Online Master's Degree in Substance Abuse Counseling - Best of 2024

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Why Earn a Master’s in Substance Abuse Counseling?

A master’s degree in addiction counseling program is a graduate degree that will stand as the pinnacle of your career. With a graduate degree, you will be able to earn more and achieve more than those with an associate or bachelor’s degree. A master's in addiction counseling degree program will also provide graduate students with the knowledge and skills necessary to help more people recover from their addicted state.

A master’s degree in substance abuse counseling is generally considered a professional degree that is intended to increase your efficacy in doing your job. During the course of the degree, you may be able to specialize in a particular concentration area, such as juvenile addiction issues, or the impact on certain ethnic populations. Such specialization will help you build a practice that reflects your specific passions.

A master’s degree in this field should take approximately two years. However, there are concurrent baccalaureate/graduate addiction counseling degree programs that can issue a diploma in approximately five years, provided that you remain full-time and complete the necessary courses in a timely fashion. Furthermore, you can complete your graduate schooling either online, on-campus, or via some mixture of the two. Keep in mind that if you still need to achieve a state license you will need to both pass your state’s required examination and complete an internship.

These programs may vary from school to school, but, generally, they will provide future mental health counselors, addiction counselors, and substance abuse counselors with core courses in their counseling degree that cover many of the following subjects.

Addiction Counseling and Prevention
Substance Use Disorders
Counseling Theory and Practice
Co-Occurring Disorders
Addiction Treatment
Mental Health Treatment
Counseling Theories in Rehabilitation Counseling
One-on-One, Group Counseling, and Other Types of Addictions Counseling
And More

Compare Popular Online Substance Abuse Counseling Programs

PROS

There are many positive aspects of achieving a master’s degree in addiction counseling or a substance abuse counseling program. First is the fact that, once you graduate, you will be a true master of your field. Your knowledge of addiction and recovery will be only matched by other graduate students, and your ability to implement that knowledge in a clinical setting through rehabilitation counseling and group counseling will likewise be beyond reproach.

A graduate addiction counseling degree will also open up opportunities for greater professional certifications for addiction and substance abuse counselors. Those with master's degrees, such as an MS in Addiction Counseling, usually find that many barriers are removed once they graduate with their higher degrees. If you are part of a professional association, you might find that leadership positions come easier than they did prior to the degree.

Once you have your graduate degree, you will find that your employment prospects improve greatly, whether you choose to work as an addiction counselor or another type of professional counselor. If you have a LinkedIn account, you may be deluged by recruiters who are attracted to your elevated credentials. After all, those with a graduate degree are eligible for higher pay, more promotions, and overall higher status in the counseling community within a variety of settings.

CONS

Though it may seem like there are nothing but positive attributes to completing a master's in addiction counseling program, there can be drawbacks. One drawback is that, if you decide that you are burned out on the profession, you will have a very specific degree that doesn’t apply in many other areas. There are also no guarantees that the degree will pay off in the ways you expect.

That is, you might not receive the pay raises and promotions you’d envisioned. Just because you earn the degree doesn’t mean that the area in which you’re employed has the funding or competitiveness to make it worth it. You’ll want to make certain you are in an area with good returns on investment before completing your master’s in addiction counseling program.

Finally, once you graduate with a master's degree, you are sure to have a load of debt to repay. Though there are federal student loan forgiveness programs that apply to those in non-profit or government jobs, that program has been under fire in the U.S. legislature. Your plan to work off the debt might not pan out as you planned.

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Top 25 Best Online Masters in Addiction Counseling Programs

University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Score: 90.17

Graduate Tuition
- In-State: $19,116
- Out-of-State: $29,580
Net Price: $16,018
Acceptance Rate: 75%
Retention Rate: 90%

Graduation Rate: 84%
Total Enrollment: 54,955
Undergrad Students: 39,248
Graduate Students: 15,707
Grads Salary: $80,000
Student-to-faculty: 16:1

Texas Tech University

Score: 80.61

Graduate Tuition
- In-State: $6,956
- Out-of-State: $15,356
Net Price: $17,896
Acceptance Rate: 67%
Retention Rate: 86%

Graduation Rate: 64%
Total Enrollment: 40,378
Undergrad Students: 32,579
Graduate Students: 7,799
Grads Salary: $76,000
Student-to-faculty: 21:1

The University of Alabama

Score: 79.05

Graduate Tuition
- In-State: $11,100
- Out-of-State: $32,400
Net Price: $20,592
Acceptance Rate: 80%
Retention Rate: 87%

