Counseling Degrees and Programs in Indiana
The state of Indiana is home to plenty of colleges and universities offering counseling degree programs in the five major areas: mental health counseling, marriage and family therapy, rehabilitation counseling, school counseling, and substance abuse counseling. To start a counseling career in Indiana, you will first need to choose a school that offers a degree program in your preferred area of counseling, because nearly all counseling careers require a degree. Counseling degrees are most often offered at the master’s level because a graduate degree in counseling is required for most types of licensure. In Indiana, you will also find some schools that offer undergraduate majors or minors in counseling (although these programs do not often meet state educational requirements for licensure) and many more graduate degrees in counseling. Students who would like greater flexibility during their studies may be interested in one of the many online or hybrid counseling programs offered at the colleges and universities in Indiana.
Quick Facts
- There are 25 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 Indiana.1,2
- Of the counseling schools in Indiana, 0 offer an associate degree, 3 offer a bachelor’s degree, 5 offer a certificate, and 21 offer a master’s or advanced degree.1,2
- 12 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
- 12 schools offer a degree in school counseling.1,2
- 13 schools offer a degree in substance abuse counseling.1,2
- 1 school 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 10 schools, 15 counseling programs are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).2
- Across 4 schools, 5 counseling programs are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE).5
Comparison of Indiana Counseling Schools and Programs
Below, we have created a table allowing you to compare the public and not-for-profit colleges and universities in Indiana that offer at least one counseling programs in the five main 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. You can find more information about Indiana’s counseling licensure requirements by reading our license requirements page.
| School Name | CACREP- Accred Program2 | MH | MF | VR | SC | SA | Grad Rate1 | Net Price1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ball State University | Yes | — | — | — | Yes | — | 68% | $12,968 |
| Butler University | Yes | Yes | — | — | Yes | — | 84% | $38,643 |
| Christian Theological Seminary | — | — | Yes | — | — | — | N.Av. | N.Av. |
| Grace College and Theological Seminary | Yes | Yes | — | — | — | — | 71% | $18,795 |
| Indiana State University | Yes | Yes | — | — | Yes | — | 41% | $13,653 |
| Indiana University-Bloomington | — | Yes | — | — | Yes | Yes | 81% | $13,386 |
| Indiana University-East | — | Yes | — | — | — | Yes | 43% | $8,102 |
| Indiana University-Kokomo | — | Yes | — | — | — | — | 43% | $4,446 |
| Indiana University-Northwest | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | 38% | $5,625 |
| Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis | Yes | Yes | — | — | Yes | Yes | 57% | $11,550 |
| Indiana University-South Bend | Yes | — | — | — | Yes | — | 38% | $8,189 |
| Indiana University-Southeast | — | Yes | — | — | Yes | — | 39% | $6,344 |
| Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion | — | Yes | Yes | — | Yes | Yes | 71% | $22,098 |
| Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global | Yes | — | — | — | — | Yes | 38% | $18,808 |
| Ivy Tech Community College | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | 30% | $6,806 |
| Marian University | — | Yes | — | — | Yes | — | 64% | $21,936 |
| Martin University | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | 23% | $15,271 |
| Purdue University Fort Wayne | Yes | — | — | — | Yes | — | 38% | $11,820 |
| Purdue University Global | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | 29% | $3,802 |
| Purdue University Northwest | Yes | — | Yes | — | Yes | — | 40% | $8,472 |
| University of Indianapolis | — | Yes | — | — | — | Yes | 63% | $21,527 |
| University of Saint Francis-Fort Wayne | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | 50% | $13,719 |
| University of Southern Indiana | — | Yes | — | — | Yes | — | 56% | $17,513 |
| Valparaiso University | Yes | — | — | — | — | Yes | 74% | $21,997 |
| Vincennes University | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | 30% | $12,119 |
Top-Ranked Schools with Counseling Programs in Indiana
US News & World Report’s Best Student Counseling Programs 2022
- Indiana University Bloomington (#9 tie)3
Schools in Indiana with Counseling Degrees
Traditional Undergraduate Programs
Martin University
Martin University, the only institution in Indiana with the Predominantly Black Institution (PBI) designation, offers a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Psychology with a Minor in Addictions Counseling. The Addictions Counseling Minor consists of 18 credits in addition to the 36 core credits and internship required to complete a BS in Psychology. Courses for the minor include Introduction to Addictions; Counseling of the Dysfunctional Family; and Physiology of Addictions. Graduate students can also earn a Master of Science (MS) in Community Psychology. The program focuses on an experiential approach to learning, with students working in addiction facilities, inpatient psychiatric units, public and private mental health counseling services, and correctional facilities. The degree offers two tracks, a 60-credit licensing track and a 48-credit non-licensing track, both of which take two years to complete as a full-time student. Only the 60-credit program meets Indiana state educational requirements for Licensed Mental Health Counselors (LMHCs). Martin University also offers a 12-credit Clinical and Counseling Studies Graduate Certificate. The four-course program equips students with the basic skills needed to make evidence-based mental health assessments and diagnoses. The credits earned for the certificate are also transferrable for those who wish to earn their MS in Community Psychology from Martin.
Vincennes University
Vincennes University offers an on-campus undergraduate-level Substance Abuse Certificate of Completion (CPC) designed to help students gain a better understanding of addiction and related behavioral health issues. The program is for professionals and paraprofessionals in the field and consists of 24 credits and takes at least two semesters (one year) to complete full-time. Students are trained on how to identify signs of addiction, addiction treatment options, and prevention and recovery strategies applicable to anyone impacted by substance abuse. In addition to substance abuse coursework, students also complete liberal arts and sciences courses, such as English Composition and Psychology. While the certificate provides a basic foundation of substance use knowledge and skills, the program is not designed to lead to state certification or licensure as a substance abuse counselor.
