A counseling doctorate can prepare you to teach future counselors, supervise clinicians, or conduct research - but it may not be the most efficient way to qualify for clinical practice. This guide is for prospective students and working counselors comparing doctoral options across the West. It accompanies the 2027 Best Doctorate in Counseling Degree Programs Ranking in the West, created by the Research.com team of data scientists to help students make an informed choice about programs worth considering. You'll learn how to compare credentials, costs, licensure fit, and career returns before applying.
Key findings about Counseling degrees in West
A doctorate in counselor education is primarily an advanced teaching, supervision, leadership, or research credential; it does not automatically qualify a graduate for clinical licensure in any Western state.
The U.S. median annual wage for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors was $59,350 in May 2025; employment is projected to grow 18% from 2025 to 2035. Those figures describe an occupation, not a doctoral salary premium (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Compare the full funding package and years away from full-time earnings - not tuition alone. The best-value option depends on your existing master's degree, intended state of practice, and whether you seek a faculty or practitioner career.
What can I expect from a Counseling degree in West?
A counseling doctorate in this ranking generally means a PhD or EdD in counselor education, often with a supervision component. It differs from a master's degree designed as an entry route into professional counseling: doctoral study typically emphasizes research, teaching, advanced supervision, and leadership. Program titles are not interchangeable with psychology doctorates or medical degrees.
A PhD usually makes the clearest sense for someone pursuing research-intensive faculty work. An EdD may appeal to an experienced practitioner seeking educational or organizational leadership, although the actual dissertation, research training, and career preparation depend on the program. If your main goal is to start seeing clients independently, first determine whether a qualifying master's program - not a doctorate - meets your state board's educational rules.
Expect advanced coursework, faculty-guided research, a dissertation or other required doctoral project, and opportunities to teach or supervise when the program offers them. Ask whether those opportunities are guaranteed, competitive, paid, or simply available in principle.
Where can I work with a Counseling degree in West?
Doctoral graduates may work in university counselor-education departments, community behavioral health organizations, school systems, hospitals, government agencies, or private practice when separately licensed. The credential is most directly relevant to faculty, clinical-supervision, training, and program-leadership positions; a clinical employer may instead prioritize the applicable state license and experience.
Location changes the calculation. A student seeking a California faculty position should examine teaching and research experience, while one planning clinical work in Oregon should confirm that existing or planned education meets Oregon's licensing-board requirements. Rural areas can present different service and training opportunities from large metros, but a campus location alone does not establish local job availability. Compare the employers and supervised placements accessible from each program's actual delivery site.
Salary depends more on the job held than on the doctorate's title. National occupational medians provide a benchmark, but they do not show what a particular program's graduates earn or isolate the return from doctoral study.
The following U.S. figures use May 2025 median annual wages and 2025-2035 employment projections. Match the occupation to the role you actually want rather than treating the figures as interchangeable doctoral outcomes (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook and Employment Projections).
Career area
U.S. median annual wage, May 2025
Projected U.S. growth, 2025-2035
How to use the figure
Clinical mental health or addiction counseling
$59,350
18%
Benchmark for counseling roles, not evidence of a doctorate premium.
School counseling
$64,330
3%
Relevant only if your intended position and state credential fit this occupation.
Counselor education and supervision
$75,350
2.5%
A faculty-oriented comparison, not a guaranteed starting salary.
Marriage, couple, and family counseling
$66,940
14%
Consider only if your training and separate licensing path match the role.
The faculty-oriented median may look attractive, but a doctoral applicant should also account for time in school and the possibility of a competitive academic hiring process. Request recent, degree-specific placement information before using any occupational median in a personal earnings forecast.
Program names alone do not establish a measurable advantage. The distinctions below identify the clearest program-specific feature apparent from each institution's named degree or program listing and explain what to verify before treating it as a reason to enroll. None should substitute for current catalog, admissions, funding, and outcome information from the institution.
University of Nevada, Reno: Its doctorate is explicitly in counselor education and supervision, making the supervision component particularly relevant to experienced counselors seeking to train other clinicians. Ask how doctoral students gain documented supervisory experience and whether that experience meets the rules where you intend to work (University of Nevada, Reno).