Graduation Rate: 73%
Total Enrollment: 38,644
Undergrad Students: 32,458
Graduate Students: 6,186
Grads Salary: $71,000
Student-to-faculty: 19:1

Drexel University

Score: 78.99

Graduate Tuition
- In-State: $36,234
- Out-of-State: $36,234
Net Price: $39,267
Acceptance Rate: 80%
Retention Rate: 87%

Graduation Rate: 78%
Total Enrollment: 22,344
Undergrad Students: 14,021
Graduate Students: 8,323
Grads Salary: $84,000
Student-to-faculty: 9:1

Indiana Wesleyan University

Score: 78.13

Graduate Tuition
- In-State: $11,970
- Out-of-State: $11,970
Net Price: $21,755
Acceptance Rate: 87%
Retention Rate: 78%

Graduation Rate: 67%
Total Enrollment: 2,603
Undergrad Students: 2,236
Graduate Students: 367
Grads Salary: $75,000
Student-to-faculty: 13:1

Elizabethtown College

Score: 77.12

Graduate Tuition
- In-State: $36,166
- Out-of-State: $36,166
Net Price: $26,723
Acceptance Rate: 81%
Retention Rate: 85%

Graduation Rate: 76%
Total Enrollment: 2,021
Undergrad Students: 1,737
Graduate Students: 284
Grads Salary: $70,000
Student-to-faculty: 13:1

Utah State University

Score: 76.36

Graduate Tuition
- In-State: $6,763
- Out-of-State: $23,176
Net Price: $14,577
Acceptance Rate: 94%
Retention Rate: 74%

Graduation Rate: 54%
Total Enrollment: 27,943
Undergrad Students: 24,835
Graduate Students: 3,108
Grads Salary: $76,000
Student-to-faculty: 19:1

Virginia Commonwealth University

Score: 76.29

Graduate Tuition
- In-State: $13,404
- Out-of-State: $27,550
Net Price: $21,294
Acceptance Rate: 91%
Retention Rate: 85%

Graduation Rate: 65%
Total Enrollment: 28,082
Undergrad Students: 20,958
Graduate Students: 7,124
Grads Salary: $72,000
Student-to-faculty: 16:1

Nova Southeastern University

Score: 75.13

Graduate Tuition
- In-State: $22,890
- Out-of-State: $22,890
Net Price: $29,589
Acceptance Rate: 76%
Retention Rate: 78%

Graduation Rate: 62%
Total Enrollment: 20,948
Undergrad Students: 6,971
Graduate Students: 13,977
Grads Salary: $80,000
Student-to-faculty: 17:1

Thomas University

Score: 74.19

Graduate Tuition
- In-State: $13,050
- Out-of-State: $13,050
Net Price: $16,308
Acceptance Rate: 46%
Retention Rate: 36%

Graduation Rate: 67%
Total Enrollment: 1,531
Undergrad Students: 793
Graduate Students: 738
Grads Salary: $64,000
Student-to-faculty: 12:1

University of Louisiana at Monroe

Score: 73.89

Graduate Tuition
- In-State: $6,490
- Out-of-State: $18,590
Net Price: $11,353
Acceptance Rate: 70%
Retention Rate: 73%

Graduation Rate: 51%
Total Enrollment: 8,398
Undergrad Students: 6,552
Graduate Students: 1,846
Grads Salary: $65,000
Student-to-faculty: 17:1

Washburn University

Score: 73.7

Graduate Tuition
- In-State: $10,274
- Out-of-State: $19,954
Net Price: $12,473
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 69%

Graduation Rate: 54%
Total Enrollment: 5,460
Undergrad Students: 4,733
Graduate Students: 727
Grads Salary: $68,000
Student-to-faculty: 13:1

Minnesota State University Moorhead

Score: 73.52

Graduate Tuition
- In-State: $10,479
- Out-of-State: $10,479
Net Price: $17,939
Acceptance Rate: 57%
Retention Rate: 72%

Graduation Rate: 55%
Total Enrollment: 4,682
Undergrad Students: 3,729
Graduate Students: 953
Grads Salary: $67,000
Student-to-faculty: 17:1

Regent University

Score: 72.82

Graduate Tuition
- In-State: $16,128
- Out-of-State: $16,128
Net Price: $17,341
Acceptance Rate: 32%
Retention Rate: 70%

Graduation Rate: 55%
Total Enrollment: 10,337
Undergrad Students: 4,541
Graduate Students: 5,796
Grads Salary: $63,000
Student-to-faculty: 21:1

