Counseling Degrees and Programs in New Hampshire
Despite its small size, New Hampshire is home to several colleges and universities with programs in at least one of the five major areas of counseling: mental health counseling, marriage and family therapy, rehabilitation counseling, school counseling, and substance abuse counseling. To start a professional counseling career in this New England state, you will need to choose a school with the right program for your career interests. As most professional counseling licenses require a graduate degree that meets specific specifications, it is important to choose a program that meets these for the counseling area you’d like to practice. Undergraduate degrees in counseling-related fields are available for students who are just beginning their college or university studies; however, most counseling degrees in New Hampshire are offered at the master’s or doctoral levels in order to meet state licensure requirements. There are also numerous online and hybrid counseling programs to choose from at New Hampshire schools. These programs offer similar coursework to those at on-campus programs but in a flexible format that may appeal to busy or working students.
Table of Contents
Quick Facts
- There are 9 not-for-profit colleges and universities that offer a program in mental health counseling, marriage and family therapy, school counseling, substance abuse counseling, and/or vocational rehabilitation counseling in New Hampshire.1,2
- Of the counseling schools in New Hampshire, 1 offers an associate degree, 2 offer a bachelor’s degree, 2 offer a certificate, and 6 offer a master’s or advanced degree.1,2
- 6 schools offer a degree in mental health counseling.1,2
- 3 schools offer a degree in marriage and family therapy.1,2
- No schools offer a degree in vocational rehabilitation counseling.1,2
- 2 schools offer a degree in school counseling.1,2
- 7 schools offer a degree in substance abuse counseling.1,2
- No schools ranked in US News & World Report’s Best Student Counseling Programs 2022.3
- No schools ranked in US News & World Report’s Best Online M.Ed. Programs for Student Counseling 2022.4
- Across 3 schools, 4 counseling programs are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).2
- Across 2 schools, 3 counseling programs are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE).5
Comparison of New Hampshire Counseling Schools and Programs
The table below presents information about New Hampshire’s public and not-for-profit colleges and universities that offer at least one counseling program in the following five areas: mental health counseling (MH), marriage and family therapy (MF), vocational rehabilitation counseling (VR), school counseling (SC), and substance abuse counseling (SA). Use the table to compare each school by program type offered, Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) accreditation status, graduation rate, and net price per year. Find more information about the steps to licensure as a counselor in New Hampshire by reading our license requirements page.
| School Name | CACREP-Accred Program2 | MH | MF | VR | SC | SA | Grad Rate1 | Net Price1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antioch University-New England | Yes | Yes | Yes | — | — | Yes | N.Av. | N.Av. |
| Keene State College | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | 60% | $20,058 |
| Manchester Community College | — | Yes | — | — | — | Yes | 30% | $13,252 |
| New England College | — | Yes | — | — | — | — | 21% | $30,558 |
| NHTI-Concord’s Community College | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | 27% | $17,874 |
| Plymouth State University | Yes | Yes | Yes | — | Yes | Yes | 53% | $20,145 |
| Rivier University | — | Yes | — | — | Yes | — | 60% | $26,870 |
| Southern New Hampshire University | Yes | Yes | — | — | — | Yes | 39% | $21,502 |
| University of New Hampshire-Main Campus | — | — | Yes | — | — | Yes | 78% | $22,392 |
Schools in New Hampshire with Counseling Degrees
Traditional Undergraduate Programs
Keene State College
At Keene State College, undergraduate students can complete a 120-credit Bachelor of Science (BS) in Health Sciences with a specialization in Addiction and Pre-Professional Mental Health. This degree has an interdisciplinary curriculum that combines a liberal arts core with specialized coursework in psychology, population studies, biology, and health promotion. In the Addiction and Pre-Professional Mental Health track, students learn about mental health illnesses and co-occurring disorders; the social and medical aspects of addiction; and strategies to work with individuals dealing with substance abuse and addiction challenges. This track is designed to prepare graduates for careers in addiction-related fields, such as health promotion, substance abuse counseling, and addiction research, as well as further counseling-related studies at the master’s level. Depending on the courses taken, students can fulfill the educational requirements to become Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors (LADCs) in New Hampshire. A 20-credit Addiction Minor is also available to undergraduate students in other degree programs. Coursework in the minor may also be applied toward the LADC educational requirements.
Traditional Graduate Programs
Plymouth State University
Plymouth State University offers numerous graduate-level counseling degree programs. A 60-credit MS in Marriage and Family Therapy is available with three optional concentrations, Addictions Treatment, Eating Disorders, and Play Therapy. Students learn about counseling theories and techniques relevant to working with couples and families in individual and group settings. This degree is designed to meet the coursework requirements to become a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in New Hampshire. A CACREP-accredited Master of Education (M.Ed.) is offered that enables students to work as K-12 student counselors upon completion. A 63-credit, CACREP-accredited Master of Science (MS) in Clinical Mental Health Counseling can be completed with an optional concentration in one of five related areas, such as Addictions Treatment; Marriage and Family Therapy; or Eating Disorders. While most courses are taught on campus, the MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program also offers both partially and fully online options every semester. The degree meets the state academic requirements to become a Clinical Mental Health Counselor (CMHC), and graduates of the Addictions Treatment concentration will also meet state coursework requirements to become Master’s Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors (MLADCs). Plymouth State also offers a two-course (six-credit) graduate certificate in Addictions Treatment, which can be applied toward the state coursework requirements for the Master’s Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (MLADC) license. New students are admitted to the graduate degree and certificate programs in the fall, spring, and summer terms.
