Online and On-Campus Counseling Degrees and Programs in Minnesota
Minnesota has 23 schools with programs in the five major counseling fields: mental health counseling, marriage and family therapy, rehabilitation counseling, school counseling, and substance abuse counseling.1 Prospective students can choose from in-person programs and online and hybrid counseling degree options. Online counseling degrees are typically delivered primarily through web-based learning, while hybrid degrees blend online and in-person coursework. There are 12 schools in Minnesota that offer hybrid and online counseling degrees that make counseling education more accessible to those who can’t attend in-person programs.
Table of Contents
- Counseling Schools Comparison
- Online Counseling Programs
- Top-Ranked Schools
- Select Schools With Counseling Degrees
- Related Articles
Comparison of Minnesota Counseling Schools and Programs
The table below summarizes public and not-for-profit colleges and universities in Minnesota with traditional and online counseling programs. Where applicable, we note schools with one or more programs accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE), and the Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC).
The five major counseling degree concentrations are abbreviated as MH for mental health counseling degrees, MF for marriage and family therapy degrees, VR for vocational rehabilitation counseling degrees, SC for school counseling degrees, and SA for substance abuse counseling degrees. These correspond to the Minnesota counseling licenses Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), School Counselor (SC), and Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC). Rehabilitation counselors are typically licensed as LPCCs. Note that some programs offer degree tracks that can lead to credentialing in more than one specialty. Bold text indicates a program with online or hybrid options.
| School Name | Accreditation2-4 | Online/Hybrid Programs? | MH | MF | VR | SC | SA | Net Price1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adler Graduate School | CACREP | Online/Hybrid | Yes | Yes | — | — | Yes | N.Av. |
| Anoka-Ramsey Community College | — | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | $10,929 |
| Bemidji State University | — | Hybrid | — | — | — | — | Yes | $15,594 |
| Bethany Lutheran College | — | Hybrid | Yes | — | — | — | — | $17,640 |
| Bethel University | CACREP | — | Yes | Yes | — | — | Yes | $28,840 |
| Century College | — | Hybrid | — | — | — | — | Yes | $10,901 |
| Crown College | — | Online | Yes | — | — | — | — | $25,513 |
| Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College | — | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | $10,307 |
| Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School of Addiction Studies | CACREP | Online/Hybrid | — | — | — | — | Yes | N.Av. |
| Inver Hills Community College | — | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | $10,733 |
| Metropolitan State University | — | Hybrid | Yes | — | — | — | Yes | $16,830 |
| Minneapolis Community and Technical College | — | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | $12,314 |
| Minnesota North College | — | Online | — | — | — | — | Yes | $9,151 |
| Minnesota State University Mankato | CACREP | — | Yes | Yes | — | — | Yes | $15,832 |
| Minnesota State University Moorhead | CACREP | Hybrid | Yes | — | — | — | Yes | $17,254 |
| North Central University | — | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | $23,694 |
| Oak Hills Christian College | — | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | $20,855 |
| Rochester Community and Technical College | — | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | $13,522 |
| Saint Cloud State University | CACREP | Hybrid | Yes | Yes | — | Yes | Yes | $13,615 |
| Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota | COAMFTE | Online | Yes | Yes | — | — | Yes | $21,606 |
| University of Minnesota-Twin Cities | COAMFTE | — | Yes | Yes | — | Yes | Yes | $17,468 |
| University of St. Thomas | — | — | Yes | Yes | — | — | Yes | $32,637 |
| Winona State University | CACREP | Online/Hybrid | Yes | — | — | Yes | Yes | $17,283 |
Minnesota Schools With Online Counseling Programs
Programs on the following lists may be online or hybrid. Check with schools for any in-person degree requirements.
