Choosing a counseling degree in Idaho starts with a career question: Do you want to provide mental health care, counsel students in schools, or work with couples and families? Those goals can lead to different programs and credentials. This guide explains how to compare training, cost, licensure fit, and career prospects. It also features a 2027 Best Counseling Degree Programs Ranking in Idaho, created by the Research.com team of data scientists to help students make an informed choice about which programs are worth considering.
Key findings about Counseling degrees in Idaho
Start with the intended credential: Idaho clinical counseling licensure, marriage and family therapy licensure, and school certification have different requirements; a degree title alone does not establish eligibility.
National median annual pay in May 2025 was $59,350 for the BLS occupation covering mental health and addiction counselors and $64,330 for school and career counselors. These are occupational benchmarks, not Idaho graduate salaries (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Compare the full cost of required credits, supervised placements, and time away from work. Research.com includes cost in its Best ranking, but a program's fit with your career goal and Idaho credential requirements matters more than its rank alone.
What can I expect from a Counseling degree in Idaho?
Most readers seeking to practice independently should compare master's programs, not just undergraduate counseling-related majors. A bachelor's degree can support entry into human services, but clinical counseling and marriage and family therapy typically require graduate education followed by additional credentialing. School counseling follows an education-certification pathway rather than the same license used for private clinical practice (Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses; Idaho State Department of Education).
Idaho offers distinct options in clinical mental health, school, addiction, and marriage, couple, and family counseling at institutions including Idaho State University, Boise State University, and Northwest Nazarene University (institutional program pages). The most popular counseling programs can help identify commonly chosen options, but enrollment popularity does not show whether a program fits your intended credential.
Expect counseling theory, ethics, assessment, and supervised work with clients or students. Before applying, ask which Idaho credential the curriculum is designed to support, whether placements can be completed near your home, and which requirements remain after graduation.
Where can I work with a Counseling degree in Idaho?
Work settings depend on specialization and credential. Clinical mental health counselors may work in community agencies, health systems, behavioral health practices, or private practice once appropriately licensed. Addiction-focused graduates may work in substance-use treatment programs; school counselors work in K-12 districts; marriage and family therapists may serve clients in practices or family-service settings (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Location affects the practical value of a program. A student outside the Boise area should ask how the school arranges supervision and placements near home; a placement available near a campus may not be accessible in a rural county. Likewise, someone planning to practice across state lines should check the destination state's rules before choosing an Idaho degree.
The most reliable figures for comparing specializations here are national occupational medians, not estimates of what a particular Idaho graduate will earn. The table pairs May 2025 U.S. median annual pay with BLS projections for 2025-2035; occupations combine workers with different experience levels, employers, and credentials (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook and Employment Projections).
Career direction
U.S. median annual pay, May 2025
Projected U.S. job growth, 2025-2035
Mental health or addiction counseling
$59,350
18%
School counseling
$64,330
3%
Marriage and family therapy
$66,940
14%
Rehabilitation counseling
$46,850
2%
The apparent pay advantage of one field should not decide your degree by itself. Compare the jobs available where you intend to live, any post-degree supervised work needed for licensure, and the earnings you would give up while studying. National medians do not predict an Idaho starting offer.
The programs below address different professional goals, so their most useful distinctions are often the counseling population, credential pathway, or level of study - not a claim that one school is universally better. Use these highlights to identify which program pages merit closer questions about current credits, fieldwork, accreditation, and outcomes (Idaho State University; Northwest Nazarene University; Boise State University program pages).
Idaho State University - clinical mental health counseling: This master's track is the direct ISU option for students targeting clinical mental health work rather than school counseling or family therapy. Ask how its coursework and supervised training map to the Idaho counselor credential you intend to seek.
Idaho State University - marriage and family counseling: Its dedicated family-counseling track makes the intended client population clearer than a general mental health degree. It is the more relevant ISU page for applicants considering Idaho's marriage and family therapy licensing pathway.
Idaho State University - school counseling: This track focuses the degree decision on work with students in schools, not independent clinical practice. Confirm its current alignment with Idaho school-certification requirements and ask how school placements are assigned.
