University Headquarters (HQ) is an industry-leading, independent educational organization that provides independent college rankings using a proprietary formula to create first class, unbiased rankings. The team at University HQ strives to provide accurate and trustworthy rankings that highlight the best programs for a bachelors in addiction studies.
Overview of a Bachelor’s in Substance Abuse Counseling
A four-year bachelor’s degree in substance abuse counseling, bachelor's degree in addiction counseling, or a bachelor's in addiction studies is an academic credential that you can use to achieve full state licensure and become a substance abuse counselor, addiction counselor, drug counselor, or drug and alcohol counselor - depending on what addiction counselors are known as in your state. During your four years of study, you will cover a range of topics in psychology, sociology, and social work. You will also learn about the art and craft of counseling itself. Some of the subjects courses might cover after students complete their general education include the following.
- Drug and Alcohol or Chemical Dependency
- Alcohol and Drug Addiction and Substance Abuse
- Substance Use Disorders
- Mental Health Counseling
- Group Counseling
- Case Management
- Addiction and Substance Use Disorder Treatment
- Co-occurring Disorders and Their Treatment
Bachelor’s degrees come in many different forms. Each substance abuse counseling program will have an individual approach to the subject, so student's education will be colored by the choices they make early on in their addiction studies education. Thus, on top of their personal guidelines for a college experience, students should strive to find addiction counseling degree programs that are fully accredited and acknowledged by their state's licensing agency.
A bachelor's in addiction studies or bachelor's degree in addiction counseling programs represent a four-year process in which you are steeped in a variety of general education and core courses that provide a base of knowledge across multiple disciplines. Because the subject of your degree will be addiction studies, these will focus in on knowledge of alcohol and drug addiction and substance use, behavioral disorder, and mental health.
When you pursue a substance abuse counselor degree, you might do that through a human services program, a social work program, or a psychology degree. Make sure that your department offers the courses you need to satisfy your state regulatory agencies so that you will qualify for a license. In fact, most programs that offer a concentration in substance abuse counseling, addiction counseling, addiction studies, or the like will prepare you for success in the field, starting with licensure. Nevertheless, make sure that your program is acknowledged by your state board and that it has full accreditation.
Featured Online Programs
Top 25 Best Online Bachelors in Addiction Counseling Programs
Arizona State University
Score: 77.93
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $12,051
- Out-of-State: $32,193
- Net Price: $14,808
- Acceptance Rate: 90%
- Retention Rate: 85%
- Graduation Rate: 67%
- Total Enrollment: 80,065
- Undergrad Students: 65,492
- Graduate Students: 14,573
- Grads Salary: $77,000
- Student-to-faculty: 19:1
University of Cincinnati
Score: 76.06
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $13,570
- Out-of-State: $30,582
- Net Price: $20,149
- Acceptance Rate: 86%
- Retention Rate: 86%
- Graduation Rate: 72%
- Total Enrollment: 41,155
- Undergrad Students: 29,663
- Graduate Students: 11,492
- Grads Salary: $74,000
- Student-to-faculty: 18:1
Aspen University
Score: 75.9
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $6,264
- Out-of-State: $6,264
- Net Price: $13,781
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 50%
- Graduation Rate: 47%
- Total Enrollment: 7,386
- Undergrad Students: 4,086
- Graduate Students: 3,300
- Grads Salary: $88,000
- Student-to-faculty: 5:1
Indiana Wesleyan University
Score: 74.34
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $31,168
- Out-of-State: $31,168
- Net Price: $21,755
- Acceptance Rate: 87%
- Retention Rate: 78%
- Graduation Rate: 67%
- Total Enrollment: 2,603
- Undergrad Students: 2,236
- Graduate Students: 367
- Grads Salary: $75,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
Rivier University
Score: 73.79
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $37,791
- Out-of-State: $37,791
- Net Price: $28,983
- Acceptance Rate: 84%
- Retention Rate: 76%
- Graduation Rate: 58%
- Total Enrollment: 2,551
- Undergrad Students: 1,340
- Graduate Students: 1,211
- Grads Salary: $90,000
- Student-to-faculty: 15:1
Elizabethtown College
Score: 73.59
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $36,842
- Out-of-State: $36,842
- Net Price: $26,723
- Acceptance Rate: 81%
- Retention Rate: 85%
- Graduation Rate: 76%
- Total Enrollment: 2,021
- Undergrad Students: 1,737
- Graduate Students: 284
- Grads Salary: $70,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
Springfield College
Score: 73.49
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $43,707
- Out-of-State: $43,707
- Net Price: $27,930
- Acceptance Rate: 76%
- Retention Rate: 83%
- Graduation Rate: 73%
- Total Enrollment: 2,921
- Undergrad Students: 2,005
- Graduate Students: 916
- Grads Salary: $72,000
- Student-to-faculty: 11:1
Eastern Kentucky University
Score: 72.29
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $10,130
- Out-of-State: $20,820
- Net Price: $10,806
- Acceptance Rate: 64%
- Retention Rate: 77%
- Graduation Rate: 49%
- Total Enrollment: 14,324
- Undergrad Students: 12,072
- Graduate Students: 2,252
- Grads Salary: $69,000
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
Midwestern State University
Score: 71.33
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $10,310
