A counseling doctorate can prepare you to teach, supervise clinicians, conduct research, or lead a program - but it may be an expensive detour if your goal is simply to become a licensed counselor. This guide examines Texas doctoral options, admissions, cost, licensure, and career outcomes. It accompanies the 2027 Most Popular Doctorate in Counseling Degree Programs Ranking in Texas, created by the Research.com team of data scientists to help students make an informed choice about programs worth considering. Use it to identify the degree - and investment - that fits your goal.
Key findings about Counseling degrees in Texas
A Texas counseling doctorate is most directly suited to counselor education, supervision, research, and leadership; a doctoral degree alone does not confer Texas counseling licensure (Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council).
The U.S. median annual wage for the occupation used here as a counselor-education career reference is $75,350 in May 2025, with projected employment growth of 2.5% for 2025-2035; neither figure predicts a doctoral graduate's earnings (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
For new graduate borrowers, Graduate PLUS is generally unavailable beginning July 1, 2026, subject to limited transition rules for eligible existing borrowers. Ask programs for a written funding offer before relying on loans to cover doctoral costs (Federal Student Aid).
What can I expect from a Counseling degree in Texas?
The Texas programs discussed here primarily concern counselor education and supervision: doctoral study aimed at preparing people to teach future counselors, study counseling practice, supervise trainees, and lead clinical or educational initiatives. That differs from a master's degree designed as the usual educational foundation for entry into licensed professional counseling (Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council; University of North Texas; The University of Texas at San Antonio).
Expect advanced research methods, teaching and supervision training, a dissertation, and opportunities to work with students or clinical settings. A PhD generally places substantial emphasis on producing original research. If your main objective is to begin seeing clients, compare licensure-aligned master's programs first; if you are already practicing and want faculty or supervisory responsibilities, the doctorate has a clearer purpose. Ask whether a program admits applicants without a counseling master's and how it addresses any missing clinical preparation.
Where can I work with a Counseling degree in Texas?
Potential settings include universities and colleges, counselor-training clinics, school districts, hospitals, community mental health organizations, and private practices. The work differs by credential: teaching and research positions may value a PhD, while independent clinical practice depends on the applicable state license, not the doctoral title alone (Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council).
Location can shape doctoral training as much as the eventual job. Applicants near San Antonio, the Rio Grande Valley, North Texas, or the Gulf Coast should ask where required supervision, teaching, research, and any clinical placements actually occur. A campus within commuting distance is less useful if its required activities conflict with your work schedule - or if a clinical placement cannot support the population you hope to serve.
There is no single "counseling doctorate salary." Pay follows the occupation, employer, license, and experience more closely than the diploma. The following U.S. occupational figures provide career context, not Texas-specific wages or outcomes for graduates of the listed programs (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025 wages and 2025-2035 projections).
Career direction
U.S. median annual wage, May 2025
Projected U.S. growth, 2025-2035
How to use the figure
Counselor education and supervision
$75,350
2.5%
A reference for education-oriented work, not a doctoral starting salary
Clinical mental health or addiction counseling
$59,350
18%
Relevant to clinical career plans, including those that may not require a doctorate
School counseling
$64,330
3%
Relevant only when the intended role and Texas credentials align
The practical comparison is your likely earnings with the doctorate versus your likely earnings without it. A licensed clinician who can already practice may see a smaller financial gain than someone pursuing a faculty position that requires doctoral preparation. Request program-specific graduate placement information rather than treating a national median as a salary offer.
These Texas options warrant different follow-up questions. Their official pages establish the programs or departments described below, but they do not provide a consistently comparable set of doctoral outcomes and costs; none of the distinctions should be read as a placement-rate or value ranking.
University of North Texas: Its counselor education and supervision PhD can be considered alongside UNT's Center for Play Therapy, a specific research and professional resource rather than a general promise of clinical experience (University of North Texas). Applicants interested in child-centered counseling should ask whether doctoral faculty mentorship and research access align with that interest.
East Texas A&M University: The university identifies a PhD specifically in counselor education and supervision (East Texas A&M University). For working counselors considering its Commerce-area option, the differentiating question is which teaching, supervision, and campus requirements can be completed alongside employment; obtain the current course schedule rather than assuming the format is fully remote.
The University of Texas at San Antonio: UTSA lists a doctoral program in counselor education and supervision in San Antonio (The University of Texas at San Antonio). Its location makes it worth examining for applicants whose professional network or potential research setting is in that metro area; verify actual assistantship and placement arrangements instead of assuming local access is automatic.
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley: The identified university resource is its Department of Counseling page, not a confirmed doctoral program listing (The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley). Applicants seeking a Rio Grande Valley-based doctorate should first request the current degree title, catalog requirements, delivery location, and admissions status before treating it as a comparable doctoral option.
