Nalea J. Ko has worked as a journalist in Hawaii, Los Angeles, and New York. She's covered everything from technology and education to news and entertainment. She focuses on nursing for NurseJournal. Nalea received her bachelor's degree in journalism...
Rebecca Munday joins BestCounselingDegrees after serving as editor-in-chief for the George-Anne Inkwell at Georgia Southern University. She never met a type of writing she didn't enjoy and is especially passionate about making healthcare understandab...
Rayelle Davis is a nationally board-certified counselor, a licensed clinical professional counselor, and a board-certified telemental health provider. She has taught several undergraduate psychology courses and is currently a doctoral candidate at Du...
BestCounselingDegrees.net is committed to delivering content that is objective and actionable. To that end, we have built a network of industry professionals across higher education to review our content and ensure we are providing the most helpful information to our readers.
Drawing on their firsthand industry expertise, our Integrity Network members serve as an additional step in our editing process, helping us confirm our content is accurate and up to date. These contributors:
Suggest changes to inaccurate or misleading information.
Provide specific, corrective feedback.
Identify critical information that writers may have missed.
Integrity Network members typically work full time in their industry profession and review content for BestCounselingDegrees.net as a side project. All Integrity Network members are paid members of the Red Ventures Education Integrity Network.
Curious to learn more about Colorado counseling degrees? Here, we outline degrees and career information, including state-specific data on salary, and employment.
Credit: Brad McGinley Photography / Moment / Getty Images
BestCounselingDegrees.net is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.
Are you ready to discover your college program?
Credit: Brad McGinley Photography / Moment / Getty Images
The best counseling degree programs in Colorado prepare future mental health professionals for one of five available pathways to licensure. Colorado offers licenses to professional counselors, clinical social workers, addiction counselors, marriage and family therapists, and psychologists.
Our guide explains how to become a counselor in Colorado. Discover the necessary steps to becoming a licensed counselor in Colorado and learn about counseling salaries and job prospects.
Popular Online Psychology Master's Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
The Best Counseling Degree Programs in Colorado
Explore our ranking of the best counseling degrees in Colorado. Graduates of these programs can pursue licensure or further education and training.
We use trusted sources like
the National Center for Education Statistics to inform the data for these schools.
BestCounselingDegrees.net is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.
from our partners appear among these rankings and are indicated as such.
#1 Counseling Degree Programs in Colorado
University of Denver
Denver, CO
4 years
Online + Campus
Master of arts in counseling psychology students at the University of Denver can concentrate in research or in clinical mental health counseling. The 72-quarter-hour research track prepares graduates for doctoral study and includes courses in research design and statistics. Learners in this non-licensure concentration complete a supervised practicum and a thesis.
The clinical mental health curriculum meets Colorado's licensed professional counselor educational requirements. Degree-seekers finish 90 quarter credits, a supervised practicum, and an internship at the campus-based clinic or a community partner site. Coursework focuses on assessment, diversity, and social justice. The master's in clinical health counseling holds accreditation from the Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council.
Average Undergrad Tuition
In-state
$53,640
Out-of-state
$53,640
Average Graduate Tuition
In-state
$53,640
Out-of-state
$53,640
Retention Rate
88%
Acceptance Rate
78%
Students Enrolled
13,743
Institution Type
Private
Percent Online Enrollment
40%
Percentage of all students who are enrolled online.
Accreditation
Yes
Higher Learning Commission
#2 Counseling Degree Programs in Colorado
Colorado State University-Fort Collins
Fort Collins, CO
4 years
Online + Campus
Fort Collins-based Colorado State University offers a master's in counseling and career development. The curriculum emphasizes ethical and culturally responsive professional counseling skills. Sixty credits include 48 credits of core counseling coursework, a 100-hour clinical practicum, a 600-hour internship, and specialization and elective courses.
Degree-seekers can choose a concentration area in career counseling, clinical mental health counseling, or school counseling. Core requirements include foundations of counseling, group guidance and counseling, and human development for helping professions.
UNC's Greeley campus offers full-time study in the three concentration areas and the on-site Psychological Services Clinic. The Denver and Loveland campuses accommodate working professionals with clinical mental health and school counseling tracks on weekends.
The curriculum includes practicum experiences and courses in theories of counseling; psychological trauma and intervention for individuals, families and communities; and understanding and counseling diverse populations.
Average Undergrad Tuition
In-state
$8,127
Out-of-state
$21,246
Average Graduate Tuition
In-state
$11,192
Out-of-state
$20,205
Retention Rate
69%
Acceptance Rate
91%
Students Enrolled
10,348
Institution Type
Public
Percent Online Enrollment
52%
Percentage of all students who are enrolled online.
Accreditation
Yes
Higher Learning Commission
#4 Counseling Degree Programs in Colorado
Regis University
Denver, CO
4 years
Online + Campus
The clinical mental health counseling master's program at Regis University meets the academic requirements for licensed professional counselors in Colorado. The 60-credit curriculum holds Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs accreditation and includes hands-on training at the university's on-campus clinic and community internship sites.
