Best Online Master’s in Counseling in Texas

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An online master’s in counseling provides you with the knowledge base and educational requirements to pursue or advance your career in counseling professions. Busy counseling professionals can earn the education they need online to advance their careers, without disrupting their lives.

Finding a master’s in counseling in Texas helps Texans find the most affordable programs at colleges and universities they and employers know and trust.

An online master’s in counseling prepares students for advanced positions in professional counseling in a variety of settings, including mental health counselor, substance abuse counselor, family and marriage therapist, Christian counselor, and school counselor. Students in these programs typically have existing professional experience, whether through employment or through practicums; they may be required to complete more as part of the program. Courses in these programs cover advanced counseling topics, such as professional ethics and law, group counseling, private counseling, practice and theory, human development, substance abuse, and conflict resolution.

Counselor and therapist salary information varies by area of practice. Private practitioners, and practice directors tend to earn more. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, substance abuse and mental health counselors earn a median annual salary of $46,630, and rehabilitation counselors earn $35,630. Generally speaking, 50% of counselors in Texas earn at least $58,000 annually, and enjoy a job growth rate of over 21%, much faster than the national average of 5% for all.

To practice, counselors must obtain professional licensure, which varies by state. Professionals in Texas must earn licensure through the Texas State Board of Examiners of Professional Counselors. Additionally, some counselors need to earn specific certifications to their area of practice, through organizations such as the Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards.

Marriage and Family Therapists Career Prospects in Texas
Job Growth by 2026 17%
Annual Job Growth 2.4%
Average Wage (Mean):
$45,821
Entry Level Wage:
$30,427
Median Wage:
$43,778
Experienced Wage:
$53,518
Sources: the Texas Workforce Commission’s Texas Labor Market Information Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages Report and the Texas Workforce Commission’s Texas Labor Market Information Employment Projections 2016-2026 Report

Find your online masters degree in counseling in TX

Study confidently at a quality institution in Texas where you know you will receive training relevant to Texas laws and regulations, and with attention to current affairs in Texas. Finding an online degree at a regionally accredited college or university will help ensure not only the acceptance of your degree by hiring professionals, but it will enable you to pursue an advanced degree should you someday want to take your education to the next level.

Here’s our list of online master’s degrees in counseling offered by regionally accredited colleges and universities in Texas. Sort to find the best, most affordable, and best value online colleges for counseling degrees.

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    1. LeTourneau University

      Longview, TX

      LeTourneau University’s school logo

      Program Score

      99

      TX Relative Cost

      Key Facts Answers
      Total Enrollment 3,150 (45% fully online)
      Public or Private Private Non-Profit
      Number of Online Programs 40
      Accreditation Regional: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
      Average In-State Undergraduate Tuition $31,270 per year
      Net Cost by Income
      Source: National Center for Educational Statistics

      TexasOnlineColleges.com Awards

      #2 Best Texas Online CollegeA Best Value Texas Online College Adult Student Friendly School
      Experienced Online School
      First-Generation Student Friendly School
      Degree Credits Needed Completion Time1
      MA - Clinical Mental Health Counseling 66 3-4 years
      See LTU’s full list of online degrees!

    2. Abilene Christian University

      Addison, TX

      Abilene Christian University’s school logo

      Program Score

      91

      TX Relative Cost

      Key Facts Answers
      Total Enrollment 5,292 (27% fully online)
      Public or Private Private Non-Profit
      Number of Online Programs 75
      Accreditation Regional: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
      Average In-State Undergraduate Tuition $36,300 per year
      Net Cost by Income
      Source: National Center for Educational Statistics

      TexasOnlineColleges.com Awards

      #6 Best Texas Online CollegeA Best Value Texas Online College Adult Student Friendly School
      Experienced Online School
      Disability Friendly SchoolFirst-Generation Student Friendly SchoolMilitary Friendly School
      Degree Credits Needed Completion Time1
      MMFT - Marriage and Family Therapy: General 60 3-4 years
      MMFT - Marriage and Family Therapy: Medical Family Therapy 60 3-4 years
      MMFT - Marriage and Family Therapy: Treatment of Trauma 60 3-4 years
      MMFT - Marriage and Family Therapy: Child and Adolescent Therapy 60 3-4 years
      See ACU’s full list of online degrees!

