An affordable counseling degree is only a good investment if it prepares you for the work you want to do - and any Montana credential that work requires. This guide is for prospective students and working professionals comparing online study, total costs, clinical training, and career outcomes. It accompanies the 2027 Most Affordable Online Counseling Degree Programs Ranking in Montana, created by the Research.com team of data scientists to help students make informed choices about programs worth considering. Use it to identify the questions that matter before you apply or borrow.
Key findings about online Counseling degrees in Montana
For clinical counseling in Montana, compare a graduate program's coursework and supervised training against Board of Behavioral Health requirements before comparing tuition; an online label does not establish licensure eligibility.
National median annual pay in May 2025 was $59,350 for the BLS occupation covering mental health and substance use counselors; projected employment growth for 2025-2035 was 18%. These are national occupational figures, not Montana graduate salaries (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
The University of Montana's school counseling program and the University of Providence's clinical mental health counseling program point toward different credentials. Choose the career setting first, then compare the complete price - including fieldwork and any required travel.
What can I expect from an online Counseling degree in Montana?
For someone aiming to practice as a professional counselor, the relevant degree is generally a graduate counseling program, not an undergraduate counseling-related major or a short certificate. Coursework develops assessment, ethics, counseling techniques, and the ability to work with clients from different backgrounds. Practicum and internship training add supervised work with real clients; they cannot ordinarily be completed entirely from home.
The first decision is school counseling versus clinical mental health counseling. School counseling prepares students for roles in educational settings, while clinical mental health counseling is the more direct route to evaluating preparation for Montana's licensed clinical professional counselor pathway. Program titles are useful starting points, but the Montana Board of Behavioral Health and Montana Office of Public Instruction set different requirements for their respective credentials (Montana Board of Behavioral Health; Montana Office of Public Instruction). A student seeking therapy practice should not assume a school counseling degree serves the same purpose.
Online delivery may reduce relocation costs for a student outside a university town, but ask whether classes are synchronous, whether campus visits are required, and who arranges an approved local field placement. For a broader comparison of program features alongside price, consult the best counseling programs.
Where can I work with an online Counseling degree in Montana?
Potential settings depend on the degree and credential: school counselors work in schools; clinical mental health counselors may work in outpatient clinics, community agencies, hospitals, or private practice when appropriately licensed. Substance use treatment and integrated behavioral health can offer related roles, but employers may require a different or additional credential. Montana's credentialing rules, not the word "counseling" in a program title, determine which regulated roles a graduate can pursue (Montana Board of Behavioral Health; Montana Office of Public Instruction).
Students who hope to remain in a rural community should discuss local placement availability before enrolling. An online classroom may be accessible from anywhere in the state, while supervised positions and qualified supervisors may require commuting or a change in work schedule. That practical constraint can matter more than a small difference in tuition.
National BLS figures provide career context, not a forecast of what a Montana graduate will earn. The table matches common counseling goals to the relevant national occupations; its medians are for all workers in those occupations, not specifically new graduates or licensed professionals.
Career goal
U.S. median annual pay, May 2025
U.S. projected employment growth, 2025-2035
Clinical mental health or addiction counseling
$59,350
18%
School counseling
$64,330
3%
Rehabilitation counseling
$46,850
2%
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook and Employment Projections. These figures show why specialty matters when evaluating a degree's potential return, but national growth does not establish the number of openings in a particular Montana community. Compare local job postings for your intended credential and consider pay during the supervised period before independent practice.
The clearest distinction between these two Montana programs is the professional destination named by each program. Use their published requirements to verify delivery format, fieldwork, and credential alignment before treating either as an interchangeable online option.
The University of Montana - school counseling: Its program is specifically organized around preparation for school counseling, distinguishing it from a clinical mental health degree (The University of Montana, school counseling program). It is the more relevant starting point for a student who wants to work in schools; ask how its requirements align with the Montana Office of Public Instruction credential and whether any in-person attendance or local placement conditions apply.
University of Providence - clinical mental health counseling: Its named clinical mental health counseling program targets a different practice setting from school counseling (University of Providence, clinical mental health counseling program). Students interested in clinical practice should request its current course and supervised-training requirements and compare them with Montana Board of Behavioral Health rules before relying on the program for a licensure plan.
Neither program name, by itself, establishes an identical online experience, a guaranteed field placement, or automatic eligibility for a credential. Request those details in writing for the term you expect to enter.
A master's-level counseling program typically takes about two to three years of full-time study; part-time enrollment can take longer. The actual schedule depends on course sequencing and when required practicum and internship placements are available. Finishing classes faster does not remove supervised fieldwork or post-degree steps required for a regulated role.
If speed is essential, compare published course rotations, maximum annual credit loads, and field-placement start dates - not just an advertised minimum timeline. The fastest counseling programs can help identify options to investigate, but ask each school for a realistic completion plan that fits your work schedule and location.
An online counseling degree delivers academic instruction remotely; an on-campus degree centers instruction at the school. Both may require scheduled live participation and supervised in-person work. The consequential question is therefore not simply where lectures happen, but whether the program can support your required training where you live.