Denver-based Regis University offers seven- and 14-week terms, with 4-5 days of weekend intensives. Students can finish the program in 30-36 months. Course topics include crisis, trauma, and loss; research methods and program evaluation; spirituality and counseling; and substance use treatment. Learners can opt to earn certificates in counseling children and adolescents and marriage and family therapy.
Average Undergrad Tuition
In-state
$39,260
Out-of-state
$39,260
Average Graduate Tuition
In-state
$14,063
Out-of-state
$14,063
Retention Rate
79%
Acceptance Rate
81%
Students Enrolled
5,566
Institution Type
Private
Percent Online Enrollment
64%
Percentage of all students who are enrolled online.
Accreditation
Yes
Higher Learning Commission
Methodology: How We Rank Schools
At BestCounselingDegrees.net, we use data from reputable sources like the U.S. Department of Education to help you find the best school for your needs. The most important metric in our rankings -- affordability -- accounts for 60% of our formula. We also consider academic quality, program offerings, online enrollment, and graduation rates.
Candidates who did not graduate from accredited programs must undergo an educational review of their transcripts.
Colorado's eight schools offer 20 CACREP-accredited graduate programs with six unique specialties. Students can specialize in career counseling; clinical mental health counseling; counseling education and supervision; marriage, couple, and family counseling; rehabilitation counseling; and school counseling.
How to Become a Counselor in Colorado
The Colorado State Board of Professional Counselor Examiners administers licenses for licensed professional counselors (LPC) and licensed professional counselor candidates (LPCC). The board prefers candidates who hold a CACREP-accredited master's or doctoral degree. That said, graduating from a program not accredited by CACREP does not prevent licensure. Becoming a licensed addiction counselor in Colorado also requires a master's degree.
Colorado requires that LPCs earn at least 2,000 supervised experience hours over two years after earning a master's or doctoral degree. In the interim, candidates can apply to become an LPCC, a temporary permit. These licenses also require a criminal history screening.
Applicants must also pay the initial application fee and pass the National Counselor Examination unless candidates meet the requirements to apply by endorsement.
Salary and Career Outlook for Counselors in Colorado
Colorado pays most of its counseling specialties more than the national average. Explore what you could make as a licensed counselor in Colorado.
Average Salary for Counselors in Colorado
Colorado pays its counselors more than the national average in all categories except educational guidance and career counselors and advisors, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors make a national mean annual wage of $66,990, while in Colorado they earn $63,240.
Other counseling categories in Colorado make an average of about $2,000 more annually than the national average.
Average Annual Salary for Counselors in Colorado
Occupation
Average Annual Salary
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors
$63,240
Marriage and Family Therapists
$70,910
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors
Among adults in Colorado who reported anxiety and depression symptoms in May 2022, about 28.7% did not get counseling or therapy treatment. This is slightly above the national average of 28.2%.
Colorado needs mental healthcare professionals. The state ranks 35th in the U.S. for states recognized as mental health care health professional shortage areas. Colorado needs 114 mental health care professionals to remove that designation, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. Thankfully, the Department of Labor's Projections Center expects above-average job growth for all counseling fields.
Career Outlook for Counselors in Colorado
Occupation
Change in Employment 2020-2030
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors
35.7%
Marriage and Family Therapists
38.4%
Educational, Guidance, School, and Vocational Counselors
How long does it take to become a counselor in Colorado?
At a minimum, it takes a master's degree to become a counselor in Colorado. That means counselors must spend at least six years earning bachelor's and master's degrees. Additionally, they must complete at least two years of post-master's practice, equivalent to at least 2,000 supervised hours.
What is the difference between LPC and LPCC in Colorado?
Aspiring counselors must first become an LPCC before earning their LPC license. A licensed professional counselor candidate (LPCC) is a temporary permit that allows counselors to gain experience under a licensed supervisor. After completing the required 2,000 supervised hours, an LPCC can apply for an LPC license. An LPCC permit in Colorado remains valid for four years.
How often do counselors have to renew their license in Colorado?
Every two years, licensed counselors in Colorado must renew their licenses. They must also complete 40 professional development hours during those 24 months.
How much does it cost to apply for your counseling license in Colorado?
In total, counseling licensure in Colorado costs $215. You must pay an application fee of $70 to apply to become an LPC in Colorado and $20 for the Colorado jurisprudence exam. In addition, registering for the National Counselor Exam costs an additional $125.
Note: The insights on this page — excluding school descriptions — were reviewed by an independent third party compensated for their time by Best Counseling Degrees. Page last reviewed April 10, 2024.
Recommended Reading
Helping you prepare and gain the most out of your educational experience.
Are you ready to do impactful work in your community?
Choose what you’d like to specialize in, and discover which schools offer a counseling degree that can help you make a difference.
Edited by