Northwest Nazarene University - school counseling: NNU offers a school-specific option for applicants comparing a private university with Idaho's public programs. Request the current total program price and school-placement arrangements before treating the tuition structure as affordable or expensive.
Northwest Nazarene University - marriage, couple, and family counseling: The named track distinguishes family and couple work from NNU's broader counseling MS. It suits applicants who want to investigate a family-therapy credential, subject to confirmation of current Idaho licensing alignment.
Northwest Nazarene University - counseling MS: This is the page to examine for NNU's broader counseling degree rather than assuming its school or family tracks meet a clinical goal. Ask admissions to identify the exact emphasis, required clinical experiences, and intended post-degree credential.
Boise State University - school counseling: Boise State identifies school counseling as a distinct MA pathway. For applicants seeking work in K-12 education, its school-focused curriculum warrants comparison with the clinical-license pathways, which lead to different credentials.
Boise State University - addiction counseling: The addiction-specific MA pathway offers a more targeted starting point for substance-use treatment goals than a school-counseling degree. Verify how the curriculum relates to the particular Idaho credential and treatment setting you want.
Boise State University - counselor education: The department overview is useful for comparing its counseling pathways, but it is not a substitute for a specific degree plan. Choose a named track and obtain its current requirements before comparing it with another institution's program.
Idaho State University - doctoral program: This is the advanced-study option in the group, intended for applicants considering counselor education and supervision rather than an initial master's credential. Review its research and admission expectations only after deciding whether a doctorate serves your teaching, supervision, or research goal.
Comparison limit: Program pages and requirements can change, and the available descriptions do not establish comparable placement rates, total costs, or licensure-exam results for every option. Request those figures from schools using the same reporting period and definitions before drawing an outcomes-based conclusion.
A full-time counseling master's commonly takes about two to three years; part-time study usually takes longer. A doctorate adds several more years beyond graduate preparation. Your actual schedule depends on required credits, when courses run, and whether practica and internships can be completed alongside paid work (institutional program requirements; Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs).
Graduation and independent practice are separate milestones. Idaho applicants for clinical credentials should budget time for any board-required supervised experience and examinations after or alongside qualifying education, as applicable. Ask for a term-by-term plan that includes fieldwork rather than relying on an advertised classroom completion time (Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses).
Online delivery can reduce commuting and help a working Idaho student stay in their community. It does not remove in-person client or school-based fieldwork, supervision requirements, or the need to meet the credential rules where the graduate plans to practice. A campus program may make scheduled skills practice and local placement coordination easier, but it can require relocation or a substantial commute (institutional program pages; Idaho licensing and education authorities).
Compare formats by asking whether required classes are live or self-paced, where intensives occur, who finds placements, and whether the school approves sites outside its immediate area. For a rural student, a workable supervised placement may matter more than the label "online." Do not assume an online degree offered by an out-of-state school satisfies Idaho requirements.
There is no single Idaho counseling master's price that safely represents these programs: institutions differ in required credits, graduate tuition, fees, and residency rules. Public-university applicants should compare resident and nonresident rates where applicable; applicants to a private university should compare its actual offer after aid. Undergraduate net-price figures are not a substitute for a graduate-program quote (NCES/IPEDS; institutional tuition schedules).
Get a written estimate covering every required term, fees, books, travel, placement-related expenses, and any change in working hours. The most affordable counseling programs offer a useful cost-focused shortlist, but compare total cost to completion, not just tuition per credit. A faster schedule may save living expenses yet be unaffordable if fieldwork prevents you from maintaining employment.
Start with the FAFSA and each school's graduate-aid office. Depending on eligibility, options may include federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans, institutional scholarships, assistantships, employer tuition support, and aid with program-specific conditions. Ask whether an assistantship is compatible with required daytime fieldwork and whether awards continue through the final internship term (Federal Student Aid; institutional financial-aid offices).
Do not build a new graduate budget around Graduate PLUS without checking eligibility. Federal rules changed for new graduate borrowers beginning July 1, 2026; limited transition provisions may apply to qualifying students who borrowed for the same program before the change. Confirm your circumstances and current borrowing limits with Federal Student Aid and your school rather than relying on an older aid estimate (Federal Student Aid).
