Counseling Degrees and Programs in California
The state of California has numerous colleges and universities that offer programs in counseling in all of the major categories: mental health counseling, marriage and family therapy, rehabilitation counseling, school counseling, and substance abuse counseling. If you are interested in starting your counseling career in California, choosing a school will likely be one of the first steps you take, as nearly all careers in professional counseling require a degree. Furthermore, since a master’s degree in counseling is required for most types of licensure, the vast majority of California counseling programs are offered at that level. There are, however, some undergraduate options available for those who are not ready to pursue a graduate degree. Many counseling programs in California are also offered either online or in a hybrid format, allowing students to attend counseling school on a more flexible basis.
Quick Facts
- There are 92 not-for-profit colleges and universities that offer a program in marriage and family therapy, mental health counseling, school counseling, substance abuse counseling, and/or vocational rehabilitation counseling in California.1
- Of the counseling schools in California, 35 offer an associate degree, 1 offers a bachelor’s degree, 44 offer a certificate, and 46 offer a master’s or advanced degree.1,2
- 21 schools offer a degree in mental health counseling.1,2
- 40 schools offer a degree in marriage and family therapy.1,2
- 6 schools offer a degree in vocational rehabilitation counseling. 1,2
- 32 schools offer a degree in school counseling.1,2
- 48 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
- 4 schools ranked in US News & World Report’s Best Online M.Ed. Programs for Student Counseling 2022.4
- Across 12 schools, 21 counseling programs are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).2
- Across 9 schools, 13 programs are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE).5
Comparison of California Counseling Schools and Programs
We have compiled the table below to allow you to compare the public and not-for-profit colleges and universities in California offering counseling programs in the following five primary 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. If you would like to learn more about licensure as a counselor in California, read our license requirements page.
| School Name | CACREP- Accred Program2 | MH | MF | VR | SC | SA | Grad Rate1 | Net Price1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allan Hancock College | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | 28% | $6,629 |
| America Evangelical University | — | — | — | — | Yes | — | N.Av. | $19,802 |
| American River College | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | 29% | $8,101 |
| Antelope Valley Community College District | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | 25% | $6,203 |
| Azusa Pacific University | — | — | Yes | — | Yes | — | 72% | $27,112 |
| Cabrillo College | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | 35% | $18,139 |
| California Baptist University | — | Yes | Yes | — | Yes | — | 57% | $23,494 |
| California Lutheran University | — | — | Yes | — | Yes | — | 74% | $24,065 |
| California State University-Bakersfield | — | Yes | Yes | — | Yes | — | 48% | $7,368 |
| California State University-Dominguez Hills | — | Yes | Yes | — | Yes | — | 53% | $4,500 |
| California State University-East Bay | — | Yes | Yes | — | Yes | — | 48% | $12,631 |
| California State University-Fresno | Yes | — | Yes | Yes | Yes | — | 57% | $6,336 |
| California State University-Fullerton | Yes | Yes | Yes | — | Yes | — | 71% | $4,939 |
| California State University-Long Beach | — | Yes | Yes | — | Yes | — | 75% | $9,171 |
| California State University-Los Angeles | Yes | — | — | Yes | Yes | — | 52% | $2,695 |
| California State University-Northridge | — | — | Yes | — | Yes | — | 54% | $8,708 |
| California State University-Sacramento | Yes | — | Yes | Yes | Yes | — | 57% | $7,778 |
| California State University-San Bernardino | Yes | Yes | — | Yes | Yes | — | 57% | $3,254 |
| Chapman University | — | — | Yes | — | Yes | — | 80% | $40,451 |
| Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Anaheim | — | — | Yes | — | — | — | N.Av. | N.Av. |
| Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Los Angeles | Yes | — | Yes | — | Yes | — | 50% | $33,638 |
| Chicago School of Professional Psychology at San Diego | — | — | Yes | — | — | — | N.Av. | N.Av. |
| City College of San Francisco | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | 37% | $9,261 |
| College of San Mateo | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | 41% | $5,427 |
| College of the Desert | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | 29% | $14,179 |
| College of the Redwoods | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | 22% | $8,618 |
| Concordia University-Irvine | Yes | Yes | — | — | Yes | — | 68% | $25,640 |
| Consumnes River College | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | 29% | $7,223 |
| Cuesta College | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | 43% | $14,586 |
| Cypress College | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | 33% | $7,951 |
| Daybreak University | — | — | Yes | — | — | — | N.Av. | N.Av. |
| Diablo Valley College | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | 47% | $8,878 |
