2027 Most Popular Master's in Counseling Degree Programs Ranking in South Dakota

There is no single counseling-master's salary. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a May 2025 national median annual wage of $59,350 for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors. Its corresponding national median is $64,330 for school and career counselors and advisors, $66,940 for marriage and family therapists, and $46,850 for rehabilitation counselors. These are occupation-wide medians, not pay offers to new South Dakota graduates (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook).

Use the occupation matching your intended job when estimating a return on investment. Then request recent, role-specific placement information from programs and compare local job postings by credential and experience level. Independent practice, agency employment, and school-district positions may have different pay structures; a national median cannot resolve those differences.

The meaningful comparison is which population and credential each program is built around - not whether every program teaches counseling skills. The following highlights identify distinct options to investigate; confirm current catalogs, accreditation status, and fieldwork details before applying. Readers who want an outcomes-oriented comparison can also review the best counseling programs.

• Northern State University: Its counseling master's offers an Aberdeen-based public-university option outside the South Dakota State University specialization set (Northern State University). It is worth investigating if Aberdeen is a practical base for study or placements; ask the program which specific credential pathways its current curriculum supports rather than assuming that the degree title covers every counseling license.
• South Dakota State University - school counseling: The M.S. in Counseling and Human Resource Development has a named school counseling specialization, distinguishing its educational-setting focus from the university's clinical, family, and rehabilitation routes (South Dakota State University). Choose it if school employment is the goal, and verify South Dakota school-counselor certification alignment with the university and state education department.
• South Dakota State University - marriage and family counseling: This named specialization centers the degree choice on work with couples and families rather than general clinical counseling (South Dakota State University). It is the more pertinent SDSU option for applicants pursuing that practice area, subject to confirmation of current state marriage-and-family licensure requirements.
• South Dakota State University - rehabilitation counseling: A dedicated rehabilitation specialization separates preparation for disability-related counseling and vocational services from the other SDSU tracks (South Dakota State University). Applicants interested in those settings should compare its placements and credential alignment with the clinical route before choosing between them.
• South Dakota State University - clinical mental health counseling: The dedicated clinical mental health specialization provides the clearest SDSU track to examine for professional mental health counseling goals (South Dakota State University). Ask for its current course map and supervised-placement expectations against the South Dakota counseling-board requirements.
• University of South Dakota: Its graduate catalog provides a program-level starting point for checking the current counseling curriculum and requirements rather than relying on a broad degree label (University of South Dakota). For students considering Vermillion, the decisive comparison is the catalog's stated track and placement requirements against their intended credential and where they can complete fieldwork.

Plan on approximately two to three years of full-time study for a counseling master's; part-time study generally takes longer. The actual timeline depends on the program's credit requirements, course rotation, transfer-credit rules, and when approved practicum and internship placements are available. CACREP's 2024 standards make supervised training a substantial component of accredited entry-level programs, so an accelerated classroom schedule may not shorten the fieldwork calendar (CACREP).

Before choosing a start date, ask for a term-by-term plan showing when you could begin fieldwork. Working professionals should check whether placement hours can coexist with their job schedule; delaying an internship can extend both living expenses and the time until they can seek a credential.

Online delivery can reduce travel for coursework, but it does not turn counseling training into an entirely remote experience. Both formats require students to demonstrate counseling skills and complete supervised fieldwork; placement approval and applicable licensure rules matter regardless of where lectures occur (CACREP; South Dakota Board of Examiners for Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists).

For someone living far from Aberdeen, Brookings, or Vermillion, online classes may make enrollment feasible. A campus-based option may be simpler if its scheduled practice activities and placement contacts match where the student lives. Compare the location of required activities, not just the delivery label: ask whether skills sessions involve travel, who finds a supervisor, and whether placements are approved near your home.