Online study may suit a working adult who cannot relocate, provided the school can approve suitable Montana placements and the student can make time for them. Campus study may be preferable when a student wants direct access to a program's local placement network or finds scheduled, in-person learning easier to sustain. Ask both types of program who secures placements, what happens if a placement falls through, and whether clinical supervision creates additional charges.
There is no single dependable price for an "online counseling degree in Montana": schools may quote tuition per credit, per term, or by program, and a student's total depends on required credits, residency classification where applicable, fees, and time to completion. A tuition figure alone also misses travel for campus visits, placement-related costs, and income lost if fieldwork reduces paid working hours.
Build a program-specific total using the school's current tuition schedule and written fee information. Compare that amount after grants and scholarships, then estimate likely borrowing. The most valuable counseling programs offer another comparison lens, but value is personal: completion likelihood, forgone earnings, debt repayment, career earnings relative to your current pay, and how long you expect to work in the field all affect the return. Do not treat a lower price as better value if the program does not fit your intended credential.
Start with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and each school's graduate aid office. Eligible students at participating institutions may be able to use federal graduate Direct Unsubsidized Loans; schools may also offer scholarships or assistantships. Ask whether online enrollment, part-time attendance, or fieldwork terms change your aid eligibility, and check whether an employer offers tuition support (Federal Student Aid).
Do not build a financing plan around Graduate PLUS without checking your status. Under federal changes taking effect for new borrowing in 2026, new graduate students generally cannot receive Graduate PLUS loans. Limited transition eligibility may apply to students who were already enrolled in the same program and had a qualifying Direct Loan before the change; the school's financial aid office should verify individual eligibility and remaining limits (Federal Student Aid). Compare the amount you can actually borrow with the program's full cost before accepting an offer.
View the chart data as a table
Median wage by counseling career path (U.S., BLS May 2025) (Source: BLS)
Category
Value
Psychologists
99,110
Postsecondary Teachers
85,330
Marriage & Family Therapists
66,940
School & Career Counselors
64,330
Mental Health Counselors
59,350
Rehabilitation Counselors
46,850
Graduate counseling applicants generally need a completed bachelor's degree. Programs may also request transcripts, recommendations, a statement of purpose, an interview, or prerequisite coursework; requirements and whether a particular undergraduate major is necessary vary by school. Check each program's current admissions page rather than assuming that experience in a helping profession replaces an academic requirement.
Admission is separate from professional eligibility. Before applying, ask the program to map its degree, supervised fieldwork, and any relevant accreditation against the Montana credential you intend to seek. If you already hold graduate credits, obtain a written transfer-credit evaluation: accepting a course for degree credit does not necessarily mean it satisfies a licensing board's content requirement (Montana Board of Behavioral Health; Montana Office of Public Instruction).
Common graduate subjects include counseling theories, assessment, ethics, research, group counseling, human development, and culturally responsive practice. Clinical mental health programs may place particular emphasis on diagnosis and treatment planning; school counseling programs focus coursework and fieldwork on students and educational settings. Practicum and internship put those skills into supervised use.
Do not compare course titles alone. Ask for the current syllabus or a course-to-requirement map if a credential depends on specific content. That is especially important when transferring credits or choosing an online program based outside Montana: the state authority evaluates eligibility, not the school's marketing description (Montana Board of Behavioral Health; Montana Office of Public Instruction).
The most consequential choice here is often the degree pathway, not an elective concentration. School counseling, clinical mental health counseling, addiction counseling, marriage and family counseling, and rehabilitation counseling can lead toward different work and credential requirements. A concentration or certificate within a degree should not be assumed to qualify its holder for a separate license (Montana Board of Behavioral Health; Montana Office of Public Instruction).
Choose by the clients and setting you want to serve. If your goal is school-based counseling, examine the school credential pathway first. If it is independent clinical practice, verify the clinical professional counselor requirements. If you are unsure, compare required field experiences and entry-level job descriptions before paying for a specialization that may narrow your options.
Choose in this order: intended credential, eligibility, feasible fieldwork, then net cost and schedule. The easiest counseling programs may be useful for comparing access, but easier admission is not a substitute for preparation that meets your career goal.
These checks can expose expensive mismatches before you enroll:
Name the job and Montana credential you want; confirm the relevant requirements with the Board of Behavioral Health or Office of Public Instruction.
Ask the program for written confirmation of its current accreditation status, required coursework, fieldwork arrangements, and any campus visits; independently verify applicable accreditation.
Request a term-by-term plan for your intended study pace and ask whether approved placements are available near you.
Compare complete costs after aid, including fees, travel, placement expenses, and possible lost wages; obtain a written transfer-credit decision if applicable.
Ask for program-specific completion, placement, and applicable exam outcomes with their reporting years, and note when a school cannot supply them.
A common mistake is selecting the cheapest advertised tuition before checking licensure fit or placement logistics. Another is assuming a ranking predicts personal earnings. Use rankings to create a shortlist, then use written answers from schools and state authorities to make the final decision.
