Choosing an online counseling doctorate in the South means deciding more than where to study: you need a program that fits your career goal, travel schedule, budget, and state licensing rules. This guide accompanies the 2027 Best Online Doctorate in Counseling Degree Programs Ranking in the South, 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 doctoral formats, costs, requirements, and career outcomes - and when a doctorate may not be the right investment.
Key findings about online Counseling degrees in South
A counseling doctorate is usually a path toward teaching, supervision, research, or advanced leadership - not a substitute for the master's degree and supervised experience a state may require for clinical licensure.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a May 2025 median annual wage of $59,350 for mental health and addiction counseling roles, with 18% projected employment growth from 2025 to 2035; those figures describe occupations, not a doctoral salary premium.
Compare online programs by dissertation support, required in-person activities, total cost, and the rules of the state where you intend to practice. A South-based school does not confer region-wide licensure eligibility.
What can I expect from an online Counseling degree in South?
Most doctorates in this group focus on counselor education and supervision: preparing experienced counselors to teach, supervise clinicians, conduct research, or lead services. A PhD typically centers on research and a dissertation. A practice-oriented doctorate may emphasize applied leadership, although titles alone do not establish what training a program provides.
"Online" describes course delivery, not necessarily the entire experience. Doctoral students may need to attend residencies, defend a dissertation in person, or arrange approved teaching, supervision, or clinical activities. For a working counselor in a rural part of the South, limited travel can make a program feasible - but only if required activities can be completed near home or around work.
Is it worth it? It can be if the credential is relevant to a specific faculty, supervisory, research, or leadership goal. If your immediate goal is initial counseling licensure, compare licensure-qualifying master's programs first: a doctorate generally is not the shortest or least expensive route to that starting credential.
Where can I work with an online Counseling degree in South?
Potential settings include universities, counselor-training programs, community mental health organizations, hospitals, school systems, state agencies, and private practices. The role - not merely the degree - determines whether clinical licensure is necessary. Faculty jobs may emphasize research and teaching; clinical director roles may require an active state license and supervisory experience.
Location changes the calculation. A student seeking university work should examine faculty openings across multiple states rather than assume a position will be available near home. Someone intending to continue clinical practice should instead start with the licensing board in the state where clients will be served. For example, Texas, Florida, and Virginia maintain separate counselor licensing systems; an online doctorate based in one of those states does not override another state's requirements (Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council; Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage & Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling; Virginia Board of Counseling).
There is no sound single "counseling doctorate salary": compensation depends on the job, employer, location, experience, and existing license. The table provides national occupational benchmarks, not expected pay for graduates or a South-wide wage estimate. The wage reference period is May 2025; the separate employment projections cover 2025-2035 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook and Employment Projections).
These comparisons matter most when matched to the work you actually plan to do after graduation.
Career direction
U.S. median annual wage, May 2025
Projected U.S. growth, 2025-2035
How to interpret it
Clinical mental health or addiction counseling
$59,350
18%
Relevant if you will remain in direct-service work; it does not measure a doctoral pay increase.
School counseling
$64,330
3%
Relevant to school-based roles, which may have separate state credential rules.
Counselor education and supervision
$75,350
2.5%
A career-direction benchmark, not a guaranteed faculty salary.
For an investment decision, compare a plausible job offer or local salary range with what you earn now. A national median can frame that question, but it cannot predict the payoff in a particular Southern city or academic department.
The programs below differ most in academic emphasis and how a student would use the doctorate. Treat delivery descriptions as points to confirm with admissions: online coursework, required visits, and fieldwork arrangements can have different rules.
Liberty University: Its PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision explicitly joins teaching and supervision with doctoral research. Counselors who need online coursework should ask which intensives or other in-person activities remain mandatory before comparing it with lower-travel options (Liberty University).
University of Holy Cross: Its counseling PhD sits within a counseling department rather than a broadly titled education doctorate. That makes the specific balance of counselor training, research, and campus attendance especially important to verify if you want a discipline-focused faculty career (University of Holy Cross).
Sam Houston State University: Its Counselor Education PhD is housed in a public university's education department. For Texas-based applicants, the practical distinction is whether its doctoral training and required attendance fit an existing counseling job better than an out-of-state option (Sam Houston State University).
