Choosing a counseling degree in Connecticut means choosing a career pathway, not just a school: clinical mental health counseling and school counseling lead toward different credentials and workplaces. This guide compares program fit, training formats, costs, licensure considerations, and career prospects for prospective students and working professionals. It also features the 2027 Best Counseling Degree Programs Ranking in Connecticut, created by the Research.com team of data scientists to help students make an informed choice about which programs are worth considering. Use the comparisons to build a shortlist that fits your goal and budget.
Key findings about Counseling degrees in Connecticut
Choose the credential pathway first: Connecticut clinical mental health and school counseling programs prepare students for different state-regulated roles, and a degree alone does not confer licensure or school certification.
National median annual pay in May 2025 was $59,350 for the occupational group covering mental health and substance use counseling and $64,330 for school and career counselors and advisors; these are occupation-wide figures, not Connecticut graduate salaries (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Compare total program cost and field-placement logistics, not tuition alone. Public and private options, as well as online and campus formats, can impose substantially different residency, travel, and work-schedule demands.
What can I expect from a Counseling degree in Connecticut?
A counseling degree combines human-development theory, assessment, ethics, and supervised work with clients or students. For readers planning to practice professionally, the consequential choice is usually between a graduate clinical mental health counseling pathway and a graduate school counseling pathway. A bachelor's degree can help someone enter related support work, but it is not a substitute for the graduate education and additional requirements associated with these regulated roles (Connecticut Department of Public Health; Connecticut State Department of Education).
The distinction determines which programs belong on your shortlist. Clinical mental health training focuses on counseling in behavioral-health settings; school counseling training focuses on supporting students within educational systems. Some counselor education programs offer more than one pathway, but applicants should confirm the exact degree and specialization on their application rather than assume credits or placements transfer between them.
This investment makes most sense for someone who wants the work itself - including supervised practice, documentation, and ongoing professional responsibilities - not simply a graduate credential. If your goal is to teach, provide social work services, or pursue psychology licensure, compare those professions' education rules before paying for a counseling program.
Where can I work with a Counseling degree in Connecticut?
Clinical mental health counseling graduates may pursue roles in outpatient behavioral-health clinics, hospitals, community agencies, and, after meeting applicable licensure requirements, other clinical settings. School counseling graduates may work in Connecticut public schools if they meet the state's educator-certification requirements; private-school requirements can differ (Connecticut Department of Public Health; Connecticut State Department of Education).
Workplace choice should influence program choice before enrollment. Someone aiming for a public-school position should prioritize an educator-preparation pathway and school placements. Someone aiming for clinical practice should check whether coursework and supervised training align with Connecticut's licensed professional counselor, or LPC, requirements. Neither a job title nor a master's diploma by itself establishes eligibility to practice independently.
The most useful salary comparison is between occupations, not between schools: a program cannot promise a particular wage. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports the following national occupation-wide medians for May 2025. They include workers at different experience levels and are not Connecticut starting salaries.
Career direction
National median annual pay, May 2025
How to use the figure
Mental health or substance use counseling
$59,350
Relevant to many clinical mental health and addiction counseling goals, subject to the job's duties and credential rules.
School counseling
$64,330
Useful for comparing a school-based goal with clinical work, but not a forecast of a Connecticut district's pay.
Rehabilitation counseling
$46,850
Relevant if your intended work centers on disability and rehabilitation services.
For a Connecticut offer or return-on-investment estimate, obtain a current local pay range for the specific role and compare it with your present earnings. Employer, setting, experience, and whether a position requires a license or school certification can all change the comparison. The BLS national medians describe occupations, not the earnings attributable to any particular degree program.
The clearest differences among these options concern career destination, degree structure, and delivery. The highlights below focus on distinctions applicants can use to narrow a shortlist; confirm current credit requirements, placement arrangements, accreditation status, and tuition directly with each program before applying (institutional program pages).
Sacred Heart University - master's in clinical mental health counseling: Its online-program format is the defining comparison point for an employed applicant who cannot regularly commute to campus. Ask how required supervised training is arranged near your home and whether any in-person activities are required.