Online Mental Health Counseling Degrees
- Adler Graduate School
- Bethany Lutheran College
- Crown College
- Metropolitan State University
- Minnesota State University Moorhead
- Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
Online Marriage and Family Therapy Degrees
- Adler Graduate School
Online Substance Abuse Counseling Degrees
- Adler Graduate School
- Bemidji State University
- Century College
- Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School of Addiction Studies
- Metropolitan State University
- Minnesota North College
- Minnesota State University Moorhead
- Saint Cloud State University
- Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
Top-Ranked Schools With Counseling Programs in Minnesota
US News & World Report’s Best Student Counseling Programs 2022
Select Schools in Minnesota With Counseling Degrees
Traditional Undergraduate Programs
Metropolitan State University
Metropolitan State University (MSU) offers two undergraduate options for students interested in starting a counseling career. The Bachelor of Science (BS) in Alcohol and Drug Counseling is a 120-credit program that meets state educational requirements to become a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC) in Minnesota. The curriculum is also available as a Substance Use Disorders Post-Baccalaureate Certificate for students with a bachelor’s degree who want to become licensed as LADCs. Students in other undergraduate programs can complete a 20-credit minor in Mental Health Psychology that introduces students to counseling psychology and mental health assessment. MSU also offers a Master of Science (MS) in Alcohol and Drug Recovery Counseling, which is comprised of 48 credits and meets Minnesota educational requirements for the LADC license. A 60-credit MS in Co-Occurring Disorders Recovery Counseling is also available, with a strong focus on clinical mental health and addiction counseling services. The degree meets Minnesota coursework requirements for the LADC. Students who complete an additional two years of post-master’s supervised practice also meet the requirements to become Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs) or Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors (LPCCs).
Minnesota State University-Mankato
Minnesota State University-Mankato offers numerous undergraduate and graduate counseling degrees to choose from. Undergraduate students can complete a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Alcohol and Drug Studies, which satisfies state educational requirements for the Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC) credential and the Board Certified Counselor (BCC) credential. Students can also complete a 21-credit minor in Alcohol and Drug Studies. The BS is an interdisciplinary program combining coursework in sociology, assessment and diagnosis, and pharmacology with a supervised internship. At the graduate level, two CACREP-accredited master’s degrees are available, both in the Department of Counseling and Student Personnel: a 48-credit Master of Science (MS) in Mental Health Counseling and an MS in Professional School Counseling. Students who complete their master’s through the Department of Counseling and Student Personnel will be eligible to receive a variety of credentials, depending on their courses of focus. These programs meet Minnesota requirements for the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), the Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) license, the Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) license, as well as national requirements for the National Certified Counselor (NCC) and the National Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor (CCMHC).
Traditional Graduate Programs
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota is a Catholic university offering faith-based degrees at multiple Minnesota campuses. The two-year Master of Arts (MA) in Counseling and Psychological Services is offered at the Minneapolis and Rochester campuses and online. The degree meets Minnesota educational requirements for the Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC) license and additional coursework can be taken to meet the educational requirements for the Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors (LPCC) license. The MA in Marriage and Family Therapy is a Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE)-accredited 48-credit degree offered at the Minneapolis campus that meets state coursework requirements to become a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT). A Graduate Certificate in Addiction Studies is also available and helps students meet the requirements for the Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC) license. Saint Mary’s also offers a dual program that enables students to complete the MA in Counseling and Psychological Services and the Certificate in Addiction Studies in a compressed timeframe.
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
The University of Minnesota-Twin Cities offers two master’s degree options for counseling students. The Master of Professional Studies (MPS) in Integrated Behavioral Health teaches students about substance abuse, mental health counseling, and co-occurring disorders. The degree includes 55 credits and meets Minnesota coursework requirements for the Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC) and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) credentials. Students in the MPS program can complete a specialization in youth counseling leading to a graduate minor in Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health. An MPS in Addiction Counseling comprised of 30 credits is also offered, with both a traditional and an accelerated cohort option available. Those who choose the accelerated cohort can complete their MPS in two years. This degree is designed for students pursuing the LADC license or individuals licensed in other counseling or allied health professions.
