Best Master's in School Counseling Programs in 2026

The University of La Verne offers a Master of Science in Educational Counseling that lets candidates shape the degree around the kind of counseling work they intend to do. Three concentrations, School and Family Based Counseling, Spanish Bilingual Bicultural Counseling, and Social Justice Higher Education, span everything from bilingual K-12 practice to equity-minded work in higher education. Depending on the chosen path the program runs 55 to 71 credits and takes two to three and a half years, and it is delivered at multiple California campuses including La Verne, Bakersfield, Burbank, Irvine, and Santa Clarita. That breadth of locations and tracks marks a program meant to reach a geographically and professionally diverse pool of counselors. Coursework meets the requirements for the California Pupil Personnel Services Credential in school counseling and is accredited by the state's Commission on Teacher Credentialing. The result is a flexible, mission-driven degree for candidates who want to align their training with a specific community focus. This master's-level school counseling program prepares graduates for work as educational in California.

Concordia University Irvine offers a Master of Arts in Education: School Counseling built for candidates who want to become credentialed pupil personnel professionals without stepping away from full-time work. The program moves a single cohort through 48 units over 26 months, pairing a 3-unit practicum with a 6-unit fieldwork sequence and a capstone project so that classroom learning is continually tested in real school settings. Synchronous evening sessions cluster on Tuesday through Thursday during weeks 1, 3, 5, and 7 of each eight-week term, a rhythm that keeps live instruction predictable while leaving space for on-site hours. Graduates emerge prepared for the California Pupil Personnel Services Credential in School Counseling, and the coursework is aligned with CTC and WASC standards. The design reads as a practical, cohort-anchored path into K-12 counseling for working adults. This master's-level school counseling program prepares graduates for work as educational in California.

University of Massachusetts Global offers an MA in Educational Counseling that pairs a Pupil Personnel Services Credential in School Counseling with Child Welfare and Attendance authorization, delivered fully online for California residents. The 48-credit program runs in 8-week instructor-led sessions, a cadence that suits working adults, while its fieldwork demands are substantial: 100 hours of in-person supervised fieldwork plus 800 post-practicum and internship hours, including a minimum of 600 at an approved California public school and 150 toward the CWA authorization. That combination of flexible online coursework and heavy in-state fieldwork reads as a program engineered specifically to move California candidates into K-12 school counselor roles. It carries WASC institutional accreditation, California Commission on Teaching Credentialing approval, and AAQEP accreditation. Graduates earn the PPSC credential with CWA authorization required for those positions. A master's-level path in school counseling, it builds toward a career among educational in California.

California State University, Fullerton offers a Master of Science in Counseling through its College of Health and Human Development that points toward clinical practice rather than school settings. The 63-unit program is CACREP-accredited in Clinical Mental Health Counseling through October 2031 and approved by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences, with coursework mapped to the state requirements for both Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist paths. It does not lead to a PPS school counseling credential. Students complete the degree in three and a half to five years and enroll in one of two cohorts, a larger Traditional cohort of roughly sixty students per year or a smaller Evening cohort of about two dozen that starts only every three years. Classes meet mainly on campus in the evening, with a single hybrid course. This master's-level school counseling program prepares graduates for work as educational in California.

California State University, Northridge offers a Master of Science in Counseling with an Option in School Counseling and an embedded Pupil Personnel Services credential through its Eisner College of Education. Approved by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, the full-time, on-campus program qualifies graduates for the PPS credential in school counseling while also opening doors to the National Counselor Examination for NCC certification and a pathway toward LPCC licensure. The 72-unit, three-year design balances 51 core units, 18 option units, and a 3-unit culminating experience, with fieldwork scaffolded from a 100-hour practicum in the first year to 800 hours across the second year and final fall semester. That graduated clinical sequence gives candidates steadily deepening school-based experience on the way to the credential. This master's-level school counseling program prepares graduates for work as educational in California.

Azusa Pacific University offers a Master of Arts in Education in Educational Counseling with an embedded School Counseling credential, a 50-unit cohort program accredited by CAEP and WSCUC and approved by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. Small cohorts of 15 to 20 students move through synchronous online classes together, joined by one required in-person Saturday session each semester, creating a connected community with limited campus demands. The program leads to the Pupil Personnel Services Credential in School Counseling required to practice in California K-12 schools, and it builds in more than 800 hours of supervised clinical experience. A comprehensive-exam capstone rather than a thesis keeps the emphasis on applied readiness over research. An optional pathway toward the Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor credential extends its reach for students eyeing clinical practice. Graduates of this school counseling program at the master's level often go on to work as educational.

