Counseling Degrees and Programs in Wisconsin
If you are interested in starting your counseling career in the Midwest, Wisconsin is home to numerous colleges and universities with counseling degree programs. One of the first decisions you will need to make is where to attend school and which area of counseling you’d like to study. The five major counseling fields are mental health counseling, marriage and family therapy, rehabilitation counseling, school counseling, and substance abuse counseling. Nearly all careers in these areas of counseling require a degree, and, furthermore, most require a graduate degree for licensure. In Wisconsin, you will find a variety of undergraduate and graduate degree options to choose from. You will also find some online and hybrid degree options designed to give working professionals and busy students greater flexibility in their learning experience.
Quick Facts
- There are 26 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 Wisconsin.1,2
- Of the counseling schools in Wisconsin, 6 offer an associate degree, 4 offer a bachelor’s degree, 7 offer a certificate, and 16 offer a master’s or advanced degree.1,2
- 12 schools offer a degree in mental health counseling.1,2
- 4 schools offer a degree in marriage and family therapy.1,2
- 3 schools offer a degree in vocational rehabilitation counseling.1,2
- 11 schools offer a degree in school counseling.1,2
- 16 schools offer a degree in substance abuse counseling.1,2
- 1 school ranked in US News & World Report’s Best Student Counseling Programs 2022.4
- No schools ranked in US News & World Report’s Best Online M.Ed. Programs for Student Counseling 2022.4
- Across 8 schools, 12 counseling programs are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).2
- Across 1 school, 1 counseling program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE).5
Comparison of Wisconsin Counseling Schools and Programs
In the table below, we have compiled information about the public and not-for-profit colleges and universities in Wisconsin that offer 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 are interested in learning more about the counseling licensure process in Wisconsin, read our license requirements page.
| School Name | CACREP-Accred Program2 | MH | MF | VR | SC | SA | Grad Rate1 | Net Price1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blackhawk Technical College | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | 35% | $9,650 |
| Chippewa Valley Technical College | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | 41% | $10,220 |
| Concordia University-Wisconsin | — | Yes | — | — | Yes | Yes | 59% | $25,830 |
| Edgewood College | — | — | Yes | — | — | — | 62% | $27,679 |
| Fox Valley Technical College | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | 56% | $9,836 |
| Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe University | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | 3% | $6,476 |
| Lakeland University | — | Yes | — | — | Yes | — | 43% | $21,470 |
| Madison Area Technical College | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | 24% | $9,234 |
| Marquette University | Yes | Yes | — | — | Yes | — | 81% | $33,566 |
| Moraine Park Technical College | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | 46% | $9,373 |
| Mount Mary University | Yes | Yes | — | Yes | Yes | — | 51% | $24,065 |
| Nicolet Area Technical College | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | 44% | $5,933 |
| Northcentral Technical College | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | 28% | $10,829 |
| Northeast Wisconsin Technical College | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | 54% | $10,194 |
| Northwood Technical College | — | — | — | — | — | Yes | 58% | $11,008 |
| Ottawa University-Milwaukee | — | Yes | — | — | — | Yes | N.Av. | N.Av. |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison | Yes | — | — | Yes | — | — | 89% | $13,484 |
| University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee | — | Yes | — | — | Yes | Yes | 47% | $17,083 |
| University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh | Yes | Yes | — | — | Yes | — | 55% | $12,975 |
| University of Wisconsin-Parkside | — | Yes | — | — | — | — | 42% | $10,531 |
| University of Wisconsin-Platteville | — | — | — | — | Yes | Yes | 59% | $14,840 |
| University of Wisconsin-River Falls | Yes | — | — | — | Yes | — | 57% | $14,318 |
| University of Wisconsin-Stout | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | — | 56% | $16,063 |
| University of Wisconsin-Superior | — | Yes | Yes | — | Yes | — | 43% | $12,120 |
| University of Wisconsin-Whitewater | Yes | Yes | Yes | — | Yes | Yes | 63% | $12,754 |
| Viterbo University | Yes | Yes | — | — | Yes | Yes | 65% | $20,512 |
Top-Ranked Schools with Counseling Programs in Wisconsin
US News & World Report’s Best Student Counseling Programs 2022
- University of Wisconsin-Madison (#5)3
Schools in Wisconsin with Counseling Degrees
Traditional Undergraduate Programs
University of Wisconsin-Madison
The University of Wisconsin-Madison offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in rehabilitation counseling. The Bachelor of Science (BS) in Rehabilitation Psychology is a four-year degree that teaches students about different types of physical, mental, intellectual, and developmental disabilities and how to provide rehabilitation counseling services in community settings. The degree consists of 120 credits, including six credits of supervised internship. The Master of Science (MS) in Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling is accredited by CACREP and meets state educational requirements to become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Wisconsin. The university also offers a CACREP-accredited Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Rehabilitation Counselor Education focused on rehabilitation counseling research, leadership, and teaching.
Viterbo University
At Viterbo University, undergraduate students can complete a minor in Substance Abuse Counseling as part of a bachelor’s degree program. The minor teaches students about the personal and social impacts of alcohol and drug abuse and meets Wisconsin’s educational requirement of 360 hours of classroom time to become a Substance Abuse Counselor (SAC). Undergraduate students who are interested in mental health counseling careers can apply for the university’s 4+2 degree program that provides psychology or social work undergraduate students with provisional acceptance to the university’s CACREP-accredited Master of Science (MS) in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. The MS program meets state coursework requirements for the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) license. It is designed for working professionals and offers classes on Thursday afternoons and evenings, Friday nights, and Saturdays. Viterbo also offers a 60-credit, CACREP-accredited Doctor of Education (EdD) in Counselor Education and Supervision. Also designed for working individuals, the EdD degree is offered year-round and can be completed over four years, taking as few as six credits at a time.
