
Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Institutional accreditation evaluates the school as an educational institution; it is distinct from accreditation of an individual counseling program.
Accreditation is an important consideration for federal student aid eligibility and for how other institutions or licensing authorities review a degree. It does not guarantee that another school will accept transfer credits or that a state licensing board will approve a graduate's coursework. Students seeking a professional credential should check the accreditation status of their specific program, along with the applicable state board's education and supervised-experience rules.
Admission is to a graduate-level counseling school, so applicants should prepare to document prior college education rather than follow a first-year undergraduate admissions process. The school does not operate under an open-admission policy.
Before applying, candidates should review the current requirements for their chosen program, including the qualifying degree, official transcripts, any prerequisite coursework, application materials, and interview or professional-experience expectations. Applicants whose prior education was completed outside the United States should also check the school's requirements for credential evaluation and English-language proficiency. The relevant deadline may depend on the program and intended start term.
Prospective students should not assume that SAT or ACT scores, high school class rank, or undergraduate freshman admissions measures are relevant to this graduate application. A separate question is whether an applicant's academic and professional background meets the requirements for the counseling credential they eventually want to pursue.
Applicants should check the graduate school's current application instructions for the fee that applies to their program and submission method before paying. An application fee is separate from tuition, required course fees, and any payment due after an offer of admission.
Anyone who may qualify for a waiver should ask admissions whether one is offered, what documentation is required, and whether approval must come before submitting the application. This avoids assuming that a waiver used by another school - or for a different type of applicant - also applies here.
ROTC is not a central feature of this specialized graduate school's academic model. Applicants should not assume that Army, Air Force, or Navy ROTC participation is available through enrollment at Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School.
ROTC programs generally train students for commissioning through a host college or university and have separate eligibility, enrollment, scholarship, and service-obligation rules. A prospective student interested in both graduate counseling study and ROTC would need confirmation from the relevant ROTC host unit about whether participation is possible while enrolled at this institution.
For this graduate school, transferring means asking whether previous graduate coursework can count toward a specific degree - not applying as an undergraduate transfer student. Admission to a program and acceptance of transfer credit are separate decisions.
Applicants with prior counseling or related graduate study should request a review of official transcripts, course descriptions or syllabi, credit hours, and the institution where the work was completed. Clinical training deserves particular attention: a course with a similar title may not satisfy the school's practicum requirements or a licensing board's standards. Students should obtain a written, program-specific credit evaluation before relying on transferred courses to shorten their study plan.
Study abroad should not be assumed to be part of Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School's focused counseling curriculum. Students interested in international study or clinical experience need to determine whether a proposed activity could satisfy degree and licensing requirements before making plans.
Clinical placements are more constrained than general elective courses: supervision, client-contact hours, documentation, and authorization to practice can all affect whether an overseas experience counts. Written academic approval in advance is particularly important if the experience would replace required coursework or field training.
Open admission policy
NoDual credit
YesCredit for life experiences
NoAdvanced placement (AP) credits
NoStudent can complete their preparation in certain areas of specialization
NoPreparation at another institution required
NoApproved by the state for initial certification or licensure of teacher
NoData last updated on November 2, 2026
Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026
Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.