Online school counseling programs with no GRE
A school counselor is part of a school’s education team and helps students with their academic goals, social and personal development, and career development. Counselors may work in public or private elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools. If you’re interested in pursuing a career in school counseling, there are many degree programs available. Compare online school counseling programs with no GRE requirement below to find a program that meets your needs.
The program cards and table featured on this page were last updated in August 2022. For the most current program information, please refer to the official website of the respective school.
Sponsored online school counseling programs
University of Southern California (USC)
USC Rossier School of Education
Master of Education in School Counseling
The University of Southern California Rossier School of Education offers a Master of Education in School Counseling online for aspiring K-12 school counselors. The program can be completed in less than two years and there is no GRE requirement.
- No GRE required
- Prepares you for school counseling credential
- Bachelor’s degree required
University of Denver
Morgridge College of Education Online
Master of Arts in School Counseling
Advocate for P-12 students and become an agent of change in your community. With no GRE required, earn your Master in School Counseling online in as few as 24 months from the University of Denver. Gain valuable skills through a CACREP accredited curriculum centered on social justice.
- No GRE required
- Live, online classes
- Complete in as few as 24 months
New York University
NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development
Master of Arts in Counseling and Guidance
Learn more about NYU Steinhardt’s online MA degree that prepares you to become a school counselor in as few as 18 months. Graduates can pursue certification and employment in pre-K–12 schools. Bachelor’s req.
- Complete in as few as 18 months.
- Pursue school counselor certification.
- Study bilingual school counseling (optional).
- GRE scores are not required.
SPONSORED
| University and Program Name | Test Requirement | Study Length | Number of Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adams State University Master of Arts in School Counseling | No GRE Required | 2 years | 60 |
| Bradley University Master of Arts in Professional School Counseling | No GRE Required | 2 years | 60 |
| University of Louisiana Monroe Masters of Science in School Counseling | No GRE Required | 2 years | 60 |
| Capella University Master of Science in School Counseling | No GRE Required | 2+ years | 72 quarter credits |
| Boston College Master of Arts in School Counseling | No GRE Required | 2+ years | 48 |
| Liberty University Master of Education in School Counseling | No GRE Required | 2.5 years | 48 |
| California State University of Sacramento Master of Science in Counseling, Concentration in School Counseling with Embedded PPS Credential | No GRE Required | 2 years | 60 |
| University of Massachusetts in Boston Masters of Education in Counseling | No GRE Required | 2 years | 60 |
|
New York University
Master of Arts in Counseling and Guidance SPONSORED | No GRE Required | As few as 18 months | 48 |
|
University of Denver
Master of Arts in School Counseling SPONSORED | No GRE Required | As few as 24 months | 72 quarter credits |
|
University of Southern California (USC)
Master of Education in School Counseling SPONSORED | No GRE Required | 2-3 years | 49 |
SPONSORED
List of online master’s in school counseling programs with no GRE requirement
Adams State University
Department of Counselor Education and Family Therapy
Master of Arts in School Counseling
Alamosa, Colorado
Name of Degree: Master of Arts in School Counseling
Enrollment Type: Full-Time
Length of Program: 2 years
Credits: 60
Concentrations: N/AAdmission Requirements:
- Undergraduate degree
- Two official transcripts
- CV/resume
- Two essays (professional and personal)
- Three letters of recommendation
Bradley University
College of Education and Health Sciences
Master of Arts in Professional School Counseling
Peoria, Illinois
Name of Degree: Master of Arts in Professional School Counseling
Enrollment Type: Full-Time
Length of Program: 2 years
Credits: 60
Concentrations: N/AAdmission Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree
- Official transcripts
- Statement of Purpose
- CV/resume
- Three letters of recommendation
- TOEFL, valid ID, and proof of funds (international students)
University of Louisiana Monroe
College of Health Sciences
Masters of Science in School Counseling
Monroe, Louisiana
Name of Degree: Masters of Science in School Counseling
Enrollment Type: Full-Time
Length of Program: 2 years
Credits: 60
Concentrations: N/AAdmission Requirements:
- CV/resume
- Letter of interest
- Three letters of recommendation
Capella University
Master of Science in School Counseling
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Name of Degree: Master of Science in School Counseling
Enrollment Type: Full-Time
Length of Program: 2+ years
Credits: 72 quarter credits
Concentrations: N/AAdmission Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree
- Official transcripts
- Two letters of recommendation
- CV/resume
- Personal essay
- Valid ID
- Proof of fluency and transcript evaluation (for international applicants)
Boston College
School of Education and Human Development
Master of Arts in School Counseling
Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts
Name of Degree: Master of Arts in School Counseling
Enrollment Type: Full-Time and Part-Time
Length of Program: 2+ years
Credits: 48
Concentrations: N/AAdmission Requirements:
- CV/resume
- Personal essay
- Two letters of recommendation
- Unofficial/official transcripts
- TOEFL and transcript evaluation (for international applicants)
Liberty University
School of Behavioral Sciences
Master of Education in School Counseling
Lynchburg, Virginia
Name of Degree: Master of Education in School Counseling
Enrollment Type: Full-Time
Length of Program: 2.5 years
Credits: 48
Concentrations: N/AAdmission Requirements:
- Two references
- Bachelors degree
- Course prerequisite in statistics (3 credit hours)
- Statement of purpose
- Official transcripts
- Completion of form agreeing to Mission/Diversity Statement
- Proof of proficiency in English
California State University of Sacramento
College of Education
Master of Science in Counseling, Concentration in School Counseling with Embedded PPS Credential
Sacramento, California
Name of Degree: Master of Science in Counseling, Concentration in School Counseling with Embedded PPS Credential
Enrollment Type: Full-Time
Length of Program: 2 years
Credits: 60