University of New Hampshire
At the University of New Hampshire (UNH), a Master of Science (MS) in Human Development and Family Studies with an optional COAMFTE-accredited Marriage and Family Therapy is offered. The Marriage and Family Therapy program teaches students the clinical counseling skills needed to work with individuals, couples, and families in agency and private practice settings. During the program, students complete 500 hours of supervised internship to gain hands-on experience providing therapy to couples and families. The program takes two years of full-time study to complete, including summer terms, and new students are admitted in the fall and spring. Upon completion, graduates will meet the coursework requirements to become Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs) in New Hampshire. UNH also offers a 12-credit Graduate Certificate in Substance Use Disorders at the Manchester and Durham campuses. The certificate focuses on intake, treatment planning, case management, and counseling services for individuals with substance abuse disorders or those impacted by substance abuse. Coursework can be applied toward the state academic requirements for the Master Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (MLADC) credential.
Online and Hybrid Programs
Antioch University-New England
Antioch University-New England offers numerous counseling degrees fully online or in a hybrid format. The CACREP-accredited Master of Arts (MA) in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is a 60-credit program that takes three to three and a half years to complete full-time. In the online version of the degree, students complete synchronous and asynchronous coursework and attend two required week-long residencies at the Keene campus. In the hybrid format, students complete online coursework in combination with attending classes in Keene. Graduates of both programs will meet state educational requirements to become Clinical Mental Health Counselors (CMHC). A COAMFTE-accredited MA in Couple and Family Therapy and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Marriage and Family Therapy are also offered in a low-residency format that enables students to complete the majority of the required coursework online. MA students must attend five residencies during the program and will meet state requirements to become Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs) upon completion. PhD students are required to attend three residencies and must have a master’s degree in MFT to apply. Several online or hybrid counseling certificate programs are also available at Antioch University-New England, including a Certificate in Addictions Counseling that can be designed to meet the state educational requirements for the Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC) or Master Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (MLADC) credentials; and a post-master’s Certificate in Couple and Family Therapy that can be designed to meet state educational requirements to become an LMFT.
New England College
New England College offers a 60-credit Master of Science (MS) in Clinical Mental Health Counseling that can be completed online or in a hybrid format. Students in the online program are able to complete all course requirements online through a combination of synchronous and asynchronous methods. Those in the hybrid program complete asynchronous online coursework and attend classes at the Henniker campus. The curriculum is the same for both versions of the degree and takes 24 months of full-time study to complete. Courses are offered in 12-week blocks with most students taking three courses per term. Examples of required courses include Skills in Helping Relationships; Crisis and Trauma Counseling; and Treatment Planning and Advanced Assessment. Upon completion of the program, students will meet the academic requirements to become Clinical Mental Health Counselors (CMHCs) in New Hampshire. The degree also provides students with elective options and an advanced clinical placement opportunity in order to meet professional counseling licensure requirements in other states, if desired.
Rivier University
At Rivier University, students can complete a 63-credit Master of Arts (MA) in Clinical Mental Health Counseling that meets New Hampshire coursework requirements to become a Clinical Mental Health Counselor (CMHC). The degree teaches students how to provide a variety of assessment, treatment, and counseling services in mental health settings, such as hospitals, community agencies, and private practice. Required course examples include Clinical Counseling Techniques; Testing and Assessment; and Advanced Psychology of Human Development. A 57-credit Master of Education (M.Ed.) in School Counseling is offered that meets state requirements to become a school counselor. In this program, students take courses such as Collaboration and Intervention; Psychopathology; and Professional Issues in School Counseling. Six start dates are offered and these degrees take three years to complete through full-time study. Courses are offered in seven- and 14-week blocks and are available online with two weekends required at the Nashua campus. For those who already have a master’s degree in counseling, the Educational Specialist (EdS) in Counseling is also available. This degree enables students to fulfill the academic requirements to become school counselors in New Hampshire.
Southern New Hampshire University
Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) offers online undergraduate and graduate counseling degrees. Those interested in substance abuse counseling can choose between a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology with a concentration in Addictions or a BA in Human Services with a concentration in Substance Abuse. While both degrees teach students about addiction theories, behavioral health, and psychology, those in the BA in Psychology program take a wider range of courses in psychological theory and research and students in the BA in Human Services gain hands-on experience in entry-level addiction counseling settings. Students should confirm whether the coursework in either program meets state coursework requirements to become a substance abuse counselor. A BA in Psychology with a concentration in Mental Health is also offered in an online format as well as at the Manchester campus. In this program, students are introduced to mental health theories, models, and interventions. In the senior year, students complete a capstone project and complete 150 hours of supervised internship. Each BA degree requires 120 credits and offers courses in eight-week blocks. At the graduate level, a 60-credit Master of Arts (MA) in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is offered online with two required five-day residencies. Students complete 100 hours of supervised practicum and 600 hours of supervised internship in their home communities. The degree is designed to meet state coursework requirements for the Clinical Mental Health Counselor (CMHC) license in New Hampshire.
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. US News & World Report Best Student Counseling Programs 2022: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-education-schools/student-counseling-rankings
4. 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
5. 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