Traditional Graduate Programs
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UW-Milwaukee) offers a Master of Science (MS) in Educational Psychology with concentrations in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling. The Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree consists of 60 credits and completes the state educational requirements to become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). Students interested in substance abuse counseling can add the Substance Abuse Counselor Certification, which meets the educational requirements to become a Substance Abuse Counselor in Wisconsin. The School Counseling degree requires 48 credits and meets state requirements to become a school counselor. Prospective school counselors who already have a master’s degree may wish to complete the Graduate Certificate in School Counseling. Graduates will be eligible for Wisconsin school counseling credentials and work with students from K-12. The certificate consists of 36 credits, although some classes may be waived for students who have completed comparable coursework at the graduate level. All certificate requirements must be completed within three to four years depending on the number of required courses. UW-Milwaukee also offers an 18-credit undergraduate minor in Counseling that introduces students to the mental health counseling field. The minor can be combined with numerous degree majors including related fields such as psychology or social work.
University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
The University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh (UWO) offers a Master of Science in Education (MSE) in Professional Counseling, which has two CACREP-accredited tracks: the Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) concentration and the School Counseling concentration. The CMHC track requires students to complete 60 credits and takes approximately three years to complete. Students take classes in counseling techniques, group counseling, and trauma and crisis. Upon completion of the degree, graduates will meet Wisconsin educational requirements to become Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs). The School Counseling track is a 48-credit program focused on counseling theories and skills relevant to child and youth populations. The program meets state requirements to become a school counselor. New students are admitted to the MSE program in the summer term. Other tracks in the program include Clinical College for those interested in clinical counseling roles at colleges or universities and Student Affairs and College Counseling for students interested in working in higher education roles such as academic advising and admissions.
University of Wisconsin-River Falls
For prospective school counselors, the University of Wisconsin-River Falls (UWRF) offers a CACREP-accredited Master of Science in Education (MSEd) in Counseling that prepares graduates to become school counselors in Wisconsin. The degree requires 60 credits, including internships at the elementary, middle, and secondary school levels. The program is designed for working individuals, so courses are offered in the evenings during the fall and spring terms, while electives are offered during the day during the summer and winter terms at the River Falls campus. New students are admitted in the fall and spring terms. The degree takes approximately two years to complete through full-time study, although part-time study is permitted and students can take up to seven years to complete the degree requirements. Upon completion, graduates will meet the requirements to be licensed school counselors in PreK-12 settings.
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (UWW) offers a Master of Science (MS) degree in Counselor Education with emphases in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC) and School Counseling. In the MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, students complete 60 credits and can tailor their degree with electives in topics such as Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse (AODA) Counseling; Marriage, Couples, and Family Counseling; and Child and Adolescent Counseling. The CMHC track meets Wisconsin coursework requirements for the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) license and can meet the coursework requirements for the Substance Abuse Counselor (SAC) credential or the Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Training (LMFT-IT) license depending on the elective courses taken and additional direct client hours completed during the internship. There is also a 26-credit Substance Abuse Counselor in Training (SACIT) credential, which is available to all bachelor-level students at Whitewater. The MS in Counselor Education with a School Counseling emphasis comprises 60 credits and meets Wisconsin requirements to become a school counselor. Both tracks are accredited by CACREP and take three years to complete through full-time study, including coursework during the summer terms and a third-year internship. Courses are typically offered in the afternoons and evenings to accommodate the needs of working professionals. Students can also participate in study abroad experiences in Scotland or Guatemala to learn more about counseling in cross-cultural settings.
Online and Hybrid Programs
Concordia University Wisconsin
Concordia University Wisconsin offers a Master of Science in Education (MSEd) that is available in an online format with tracks in Professional Counseling Licensure and School Counseling Licensure. The Professional Counseling track is a 60-credit degree that meets Wisconsin educational requirements for the Licensed Professional Counselor In Training (LPC-IT) license. Depending on the coursework, students in the Professional Counseling program may also meet the educational requirements to become Substance Abuse Counselors in Training (SACITs) in Wisconsin. Students interested in ministry may also choose to add on a 15-credit Christian Counseling Certificate. The School Counseling track comprises 45 credits and graduates are eligible to become school counselors in Wisconsin upon graduation. Students without a teaching license must complete three additional credits in classroom management. Both tracks in the program are offered online in eight-week sessions throughout the year, with new students able to enroll at the beginning of any session. Both tracks do require two in-person courses designed to enhance student learning with face-to-face time with peers and faculty.
University of Wisconsin-Stout
The University of Wisconsin-Stout (UW-Stout) offers an online Master of Science (MS) in Rehabilitation Counseling degree. The program consists of 60 credits and teaches students how to provide counseling services to clients with a diverse range of abilities and needs. Classes are designed for students to access at the most convenient time, with regular virtual communication with instructors and classmates. UW-Stout hosts a required virtual two-day orientation for all online students to review how to access online resources. The Rehabilitation Counseling program meets state educational requirements for the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) license. UW-Stout also offers numerous on-campus counseling degrees, including a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Rehabilitation Services; a CACREP-accredited Master of Science (MS) in Clinical Mental Health Counseling; a COAMFTE-accredited MS in Marriage and Family Therapy; and an MS in School Counseling.
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