University of Connecticut - MA in Educational Psychology in School Counseling: This is a school-counseling pathway housed in educational psychology rather than a clinical mental health degree. It is a better starting point for applicants targeting student services in schools than for those seeking a clinical practice pathway.
Southern Connecticut State University - MS in School Counseling: The school-specific degree makes the intended educator pathway clear. Compare its school-placement arrangements and current certification alignment with your intended Connecticut district before weighing it against clinical programs.
University of Saint Joseph - MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling: This option lets applicants seeking clinical practice evaluate a specifically named mental health counseling degree. Its value relative to a school-counseling option depends on whether your target credential is LPC rather than school counselor certification.
University of Saint Joseph - MA in School Counseling: The separate school-counseling degree gives applicants a way to choose the student-support pathway at the application stage. Ask which placements and courses are particular to that pathway instead of assuming the clinical curriculum is interchangeable.
University of New Haven - graduate Clinical Mental Health Counseling program: Its clinical focus makes it a candidate for applicants prioritizing behavioral-health work over school employment. Request the current course-to-LPC-requirements mapping and placement policies so you can compare actual preparation, not just degree titles.
Fairfield University - graduate Clinical Mental Health Counseling program: This is another specifically clinical option for applicants comparing graduate programs in southwestern Connecticut. Location can matter when arranging repeated supervised visits, so ask where students commonly complete required placements.
Central Connecticut State University - MS in Counselor Education, School Counseling specialization: The specialization explicitly locates school counseling within a counselor-education degree. Applicants should verify that their selected specialization, not merely the broader degree name, meets the preparation rules for their intended school role.
Southern Connecticut State University - MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling: Unlike its school-counseling MS, this degree targets the clinical mental health pathway. It is the more relevant comparison for an applicant who wants to assess clinical training at a Connecticut public university.
Western Connecticut State University - MS in Counselor Education: The counselor-education degree calls for especially careful review of its current program options before applying. Identify the exact pathway, required fieldwork, and credential it is designed to support; the broad degree title alone does not establish fit for either LPC or school certification.
A strong differentiator is one that affects your route to practice. Ask each finalist for its current handbook, required credits, field-placement expectations, and any published program-level completion or examination outcomes. Do not interpret a school's general reputation as evidence of a particular counseling program's results.
A full-time counseling master's commonly takes about two to three years; part-time study can take longer. The decisive variable is not simply the number of courses. Practicum, internship, course sequencing, and the availability of suitable placements may limit how quickly a student can finish, even when some academic work is online.
Request a term-by-term plan for your intended enrollment pace. If you work full time, ask whether placements require weekday hours and whether required courses are offered often enough to avoid an extra term. Graduation is also distinct from completing any postdegree supervised experience, examinations, and application steps required for a Connecticut professional credential (Connecticut Department of Public Health; Connecticut State Department of Education).
Online study changes how much academic coursework you can complete away from campus; it does not remove supervised fieldwork or state credential requirements. A campus format may simplify access to nearby faculty and placement networks, while an online format may make coursework easier to schedule around a job. Neither format is inherently more licensure-ready.
For an online program, confirm in writing that it can enroll students in your location, support an appropriate placement there, and provide the education needed for your intended Connecticut credential. For a campus program, test the commute against both class times and placement travel. Students outside Connecticut should check the rules of the state where they plan to practice rather than assuming a Connecticut-oriented pathway transfers automatically.
There is no single statewide counseling-master's price that reliably describes every option: published institutional averages can mix degree levels and disciplines, while graduate tuition and required credits differ by program. Rather than treat an undergraduate tuition average as a counseling-program estimate, calculate a program-specific total from the current graduate rate, required credits, mandatory fees, and anticipated fieldwork expenses (institutional tuition schedules; National Center for Education Statistics).
