What you’ll learn in this article…
- Divine Mercy University's online counseling master's holds CACREP accreditation through 2031.
- Liberty's online pastoral counseling graduates earned a median $45,136 after one year.
- Your state board grants the license; your diocese grants Church endorsement.
Can a degree rooted in Catholic anthropology still qualify you for a state counseling license? It can, but only if the program meets the licensing board's requirements. In many states, that means a master's of about 60 semester credits with supervised practicum and internship hours, whatever the theological content.
Catholic counseling programs are offered on campus and online. The ranked list below includes only 100% online programs, so hybrid formats with required residencies are left out.
Boards review transcripts and clinical hours, not mission statements, and that review decides eligibility.
Top 100% Online Catholic Counseling Degree Programs for 2027
This list covers fully online programs only: every school below lets you finish the degree from home, and no hybrid or in-person residency requirement is needed to appear here. One thing to know before you read the cards: none of these ten institutions is Catholic. All are Christian, Protestant-affiliated schools, so if a Catholic institution is a firm requirement, use the campus and hybrid sections of this guide as your Catholic-first shortlist. And a caveat that applies to every card: we could not confirm a CACREP-accredited clinical mental health or school counseling track at any of the ten, so check your state board's rules before you apply.
Factors considered
- Earnings four years after graduation
- Graduate tuition and total cost
- Faith integration and curriculum fit
- Fully online delivery requirements
- Institutional graduation rates
- Federal College Scorecard outcomes data — collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Program-level records maintained in house
- Original research on individual programs
- National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS) covering graduate tuition — nces.ed.gov
Life Pacific University
Life Pacific University is a small Christian university in San Dimas, California, and its online Master of Arts in Counseling is the most clinically framed program on this list. Students take 63 units across 21 courses in eight-week sessions, mix live and self-paced classes, and complete a 12-month practicum that puts supervised clinical hours inside the degree. The university states the program is built to meet state licensure requirements for clinical counselors, though you should confirm the CACREP question with your own state board before enrolling. Institution-wide, about 40 percent of students graduate, which is a useful reminder that a flexible online format asks a lot of self-direction.
- CACREP status not confirmed for clinical mental health or school counseling
- 63 units across 21 courses; about 36 months to complete
- Eight-week sessions with synchronous and asynchronous classes
- 12-month practicum built into the curriculum
- Cohort model keeps online students on the same schedule
- Integrates biblical principles with clinical coursework
- University states the degree meets state licensure requirements
- Scholarships and financial aid available
Master of Arts in Counseling — Online
Liberty University
Liberty's seminary delivers this 36-credit counseling master's entirely online, and it is built for pastoral care and church ministry rather than clinical licensure. Students work through systematic theology, the doctrine of God, and public theology alongside counseling foundations in eight-week asynchronous terms, with eight start dates a year and an internship in a community setting. On-campus intensives are optional, not required. Institution-wide, about 65 percent of Liberty students graduate.
- CACREP status not confirmed for clinical mental health or school counseling
- $410 per credit; 36 credits total
- Eight start dates per year in eight-week asynchronous terms
- No entrance exam; 2.0 GPA and one recommendation
- Optional on-campus intensives, never required
- Includes a pastoral counseling internship
- Transfer up to 50 percent of prior credits
- Military benefits and institutional scholarships accepted
MA in Pastoral Counseling — Online
Cornerstone University
Cornerstone's 36-credit M.A. in Christian Counseling is an online, interdenominational program for pastors, lay leaders, and ministry staff, and the school says plainly that it does not lead to state licensure. Coursework covers marriage and family counseling, crisis response, group technique, spiritual formation, and cultural competence, all taught through a Christian worldview. Scholarships can cover up to half of tuition and up to three quarters of prior credits may transfer, which keeps the degree workable for people already serving in ministry. The institution-wide graduation rate is about 62 percent.
- CACREP status not confirmed for clinical mental health or school counseling
- 36 credits, fully online, no entrance exam
- Explicitly not designed for state counseling licensure
- Scholarships up to 50 percent of tuition
- Transfer up to 75 percent of prior credits
- 2.5 GPA and one recommendation required
- Coursework spans crisis response, marriage and family, and spiritual formation
- Monthly payment plan available
M.A. in Christian Counseling, Master's — Online
Cedarville University
Cedarville's online Master of Theological Studies with a biblical counseling concentration pairs 15 hours of Bible and theology with 21 hours of counseling courses and finishes in as little as one calendar year. Faculty hold certification from the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors, and the program is aimed at church, mission, and ministry settings rather than clinical practice. Six start dates a year and a part-time option make it manageable alongside ministry work. The institution-wide graduation rate is about 73 percent, among the strongest on this list.