A school counseling graduate may pursue school-based positions after meeting the applicable educator credential rules. A clinical mental health counseling graduate may pursue supervised clinical work and, after satisfying Montana's separate requirements, seek licensure for roles that require it. Addiction, rehabilitation, and family-focused work may involve distinct employer expectations or credentials (Montana Office of Public Instruction; Montana Board of Behavioral Health).
A bachelor's degree or certificate may make more sense if your immediate goal is a support role rather than professional counseling practice. Conversely, someone seeking a regulated counselor position should not substitute a short certificate for the graduate education and supervised experience that the relevant authority requires. The right investment depends on the specific job, not simply an interest in helping people.
View the chart data as a table
Reported total program cost by program (Source: Research.com)
Category
Value
The University of Montan
24,166
University of Providence
62,640
The national outlook is strongest among the specialties shown here for mental health and substance use counselors: BLS projects 18% employment growth from 2025 to 2035. That signals broader demand, but it does not tell a Montana student how many suitable jobs exist near home or whether a particular employer can provide supervision (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections).
Before choosing a program, review current openings in the Montana communities where you would work. Note the credential named, whether the role accepts an applicant still completing supervised experience, and whether pay is sufficient for your expected loan payments. For a student unwilling to relocate, local placement and job availability should weigh heavily alongside tuition.
2027 Most Affordable Online Counseling Degree Programs Ranking in Montana
Investing in a counseling degree is a consequential decision. Research.com designed its rankings to make program comparisons more transparent, using education and outcome data rather than treating a low advertised tuition rate as proof of value. Its counseling rankings assess graduate outcomes, applicable licensure exam results, accreditation, federal aid eligibility, and cost; the most affordable ranking orders programs by the cost dimension. Cost alone does not establish licensure eligibility or career value.
The Research.com team used these data sources to develop and check the rankings:
IPEDS database: institutional reporting on enrollment, completion, and prices.
Peterson's database: program and institution information used in comparisons.
College Scorecard database: federal information on institutions, costs, aid, and outcomes where available.
Readers can use the ranking to shortlist lower-cost options, then check each school's current tuition, delivery requirements, accreditation, and fit with their intended credential. Data availability and reporting periods differ by measure, so confirm consequential details with the program and the relevant licensing authority. See Research.com's methodology for more on how the rankings are created.
# 1 position
The University of Montana
Master
School Counseling MA
Delivery mode: online
94.20
/ 100
Final score
Specialization
School Counseling
Required credits
60 semester credits
GPA range
3.00 - 4.00
Program completion rate
100% (2024-25)
Employment or doctoral admission
100% (2024-25)
Application deadline
Jan 15 (priority; application window remains open until positions are filled)
Application process
direct
GRE
optional
Additional requirements
Current resume (CV); 3 letters of recommendation; official academic transcripts from all higher-education institutions; personal statement; official GRE scores optional
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 Affordability Score of 94.2/100, supported by $24,166 total cost (tuition and fees, estimated) and 60 semester credits. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2031-03-31.
# 2 position
University of Providence
Master
Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Delivery mode: hybrid
66.40
/ 100
Final score
Program length
three years; six 15-week semesters and two summer courses
Specialization
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
GPA range
3.00 - 4.00
Program completion rate
100% (2023-24)
Licensure exam pass rate
100% (2023)
Application deadline
August (Fall enrollment)
Application process
GradCAS
GRE
no
Prerequisites
Baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution; minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA (lower GPA may require GRE at coordinator's discretion).
Additional requirements
Graduate application, official transcripts, one-page personal essay, CV/resume, $38 application fee (GradCAS). GRE is not required for applicants with an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher; below 3.0, GRE may be required at the coordinator's discretion.
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 Providence earned a Research.com Affordability Score of 66.4/100, supported by $62,640 total tuition and 3-year completion pathway. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2034-04-30.
Frequently asked questions about online Counseling degree in Montana
Can I become a licensed counselor with an online degree?
Potentially, but online delivery alone establishes nothing about eligibility. Check the degree, coursework, supervised experience, examinations, and other applicable requirements with the Montana Board of Behavioral Health before enrolling.
Is school counseling the same as clinical mental health counseling?
No. They prepare students for different settings and credential pathways. Choose according to the work you want to do, then verify the applicable Montana requirements.
Can counseling fieldwork be completed online?
Online coursework does not eliminate supervised practical training. Ask where approved placements can occur, who arranges them, and whether you must travel or change your work schedule.
How long should I budget for a counseling master's?
Plan on roughly two to three years full time, with longer possible for part-time study. Request a program-specific schedule that includes fieldwork rather than relying on its shortest advertised timeline.
Is the least expensive program the best investment?
Not necessarily. Compare total net cost, debt, completion prospects, time away from work, fieldwork access, and fit with the credential you need. A cheaper degree that does not support your intended career can be a costly choice.
See What Experts Have To Say About Studying Counseling