Public-university applicants should check whether resident and nonresident rates differ and whether they qualify for the rate they expect. Online applicants should ask about distance-learning fees and placement-related travel; campus applicants should budget commuting and potential lost work time. Use the most affordable counseling programs as a shortlist, then obtain a written cost estimate from each school.
Price alone is not return on investment. Compare net cost after aid and borrowing with program duration, earnings you may forgo while studying, your current pay, plausible postdegree pay, and the time needed to meet credential requirements. A lower sticker price is less helpful if its schedule makes completion impractical.
Graduate students can begin with the FAFSA to determine eligibility for federal aid, then compare institutional scholarships, assistantships, employer tuition benefits, and any state or school awards for which they qualify. Ask whether an award is renewable and whether it applies to part-time enrollment or fieldwork terms. Federal loan eligibility and limits depend on the student and the applicable rules (Federal Student Aid).
Graduate PLUS is not a general fallback for new graduate borrowers under the rules taking effect July 1, 2026. Certain continuing borrowers may qualify under transition provisions; verify your own status and current options with Federal Student Aid and the school's financial-aid office before building a financing plan around that loan (Federal Student Aid). If borrowing remains necessary, compare projected repayment with a conservative salary for your target occupation - not the highest wage in a job posting.
View the chart data as a table
Best score distribution across ranked programs (Source: Research.com)
Category
Value
78–79
2
80–82
1
82–84
0
85–86
0
88–89
4
90–92
4
92–94
1
95–96
1
Master's applicants generally need a bachelor's degree and the materials specified by the individual program, which may include transcripts, recommendations, a statement of purpose, and an interview. Requirements concerning prior psychology coursework, experience, tests, and minimum academic standing are school-specific; check the current admissions page rather than assuming every Connecticut program has the same entry rules (institutional admissions pages).
Admissions eligibility is not the same as future credential eligibility. Before accepting an offer, ask for a written explanation of how the exact degree and pathway address Connecticut's education requirements for the role you want. Also ask whether prior graduate credits can transfer, how many may apply to this degree, and whether transferred coursework will count toward any required professional preparation (Connecticut Department of Public Health; Connecticut State Department of Education).
Common graduate subjects include counseling theories, helping relationships, ethics, multicultural counseling, assessment, human development, and research or program evaluation. Supervised practicum and internship translate that coursework into practice. The emphasis then diverges: clinical mental health pathways address clinical assessment and treatment-related work, while school pathways emphasize counseling and student support in educational settings (institutional program curricula).
Course titles are not enough to establish credential fit. Compare each program's current catalog and fieldwork requirements with the Connecticut agency responsible for your intended credential, particularly if you plan to change pathways or practice in another state after graduation.
The most important Connecticut program distinction in this comparison is clinical mental health versus school counseling. Other counseling-related interests may include addiction, rehabilitation, or work with couples and families, but a course or elective on one population does not automatically create a separate credential pathway. Ask whether an advertised concentration changes the required degree, placement, or eligibility for the job you want (institutional program catalogs; Connecticut Department of Public Health; Connecticut State Department of Education).
If your interests are still broad, compare foundational curricula and placement options before committing to a narrow focus. If you already know you want a public-school role, favor a school-counseling preparation route; if you want clinical mental health work, investigate the LPC-oriented route instead.
Start with the credential and workplace you want, then compare only programs that plausibly lead toward them. The most valuable counseling programs can prompt an outcomes-and-cost comparison, but verify the program-specific evidence behind any shortlist. Note: the linked ranking's published path should be checked if it does not load; do not rely on a broken page to make a decision.
These checks can expose costly mismatches before you enroll:
Identify the Connecticut agency governing your intended role, and ask the program how its current curriculum and placements address that agency's education rules.
Check institutional accreditation and any claimed programmatic CACREP accreditation for the exact degree and pathway; distinguish accreditation from state licensure or certification (Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs; Connecticut Department of Public Health; Connecticut State Department of Education).
Request the required-credit total, a realistic part-time or full-time course sequence, and written field-placement expectations.
Compare net price, expected debt, forgone earnings, and the likelihood that your work schedule will allow you to finish.
