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 counseling.
A bachelor's degree in counseling is a credential that students earn after four or more years in college. The degree usually covers the fundamentals of psychology and counseling. Programs often include aspects of research psychology in which students are asked to conduct original research.
In the past, aspiring counselors would first earn a bachelor's degree in psychology or social work and then would earn a master's degree in order to earn their state licensure to work as independent counseling professionals. However, these days, there is such a large demand for addiction counselors that college and universities have responded with degrees that prepare students for licensure in that field and other counseling fields, as needed.
While some states will acknowledge a degree in some related field, such as something in allied health, it's preferred that students earn a bachelor’s counseling degree. This degree offers more focused training that students can use to best serve their clients. A focused counseling degree may also help students land an internship or even a part-time job with a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center.
Top 25 Best Online Bachelors in Counseling Programs
1
Arizona State University
Score: 87.33
- 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
2
Indiana Wesleyan University
Score: 82.97
- 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
3
Calvary University
Score: 82.34
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $13,692
- Out-of-State:$13,692
- Net Price: $14,897
- Acceptance Rate: 63%
- Retention Rate: 79%
- Graduation Rate: 59%
- Total Enrollment: 299
- Undergrad Students: 226
- Graduate Students: 73
- Grads Salary: $67,000
- Student-to-faculty: 8:1
4
Central Michigan University
Score: 82.09
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $14,190
- Out-of-State:$14,190
- Net Price: $15,605
- Acceptance Rate: 79%
- Retention Rate: 72%
- Graduation Rate: 62%
- Total Enrollment: 14,557
- Undergrad Students: 10,401
- Graduate Students: 4,156
- Grads Salary: $72,000
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
5
North Park University
Score: 82.08
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $35,325
- Out-of-State:$35,325
- Net Price: $19,029
- Acceptance Rate: 68%
- Retention Rate: 71%
- Graduation Rate: 55%
- Total Enrollment: 2,660
- Undergrad Students: 1,868
- Graduate Students: 792
- Grads Salary: $77,000
- Student-to-faculty: 10:1
6
Oral Roberts University
Score: 76.86
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $34,100
- Out-of-State:$34,100
- Net Price: $22,360
- Acceptance Rate: 78%
- Retention Rate: 81%
- Graduation Rate: 63%
- Total Enrollment: 5,051
- Undergrad Students: 4,289
- Graduate Students: 762
- Grads Salary: $66,000
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
7
Regent University
Score: 76.45
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $20,686
- Out-of-State:$20,686
- Net Price: $17,341
- Acceptance Rate: 32%
- Retention Rate: 70%
- Graduation Rate: 55%
- Total Enrollment: 10,337
- Undergrad Students: 4,541
- Graduate Students: 5,796
- Grads Salary: $63,000
- Student-to-faculty: 21:1
8
Colorado Christian University
Score: 74.9
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $39,266
- Out-of-State:$39,266
- Net Price: $23,313
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 83%
- Graduation Rate: 61%
- Total Enrollment: 8,964
- Undergrad Students: 7,602
- Graduate Students: 1,362
- Grads Salary: $67,000
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
9
Saint Leo University
Score: 74.33
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $28,360
- Out-of-State:$28,360
- Net Price: $20,390
- Acceptance Rate: 80%
- Retention Rate: 54%
- Graduation Rate: 49%
- Total Enrollment: 10,242
- Undergrad Students: 7,320
- Graduate Students: 2,922
- Grads Salary: $76,000
- Student-to-faculty: 18:1
10
Lee University
Score: 74.15
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $22,690
- Out-of-State:$22,690
- Net Price: $19,726
- Acceptance Rate: 73%
- Retention Rate: 79%
- Graduation Rate: 63%
- Total Enrollment: 3,927
- Undergrad Students: 3,446
- Graduate Students: 481
- Grads Salary: $56,000
- Student-to-faculty: 12:1
