Online CACREP-Accredited School Counseling Degrees for 2025

Why We Chose This School: 

CU’s M.Ed. in school counseling is an online program that reflects Christian principles. We like that the 48-credit master’s is taught by faculty with extensive K-12 counseling and education experience. The program introduces core approaches to school counseling and educational systems. 

The MESC curriculum explores topics such as substance use, college and career readiness, and cultural competency. The program includes three internship opportunities, where students receive real-world, professional clinical experience in supervised school counseling settings. Coursework combines online and on-site requirements and is offered in eight-week terms. 

Highlights:

• Reduced tuition rate for active military members 
• Personal online academic advisor throughout enrollment 
• Six start dates in spring, summer, and fall 

Considerations:

• No electives 
• Employer tuition reimbursement not accepted 

Why We Chose This School: 

Seton Hall’s MA in school counseling prepares students to become effective and socially conscious school counselors in diverse K-12 educational settings. The 48-credit program, offered in a convenient online format, consists of core counseling and clinical courses, psychological and sociological foundations, a practicum experience, and two internships.

We like that master's program students can earn a dual-degree Ed.S. in professional counseling by completing just 12-18 additional credits. Distance learners have access to student support services, including 24/7 technological assistance, wellness and career advising, and an academic resource center.

Highlights:

• Rolling admissions throughout the year 
• No prerequisite or counseling courses required 
• Meets credentialing requirements for school counseling certification set by the New Jersey State Board of Education
• One of the lowest online tuition rates of the schools on this list

Considerations:

• Requires two, weekend-long, on-site residencies at the beginning of the program and during the second year
• Limit of six transfer credits accepted 

Why We Chose This School: 

The master’s in counselor education at NC State fulfills the educational requirements for both the North Carolina school counselor license and the clinical mental health counselor associate (LCMHCA) credential. We like the 60-credit M.Ed. emphasizes a scientific-practitioner approach, diversity and multiculturalism, and clinical counseling theory and practice.

The curriculum includes courses in gender issues, counseling couples and families, and crisis interventions. Students receive hands-on school counseling experience in a 100-hour practicum and two internships totaling 600 hours in an approved K-12 setting.

Highlights:

• No GRE required 
• Same tuition for online and on-campus students 
• iPad minis provided to students for program duration 

Considerations:

• Must complete practicum and internship at track-specific sites in North Carolina 
• Requires  year-round attendance, including summer 
• Three-year, part-time only format 

Why We Chose This School: 

Spalding University’s MA in school counseling meets the certification requirements for school counselors in Kentucky. We like that the 33-credit program emphasizes practical experience by requiring 10 hours of supervised clinical field experience for every didactic course and two practicums.

The online master’s offers a convenient course delivery schedule that allows you to complete the program in 12-14 months. Coursework covers topics in diversity and multicultural counseling, leadership and ethics, assessment, and technology for counselors. Up to 12 hours of graduate-level credit hours may be transferred into the program.

Highlights:

• Member of the Yellow Ribbon Program 
• No GRE required 
• One of the most affordable private institutions for online programs in Kentucky 

Considerations:

• Small number of faculty 
• Requires at least 50% of clinical field experiences in approved school settings designated as diverse
• No electives 

Why We Chose This School: 

If you have a valid Texas teaching certificate and two years of teaching experience in the state, Texas A&M’s MS in school counseling prepares you for certification as a professional school counselor. We like that the flexible, 48-credit program offers hybrid, online, full-time, and part-time options that most students complete in 2.5-3 years. 

The coursework addresses foundational counseling theories and practices, guidance techniques, child and adolescent counseling, and responsive services in school settings. You must complete a practicum that requires a minimum of 100 contact hours, including 40 direct clinical hours.

Highlights:

• Mentorship program
• No GRE or thesis required 
• Practicum placements for online students in local schools near their place of residence 

Considerations:

• Clinical field placements limited to accredited public and public charter school settings approved by the Texas Education Agency 
• Out-of-state tuition rates among the highest on this list
• Graduates must pass the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination (CPCE)

Why We Chose This School: 

NYU Steinhardt’s online MA in mental health counseling and wellness offers full and part-time study, a comprehensive curriculum, and elective options. The 60-credit MA prepares you to work with diverse populations across the lifespan. Coursework touches on cognitive behavioral therapy, responses to trauma, substance-related disorders, marriage and family counseling, adolescent sexual decision-making, and immigrant-origin youth.

