Published June 2016
Welcome to our ranking of the seven top master’s degrees in counseling in Indiana.
If you’re thinking about earning your master’s or Ph.D. in counseling in Indiana, take a look at these top-ranked schools. Indiana’s strong mix of public schools, private colleges, and religious institutions ensures that every aspiring counselor can find the education they seek. Plus, the affordability of Midwest living provides a great opportunity to save big on tuition costs!
Click here to see the methodology we used for this best master’s in counseling degree ranking.
7. Purdue University at Northwest
Hammond, IN
Clinical Mental Health Counseling, M.S.; School Counseling, M.S.
Website
Purdue University at Northwest’s School of Education and Counseling provides future counseling professionals with the skills and experience they need to acquire counseling licensure in the state of Indiana. With multiple CACREP-accredited programs in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling, Purdue prepares these students for a range of careers in schools, hospitals, and everything in between. But the real selling point is that each of these affordable counseling graduate degree programs boast class-sizes in the teens and below, 99% graduation rates, and over 90% licensure or certification pass rates.
Tuition and Fees: $9,399/yr
Score: 54.48
6. Indiana University
Bloomington, IN
School Counseling, M.S.; Community Counseling, M.S.; Mental Health Counseling, Ed.S.
Website
The best way to help another person is by showing them how to help themselves. With a top master’s degree in counseling from Indiana University, you can be on your way to a career that changes lives everyday through the power of positive psychology. Whether you are interested in School, Community, or Mental Health Counseling, IU’s CACREP accreditation guarantees that the education you receive features the latest research and the best practices in the industry. And with a #10 ranking from U.S. News in Counseling and Counselor Education, you can be sure that the value of this program is not unknown to potential employers.
Tuition and Fees: $18,928/yr
Score: 73.16
Featured Programs
5. Ball State University
Muncie, IN
Clinical Mental Health Counseling, M.A.; School Counseling, M.A.
Website
Counseling is a hands-on job that requires a hands-on education. Ball State University’s comprehensive counseling curricula merge sociological and psychological theory with practical applications to ensure that students are prepared for a challenging new career the moment they graduate—if not sooner. In fact, both of BSU’s CACREP-accredited, affordable master’s in counseling degrees—Clinical Mental Health and School Counseling—feature extensive on-location internship requirements as well as clinical practica. These requirements not only provide students the opportunity to develop their skills in the field; they also serve as invaluable networking opportunities for burgeoning professionals.
Tuition and Fees: $14,961/yr
Score: 73.27
4. Grace College
Winona Lake, IN
Clinical Mental Health Counseling, M.A.
Website
At Grace College, religious students can receive a stellar education and fulfill their duty as Christians at the same time by choosing a career that will allow them to serve others and help those in need. In particular, students of faith at Grace College are often drawn to the accredited graduate degree in counseling, which places an emphasis on Clinical Mental Health Counseling and is ideal for students who are drawn to the helping professions and want to integrate spirituality into their studies. Indeed, this Master of Arts program interweaves theology and clinical training to develop compassionate, ethical, and knowledgeable leaders in schools, hospitals, churches, and beyond.
Tuition and Fees: $10,404/yr
Score: 78.59
3. Valparaiso University
Valparaiso, IN
Mental Health Counseling, M.A.
Website
Helping those in need is never easy; mental health counseling is a multi-faceted discipline that encompasses fields as diverse as law, psychology, human development, and pharmacology. Valparaiso University develops students into fully-fledged counselors by treating them to a full suite of theoretical coursework, professional development training, and on-site practica and internships for the low price of just $11,500 a year. As one of the top counseling master’s degrees in Indiana, this program is an excellent choice for those who are up for the challenge of making a real difference in the lives of others.
Tuition and Fees: $11,498/yr
Score: 79.22
2. Butler University
Indianapolis, IN
School Counseling, M.S.
Website
For reading, writing, and arithmetic, there are teachers; for everything else, there are school counselors. At Butler University’s CACREP-accredited M.S. in School Counseling program, students are trained to respond to a host of issues facing the lives of public school students from every background. From diversity awareness to career planning, Butler’s curriculum contains actionable learning that students will apply every day in their future career in the Indiana public school system. Although this affordable counseling graduate degree program is geared towards those working in schools already, Butler also offers a “fast-track” option that allows students to complete their degree in under three years.
Tuition and Fees: $12,480/yr
Score: 88.32
1. Purdue University
Lafayette, IN
School Counseling, M.Ed.
Website
For the best master’s degree in counseling in Indiana, look no further than the world-renowned Purdue University. With 100% completion and placement rates for all 11 of its School Counseling graduates last year, there’s no way to dispute the success of Purdue’s program in creating opportunities for students looking to make a difference in the lives of young people. The size of the exceptional program is another strong selling point; a class size of 11 means individual coaching and mentorship are practically guaranteed, allowing students to grow with a close cohort of like-minded individuals.
Tuition and Fees: $19,403/yr
Score: 100
This concludes our ranking of the best graduate degrees in counseling in Indiana.
You might also like: 10 Top Value Counseling Master’s Degrees in Illinois
Sources:
College Navigator
Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
Thomson Reuters Essential Science Indicators