NYU Steinhardt offers a Master of Arts in School Counseling with a concentration in either K-12 or Bilingual School Counseling, a program accredited by the Master's in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council. Its structure blends core courses with hands-on counseling labs and fieldwork, placing interns in New York City schools so candidates develop counseling skills in one of the country's most diverse urban systems. The bilingual concentration sharpens that focus, preparing counselors to serve English language learner populations. Graduates are eligible for New York State school and guidance counselor certification. Prospective applicants should note that Steinhardt has suspended new enrollment in the on-campus version of this program and is directing students toward related online offerings, so the campus-based pathway may not currently be open to new cohorts. A master's-level path in school counseling, it builds toward a career among educational in New York.

Kean University offers a Master of Arts in Counseling with a School Counseling option, a CACREP-accredited program that lets candidates decide how far to take their credential. A 48-credit path leads directly to New Jersey Department of Education school counselor certification, while a 60-credit dual option layers in the coursework needed to pursue Licensed Associate Counselor status and eventual LPC licensure. That structure speaks to students who want to keep both school and clinical doors open rather than commit to a single setting. Weeknight classes at the Union campus, along with some weekend options and a part-time weekend cohort at the Ocean/Toms River site, make the degree workable for adults already holding jobs. The result is a flexible program built as much around scheduling realities as around counseling competencies. Earning a master's degree in school counseling is a common route toward becoming one of New Jersey's educational.

Hunter College offers an on-campus Master of Science in Education in School Counseling that admits a cohort each fall and moves students through a structured sequence of one practicum semester followed by two internship semesters under regular supervision. The design offers a notable milestone along the way, since NYS provisional certification in School Counseling becomes available after 30 credits and a school-based practicum, giving candidates a working credential before they finish. Bilingual students can pursue the New York State Bilingual Education Extension for Pupil Personnel Services concurrently, widening their reach in the city's multilingual schools. The CACREP-accredited curriculum prepares counselors not only for K-12 and college settings but also for hospitals, correctional facilities, and community organizations, reflecting an expansive view of where counseling skills apply. It is a program that treats school counseling as one branch of a broader helping profession. As a master's degree in school counseling, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as educational in New York.

Boston University's Wheelock College of Education and Human Development offers an Ed.M. in Counseling with a School Counseling concentration set within a broader menu that also includes Child and Adolescent Mental Health Counseling and Sport and Performance Psychology. The program is intensive and immersive, running two years full-time and folding in a summer session between the two academic years so that momentum never breaks. Clinical preparation is a defining feature, with candidates completing a minimum of 700 hours of supervised training before they finish. That full-time, cohort-paced design signals a program aimed at students able to commit to graduate study as their central focus rather than fit it around a job. The curriculum is built to prepare graduates for professional roles as school counselors and related counseling positions. A master's-level path in school counseling, it builds toward a career among educational in Massachusetts.

Wilmington University's M.Ed. in Elementary and Secondary School Counseling is a flexible, access-oriented program that spans the full K-12 range and meets students where they are, offered fully online or face-to-face at Dover, New Castle, Georgetown, Brandywine, and Gloucester campuses. Courses start every eight weeks, and two distinct tracks let students choose between a Certification/Licensure path and a Non-Licensure path for roles that do not require state credentialing. The clinical core is a two-semester internship grounded in the ASCA National Model and Ethical Standards. CAEP accredited and Delaware state-approved, the certification track leads to eligibility for school counselor licensure in Delaware public, private, or charter schools upon passing the Praxis Professional School Counselor exam. The program totals 51 credits, rising to 57 for candidates seeking New Jersey certification. Earning a master's degree in school counseling is a common route toward becoming one of Delaware's educational.

The University of West Georgia offers a Master of Education in Professional Counseling with a School Counseling concentration, a CACREP-accredited program housed at the Carrollton campus that candidates can complete face-to-face or with partially to fully online coursework depending on the choices they make. The School Counseling track is one of three concentrations under the Professional Counseling degree, sitting alongside Clinical Mental Health Counseling and College Student Affairs, which gives the department a shared counseling foundation with distinct professional endpoints. The program runs a minimum of 60 semester hours across two years of full-time study over six semesters, a deliberate pace that reflects the national counseling benchmark. Graduates are prepared for Georgia school counselor certification, and recent outcomes are strong, with 2024-2025 completers posting a 100 percent pass rate on both GACE School Counseling content tests. A modest scale of 31 active majors and 15 graduates that year points to close, cohort-style attention. Graduates of this school counseling program at the master's level often go on to work as educational.