We like that the curriculum uses an evidence-based approach to develop your skills in counseling approaches, assessment, and intervention. Didactic coursework is enriched by practical training that prepares you for real-world practice as a licensed counselor.

Highlights:

• May be completed in as few as 21 months
• Practicum and internship placements for online students near their place of residence
• No GRE required

Considerations:

• Requires an in-person immersion on the NYU campus 
• Field placements available only during regular daytime business hours
• May not complete field placement hours with current employers or clients

Why We Chose This School: 

ENMU’s online M.Ed. in school counseling provides a convenient pathway to earning your degree while managing work and personal commitments. The 48-credit program prepares you for certification as a K-12 school counselor in New Mexico and other states. You will take courses in counseling foundations, ethics, assessment, and research methods, followed by a 300-hour internship completed at an elementary, middle, or high school.

We like that ENMU offers an accelerated option for psychology undergraduates, allowing seniors to apply up to 12 credits toward both their bachelor's and school counseling master's. Online learners have the same support services as on-campus students, including virtual research assistance through ENMU’s Golden Library, technological help, and career placement.

Highlights:

• Same, low tuition rate for in-state, out-of-state, and international students 
• Online students may be eligible for ENMU Foundation scholarships 
• Part of the New Mexico Expanding Opportunities Project helping school counselors to recruit and retain school-based mental health (SBMH) providers across New Mexico 

Considerations:

• Requires capstone project
• No electives 
• Real-time class attendance required for some courses

Why We Chose This School: 

The MS in school counseling from UT Martin teaches the skills and knowledge to provide academic and personal support to students at every grade level. The 60-credit online degree fulfills the educational requirements for licensure as a school counselor in Tennessee.

We like that UT Martin's school counseling master's reflects a commitment to diverse learners and the use of technology and communication tools to enhance student achievement. Core counseling requirements include courses in classroom management, counseling children and adolescents with psychological conditions, and behavior interventions and strategies for school administrators and counselors.

Highlights:

• No GRE requirement
• Low student-to-faculty ratio 
• 100% pass rate on the Praxis Professional School Counselor exam required by the Tennessee Department of Education 

Considerations:

• Must pass the Praxis Professional School Counselor exam prior to beginning required field placements 
• Required participation in a 3-day on-campus residency 
• No electives

Why We Chose This School: 

UWA’s M.Ed. in school counseling is a CACREP-accredited program that meets the academic requirements to become a licensed school counselor in Alabama. The fully online 60-credit degree takes three years to complete and offers classes in eight-week terms. We like that the program features the benefits of both asynchronous and synchronous course delivery. Courses that require live attendance take place in the late afternoons or evenings.

You must complete 100 practicum hours and 600 internship hours. These clinical experiences take place in diverse settings working with students with exceptionalities, and those from diverse ethnic/racial, linguistic, gender, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Highlights:

• Personal one-on-one mentoring through the UWA Mentor Collective program 
• 80% of students receive some type of financial aid 
• Practicum and internship placements for online students near their place of residence 

Considerations:

• Admission limited to applicants who hold valid baccalaureate-level teacher certification or master’s level professional educator certificate in another area of instructional support
• Requires four-day on-campus residency
• Portfolio required for admission that includes a resume, essay, and a video interview 

OSU’s master’s in school counseling uses a competency-based approach that integrates foundational and professional counseling courses with real-world practice. The degree prepares you to apply for the Oregon Preliminary School Counselor license. We like that the program integrates self-exploration and personal development throughout the curriculum.

The program requires 90 quarter credits. The hybrid course format delivers 50% of the instruction online and 50% through in-person classroom sessions. In the second and third years, you must complete a 100-hour practicum and a 600-hour internship in approved on-site school settings.

Highlights:

• Same online tuition rate for in-state and out-of-state students 
• Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), and Oregon's Teacher Standards and Practices Commission (TSPC) 

Considerations:

• 200-hour teaching practicum required for those without teaching experience for preliminary school counselor license recommendation 
• In-person attendance required two weekends each term in Corvallis, Oregon 
• Requires participation in 10 individual counseling sessions and 10 hours of group counseling experiences