Best Online Counseling and MSW Programs 2026
Recommended next step
Check whether a counseling degree pays off for you
Pick a counseling or social work job, enter your pay and the program's tuition, and see your break-even year using BLS May 2025 pay. About a minute, no sign-up.
Run the ROI calculatorFor 2026, six accredited online counseling and social work master’s programs have College Scorecard outcomes you can compare: counseling at Liberty, Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), Capella and Walden, and the MSW at the University of Denver and Fordham.
Their graduates’ median earnings ran from $53,721 to $70,342 four years after finishing, and median federal debt from $32,676 to $79,000. Mental health counselors earned a median $59,350 and school counselors $64,330 in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
The accreditor decides which license you can pursue. Pick the license first, then the program.
How many terms until you finish?
Tell us what you're working toward and the credits you have. You'll see an estimate right here, nothing to sign up for.
Six accredited online counseling and MSW programs and what their graduates earned
We picked these six as examples of accredited online programs at schools that report the matching field to College Scorecard. It is an editorial selection, not a ranking. Each accreditation below is stated on the school’s own site.
| School | Program | Accreditor | In-person parts | Fully online in Scorecard |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty University | MA, Clinical Mental Health Counseling | CACREP | Practicum and internship | Yes |
| Southern New Hampshire University | MA, Clinical Mental Health Counseling | CACREP | Two in-person residencies; practicum and internship | Yes |
| Capella University | MS, Clinical Mental Health Counseling | CACREP | Two residencies; practicum and internship | Yes |
| Walden University | MS, School Counseling | CACREP | Practicum and internship | Yes |
| University of Denver | Online MSW | CSWE | Field education in your community | Some credentials |
| Fordham University | Online MSW | CSWE | 900 practicum hours near you | Some credentials |
The outcomes table below reads College Scorecard’s June 2026 field-of-study file. Scorecard has no separate line for clinical mental health counseling: Liberty, SNHU and Capella report it under Mental and Social Health Services, Walden’s degree under Student Counseling and Personnel Services, and both MSWs under Social Work.
| School | Program | Scorecard field | Median earnings, 4 yrs after | Median federal debt | Graduates, 2022-23 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fordham University | Online MSW | Social Work (master's) | $70,342 | $50,500 | 911 |
| University of Denver | Online MSW | Social Work (master's) | $65,203 | $79,000 | 705 |
| Southern New Hampshire University | MA, Clinical Mental Health Counseling | Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions (master's) | $63,147 | $49,200 | 223 |
| Capella University | MS, Clinical Mental Health Counseling | Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions (master's) | $59,050 | $45,797 | 1,181 |
| Walden University | MS, School Counseling | Student Counseling and Personnel Services (master's) | $57,267 | $64,000 | 178 |
| Liberty University | MA, Clinical Mental Health Counseling | Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions (master's) | $53,721 | $32,676 | 776 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data updated June 10, 2026. Earnings and debt cover every graduate of that field and credential at the school, online and on campus together, so they describe the school's graduates, not what any one student will earn. Earnings are the median for graduates working and not enrolled four years after finishing (2017-18 and 2018-19 graduates, in 2024 dollars); debt is the median federal loan debt of graduates (2018-19 and 2019-20); "Not published" means Scorecard suppresses the figure for a small cohort. Scorecard pages: Fordham University, University of Denver, Southern New Hampshire University, Capella University, Walden University, Liberty University.
Where the fully online flag says yes, the practicum, internship and residency requirements in the first table still apply.
Scorecard’s figures describe past graduates, not your result
Scorecard is the most consistent public source for comparing schools on pay and borrowing. It helps to know exactly what each number covers.
- Earnings are the median pay of graduates who were working and not enrolled four years after finishing. They cover 2017-18 and 2018-19 graduates, in 2024 dollars.
- Debt is the median federal loan debt (Stafford and Grad PLUS) of 2018-19 and 2019-20 graduates. Private loans and money paid out of pocket are not in it.
- Scope is every graduate of that field and credential at the school, online and on campus together. It is not a figure for the online program alone.
- Fully online is the school’s own report of whether all, some or none of its credentials in that field can be finished entirely by distance education.
- “Not published” means Scorecard withheld the figure, usually because the group of graduates is small.
The figures leave out current tuition, how long students take to finish, and what any one student will earn. The outcomes table sorts rows by median earnings because Scorecard publishes that figure for most rows. A higher number does not make a program better for you: the mix of jobs graduates take, where they live and who enrolls all move a school’s median.
The accreditor decides which license you can pursue
Counseling and social work look alike on a brochure but lead to different licenses.
| License you want | Program accreditation to look for | Programs above |
|---|---|---|
| Professional counselor (LPC, LMHC) | CACREP, clinical mental health counseling | Liberty, SNHU, Capella |
| School counselor | CACREP school counseling, plus state educator certification | Walden |
| Clinical social worker (LCSW) | CSWE-accredited MSW | Denver, Fordham |
CACREP’s 2024 standards require a supervised practicum of at least 100 clock hours, then a 600-hour supervised internship. Those hours happen with real clients at a site, even in an online program.