Eastern Washington University

Score: 72.76

Graduate Tuition
- In-State: $12,698
- Out-of-State: $28,043
Net Price: $12,827
Acceptance Rate: 96%
Retention Rate: 67%

Graduation Rate: 50%
Total Enrollment: 10,910
Undergrad Students: 7,604
Graduate Students: 3,306
Grads Salary: $71,000
Student-to-faculty: 19:1

University of South Dakota

Score: 72.45

Graduate Tuition
- In-State: $6,123
- Out-of-State: $11,773
Net Price: $18,378
Acceptance Rate: 99%
Retention Rate: 82%

Graduation Rate: 57%
Total Enrollment: 9,856
Undergrad Students: 7,132
Graduate Students: 2,724
Grads Salary: $67,000
Student-to-faculty: 14:1

University of Providence

Score: 71.27

Graduate Tuition
- In-State: $24,237
- Out-of-State: $24,237
Net Price: $22,318
Acceptance Rate: 95%
Retention Rate: 67%

Graduation Rate: 41%
Total Enrollment: 955
Undergrad Students: 593
Graduate Students: 362
Grads Salary: $79,000
Student-to-faculty: 7:1

University of the Cumberlands

Score: 71.2

Graduate Tuition
- In-State: $4,260
- Out-of-State: $4,260
Net Price: $14,337
Acceptance Rate: 83%
Retention Rate: 70%

Graduation Rate: 44%
Total Enrollment: 18,053
Undergrad Students: 5,174
Graduate Students: 12,879
Grads Salary: $70,000
Student-to-faculty: 18:1

University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff

Score: 70.38

Graduate Tuition
- In-State: $6,240
- Out-of-State: $13,944
Net Price: $9,959
Acceptance Rate: 69%
Retention Rate: 59%

Graduation Rate: 41%
Total Enrollment: 2,387
Undergrad Students: 2,182
Graduate Students: 205
Grads Salary: $64,000
Student-to-faculty: 13:1

Bay Path University

Score: 70.3

Graduate Tuition
- In-State: $19,235
- Out-of-State: $19,235
Net Price: $18,502
Acceptance Rate: 76%
Retention Rate: 70%

Graduation Rate: 47%
Total Enrollment: 2,465
Undergrad Students: 1,315
Graduate Students: 1,150
Grads Salary: $67,000
Student-to-faculty: 11:1

Grand Canyon University

Score: 67.63

Graduate Tuition
- In-State: $10,138
- Out-of-State: $10,138
Net Price: $21,939
Acceptance Rate: 78%
Retention Rate: 70%

Graduation Rate: 45%
Total Enrollment: 101,816
Undergrad Students: 66,769
Graduate Students: 35,047
Grads Salary: $70,000
Student-to-faculty: 20:1

Governors State University

Score: 67.48

Graduate Tuition
- In-State: $6,624
- Out-of-State: $6,624
Net Price: $9,833
Acceptance Rate: 57%
Retention Rate: 56%

Graduation Rate: 21%
Total Enrollment: 4,427
Undergrad Students: 2,609
Graduate Students: 1,818
Grads Salary: $68,000
Student-to-faculty: 10:1

Western New Mexico University

Score: 66.4

Graduate Tuition
- In-State: $3,958
- Out-of-State: $8,730
Net Price: $10,676
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 62%

Graduation Rate: 31%
Total Enrollment: 3,378
Undergrad Students: 2,377
Graduate Students: 1,001
Grads Salary: $66,000
Student-to-faculty: 11:1

Liberty University

Score: 66.3

Graduate Tuition
- In-State: $7,740
- Out-of-State: $7,740
Net Price: $29,913
Acceptance Rate: 99%
Retention Rate: 79%

Graduation Rate: 66%
Total Enrollment: 96,709
Undergrad Students: 48,906
Graduate Students: 47,803
Grads Salary: $63,000
Student-to-faculty: 18:1

Union College

Score: 66.15

Graduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,880
- Out-of-State: $8,880
Net Price: $18,221
Acceptance Rate: 53%
Retention Rate: 59%

Graduation Rate: 33%
Total Enrollment: 970
Undergrad Students: 724
Graduate Students: 246
Grads Salary: $65,000
Student-to-faculty: 9:1

Overview of an Online Master's in Substance Abuse Counseling

What Substance Abuse Counseling Master’s Degrees are Available Online?