Adams State University: Its counselor-education doctorate is an option to examine if access to a smaller Colorado location affects your study plans. Confirm the current delivery schedule and required visits before comparing its practical cost with programs in larger metros (Adams State University).
University of Montana, PhD: The university identifies a counselor-education PhD separately from its EdD, giving applicants a clear degree-type choice at the same institution. Compare their research and dissertation requirements if a research-focused academic career is your priority (University of Montana graduate catalog).
University of Northern Colorado: Its named PhD joins counselor education with supervision rather than presenting the degree as general counseling practice. For a prospective supervisor, the deciding evidence is the program's current supervised training, assistantship availability, and graduates' roles (University of Northern Colorado).
University of Arizona: Its counselor education and supervision PhD offers an Arizona-based option for applicants building a faculty-oriented shortlist in the Southwest. Ask which research groups and teaching assignments currently accept doctoral students in your area of interest (University of Arizona).
Boise State University: Its Counselor Education page is a departmental starting point, but the page title alone does not establish an admitting doctoral degree. Confirm the exact credential, current admissions status, and doctoral requirements before comparing it with the named PhD and EdD options here (Boise State University).
Oregon State University: Its graduate catalog identifies counselor education as an option within its counseling PhD structure. That option-level designation makes it especially important to check the transcripted degree title and option requirements when comparing it with stand-alone counselor-education doctorates (Oregon State University graduate catalog).
University of Montana, EdD: Its counselor education and supervision EdD supplies a direct degree-type alternative to the university's counselor-education PhD. Applicants interested in leadership or professional education should compare the two programs' actual projects and graduate destinations rather than assume an EdD is automatically less research-intensive (University of Montana graduate catalog).
University of New Mexico: Its counselor-education PhD gives applicants considering New Mexico a specifically named doctoral pathway. Check whether the available faculty supervision and teaching opportunities match the population or research question you want to study (University of New Mexico).
Concordia University Irvine: Its PhD is explicitly in counselor education and supervision and offers a California-based alternative when comparing institutional funding offers. Request the complete cost and residency schedule; a private university can also be nonprofit, and its published tuition alone will not establish its net cost (Concordia University Irvine).
For a separate view of applicant interest, compare the most popular counseling programs. Popularity is not evidence that a program fits your intended license, research interests, or budget.
Plan on roughly three to five years of doctoral study after a qualifying master's degree as a planning range, not a promised completion time. Coursework may finish before the dissertation, and part-time enrollment, research approvals, placement availability, and employment obligations can extend the timeline. Ask each school for its recent completion-time distribution rather than relying only on its advertised schedule.
A faster program can reduce forgone earnings, but only if its pace leaves room for the teaching, supervision, or research record your target employer expects. Compare required campus visits and the period for which any assistantship pays; funding that ends before dissertation completion can change the apparent value of a short program.
Online delivery can make coursework accessible to working counselors across the West, but "online" does not necessarily mean no travel or locally arranged supervision. Campus study may make regular faculty contact and teaching assignments easier to access. Neither format, by itself, establishes accreditation or eligibility for a state license.
This comparison focuses on obligations that can materially change the cost and feasibility of a doctoral offer. Confirm the details for your specific cohort because delivery rules may change.
Question
Online or hybrid doctorate
Campus doctorate
Where must you be?
Remote coursework may still include scheduled residencies.
Regular on-site attendance may limit where you can live or work.
How do you build experience?
Teaching, research, or supervision may require proactive local arrangements.
On-site assignments may be easier to coordinate but are not assured.
Which costs need checking?
Technology charges, travel, lodging, and local placement costs.
Relocation, commuting, housing, and possible lost work hours.
The sensible choice is the format in which you can complete the required doctoral work and build evidence for your target role. Ask admissions to put residency and in-person requirements in writing before you accept an offer.
There is no defensible single "average cost" for a counseling doctorate across the West without a comparable, current dataset covering these specific programs. Institutional graduate tuition figures can mix unrelated degrees and omit fees or funding. Use each school's current doctoral rate and your expected enrollment period to build a personal comparison instead of treating a broad institutional average as your likely bill (National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS).