The Counseling Compact is live in nine states
The Counseling Compact lets a licensed professional counselor practice in other member states through a privilege to practice. The Compact Commission lists nine states that have finished implementation: Arkansas, Arizona, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Minnesota, Ohio, Tennessee and Wyoming. Anywhere else, plan on a separate license application if you move.
What the jobs pay: BLS May 2025 wages
The degree matters less than the license and job it leads to. These are national BLS wages for May 2025.
| Job | Lowest 10% earn under | Median | Top 10% earn over |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marriage and family therapists (21-1013) | $44,650 | $66,940 | $123,730 |
| School and career counselors (21-1012) | $45,020 | $64,330 | $104,770 |
| Mental health and substance abuse social workers (21-1023) | $39,740 | $60,280 | $104,170 |
| Child, family and school social workers (21-1021) | $42,280 | $59,550 | $95,530 |
| Mental health and substance abuse counselors (21-1018) | $38,940 | $59,350 | $97,590 |
BLS projects mental health counselor jobs to grow 18.4% from 2025 to 2035, against 2.9% for school and career counselors. BLS wage data covers salaried workers, so self-employed private practice pay is not in these figures.
Four checks before you apply
-
Match the accreditor to the license
CACREP for counseling licenses, CSWE for the LCSW. Look the program up in the CACREP or CSWE directory, not just the school’s page.
-
Confirm your state board accepts it
Ask the school whether the program meets your board’s education rules, and ask the board whether it accepts practicum hours arranged by an out-of-state program.
-
Ask how field placements work
Find out who finds your practicum or field site and who supervises you. Denver and Fordham both place MSW students in their own communities.
-
Price it with this year's tuition
Scorecard debt is not the price. Get the current tuition and fees, count any residency travel, then subtract any employer benefit.
Two ways to cut the cost
Federal loans. Graduate students can borrow up to $20,500 a year in Direct Unsubsidized Loans. Grad PLUS loans are no longer available to new borrowers after July 1, 2026, per Federal Student Aid, so plan the gap before you enroll. Pell Grants do not cover graduate study.
Employer tuition help. Up to $5,250 a year of employer-paid education can be tax-free under IRS Section 127. MSW students with a CSWE-accredited bachelor’s in social work can also look for advanced-standing tracks, which Denver and Fordham both offer.
Frequently asked questions
Can I become a licensed counselor with an online degree?
Yes, if the program holds the accreditation your state board requires and you complete the supervised practicum and internship. The coursework can be online; the clinical hours cannot.
Does a CSWE-accredited MSW qualify me for an LPC license?
Not by itself. Counseling boards generally look for a counseling degree, often from a CACREP program, while the LCSW requires a CSWE-accredited MSW. Check your board’s rule before you choose.
What is the difference between an MSW and a counseling master’s?
An MSW prepares you for social work licenses and roles such as clinical and child and family social work. A counseling master’s prepares you for professional counselor licenses. The pay medians in the table above are close; the license rules are not.
Next step: see what aid covers before you choose
Shortlist two or three programs from the tables, then get this year’s tuition from each. The aid check shows your federal loan limit and any grant aid for your situation before you commit to one.
Degree Sources is not affiliated with any school listed or with any government agency.
See what aid could cover before you pick a program
Pell, state grant, campus aid and federal loan limits stacked in about two minutes. Your result shows before any email; school matching is optional afterwards.
Start the aid checkWant your finish-line plan by email? Go to the quick check
Sources
Every figure in this guide comes from one of these pages. How we check sources
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data (updated June 10, 2026)
- BLS OEWS May 2025, Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors (21-1018)
- BLS OEWS May 2025, Marriage and Family Therapists (21-1013)
- BLS OEWS May 2025, Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Workers (21-1023)
- BLS Employment Projections 2025-35, occupational projections and worker characteristics
- CACREP 2024 Standards, Section 3: Professional Practice
- Counseling Compact Commission
- 34 CFR 668.14(b)(32), program licensure requirements by state (eCFR)
- Southern New Hampshire University, online MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
- University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work, Online MSW
- Fordham Graduate School of Social Service, Online MSW
- Federal Student Aid, OBBBA loan limit definitions (updated Aug. 24, 2026)
- IRS Publication 5993, employer educational assistance
Related Resources
Best Online Teaching Degrees 2026: MAT and M.Ed. Compared
Seven online MAT and M.Ed. programs compared on licensure path and Scorecard outcomes. Elementary teachers earned a $63,970 median in May 2025 (BLS).
Highest-Paying Online Degrees 2026: 15 Jobs by BLS Pay
Financial managers top the list at a $166,570 median (BLS May 2025). 15 degree-linked jobs ranked by pay, with the online programs that lead to them.
Best Online Degrees for Working Adults in 2026
10 accredited online options for working adults in 2026, compared on College Scorecard data: share of adult students, 8-year completion and net price.