A defensible South Dakota average for these specific counseling master's tracks is not established by a single published price: institutions may charge by credit, residency status, delivery format, and mandatory fees. Undergraduate tuition averages are not a substitute for a graduate-program estimate. Use each institution's current graduate tuition schedule and the program's required credits to request a total program-cost estimate, including fees and field-placement expenses (Northern State University; South Dakota State University; University of South Dakota).

Compare that estimate with the most affordable counseling programs, but do not stop at sticker price. Residency eligibility, commuting or relocation, reduced earnings during fieldwork, and extra terms can change which option costs less. Ask the financial-aid office for an estimate based on your residency and intended pace rather than assuming every public-university student pays the same rate.

Graduate students can investigate institutional assistantships, scholarships, employer tuition assistance, and federal aid by submitting the FAFSA. Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans may be available to eligible graduate students; eligibility and borrowing terms should be checked through Federal Student Aid and the school's financial-aid office (Federal Student Aid). Ask counseling departments whether assistantships require campus work or a particular enrollment level - conditions that may conflict with a field placement or full-time job.

Build a funding plan around net cost, not an advertised award. Compare aid that does not need repayment with borrowing, confirm whether support continues through internship terms, and find out whether part-time enrollment changes eligibility. A lower tuition bill is less useful if completing the program requires substantially more time away from paid work.

Applicants generally need a bachelor's degree and must meet the chosen graduate program's admission rules. Schools may request transcripts, recommendations, a statement of purpose, an interview, or evidence of relevant preparation; do not assume a counseling undergraduate major is required without checking the current program page (Northern State University; South Dakota State University; University of South Dakota).

Before applying, ask admissions to identify prerequisites for your specific specialization and to evaluate any proposed transfer credits in writing. Acceptance of prior graduate courses is not the same as acceptance of prior practicum hours. If licensure is your goal, also ask how the curriculum addresses the requirements of the board or education agency governing that role.

Expect foundations of counseling, ethics, assessment, human development, group work, research or evaluation, counseling techniques, and supervised practicum and internship. Track-specific work changes the emphasis: school counseling addresses students and school systems; clinical mental health training emphasizes mental health assessment and treatment; rehabilitation training addresses disability and vocational concerns; marriage and family training focuses on relational systems (CACREP, 2024 Standards; South Dakota State University).

Compare syllabi and course sequences, not just course titles. A student who needs a particular credential should ask the program to identify the required courses and supervised experiences that support that pathway - and what additional steps remain after graduation.

South Dakota State University identifies four relevant M.S. specializations: school counseling, marriage and family counseling, rehabilitation counseling, and clinical mental health counseling (South Dakota State University). Those labels reflect different intended clients and work settings; a broad "counseling" degree title at another institution does not establish that it offers all four pathways.

Start with the job you want and work backward to its credential. Someone aiming to counsel students in schools should investigate school-specific preparation, while someone seeking clinical mental health practice should compare clinical curricula and board requirements. If you are undecided, ask whether a change of track would add courses or delay fieldwork before treating a program's apparent breadth as flexibility.

Choose by credential fit first, workable completion second, and price third. A popular program can still be the wrong investment if its track does not support the work you intend to do. Use the ranking as a shortlist and the most valuable counseling programs as another comparison, not as substitutes for checking current program details.

Ask each school for evidence you can compare:

1. Which credential does this exact track prepare students to pursue, and which requirements remain after graduation?
2. Is this specific program or track currently CACREP-accredited, if that matters to your intended pathway?
3. Who approves placements, and are suitable supervisors available where you expect to live?
4. What is the estimated total cost and term-by-term schedule for your residency status and enrollment pace?
5. What recent completion, exam, and placement information is available for this track rather than the university as a whole?

For return on investment, weigh net cost and debt alongside program duration, earnings you may forgo, your likelihood of finishing, baseline earnings, plausible post-degree earnings, and how long you expect to work in the new role. Discounting future earnings prevents a distant benefit from being treated as equivalent to an immediate cost. Common mistakes include comparing tuition alone, assuming an online degree automatically qualifies for licensure, and treating an occupational median as a starting-salary promise.