James Madison University: Its PhD is specifically titled Counseling and Supervision, signaling a close match for experienced counselors aiming to develop supervisors or teach future practitioners. Ask how supervised activities and research mentorship work for students living outside Virginia (James Madison University).
New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary: Its non-residential counseling PhD is a particularly distinct setting for students who want doctoral study within a theological seminary. Applicants should establish how its academic and faith-based emphasis fits their intended employer or professional credential before enrolling (New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary).
University of the Cumberlands: Its PhD is explicitly in Counselor Education and Supervision, making it a direct option for counselors targeting those two functions. Compare dissertation milestones and required field activities with your work schedule, not just the online-course label (University of the Cumberlands).
East Texas A&M University: Its Counselor Education and Supervision PhD offers another public-university route in Texas. Students hoping to remain in the state should compare its attendance requirements and full price with Sam Houston State's rather than assuming public programs have identical costs or formats (East Texas A&M University).
Trevecca Nazarene University: The program's title - Clinical Counseling: Teaching and Supervision - makes its clinical teaching focus explicit. It is worth closer consideration if you want to educate or supervise clinicians; confirm how much of the curriculum supports your particular research interests (Trevecca Nazarene University).
Mercer University: Its Counselor Education and Supervision program is housed among the university's professional advancement offerings. Working counselors should ask how the doctoral sequence accommodates employment and what support is available through dissertation completion (Mercer University).
Lindsey Wilson University: Its doctoral offering provides a Kentucky-based option to investigate alongside larger public and private universities. Verify the current degree title, counseling-specific curriculum, delivery format, and doctoral outcomes directly before treating it as interchangeable with a counselor-education PhD (Lindsey Wilson University).
No program feature above replaces a check of current program-level accreditation and outcomes. Ask each school for its latest completion data, dissertation support structure, and written account of every required campus visit.
Plan on approximately three to five years of full-time doctoral study as a working estimate; part-time enrollment or a lengthy dissertation can extend that timeline. It is not a promised completion period for any program. Ask schools for the required credit load, maximum time allowed, and the actual time to degree for recent completers.
An accelerated course calendar is not necessarily an accelerated doctorate. Coursework may move quickly while research approvals, participant recruitment, field placements, and dissertation revisions take longer. If speed is decisive, use the fastest counseling programs as a starting point, then compare documented completion timelines rather than advertised course lengths.
The principal difference is where and when instruction and faculty interaction occur - not an exemption from doctoral research or supervised requirements. An online program can preserve an existing job and avoid a move; an on-campus program may make regular in-person research and teaching collaboration easier. Either format can include scheduled meetings and local experiential work.
For a counselor serving a rural Southern community, online study may avoid relocating away from clients. But a low-residency program with frequent travel can still be costly. Before choosing, request the full calendar of campus visits, the policy for arranging local placements, and the process for accessing dissertation advisers remotely. Also confirm that the institution is authorized to enroll students living in your state (institutional admissions office; relevant state higher education authority).
There is no reliable single average that represents the total cost of online counseling doctorates across the South. NCES/IPEDS publishes institutional graduate tuition and fees, but those figures should not be mistaken for a program-specific, all-in doctoral price. Credits required, per-credit tuition, mandatory fees, dissertation continuation charges, travel, and time away from work can all change the bill (National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS).
Public-university pricing deserves particular scrutiny: eligibility for resident rates, online rates, or out-of-state rates depends on the institution and student. Request a written cost estimate through expected completion, including what happens if the dissertation takes an additional term. The most affordable counseling programs can help identify options to price out, but the lowest tuition quote is not necessarily the lowest total cost.
Start with institutional assistantships, teaching or research appointments, employer tuition assistance, scholarships, and federal aid for eligible students. Assistantships can be especially valuable if they provide experience relevant to a future faculty career, but online students should verify whether they can hold them remotely. State grants may have residency, school, or degree-level restrictions; do not assume an award available to master's students funds doctorates.
Submit the FAFSA and ask the school's aid office which federal loans apply to your enrollment period. Under federal changes affecting students beginning programs from July 2026, new graduate and professional students should not assume Graduate PLUS will be available; limited continuation rules may apply to qualifying students already enrolled and borrowing before the change. Confirm your individual eligibility and current limits with Federal Student Aid and the institution rather than building a budget around an unavailable loan (Federal Student Aid).
A useful aid comparison is net borrowing through likely completion, not the first-year award letter. Check whether funding continues during dissertation enrollment and whether employer assistance requires you to remain in your current job.