- Out-of-State: $12,260
- Net Price: $11,361
- Acceptance Rate: 92%
- Retention Rate: 63%
- Graduation Rate: 41%
- Total Enrollment: 5,784
- Undergrad Students: 4,818
- Graduate Students: 966
- Grads Salary: $81,000
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Score: 71.19
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $9,859
- Out-of-State: $19,939
- Net Price: $8,105
- Acceptance Rate: 88%
- Retention Rate: 76%
- Graduation Rate: 53%
- Total Enrollment: 31,559
- Undergrad Students: 26,434
- Graduate Students: 5,125
- Grads Salary: $66,000
- Student-to-faculty: 19:1
Union Institute & University
Score: 70.4
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $14,330
- Out-of-State: $14,330
- Net Price: $28,463
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 100%
- Graduation Rate: 50%
- Total Enrollment: 787
- Undergrad Students: 481
- Graduate Students: 306
- Grads Salary: $80,000
- Student-to-faculty: 6:1
Washburn University
Score: 70
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $9,578
- Out-of-State: $20,582
- Net Price: $12,473
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 69%
- Graduation Rate: 54%
- Total Enrollment: 5,460
- Undergrad Students: 4,733
- Graduate Students: 727
- Grads Salary: $68,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
St. Cloud State University
Score: 68.62
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $10,117
- Out-of-State: $10,117
- Net Price: $14,065
- Acceptance Rate: 95%
- Retention Rate: 69%
- Graduation Rate: 44%
- Total Enrollment: 10,420
- Undergrad Students: 8,569
- Graduate Students: 1,851
- Grads Salary: $75,000
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
University of South Dakota
Score: 68.58
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $9,432
- Out-of-State: $12,942
- Net Price: $18,378
- Acceptance Rate: 99%
- Retention Rate: 82%
- Graduation Rate: 57%
- Total Enrollment: 9,856
- Undergrad Students: 7,132
- Graduate Students: 2,724
- Grads Salary: $67,000
- Student-to-faculty: 14:1
Eastern Washington University
Score: 68.48
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,353
- Out-of-State: $25,892
- Net Price: $12,827
- Acceptance Rate: 96%
- Retention Rate: 67%
- Graduation Rate: 50%
- Total Enrollment: 10,910
- Undergrad Students: 7,604
- Graduate Students: 3,306
- Grads Salary: $71,000
- Student-to-faculty: 19:1
Fort Hays State University
Score: 68.3
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $5,633
- Out-of-State: $16,811
- Net Price: $13,322
- Acceptance Rate: 88%
- Retention Rate: 76%
- Graduation Rate: 51%
- Total Enrollment: 12,949
- Undergrad Students: 10,427
- Graduate Students: 2,522
- Grads Salary: $65,000
- Student-to-faculty: 15:1
Alvernia University
Score: 67.88
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $42,810
- Out-of-State: $42,810
- Net Price: $27,091
- Acceptance Rate: 59%
- Retention Rate: 68%
- Graduation Rate: 63%
- Total Enrollment: 2,484
- Undergrad Students: 2,018
- Graduate Students: 466
- Grads Salary: $67,000
- Student-to-faculty: 12:1
Bay Path University
Score: 66.36
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $37,227
- Out-of-State: $37,227
- Net Price: $18,502
- Acceptance Rate: 76%
- Retention Rate: 70%
- Graduation Rate: 47%
- Total Enrollment: 2,465
- Undergrad Students: 1,315
- Graduate Students: 1,150
- Grads Salary: $67,000
- Student-to-faculty: 11:1
University of Central Arkansas
Score: 65.35
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $10,118
- Out-of-State: $17,258
- Net Price: $15,456
- Acceptance Rate: 91%
- Retention Rate: 74%
- Graduation Rate: 50%
- Total Enrollment: 9,913
- Undergrad Students: 7,994
- Graduate Students: 1,919
- Grads Salary: $62,000
- Student-to-faculty: 14:1
Clarks Summit University
Score: 65.1
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $32,400
- Out-of-State: $32,400
- Net Price: $16,176
- Acceptance Rate: 65%
- Retention Rate: 66%
- Graduation Rate: 64%
- Total Enrollment: 552
- Undergrad Students: 376
- Graduate Students: 176
- Grads Salary: $48,000
- Student-to-faculty: 11:1
Northwestern State University of Louisiana
Score: 64.39
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,864
- Out-of-State: $19,652
- Net Price: $14,238
- Acceptance Rate: 98%
- Retention Rate: 61%
- Graduation Rate: 46%
- Total Enrollment: 9,389
- Undergrad Students: 8,405
- Graduate Students: 984
- Grads Salary: $67,000
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
Governors State University
Score: 62.97
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $11,320
- Out-of-State: $11,320
- Net Price: $9,833
- Acceptance Rate: 57%
- Retention Rate: 56%
- Graduation Rate: 21%
- Total Enrollment: 4,427
- Undergrad Students: 2,609
- Graduate Students: 1,818
- Grads Salary: $68,000
- Student-to-faculty: 10:1
Grand Canyon University
Score: 62.95
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $17,450
- Out-of-State: $17,450
- Net Price: $21,939
- Acceptance Rate: 78%
- Retention Rate: 70%
- Graduation Rate: 45%
- Total Enrollment: 101,816
- Undergrad Students: 66,769
- Graduate Students: 35,047
- Grads Salary: $70,000
- Student-to-faculty: 20:1
Liberty University
Score: 62.46
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $21,222
- Out-of-State: $21,222
- Net Price: $29,913
- Acceptance Rate: 99%
- Retention Rate: 79%
- Graduation Rate: 66%
- Total Enrollment: 96,709
- Undergrad Students: 48,906
- Graduate Students: 47,803
- Grads Salary: $63,000
- Student-to-faculty: 18:1
SUNY Empire State University
Score: 62.18
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $7,630
- Out-of-State: $17,540
- Net Price: $9,704
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 59%
- Graduation Rate: 25%
- Total Enrollment: 9,407
- Undergrad Students: 7,735
- Graduate Students: 1,672
- Grads Salary: $73,000
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