View the chart data as a table
Median wage by U.S. state - Mental Health Counselors (BLS OEWS, May 2025) (Source: BLS)
State
Value
AK
80,770
AL
47,310
AR
51,580
AZ
65,300
CA
59,250
CO
62,390
CT
63,590
DC
60,450
DE
56,020
FL
56,790
GA
58,960
HI
60,090
IA
60,880
ID
63,360
IL
60,730
IN
53,760
KS
59,470
KY
54,190
LA
37,910
MA
59,890
MD
59,530
ME
59,970
MI
61,690
MN
58,780
MO
56,910
MS
46,990
MT
59,000
NC
55,490
ND
68,630
NE
63,770
NH
54,840
NJ
62,820
NM
74,100
NV
57,210
NY
59,450
OH
58,360
OK
59,350
OR
74,590
PA
52,010
PR
46,790
RI
65,120
SC
52,370
SD
53,650
TN
49,580
TX
62,630
UT
63,890
VA
59,880
VT
61,810
WA
68,910
WI
62,220
WV
49,430
WY
62,980
Master's applicants generally need a bachelor's degree, transcripts, and the materials specified by the program, which may include recommendations, a statement of purpose, or an interview. A counseling-related undergraduate major can be helpful, but applicants changing careers should check each program's prerequisite courses rather than assume their bachelor's major disqualifies them. Doctoral admission may involve different graduate-degree and professional-experience expectations (institutional admissions pages).
Admission is not the same as eligibility for an Idaho credential. Before paying an application fee, obtain the current degree plan and ask the school which state requirements it is designed to meet. If you have previous graduate coursework, request a written transfer-credit evaluation; accepted credits may not replace required supervised clinical or school experiences.
Core graduate study commonly covers counseling theories, interviewing, ethics, multicultural practice, assessment, research, and supervised skills development. Clinical mental health study may place greater emphasis on diagnosis and treatment planning; school counseling adds school systems and student development; family-focused study examines relationships and family systems; addiction study addresses substance-use treatment (institutional curricula; Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs).
Compare required courses, not an elective catalog. A course offered occasionally may not fit your graduation plan, while a required internship can determine where - and when - you can study.
The clearest choices among the featured Idaho programs are clinical mental health, school, addiction, and marriage, couple, and family counseling; counselor education and supervision is an advanced doctoral direction (Idaho State University; Northwest Nazarene University; Boise State University). Rehabilitation counseling is another counseling career field, but do not assume that a featured degree offers it as a track.
Choose by the people you want to serve and the credential the job requires. Someone aiming for a school-district role should investigate school certification; someone aiming to provide family therapy should investigate the marriage and family therapy pathway. A broadly named counseling degree deserves closer scrutiny if its intended credential is not explicit.
The right program is the one you can complete at a defensible cost and use toward your intended work. Treat rankings as a shortlist, then apply these checks to each finalist:
Name the target role and credential. Check the current Idaho board or education-agency requirements against the program's required courses and fieldwork.
Verify recognition. Confirm institutional accreditation and check CACREP's program directory if programmatic accreditation matters to your plans; verify the specific program and accreditation period, not just the university's name.
Test the schedule and placement plan. Ask who secures a site, where supervision occurs, and whether required hours fit your job and location.
Compare the entire investment. Request total program costs and aid, then consider debt, completion likelihood, forgone earnings, baseline and expected post-degree earnings, and how long you expect to work in the field.
Request comparable outcomes. Ask for recent program-level completion, examination, and employment results with reporting years and definitions; do not interpret missing data as a positive result.
The most valuable counseling programs offer another lens, but "value" is personal: a lower-price program is a poor investment if its placement plan is impractical or its curriculum does not serve your credential goal. A common mistake is assuming a degree title - or a high ranking - settles those questions.