Loyola Marymount University offers a Master of Arts in School Counseling that pairs the Pupil Personnel Services Credential with a Child Welfare and Attendance Authorization, extending graduates' reach into attendance and student welfare work beyond the counseling office. It is one of three tracks in the university's California Counseling Program, sitting alongside an LPCC-eligible counseling MA and a college counseling and student affairs MA, and it is deliberately aimed at school rather than clinical practice. The degree runs 51 units with 800 internship hours, and a select number of candidates can access a paid residency in their final year, easing the financial strain of extended fieldwork. Delivered in a hybrid format and accredited by the state's Board of Behavioral Sciences, the Commission on Teacher Credentialing, and WASC, it reflects a program serious about credentialed, service-oriented practice. It fits candidates who want a school-focused credential with an added child welfare authorization. Graduates of this school counseling program at the master's level often go on to work as educational.

The College of New Jersey offers a Master of Arts in Counseling with a School Counseling option, a 60-credit program with unusually deep CACREP roots as the first accredited program in New Jersey and the Delaware Valley, continuously accredited since 1991. An intensive, closely supervised clinical sequence and small class sizes taught by full-time doctoral faculty give the program a mentored, hands-on character. Qualifying students earn New Jersey certification in school counseling at both the elementary and secondary levels. A distinctive summer International School Counseling Program in Portugal broadens the experience beyond the Ewing campus, offering a global perspective on the field. The overall picture is of an established, faculty-driven program that treats supervised practice and professional identity as central. A master's-level path in school counseling, it builds toward a career among educational in New Jersey.

Bridgewater State University offers a Master of Education in School Counseling that lets candidates specialize by grade span, choosing either a PreK-8 track or a Grade 5-12 track so their training maps to the developmental stage they intend to serve. Small classes capped at no more than fifteen students give the 60-credit program a seminar feel and close faculty contact. Preparation is competency-driven, combining 600 hours of fieldwork with the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Exam so graduates leave having both practiced and demonstrated their skills. A 54-credit Postmaster's Licensure option extends the same pathway to those who already hold a graduate degree and need only the licensure coursework. Aligned with CACREP standards, the program prepares students for Initial Licensure as a School Guidance Counselor in Massachusetts. Earning a master's degree in school counseling is a common route toward becoming one of Massachusetts's educational.

The University of West Alabama offers a Master of Education in School Counseling designed as a certification-track program for people already teaching who want to move into the counseling role. Applicants must already hold teaching certification with at least a year of educational experience, and the fully online format built on eight-week terms is clearly shaped for working educators who cannot step away from their jobs. A single four-day on-campus residency provides the one in-person touchpoint, while the 60 credit hours run from a professional core through certification coursework and electives. Practicum and two school counseling internships supply the supervised field experience. CACREP accreditation supports the degree, which leads toward Alabama school counselor certification, though the program notes that candidates should verify licensure requirements in their own state. Graduates of this school counseling program at the master's level often go on to work as educational.

The University of Nebraska at Kearney offers a Master of Science in Education in School Counseling that moves candidates through a compact three-semester, 43-credit sequence built around working adults' schedules. Coursework arrives online and in evening sections and then converges on an in-person summer clinical residency, a structure that lets students keep a day job while still logging supervised practice. Applicants choose an Elementary (PK-8) or Secondary (7-12) track, so the degree is tailored to the age group a counselor intends to serve. Because the program runs through Nebraska's Rule 24 non-teacher pathway, it also opens the door to career-changers who have never held a classroom license. Graduates who pass the Praxis School Counselor Assessment earn the Nebraska School Counselor Endorsement, and the CAEP accreditation signals a preparation program vetted against national educator-preparation standards. Graduates of this school counseling program at the master's level often go on to work as educational.

Southeastern Oklahoma State University offers a fully online Master of Education in School Counseling built expressly for licensed teachers moving into a counseling role. Enrollment requires an existing teaching certificate, and the 42-hour curriculum is structured as accelerated, flexible courses that working educators can fit around classroom jobs. A pay-as-you-go tuition model and 100 percent online delivery reinforce that this is a degree meant to be earned without pausing a career. Housed in a CAEP-accredited school and reviewed through Oklahoma's Office of Educational Quality and Accountability, the program prepares teachers to serve as school counselors and career advisors. The overall shape reads as a practical, career-embedded path for teachers stepping into student support work. As a master's degree in school counseling, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as educational in Oklahoma.

Arkansas State University offers a Master of Science in Education in School Counseling built for accessibility, delivered 100% online and asynchronously across 48 credits. The General Concentration anchors the degree, with Crisis and Trauma and Special Populations concentrations available for candidates who want to sharpen a particular focus. Approved by the Arkansas Department of Education and CAEP-accredited, the program requires 700 clinical hours, 100 in practicum and 600 in internship, including 240 direct-service hours in K-12 schools, keeping fieldwork substantial despite the flexible online format. Notably, it requires no prior teaching experience for admission, opening the door to career-changers entering school counseling directly. That combination of asynchronous delivery, optional specializations, and open entry makes it a flexible route into the profession for a wide range of candidates. As a master's degree in school counseling, it is one of the programs that lead to careers as educational in Arkansas.

