Choosing a counseling degree in North Dakota starts with a career question: Do you want to counsel students, provide mental health care, or train future counselors? Those paths call for different programs and credentials. This guide explains how to compare training, licensure fit, cost, and career prospects. It also features the 2027 Best Counseling Degree Programs Ranking in North Dakota, created by the Research.com team of data scientists to help students make an informed choice about which programs are worth considering.
Key findings about Counseling degrees in North Dakota
Choose the track before the school: North Dakota clinical counseling licensure and school counseling credentials serve different jobs, so confirm that a program matches your intended credential with the relevant state authority.
For national context, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a May 2025 median annual wage of $59,350 for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors, with 18% projected employment growth from 2025 to 2035. These are U.S. occupational figures, not North Dakota graduate outcomes.
A master's is the usual degree to compare for counseling practice; a counselor education and supervision doctorate fits a different goal. Compare total tuition, required placements, and time away from work - not tuition per credit alone.
What can I expect from a Counseling degree in North Dakota?
A counseling degree combines study of human development, assessment, ethics, and helping techniques with supervised practice. The most important distinction is between clinical mental health counseling, aimed at work with clients in behavioral health settings, and school counseling, aimed at supporting students in schools. A doctorate in counselor education and supervision generally serves people pursuing teaching, research, advanced supervision, or leadership rather than an initial practice credential.
Expect coursework, skills practice, and a practicum or internship that depends on the track. If you live far from Fargo, Bismarck, or another campus or placement hub, ask whether approved supervisors and sites are available near you. North Dakota's distances can make placement logistics as consequential as the class schedule. To see another way students compare options, use the most popular counseling programs list - but do not treat popularity as evidence of licensure fit.
Where can I work with a Counseling degree in North Dakota?
Clinical-track graduates may pursue qualifying roles in community behavioral health, hospitals, outpatient practices, or substance-use treatment. School-track graduates typically seek work in public or private schools, subject to the required school credential. Doctoral graduates may pursue university teaching, research, clinical supervision, or program leadership. The credential and employer requirements - not the degree title alone - determine which positions are open to you.
In North Dakota, compare placements and potential employers in the community where you intend to stay. A program with a workable local internship can be more useful than one that requires repeated long-distance travel, especially if you plan to work in a smaller community after graduation. Ask schools where students have recently completed supervised training, without assuming a placement leads to a job.
Pay depends on the occupation, credential, employer, experience, and location. The following U.S. occupational medians provide a consistent benchmark for comparing paths; they are not starting salaries or North Dakota-specific wage estimates (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025 wages).
Career direction
National median annual wage
Decision implication
Substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counseling
$59,350
Relevant to clinical mental health and addiction paths; job duties and credentials vary.
School and career counseling
$64,330
Useful context for school counseling, but school pay also depends on employer pay schedules.
Rehabilitation counseling
$46,850
Illustrates why the intended specialty matters when weighing education costs.
These Bureau of Labor Statistics occupational categories do not measure earnings for graduates of a particular program. Before borrowing, request program-specific outcomes if available and compare likely local job postings with the total cost of the credential you need.
These program-specific distinctions help narrow a shortlist by career goal and study format. Confirm current curriculum, accreditation status, placement arrangements, and costs directly with each program before applying.
University of Mary, M.S. in Counseling - School Counseling: The program is presented through the university's online offerings and targets the school counseling path. It is worth comparing if you need remote coursework and can arrange the required school-based experience; verify how placements work in your district (University of Mary program information).
North Dakota State University, school counseling master's: This is a dedicated school counseling route within NDSU's counselor education offerings. For students who can study in or near Fargo, compare its school-based training and credential alignment with the University of Mary's online-oriented route (NDSU program information).
North Dakota State University, clinical mental health counseling master's: Its clinical mental health focus distinguishes it from NDSU's school track. Choose this program for closer examination if your goal is clinical counseling licensure rather than a school counseling position, and confirm its current fieldwork and licensure disclosures (NDSU program information).
University of Mary, M.S. in Counseling - Clinical Mental Health Counseling: This combines a clinical career focus with an online-program presentation. It may suit working adults who need remote classes, provided they can meet supervised practice requirements where they live (University of Mary program information).
North Dakota State University, Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision: Unlike the four master's paths above, this doctoral program centers on counselor education and supervision. It merits consideration if your next goal is advanced teaching, research, or supervision - not if you simply need an entry-level counseling degree (NDSU program information).
A counseling master's commonly takes about two to three years of full-time study; part-time study can take longer. A counselor education and supervision doctorate generally requires additional years beyond a master's. Your actual timeline depends on course sequencing, accepted prior credits, placement availability, and whether you can reduce work hours during an internship.