Ask for program-level completion and relevant credential-examination results, including the reporting years and whether the measures cover your chosen pathway.
The common mistake is choosing on a ranking position, a low tuition rate, or the word "online" without checking credential alignment and fieldwork feasibility. If your first-choice program cannot answer those questions clearly, keep comparing.
View the chart data as a table
Programs by specialization (Source: Research.com)
Category
Value
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
6
School Counseling
6
Counselor Education and Supervision
1
A school-counseling pathway points toward work supporting students in educational settings, subject to Connecticut educator certification. A clinical mental health pathway points toward behavioral-health counseling roles, subject to the license and supervision rules attached to the position. Counseling graduates may also consider related support, program, or further-study opportunities, but those roles have their own hiring criteria (Connecticut State Department of Education; Connecticut Department of Public Health).
For an established professional, the decision is whether the new credential opens a role that justifies the cost and time away from other work. Compare actual Connecticut job descriptions with program curricula and ask employers which credential they require. If the positions you want instead specify social work, psychology, or marriage and family therapy credentials, evaluate those education paths separately.
View the chart data as a table
Projected job growth 2025-2035 by counseling career path (U.S., BLS) (Source: BLS)
Category
Value
Mental Health Counselors
18
Marriage & Family Therapists
14
Postsecondary Teachers
7
Psychologists
6
School & Career Counselors
3
Rehabilitation Counselors
2
All occupations
3
National demand differs sharply by specialty. BLS employment projections for 2025-2035 indicate 18% growth for the occupational group covering mental health and substance use counseling, compared with 3% for school and career counselors and advisors. These are U.S. projections - not a count of Connecticut vacancies - and should inform your choice of career direction rather than serve as a promise of local employment (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections).
In Connecticut, look beyond a statewide job total: school openings depend on districts and certification, while clinical openings depend on employer setting and credential requirements. Review current postings within a commute you can sustain and note whether they require independent licensure, accept an associate or supervised status, or require school certification. The most popular counseling programs can show which programs attract attention, but popularity is not evidence of local job placement.
2027 Best Counseling Degree Programs Ranking in Connecticut
An education investment deserves more scrutiny than a list of familiar school names. Research.com created this ranking to help readers compare counseling programs using documented outcomes, accreditation, and cost. Its team applies the same scoring approach to online and on-campus programs and reviews the underlying data for quality and credibility; the ranking is a starting point, not a substitute for checking a program's current requirements and price.
The Best ranking begins with a graduate-outcomes-and-accreditation score: program completion accounts for 40%; employment or doctoral admission, 20%; applicable licensure-exam pass rates, 20%; CACREP programmatic accreditation, 16%; and institutional Title IV eligibility, 4%. Shares are renormalized when a criterion does not apply. Program cost then contributes a smaller component - about 7% of the final score. Other Research.com counseling rankings order programs by the particular dimension named in each ranking. The following data sources inform the rankings:
IPEDS database - institutional enrollment, completions, and cost data.
Peterson's database - program and institution information used in comparisons.
These measures help identify programs worth a closer look, while the separate cost component keeps price visible without treating the cheapest option as automatically the best investment. Read more about the approach on the Research.com methodology page.
# 1 position
Sacred Heart University
Master
Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Delivery mode: hybrid
95.50
/ 100
Final score
Program length
A full-time student will finish the program in two years
Specialization
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Required credits
60 semester credits
GPA range
2.75 - 4.00
Program completion rate
96% (2024-25)
Employment or doctoral admission
100% (2024-25)
Licensure exam pass rate
100% (2024-25)
Application deadline
Spring 2027: 12/07/26
Application process
direct
GRE
no
Prerequisites
Successful completion of a baccalaureate degree
Additional requirements
Online application, official transcripts (GPA 2.75+), two professional recommendation letters, state acknowledgement form, personal statement, online-readiness assessment, video interview, and two 1-week in-person residencies.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).
