Best College Counseling and Student Affairs Programs
College counseling and student affairs programs are counseling master’s degrees for campus careers, and CACREP accredits them as their own specialty. This guide profiles 11 universities with current CACREP accreditation in the specialty. Programs vary in licensure preparation, delivery format, fieldwork and career focus, so the right one depends on whether you want to counsel students or lead campus programs.
Jordan spent two years as a resident assistant. She barely remembers the room checks or the fire drills. What stayed with her was the 1 a.m. knock from a first-year who couldn’t stop crying after a brutal midterm week. She remembers the conversation that followed, too. By senior year she knew she wanted that part of the job full-time. She just didn’t know which degree would get her there.
That’s the question this guide answers. If you’ve been searching for a master’s in college counseling, this is the specialty you’re looking for. Some universities call these student affairs counseling programs. CACREP accredits them as College Counseling and Student Affairs (CCSA), separately from school counseling and clinical mental health counseling. Only a handful of universities hold it.
One thing to know up front: CACREP accreditation means a program meets the profession’s education standards. It doesn’t license you. Licensure depends on the state where you plan to practice. Each profile below explains how the program works, where students do their fieldwork, how it approaches licensure, and who it fits best.
College Counselor or High School College Counselor?
The title means two different jobs. In a high school, a “college counselor” helps seniors choose colleges, write applications and sort out financial aid. That’s a school counseling role, and you can read more about what a high school counselor does in our guide.
This guide is about the other kind. College counselors and student affairs professionals work on college and university campuses. They staff counseling and career centers, run residence halls, advise students and support them through the transition to adult life.
Those roles aren’t all regulated the same way. Jobs in residence life, student activities, advising and campus administration generally don’t require a counseling license. Positions that provide mental health counseling may, depending on the duties and the state.
What Makes a College Counseling and Student Affairs Program Strong
1. CACREP Accreditation in This Specialty
CACREP accredits programs one specialty at a time. A university can hold CACREP accreditation for school counseling and still run a student affairs degree that isn’t accredited. Shippensburg and South Dakota State both offer a separate student affairs degree alongside their accredited one. Check that the exact program you’re applying to is the accredited one. You can look up any program’s current status in CACREP’s program directory.
2. A Clear Answer on Licensure
Some programs are built to support a professional counseling license. Others focus on student affairs work that doesn’t require one. Youngstown State lets you choose between the two tracks. Ask every program which path its curriculum supports in the state where you plan to work.
3. Fieldwork in Real Campus Settings
Your internship is where the specialty becomes real. Strong programs place students in counseling centers, career offices, residence life, advising and student conduct. Ask where recent students interned and who helps arrange the site.
4. Assistantships and Paid Campus Roles
Some programs help students find graduate assistantships. These are part-time campus jobs that build experience and can lower your costs. Youngstown State helps connect students to assistantship openings. NC State lets admitted students apply for residence director positions.
5. A Format You Can Manage
Most programs on this list meet on campus. A few deliver coursework online, and one runs hybrid classes. If you’re working full-time, look closely at part-time options and weekend scheduling.
6. A Door Back to K-12 or Clinical Work
Careers change. Ten of the 11 universities on this list also have a CACREP-accredited school counseling program, and a few offer ways to add a school counseling credential later. A college counseling degree alone doesn’t qualify you for K-12 work, though. Your state’s education agency sets those requirements.
How We Chose These Programs
How this list was built. Every program here is accredited by CACREP in its College Counseling and Student Affairs specialty, verified against each program’s record in the CACREP register on October 8, 2026. Any program whose CACREP status shows a teach-out, closure, show-cause or withdrawal is excluded, because a reader cannot reliably enroll in it, and so is any program whose accreditation has lapsed. This guide covers the programs we identified and confirmed, which may not be every accredited program nationwide. Programs are listed alphabetically, not ranked. Program details come from each university’s own website, never from third-party sites. Where a university runs a separate student affairs degree that CACREP does not accredit, only the accredited program is listed. CACREP accreditation is not the same as state approval or licensure, so check the requirements of the state where you plan to work before you enroll.