A graduate might pursue professional counseling, school counseling, marriage and family therapy, rehabilitation counseling, or an agency role serving people with behavioral health needs. The degree is an education milestone, not an automatic practice license. In South Dakota, prospective clinical counselors and marriage and family therapists should check the Board of Examiners for Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists for the applicable education, examination, and supervised-experience steps; prospective school counselors should check state education certification requirements (South Dakota Board of Examiners for Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists; South Dakota Department of Education).

If your immediate goal is supervised agency work, ask employers what credentials they require on hire and what supervision they provide. If your long-term goal is independent practice, map the post-graduation licensing steps before accepting an offer or choosing a program. Requirements in another state may differ if you expect to move.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 18% national employment growth from 2025 to 2035 for substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors. Its projections for school and career counselors and advisors and for rehabilitation counselors are 3% and 2%, respectively (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections). These are national occupation projections, not forecasts of South Dakota openings or the likelihood that an individual graduate will be hired.

Use that difference to guide your search rather than choosing a track on growth alone. Check current South Dakota postings in the communities where you would accept work, noting required licenses, supervision, and whether jobs are in schools, agencies, or healthcare. A strong national outlook will not compensate for a program whose placements or credential pathway do not fit your intended local market.

Investing in a master's degree is a consequential decision. Research.com created its counseling rankings to make program comparisons more transparent, drawing on education and outcomes data and checking how each measure relates to the ranking's stated purpose. Popularity should help readers identify programs to investigate; it is not, by itself, evidence of licensure eligibility or a strong financial return.

Across Research.com's counseling rankings, the Best ranking first combines program completion (40%), employment or doctoral admission (20%), applicable licensure-exam pass rates (20%), CACREP programmatic accreditation (16%), and federal Title IV eligibility (4%). Inapplicable criteria are renormalized; program cost then contributes about 7% of the final score. Online and on-campus programs use the same method, while rankings named for another dimension order programs by that dimension.

The ranking draws on the following databases to assess programs and cross-check institutional information:

• IPEDS database - institutional reporting on programs, completions, and costs.
• Peterson's database - program and institutional information.
• College Scorecard database - federal institutional cost and outcome information.
• National Center for Education Statistics - federal education data and definitions.

Use the ranking to build a shortlist, then confirm current tuition, track requirements, accreditation, and placement arrangements directly with each school. Research.com explains its broader approach on its methodology page.

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• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Counselors
  Used to verify salary, employment outlook, and typical education requirements.
  https://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/
• CACREP - Directory of Accredited Programs
  Used to verify CACREP accreditation status of specific programs.
  https://www.cacrep.org/directory/
• Counseling Compact - Participating States
  Verified professional/licensure/career reference.
  https://counselingcompact.org/
• Northern State University - M. Ed. in Counseling - Clinical Mental Health Pathway
  Official program page (curriculum, tuition, admissions).
  https://northern.edu/degrees/counseling-masters-degree
• South Dakota State University - Counseling and Human Resource Development (M.S.) - School Counseling Specialization
  Official program page (curriculum, tuition, admissions).
  https://www.sdstate.edu/programs/graduate/counseling-human-resource-development-ms-school-counseling-specialization
• South Dakota State University - Counseling and Human Resource Development (M.S.) - Marriage and Family Counseling Specialization
  Official program page (curriculum, tuition, admissions).
  https://www.sdstate.edu/programs/graduate/counseling-human-resource-development-ms-marriage-family-counseling
• South Dakota State University - Counseling and Human Resource Development (M.S.) - Rehabilitation Counseling Specialization
  Official program page (curriculum, tuition, admissions).
  https://www.sdstate.edu/programs/graduate/counseling-human-resource-development-ms-rehabilitation-counseling-specialization
• South Dakota State University - Counseling and Human Resource Development (M.S.)
  Official program page (curriculum, tuition, admissions).
  https://www.sdstate.edu/programs/graduate/counseling-human-resource-development-ms-clinical-mental-health-counseling