- CACREP status not confirmed for clinical mental health or school counseling
- 36 credits: 15 hours in Bible and theology, 21 in counseling
- Finish in one calendar year, or take the two-year track
- Six start dates per year with rolling admissions
- Faculty hold ACBC biblical counseling certification
- Built for church, mission, and ministry settings, not licensure
- Part-time enrollment available alongside full-time ministry
Master of Theological Studies in Biblical Counseling — Online
Hobe Sound Bible College
Hobe Sound Bible College is a small Florida Bible college, and its 36-credit online counseling master's is deliberately inexpensive and deliberately non-clinical. The Christian Counseling concentration blends counseling technique, spiritual disciplines, psychopathology, and crisis counseling, with standard and accelerated tracks and rolling enrollment. The school states the degree does not lead to professional licensure, so it fits church and community ministry roles rather than agency practice. About half of the institution's students graduate.
- CACREP status not confirmed for clinical mental health or school counseling
- 36 credits: 9 foundation, 18 core, 9 concentration hours
- Standard and accelerated completion tracks
- Rolling enrollment with fully online delivery
- Not designed for professional licensure
- Coursework includes crisis counseling and psychopathology
- Integrates psychology and theology throughout the curriculum
- Prepares graduates for ministry and community settings
Master of Arts in Counseling — Online
Crown College
Crown's online M.A. in Pastoral Counseling is an evangelical program aimed at chaplaincy, grief counseling, and church-based care. The curriculum covers pastoral counseling skills, conflict resolution, and marriage and family therapy, and every student completes a supervised field requirement of 70 hours that includes 55 hours of counseling practice. Eight-week terms and an assigned academic advisor suit working adults, and the program sits in an ATS-accredited seminary setting. Institution-wide, about 45 percent of students graduate.
- CACREP status not confirmed for clinical mental health or school counseling
- ATS-accredited theological program
- 70-hour practicum, including 55 hours of counseling practice
- Eight-week course terms designed for working adults
- Assigned academic advisor for each student
- Focus on conflict resolution and marriage and family therapy
- Military-friendly policies and scholarships available
- Prepares graduates for pastoral counselor and chaplain roles
M.A. in Pastoral Counseling, Master's — Online
Baptist University of Florida
Baptist University of Florida keeps its online M.A. in Christian Counseling simple: a flat per-credit rate, a bachelor's degree for admission, and no entrance exam. The curriculum integrates faith with counseling practice and is aimed at adult learners who want a ministry credential without relocating or pausing work. It is one of the lower-priced options on this list, and financial aid is available. The institution-wide graduation rate is about 52 percent.
- CACREP status not confirmed for clinical mental health or school counseling
- $495 per credit, about $14,850 for the full degree
- No entrance exam; bachelor's degree and application materials required
- Fully online and flexible for working adults
- Faith-integrated counseling curriculum
- Prepares graduates for ministry and community service roles
- Financial aid available
Master of Arts in Christian Counseling — Online
Mission University
Mission University's online M.A. in Biblical Counseling runs 39 to 45 credits in six-week sessions, and the 45-hour track satisfies certification requirements for the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors and the International Association of Biblical Counselors. The school states the degree does not lead to state licensure, which makes it a ministry credential rather than a clinical one. Students can transfer up to half their credits, and the program holds regional accreditation through HLC and national accreditation through ABHE. The institution-wide graduation rate is about 44 percent.
- CACREP status not confirmed for clinical mental health or school counseling
- 39 to 45 credits delivered in six-week online sessions
- 45-credit track meets ACBC and IABC certification requirements
- Transfer up to 50 percent of prior credits
- Not a state licensure pathway
- Regionally accredited by HLC; nationally accredited by ABHE
- Practicum courses included in the curriculum
Master of Arts in Biblical Counseling — Online
Amberton University
Amberton's MS in Family Studies with a Christian Counseling specialization is a 36-credit program that can be completed entirely online and is priced at one of the lower per-credit rates on this list. The curriculum mixes counseling theory, human development, ethics, crisis counseling, and family life education with courses in Christian counseling and family life ministry. The school states clearly that this specialization does not lead to LPC licensure and points licensure seekers to its clinical mental health track instead. A stackable graduate certificate in Christian counseling is available for students who want a shorter credential first.
