Published September 2016
Welcome to our ranking of the eight top master’s degrees in counseling in Colorado.
If you’re thinking about earning your master’s or Ph.D. in counseling, take a look at these top-ranked schools. Whether you’re looking for pristine mountain views or an active lifestyle, Colorado doesn’t disappoint – and that pattern extends to higher education. Colorado residents can enjoy the best of quality and convenience in Denver, Greeley, Colorado Springs, and elsewhere. Indeed, this state has so much to offer in accredited counseling master’s degrees that we have no doubt more than a few out-of-state residents have traveled across state lines to take advantage of these top schools.
Click here to see the methodology we used for this best master’s in counseling degree ranking.
8. Denver Seminary
Denver, CO
Clinical Mental Health Counseling, M.A.
Website
Denver may offer a wide range of counseling opportunities, but its large population also means more residents who are in need of counseling services. Denver Seminary combines the compassion of a Christian worldview with the tried-and-true practices developed in the counseling profession over the last several decades to develop thoughtful counselors committed to making a difference in the lives of those in need. In particular, Denver Seminary’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program prepares students for a range of meaningful careers in the church and beyond with a rigorous curriculum and robust practicum requirements at the on-site Shepherd’s Gate Counseling Center.
Tuition & Fees: $16,210
Score: 51
7. Colorado Christian University
Lakewood, CO
Clinical Mental Health Counseling, M.A.
Website
Owing to its emphasis on devotion, compassion, and ethics, Colorado Christian University has developed a reputation throughout the state for producing counselors with high emotional intelligence and remarkable ambition. CCU’s 6:1 student-faculty ratio means that no students slip through the cracks and everyone gets the education they need to succeed. As a testament to the seriousness of this program, one only has to consider the fact that five CCU students currently sit on the Student Governing Council of the Colorado Counseling Association (CCA). In addition, CCU’s affordable master’s in counseling degree program recently received the most awards of any program in the state at the 2015 annual CCA Conference.
Tuition & Fees: $14,176
Score: 52
6. Regis University
Denver, CO
Clinical Mental Health Counseling, M.A.
Website
Regis University may be one of many schools to offer advanced counseling education in the city of Denver, but it’s indisputably one of the best. Like the other programs on this list, Regis’s Master of Arts in Counseling program is accredited by CACREP, but it also holds accreditation from the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) as well as approval from the International Registry of Counselor Education Programs (IRCEP, CACREP’s international affiliate). Combined with its affordable price, emphasis on practical experience, and substantial selection of certification options, its easy to see why Regis offers some of Colorado’s top counseling master’s degrees.
Tuition & Fees: $10,800/yr
Score: 80
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5. University of Colorado Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs, CO
School Counseling, M.A.; Clinical Mental Health Counseling, M.A.
Colorado Springs is hardly a far cry from Denver in terms of size or urban amenities, and the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs is no slouch, either. UCCS’s College of Education offers some of the top graduate degrees in counseling in the state, which are only augmented by a range of specializations and personalized education opportunities. In fact, students in either of UCCS’s CACREP-accredited counseling programs can pursue an Addictions Emphasis as well as a Human Services minor to boost the versatility of their degree. What’s more, UCCS offers flexible daytime/evening class times to accommodate students’ busy schedules.
Tuition & Fees: $14,623/yr
Score: 86
4. Colorado State University
Fort Collins, CO
School Counseling, M.Ed.; Career Counseling, M.Ed.; Student Affairs and College Counseling, M.Ed.
Website
Colorado State University is the flagship institution of the Colorado State University System, so its no surprise that its counseling programs bring great things to the table for aspiring human services professionals. CSU’s breadth of CACREP-accredited programs is just the beginning; with a 98% completion rate and a 97% job placement rate, the quality of CSU’s counseling programs is self-evident. CSU graduates also enjoy 99% and 100% pass rates on the NCE and Professional Licensing Exam for Colorado Educators, respectively. If this isn’t proof that CSU offers some of the best counseling master’s degrees in Colorado, then nothing is.
Tuition & Fees: $18,141/yr
Score: 94
3. University of Colorado-Denver
Denver, CO
Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling, M.A.; School Counseling, M.A.; Clinical Mental Health Counseling, M.A.
Website
In terms of regional counseling resources and opportunities, of course, Denver is second to none. But the University of Colorado Denver’s top counseling graduate degree ranking is not just the result of its proximity to the eponymous urban metropolis; Denver’s counseling programs stand out on their own merit. To be sure, Denver’s education not only allows, but also encourages, students to take advantage of all the city has to offer through field experience and internships. But Denver also features its own Counseling Center that allows students to gain hands-on experience under the supervision of the licensed faculty members that make Denver’s education so great in the first place.
Tuition & Fees: $14,725/yr
Score: 97
2. University of Northern Colorado
Greeley, CO
Counselor Education and Supervision, Ph.D.; School Counseling, M.A.; Clinical Mental Health Counseling, M.A.; Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling, M.A.
Website
The University of Northern Colorado’s diverse range of affordable master’s degrees in counseling makes it a highly attractive option for anyone looking to start a career in human services. Located in the northern city of Greeley, just off the Rocky Mountains, UNC offers numerous options for students to acquire practical experience in virtually any sector of counseling they choose. From counseling agencies and schools to clinics and private practices, UNC’s connections with local businesses endow students with abundant practicum, internship, and even professional opportunities. Professional counselors can also avail themselves of UNC’s prestigious PhDs to gain the experience they need to teach, research, or take executive roles in counseling agencies.
Tuition & Fees: $15,132/yr
Score: 98
1. Adams State University
Alamosa, CO
Clinical Mental Health Counseling, M.A.; School Counseling, M.A.
Website
Price and convenience do not necessarily a top university make, but they are often the deciding factor for students and professionals looking to attain a degree. Fortunately, in the case of Adams State University — our pick for the top counseling master’s degrees in Colorado — counseling students don’t have to compromise quality for an education they can afford (or even fit into their schedule). Adams’s “Online Plus” coursework (100% online classes combined with two summer residency intensives) and affordable tuition make it possible to earn a CACREP-accredited counseling degree from the convenience of home.
Tuition & Fees: $9,564/yr
Score: 100
This concludes our ranking of the best graduate degrees in counseling in Colorado.
See also: 30 Universities that are Leading the Way with Wellness Centers for Students
Sources:
College Navigator
Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
Thomson Reuters Essential Science Indicators