View the chart data as a table
Best score distribution across ranked programs (Source: Research.com)
Category
Value
80–81
1
82–83
1
84–85
3
86–87
3
88–89
1
90–91
0
92–93
0
94–95
2
Expect many counselor-education doctorates to seek a relevant master's degree, evidence of counseling preparation, recommendations, a statement of research or professional goals, and an interview. Some programs may require or prefer professional licensure and post-master's experience; others evaluate those qualifications differently. The institution's current admissions page, not the degree title, controls its requirements.
Before applying, send admissions your transcript and a description of your license or supervised experience. Ask whether your master's curriculum meets entry expectations, whether any prerequisite courses are needed, and whether previously earned doctoral credits may transfer. Transfer approval can reduce coursework but may not shorten the dissertation or residency sequence. If you want to explore less restrictive admissions options, review the easiest counseling programs - then verify their actual prerequisites rather than treating "easiest" as a measure of academic fit.
A counselor-education doctorate commonly combines advanced counseling theory with counselor pedagogy, clinical supervision, research methods, statistics or qualitative inquiry, professional ethics, and dissertation work. Some curricula also include assessment, advocacy, leadership, and structured teaching or supervision practice. Exact requirements vary by program (institutional program catalogs).
Read the course sequence for evidence of the work you want to perform. A prospective professor should prioritize opportunities to teach and publish; a future clinical supervisor should inspect supervised supervision requirements. If you already practice independently, additional general clinical coursework may offer less value than strong research mentorship or a field experience tied to your next role.
Programs may emphasize counselor education, supervision, clinical counseling, leadership, or a research topic within mental health, addiction, school, marriage and family, or rehabilitation counseling. An emphasis is not necessarily a formally named concentration, and a dissertation topic does not automatically create a new professional credential.
Choose a specialization backward from the role: faculty applicants need evidence of teaching and scholarship in the subject they hope to teach; clinical leaders may need relevant licensure and supervisory experience. School counseling and marriage and family therapy can involve distinct state credential frameworks, so ask the appropriate state board whether any proposed coursework changes your eligibility before paying for it (relevant state licensing or education board).
Start with the job you want, then test each shortlisted program against requirements that could prevent you from completing the degree or using it. A ranking is helpful for discovery; it cannot determine your state eligibility, faculty match, or personal return on investment.
These checks turn a shortlist into a defensible decision:
Define the target role. Identify whether it requires a doctorate, a clinical license, both, or neither; do not buy a doctorate to solve a master's-level licensure gap.
Verify accreditation and eligibility. Check institutional accreditation and the specific program's current CACREP status, if relevant, with the accreditor; ask the state board how the program fits your intended license. Institutional accreditation and programmatic accreditation are different.
Get the complete schedule and price. Request campus-visit dates, fieldwork rules, tuition and fees through dissertation enrollment, and terms for assistantship support.
Examine outcomes that match your goal. Ask about recent doctoral completions, time to degree, faculty or leadership placements, and how the school supports students whose dissertations stall.
Model your return. Compare likely debt, foregone earnings, completion probability, and plausible post-degree earnings against staying in your present role over a realistic time horizon.
A common mistake is to equate an attractive per-credit rate with value. Use the most valuable counseling programs to broaden your comparison, but make your final calculation using your aid package, existing earnings, and the work you realistically expect to pursue.
View the chart data as a table
Wage range - Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors (U.S., BLS May 2025) (Source: BLS)
Category
Value
10th percentile
38,940
Median
59,350
90th percentile
97,590
Doctoral graduates may pursue counselor-educator positions, clinical supervision, research, program direction, policy or nonprofit leadership, and continued counseling practice. These are different hiring markets. A faculty search may weigh publications and teaching experience; an agency may prioritize a current license, management record, and experience serving its clients.
If you are moving from direct care into teaching, seek documented teaching and supervision opportunities during the doctorate. If you intend to stay in practice, ask whether the degree would change your responsibilities or compensation at your employer before assuming it will. For professionals already licensed and satisfied with clinical work, a targeted supervision credential or employer-supported training may be a less costly alternative, subject to state rules.
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
Demand for counseling services and demand for doctoral faculty are not interchangeable. Nationally, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 18% employment growth for mental health and addiction counseling roles from 2025 to 2035. That supports interest in the service field, but it does not mean universities will add faculty positions at the same pace or that a doctorate is required for those clinical openings (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections).
