Top 25 Most Affordable Master's Degrees in Counseling in the Northeast

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Updated June 22, 2023

Explore our ranking of the best schools offering Affordable Master's Degrees in Counseling in the Northeast.

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This list of the of the Top 25 Most Affordable Master’s Degrees in Counseling in the Northeast was created considering the following points.

The following accredited degrees are available at the colleges and universities that made the top 25 list.

Graduates of these programs will be prepared to pursue licensure as a professional counselor or marriage and family therapist. Graduates will be able to develop careers working with diverse populations of individuals, couples, families, and groups in settings including private practice, community mental health clinics, schools, government agencies, and hospitals.

Read on for our comprehensive list of the best master’s in counseling in the Northeast.

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Top 10 Most Affordable Master’s Degrees in Counseling in the Northeast

  1. Bridgewater State University
    Location

    Bridgewater, MA

    Bridgewater State University offers a Master of Education in School Counseling, a Master of Education in Counseling in Mental Health Counseling; and a Master of Education in Counseling with a Dual License (leading to licensure opportunities in mental health and school counseling). The Department of Counselor Education is accredited by the CACREP. Along with affordable tuition, students at Bridgewater State University will find small class sizes and personalized learning experiences. Faculty bring a range of backgrounds to the classroom and clinical supervision to support students in developing into well rounded and skilled counselors.

    Courses include: counseling theories and techniques for mental health counseling; multicultural counseling; research and evaluation; the professional counselor-standards, ethics, and legal issues; psychopathology; psychological assessment; introduction to career counseling; substance abuse and dependency; crisis/disaster counseling; ethical and legal issues for the school counselor; consultation and collaboration for school counselors; counseling theories and techniques for school counselors; and special education issues for school counselors.

    • Average Graduate Tuition: $1,675.00
    • Application Deadline: February 1st for Fall, October 1st for Spring
    • Credits Required: 39 – 66

  2. Husson University
    Location

    Bangor, ME

    The School of Education at Husson University offers a CACREP accredited Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (63 credits) and a Master of Science in School Counseling (60 credits). The counseling programs at Husson University strive to prepare graduates to be leaders in the fields of mental health counseling and school counseling through comprehensive coursework in the classroom and rich clinical experiences in the community. Husson University reports that students score higher than the national average on the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination. Students can elect to enroll in the program on a part-time or full-time basis which allows students to engage fully in the program while also maintaining current personal and professional commitments.

    Courses include: human growth and development; research and program evaluation; social and cultural diversity; theories of counseling; counseling techniques; legal, ethical, and professional issues in counseling; group process; assessment in counseling; career development in counseling; marriage and family counseling; crisis intervention; clinical diagnosis and treatment planning with adults; practices in counseling young children and adolescents; introduction to school guidance counseling; and the changing role of the school counselor.

    • Average Graduate Tuition: $6,060.00
    • Application Deadline: February 1st
    • Credits Required: 60 – 63

  3. Marywood University
    Location

    Scranton, PA

    A Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and a Master of Science in Counselor Education is available at Marywood University. Both CACREP accredited degrees require the completion of 60 credits and lead to professional licensure in the field. The Counseling Program at Marywood University strives to support students in connecting with one another through a cohort model where students move through the program together and support each other along the way. Additionally, new students in the program are paired with a mentor student in the program for a seamless and supportive transition into graduate school.

    Courses include: principles and practices of clinical mental health counseling; theories of counseling; ethics; multicultural counseling; group process; human development; career development; counseling techniques; marital counseling and therapy; chemical dependence; principles and practices of professional school counseling; ethics; introduction to psychological testing; behavior management approaches; and child and adolescent psychopathology.

    • Average Graduate Tuition: $9,300.00
    • Application Deadline: February 1st for Fall, October 15th for Spring
    • Credits Required: 60

  4. Evangelical Theological Seminary
    Location

    Myerstown, PA

    Evangelical Theological Seminary offers a COAMFTE-accredited Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy. This 65 credit program can be completed in 2.5-4 years depending on if you choose to enroll part or full time. Students in this program will learn about how to best support individuals, couples, and families in all aspects of their lives through the integration of marriage and family theory with a Christian worldview. The curriculum and clinical training will lead to students to acquiring the academic and professional skills necessary to be a professional counselor but will also lead to the inevitable personal and spiritual growth of the student.

    Courses include: survey of Christian theology; history and theology of marriage and family; spiritual formation in ministry; assessment in marriage and family therapy; dynamics of biopsychosocial spiritual development across the lifespan; children and adolescents in family therapy; gender and ethnicity; foundations of marriage and family therapy; premarital counseling seminar; abusive and addictive family systems; relevant issues in the practice of marriage and family therapy; and ethical, legal, and professional issues in family therapy.

    • Average Graduate Tuition: $10,350.00
    • Application Deadline: April 1st
    • Credits Required: 65

  5. Nyack College
    Location

    Nyack, NY

    The Alliance Graduate School of Counseling at Nyack College offers a COAMFTE-accredited Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy. The program emphasizes a psychospiritual counseling model taught from a Christian perspective. Faculty strive to connect with and support students on an individual level throughout each student's time in the program. Graduates of this 61 credit program will be prepared for licensure. Graduates have pursued careers in a variety of settings as marriage and family therapists, crisis counselors, hospice counselors, residential treatment center therapists, and as pastoral counselors.