Sacred Heart University earned a Research.com Counseling Program Score of 95.5/100, supported by 100% licensure exam pass rate and 96% program completion rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2032-03-31.
# 2 position
University of Connecticut
Master
MA in Educational Psychology in School Counseling
Delivery mode: campus
94.02
/ 100
Final score
Program length
2 years full-time (based on Year 1/Year 2 course sequence)
Specialization
School Counseling
Required credits
60 semester credits
GPA range
3.00 - 4.00
Program completion rate
100% (2025-26)
Employment or doctoral admission
100% (2025-26)
Licensure exam pass rate
100% (2025-26)
Application deadline
Dec 1; Feb 15; Apr 1 (rolling, fall start)
Application process
direct
GRE
no
Prerequisites
Accredited bachelor's degree with a 3.0+ GPA; if the degree lacks 9 credit hours in social sciences (e.g., education, sociology, psychology), 9 additional credit hours of background coursework may be required.
Additional requirements
Bachelor's with 3.0+ GPA; online application and $75 fee; resume; application essay; 3 letters of recommendation; official transcripts; PRAXIS (waivable with qualifying SAT/ACT/GRE); TOEFL (international); GRE not required. Deadlines Dec 1, Feb 15, Apr 1.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).
University of Connecticut earned a Research.com Counseling Program Score of 94.02/100, supported by 100% licensure exam pass rate and 100% program completion rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2033-10-31.
# 3 position
Southern Connecticut State University
Master
Master of Science in School Counseling
Delivery mode: hybrid
92.08
/ 100
Final score
Specialization
School Counseling
Required credits
63 semester credits
GPA range
3.00 - 4.00
Program completion rate
94% (2024-25)
Employment or doctoral admission
89% (2024-25)
Licensure exam pass rate
100% (2023-24)
Class size
11
Prerequisites
This is an educator preparation program in the State of Connecticut with additional admission requirements (see Admissions to Educator Preparation Programs).
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).
Southern Connecticut State University earned a Research.com Counseling Program Score of 92.08/100, supported by 100% licensure exam pass rate and 94% program completion rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2027-03-31.
# 4 position
University of Saint Joseph
Master
Clinical Mental Health Counseling, M.A.
Delivery mode: campus
91.64
/ 100
Final score
Program length
3 years full-time
Specialization
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Required credits
60 semester credits
Program completion rate
90% (2025-26)
Application process
direct
GRE
no
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution
Additional requirements
Application, official undergraduate transcripts showing bachelor's degree conferral, two professional recommendation letters, essay/letter of intent, resume/CV, planned program of study, proof of immunization (waived for fully online).
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).
University of Saint Joseph earned a Research.com Counseling Program Score of 91.64/100, with 90% program completion rate among the verified supporting factors. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2031-03-31.
# 5 position
University of Saint Joseph
Master
School Counseling, M.A.
Delivery mode: campus
91.44
/ 100
Final score
Program length
3 years full-time
Specialization
School Counseling
Required credits
60 semester credits
Program completion rate
83% (2025-26)
Licensure exam pass rate
100% (2025-26)
Application process
direct
GRE
no
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree conferred by an accredited institution. Course prerequisites are required only for the Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry and Nutrition programs, not counseling.
Additional requirements
Graduate application + $50 fee; undergraduate transcripts; two letters of recommendation; admissions essay; resume; faculty interview; no GRE.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).
University of Saint Joseph earned a Research.com Counseling Program Score of 91.44/100, supported by 100% licensure exam pass rate and 83% program completion rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2031-03-31.
# 6 position
University of New Haven
Master
M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Delivery mode: campus
90.17
/ 100
Final score
Program length
On-ground option: 2-3 years
Specialization
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Required credits
60 semester credits
GPA range
3.00 - 4.00
Application deadline
Fall: March 1 (priority); Spring: October 1 (priority)
Application process
direct
GRE
no
Prerequisites
Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university (or the international equivalent).
Additional requirements
Online graduate application, $50 fee, official transcripts, two letters of recommendation, statement of purpose, professional resume/CV, and an admissions interview for academically qualified candidates.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).
