Consider Your Future Goals
Before applying for admission to an online school counseling master’s program, it’s important to consider whether your desired program—including its curriculum, concentration offerings and practical learning opportunities—aligns with your career goals.
School counselors are usually required to obtain licensure and meet other state-specific requirements to practice, so if you plan to become a licensed school counselor, start by verifying that your chosen program qualifies you for the necessary credentials in the state where you plan to practice.
If you plan to focus on a specific area of school counseling, such as diversity and inclusion or a particular age group, prioritize programs that offer relevant coursework.
Understand Your Expenses and Financing Options
The average cost of tuition for the schools featured in this list is approximately $880 per credit, or around $46,000 in total for a typical 52-credit program. For comparison, the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) reports that tuition and fees cost $20,513 per year for the average graduate program, or around $41,000 total for a two-year master’s degree.
These figures may imply that an online master’s in school counseling costs more than your average graduate degree, but it’s important to note that all of the schools ranked on this page are private institutions, which generally charge higher tuition rates than public universities.
Graduate degrees at private, nonprofit colleges cost around $29,931 per year on average, according to NCES, totaling nearly $60,000 for a two-year master’s. The schools on our list cost significantly less in comparison.
Several financing options exist for graduate students. Submitting the FAFSA is a solid first step toward determining your federal aid eligibility, including loans, grants and work-study programs. Students should also consider exploring other financing opportunities, including scholarships, grants, assistantships and fellowships.