Start with tuition and required fees, then include dissertation-continuation charges, residency travel, relocation, insurance, and income you may give up. Subtract grants and assistantship support, distinguishing an award promised for the full program from one reviewed annually. Compare that net estimate with your current earnings, plausible post-degree roles, debt payments, completion probability, and the time it could take to realize any earnings gain. A public university's resident rate can change the comparison, but verify your eligibility; a private university's funding offer can also outweigh a lower sticker price.
The most affordable counseling programs provide a useful cost-oriented shortlist. Request an individualized written estimate before deciding that the lowest advertised tuition is the least expensive path.
Doctoral funding can include institutional fellowships, teaching or research assistantships, grants, employer support, and federal loans for eligible students. Ask whether an assistantship includes tuition remission, a stipend, health coverage, and summer or dissertation-stage support; an award's duration matters as much as its headline amount.
Federal borrowing rules deserve special attention for 2027 entrants. Do not assume Graduate PLUS will be available to a new doctoral borrower: federal changes restrict new Graduate PLUS borrowing beginning July 1, 2026, while transitional eligibility may apply to certain continuing students with qualifying earlier borrowing in the same program. Confirm your own status and current loan limits with Federal Student Aid and the school's aid office before using a loan in your budget (Federal Student Aid; U.S. Department of Education).
State assistance is not uniform across Western states, and an award available to undergraduates may not cover doctoral study. File the relevant aid application, ask the graduate school about program-specific awards, and compare written multiyear funding terms - not just first-year offers. Borrowing to pursue a faculty position is a different risk calculation from accepting a funded doctorate while continuing an established counseling career.
View the chart data as a table
Best score distribution across ranked programs (Source: Research.com)
Category
Value
72-74
1
75-76
0
78-79
0
80-82
0
82-84
2
85-86
11
88-89
1
Many counselor-education doctorates expect a counseling-related master's degree and evidence that applicants can undertake advanced clinical, supervisory, teaching, or research work. Requirements differ: schools may review transcripts, a statement of research interests, recommendations, a résumé, interviews, and professional credentials. Confirm whether a particular program requires an existing counseling license or accepts closely related master's degrees; do not infer eligibility from the doctoral title (individual university admissions offices).
Before applying, compare your master's transcript with both doctoral prerequisites and the licensing rules for your intended state. California's Board of Behavioral Sciences, Oregon's Board of Licensed Professional Counselors and Therapists, and other Western boards govern different credentials under their own rules; admission to a doctorate is not a board determination. If you hope prior graduate work will count, request a written transfer-credit evaluation and ask whether transferred credits shorten time to completion or merely replace electives.
Typical doctoral subject areas include advanced counseling theory, counselor supervision, teaching methods, research design, qualitative or quantitative analysis, assessment, ethics, and dissertation research. The exact curriculum should reflect your intended role: a prospective faculty member needs credible teaching and research preparation, while a future clinical supervisor should examine how supervised supervision is taught and documented.
Read the current catalog rather than counting course titles alone. Check which experiences are required, how frequently essential courses run, who approves dissertation topics, and whether teaching assignments carry credit or pay. A specialization named on a website is less useful if the faculty member or course needed to complete it will not be available during your enrollment.
Doctoral students may focus their research and professional work on clinical mental health, addiction, school counseling, rehabilitation, couples and families, counselor supervision, or counselor education. These are areas of emphasis, not automatic additional licenses. For example, an interest in school counseling does not replace a state's school-personnel credential requirements, and studying couples counseling does not confer marriage and family therapist licensure (state licensing and education agencies).
Choose a focus by working backward from the job description you want. For faculty roles, look for a supervisor publishing or teaching in that area. For practice-facing roles, check the relevant board's degree and supervised-experience rules first. If you are still choosing an initial clinical specialty, a qualifying master's program may offer a more direct path than doctoral specialization.
Start with the job, credential, and state - not the ranking position. Research.com's most valuable counseling programs can help you examine outcomes alongside cost, but your own return depends on funding, time to completion, existing earnings, and the work you intend to pursue.
Use these checks to turn a shortlist into a decision. Ask for answers specific to the degree and cohort you would enter:
Confirm the credential and program-level accreditation status with the institution and, where relevant, CACREP; separately confirm institutional accreditation and federal aid eligibility.
Check educational requirements with the licensing board or school-credential agency in the state where you intend to work; ask the program which requirements its curriculum addresses and which it does not.
