A graduate degree in counseling can lead to positions in mental health, addictions, industrial-organizational psychology, or school and career counseling. If you’re searching for a convenient and accelerated program, explore this guide to the fastest online counseling degrees.
Learn about application requirements, specialization options, and how master's in counseling programs work.
Popular Online Master's in Counseling Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Why Get an Online Master's in Counseling?
Distance learning programs can offer the fastest online counseling degrees, the most affordable master's programs, and the quickest career pathways. Top benefits of earning an online degree include:
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Save Time and Money
The fastest online counseling degrees take under two years to complete, providing cost savings on tuition and fees. Look for programs with in-state tuition rates regardless of residency. Distance learning also reduces commuting and parking expenses.
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Quick Career Entry
After completing two years of master's-level study, you can qualify for in-demand positions in growing counseling fields, such as industrial-organizational psychology and school and career counseling.
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Streamlined Curriculum
The fastest online counseling degrees require 30-45 credits. Look for self-paced or asynchronous coursework that you can access at your convenience. Accelerated master's in counseling programs allow heavier credit loads.
Fastest Online Master's Degrees in Counseling
#1 Fastest Online Counseling Master Degrees
Northwestern University
- Evanston, IL
- 4 years
- Online + Campus
Programmatic Accreditation: The Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs
Cost: $21,550 per quarter
Credits to Graduate: 60
Northwestern University's master of arts in counseling offers an 18-month, licensure-focused accelerated track. The program has four start dates per year and rolling admissions. Students complete coursework online and participate in collaborative in-person immersions on the Chicago campus. Two specialization courses explore child and adolescent development and treatment approaches for common mental health concerns in today’s youth.
Distance learners log their clinical training hours at approved sites in their local areas. An online capstone conference completes the program. Admission requires a bachelor's degree.
Percent Online Enrollment
7%
Percentage of all students who are enrolled online.
Accreditation
Yes
Higher Learning Commission
#2 Fastest Online Counseling Master Degrees
Concordia University-Irvine
- Irvine, CA
- 4 years
- Online + Campus
Programmatic Accreditation: The Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs
Cost per Credit: $695
Credits to Graduate: 60
The online master's in clinical mental health counseling at Concordia University Irvine focuses on helping clients progress beyond coping to restoration. Students can finish in 24-36 months. The curriculum integrates counseling skills with biblical principles. Courses include crisis and trauma counseling, foundations and contextual dimensions of mental health counseling, and foundations of spiritual formation and direction.
Learners complete practicums and internships and a four-day residency. Applicants should contact the admissions office or attend a live info session.
Percent Online Enrollment
71%
Percentage of all students who are enrolled online.
Accreditation
Yes
Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
#3 Fastest Online Counseling Master Degrees
Chaminade University of Honolulu
- Honolulu, HI
- 4 years
- Online + Campus
Programmatic Accreditation: N/A
Cost per Credit: $1,085
Credits to Graduate: 60
Chaminade University of Honolulu offers a master's in counseling psychology featuring three concentrations: marriage and family therapy, mental health counseling, and school counseling. Students can graduate from the accelerated track in as few as 30 months.
Graduates can pursue licensure in Hawaii, but students from other states should check with their state boards to ensure the curriculum meets the requirements. Admission requires a bachelor's degree and a faculty interview.
Percent Online Enrollment
63%
Percentage of all students who are enrolled online.
Accreditation
Yes
Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
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.
To learn more, consult our ranking methodology.
What to Expect from the Fastest Online Master's in Counseling Programs
While counseling master's programs typically require 45-60 credits and 2-5 years of study, you can finish the fastest online counseling degrees in two years or less. The 30-45 credit program includes flexible, online coursework and on-site internship and you can complete in your local community.
Asynchronous online classes allow you to view pre-recorded or streamed lectures and complete assignments on your own schedule. Some programs offer accelerated counseling master's tracks that allow you to take a higher number of credits per semester and finish in 16-20 months.
If your goal is to become a licensed therapist or counselor, be sure to check if the accelerated tracks you are interested in qualify you for licensure, as some may not.
Online Master's in Counseling Specializations and Concentrations
Master's in counseling programs offer specializations and concentrations, with the fastest online counseling degrees focusing on areas that include school counseling, human services counseling, pastoral counseling, and industrial-organizational psychology.