Ask for a term-by-term plan, including when fieldwork starts and whether required courses are offered every term. A faster classroom schedule does not necessarily shorten a program if you cannot complete supervised training on the same schedule.
Online usually describes how academic courses are delivered; it does not mean counseling practice can be completed virtually. Students in either format must plan for the program's required supervised experiences. On-campus study may make it easier to build relationships with nearby faculty and placement sites, while online study can reduce commuting for working adults or residents far from a campus.
For an online program, ask whether its courses, supervised experience, and graduate eligibility meet the requirements of the state where you plan to practice. If that state is North Dakota, confirm the answer with the relevant North Dakota licensing or school-credential authority as well as the university. A convenient format is a poor bargain if it does not support your intended credential.
There is no single North Dakota master's-program average that reliably describes what an individual counseling student will pay. Published tuition may be quoted per credit, term, or year, and can differ by residency, institution, delivery format, and enrollment pace. Without comparable current program-wide figures, a statewide average would obscure those differences.
Calculate an estimated total program cost from required credits, applicable tuition, mandatory fees, travel or residency expenses, and placement-related costs. Then subtract grants or employer support - not loans - to estimate what you must finance. The most affordable counseling programs can help identify candidates for that calculation, but a lower sticker price may not mean a lower net cost or an easier path to completion.
Start with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and each school's graduate financial aid office. Depending on eligibility and the program, options may include federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans, institutional scholarships, assistantships, employer tuition assistance, and aid tied to service or workforce programs (Federal Student Aid; participating institutions). Ask whether an assistantship changes tuition or requires work hours that could conflict with clinical placement.
Do not build a 2027 financing plan around Graduate PLUS without checking eligibility. Under federal changes effective for new graduate borrowing beginning July 2026, that loan is generally unavailable to new graduate borrowers; certain continuing borrowers may qualify under transition rules. Confirm your status and current loan limits with Federal Student Aid and the school's aid office. Borrow only after comparing the full program budget with your expected repayment capacity.
View the chart data as a table
Programs by degree level (Source: Research.com)
Category
Value
Master
4
Doctorate
1
Master's applicants generally need a bachelor's degree and must meet the selected school's academic and application requirements. Programs may request transcripts, references, a statement of purpose, an interview, or relevant experience; a psychology major is not universally required. Doctoral admission typically involves prior graduate preparation and a closer assessment of professional and research goals (University of Mary; NDSU).
Check prerequisites and eventual credential requirements before accepting an offer. Ask whether transfer credits are accepted, whether they replace required courses, and whether transferring would change fieldwork sequencing. North Dakota clinical licensure requirements should be checked with the North Dakota Board of Counselor Examiners; school-counseling credential requirements should be checked with the state's school-credential authorities. Admission to a degree is not an approval for either credential.
Master's curricula commonly cover counseling theories, helping skills, ethics, human development, assessment, group work, multicultural practice, and supervised practicum and internship experiences. Clinical mental health students should look for preparation in diagnosis, treatment planning, and clinical practice; school counseling students should look for school-based services and work with students, families, and educators. Exact course titles and fieldwork rules vary by program (University of Mary; NDSU).
Compare course catalogs against your intended credential rather than assuming similarly named degrees teach the same content. In particular, ask a program to identify any course or supervised-experience requirement you would still need after graduation.
The clearest choice among the highlighted programs is school counseling versus clinical mental health counseling, offered as separate master's routes by the University of Mary and NDSU. NDSU also lists a counselor education and supervision doctorate for an advanced academic or supervisory direction (University of Mary; NDSU). These are not interchangeable labels: each points toward different work settings and credential checks.
If your goal is addiction, rehabilitation, or marriage and family practice, examine a program's courses and your target credential carefully rather than assuming a general counseling title includes that specialization. Someone seeking only short-term skills for an existing job may find continuing education more appropriate than a licensure-oriented master's.
Start with the job and state credential you want, then compare programs that can plausibly get you there. A ranking can narrow the field, but credential fit, completion feasibility, and net cost should decide whether a specific offer is worthwhile. The most valuable counseling programs provide another comparison point; value for you still depends on your finances and career plans.
Use these checks before committing:
Ask the relevant North Dakota authority which degree content, supervised experience, examinations, and other steps apply to your intended credential; verify the program's current accreditation and eligibility claims separately.
Request a written course sequence and placement requirements, including whether you can train near home and work during fieldwork.
Obtain a total-cost estimate and an aid offer; check how residency, transfer credits, and delayed completion would affect both.
Request recent program-level completion, exam, and employment information where available, including the reporting period and number of students represented.