Sam Houston State University: Its graduate catalog publishes a counselor education PhD entry, giving applicants a formal source for checking degree requirements rather than relying on a short recruitment description (Sam Houston State University). This is particularly useful if you need to map prerequisite coursework and dissertation sequencing against a full-time job.
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi: The university lists a counselor education PhD through its graduate-program information (Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi). Its Corpus Christi location is a practical distinction for Gulf Coast-based professionals; confirm the frequency of required in-person work before deciding that geographic proximity will reduce your total cost.
Compare these leads with the best counseling programs, then request the same evidence from every finalist: current curriculum, faculty advising capacity, doctoral completion information, assistantship terms, and the locations of required activities.
Plan on roughly three to five years of full-time doctoral study after relevant graduate preparation; part-time enrollment or a dissertation that extends beyond coursework can take longer. Treat that as a planning range, not a completion promise. Your actual timeline depends on admitted transfer credits, course rotation, assistantship obligations, research approval, and dissertation progress (University of North Texas; Sam Houston State University).
Ask each program for its published degree plan and recent completion patterns. In particular, find out whether required courses run every term and whether a student working clinically can maintain the enrollment needed for funding. An apparently accelerated plan can cost more if it requires you to reduce paid work.
An online or hybrid doctorate may reduce relocation costs, but it does not necessarily remove visits, synchronous classes, supervised activities, or local research commitments. An on-campus program can make recurring faculty, teaching, and research collaboration easier, while imposing commuting and lost-work costs. Ask for the complete residency schedule, not just the marketing description.
The choice matters especially if you need Texas clinical credentials. Instructional format does not itself establish that a degree satisfies Texas LPC education rules or another state's requirements; verify the curriculum with the relevant licensing authority before enrolling (Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council). A remote doctorate makes most sense when its required in-person work, advising model, and your professional goal all fit your circumstances.
A reliable, current Texas-wide average total price for counseling doctorates is not available from the institution-wide tuition figures commonly reported in federal education data. Quoting a general graduate tuition average as the cost of this particular degree would obscure credit requirements, mandatory fees, residency status, and years spent completing a dissertation (National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS).
Build a program-specific estimate: multiply required credits by the applicable resident or nonresident graduate rate, add mandatory fees and travel, then account for years with reduced clinical income. Subtract only assistantships, tuition waivers, or scholarships confirmed in writing. Texas public-university residency can materially change the tuition line, while a funded offer can outweigh a lower sticker price elsewhere. The most affordable counseling programs can help identify candidates, but compare net total cost through completion, not tuition alone.
Start with doctoral teaching or research assistantships, tuition waivers, university fellowships, and any employer support. Ask whether an award covers summer enrollment, fees, health insurance, and dissertation years; a one-year offer is not the same as funding for the full degree. Eligibility for institutional and Texas-based awards varies by school and student circumstances (Federal Student Aid; individual university financial aid offices).
Federal loans require particular attention for a 2027 entrant. Under current rules, new graduate borrowers generally cannot use Graduate PLUS for periods beginning July 1, 2026; limited transition eligibility applies to qualifying existing borrowers who meet the prior-program and loan conditions. Confirm your individual status and current Direct Unsubsidized Loan limits with Federal Student Aid and the school before accepting an unfunded place (Federal Student Aid). Do not build a budget around a loan for which you have not established eligibility.
View the chart data as a table
Median wage by U.S. state - 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
Programs commonly evaluate a relevant master's degree, graduate transcripts, research interests, recommendations, a statement of purpose, and fit with available faculty. Some also assess clinical experience or existing licensure, but requirements differ by program; do not assume a counseling-related master's title alone satisfies every prerequisite (University of North Texas; Sam Houston State University).
Before applying, send admissions staff your transcript and intended career goal. Ask which master's courses are required, whether prior graduate work may transfer, whether a potential adviser is accepting students, and what happens if you still need clinical licensure. Admission, degree completion, and Texas licensure are separate decisions; the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council determines LPC eligibility under state rules, not an admissions office.
Expect doctoral work in counselor education, supervision, teaching, advanced counseling theory, research design, quantitative or qualitative methods, professional ethics, and dissertation research. Programs may also require advanced practice or supervised doctoral experiences. Compare actual catalog descriptions: two degrees with similar titles can allocate very different amounts of time to research, teaching, and clinical development (Sam Houston State University; University of North Texas).
If you want a faculty career, look closely at opportunities to teach and publish with an adviser. If you want clinical leadership, scrutinize supervision training and its connection to your existing license. A methods-heavy doctorate may be valuable for a researcher but an inefficient substitute for the master's-level coursework needed to enter practice.