Concentrations: N/AAdmission Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree
- Written statement
- Official transcripts
- Two letters of recommendation
- CV/resume
- Interview
North Carolina State University
College of Education
Master of Education in School Counseling
Raleigh, North Carolina
Name of Degree: Master of Education in School Counseling
Enrollment Type: Part-Time
Length of Program: 3 years
Credits: 60
Concentrations: N/AAdmission Requirements:
- Official transcripts
- Bachelors degree
- Three letters of recommendation
- TOEFL (for international applicants)
Regent University
Master of Arts in School Counseling
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Name of Degree: Master of Arts in School Counseling
Enrollment Type: Full-Time
Length of Program: 2 years
Credits: 60
Concentrations: N/AAdmission Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree
- Background survey
- Unofficial/official transcripts
- Three references
- Valid ID
- Interview
University of Massachusetts in Boston
College of Education and Human Development
Masters of Education in Counseling
Boston, Massachusetts
Name of Degree: Masters of Education in Counseling
Enrollment Type: Full-Time
Length of Program: 2 years
Credits: 60
Concentrations:Adjustment Counseling
Admission Requirements:
- CV/resume
- Letter of interest
- Three letters of recommendation
New York University
NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development
Master of Arts in Counseling and Guidance
New York, New York
The Counseling@NYU program is designed for aspiring school counselors who want to help diverse pre-K–12 students succeed academically, socially, and emotionally. The online MA degree program is delivered by the NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, which educates students to use their knowledge creatively to inspire social change.
Enrollment Type: Full-Time
Length of Program: As few as 18 months
Credits: 48
University of Denver
Morgridge College of Education Online
Master of Arts in School Counseling
Denver, Colorado
Advocate for P-12 students and become an agent of change in your community. With no GRE required, earn your Master in School Counseling online in as few as 24 months from the University of Denver. Gain valuable skills through a CACREP accredited curriculum centered on social justice.
Enrollment Type: Full-Time
Length of Program: As few as 24 months
Credits: 72 quarter credits
Admission Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution
- Cumulative 2.5 on a 4.0 scale or a 2.5 on a 4.0 scale for the last 60 semester credits or 90 quarter credits
- Two letters of recommendation
- Current resume
- Unofficial transcripts from all postsecondary institutions you attended; if admitted, official transcripts will be required
- Statement of professional goals
- Diversity statement
SPONSORED
University of Southern California (USC)
USC Rossier School of Education
Master of Education in School Counseling
Los Angeles, California
The University of Southern California Rossier School of Education offers a Master of Education in School Counseling online for aspiring K-12 school counselors. This program prepares students to pursue their credential as a school counselor and focuses on three core areas of study: college and career readiness, restorative justice, and trauma informed practices.
Enrollment Type: Full-Time
Length of Program: 2-3 years
Credits: 49
Admission Requirements:
- A bachelor’s degree or its recognized equivalent from a regionally accredited institution
- A superior scholastic record, normally above a 3.0 GPA
- The ability to communicate effectively (both written and verbal) as demonstrated by academic performance and/or professional experience
- A Statement of Purpose
- Two short-answer responses
- Employment Information
- A minimum of two letters of recommendation
- Basic Skills Requirement
SPONSORED
What to look for in an online master’s in school counseling program
State licensure requirements
The National Board for Certified Counselors compiles an online directory with information about each state’s licensure requirements for counselors. Your state’s department of education can also provide helpful information.
When seeking licensure, be sure to carefully consider the state’s specifications regarding the required number of academic credit hours or courses. You may also want to learn about requirements for components such as a practicum, internship, or fieldwork hours before enrolling. Consider your state’s accreditation requirements for educational institutions and online graduate programs.
CACREP accreditation
The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) develops nationally recognized accreditation standards for counseling programs. When choosing an online master’s in school counseling program with no GRE requirement, it is important to consider CACREP accreditation status. Some states, such as Colorado, only license graduates from CACREP-accredited programs (PDF, 146 KB).
Experience and personal development
Counselors cultivate essential therapeutic skills, including empathy, setting boundaries, and effective communication, to help them excel in their roles. Students may practice therapeutic skills in an internship or practicum. Consider looking for a program that encourages self-exploration to deepen therapeutic skills and sets students up for opportunities to practice outside of the classroom.
FAQ
Schools may have a GRE waiver or no GRE requirement. Both may rely on other application materials to gauge whether you are a good fit for their program. A waiver typically requires an alternative test score such as a MAT or GMAT. Depending on the institution, an advanced degree or cumulative GPA above a certain threshold may also help get waiver approval for the GRE requirement. Schools with no GRE requirement typically don’t ask you to take the GRE test and don’t require supplemental information. Students should verify the specific requirements with the university they are considering.
School counselors work in a variety of environments and schools. They work with youth, helping them navigate life transitions and family situations, giving guidance about major choices, and generally helping develop individuals’ wellbeing. Different states have different requirements for becoming a school or guidance counselor.
The median annual wage for school and career counselors was $60,140 in May 2022, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The same data indicates that the highest 10% of counselors earned more than $98,530 while the lowest 10% earned less than $38,280. The highest earners worked at state, local, and private elementary or secondary schools.
Sponsored online school counseling programs
Last updated December 2023