| East Los Angeles College | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | 30% | $12,028 |
| Fresno City College | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | 24% | $6,391 |
| Fresno Pacific University | — | — | Yes | — | Yes | — | 68% | $15,350 |
| Fuller Theological Seminary | — | — | Yes | — | — | — | N.Av. | N.Av. |
| Glendale Community College | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | 39% | $7,823 |
| Hartnell College | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | 35% | $7,721 |
| Hope International University | — | — | Yes | — | — | — | 42% | $18,801 |
| Imperial Valley College | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | 36% | $2,300 |
| La Sierra University | — | Yes | Yes | — | Yes | — | 45% | $25,230 |
| Lake Tahoe Community College | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | 38% | $7,867 |
| Loma Linda University | — | Yes | Yes | — | Yes | Yes | N.Av. | N.Av. |
| Long Beach City College | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | 22% | $6,550 |
| Los Angeles City College | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | 24% | $10,898 |
| Los Angeles Pierce College | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | 37% | $12,995 |
| Los Angeles Southwest College | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | 18% | $8,651 |
| Loyola Marymount University | — | Yes | Yes | — | Yes | — | 79% | $40,180 |
| Mendocino College | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | 24% | $8,465 |
| Merced College | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | 35% | $13,426 |
| Merritt College | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | 20% | $16,194 |
| Modesto Junior College | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | 23% | $14,421 |
| Mt San Antonio College | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | 41% | $5,774 |
| Mt San Jacinto Community College District | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | 30% | $7,704 |
| Napa Valley College | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | 35% | $18,440 |
| National University | — | — | Yes | — | Yes | Yes | 47% | $9,966 |
| Northcentral University | — | Yes | Yes | — | — | — | N.Av. | N.Av. |
| Notre Dame de Namur University | — | — | Yes | — | — | — | 55% | N.Av. |
| Oxnard College | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | 34% | $3,441 |
| Pacific Oaks College | — | — | Yes | — | — | — | N.Av. | N.Av. |
| Palo Alto University | Yes | Yes | Yes | — | — | — | N.Av. | N.Av. |
| Palo Verde College | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | 35% | $14,270 |
| Palomar College | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | 29% | $6,659 |
| Porterville College | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | 35% | $5,757 |
| Presbyterian Theological Seminary in America | — | — | Yes | — | — | — | 100% | $8,719 |
| Rio Hondo College | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | 24% | $7,873 |
| Saddleback College | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | 46% | $7,918 |
| Saint Mary’s College of California | — | — | Yes | — | Yes | — | 73% | $25,022 |
| San Bernadino Valley College | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | 20% | $9,621 |
| San Diego City College | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | 23% | $8,370 |
| San Diego State University | Yes | — | Yes | Yes | Yes | — | 76% | $6,867 |
| San Francisco State University | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | — | 54% | $13,761 |
| San Joaquin Delta College | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | 30% | $17,503 |
| San Jose City College | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | 29% | $17,618 |
| San Jose State University | — | — | — | — | Yes | — | 69% | $14,603 |
| Santa Barbara City College | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | 45% | $14,000 |
| Santa Rosa Junior College | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | 36% | $9,220 |
| Saybrook University-Online | Yes | Yes | — | — | — | — | N.Av | N.Av. |
| Sonoma State University | — | Yes | Yes | — | Yes | — | 60% | $7,055 |
| Southern California Seminary | — | Yes | Yes | — | — | — | N.Av. | N.Av. |
| Touro University Worldwide | — | — | Yes | — | — | Yes | 57% | $18,121 |
| University of California-San Diego | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | 89% | $15,632 |
| University of La Verne | — | — | Yes | — | Yes | — | 69% | $22,538 |
| University of Massachusetts Global | — | Yes | Yes | — | Yes | — | N.Av. | $26,346 |
| University of Redlands | — | Yes | — | — | Yes | — | 69% | $21,578 |
| University of San Diego | Yes | Yes | Yes | — | Yes | — | 80% | $34,155 |
| University of Southern California | — | — | Yes | — | Yes | — | 92% | $26,021 |
| University of the West | — | — | Yes | — | — | — | 50% | $13,225 |
| West Los Angeles College | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | 26% | $10,259 |
| William Jessup University | — | Yes | Yes | — | — | — | 60% | $27,823 |
| Woodland Community College | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | 28% | $7,480 |
| Yuba College | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | 19% | $5,503 |
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)4
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
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).
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.
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