    3. University of North Texas

      Denton, TX

      Program Score

      90

      TX Relative Cost

      Key Facts Answers
      Total Enrollment 39,336 (10% fully online)
      Public or Private Public
      Number of Online Programs 63
      Accreditation Regional: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
      Average In-State Undergraduate Tuition $11,044 per year
      Net Cost by Income
      Source: National Center for Educational Statistics

      TexasOnlineColleges.com Awards

      #3 Best Texas Online CollegeA Most Affordable Texas Online College #6 Best Value Texas Online CollegeAdult Student Friendly School
      Experienced Online School
      First-Generation Student Friendly School
      Degree Credits Needed Completion Time1
      MS - Rehabilitation Counseling 60 3-4 years
      See UNT’s full list of online degrees!

    4. Southwestern Assemblies of God University

      Waxahachie, TX

      Program Score

      89

      TX Relative Cost

      Key Facts Answers
      Total Enrollment 2,050 (53% fully online)
      Public or Private Private Non-Profit
      Number of Online Programs 69
      Accreditation Regional: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
      Average In-State Undergraduate Tuition $19,834 per year
      Net Cost by Income
      Source: National Center for Educational Statistics

      TexasOnlineColleges.com Awards

      #7 Best Texas Online CollegeA Most Affordable Texas Online College A Best Value Texas Online College Adult Student Friendly School
      Experienced Online School
      First-Generation Student Friendly SchoolMilitary Friendly School
      Degree Credits Needed Completion Time1
      MS - Clinical Mental Health Counseling 60 3-4 years
      MS - Clinical Mental Health Counseling 30 2-3 years
      See SAGU’s full list of online degrees!

    5. West Texas A&M University

      Canyon, TX

      Program Score

      86

      TX Relative Cost

      Key Facts Answers
      Total Enrollment 9,970 (34% fully online)
      Public or Private Public
      Number of Online Programs 59
      Accreditation Regional: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
      Average In-State Undergraduate Tuition $8,135 per year
      Net Cost by Income
      Source: National Center for Educational Statistics

      TexasOnlineColleges.com Awards

      #10 Best Texas Online College#6 Most Affordable Texas Online College#5 Best Value Texas Online CollegeAdult Student Friendly School
      Experienced Online School
      First-Generation Student Friendly School
      Degree Credits Needed Completion Time1
      MA - Counseling 60 2-3 years
      MEd – Counseling 60 2-3 years
      MEd – School Counseling 48 2-3 years
      See WTAMU’s full list of online degrees!

    6. Lubbock Christian University

      Lubbock, TX

      Program Score

      85

      TX Relative Cost

      Key Facts Answers
      Total Enrollment 1,770 (4% fully online)
      Public or Private Private Non-Profit
      Number of Online Programs 2
      Accreditation Regional: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
      Average In-State Undergraduate Tuition $23,330 per year
      Net Cost by Income
      Source: National Center for Educational Statistics

      TexasOnlineColleges.com Awards

      Adult Student Friendly School
      Experienced Online School
      Disability Friendly SchoolFirst-Generation Student Friendly School
      Degree Credits Needed Completion Time1
      MA - Clinical Mental Health Counseling 36 2-3 years
      See LCU’s full list of online degrees!

    7. Southwestern Adventist University

      Keene, TX

      Program Score

      85

      TX Relative Cost

      Key Facts Answers
      Total Enrollment 687 (6% fully online)
      Public or Private Private Non-Profit
      USDE Special Government Status Hispanic-Serving Institution
      Number of Online Programs 18
      Accreditation Regional: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
      Average In-State Undergraduate Tuition $22,188 per year
      Net Cost by Income
      Source: National Center for Educational Statistics

      TexasOnlineColleges.com Awards

      Top Texas Online College A Most Affordable Texas Online College A Best Value Texas Online College Adult Student Friendly School
      Experienced Online School
      First-Generation Student Friendly SchoolHispanic-Serving Institution
      Degree Credits Needed Completion Time1
      MS - Clinical Mental Health Counseling 60 3-4 years
      See SAU’s full list of online degrees!