A doctoral "specialization" may mean a formal concentration, an elective sequence, or simply a faculty member willing to advise a dissertation. Do not treat those as equivalent. Within counselor education and supervision, applicants may pursue research related to clinical mental health, addictions, school counseling, family work, play therapy, or underserved communities when appropriate faculty and resources are available (University of North Texas; individual university program pages).
Choose based on evidence of faculty availability and relevant courses, not a topic named on a brochure. For example, an interest in play therapy warrants asking about doctoral research mentorship and training access; it does not mean that a counselor education PhD automatically supplies a separate clinical credential or certification.
Work backward from the job you want. A practitioner seeking first-time LPC eligibility should compare qualifying master's routes before doctoral rankings; an established counselor seeking to teach or supervise should compare doctoral advising, research, and funded experience. Confirm institutional accreditation and whether the specific program has relevant CACREP accreditation where that matters to your plans; the two are not interchangeable (Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs; U.S. Department of Education).
Use this short verification sequence before committing:
Match the published curriculum to your target role and verify any Texas licensure implications with the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council.
Request the current degree plan, transfer-credit decision, residency schedule, and evidence of doctoral completion and career outcomes.
Compare written net-cost estimates and funding duration, including lost earnings and likely dissertation time.
Speak with a potential adviser about research fit and with current students about access to teaching and supervision opportunities.
A common mistake is choosing the most popular or least expensive program without checking whether an adviser can support the work you want to do. For a value-focused second look, compare the most valuable counseling programs against your own projected debt, completion likelihood, baseline earnings, post-degree opportunities, and time horizon. Even a favorable salary comparison does not establish a positive return once foregone earnings and financing costs are included.
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
Doctoral preparation is most directly relevant to counselor educator, researcher, clinical supervisor, training director, and counseling-program leadership roles. Licensed graduates may also continue clinical practice, but the license - not the doctorate by itself - governs independent professional counseling in Texas (Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council).
These routes have different hiring tests. A faculty applicant should ask about doctoral teaching, publications, and dissertation support; a prospective supervisor should ask whether training and prior licensure meet the rules applicable to the supervisees they hope to oversee. A doctorate can broaden responsibilities, but it is not necessarily the quickest route to higher clinical income.
View the chart data as a table
Graduates (2024-25) distribution across ranked programs (Source: Research.com)
Category
Value
4-4
2
5-5
1
6-6
1
7-7
2
Demand for counseling services and demand for doctoral faculty positions are different markets. National employment in clinical mental health and addiction counseling is projected to grow 18% from 2025 to 2035, but that projection should not be applied to counselor-education faculty jobs, whose relevant occupational outlook is much more modest (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025-2035).
For Texas job planning, search actual faculty and supervisory openings by metro area and compare their required degree, license, teaching record, and salary range. Universities, clinical employers, and rural-serving organizations may seek different combinations of skills. Before borrowing for a doctorate, establish whether the roles you would realistically pursue require one - and whether you would be willing to relocate if openings near your current home are limited.
2027 Most Popular Doctorate in Counseling Degree Programs Ranking in Texas
Investing in doctoral education is a consequential decision. Research.com evaluates counseling programs using graduate outcomes, applicable licensure-exam results, accreditation, federal aid eligibility, and cost, with checks intended to make the underlying comparisons credible and useful. Its Best ranking gives greatest weight to completion and other graduate outcomes; rankings organized around other dimensions order programs by the dimension named. A popularity ranking is a starting point for discovery, not a claim that a program is the cheapest, strongest academically, or right for every licensure goal.
The ranking draws on these data sources, which readers can also use to investigate individual institutions:
IPEDS database: institutional enrollment, completions, and other reported education data.
These sources help narrow a search, but institution-level measures do not always describe a particular doctorate. Confirm current curriculum, funding, completion requirements, and accreditation with each school before applying. Research.com explains its approach further on its methodology page.
# 1 position
University of North Texas
Doctor
Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision
Delivery mode: campus
30.60
/ 100
Final score
Program length
3-4 years
Specialization
Counselor Education and Supervision
Required credits
72 semester credits
GPA range
3.50 - 4.00
Program completion rate
90.9% (2024-25)
Employment or doctoral admission
100% (2024-25)
Application deadline
Fall: Nov 15
GRE
yes
Prerequisites
Master's degree in a counseling-related field (expected to meet requirements of a CACREP-accredited master's degree in counseling; deficiency coursework / CACREP equivalency worksheet required if not CACREP-accredited)
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 North Texas earned a Research.com Student Interest Score of 30.6/100, supported by 8 graduates (2024-25) and 90.9% program completion rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2028-03-31.