Across the South, compare the market where you intend to live with your willingness to move. Clinical opportunities may be spread among health systems, community providers, and private practices, while a suitable faculty opening depends on a particular institution's hiring needs and specialty. Check actual postings for degree, license, teaching, and research requirements before committing to a program; use those requirements to choose dissertation and experiential work that could make you a credible applicant.
2027 Best Online Doctorate in Counseling Degree Programs Ranking in the South
Research.com created this ranking because investing in doctoral education is a consequential decision. Its team evaluates comparable program data and checks the applicability of measures such as licensure exams and programmatic accreditation, rather than assuming every counseling doctorate serves the same purpose.
For the Best ranking, an initial graduate-outcomes-and-accreditation score combines program completion (40%), employment or doctoral admission (20%), licensure exam pass rates where applicable (20%), CACREP programmatic accreditation where applicable (16%), and institutional eligibility for federal Title IV aid (4%). Shares are renormalized when a measure does not apply. Program cost contributes about 7% of the final score. The method is the same for online and on-campus programs; other Research.com counseling rankings order programs by the dimension named in each ranking.
The ranking draws on these data sources. Using multiple sources helps readers compare programs while recognizing that published outcomes do not answer every question about fit, state eligibility, or total expense.
IPEDS database - institutional enrollment, completion, and price information.
Use the ranking to build a shortlist, then confirm each program's current curriculum, delivery requirements, accreditation status, and costs directly with the school. Research.com explains its approach further on its methodology page.
# 1 position
Liberty University
Doctor
PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision
Delivery mode: hybrid
94.33
/ 100
Final score
Specialization
Counselor Education and Supervision
Required credits
60 semester credits
Acceptance rate
79.35%
GPA range
3.25 - 4.00
Program completion rate
100% (2024-25)
Employment or doctoral admission
100% (2024-25)
Application deadline
Fall: April 30; Spring: September 30
Application process
direct
GRE
no
Prerequisites
Master's degree from an accredited institution meeting CACREP entry-level standards, minimum 3.25 GPA; applicants with a related master's (counseling, psychology, human services) may need M.A.-level prerequisite courses first.
Additional requirements
Official transcripts, two recommendations, 300-word letter of intent, vita (counseling license or 1+ year clinical experience), 3-5 page APA case vignette, possible interview, TOEFL if needed. Nine required intensive courses are held in Lynchburg, VA.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
Liberty University earned a Research.com Counseling Program Score of 94.33/100, supported by 100% program completion rate and 100% employment or doctoral admission rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2032-03-31.
# 2 position
University of Holy Cross
Doctor
PhD in Counseling: Counselor Education & Supervision
Delivery mode: online
94.17
/ 100
Final score
Specialization
Counselor Education and Supervision
Required credits
60 semester credits
Program completion rate
100% (2024-25)
Employment or doctoral admission
100% (2023-24)
Application deadline
rolling
Application process
direct
Prerequisites
Master's degree in counseling from a regionally accredited university. A completed 60-credit CACREP-accredited counseling master's or equivalent coursework is required; students lacking components must complete missing requirements.
Additional requirements
Online application; two-page application letter on counseling career choice, experience, diversity, goals, and fit for online doctoral study; master's and other graduate transcripts; current resume; three recommendation forms.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
University of Holy Cross earned a Research.com Counseling Program Score of 94.17/100, supported by 100% program completion rate and 100% employment or doctoral admission rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2031-10-31.
# 3 position
Sam Houston State University
Doctor
Ph.D. in Counselor Education
Delivery mode: hybrid
88.17
/ 100
Final score
Specialization
Counselor Education and Supervision
Required credits
60 semester credits
Acceptance rate
47.83%
GPA range
3.50 - 4.00
Program completion rate
90% (2022-23)
Employment or doctoral admission
100% (2022-23)
Application deadline
March 1
Application process
direct
GRE
Conditional: GRE General Test required if master's GPA is below 3.5
Prerequisites
CACREP accredited master's degree in counseling (or 60-hour equivalent); must currently have or be eligible to work towards an LPC per Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council requirements.