Request recent degree-specific completion, placement, teaching, and funding information, including the reporting period and any missing outcomes.
Calculate a multiyear net cost that includes living or travel expenses, foregone earnings, likely debt, and what happens if completion takes longer than planned.
Speak with prospective faculty and current students about research fit, supervision, dissertation support, and how accessible paid opportunities actually are.
A common mistake is treating a doctorate or an online format as a shortcut to licensure. Another is comparing tuition while ignoring lost income and uncertain funding. Resolve both before depositing: get the board's requirements and the school's full financial terms in writing. Institution type alone - public, private, or nonprofit - does not determine return on investment.
View the chart data as a table
Pay vs projected growth by counseling career path (U.S., BLS) (Source: BLS)
Name
Median annual wage (USD/year)
Projected growth (%)
Mental Health Counselors
59,350
18
School & Career Counselors
64,330
3
Rehabilitation Counselors
46,850
2
Marriage & Family Therapists
66,940
14
Psychologists
99,110
6
Postsecondary Teachers
85,330
7
The most direct doctoral path leads toward counselor-educator positions: teaching, supervising trainees, conducting research, and helping administer graduate programs. Other paths include clinical-training leadership, program evaluation, or behavioral health administration. Licensed graduates may also continue clinical practice, but the license and its renewal rules remain separate from the doctorate.
For someone already practicing, the question is whether the doctorate opens work they cannot reasonably reach through experience, supervision training, or a shorter credential. Someone seeking their first counseling job should generally compare qualifying master's programs first. Someone aiming for a research-oriented faculty appointment should instead scrutinize doctoral mentoring, publications, teaching assignments, and where recent graduates have been employed.
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
The counseling labor market is not one market for doctoral graduates. National employment for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors is projected to grow 18% from 2025 to 2035, but that projection does not measure demand for counselor-education faculty or guarantee openings near a particular Western campus (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections).
Geographic flexibility can matter most for academic applicants, whose suitable openings may depend on discipline and research fit. Practice-oriented applicants should examine the state where they expect to be licensed and the employers they can realistically reach. Remote services may expand how some counselors work, but state rules still matter when clients and clinicians are in different jurisdictions; check the relevant boards before treating a remote role as geographically unrestricted.
To test the market before enrolling, collect recent job postings for your target role, record their degree, license, teaching, and research requirements, and compare those requirements with each program's documented opportunities. That exercise is more useful than assuming general counselor growth translates into a doctoral job offer.
2027 Best Doctorate in Counseling Degree Programs Ranking in the West
Investing in a doctorate is a consequential decision, so Research.com designed its ranking to make program comparisons more transparent. Its team evaluates graduate outcomes, accreditation, licensure-exam results where applicable, and cost, while recognizing that no ranking can replace checking a program's current requirements against your career goals.
The Best ranking first calculates 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. Cost then contributes about 7% of the final score. The same approach applies to online and campus programs; other Research.com rankings order programs by the dimension named in their titles.
The ranking draws on these four data sources to cross-check institutional and program information:
IPEDS database - institutional reporting, including education and cost data.
These measures can help you narrow a shortlist, not predict your individual outcome. Check the reporting period, degree-specific evidence, funding offer, and licensing-board requirements before deciding. Research.com explains the broader approach on its methodology page.
# 1 position
University of Nevada, Reno
Doctor
Ph.D. in Education: Counselor Education and Supervision
Delivery mode: campus
87.95
/ 100
Final score
Program length
3 years (assuming entry with a Master's Degree in Counseling)
Specialization
Counselor Education and Supervision
Required credits
72 semester credits
GPA range
3.00 - 4.00
Program completion rate
90% (2023-24)
Employment or doctoral admission
100% (2023-24)
Application deadline
Fall: Dec. 15
Application process
direct
Prerequisites
Master's degree in counseling from a CACREP-accredited institution; professional experience
Additional requirements
Undergraduate and graduate GPA of 3.00+; CACREP master's; resume/CV; statement of intent with philosophy of education; three letters of recommendation; one scholarly writing sample; signed disposition form; February on-campus interview
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU).