University of New Haven earned a Research.com Counseling Program Score of 90.17/100. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2033-03-31.
# 7 position
Fairfield University
Master
M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Delivery mode: campus
89.95
/ 100
Final score
Program length
Average completion: 2.5 to 3 years
Specialization
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Required credits
60 semester credits
Acceptance rate
72.3%
GPA range
2.67 - 4.00
Program completion rate
100% (2025-26)
Employment or doctoral admission
80% (2024-25)
Licensure exam pass rate
88% (2025-26)
Application deadline
Fall: Jan 15; Spring: Oct 1
Class size
45
Application process
direct
GRE
no
Prerequisites
Earned bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university; minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.67 required.
Additional requirements
Completed application, $65 application fee, professional resume, personal statement, official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended, two recommendation forms/letters, interview (in-person, for those invited).
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).
Fairfield University earned a Research.com Counseling Program Score of 89.95/100, supported by 88% licensure exam pass rate and 100% program completion rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2033-10-31.
# 8 position
Central Connecticut State University
Master
Counselor Education with Specialization in School Counseling, MS
Delivery mode: campus
89.50
/ 100
Final score
Specialization
School Counseling
Required credits
63 semester credits
Acceptance rate
66%
GPA range
2.70 - 4.00
Program completion rate
64% (2023-24)
Employment or doctoral admission
100%
Application deadline
February 1
Application process
direct
GRE
no
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution; minimum 2.70 GPA; three recommendations; 2-3 page personal essay; personal interview; School Counseling also needs Praxis Core, SAT, or ACT scores and a fingerprint background check.
Additional requirements
Graduate application; official transcripts; three letters of recommendation; 2-3 page personal essay/statement of purpose; faculty committee interview; Praxis Core, SAT, or ACT scores (School Counseling); fingerprint-based background check.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).
Central Connecticut State University earned a Research.com Counseling Program Score of 89.5/100, supported by 64% program completion rate and 100% employment or doctoral admission rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2028-03-31.
# 9 position
Southern Connecticut State University
Master
M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Delivery mode: hybrid
88.76
/ 100
Final score
Specialization
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Required credits
60 semester credits
Acceptance rate
16%
GPA range
3.00 - 4.00
Program completion rate
80% (2024-25)
Employment or doctoral admission
100% (2024-25)
Licensure exam pass rate
92% (2024-25)
Application deadline
Fall: January 15
Application process
direct
Prerequisites
Coursework in Introduction to Psychology and Abnormal or Clinical Psychology is required. A psychology major is not required. Relevant mental health or human services experience is encouraged but not required.
Additional requirements
Two recommendation letters: one academic and one professional or field-based; personal essay. Selected applicants participate in small-group interviews via Zoom.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).
Southern Connecticut State University earned a Research.com Counseling Program Score of 88.76/100, supported by 92% licensure exam pass rate and 80% program completion rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2028-03-31.
# 10 position
Western Connecticut State University
Master
M.S. in Counselor Education
Delivery mode: hybrid
88.24
/ 100
Final score
Program length
three-year hybrid program
Specialization
School Counseling
Required credits
60 semester credits
Acceptance rate
70%
GPA range
3.00 - 4.00
Program completion rate
80% (2024-25)
Employment or doctoral admission
80% (2023-24)
Application deadline
January 10
Application process
direct
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree (or international equivalent) including general-education distribution in English, mathematics, science, social and behavioral sciences, foreign language, and fine arts
Additional requirements
Transcripts from all colleges/universities attended, minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA (or alternate assessment), two-page double-spaced essay on reasons for enrolling and suitability for online learning
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).
Western Connecticut State University earned a Research.com Counseling Program Score of 88.24/100, supported by 80% program completion rate and 80% employment or doctoral admission rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2027-03-31.