- CACREP status not confirmed for clinical mental health or school counseling
- $325 per credit; 36 credits total
- Does not lead to LPC licensure; a separate clinical track exists
- Stackable graduate certificate in Christian counseling
- Coursework includes family life ministry and crisis counseling
- Practical experience component built into the degree
- Flexible scheduling designed for working adults
MS in Family Studies (Christian Counseling Specialization) — Online
Westminster Theological Seminary
Westminster's online Master of Arts in Counseling is a 61-credit, explicitly biblical program built in partnership with the Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation, whose faculty teach in it. Students take Bible and systematic theology alongside practical counseling courses and complete 100 hours of supervised practicum, with four start terms a year and a three-to-six-year completion window. It is designed for church-based counseling, pastoral care, and community social work rather than clinical licensure. Theologically, it is the most demanding option on this list.
- CACREP status not confirmed for clinical mental health or school counseling
- 61 credits; complete in three to six years
- Built with the Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation
- 100 hours of supervised practicum
- Four start terms per year
- Bible and systematic theology core alongside counseling courses
- Prepares graduates for church-based counseling and pastoral care
Master of Arts in Counseling — Online
Are Catholic Counseling Degrees CACREP-Accredited?
Divine Mercy University's online Master of Science in Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, has held CACREP accreditation since July 6, 2023, with status valid through October 31, 2031. That date settles the question for one Catholic school. It does not settle it for the category.
What CACREP Accredits
Some Catholic counseling programs are CACREP-accredited. Many are not. CACREP accredits specific degree programs, not universities, and it does not evaluate Catholic identity. A school can be regionally accredited, faithfully Catholic, and still offer a counseling master's with no CACREP seal at all. Ask admissions whether the exact concentration holds CACREP status, not just whether the department or university does.
Why Program-Level Status Matters
A growing number of states require or prefer a CACREP degree for LPC or LMHC licensure, and CACREP status makes it easier to move a license across state lines.2 Treat any state list you find online with caution. A 2020 Divine Mercy webinar said nine states required CACREP at that time but did not name them, and that snapshot predates 2026 rules. Requirements can even differ by license title inside one state; in Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota and North Dakota, the sources show differing rules by credential.2 Confirm the exact license you want with your state board.
A Named Example and a Check You Can Do
Divine Mercy University is the clearest Catholic example, with program-level CACREP status covering its clinical mental health counseling concentration. Gwynedd Mercy University's Clinical Mental Health Counseling program appears in CACREP's 2025 annual report1; verify its delivery format before assuming it is online. Before you apply, search the CACREP directory yourself by institution and exact program title, and confirm the accreditation dates cover your graduation year. If you enroll in a program without that seal and later need a CACREP degree for licensure, you may have to complete added coursework or a second master's. Regional accreditation and Catholic affiliation are not substitutes for checking.
Fast Answers Before You Apply
These are the questions applicants ask most often about licensure, online logistics, and who can enroll. Confirm every detail with the admissions office before you commit, because program requirements are updated each catalog year.
- Can a Catholic counseling degree lead to an LPC or LMHC license?
- Yes, as long as the program is built for licensure. Look for about 60 credits of coursework, a supervised practicum and internship, and ideally CACREP accreditation, which streamlines licensure in many states. Divine Mercy University's clinical mental health track, for example, runs 66 credits with a 100-hour practicum and 600-hour internship. Then compare the curriculum against your state board's rules on coursework, supervised hours, and exams, since LPC and LMHC requirements vary by state.
- Will an online Catholic counseling program ask you to travel for a residency?
- Often yes. Divine Mercy University's online M.S. is mostly asynchronous but requires three in-person residencies, plus live video role plays and skills demonstrations. University of Mary offers a blended option with one weekly night class in Bismarck, an online option using video conferencing, and a one-week summer residency on its North Dakota campus. Both require supervised practicum and internship hours. Ask admissions whether a site in your home state will be approved before you apply.
- Do non-Catholic students enroll in Catholic counseling programs?
- Most programs admit students of any faith, but they teach clinical skills through a Catholic view of the human person, so theology and anthropology appear in the coursework. You will not need to be Catholic to apply at most schools, though you should expect that framework in class discussion and assignments. Read each school's mission statement and admissions page first, then weigh how comfortable you would be studying within that tradition.