Online and Hybrid Programs
Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School of Addiction Studies
The Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School of Addiction Studies offers an online Master of Arts (MA) in Addiction Studies with a focus on Integrated Recovery for Co-Occurring Disorders. Students complete 60 credits and take courses such as Lifespan Development; Advanced Assessment and Diagnosis for Co-Occurring Disorders; and Social and Cultural Diversity in Counseling. The degree takes two years of full-time study with three start dates throughout the year. Part-time study is permitted but the degree requirements must be completed within seven years. Online students must complete two four-day residencies at the Center City campus during the program. The MA degree meets the educational requirements for Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors (LADCs), Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs), and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors (LPCCs) in Minnesota. An MA in Addiction Counseling that meets the same state licensure requirements is also offered at the St. Paul and Center City campuses.
Minnesota State University-Moorhead
Individuals who already have a master’s degree in a counseling-, education-, or mental health-related field can complete an online Graduate Certificate in Professional Counseling at Minnesota State University-Moorhead (MSUM). The certificate teaches students to assess, diagnose, and treat mental health illnesses using counseling techniques. Students with a master’s degree in counseling must complete at least 17 credits. Students with a master’s degree in another field may need to complete additional coursework to satisfy Minnesota educational requirements for the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) licenses. At MSUM, prospective counselors can also complete a 23-credit online Graduate Certificate in Addiction Counseling; a 13-credit online Graduate Certificate in School Counseling; or on-campus Master of Science (MS) degrees in Addiction Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CACREP-accredited), and School Counseling (CACREP-accredited).
St. Cloud State University
At St. Cloud State University, students can complete a 27-credit online Graduate Certificate in Addictions with start dates offered in the fall, spring, and summer terms. The certificate meets state coursework requirements for the Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC) license. The addictions counseling coursework can also be completed as part of the on-campus, CACREP-accredited Master of Science (MS) degrees in Clinical Mental Health Counseling or Rehabilitation Counseling. The MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling requires 61 credits and meets Minnesota coursework requirements for the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) credentials. The MS in Rehabilitation Counseling consists of 60-66 credits and offers three specialization options, Vocational Rehabilitation, Clinical Rehabilitation, and Addiction Rehabilitation. Other on-campus counseling programs include a CACREP-accredited, 52-58-credit MS in School Counseling; a 52-58-credit MS in Marriage and Family Therapy; and a 22-credit Graduate Certificate in School Counseling for individuals who already have a graduate degree in a counseling-related field.
Winona State University
Winona State University (WSU) offers an online post-bachelor’s certificate in Addiction Counseling. The certificate consists of 24 credits and meets state coursework requirements for the Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC) license. All coursework can be completed online with the exception of the supervised internship. The certificate coursework can also be completed as part of the university’s on-campus degree options, available at both the Winona and Rochester locations: the 60-credit Master of Science (MS) in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and the 60-credit MS in School Counseling. Both degrees are accredited by CACREP. The MS in Clinical Mental Health meets the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) educational requirements in Minnesota and the MS in School Counseling meets state requirements to become a school counselor.
Related Articles
- Associate Degree in Counseling Guide
- Bachelor’s Degree in Counseling Guide
- Certificate in Counseling Guide
- Guide to Earning a Master’s in Mental Health Counseling Online
- Master’s Degree in Counseling Guide
- PhD in Counseling Guide
References:
1. National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
2. Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs, Accredited Programs: https://www.cacrep.org/directory/
3. Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education, Directory of COAMFTE Accredited Programs: https://coamfte.org/COAMFTE/Directory_of_Accredited_Programs/MFT_Training_Programs.aspx
4. Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council Accredited Programs: https://mpcacaccreditation.org/accredited-programs/
5. US News & World Report Best Student Counseling Programs 2022: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-education-schools/student-counseling-rankings
6. US News & World Report Best Online Master’s in Education Programs Offering Student Counseling and Personnel Services 2022: https://www.usnews.com/education/online-education/education/student-counseling-rankings