Common mistakes are treating school and clinical tracks as interchangeable, assuming an online degree automatically meets licensure rules, and comparing tuition while ignoring lost work hours. A useful investment test considers debt, aid, completion probability, current earnings, plausible post-degree earnings, and the time needed to recover the cost - not a salary figure alone.
View the chart data as a table
Median wage by U.S. state - Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors (BLS OEWS, May 2025) (Source: BLS)
State
Value
AK
80,770
AL
47,310
AR
51,580
AZ
65,300
CA
59,250
CO
62,390
CT
63,590
DC
60,450
DE
56,020
FL
56,790
GA
58,960
HI
60,090
IA
60,880
ID
63,360
IL
60,730
IN
53,760
KS
59,470
KY
54,190
LA
37,910
MA
59,890
MD
59,530
ME
59,970
MI
61,690
MN
58,780
MO
56,910
MS
46,990
MT
59,000
NC
55,490
ND
68,630
NE
63,770
NH
54,840
NJ
62,820
NM
74,100
NV
57,210
NY
59,450
OH
58,360
OK
59,350
OR
74,590
PA
52,010
PR
46,790
RI
65,120
SC
52,370
SD
53,650
TN
49,580
TX
62,630
UT
63,890
VA
59,880
VT
61,810
WA
68,910
WI
62,220
WV
49,430
WY
62,980
A clinical master's may support a path toward professional counseling practice after the applicable licensing steps; a school counseling master's may support a school-based path after the applicable credential steps. Related positions in behavioral health organizations can have different credential thresholds. A counselor education and supervision doctorate may be relevant later for teaching, research, leadership, or supervision (North Dakota Board of Counselor Examiners; North Dakota school-credential authorities; NDSU).
If you want to provide therapy, choose by the clinical credential you intend to pursue. If you primarily want to help students with academic, social, and career development in schools, investigate the school route. If you already hold a counseling master's and want to train other counselors, investigate the doctorate instead of paying for a second entry-level degree.
View the chart data as a table
Best score distribution across ranked programs (Source: Research.com)
Category
Value
89–89
1
90–90
1
91–91
0
92–92
0
93–93
2
94–94
1
The national outlook is strongest among the counseling occupations represented by substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors: the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 18% employment growth from 2025 to 2035. For school and career counselors, the corresponding national projection is 3%. Those projections indicate different broad labor-market conditions; neither predicts openings in a particular North Dakota community (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025-2035 Employment Projections).
North Dakota applicants should test the local market separately. Review current openings in the communities where you could realistically work, noting required licenses, school credentials, and experience. A program with accessible local supervision may be a stronger choice than one aligned with a national growth figure but impractical for your location.
2027 Best Counseling Degree Programs Ranking in North Dakota
Investing in education is a consequential decision. Research.com developed this ranking to help readers compare counseling programs using documented outcomes and program characteristics, rather than reputation alone. Its team checks multiple education data sources to support the ranking's quality, credibility, and accuracy; readers should still confirm current details with each school.
The Best ranking first combines program completion (40%), employment or doctoral admission (20%), licensure exam pass rate where applicable (20%), CACREP programmatic accreditation (16%), and federal Title IV institutional eligibility (4%). Weights are adjusted when a criterion does not apply. Program cost then contributes a smaller share - about 7% - of the final score. The method applies to online and on-campus programs alike; other Research.com rankings order programs by the dimension named in their titles.
The ranking draws on these four data sources:
IPEDS database: institutional enrollment, completion, and cost information.
The ranking offers a starting point for a shortlist, not a substitute for checking licensure eligibility, field placements, and your net cost. More detail is available in Research.com's methodology.
# 1 position
University of Mary
Master
Master of Science in Counseling, School Counseling
Delivery mode: hybrid
94.73
/ 100
Final score
Program length
As little as 20 months (accelerated track); 32 months (extended track)
Specialization
School Counseling
Required credits
60 semester credits
GPA range
3.00 - 4.00
Program completion rate
100% (2025)
Employment or doctoral admission
100% (2021-22)
Licensure exam pass rate
93% (2025)
Application deadline
Fall and Summer starts; apply by March 1 for early admission
Application process
direct
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree; preference for Psychology, Education, Social Work, Criminal Justice or related human service field
Additional requirements
Application and fee, official transcripts, resume/CV, two professional recommendations, 1-page statement of purpose
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 Mary earned a Research.com Counseling Program Score of 94.73/100, supported by 93% licensure exam pass rate and 100% program completion rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2031-03-31.