University of Nevada, Reno earned a Research.com Counseling Program Score of 87.95/100, supported by 90% program completion rate and 100% employment or doctoral admission rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2033-10-31.
# 2 position
Adams State University
Doctor
Ph.D. in Counselor Education & Supervision
Delivery mode: hybrid
87.27
/ 100
Final score
Program length
4 year, fixed 60 semester credit program
Specialization
Counselor Education and Supervision
Required credits
60 semester credits
GPA range
3.00 - 4.00
Program completion rate
95% (2024-25)
Employment or doctoral admission
87% (2024-25)
Application deadline
Fall 2027: November 1, 2026
Class size
12
Application process
direct
GRE
no
Prerequisites
Accredited master's in counseling or a closely related field with GPA 3.0+; coursework reviewed against CACREP standards, deficiencies completed before or during doctoral study. CACREP degree, two years' experience and licensure preferred.
Additional requirements
Online application; 3–4-page letter of intent answering six prompts; two reference request forms; current resume/CV; official transcripts from all prior institutions. Required in-person interview and orientation. No international admission.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Adams State University earned a Research.com Counseling Program Score of 87.27/100, supported by 95% program completion rate and 87% employment or doctoral admission rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2028-03-31.
# 3 position
The University of Montana
Doctor
Counselor Education & Supervision, Ph.D.
Delivery mode: campus
87.19
/ 100
Final score
Specialization
Counselor Education and Supervision
GPA range
3.00 - 4.00
Program completion rate
100% (2024-25)
Employment or doctoral admission
100% (2023-24)
Application process
direct
Prerequisites
Applicants usually have recent clinical experience and are licensed or license-eligible master-level clinicians; possible with backgrounds/advanced degrees in related academic areas.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU).
The University of Montana earned a Research.com Counseling Program Score of 87.19/100, supported by 100% program completion rate and 100% employment or doctoral admission rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2031-03-31.
# 4 position
University of Northern Colorado
Doctor
Counselor Education and Supervision PhD
Delivery mode: campus
87.11
/ 100
Final score
Program length
3.5-4 years full-time
Specialization
Counselor Education and Supervision
Required credits
75 semester credits
GPA range
3.00 - 4.00
Employment or doctoral admission
100% (2024-25)
Application process
direct
GRE
no
Prerequisites
Master's degree with GPA 3.0+; prior graduate coursework in diagnosis, career, theories, lifespan, family systems, group, ethics, substance abuse, assessment, and research; missing courses taken as deficiency coursework.
Additional requirements
Application to the UNC Graduate School, official transcripts, and an interview with CES Program Faculty; applicants completing their master's at time of application submit final transcript/GPA during first semester.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
University of Northern Colorado earned a Research.com Counseling Program Score of 87.11/100, with 100% employment or doctoral admission rate among the verified supporting factors. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2029-10-31.
# 5 position
University of Arizona
Doctor
Counselor Education and Supervision, Ph.D.
Delivery mode: campus
86.94
/ 100
Final score
Specialization
Counselor Education and Supervision
Required credits
76 semester credits
GPA range
3.50 - 4.00
Program completion rate
88% (2024-25)
Employment or doctoral admission
100% (2024-25)
Application deadline
January 15 (domestic applicants); December 1 (international applicants)
Application process
direct
Prerequisites
A master's degree from a CACREP accredited or CACREP equivalent program. If a student has a different degree, he or she may have to take additional coursework determined by the faculty.
Additional requirements
CACREP (or equivalent) master's with graduate GPA 3.5+; three letters of recommendation; personal statement (1-3 pages); scholarly writing sample; personal interview; one year of relevant experience preferred; TOEFL if needed.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).
University of Arizona earned a Research.com Counseling Program Score of 86.94/100, supported by 88% program completion rate and 100% employment or doctoral admission rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2032-10-31.
# 6 position
Boise State University
Doctor
PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision
Delivery mode: campus
86.66
/ 100
Final score
Specialization
Counselor Education and Supervision
Program completion rate
100%
Employment or doctoral admission
100% (2019, 2021, 2023)
Application process
direct
GRE
yes
Additional requirements
Graduate Admission Application by February 1 (fall entry); baccalaureate and master's degree from a regionally accredited institution (or international equivalent), field of study counseling;
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU).