Catholic, Christian, or Pastoral Counseling: How the Degrees Differ
No single statistic separates these three degree labels, because federal data tracks occupations rather than faith traditions. The practical way to tell them apart is to check each program's curriculum, licensure eligibility, clinical training, and outcomes yourself. Use the table below as a checklist, and confirm every answer with the source listed.
| What to compare | Catholic counseling | Christian counseling | Pastoral counseling | Where to verify |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Curriculum focus | Look for Catholic theology and anthropology taught alongside clinical coursework | Check whether the faith content is broad, denominational, or an add-on to standard counseling courses | Check for ministry, spiritual care, and congregational coursework | Program catalog and course syllabi |
| Licensure eligibility | Ask if the degree meets your state's requirements for professional counselor licensure | Ask the same question; faith-based labels do not guarantee licensure eligibility | Ask directly; some pastoral tracks prepare graduates for ministry roles, not licensed practice | State licensing board for your state |
| Clinical training | Confirm practicum and internship hours, plus who supervises them | Confirm site placement support and supervisor credentials | Ask whether training is clinical pastoral education or a counseling practicum, since these differ | Program handbook; ACPE for pastoral education |
| Accreditation and credentials | Check counseling accreditation, and ask about diocesan or Catholic association endorsement | Check counseling accreditation and any Christian counseling association recognition | Check counseling accreditation plus pastoral certification pathways | CACREP, MPCAC, ACPE, AAPC, and relevant Catholic or Christian associations |
| Licensure portability | Ask how the program handles requirements if you move states | Ask for the same state-by-state detail | Ask whether graduates have used the degree for licensure outside their home state | Admissions office and each state board |
| Employer recognition | Ask parishes, diocesan agencies, and clinics how they view the degree | Ask churches, nonprofits, and private practices | Ask chaplaincy and ministry employers, and clinical employers if you want licensed work | Employers, alumni, and program career services |
| Career outcomes and pay | BLS reports a median of $59,350 (2025) for counselors, with 18% projected growth for 2025 to 2035; not split by degree label | Same BLS occupation figures apply; ask for salary ranges by setting | Same figures apply only if you work in a counseling role; ask about ministry pay separately | BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, O*NET, NCES College Navigator |
Catholic Anthropology Meets Clinical Training: What You'll Study
Applicants underestimate clinical training more than any other part of a Catholic counseling degree, and programs now tend to publish their clock hours before you speak with an advisor.
At a Catholic clinical mental health program you carry two curricula at once. The first is standard counselor preparation: psychopathology, assessment, counseling theories, multicultural counseling, ethics, and research methods, sequenced for licensure. The second is Catholic: theological anthropology (who the human person is, and what that means for diagnosis and treatment goals), virtue ethics, and Catholic moral teaching on marriage and family. Neither half is decoration. The theology shapes how you write treatment plans; the clinical sequence decides whether a state board will license you.
Practicum and Internship: The Clock Hours
The CACREP standard is 100 practicum hours and 600 internship hours, and accredited programs commonly build their field sequence around those numbers. Divine Mercy University's M.S. in Counseling lists a 100-hour practicum that includes 40 hours of direct service, then a 600-hour internship across two semesters with 240 direct-service hours. A recent program handbook also outlines an additional 300-hour advanced internship, so ask admissions whether that placement applies to your cohort; the school's materials have described both structures. Where published hours differ from the CACREP baseline, get the difference in writing before you enroll, because state boards count hours, not semesters.
How Online Students Get Their Clinical Hours
Online students rarely travel for fieldwork. Programs approve a local site near you: a community agency, a parish counseling center, or a private practice. You will need an on-site supervisor holding a license your state board recognizes, plus a faculty supervisor who reviews recordings or session notes. Site approval is usually yours to initiate, so start that conversation in your first term rather than your last.
Catholic Content in the Course Catalog
Divine Mercy's PHT 513, The Flourishing Person, is a concrete example: it organizes Catholic-Christian material around human flourishing, vocations, and virtues, and its companion course on flourishing in relationships treats marriage as a natural and divine institution. Look for titles in that vein, since you are unlikely to find one literally called Catholic Anthropology.
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Catholic Counseling Degree Tuition Cost, School by School
The table lists programs from lowest to highest graduate tuition and fees (before aid) as reported in federal IPEDS and College Scorecard data, with each school's faith affiliation shown so you can separate Catholic programs from other faith-based options. Divine Mercy University, the University of Mary, and the University of Saint Mary appear at the bottom because federal program tuition was not reported for them. Estimated program cost is credits multiplied by the per-credit rate, so treat it as tuition only. Liberty's per-credit rate changes with course load and military status, and University of Mary awards carry separate caps and eligibility rules.