View the chart data as a table
Programs by degree level (Source: Research.com)
Category
Value
Master
8
Doctorate
2
A counseling master's can support a path toward clinical mental health counseling, school counseling, addiction counseling, or marriage and family therapy, depending on the curriculum and subsequent credential requirements. A doctorate may suit an experienced counselor seeking counselor-educator, supervision, or research roles. Rehabilitation counseling has its own training considerations and should not be assumed to follow from any general counseling track (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics; Idaho licensing and education authorities).
If you want to enter human services quickly without committing to graduate training, compare bachelor's-level support roles first; they are not interchangeable with independently licensed counseling. Conversely, if independent clinical practice is the goal, favor a master's pathway explicitly aligned with the relevant Idaho license over a short certificate that does not meet degree requirements.
View the chart data as a table
Best score distribution across ranked programs (Source: Research.com)
Category
Value
84-85
1
86-87
1
88-89
1
90-91
1
92-93
6
Nationally, BLS projects 18% employment growth from 2025 to 2035 for the occupational group covering substance-use, behavioral-disorder, and mental health counselors. That signals a stronger national growth outlook than the 3% projected for school and career counselors, but neither figure measures Idaho vacancies or promises a job in a preferred county (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections).
Idaho applicants should assess the market at the level where they intend to work: school districts for school counseling, treatment providers for addiction work, and agencies or practices for clinical roles. Check actual postings for credential, supervision, and location requirements before enrolling. Demand for a service does not mean every employer can offer a suitable supervised position to a new graduate.
2027 Best Counseling Degree Programs Ranking in Idaho
Investing in a counseling degree is a consequential decision, especially when the program must fit a specific professional credential. Research.com created its ranking to help readers compare programs using documented outcomes, accreditation, and cost rather than reputation alone. Its team reviews the underlying data for quality, credibility, and accuracy; readers should still confirm current program details directly with each school.
The Best ranking first calculates a graduate-outcomes-and-accreditation score: program completion accounts for 40%, employment or doctoral admission for 20%, applicable licensure-exam pass rates for 20%, CACREP programmatic accreditation for 16%, and institutional Title IV eligibility for 4%. Shares are renormalized when a criterion does not apply. Program cost then contributes about 7% of the final score. The method applies to online and on-campus programs alike; other Research.com rankings order programs by the dimension named in their titles. The ranking draws on these data sources:
IPEDS database - institutional enrollment, completions, and reported costs.
Peterson's database - program and institutional information used in comparisons.
These measures help narrow a shortlist, not settle an individual licensing or affordability decision. See Research.com's methodology for more on how the rankings are created.
# 1 position
Idaho State University
Master
Master of Counseling (M.Coun.) - Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Delivery mode: campus
93.76
/ 100
Final score
Program length
Equivalent of at least 4 full semesters
Specialization
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Required credits
60 semester credits
GPA range
3.00 - 4.00
Program completion rate
92% (2024-25)
Application deadline
January 15
Application process
direct
GRE
no
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree from an accredited college/university (or foreign equivalent), completed before fall enrollment; minimum 3.0 GPA (calculated on last 60± undergraduate semester credits).
Additional requirements
ISU Graduate School online application; maximum two-page statement of purpose; contact emails for three letters of recommendation; official transcripts; on-campus interview with the Department of Counseling Admissions Committee.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU).
Idaho State University earned a Research.com Counseling Program Score of 93.76/100, with 92% program completion rate among the verified supporting factors. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2027-10-31.
# 2 position
Idaho State University
Master
Master of Counseling (M.Coun.) - Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling
Delivery mode: campus
93.55
/ 100
Final score
Program length
At least 4 full semesters
Specialization
Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling
Required credits
60 semester credits
GPA range
3.00 - 4.00
Program completion rate
100% (2025)
Application deadline
January 15 (preferred application date); secondary admissions may occur April 15 if seats remain.
Application process
direct
Prerequisites
Accredited bachelor's degree; minimum 2.50 GPA on last 60 undergraduate credits (2.50-2.999 carries performance requirements); on-campus interview (Pocatello or Meridian); three letters of recommendation.
Additional requirements
ISU Graduate School online application, statement of purpose of no more than two pages, contact emails for three recommenders who are not relatives, all university transcripts, and an admissions interview, normally on campus.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU).
