2020 Most Affordable Online Colleges for a Doctorate in Counseling
The 7 schools in this list represent the most affordable options for obtaining an online doctoral degree in counseling. At #1, Liberty University offers an online Dr. of Ministry: Pastoral Counseling for only $5,500 per year. In the #2 spot is University of the Cumberlands, offering a Doctor of Philosophy in Counselor Education & Supervision for $8,800 per academic year. Classes include Advanced Counseling Theories & Skills, Leadership & Advocacy in Professional Counseling, and Multicultural Issues in Counseling & Education.
You can read more about our ranked schools below or browse our rankings of the most affordable online doctoral degrees. View our methodology or learn more about OnlineU.
All tuition numbers were manually collected and verified
| Rank | School | Annual Tuition |
|---|---|---|
| Liberty University | $5,500 | |
| University of the Cumberlands | $8,800 | |
| University of Louisiana-Monroe | $12,000 | |
| Regent University Online | $12,150 | |
| Eastern University | $12,975 | |
| Northcentral University | $14,966 | |
| Capella University | $21,300 |
- Annual Tuition: $5,500
- School Type: Non-Profit
- School Accreditation: SACS COC
- Acceptance Rate: 30%
- Example Classes: Career Counseling; Instruction in Counselor Education; Issues in Integration; Supervision and Consultation
Online Doctoral Degrees
- Ed.D. in Community Care & Counseling
- Ed.D. in Community Care & Counseling: Traumatology
- PhD: Counselor Education & Supervision
- Dr. of Ministry: Pastoral Counseling
- Dr. of Worship Studies: Pastoral Counseling
- Ed.D. in Community Care & Counseling: Marriage & Family
- Annual Tuition: $8,800
- School Type: Non-Profit
- School Accreditation: SACS COC
- Acceptance Rate: 74%
- Example Classes: Advanced Counseling Theories & Skills; Ethical & Legal Issues in CES; Leadership & Advocacy in Professional Counseling; Multicultural Issues in Counseling & Education; The Change Process
Online Doctoral Degrees
- Doctor of Philosophy in Counselor Education & Supervision
- Doctor of Philosophy in Counselor Education & Supervision - Addiction
- Doctor of Philosophy in Counselor Education & Supervision - Advanced Counseling
- Doctor of Philosophy in Counselor Education & Supervision - Leadership
- Annual Tuition: $12,000
- School Type: Non-Profit
- School Accreditation: SACS COC
- Acceptance Rate: 75%
- Example Classes: After Therapy; Family Medicine and MFT; Improvisation; Qualitative and Ethnographic Research; Social Ecology; The Art of Creative Transformation
Online Doctoral Degrees
- Doctorate of Philosophy in Marriage and Family Therapy - Systemic Studies
- Annual Tuition: $12,150
- School Type: Non-Profit
- School Accreditation: SACS COC
- Acceptance Rate: 78%
- Example Classes: Advanced Marriage and Family Counseling & Consultation; Advanced Practicum in Group Counseling; Advanced Practicum in Marriage And Family Counseling; Human Sexuality; Sexual Trauma, Domestic Violence & Human Trafficking; Treating Ptsd, Compassion Fatigue, & Complex Trauma
Online Doctoral Degrees
- Ph.D. in Counseling & Psychological Studies - Human Services Counseling
- Ed.S. in Educational Leadership - Educational Psychology
- Ph.D. in Counseling & Psychological Studies - Addictions Counseling
- Ph.D. in Counseling & Psychological Studies - Biblical Counseling
- Ph.D. in Counseling & Psychological Studies - Grief Counseling
- Ph.D. in Counseling & Psychological Studies - Human Services/Student Affairs
- Annual Tuition: $12,975
- School Type: Non-Profit
- School Accreditation: MSCHE
- Acceptance Rate: 66%
- Example Classes: Couples Therapy Theory and Practice; Diversity Issues in Marriage and Family Therapy; Holistic Approaches to Prevention and Enrichment in Family Systems; Human Development and Family Systems; Professional Standards and Ethics; Trauma and Family Systems
Online Doctoral Degrees
- Doctor of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy
- Doctor of Philosophy in Marriage and Family Therapy
- Annual Tuition: $14,966
- School Type: For-Profit
- School Accreditation: HLC
- Acceptance Rate: Not Provided
- Example Classes: Dynamics of Family Interaction; Early Childhood and Parenting Interventions; Families, Health, and Illness; Family Therapy with Adolescents; Loss and Bereavement; Systemic Sex Therapy
Online Doctoral Degrees
- Doctor of Philosophy in Marriage and Family Therapy
- Doctor of Philosophy in Marriage and Family Therapy - Child and Adolescent Therapy
- Doctor of Philosophy in Marriage and Family Therapy - Couple Therapy
- Doctor of Philosophy in Marriage and Family Therapy - General Family Therapy
- Doctor of Philosophy in Marriage and Family Therapy - Medical Family Therapy
- Doctor of Philosophy in Marriage and Family Therapy - Therapy with Military Families
- Annual Tuition: $21,300
- School Type: For-Profit
- School Accreditation: HLC
- Acceptance Rate: Open Admissions
- Example Classes: Advanced Counseling Practice; Foundations of Advanced Social Science Research and Design; Leadership and Advocacy in Counseling
Online Doctoral Degrees
- PhD - Counselor Education and Supervision (CACREP-accredited)
- PhD - Addiction Psychology
- PhD - Advanced Studies in Human Behavior