Online and On-Campus Counseling Degrees and Programs in California
California is home to more than 80 schools that offer programs in the five major counseling disciplines: mental health counseling, marriage and family therapy, rehabilitation counseling, school counseling, and substance abuse counseling.1 California’s counseling schools offer traditional on-campus programs as well as online and hybrid options. Online counseling degrees use web-based platforms for instruction, while hybrid degrees combine online coursework with on-campus classes. Over 25 schools in California offer hybrid and online counseling degrees, providing an accessible education to those who can’t commit to on-campus programs.
Table of Contents
- Counseling Schools Comparison
- Online Counseling Programs
- Top-Ranked Schools
- Select Schools With Counseling Degrees
- Related Articles
Comparison of California Counseling Schools and Programs
The table below summarizes public and not-for-profit colleges and universities in California 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 California counseling licenses Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), School Counselor (SC), and Substance Use Disorder Counselor (SUDC). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allan Hancock College | — | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | $6,629 |
| American River College | — | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | $8,101 |
| Azusa Pacific University | — | — | — | Yes | — | Yes | — | $27,112 |
| Cabrillo College | — | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | $18,139 |
| California Baptist University | — | Online | Yes | Yes | — | Yes | — | $23,494 |
| California Lutheran University | — | — | — | Yes | — | Yes | — | $24,065 |
| California State University-Bakersfield | — | — | Yes | Yes | — | Yes | — | $7,368 |
| California State University-Dominguez Hills | — | — | Yes | Yes | — | Yes | — | $4,500 |
| California State University-East Bay | — | Hybrid | — | Yes | — | Yes | Yes | $12,631 |
| California State University-Fresno | CACREP | — | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | — | $6,336 |
| California State University-Fullerton | CACREP | — | Yes | Yes | — | — | — | $4,939 |
| California State University-Long Beach | — | — | Yes | Yes | — | Yes | — | $9,171 |
| California State University-Los Angeles | CACREP | — | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | — | $2,695 |
| California State University-Northridge | COAMFTE | Hybrid | Yes | Yes | — | Yes | — | $8,708 |
| California State University-Sacramento | CACREP | — | — | Yes | Yes | Yes | — | $7,778 |
| California State University-San Bernardino | CACREP | — | Yes | — | Yes | Yes | — | $3,254 |
| Chapman University | COAMFTE | — | Yes | Yes | — | Yes | — | $40,451 |
| City College of San Francisco | — | Online/Hybrid | — | — | — | — | Yes | $9,261 |
| College of San Mateo | — | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | $5,427 |
| College of the Desert | — | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | $14,179 |
| College of the Redwoods | — | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | $8,618 |
| Concordia University-Irvine | CACREP | Online | Yes | — | — | Yes | — | $25,640 |
| Consumnes River College | — | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | $7,223 |
| Cuesta College | — | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | $14,586 |
| Cypress College | — | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | $7,951 |
| Diablo Valley College | — | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | $8,878 |
| East Los Angeles College | — | Online (Cert Only) | — | — | — | — | Yes | $12,028 |
| Fresno City College | — | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | $6,391 |
| Fresno Pacific University | — | Online/Hybrid | — | Yes | — | Yes | — | $15,350 |
| Fuller Theological Seminary | — | Hybrid | — | Yes | — | — | — | N.Av. |
| Glendale Community College | — | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | $7,823 |
| Hartnell College | — | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | $7,721 |
| Hope International University | COAMFTE | Online | Yes | Yes | — | — | — | $18,801 |
| Imperial Valley College | — | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | $2,300 |
| La Sierra University | — | — | Yes | Yes | — | Yes | — | $25,230 |
| Lake Tahoe Community College | — | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | $7,867 |
| Loma Linda University | COAMFTE | Hybrid | Yes | Yes | — | Yes | Yes | N.Av. |
| Long Beach City College | — | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | $6,550 |
| Los Angeles City College | — | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | $10,898 |
| Los Angeles Pierce College | — | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | $12,995 |
| Los Angeles Southwest College | — | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | $8,651 |
| Loyola Marymount University | — | Hybrid | Yes | Yes | — | Yes | — | $40,180 |
| Mendocino College | — | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | $8,465 |
| Merritt College | — | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | $16,194 |
| Modesto Junior College | — | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | $14,421 |
| Mt. San Antonio College | — | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | $5,774 |
| Napa Valley College | — | Online | — | — | — | — | Yes | $18,440 |
| National University | COAMFTE | Online | Yes | Yes | — | Yes | Yes | $9,966 |
| Notre Dame de Namur University | — | Online | Yes | Yes | — | — | — | N.Av. |
| Oxnard College | — | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | $3,441 |