Boise State University earned a Research.com Counseling Program Score of 86.66/100, supported by 100% program completion rate and 100% employment or doctoral admission rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2033-10-31.
# 7 position
Oregon State University
Doctor
Ph.D. in Counseling – Counselor Education Option
Delivery mode: hybrid
86.47
/ 100
Final score
Specialization
Counselor Education and Supervision
Required credits
94 quarter credits (62.67 semester credits)
Acceptance rate
34%
GPA range
3.00 - 4.00
Program completion rate
79% (2023-24)
Employment or doctoral admission
100% (2023-24)
Application deadline
Jan 15
Prerequisites
Program requires 61 quarter credit hours beyond a CACREP-accredited master's degree, indicating an accredited master's degree (in counseling) is required prior to entry.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU).
Oregon State University earned a Research.com Counseling Program Score of 86.47/100, supported by 79% program completion rate and 100% employment or doctoral admission rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2032-10-31.
# 8 position
The University of Montana
Doctor
Counselor Education and Supervision, Ed.D.
Delivery mode: campus
85.99
/ 100
Final score
Specialization
Counselor Education and Supervision
GPA range
3.00 - 4.00
Application process
direct
Prerequisites
Intended for M.A. or Ed.S. professionals who wish to teach or supervise; applicants usually have recent clinical experience and are licensed or license-eligible, though related academic backgrounds or advanced degrees are possible.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU).
The University of Montana earned a Research.com Counseling Program Score of 85.99/100. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2031-03-31.
# 9 position
University of New Mexico-Main Campus
Doctor
Ph.D. in Counselor Education
Delivery mode: campus
85.99
/ 100
Final score
Specialization
Counselor Education and Supervision
Application deadline
December 15
Application process
direct
GRE
no
Prerequisites
Applicants generally have earned a master's degree in counseling and attained licensure as a professional counselor.
Additional requirements
Scholarship, academic background, work experience, letters of reference, an optional writing sample, a statement of intent, culturally diverse experience, and an interview with faculty members; GRE not required.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
University of New Mexico-Main Campus earned a Research.com Counseling Program Score of 85.99/100. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2029-10-31.
# 10 position
Concordia University Irvine
Doctor
Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision
Delivery mode: hybrid
85.89
/ 100
Final score
Program length
Designed to be completed in 3-4 years
Specialization
Counselor Education and Supervision
Required credits
60 semester units
Application process
direct
Prerequisites
Doctoral program for licensed professionals in the mental health field; resume/CV with professional experience.
Additional requirements
Application with $50 fee; Student Success Fee $60; official transcripts; further requirements per Ph.D. Admission Guidelines document.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).
Concordia University Irvine earned a Research.com Counseling Program Score of 85.89/100. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2027-10-31.
# 11 position
Idaho State University
Doctor
Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Counseling
Delivery mode: campus
85.17
/ 100
Final score
Specialization
Counselor Education and Supervision
Required credits
60 semester credits
GPA range
3.00 - 4.00
Program completion rate
56% (2024-25)
Employment or doctoral admission
100% (2023-24)
Application deadline
December 1
Application process
direct
GRE
no
Prerequisites
Master's from a CACREP program plus Idaho (or comparable) counselor license; OR counseling master's plus NCC and an Idaho license application; OR counseling master's, 1 year post-master's experience, CACREP core courses, NCC or Idaho license.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU).
Idaho State University earned a Research.com Counseling Program Score of 85.17/100, supported by 56% program completion rate and 100% employment or doctoral admission rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2027-10-31.
# 12 position
Denver Seminary
Doctor
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Counselor Education and Supervision
Delivery mode: hybrid
85.15
/ 100
Final score
Program length
Complete in 4 years (full-time study)
Specialization
Counselor Education and Supervision
Required credits
66 semester credits
GPA range
3.00 - 4.00
Application deadline
Fall 2027 Early Decision: Nov 15, 2026 (interviews Dec 2026); Fall 2027 General: Dec 15, 2026 (interviews Jan 2027); Rolling Jan-Jun 2027; Fall 2027 Final: Jun 1, 2027 (interviews Jul 2027)
Application process
direct
GRE
no
Prerequisites
60-credit CACREP or CORE accredited master's in counseling (or equivalent); minimum 3.0 graduate GPA; hold or be eligible for counseling license; one year of clinical experience. Conditional admission for non-CACREP degrees.