11
Bay Path University
Score: 73.38
- 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
12
Trinity International University-Illinois
Score: 73.29
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $12,320
- Out-of-State:$12,320
- Net Price: $16,703
- Acceptance Rate: 91%
- Retention Rate: 71%
- Graduation Rate: 50%
- Total Enrollment: 1,242
- Undergrad Students: 450
- Graduate Students: 792
- Grads Salary: $65,000
- Student-to-faculty: 12:1
13
Johnson University
Score: 72.34
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $20,318
- Out-of-State:$20,318
- Net Price: $21,012
- Acceptance Rate: 63%
- Retention Rate: 77%
- Graduation Rate: 66%
- Total Enrollment: 939
- Undergrad Students: 669
- Graduate Students: 270
- Grads Salary: $50,000
- Student-to-faculty: 10:1
14
Clarks Summit University
Score: 71.58
- 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
15
Grand Canyon University
Score: 70.61
- 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
16
Liberty University
Score: 70.39
- 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
17
Claflin University
Score: 70.18
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $17,046
- Out-of-State:$17,046
- Net Price: $19,951
- Acceptance Rate: 78%
- Retention Rate: 79%
- Graduation Rate: 50%
- Total Enrollment: 1,830
- Undergrad Students: 1,749
- Graduate Students: 81
- Grads Salary: $59,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
18
East Central University
Score: 69.62
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,032
- Out-of-State:$17,542
- Net Price: $10,221
- Acceptance Rate: 70%
- Retention Rate: 60%
- Graduation Rate: 31%
- Total Enrollment: 3,376
- Undergrad Students: 2,730
- Graduate Students: 646
- Grads Salary: $66,000
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
19
Spalding University
Score: 68.14
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $27,850
- Out-of-State:$27,850
- Net Price: $26,539
- Acceptance Rate: 98%
- Retention Rate: 71%
- Graduation Rate: 45%
- Total Enrollment: 1,532
- Undergrad Students: 767
- Graduate Students: 765
- Grads Salary: $69,000
- Student-to-faculty: 9:1
20
Crown College
Score: 66.74
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $30,200
- Out-of-State:$30,200
- Net Price: $25,504
- Acceptance Rate: 67%
- Retention Rate: 68%
- Graduation Rate: 52%
- Total Enrollment: 1,583
- Undergrad Students: 1,251
- Graduate Students: 332
- Grads Salary: $59,000
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
21
Post University
Score: 65.76
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $17,100
- Out-of-State:$17,100
- Net Price: $18,307
- Acceptance Rate: 100%
- Retention Rate: 35%
- Graduation Rate: 32%
- Total Enrollment: 17,034
- Undergrad Students: 14,682
- Graduate Students: 2,352
- Grads Salary: $76,000
- Student-to-faculty: 16:1
22
Central Baptist College
Score: 65.19
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $19,680
- Out-of-State:$19,680
- Net Price: $18,128
- Acceptance Rate: 64%
- Retention Rate: 63%
- Graduation Rate: 39%
- Total Enrollment: 564
- Undergrad Students: 564
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $56,000
- Student-to-faculty: 10:1
23
Southwestern Assemblies of God University
Score: 64.03
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $18,610
- Out-of-State:$18,610
- Net Price: $19,217
- Acceptance Rate: 86%
- Retention Rate: 77%
- Graduation Rate: 42%
- Total Enrollment: 1,794
- Undergrad Students: 1,491
- Graduate Students: 303
- Grads Salary: $55,000
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
24
Faulkner University
Score: 63.14
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $23,920
- Out-of-State:$23,920
- Net Price: $20,050
- Acceptance Rate: 82%
- Retention Rate: 63%
- Graduation Rate: 33%
- Total Enrollment: 2,817
- Undergrad Students: 1,792
- Graduate Students: 1,025
- Grads Salary: $62,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
25
Toccoa Falls College
Score: 61.52
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $23,250
- Out-of-State:$23,250
- Net Price: $20,609
- Acceptance Rate: 68%
- Retention Rate: 60%
- Graduation Rate: 46%
- Total Enrollment: 2,046
- Undergrad Students: 2,008
- Graduate Students: 38
- Grads Salary: $50,000
- Student-to-faculty: 17:1