Additional requirements
Official transcripts showing bachelor's and master's degrees from a CACREP or equivalent institution; master's GPA of 3.5+ (GRE required if below 3.5); personal statement (1000 words max); three professional references; finalist interview.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
Sam Houston State University earned a Research.com Counseling Program Score of 88.17/100, supported by 90% program completion rate and 100% employment or doctoral admission rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2031-10-31.
# 4 position
James Madison University
Doctor
Counseling and Supervision, Ph.D.
Delivery mode: hybrid
87.49
/ 100
Final score
Program length
designed to be completed in 3 years
Specialization
Counselor Education and Supervision
Required credits
60 semester credits
GPA range
3.50 - 4.00
Program completion rate
89% (2025-26)
Employment or doctoral admission
100% (2025-26)
Application deadline
January 5
Application process
direct
GRE
no
Prerequisites
Advanced degree (M.A., M.S. or Ed.S.) from an entry-level counseling program of at least 60 credits meeting counselor licensure coursework requirements. CACREP graduates receive preference.
Additional requirements
Official transcripts; counseling-focused resume; three recommendations (incl. academic and clinical supervisor); 10+ page APA writing sample; 2,000+ word personal statement. Top applicants interviewed in late January or early February.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
James Madison University earned a Research.com Counseling Program Score of 87.49/100, supported by 89% program completion rate and 100% employment or doctoral admission rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2028-03-31.
# 5 position
New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary
Doctor
Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision
Delivery mode: hybrid
87.19
/ 100
Final score
Program length
minimum of three years of full-time study
Specialization
Counselor Education and Supervision
Required credits
64 semester credits
Acceptance rate
100%
GPA range
3.26 - 4.00
Program completion rate
83% (2023-24)
Employment or doctoral admission
100% (2023-24)
Application deadline
Fall: February 2; Spring: September 2
Class size
7
Application process
direct
GRE
no
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree; appropriate master's (e.g., MDiv with Marriage and Family Counseling, MA in mental health, or equivalent); master's-level biblical studies, theology, and counseling courses; 3 hours of graduate research/statistics.
Additional requirements
Completed application, Church Statement, Statement of Call and Purpose, official transcripts, background check; no entrance exam required for Counselor Education and Supervision; required in-person interview with the division.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) and the Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools (ATS).
New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary earned a Research.com Counseling Program Score of 87.19/100, supported by 83% program completion rate and 100% employment or doctoral admission rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2031-03-31.
# 6 position
University of the Cumberlands
Doctor
Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision
Delivery mode: online
87.06
/ 100
Final score
Specialization
Counselor Education and Supervision
Required credits
66 semester credits
GPA range
3.50 - 4.00
Application process
direct
GRE
no
Prerequisites
60-credit hour CACREP (or equivalent) master's degree in counseling; all CACREP entry-level core and specialty area requirements must be met for full admission.
Additional requirements
Official transcripts; minimum 3.5 graduate GPA; satisfactory NCE score; current counseling license; two professional recommendations; writing sample on goals/research interests; resume/CV; English proficiency if non-native; committee interview.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
University of the Cumberlands earned a Research.com Counseling Program Score of 87.06/100. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2033-03-31.
# 7 position
East Texas A&M University
Doctor
Counselor Education and Supervision (PhD)
Delivery mode: hybrid
85.99
/ 100
Final score
Program length
4-to-7 years (part-time)
Specialization
Counselor Education and Supervision
GPA range
2.75 - 4.00
Employment or doctoral admission
100% (2024-25)
Application deadline
Spring: October 15; Summer: March 1; Fall: July 1
Application process
direct
GRE
yes
Prerequisites
Master's degree from a regionally accredited university; applicants must have completed coursework from a master's degree program accredited by CACREP.
Additional requirements
Graduate application (or ApplyTexas), official transcripts meeting GPA thresholds, personal statement on one's philosophy of therapeutic change, official GRE scores; international applicants also submit resume/CV and financial documents.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
East Texas A&M University earned a Research.com Counseling Program Score of 85.99/100, with 100% employment or doctoral admission rate among the verified supporting factors. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2031-10-31.
# 8 position
Trevecca Nazarene University
Doctor
Ph.D. in Clinical Counseling: Teaching and Supervision
Delivery mode: hybrid
85.82
/ 100
Final score
Program length
can be completed in about three years
Specialization
Counselor Education and Supervision
Required credits
66 semester credits
Application process
direct
GRE
yes
Prerequisites
Master's in counseling, MFT, or similar from a regionally accredited institution; most CACREP master's prerequisites, incl. diversity, development, group, career, ethics, research, assessment, and two semesters of practicum/internship.