Additional requirements
Degree-seeking PhD application, official transcripts verifying GPA, evidence of licensure eligibility, and participation in an admissions interview (individual and group interviews conducted per admissions cycle).
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools (ATS).
Denver Seminary earned a Research.com Counseling Program Score of 85.15/100. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2029-10-31.
# 13 position
Antioch University-Seattle
Doctor
PhD in Counselor Education & Supervision (Low-Residency)
Delivery mode: hybrid
84.82
/ 100
Final score
Program length
three-year semester-based program
Specialization
Counselor Education and Supervision
Required credits
63 semester credits
Acceptance rate
55%
Application deadline
Fall: May 1; late complete applications may be considered if space remains.
Application process
direct
Prerequisites
Master's degree in counseling or closely related field covering CACREP areas (gaps addressed in the doctoral plan); LMHC license-eligible; master's-level clinical competence and scholarly writing potential.
Additional requirements
Online application; official transcripts; resume/CV; essay answering three questions (1-2 double-spaced pages each). Two recommendation letters optional. Selected applicants may interview. International applicants have added requirements.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Antioch University-Seattle earned a Research.com Counseling Program Score of 84.82/100. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2029-10-31.
# 14 position
Saybrook University
Doctor
Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision
Delivery mode: hybrid
83.46
/ 100
Final score
Program length
4 years
Specialization
Counselor Education and Supervision
Required credits
60 semester credits
GPA range
3.00 - 4.00
Application deadline
Spring 2027: December 7, 2026
Application process
direct
GRE
no
Prerequisites
Master's degree in counseling or closely related field (CACREP-accredited preferred) with 3.0 GPA; 700-hour practicum/internship; entry-level specialization standards met
Additional requirements
Application, official transcript showing master's degree, professional resume/CV, personal statement, two letters of recommendation (clinical supervisor and academic adviser/faculty)
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).
Saybrook University earned a Research.com Counseling Program Score of 83.46/100. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2027-10-31.
# 15 position
The Chicago School - Online
Doctor
Ph.D. Counselor Education and Supervision
Delivery mode: hybrid
73.26
/ 100
Final score
Program length
3 years full time
Specialization
Counselor Education and Supervision
GPA range
3.00 - 4.00
Employment or doctoral admission
65% (2024-25)
Application deadline
rolling
Application process
direct
GRE
no
Prerequisites
Master's degree in counseling (CACREP-accredited preferred); master's core courses including counseling theory and human growth and development; 1-2 years counseling experience preferred
Additional requirements
Program requirement: two mandatory three-day in-person residencies at the Chicago campus (first and second year).
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).
The Chicago School - Online earned a Research.com Counseling Program Score of 73.26/100, with 65% employment or doctoral admission rate among the verified supporting factors. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2027-03-31.
Frequently asked questions about Counseling degree in West
Is a counseling doctorate required to become a licensed counselor?
Usually not as a general rule; licensure depends on the specific state and credential, and many pathways center on a qualifying master's degree, supervised experience, and examinations. Check the intended state board before choosing a program.
Which is better for counselor education, a PhD or an EdD?
A PhD may be the clearer starting point for research-intensive faculty goals; an EdD may suit some leadership or educator goals. Compare actual research, teaching, and graduate outcomes rather than relying on the degree label.
Can I complete a counseling doctorate online?
Some programs offer online or hybrid study, but may require in-person residencies or locally arranged experiences. Confirm attendance requirements and whether the degree supports your intended career and state credential.
How long should I budget for the degree?
Use roughly three to five years after a qualifying master's as an initial planning range, then request each program's recent completion times. Dissertation progress, employment, and enrollment status can change your timeline.
Does CACREP accreditation mean I will receive a license?
No. CACREP accreditation applies to a specific program, while state boards separately determine licensure eligibility, supervised-experience requirements, and examinations (CACREP; state licensing boards).
How do I know whether the doctorate is worth its cost?
Compare the funded net price and foregone earnings with the requirements of jobs you genuinely want. Include likely completion time, debt, your current income, and uncertainty about post-degree employment - not just an occupational median wage.
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