# 11 position
Fairfield University
Master
M.A. in School Counseling
Delivery mode: campus
80.35
/ 100
Final score
Program length
Approximately 30 to 36 months on average
Specialization
School Counseling
Required credits
60 semester credits
Acceptance rate
66.67%
GPA range
2.67 - 4.00
Program completion rate
100% (2025-26)
Employment or doctoral admission
33.3% (2025-26)
Application deadline
Fall: Feb 1 (priority), Mar 15 (final); Spring: Oct 1 (priority), Nov 15 (final)
Application process
direct
GRE
no
Prerequisites
Earned Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university; minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.67 required.
Additional requirements
Bachelor's (2.67 GPA); application; $65 fee; resume; personal statement; transcripts; two recommendations; interview for invited candidates; one of Praxis Core/SAT/ACT/GRE for state certification.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).
Fairfield University earned a Research.com Counseling Program Score of 80.35/100, supported by 100% program completion rate and 33.3% employment or doctoral admission rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2033-10-31.
# 12 position
Southern Connecticut State University
Doctor
Ed.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision
Delivery mode: hybrid
79.74
/ 100
Final score
Program length
may be completed in four years
Specialization
Counselor Education and Supervision
Required credits
60 semester credits
GPA range
3.00 - 4.00
Program completion rate
44% (2024-25)
Employment or doctoral admission
100% (2024-25)
Class size
10
Prerequisites
Master's degree from a regionally accredited college or university
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).
Southern Connecticut State University earned a Research.com Counseling Program Score of 79.74/100, supported by 44% program completion rate and 100% employment or doctoral admission rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2027-03-31.
# 13 position
University of New Haven
Master
M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (Online)
Delivery mode: hybrid
78.04
/ 100
Final score
Program length
can be completed in just three years
Specialization
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Required credits
60 semester credits
Acceptance rate
36.9%
GPA range
3.00 - 4.00
Program completion rate
54.3% (2024-25)
Employment or doctoral admission
66% (2024-25)
Application deadline
Fall: March 1 (priority); Spring: October 1 (priority)
Application process
direct
GRE
no
Prerequisites
Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university (or the international equivalent).
Additional requirements
Online graduate application, $50 fee, official transcripts, two letters of recommendation, statement of purpose, professional resume/CV, and an admissions interview for academically qualified candidates.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).
University of New Haven earned a Research.com Counseling Program Score of 78.04/100, supported by 54.3% program completion rate and 66% employment or doctoral admission rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2033-03-31.
Frequently asked questions about Counseling degree in Connecticut
Do I need a master's degree to become a counselor in Connecticut?
For the Connecticut LPC pathway, graduate education is part of the state's requirements, alongside other requirements such as supervised experience and an examination. Public-school counseling follows the state's educator-certification rules. Check the requirements for the specific role you intend to pursue (Connecticut Department of Public Health; Connecticut State Department of Education).
Does a counseling master's automatically qualify me for a Connecticut license?
No. A degree is one component of a credential pathway, not a license. Confirm the program's coursework and fieldwork against current state rules and plan for any required postdegree steps (Connecticut Department of Public Health).
Can I complete a Connecticut counseling degree entirely online?
Some programs deliver academic coursework online, but supervised fieldwork still requires approved real-world settings. Ask about placements, residency activities, and state eligibility before enrolling.
Is CACREP accreditation required for every Connecticut counseling job?
Do not assume a single accreditation rule applies to every counseling role. Verify a program's accreditation claims and the current education rules for the particular Connecticut license, certification, or employer you are targeting (Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs; Connecticut Department of Public Health; Connecticut State Department of Education).
Which is better: clinical mental health or school counseling?
Choose according to the work and credential you want. Clinical mental health counseling is the closer fit for behavioral-health practice; school counseling is the closer fit for student support in schools. They are not interchangeable pathways.
Is a counseling degree worth the investment?
It can be if the program fits your intended credential, you can complete its placements, and the likely career benefit justifies your net cost and time commitment. Estimate that trade-off using your current earnings, realistic local job requirements, expected debt, and program-specific completion information - not a national median salary alone.
See What Experts Have To Say About Studying Counseling