| School | Program | Faith affiliation | Graduate tuition and fees (before aid) | Per-credit tuition | Total credits | Estimated program cost | Named scholarships or discounts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baptist University of Florida | Master of Arts in Christian Counseling | Southern Baptist | $6,000 | $495 | 30 | $14,850 | N/A |
| Amberton University | MS Family Studies, Christian Counseling Specialization | Undenominational | $7,260 | $325 | 36 | $11,700 | N/A |
| Mission University | Master of Arts in Biblical Counseling | Baptist | $8,250 | N/A | 39 to 45 | N/A | N/A |
| Liberty University | MA in Pastoral Counseling (Theology) | Evangelical Christian | $8,730 | $410 (varies by course load) | 36 | $14,760 | Military tuition discounts |
| Cornerstone University | Christian Counseling (M.A.) | Interdenominational | $9,522 | N/A | 36 | N/A | Scholarships covering up to 50% of tuition |
| Cedarville University | Master of Theological Studies, Biblical Counseling | Baptist | $11,015 | N/A | 36 | N/A | N/A |
| Crown College | M.A. in Pastoral Counseling | Christian and Missionary Alliance | $11,740 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Life Pacific University | Master of Arts in Counseling | Other Protestant | $12,728 | N/A | 63 | N/A | N/A |
| Westminster Theological Seminary | Master of Arts in Counseling | Other Protestant | $30,350 | N/A | 61 | N/A | N/A |
| University of Saint Mary | MA Psychology, Counseling Psychology; MS Clinical Mental Health Counseling | Catholic | N/A | $675 (2026-2027) | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| University of Mary | Master of Science in Counseling | Catholic | N/A | $695 | N/A | N/A | Graduate scholarship up to $10,000 for qualifying groups (alumni and relatives, military, clergy and religious, Catholic school and church staff); Family Connections $7,000; Catholic Educators $7,000 for full-time Catholic K-12 and parish employees |
| Divine Mercy University | Master of Science in Counseling (online) | Catholic | N/A | N/A | 66 | N/A | Patriot Scholarship: 10% off for military members and families |
State Licensure and Diocesan Endorsement: Two Credentials, Two Gatekeepers
A Catholic counseling degree can lead to two separate forms of recognition, and each answers to a different authority. One lets you practice clinically. The other tells parishes and Church ministries you can be trusted with their people.
State Licensure Governs Clinical Practice
LPC, LPCC, and LMHC licenses are issued by state boards, not by the Church or your university. After the master's degree, you complete supervised hours and pass a national exam. Totals differ by state, so confirm with your board before you choose a practicum site.
- California (LPCC): 3,000 post-degree supervised hours over at least 104 weeks, earned within six years before you apply. At least 1,750 must be direct counseling, and up to 1,250 can be nonclinical work such as supervisor contact and documentation. Your supervisor must have held an independent license for two years. You also need the NCMHCE and the California Law and Ethics Exam.1
- Texas (LPC): 3,000 post-master's hours over at least 18 months, with at least 1,500 in direct client counseling. Associates receive four hours of direct supervision per month. You sit for the NCE or NCMHCE plus the Texas jurisprudence exam, completed within six months of applying.2
What Catholic Credentials Look Like
Catholic recognition is less uniform. The Catholic Psychotherapy Association is the national body most often cited. Its membership is open to individuals, organizations, and dioceses that support its mission, which includes fidelity to Magisterium teaching on life, marriage, and family. Clinical membership is for practicing Catholics with a graduate mental-health degree who hold state licensure or are working toward it.3 The association also offers the CCPI credential, which its materials frame as a professional-development benefit, not a license and not a universal requirement.4
Diocesan endorsement is a different matter. Published sources do not describe a standard national process for being placed on a diocesan counselor referral list. Screening, references, and formation expectations appear to be set diocese by diocese, so treat any promise of a single "Catholic license" with caution.
Contact the Diocese Early
If you want parish referrals, call your diocese's family life or counseling office while you are still in school. Ask whether it keeps a referral list, what it asks of clinicians, and whether it expects a particular license or association membership. Then you can plan your supervised hours and your Catholic credentials side by side, not discover a gap after graduation.
Questions to Ask Yourself
Do you plan to bill insurance and practice clinically, or serve mainly in parish and ministry settings?
Does your state require a CACREP degree for LPC licensure, and does your shortlist meet that bar?
How explicitly do you want Catholic moral teaching woven into clinical courses versus offered as electives?
Can you secure a local practicum site and supervisor while studying fully online?
A Catholic counseling degree is only as useful as the license it unlocks: theology shapes how you counsel, but the state issues the credential you actually practice under.
Best Master's in Counseling by State
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- Washington DC
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
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