Counseling Schools

What are the most affordable schools?

An undergraduate degree in psychology or a degree in another related field will help you pursue a higher degree at an accredited counseling school. There are a number of very affordable traditional schools that offer upper level counseling degrees.

The U.S. Department of Education’s ranked California state colleges as some of the most affordable in the nation, with each college’s tuition falling below the national average of $6,400. In addition, California State, Los Angeles has a graduate rehabilitation counseling program that was ranked in the top 50 nationwide by for 2012.

For schools that have been accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) and offer lower tuition masters degrees, Adams State College in Colorado is a very affordable choice, according to the . The university’s in-state tuition stands at under $6,000 and out-of-state tuition at about $15,000 per year.

Although you will find that the most inexpensive schools for counseling are state colleges and private religious colleges, there are other accredited online schools for counseling that offer greater accessibility to make up for any additional tuition.

Capella University is one of the few online, CACREP accredited colleges, and they offer masters degrees in marriage and family counseling, mental health counseling and school counseling. Tuition is more expensive than at a conventional school at almost $10,000 more per year than some state schools, according to the .

How can I connect with other students?

Often you will find that the best schools for counseling provide many opportunities for students to connect, even when studies are primarily conducted in online environments. Check with your school’s psychology department to find out if there is a psychology club or local chapter of , the psychology honor society, that you can get involved with. See if your counseling program offers extracurricular lectures by your professors, which is a great way to connect with students and professionals who share your interests.

Students in online counseling schools may find that collaborating with others is more difficult. Still, there are many national organizations with which you can become involved. Even if a local Psi Chi chapter is not available to you, you can participate online and attend local events or online symposiums. The is a great online forum for psychology undergraduates who are interested in pursuing a higher degree in counseling.

Students attending online schools who want to find other counseling students at their school should look for school blogs and events in their interest areas. While there are some distance learning schools that provide podcasts, webinars and online conventions for students to get to know each other, most do not provide online club access.

The best way to connect with other counseling students is to choose an online college that has a traditional campus where you can attend local events. The student activities website for has over 800 online links to organizations hosted on campus. You should be able to find similar resources at other universities.

What resources should my school offer me?

A top counseling program will provide you with a number of resources. Your college will help you find internships and complete the requirements for national board certification. They will prepare you for the National Counselors Examination, and provide study guides, test taking strategies and memorization techniques. A great counseling program will offer access to your mentors and teachers in order to help you organize and complete your thesis and doctoral projects effectively.

Your program should give you helpful financial information for scholarship opportunities and future job opportunities. Your graduate program should give you clear options for funding through grants, fellowships and loans for both your masters and doctoral programs. Additionally, they should give you a number of career choices and tracks with wage comparisons.

If you go to school for counseling, it is important to outlets to connect with other students. Look for schools that have good counseling centers, social activities and a strong extracurricular component so that you have people to share your experiences with. Volunteering opportunities are a good way to meet and connect with fellow counseling students. These opportunities are offered by both online and conventional colleges.

Are there any nonprofit online schools or programs?

Although many counseling schools online offer masters or doctoral degrees in counseling, it is wise to be cautious about which college you attend. Nonprofit schools can have higher tuitions, but they are often accredited by CACREP or the APA, which means that their graduates are eligible to become nationally certified counselors at the time of their degree completion.

However, there are some examples of nonprofit schools that do not offer CACREP or APA accredited programs. Lewis University offers online degrees in counseling psychology for adults and children as well as school counseling. While this school is accredited through the Higher Learning Commission, the counseling masters programs are not certified by the APA or CACREP.

On the other hand, Regent University was named 1 of the top schools for counseling and other academic areas by the . This school is accredited by CACREP for its masters programs in community and school counseling as well as its doctoral program in counselor education and supervision.

Many nonprofit colleges are religious schools, so there are additional spiritual and character requirements involved in these programs. If you are comfortable taking additional religious classes, these accredited programs can provide excellent educations.