Online Master of Science in Substance Abuse Counseling:
A Master of Science degree is generally one that focuses on statistical analysis of the field. In some ways, the curriculum might seem like a sociology degree with counseling courses added in. Nevertheless, if your state licensing board requires certain qualitative subjects, your program is sure to offer them.
Online Master of Arts in Substance Abuse Counseling:
An MA is a degree that typically focuses more on qualitative subject matter than hard STEM-like topics. Your focus will likely be on counseling and psychological theories rather than hard data.
Online Master of Human Services – Substance Abuse Concentration:
This is a more broad-based approach that will focus on issues related to human services and then provide a few courses that will help you attain licensure as a substance abuse counselor. This approach might help if you are seeking a supervisory position or otherwise desire a broader scope of knowledge.
Online Master of Social Work:
An MSW degree will allow you to work as a psychotherapist for a variety of populations. You can have a practice that focuses on substance abuse, but also work with the families and spouses of addicts. On top of this, those with MSW degrees are able to take jobs with governmental or other agencies.

Admission Requirements

To gain admission to graduate school, you are sure to need top grades from your undergraduate addiction program. As a general rule of thumb, the lower end of GPA requirements tends to be around 2.25. You may also need to submit GRE scores that meet your dream program’s minimum requirements.

Since you are applying to become a master of your field, you may also need to submit an essay that reflects your experience in the field, and your hopes and plans for the rest of your career. The program may also wish to see a resume and/or letters of recommendation from your supervisors.

How long does it take to earn a Substance Abuse Counseling Master’s Online?

Though each online addiction studies program is slightly different, you should count on an online master’s degree in substance abuse counseling taking two years of full-time work. Many online programs also have a fast-track option that might result in graduation in a year and a half, or you could protract your studies for up to four years. However, many online programs have a time limit for graduation.

It is to your advantage to prioritize your graduate studies and finish in a timely fashion. You will not only feel better once you expedite your graduation, but you will be able to start reaping the rewards of your hard work as soon as possible.

Find Online Addictions Recovery Schools

Potential Careers in Substance Abuse Counseling with an Online Master’s

Social Worker
This profession is very broad-based. For instance, some social workers help houseless individuals find resources for improving health and well-being while others work with mentally disabled people who need a day program.
The average salary for social workers is $49,500.
Marriage and Family Counselor
This counseling specialty focuses on helping couples navigate the difficulties associated with marriage and raising a family. Professionals in this field frequently find that substance abuse issues are causing discord in the family structure.
The average salary for this profession is $46,100.
Substance Abuse Counselor
This profession is chiefly concerned with helping addicts recover from the cunning disease of addiction. When you complete your online master’s degree, you can easily focus on specific age groups, genders, or other populations for your practice.
The average yearly salary for this position is $38,800 which includes practitioners at all educational levels.
School Counselor
Even children need someone to help navigate the difficulties of life. You will help them and their families find services. You may also help them deal with drug or alcohol dependency issues when they find they have nowhere else to turn.
The average income for this occupation is $56,300.
Probation Officer
Substance abuse problems are rampant in the correctional system. If you work as a juvenile probation officer, you will have a chance to function as a counselor and with a social work function as you’ll need to coordinate with a child’s support network to help them get out and stay out of the corrections system.
The average salary for this position is $53,000.

Salary by Occupation

Occupations	Entry-Level	Mid-Career	Late-Career
Substance Abuse Counselor	$35,800	$41,500	$48,800
Program Manager	$44,400	$54,900	$60,200
Rehabilitation Director	$79,600	$89,600	$96,600
Certified Addiction Drug and Alcohol Counselor	$37,200	$40,700	$42,700
Clinical Psychologist	$62,300	$63,800	$76,700
Licensed Clinical Social Worker	$48,100	$59,400	$65,000

Options to Advance

Once you have an online master's degree in substance abuse counseling, you will have many options to advance. Your focused, specialized degree will help you command higher salary and achieve the promotions you have always wanted. Further, if you decide to start your own online rehabilitation program, your credentials will be a great boon.

Furthermore, your advanced skills will inform your ability to help addicts and alcoholics on a higher level than before. Your graduate degree will not only facilitate professional kudos, but you will have the personal satisfaction of seeing your abilities manifest in the long-term sobriety and health of cherished clients.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a master’s to work as a substance abuse counselor?

This is a tricky question, and the answer most often depends on where you live. Because every state decides what the qualifications are for their in-state counseling licensures, you might need a master’s in Ohio but only require an associate degree across the state line into Indiana. No matter what state you’re in, you are likely going to need licensure, but educational requirements vary from 30 credit hours in pertinent subjects to a master’s degree and hundreds to thousands of hours of experience. Because of this, it’s important that you do your research and find out exactly the education you need in the state in which you plan to practice.

Best Online Masters in Substance Abuse Counseling Degrees for 2024