Additional requirements
Coursework Verification form and program approval before applying; official transcripts; official GRE (V+Q 300+, Analytical Writing 3.5+ expected, 4 preferred); three recommendation forms (one character reference); 400-word Letter of Intent.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
Trevecca Nazarene University earned a Research.com Counseling Program Score of 85.82/100. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2032-10-31.
# 9 position
Mercer University
Doctor
Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision
Delivery mode: hybrid
85.27
/ 100
Final score
Program length
Typical completion: 3-5 years
Specialization
Counselor Education and Supervision
Required credits
60 semester credits
Acceptance rate
40%
GPA range
3.50 - 4.00
Program completion rate
67% (2023-24)
Employment or doctoral admission
100% (2023-24)
Application deadline
January 31 for August admission
Application process
direct
Prerequisites
Master's degree in counseling or a counseling discipline from a regionally accredited institution; minimum graduate GPA of 3.5. Graduates of CACREP-accredited programs receive preference.
Additional requirements
Application; official transcripts; relevant counseling certifications and licenses; autobiographical goal statement; writing sample on a counseling topic; three professional recommendations; résumé; interview; identity verification.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
Mercer University earned a Research.com Counseling Program Score of 85.27/100, supported by 67% program completion rate and 100% employment or doctoral admission rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2033-03-31.
# 10 position
Lindsey Wilson University
Doctor
Doctor of Philosophy in Counselor Education & Supervision
Delivery mode: hybrid
82.50
/ 100
Final score
Program length
12 consecutive semesters (Year 1 Fall - Year 4 Summer)
Specialization
Counselor Education and Supervision
Required credits
69 semester credits
Acceptance rate
14.29%
Employment or doctoral admission
86% (2024-25)
GRE
no
Prerequisites
Master's degree in counseling or a related profession (CACREP graduates preferred; those with fewer than 48 graduate semester hours and/or from non-CACREP programs may need additional hours).
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
Lindsey Wilson University earned a Research.com Counseling Program Score of 82.5/100, with 86% employment or doctoral admission rate among the verified supporting factors. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2029-03-31.
# 11 position
Barry University
Doctor
Ph.D. in Counseling
Delivery mode: online
81.94
/ 100
Final score
Program length
Typical duration: 4-5 years
Specialization
Counselor Education and Supervision
Required credits
60 semester credits
Acceptance rate
20.8%
GPA range
3.25 - 4.00
Program completion rate
6% (2024-25)
Application deadline
April 1 (Fall entry)
Application process
direct
GRE
no
Prerequisites
Master's or higher in counseling or closely related field; expected prior coursework includes psychopathology, ethics, research, human development, assessment, diversity, theories, group, family, career, practicum and internship.
Additional requirements
Completed application; three recent letters of professional recommendation (two from academic instructor/advisor); a writing sample; a resume; an interview with two faculty members.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
Barry University earned a Research.com Counseling Program Score of 81.94/100, with 6% program completion rate among the verified supporting factors. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2027-10-31.
Frequently asked questions about online Counseling degree in South
Can I become a licensed counselor with an online doctorate?
Not automatically. State boards evaluate specified education, supervised experience, examinations, and other requirements. Confirm whether your prior master's preparation and the proposed doctorate meet the rules in the state where you plan to practice (relevant state licensing board).
Do I need to be licensed before applying?
It depends on the program. Some counselor-education doctorates expect a counseling license or substantial professional experience; others have different admissions criteria. Check the current program requirements before applying.
Is an online doctorate entirely remote?
Not necessarily. Coursework may be online while residencies, defenses, or approved teaching and supervision activities require travel or local placement. Request the complete attendance schedule in writing.
Is a PhD better than a practice-oriented doctorate?
A PhD is generally the clearer fit for research-intensive faculty ambitions. A practice-oriented doctorate may better match applied leadership goals. Compare the actual dissertation or capstone, teaching opportunities, and outcomes rather than relying on the degree abbreviation alone.
Will a doctorate increase my counseling salary?
It might if it qualifies you for a different position or responsibilities, but an increase is not assured. Compare local job requirements and compensation with your current earnings and the full cost of completing the degree.
See What Experts Have To Say About Studying Counseling