| Pacific Oaks College | — | Online | — | Yes | — | — | — | N.Av. |
| Palo Alto University | CACREP | Online | Yes | Yes | — | — | — | N.Av. |
| Palo Verde College | — | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | $14,270 |
| Palomar College | — | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | $6,659 |
| Rio Hondo College | — | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | $7,873 |
| Saddleback College | — | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | $7,918 |
| Saint Mary’s College of California | — | — | Yes | Yes | — | Yes | — | $25,022 |
| San Bernadino Valley College | — | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | $9,621 |
| San Diego City College | — | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | $8,370 |
| San Diego State University | CACREP, COAMFTE | Hybrid | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | $6,867 |
| San Francisco State University | CACREP | — | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | — | $13,761 |
| San Joaquin Delta College | — | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | $17,503 |
| San Jose City College | — | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | $17,618 |
| San Jose State University | — | — | Yes | Yes | — | Yes | — | $14,603 |
| Santa Barbara City College | — | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | $14,000 |
| Santa Rosa Junior College | — | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | $9,220 |
| Saybrook University | CACREP | Hybrid | Yes | — | — | — | — | N.Av. |
| Sonoma State University | MPCAC | — | Yes | Yes | — | Yes | — | $7,055 |
| The Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Anaheim | — | Online | Yes | Yes | — | — | — | N.Av. |
| The Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Los Angeles | CACREP, COAMFTE | Online | Yes | Yes | — | Yes | — | $33,638 |
| The Chicago School of Professional Psychology at San Diego | — | Online | Yes | Yes | — | — | — | N.Av. |
| Touro University | COAMFTE | Online | — | Yes | — | — | Yes | $18,121 |
| University of La Verne | — | — | — | Yes | — | Yes | — | $22,538 |
| University of Massachusetts Global | — | Online | Yes | Yes | — | Yes | — | $26,346 |
| University of Redlands | — | — | Yes | — | — | Yes | — | $21,578 |
| University of San Diego | CACREP, COAMFTE | — | Yes | Yes | — | Yes | — | $34,155 |
| University of Southern California | — | Online | — | Yes | — | Yes | — | $26,021 |
| University of the West | — | — | — | Yes | — | — | — | $13,225 |
| West Los Angeles College | — | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | $10,259 |
| William Jessup University | — | Online | Yes | Yes | — | — | — | $27,823 |
| Woodland Community College | — | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | $7,480 |
| Yuba College | — | Online | — | — | — | — | Yes | $5,503 |
California 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
- California Baptist University
- Concordia University-Irvine
- Hope International University
- Loyola Marymount University
- National University
- Notre Dame de Namur University
- Palo Alto University
- San Diego State University
- Saybrook University
- The Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Anaheim
- The Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Los Angeles
- The Chicago School of Professional Psychology at San Diego
- University of Massachusetts Global
- William Jessup University
Online Marriage and Family Therapy Degrees
- California Baptist University
- California State University-Northridge
- Fresno Pacific University
- Fuller Theological Seminary
- Hope International University
- Loma Linda University
- National University
- Notre Dame de Namur University
- Pacific Oaks College
- Palo Alto University
- Touro University
- University of Massachusetts Global
- William Jessup University
Online Rehabilitation Counseling Degrees
- San Diego State University
Online School Counseling Degrees
- Concordia University-Irvine
- Fresno Pacific University
- Loyola Marymount University
- National University
- University of Massachusetts Global
- University of Southern California
Online Substance Abuse Counseling Degrees
- City College of San Francisco
- East Los Angeles College
- Loma Linda University
- Napa Valley College
- National University
- San Diego State University
- Touro University
- Yuba College
Top-Ranked Schools With Counseling Programs in California
US News & World Report’s Best Online M.Ed. Programs for Student Counseling 2022
- University of Massachusetts Global (#157 tie)
- Alliant International University (#253-329)
- National University (#253-329)
- Point Loma Nazarene University (unranked)6
Select Schools in California With Counseling Degrees
Traditional Undergraduate Programs
California State University-Los Angeles
California State University-Los Angeles (Cal State LA) offers a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Rehabilitation Services that is designed to prepare graduates to work in the field of human services helping people with physical, emotional, and intellectual disabilities, or with economic and social disadvantages. Two options are available, a General Option and an Applied Behavioral Analysis Option. Both programs have 120 credits and take four years of full-time study to complete or two years for transfer students. A minor in Rehabilitation Services, comprised of 23-24 credits, is also offered for psychology, sociology, social work, criminal justice, and other majors. Courses in the BS in Rehabilitation Services program at Cal State LA include Diversity and Awareness of Self and Others for Helping Professionals; Case Management in Rehabilitation Services; Trauma & Crisis Counseling; and Behavior Support, Social Skills, and Classroom Management.