The Programs at a Glance
| Program | Degree | Format | Licensure Notes | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Carolina University (NC) | M.S. | Online (CACREP-confirmed), with campus residencies | Depends on your state’s requirements | Online students who want a second specialization |
| Eastern Michigan University (MI) | M.A. | On campus | Intended for students seeking Michigan LLPC/LPC licensure | Future counselors in Michigan higher education |
| Kean University (NJ) | M.A. | On campus, with a weekend option at Kean Ocean | New Jersey’s LAC requires 60 credits in counseling and the NCE | Working adults in New Jersey |
| Monmouth University (NJ) | M.S.Ed. | Hybrid | Meets LPC coursework, per Monmouth. Licensure takes more steps | Students who see student affairs as a helping profession |
| North Carolina State University (NC) | M.Ed. | Online (CACREP-confirmed) or on campus | Depends on your state’s requirements | Future residence directors and North Carolina students |
| San Francisco State University (CA) | M.S. | In person | Depends on your state’s requirements | Bay Area students who want a second emphasis |
| Shippensburg University (PA) | M.S. | On campus | Designed for Pennsylvania’s education requirements. Supervision still required | Students who want a counseling or student personnel focus |
| South Dakota State University (SD) | M.S. | Brookings, Rapid City or online (CACREP-confirmed) | SDSU’s recommended option for students seeking an LPC | Students who want a small program |
| University of North Georgia (GA) | M.S. | On campus | Designed for licensure eligibility, per UNG. Depends on your state | Students who want a counseling-first student affairs program |
| Virginia Commonwealth University (VA) | M.Ed. | Ask the program | Depends on your state’s requirements | Students who want family and addictions counseling coursework |
| Youngstown State University (OH) | M.S.Ed. | Full-time or part-time | Licensure track (60 or 63 credits) or non-licensure track (60 credits) | Students who want to choose their track |
Licensure note: Program completion, CACREP accreditation, national certification and state counseling licensure are separate things. Coursework, exam and supervised experience requirements vary by state, so confirm them with the state licensing board before you enroll.
College Counseling and Student Affairs Programs
Programs are listed alphabetically. Each profile starts with the student it fits best, then explains how the program works.
East Carolina University: M.S. in Counselor Education, Student Affairs and College Counseling
Best for: Students who want an online counseling degree with a student affairs specialization
Location: Greenville, NC | Credits: 60 minimum
Format: Online (CACREP-confirmed), with required on-campus residencies
Accreditation: CACREP-accredited (College Counseling and Student Affairs) through March 31, 2030
ECU’s counselor education program dates to 1951, and today its master’s is offered online. The exception is any required residency on campus. You choose one of three specializations: school counseling, clinical mental health counseling, or student affairs and college counseling.
CACREP accredits each of those specializations separately, and all three are currently accredited. That’s useful if you’re undecided. ECU also gives students room to design elective study around their career interests.
Fieldwork includes a supervised practicum and two internships. Students in this track complete theirs in a student affairs or college counseling setting.
Good to know: ECU’s internship manual puts the job of arranging an internship site on the student. If you live outside North Carolina, start that search early and ask the program how it supports distance placements.
Eastern Michigan University: M.A. in College Counseling
Best for: Students who want a campus program aimed at Michigan counseling licensure
Location: Ypsilanti, MI | Credits: 60 minimum
Format: On campus
Accreditation: CACREP-accredited (College Counseling and Student Affairs) through October 31, 2030
Eastern Michigan’s College Counseling program is designed for people who want to work as professional counselors in higher education. The university names the roles directly: clinical college counseling, career counseling, academic advising, case management and student affairs work. EMU says its counseling programs are intended for students who seek licensure in Michigan as professional counselors (LLPC/LPC). The program has held CACREP accreditation since 2002.
Fieldwork includes a 100-hour practicum and a 600-hour internship. You work with your adviser to identify sites and supervisors, and program faculty manage the internship applications. Ypsilanti sits next to Ann Arbor and about 45 minutes from downtown Detroit.
EMU’s department also runs CACREP-accredited programs in school counseling and clinical mental health counseling. It offers a post-master’s certificate in school counselor licensure, which takes 14 to 30 credits. That’s a practical route if you later decide K-12 work is the better fit.
Good to know: EMU says it doesn’t offer any part of the coursework off-campus, so plan on attending in Ypsilanti.
Kean University: M.A. in Counseling, College Counseling and Student Services
Best for: Working adults in New Jersey who need weekend classes
Location: Union, NJ, with a second site at Kean Ocean | Credits: 48 or 60 (see note below)
Format: On campus at Union, or part-time at Kean Ocean with mostly weekend classes
Accreditation: CACREP-accredited (College Counseling and Student Affairs) through March 31, 2030
Kean’s College Counseling and Student Services option prepares students for student-related jobs in higher education, including campus counseling centers. The catalog says it’s CACREP-accredited at both the Union and Ocean campuses.
For working adults, the Kean Ocean schedule stands out. It runs as a part-time program, with most classes on Saturday and Sunday and some on weeknights. Specialty coursework covers college student services, college counseling and student development, and alcohol and drug abuse counseling. Fieldwork includes a practicum and two internships.