    Courses include: pre-marital counseling; theories of marriage and family therapy; Gottman couples therapy; advanced sex therapy; group dynamics and therapy; ethical and professional issues; spirituality and marriage and family therapy; principles and methods of counseling; medical and mental issues in marriage and family therapy; psychology and theology; theology of mental health counseling; and career development.

    • Average Graduate Tuition: $10,350.00
    • Credits Required: 61

  6. Plymouth State University
    Location

    Plymouth, NH

    Plymouth State University offers CACREP accredited counseling degrees in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (63 credits) and School Counseling (48 credits). Both degrees offer students the opportunity to add an area of concentration to their degree. Students can choose from concentrations in areas including eating disorders institute; organizational approaches to transformation and healing; personal approaches to transformation and healing; and play therapy. The Counselor Education and School Psychology department has made it a priority to work towards securing grants and funding to support graduate students as they work to earn their counseling degree. Graduates will be prepared to pursue professional licensure in either clinical mental health counseling or school counseling.

    Courses include: professional orientation, ethics, and advocacy; counseling skills; social behavior and diversity; advanced human development; career counseling and development; counseling theories and personality; assessment and consultation; group counseling; foundations of clinical mental health counseling; working with children and families; crisis and trauma counseling; addictions and related disorders; foundations of school counseling; the counselor in the classroom; critical issues in schools; and working with youth and their systems.

    • Average Graduate Tuition: $10,494.00
    • Application Deadline: August 1st for Fall, November 1st for Winter, February 1st for Spring and May 1st for Summer.
    • Credits Required: 48 – 63

  7. University of Scranton
    Location

    Scranton, PA

    Students can earn a CACREP accredited Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling or School Counseling from the University of Scranton. Clinical Mental Health Counseling graduates will have the training to work with individuals, couples, families, and groups in a range of settings such as private practice, college counseling centers, churches, hospitals, and treatment centers for substance abuse and eating disorders. School Counseling graduates will be prepared to provide advocacy in the K-12 school setting while supporting students, families, teachers, and administrators. Graduates from the University of Scranton will be prepared to pursue professional licensure and be leaders in their chosen area of focus within the field of counseling.

    Courses include: professional issues; counseling theories; social and cultural issues; group process and practice; counseling and interviewing skills; lifespan development; assessment and diagnosis; career and lifestyle development; evidence based practice; crisis intervention; school counseling program planning; college and career readiness; systemic leadership and advocacy; collaboration and coordination; counseling children; and counseling adolescents.

    • Average Graduate Tuition: $11,352.00
    • Application Deadline: March 1st
    • Credits Required: 60

  8. Geneva College
    Location

    Beaver Falls, PA

    Geneva College offers a CACREP accredited Master of Arts in Counseling with concentrations in Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling (60 credits); Clinical Mental Health Counseling (60 credits); or School Counseling (51 credits). The counseling program at Geneva College works to integrate counseling theory with Christian faith into the curriculum to prepare graduates to work in both secular and religious settings. Students will learn to consider all aspects of an individual's life including social, psychological, and spiritual with the goal of supporting clients in reaching optimal health. 99% of counseling students at Geneva College passed the National Counselor Exam on their first try.

    Courses include: foundations for faith-based counseling; research design and program evaluation; human development; counseling theory; counseling skills; career and lifestyle counseling; social and cultural foundations of counseling; group counseling; foundations of marriage, couple, and family counseling; professional issues and ethics in mental health counseling; psychopathology and diagnosis; counseling children and adolescents; and curriculum, learning, inclusion, and instruction for school counselors.

    • Average Graduate Tuition: $11,934.00
    • Credits Required: 51 – 60

  9. Neumann University
    Location

    Aston Township, PA

    A Master of Science in Pastoral Clinical Mental Health Counseling is available at Neumann University. This 60 credit degree is accredited by the CACREP. Students in this program will learn to integrate counseling theory and spirituality in working with individuals at all levels of intervention from outreach to assessment to treatment. As a pastoral counselor, graduates will be prepared to work with diverse populations of individuals in a range of clinical settings. Graduates may choose to work in ministry with special populations, such as with individuals in a hospice or prison, or in more traditional mainstream settings, such as with children in community mental health clinic.

    Courses include: introduction to pastoral clinical mental health counseling; theories for pastoral identity; psychological foundations; perspectives on the human person; psychopathology; marital and family counseling; personality; ethics and professional issues; pre-clinical preparation and orientation; psychological testing; career counseling; research methods; addiction counseling; multicultural counseling; and trauma and crisis.

    • Average Graduate Tuition: $12,060.00
    • Credits Required: 60

  10. Immaculata University
    Location

    Immaculata, PA

    Immaculata University offers a CACREP-accredited Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Students have the opportunity to take the National Counselor Examination on campus in the spring or fall. Last fall all of the Immaculata University students who took the National Counselor Exam passed it. The faculty at Immaculata University bring a depth of experience to the program. For example, along with teaching, all of the faculty in the clinical mental health counseling program also works professionally as counselors. Additionally, faculty members specialize in areas including: addictions counseling, play therapy, multicultural issues; and trauma counseling.

    Courses include: human development; methods of research; group process; family counseling; psychopathology; career and vocational counseling; substance abuse education and counseling; ethical and professional issues; professional orientation to clinical mental health counseling; crisis intervention and trauma; diversity in counseling; and assessment for counselors.

    • Average Graduate Tuition: $12,510.00
    • Application Deadline: Rolling Admissions
    • Credits Required: 60

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