# 2 position
East Texas A&M University
Doctor
Counselor Education and Supervision (PhD)
Delivery mode: hybrid
30.60
/ 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 Student Interest Score of 30.6/100, with 8 graduates (2024-2025) among the verified supporting factors. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2031-10-31.
# 3 position
The University of Texas at San Antonio
Doctor
Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision
Delivery mode: campus
27.10
/ 100
Final score
Program length
2-3 years full-time (estimated completion time)
Specialization
Counselor Education and Supervision
Required credits
69 semester credits
GPA range
3.00 - 4.00
Program completion rate
67% (2024-25)
Employment or doctoral admission
100% (2024-25)
Application deadline
Fall 2027: February 1 (priority/international)
Class size
15
Application process
UT San Antonio Graduate Application (Liaison/CAS)
GRE
no
Prerequisites
Master's Degree from an accredited college or university in the United States or proof of equivalent training at a foreign institution; adequate completed credit hours or foreign institution equivalent coursework as preparation for the program.
Additional requirements
Transcripts from all institutions attended, credential evaluation (if foreign credit), English language proficiency scores (if applicable), Purpose Statement, Resume, 2 letters of recommendation.
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).
The University of Texas at San Antonio earned a Research.com Student Interest Score of 27.1/100, supported by 6 graduates (2024-25) and 67% program completion rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2033-10-31.
# 4 position
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Doctor
Ph.D. in Rehabilitation Counseling
Delivery mode: campus
24.90
/ 100
Final score
Program length
Average of 3.5 years
Specialization
Counselor Education and Supervision
Required credits
66 semester credits
Acceptance rate
76.92%
GPA range
3.25 - 4.00
Application deadline
Fall (Domestic priority): August 5; Spring (Domestic priority): January 5; Fall (International priority): June 1; Spring (International priority): October 15
GRE
yes
Prerequisites
Master's degree in Rehabilitation Counseling or related degree; minimum 3.25 GPA in graduate work; 2 years of professional experience working with people with disabilities.
Additional requirements
GRE scores.
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).
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley earned a Research.com Student Interest Score of 24.9/100, with 5 graduates (2024-2025) among the verified supporting factors. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2027-10-31.
# 5 position
Sam Houston State University
Doctor
Ph.D. in Counselor Education
Delivery mode: hybrid
22.40
/ 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 Student Interest Score of 22.4/100, supported by 4 graduates (2022-23) and 90% program completion rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2031-10-31.
# 6 position
Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi
Doctor
Counselor Education, PhD
Delivery mode: campus
22.40
/ 100
Final score
Program length
3 years
Specialization
Counselor Education and Supervision
Required credits
69 semester credits
GPA range
3.00 - 4.00
Program completion rate
72% (2023-24)
Employment or doctoral admission
75% (2023-24)
Application deadline
Priority: April 1; Fall: July 15
Class size
10
Application process
ApplyTexas Application
GRE
no
Prerequisites
Master's degree equal or equivalent to a CACREP-accredited program
Additional requirements
Official transcripts, resume documenting work experience, essay (500-700 words on educational/professional goals), three letters of recommendation via Counselor Education Reference Form, admission 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).
Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi earned a Research.com Student Interest Score of 22.4/100, supported by 4 graduates (2023-24) and 72% program completion rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2028-10-31.
Frequently asked questions about Counseling degree in Texas
Do I need a doctorate to become a licensed professional counselor in Texas?
No. A doctorate is not the standard prerequisite for entry into Texas LPC practice. Check the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council's current education, examination, and supervised-experience rules for your intended route; a doctorate does not replace those requirements (Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council).
Is a counselor education PhD worth it for an already licensed counselor?
It can be if you want faculty, research, supervision, or leadership work that benefits from doctoral training. Compare funded offers and likely career opportunities with what you could earn while continuing to practice; the degree does not promise a salary increase.
Are the most popular doctoral programs necessarily the best programs?
No. Popularity does not establish adviser fit, licensure alignment, doctoral completion, funding, or graduate outcomes. Use the ranking to find options, then verify those factors directly.
Can I complete a Texas counseling doctorate entirely online?
Do not assume so from an "online" description. Ask each university about campus visits, live classes, teaching and supervision activities, and dissertation meetings before applying.
Does CACREP accreditation apply to doctoral counseling programs?
CACREP accredits eligible counselor education and supervision doctoral programs, but accreditation must be verified for the specific program and current period. Institutional accreditation is a separate designation (Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs).
What should I ask about funding before accepting admission?
Request written details on assistantship pay, tuition coverage, fees, summer support, renewal conditions, and support during the dissertation. Confirm federal loan eligibility separately, especially under the Graduate PLUS rules affecting new graduate borrowers beginning July 1, 2026 (Federal Student Aid).
See What Experts Have To Say About Studying Counseling