# 2 position
North Dakota State University-Main Campus
Master
School Counseling (Master's)
Delivery mode: campus
93.38
/ 100
Final score
Program length
2 years
Specialization
School Counseling
Required credits
60 semester credits
GPA range
3.00 - 4.00
Employment or doctoral admission
100% (2023-24)
Licensure exam pass rate
100% (2023-24)
Application deadline
Feb 1 (priority); reviewed again Apr 1 if spots remain unfilled
Application process
direct
GRE
no
Prerequisites
Completed application; minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 (or 3.0 on 10 graduate credits); personal and professional references; detailed statement of purpose. School Counseling applications due February 1 (reviewed again April 1 if spots remain).
Additional requirements
A completed application; personal and professional references; a detailed statement of purpose
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
North Dakota State University-Main Campus earned a Research.com Counseling Program Score of 93.38/100, supported by 100% licensure exam pass rate and 100% employment or doctoral admission rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2029-03-31.
# 3 position
North Dakota State University-Main Campus
Master
Clinical Mental Health Counseling (Master's)
Delivery mode: campus
93.01
/ 100
Final score
Program length
typically 3 years
Specialization
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Required credits
60 semester credits
Acceptance rate
53.5%
GPA range
3.00 - 4.00
Employment or doctoral admission
100% (2024-25)
Application deadline
February 1
Class size
18
Application process
direct
Additional requirements
Completed application; minimum undergraduate GPA 3.0 (or 3.0 on 10 graduate credits); personal and professional references; detailed statement of purpose
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
North Dakota State University-Main Campus earned a Research.com Counseling Program Score of 93.01/100, with 100% employment or doctoral admission rate among the verified supporting factors. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2029-03-31.
# 4 position
University of Mary
Master
Master of Science in Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Delivery mode: hybrid
90.98
/ 100
Final score
Program length
Between 20 and 32 months, depending on your choice of track
Specialization
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Required credits
60 semester credits
GPA range
3.00 - 4.00
Program completion rate
81% (2025)
Employment or doctoral admission
97% (2025)
Licensure exam pass rate
97% (2025)
Application deadline
March 1 (priority for early admission; fall and summer starts only)
Application process
direct
GRE
no
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree, preference given to degrees in Psychology, Education, Social Work, Criminal Justice, or a closely related Human Service field
Additional requirements
General application form, application fee, official transcripts, resume/CV, two professional recommendations, 1-page Statement of Purpose
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 Mary earned a Research.com Counseling Program Score of 90.98/100, supported by 97% licensure exam pass rate and 81% program completion rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2031-03-31.
# 5 position
North Dakota State University-Main Campus
Doctor
Counselor Education and Supervision (Ph.D.)
Delivery mode: campus
89.55
/ 100
Final score
Program length
4-7 years
Specialization
Counselor Education and Supervision
Required credits
60 semester credits
Acceptance rate
50%
GPA range
3.00 - 4.00
Employment or doctoral admission
100% (2024-25)
Application deadline
Priority: Feb 1; Hard deadline: Apr 1 (for fall admission)
Class size
2
Application process
direct
Prerequisites
Applicants must hold a master's degree from a CACREP-accredited program (or have the degree approved by faculty) prior to entering Practicum.
Additional requirements
Meet NDSU Graduate School minimum admission requirements; master's degree in counseling or a closely related CACREP-aligned field (CACREP graduates preferred); previous professional experience;
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
North Dakota State University-Main Campus earned a Research.com Counseling Program Score of 89.55/100, with 100% employment or doctoral admission rate among the verified supporting factors. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2029-03-31.
Frequently asked questions about Counseling degree in North Dakota
Is a counseling master's worth it in North Dakota?
It can be if the degree matches your intended credential, you can complete its supervised training, and the net cost is manageable against realistic career options. Compare offers using total cost and local job requirements, not national median pay alone.
Can I become a licensed counselor immediately after graduation?
Do not assume so. North Dakota licensure involves requirements beyond holding a degree; check current education, supervision, examination, and application rules with the North Dakota Board of Counselor Examiners.
Can I complete a North Dakota counseling degree entirely online?
Programs may deliver coursework online, but required supervised practice needs its own arrangement. Ask the school where fieldwork can occur and whether the program supports your intended credential.
Should I choose school counseling or clinical mental health counseling?
Choose school counseling if your target role is serving students in a school. Choose clinical mental health counseling if you intend to pursue clinical counseling practice; verify the distinct credential requirements before enrolling.
Does CACREP accreditation matter?
It is a program-level accreditation factor worth checking, especially when comparing licensure pathways or potential mobility. Verify a program's current status and ask the relevant licensing authority how accreditation affects your specific application; institutional accreditation is a separate question.
See What Experts Have To Say About Studying Counseling