Angelo State University offers a Master of Education in School Counseling, a fully online, 48-credit program delivered in accelerated eight-week terms that fit the schedules of working educators. Approved by the Texas Education Agency for state certification, the program prepares graduates for the TExES Texas School Counselor Certificate and reports a near-perfect pass rate on the School Counselor 252 exam. Its cohort model, supported by HELP and OASIS grants, and its partnership with ESC Region 15 for practicum and internship placements together read as a program built to move current school staff into counseling roles with practical support along the way. Students who want to extend their credentials can add an optional 18-credit Online LPC Bridge toward licensed professional counselor preparation. The design keeps online convenience paired with real placements and funding. This master's-level school counseling program prepares graduates for work as educational in Texas.

The University of Missouri offers a Master of Education in Educational, School and Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in School Counselor Certification, delivered fully online with no on-campus visits. The 60 credit-hour program uses a one-course-at-a-time format built on a science-practitioner model, so candidates move through the material in a focused sequence while completing two required practicum placements. Graduates become certificate-eligible as school counselors in Missouri at both elementary and secondary levels, and students can choose elementary, secondary, or all-levels K-12 options. Backing from CAEP, Missouri DESE, and the Higher Learning Commission, along with ASCA recognition, marks it as a rigorously vetted preparation program. The structure suits distance learners who want a research-informed foundation without relocating. This master's-level school counseling program prepares graduates for work as educational in Missouri.

National University offers a Master of Science in Educational Counseling with a Pupil Personnel Services Credential option that bundles the school counseling credential with a Child Welfare and Attendance authorization. Built around the ASCA National Standards, the 48-credit program averages roughly 23 months and moves candidates through supervised fieldwork courses that ground the coursework in real school practice. It leads to the California PPS-SC credential and CWA authorization through the Commission on Teacher Credentialing, requires passing the PRAXIS exam, and is limited to California residents. The fully online delivery and waived application fee lower the barriers to entry, marking a program shaped for accessible, standards-driven preparation. Offered by a WASC and AAQEP accredited institution, it suits working Californians who want a credential-ready counseling degree they can complete from home. This master's-level school counseling program prepares graduates for work as educational in California.

William & Mary offers an online Master of Education in Counseling with a School Counseling concentration that pairs the reach of a distance program with two required three-day on-campus residencies. Holding both CACREP and CAEP recognition, the program lets students meet Virginia school counselor coursework and clinical requirements over roughly three years while continuing to work. Beyond school counseling, candidates can concentrate in clinical mental health counseling or in military and veterans counseling, giving the online catalog notable range. Field training centers on a 100-hour practicum and a 600-hour internship in K-12 schools, and an average class size of 14 keeps the remote experience personal. Out-of-state students are advised to confirm requirements with their own boards. The design reads as a supported, cohort-scale online path into school counseling. Earning a master's degree in school counseling is a common route toward becoming one of Virginia's educational.

The University of Southern California's Rossier School of Education offers an online Master of Education in School Counseling built around the ASCA National Model and California Commission on Teacher Credentialing expectations. The 49-unit curriculum organizes its work around three timely focus areas, College and Career Readiness, Restorative Justice, and Trauma-Informed Practice, signaling a program attuned to the equity and well-being pressures schools now face. Candidates complete a 100-hour practicum and 700 hours of fieldwork, so the online format still grounds the degree in real school settings. Rossier formally recommends qualified graduates to the state for the clear Pupil Personnel Services School Counseling credential. Full-time students can finish in as few as five terms, or roughly 20 to 21 months, with a part-time route extending to 33 months. A master's-level path in school counseling, it builds toward a career among educational in California.

St. Bonaventure University offers a fully online Master of Science in Education in School Counseling, a CACREP-accredited degree that prepares graduates for licensure as school counselors. The 60-credit program runs without campus residencies and can be completed in about three years part-time, an arrangement clearly built for working adults balancing jobs and family while they change careers. Fieldwork remains central despite the online format, with a 100-hour practicum followed by two track-specific 300-hour internships that root learning in real school communities. Students can extend their scope by adding an Advanced Certificate in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, a nod to the overlap between school and community mental health work. The program reports a 100% pass rate on the certification exam, reinforcing its focus on measurable readiness for practice. Earning a master's degree in school counseling is a common route toward becoming one of New York's educational.