Idaho State University earned a Research.com Counseling Program Score of 93.55/100, with 100% program completion rate among the verified supporting factors. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2027-10-31.
# 3 position
Idaho State University
Master
Master of Counseling (M.Coun.) – School Counseling
Delivery mode: campus
93.30
/ 100
Final score
Program length
At least 4 full semesters
Specialization
School Counseling
Required credits
60 semester credits
GPA range
3.00 - 4.00
Program completion rate
100% (2025)
Application deadline
January 15 (preferred)
Application process
direct (ISU Graduate School online application)
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution, completed before fall start
Additional requirements
Graduate School online application; statement of purpose (max two pages); three letters of recommendation; transcripts; on-campus interview with Admissions Committee
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU).
Idaho State University earned a Research.com Counseling Program Score of 93.3/100, with 100% program completion rate among the verified supporting factors. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2027-10-31.
# 4 position
Northwest Nazarene University
Master
School Counseling, Master of Science
Delivery mode: campus
92.66
/ 100
Final score
Program length
Average completion: 8 semesters (33 months); completion deadline: 6 years
Specialization
School Counseling
Required credits
60 semester credits
GPA range
3.00 - 4.00
Program completion rate
80% (2024-25)
Employment or doctoral admission
100% (2024-25)
Application deadline
Fall: Feb 1; Spring: Sep 1
Application process
direct
GRE
no
Prerequisites
Cumulative 3.0 baccalaureate GPA (below 3.0 requires an explanatory letter); TOEFL if English is not native language (min 550 paper/213 electronic/85 iBT, writing and speaking 22+, no score under 20).
Additional requirements
References, transcripts, a program interview, a resume, a biographical background, writing samples, observation of applicants in group and mock counseling experiences, and results of a background check (at applicant's expense).
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU).
Northwest Nazarene University earned a Research.com Counseling Program Score of 92.66/100, supported by 80% program completion rate and 100% employment or doctoral admission rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2033-10-31.
# 5 position
Northwest Nazarene University
Master
Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling, Master of Science
Delivery mode: campus
92.66
/ 100
Final score
Program length
33 months on average (8 semesters)
Specialization
Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling
Required credits
60 semester credits
GPA range
3.00 - 4.00
Program completion rate
80% (2024-25)
Employment or doctoral admission
100% (2024-25)
Application deadline
Fall: February 1; Spring: September 1
Application process
direct
GRE
no
Prerequisites
Baccalaureate degree with cumulative GPA of 3.0 (applicants below 3.0 must submit explanatory letter for faculty review); TOEFL for non-native English speakers
Additional requirements
References, transcripts, program interview, resume, biographical background, writing samples, observation in group and mock counseling experiences, background check
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU).
Northwest Nazarene University earned a Research.com Counseling Program Score of 92.66/100, supported by 80% program completion rate and 100% employment or doctoral admission rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2033-10-31.
# 6 position
Northwest Nazarene University
Master
Counseling: Clinical Mental Health, Master of Science
Delivery mode: campus
92.66
/ 100
Final score
Program length
8 semesters (an average of 33 months)
Specialization
Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Required credits
60 semester credits
GPA range
3.00 - 4.00
Program completion rate
90% (2024-25)
Employment or doctoral admission
94% (2024-25)
Application process
direct
GRE
no
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 in the baccalaureate program (applicants below 3.0 must submit an explanatory letter for faculty review); English proficiency via TOEFL required if English is not the applicant's native language
Additional requirements
References, transcripts, program interview, resume, biographical background, writing samples, observation in group and mock counseling experiences, and a background check (at applicant's expense); TOEFL if English is not native language.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU).
Northwest Nazarene University earned a Research.com Counseling Program Score of 92.66/100, supported by 90% program completion rate and 94% employment or doctoral admission rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2033-10-31.