Modesto Junior College
Modesto Junior College (MJC) offers human services programs in Chemical Dependency Counseling as well as Psychosocial Rehabilitation (PSR). The Certificate of Achievement in Chemical Dependency Counseling is accredited by the California Association for Drug and Alcohol Educators (CAADE) and comprises 36 credits. An Associate of Arts (AA) is also offered in Chemical Dependency Counseling, which consists of 23 credits and prepares graduates to take the Addiction Counselor Certification Board of California (ACCBC) exam leading to state certification. The Psychosocial Rehabilitation (PSR) program culminates in a Skills Recognition Award and provides the nine units of college credit necessary to sit for the national test-based certification exam. This prepares graduates to proceed to an AA in Human Services degree if they so choose. All human services programs at MJC prepare graduates for entry-level employment in the field or to pursue more advanced degrees.
Traditional Graduate Programs
California State University-Fresno
The Kremen School of Education and Human Development at California State University-Fresno (or Fresno State) offers a Master of Science (MS) in Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling; a Master of Science (MS) in Counseling (with specialties in School Counseling and Student Affairs and College Counseling), and a Master of Science (MS) in Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling (MFCC). The Marriage and Family Therapy degree and the Clinical Rehabilitation degree are both CACREP-accredited. The MS in Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling has two concentration options, Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling and Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Graduates will meet licensure/credentialing requirements for Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors (LPCCs), Certified Rehabilitation Counselors (CRCs), or Pupil Personnel Specialists (PPS) in California. The MS in Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling is also comprised of 60 credits, which can be completed full-time in five semesters. It prepares graduates for licensure as a California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and/or Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC).
San Francisco State University
San Francisco State University’s Department of Counseling, housed in its College of Health and Social Sciences, offers several graduate degrees in counseling, including a Master of Science (MS) degree in Counseling with several available concentrations; a Master of Science (MS) in Clinical Mental Health Counseling; and a Master of Science in Counseling with a Concentration in Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling. Prospective Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors (LPCCs) will meet the educational requirements through the MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, while prospective Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists will meet licensure requirements with the MS in Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling, and prospective school counselors can receive their credential through the MS in Counseling with a Concentration in School Counseling and Pupil Personnel Services Credential. All programs in the department are CACREP-accredited and can be completed in two- or three-year sequences.
Online and Hybrid Programs
Loma Linda University
Loma Linda University offers a variety of online and dual degree programs with a Christian worldview. Among their programs are a two-year Master of Science (MS) in Marital and Family Therapy; a two-year MS in Counseling with specializations in Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC); a three-year Doctor of Marital and Family Therapy (DMFT); a three- to four-year PhD in Systems, Families, and Couples; and certificates in Drug and Alcohol Counseling and School Counseling. A dual degree with an MS in Counseling and an MS in Marital and Family Therapy with a School Counseling Certificate, which can be completed in just three years of full-time study, is also offered for those applicants who want to maximize their licensing and career potential. The DMFT and PhD in Systems, Families, and Couples are the only Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE)-accredited doctoral programs of their kind in the state. Students are placed across the Loma Linda University healthcare system and in the local community for internships. No GRE scores or prerequisites are required for entry into the programs.
Saybrook University
Saybrook University offers a hybrid Master of Arts (MA) in Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Counseling Specialization or an online Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Counselor Education and Supervision. The 60-credit MA in Counseling prepares graduates for licensure as a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) in California and faculty will work with students who are pursuing licensure in other states to ensure they take the appropriate coursework. 700 hours of field experience is spread over three semesters. A regionally-accredited bachelor’s degree is required for admission. The 54-unit PhD program prepares graduates to work as faculty in counselor education programs or as supervisors to clinical mental health counselors. A master’s degree in counseling from a CACREP-accredited program is preferred for admission as well as a current LPCP or LPC license.
University of Massachusetts Global
The University of Massachusetts Global, formally Brandman University, offers a Master of Arts (MA) in Counseling and Pupil Personnel Services Credential (PPSC) in School Counseling, as well as a Master of Arts (MA) degree in Marriage & Family Therapy and Professional Clinical Counseling. Both programs are offered completely online. The MA in Counseling and PPSC in School Counseling are designed to prepare graduates to become school counselors, while the MA in Marriage and Family Therapy meets the education requirements for California Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs) and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors (LPCCs).
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