    8. Dallas Baptist University

      Dallas, TX

      Dallas Baptist University’s school logo

      Program Score

      85

      TX Relative Cost

      Key Facts Answers
      Total Enrollment 4,487 (15% fully online)
      Public or Private Private Non-Profit
      Number of Online Programs 97
      Accreditation Regional: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
      Average In-State Undergraduate Tuition $30,320 per year
      Net Cost by Income
      Source: National Center for Educational Statistics

      TexasOnlineColleges.com Awards

      #4 Best Texas Online CollegeA Best Value Texas Online College Adult Student Friendly School
      Experienced Online School
      Disability Friendly SchoolFirst-Generation Student Friendly School
      Degree Credits Needed Completion Time1
      MA - Professional Development: Counseling 36 2-3 years
      See DBU’s full list of online degrees!

    9. Our Lady of the Lake University

      San Antonio, TX

      Program Score

      82

      TX Relative Cost

      Key Facts Answers
      Total Enrollment 2,974 (33% fully online)
      Public or Private Private Non-Profit
      USDE Special Government Status Hispanic-Serving Institution
      Number of Online Programs 8
      Accreditation Regional: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
      Average In-State Undergraduate Tuition $29,218 per year
      Net Cost by Income
      Source: National Center for Educational Statistics

      TexasOnlineColleges.com Awards

      Adult Student Friendly School
      Experienced Online School
      Disability Friendly SchoolFirst-Generation Student Friendly SchoolHispanic-Serving Institution
      Degree Credits Needed Completion Time1
      MA - Counseling 48 3-4 years
      See OLLU’s full list of online degrees!

    10. University of Houston–Victoria

      Victoria, TX

      Program Score

      81

      TX Relative Cost

      Key Facts Answers
      Total Enrollment 4,506 (57% fully online)
      Public or Private Public
      USDE Special Government Status Hispanic-Serving Institution
      Number of Online Programs 102
      Accreditation Regional: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
      Average In-State Undergraduate Tuition $6,781 per year
      Net Cost by Income
      Source: National Center for Educational Statistics

      TexasOnlineColleges.com Awards

      #8 Best Texas Online College#2 Most Affordable Texas Online College#1 Best Value Texas Online CollegeAdult Student Friendly School
      Experienced Online School
      First-Generation Student Friendly SchoolHispanic-Serving Institution
      Degree Credits Needed Completion Time1
      MA - Counseling Psychology 60 3-4 years
      See UHV’s full list of online degrees!

    Published: .


    An institution’s program specfic score is calculated with seven data points: (1) its student-to-faculty ratio, (2) its number of degrees an institution awards in the program's field each year, (3) its the graduation rate, (4) its the retention rate, (5) its the percentage of online students, (6) its concentrated Influence (a measure of the academic importance of a school), and (7) its desirability (a measure of how many students chose to go to an institution).
     
    For each data point, we score schools based on where they fall in the percentile distribution for that data point. Because our scores are based on local data and not tied to irrelevant national data, they accurately reflect an institutions’s value to the Texas student. Institutions with missing data receive a zero for that data point.
     
    We weigh each data point and calculate an institution’s raw score. Then we create an adjusted raw score by combining a schools's score with a base score of 50. Finally, we score and rank institutions based on their adjusted score’s percentile rank.
     
    Check out our detailed methodology here.

    We weren’t able to get all the data we needed for this institution. This score is based on the information they have reported.
     
    An institution’s program specfic score is calculated with seven data points: (1) its student-to-faculty ratio, (2) its number of degrees an institution awards in the program's field each year, (3) its the graduation rate, (4) its the retention rate, (5) its the percentage of online students, (6) its concentrated Influence (a measure of the academic importance of a school), and (7) its desirability (a measure of how many students chose to go to an institution).
     
    For each data point, we score schools based on where they fall in the percentile distribution for that data point. Because our scores are based on local data and not tied to irrelevant national data, they accurately reflect an institutions’s value to the Texas student. Institutions with missing data receive a zero for that data point.
     
    We weigh each data point and calculate an institution’s raw score. Then we create an adjusted raw score by combining a schools's score with a base score of 50. Finally, we score and rank institutions based on their adjusted score’s percentile rank.
     
    Check out our detailed methodology here.

    Focused on online colleges in TX, our relative cost score compares the average in-state tuitions of Texas schools. In general, Texas is slightly cheaper than the national average of $9,970 (according to The National Center for Education Statistics) for a degree at a public 4-year college or university. However, Texas is home to some of the most affordable colleges and universities in the US, and it’s most expensive schools are tens of thousands cheaper than the most expensive schools in the country.
     
    Check out our detailed methodology here.