- School Counseling: Learn to advise and counsel K-12 students to succeed academically, developmentally, and socially within school environments. School counselors also work with families, teachers, and school staff to help students flourish.
- Human Services Counseling: This specialization allows students to concentrate on areas like addiction and recovery, criminal justice, crisis response and trauma, marriage and family therapy, and military resilience. Human service counseling leads to careers helping others in a variety of settings.
- Pastoral Counseling: This counseling specialty integrates science- and faith-based strategies to facilitate emotional and spiritual healing. Students gain knowledge and techniques to help couples and families, those experiencing substance abuse, and people in crisis.
- Industrial-Organizational Psychology: Connecting business and human behavior, this area of psychology strengthens relationships between people and organizations. Topics cover consumer behavior, organizational and talent development, research and analytics, and workplace wellness.
Applying to an Online Master's in Counseling Program
It is important to consider admission requirements before beginning to apply to graduate school.
While admission criteria vary by program, common requirements include:
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A bachelor's degree from an accredited program
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Undergraduate coursework in research methods, statistics, and general or developmental psychology
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Transcripts showing a minimum 3.0 GPA
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2-3 academic or professional letters of recommendation
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The fastest online master's in counseling programs comprise 30-45 credits and primarily prepare students for positions that do not require licensure. Learners can finish in two years. Clinical practitioners need to be licensed and must complete additional coursework and supervised clinical experience.
Some programs may require Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) scores, particularly for applicants with a lower GPA, along with essays or writing samples. Schools may also require — or prefer — paid or volunteer experience in a mental health field or education.
How to Choose an Online Master's in Counseling Program
Selecting an online master's in counseling program involves assessing cost and time savings while considering academic quality, specializations, and student support for distance learners. Keeping the following factors in mind during your research can help you choose your best options.
Accreditation
To ensure you attend a reputable online counseling master's program, consider counseling accreditors such as by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling or Related Educational Programs (CACREP) or the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP).
Concentration and Specialization Options
Be sure to verify that the online master's in counseling programs you plan to apply to offer the concentration and specialization areas you need. The fastest online counseling degrees often focus on non-clinical areas.
Graduation Rate
Explore the graduation rates of online master's in counseling programs on your list to set yourself up for success. You can search the College Navigator database of the National Center for Education Statistics.
Internship and Practicum Opportunities
It's important to know whether the program offers internships and practicums in your area(s) of interest and whether you can complete them in your local community or if they require travel.
Student Support Services
Online counseling master's programs should offer virtual resources like admissions counseling, library access, academic advising, tutoring, and IT help. Online student networking opportunities can also make distance learning less isolating and create valuable connections.
Evaluating Costs of the Fastest Online Counseling Degrees
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, graduate students paid an average of $20,513 in tuition and fees during the 2021-22 school year. Average costs were higher in private institutions ($28,017) than in public colleges ($12,596). You could pay higher or lower rates for an online counseling degree, depending on factors such as:
- School location
- Institutional reputation and prestige
- Program delivery format
Online learning can help you save money, especially on relocation, transportation, and parking costs. Some schools also offer special tuition reductions to students in online courses or programs. Similarly, public colleges sometimes extend in-state tuition rates to all their online students, regardless of their state residency status.
If you need financial aid, counseling and psychology scholarships are a great place to start.
Common Questions About the Fastest Online Counseling Degrees
Accredited online counseling programs deliver the same academic quality as on-campus programs. Applicants should ensure that their college or university selections hold regional accreditation and that the counseling program is also accredited. Accreditation shows that schools and programs undergo a regular assessment process and comply with rigorous educational standards.
Substance use, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors are in high demand to meet the needs of people seeking treatment. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment to increase by 19% for these counselors from 2023-2033, significantly more than the average 4% growth for all jobs.
Most counseling programs do not require an undergraduate counseling degree. However, an associate or bachelor's degree (or prerequisite coursework) in counseling, psychology, social sciences, social work, or other mental health field helps strengthen an application for admission. Education credentials and teaching degrees also bolster applications for school and college-level counseling.
Accelerated master's in counseling programs offer some of the fastest routes to degree completion by allowing students to take heavier courseloads and complete more credits each semester. Accelerated study can help you graduate sooner.
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