss of a child. | $58,510 |
| Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) | Applies psychotherapy techniques to help people resolve mental health issues. | $110,710 |
| Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) | Provides counseling services to people who are experiencing psychological and behavioral challenges. | $57,010 |
What Can I Expect From a Master’s in Counseling Psychology Program?
Master’s in counseling psychology programs tend to take between two and three years to complete. Part-time students may spend as long as five years earning their degree.
You might enroll in an accelerated program to earn your degree as fast as 18 months, although most accelerated programs are reserved for those who want to earn a dual bachelor’s-master’s in counseling psychology. You can complete these programs in 5-6 years.
As you explore schools, you’ll see that most programs require students to earn between 48 and 90 credits, and you’ll pay between $400 and $1,518 per credit, depending on which college or university you choose.
Some programs offer graduate assistantships. With a graduate assistantship, you’ll receive financial support from the school in exchange for your professional development — you might teach or conduct research for the university.
Master’s in Counseling Psychology Specializations
- Marriage and family therapy: Family and marriage therapists work with couples and families to resolve issues that may arise in relationships. You’ll learn how to apply a variety of psychotherapy techniques to help clients overcome relationship and mental health challenges.
- Trauma and crisis counseling: Trauma and crisis counselors help people overcome trauma, such as the loss of a loved one or major life changes. This specialization will show you how to teach coping skills and provide support, education, and resources to help reduce post-traumatic stress.
- Forensic psychology: Forensic psychology applies psychological principles to the legal system. Your job would be to assess the mental state of people involved in legal proceedings and to design intervention programs. You would conduct psychological assessments and research, provide expert testimony in court, and provide psychological insight into legal matters.
- Health psychology: Health psychology explores the biological, psychological, and social impacts of mental health. With a specialization in health psychology, you’d use psychological science to develop strategies to improve patients’ emotional and physical well-being.
- Child and adolescent psychology: Child and adolescent psychology specialists work with young people to improve their mental health, teach them coping skills, and help them overcome mental health and life challenges. Choose this specialization, and you’d collaborate with families to address a range of mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and behavioral challenges.
Where Do Counseling Psychology Professionals Work?
Hospitals
Counseling professionals who work in hospitals help patients cope with psychological challenges related to illnesses, injuries, and extended hospital visits. You can expect to conduct one-on-one and group counseling sessions, helping patients navigate difficult life changes and access resources.
Schools
As a school psychologist, you’ll provide a safe space for students to discuss their thoughts and experiences. You’ll help them develop healthy coping mechanisms and navigate life’s challenges as they struggle with school, relationships, anxiety, depression, and career decisions.
Private Practice
In a private practice, you’ll run your own clinic, where you’ll provide therapy to individual patients, families, and groups. You’ll have the autonomy to set your own schedule, choose your clients, and determine your therapeutic approach — like cognitive behavioral therapy or humanistic therapy — while helping clients cope with everyday challenges.
Mental Health Facilities
As a professional counselor, you might feel at home in a mental health facility, where you’ll assess, diagnose, and treat mental health conditions. You’ll conduct interviews and counseling sessions to assess these conditions and provide individual or group counseling services to help people adjust to changing life circumstances. You may also refer patients to a psychologist or psychiatrist for further diagnosis and treatment.
Corporations
Counseling professionals in corporations work to create supportive, productive workplace environments. You’d help employees manage interpersonal relationships that affect their health and work performance. You’d also provide individual or group counseling services and consult with management and human resources to address employees’ mental health challenges and workplace performance optimization.
Master’s in Counseling Psychology vs. Clinical Psychology: What’s the Difference?
Both clinical and counseling professionals work to help people improve their mental health, but each professional takes a different approach.
Clinical psychology master’s program
In a clinical psychology master’s program, you’ll undergo extensive training to address and diagnose mental health conditions like schizophrenia, depression, and bipolar disorder.
Counseling psychology master’s program
In a counseling psychology master’s program, you’ll help people with less similar mental health conditions and everyday life stressors. You’ll focus on patient strengths, teach them coping mechanisms, and promote advocacy and social justice.
Frequently Asked Questions About Counseling Psychology Master’s Programs
Completing a master’s in counseling psychology program is certainly worth it if you want a career in mental health or school counseling. The field pays a median annual salary of $96,100 and offers rewarding opportunities in a variety of settings.
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