# 7 position
Boise State University
Master
Master of Arts in Counseling: School Counseling Cognate
Delivery mode: campus
91.19
/ 100
Final score
Program length
3-year sequence (Year 1 Fall through Year 3 Spring)
Specialization
School Counseling
Required credits
60 semester credits
GPA range
3.00 - 4.00
Program completion rate
88%
Employment or doctoral admission
88% (2021-22)
Application deadline
February 1 (for Fall enrollment)
Application process
direct
GRE
no
Prerequisites
Baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution; cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.00 on a 4.00 scale.
Additional requirements
Letter of Application (experience, interest, career goals), current Resume/CV, three current Letters of Reference, official transcripts via the Graduate College; admission also involves an interview with program faculty and the Advisory Board.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU).
Boise State University earned a Research.com Counseling Program Score of 91.19/100, supported by 88% program completion rate and 88% employment or doctoral admission rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2033-10-31.
# 8 position
Boise State University
Master
Master of Arts in Counseling: Addiction Counseling Cognate
Delivery mode: campus
89.30
/ 100
Final score
Program length
3 years (Year 1, Year 2, Year 3 course sequence)
Specialization
Addiction Counseling
Required credits
60 semester credits
GPA range
3.00 - 4.00
Program completion rate
57%
Employment or doctoral admission
100% (2021-22)
Licensure exam pass rate
100% (2024)
Application deadline
Fall: February 1 (of previous spring)
Application process
direct
GRE
no
Prerequisites
Baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution; cumulative undergraduate GPA of at least 3.00 on a 4.00 scale.
Additional requirements
Letter of Application (professional experience, interest, career goals), current résumé/CV, three current letters of reference, official transcripts, non-reimbursable application fee.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU).
Boise State University earned a Research.com Counseling Program Score of 89.3/100, supported by 100% licensure exam pass rate and 57% program completion rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2033-10-31.
# 9 position
Boise State University
Doctor
PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision
Delivery mode: campus
86.66
/ 100
Final score
Specialization
Counselor Education and Supervision
Program completion rate
100%
Employment or doctoral admission
100% (2019, 2021, 2023)
Application process
direct
GRE
yes
Additional requirements
Graduate Admission Application by February 1 (fall entry); baccalaureate and master's degree from a regionally accredited institution (or international equivalent), field of study counseling;
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU).
Boise State University earned a Research.com Counseling Program Score of 86.66/100, supported by 100% program completion rate and 100% employment or doctoral admission rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2033-10-31.
# 10 position
Idaho State University
Doctor
Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Counseling
Delivery mode: campus
85.17
/ 100
Final score
Specialization
Counselor Education and Supervision
Required credits
60 semester credits
GPA range
3.00 - 4.00
Program completion rate
56% (2024-25)
Employment or doctoral admission
100% (2023-24)
Application deadline
December 1
Application process
direct
GRE
no
Prerequisites
Master's from a CACREP program plus Idaho (or comparable) counselor license; OR counseling master's plus NCC and an Idaho license application; OR counseling master's, 1 year post-master's experience, CACREP core courses, NCC or Idaho license.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU).
Idaho State University earned a Research.com Counseling Program Score of 85.17/100, supported by 56% program completion rate and 100% employment or doctoral admission rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2027-10-31.
Frequently asked questions about Counseling degree in Idaho
Do I need a master's degree to become a counselor in Idaho?
A graduate degree is generally central to the professional clinical counseling and school-counseling pathways discussed here. The precise education and other requirements depend on the Idaho license or school credential sought; check the relevant state authority before selecting a program.
Does a counseling master's automatically qualify me for independent practice?
No. Graduation, supervised experience, examinations, and state approval are distinct steps where applicable. Ask the school to explain which requirements its degree fulfills and which remain afterward (Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses).
Is CACREP accreditation required for every Idaho counseling job?
Do not assume one rule covers every job or credential. Check the current Idaho requirements for your intended pathway and verify any claimed programmatic accreditation in CACREP's directory.
Can I earn an Idaho counseling degree online?
Delivery options vary by program. Even when coursework is online, expect supervised fieldwork with an approved site; confirm any campus visits and local placement arrangements before applying.
How should I compare public and private programs?
Compare the actual aid-adjusted total cost, credential fit, time to completion, and placement feasibility. Public versus private status alone does not determine affordability or career value.
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