Traditional Graduate Programs
Ball State University
At Ball State University, a Master of Arts (MA) in Counseling is offered with two tracks: Clinical Mental Health Counseling and CACREP-accredited Rehabilitation Counseling. The MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling teaches students mental health assessment, diagnosis, and treatment skills. The degree consists of 60 credits and meets the state educational requirements for Licensed Mental Health Counselors (LMHCs). The MA in Rehabilitation Counseling has 48 credits and covers topics such as the social and medical aspects of disability, psychopathology, and case management. Students in both tracks complete a supervised internship at a local organization to develop counseling experience. Ball State University also offers the MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling as a 60-credit dual degree in combination with an MA in Social Psychology.
Indiana University-Bloomington
The Bloomington campus of Indiana University offers prospective counselors an on-campus or hybrid Master of Science in Education (M.S.Ed.) in Counseling and Counselor Education with a School Counseling track program, as well as an M.S.Ed. in Mental Health Counseling and Counselor Education with a Mental Health track and an Addictions track. The M.S.Ed. in School Counseling is a 48-credit degree that prepares students to work in elementary, middle, and secondary school settings with students from Pre-K through post-secondary. Graduates will meet state requirements to become school counselors. The M.S.Ed. in Mental Health Counseling and the M.S.Ed. in Addictions Counseling are 60-credit programs with 51 credits in the major area, electives and research training, and an internship. Graduates of the M.S.Ed. in Mental Health Counseling program will satisfy state educational requirements for licensure as Licensed Mental Health Counselors (LMHCs). New students are accepted into the M.S.Ed. programs in the fall and spring terms.
Indiana University-South Bend
At Indiana University-South Bend, students can choose to complete a 60-credit Master of Science (MS) in Counseling with two concentration options: Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CACREP-accredited) or School Counseling (CACREP-accredited). Students can apply to either concentration with any bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher learning. Graduates of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling concentration will meet the educational requirements to become Licensed Mental Health Counselors (LMHCs) in Indiana. Students in the MS in School Counseling program will take courses emphasizing topics such as developing counseling programs and understanding child and adolescent behavioral disorders and will meet state requirements to become school counselors upon graduation. The three-year program follows a cohort model of approximately 24 students per cohort, and students will take most of their classes with this same group. Courses are offered between 5 pm and 8 pm to work with full-time employment schedules. The university also offers a 15-credit minor in Counseling and Human Services for undergraduate students, with five classes focusing on topics such as communication for youth-serving professionals and multicultural counseling-related skills and communication.
Online and Hybrid Programs
Indiana State University
Indiana State University offers a CACREP-accredited Master of Education (M.Ed.) in School Counseling with a hybrid structure that meets coursework requirements in Indiana to become a school counselor. The 48-credit program includes classes that cover specialized topics such as multicultural counseling and ethics and professional practice, two semesters of an internship, and one semester of supervised fieldwork. Some courses are offered in a hybrid format. ISU also offers a CACREP-accredited Master of Science (MS) in Clinical Mental Health Counseling that meets state educational requirements to become a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC). Students at the undergraduate level can complete an 18-credit minor in Counseling as part of a bachelor’s degree and may choose a major in a complementary area, such as Human Services. Individuals who already have a master’s degree in counseling can apply to the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Guidance and Psychological Services with a specialization in Counselor Education, which prepares graduates to conduct counseling research or provide mentorship and leadership in counseling practice or education.
Indiana Wesleyan University
At Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU), students can complete an online, hybrid, or on-campus Bachelor of Science (BS) in Addictions Counseling with a faith-based curriculum. Applicants progress through the curriculum with a cohort and complete role plays, 50 hours of experience in a counseling lab, and 350 hours of field placement in addiction treatment facilities. IWU offers a 3+2 Pathway program that allows students to double major in Addictions Counseling and Psychology. Through the program, students complete 12 hours of graduate courses that count towards their undergraduate degree, allowing them to complete both a BS and MS degree in five years instead of six. Students interested in substance abuse counseling can apply for the on-campus 24-credit Addictions Studies minor or the online 12-credit Certificate in Addictions Counseling. IWU also offers a Master of Arts (MA) in Counseling with a concentration in Clinical Addictions, Community Care, and Marriage and Family Counseling/Therapy as well as CACREP-accredited concentrations in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling, all of which can be completed through an online or hybrid format. IWU also offers a Post-Master’s Degree Certificate in Counseling for applicants who already have a master’s degree in counseling and need to complete additional coursework to become licensed in Indiana. This program is offered both online and on campus.
Purdue University
Students looking for a flexible, online degree in addiction counseling may be interested in the Bachelor of Science (BS) in Psychology with a concentration in Addictions offered through Purdue University-Global. In the BS program, students complete 180 quarter credits, including 111 credits of addiction studies major requirements and 24 credits of electives. Courses are offered in 10-week blocks with multiple start dates throughout the year. Purdue offers multiple ways for students to accelerate their program. Those who already have an associate or bachelor’s degree of at least 90 quarter credits (60 semester credits) may be able to have some courses waived. Purdue also offers an accelerated master’s program for those students who maintain a 3.0 GPA. Through the program, students can complete graduate-level courses that can be applied to a Master of Science (MS in Psychology or Educational Psychology. Both the Purdue University-Northwest and Fort Wayne campuses offer CACREP-accredited Master of Science in Education (M.S.Ed.) in School Counseling and M.S.Ed. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling programs.
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