Admission works in two steps. Every student starts with conditional admission. After the first core courses, faculty decide whether you move to full admission. You’ll also take the CPCE, the program’s comprehensive exam.
Good to know: Kean’s 2025-26 catalog lists 48 credits for this option, though it also references a planned move to 60. Kean ties eligibility for New Jersey’s Licensed Associate Counselor (LAC) credential to 60 credits, and the state also requires a passing score on the National Counselor Examination. Confirm your degree requirements, and whether you’d need more coursework for licensure, before you apply.
Monmouth University: M.S.Ed. in Student Affairs and College Counseling
Best for: Students who see student affairs as a helping profession and want a hybrid schedule
Location: West Long Branch, NJ | Credits: 60
Format: Hybrid, with weekly in-person class time and online work
Accreditation: CACREP-accredited (College Counseling and Student Affairs) through October 31, 2033
Monmouth builds its program on a clear idea. Student affairs is a helping profession, not just an administrative function. The coursework reflects that. Alongside student development and campus leadership, you’ll take classes in trauma and crisis, assessment, and race and racism.
Fieldwork is one of the program’s strengths. You’ll complete 700 supervised hours across three placements over several semesters. A dedicated Field Placement Coordinator works with each student to find a site, and you finish with a portfolio built on the ACPA/NASPA professional competencies.
The hybrid format suits people with jobs. Each class meets in person for an hour and 20 minutes a week, and you complete the other half online on your own time. Admission is rolling for fall and spring. You can also add New Jersey school counseling certification with two more courses and two more internships.
Good to know: Monmouth says the program meets the educational coursework requirements for LPC licensure. Licensure itself takes more steps after graduation, set by your state’s licensing board.
North Carolina State University: M.Ed. in College Counseling and Student Development
Best for: North Carolina students, and anyone hoping to work as a residence director while studying
Location: Raleigh, NC | Length: About 3 years
Format: Online (CACREP-confirmed) or on campus
Accreditation: CACREP-accredited (College Counseling and Student Affairs) through March 31, 2030
NC State’s counselor education program was founded in 1946, and its college counseling program has been accredited since 1990. CACREP added the online version in 2016. The program prepares graduates for counseling and advising roles in college student services.
NC State also offers a residence director route. During admissions, you can apply for a residence director position with University Housing. Students who are selected complete the degree over at least three years. NC State says graduates work in college and career counseling, academic advising and student housing. Others go into Greek life, women’s centers, veterans affairs and study abroad offices.
The online version runs as a three-year, part-time cohort that starts in Summer Session I. Both versions require a 100-hour practicum and a 600-hour internship split across fall and spring of the final year. The GRE and MAT are no longer required, and the application deadline is December 1.
Good to know: Practicum and internship must take place at a track-specific site in North Carolina, for online students too. NC State also advises anyone interested in clinical mental health licensure to check their state’s coursework requirements.
San Francisco State University: M.S. in Counseling, College Counseling Specialization
Best for: Bay Area students who want an in-person program with room to add a second emphasis
Location: San Francisco, CA | Credits: 60 units
Format: In person
Accreditation: CACREP-accredited (College Counseling and Student Affairs) through October 31, 2027 (Reaffirmation in Process)
SF State’s college counseling program was first accredited in 1978. Students earn an M.S. in Counseling with a college counseling specialization across at least 60 units. The department enrolled 24 students in the college specialization in 2023-24.
The department lets students add an emphasis in a second area, such as career, school or clinical mental health counseling. That’s useful if you want a college focus but don’t want to close other doors. The department’s 2021-22 report lists internship partners that include UC Berkeley, the University of San Francisco, Skyline College, College of Marin and Berkeley City College.
Good to know: The current accreditation cycle ends October 31, 2027, and reaffirmation is in process. Ask where it stands before you apply, and ask how the specialization fits California’s licensing requirements if you plan to seek a license.
Shippensburg University: M.S. in Counseling, College Counseling and Student Affairs
Best for: Students who want a long-established campus program with a counseling or student personnel focus
Location: Shippensburg, PA | Credits: 60
Format: On campus
Accreditation: CACREP-accredited (College Counseling and Student Affairs) through October 31, 2027
Shippensburg has held accreditation for a student affairs program since 1980, through several changes in CACREP’s titles. Today CACREP accredits two versions of the degree. One has a college counseling focus, and the other has a college student personnel focus.
The program starts with a common core grounded in both clinical and administrative skills. You then plan the rest of your credits with an advisor, depending on whether you lean toward counseling or student affairs leadership. The department also runs the Growing Edges Community Counseling Clinic on campus.
Shippensburg says its 60-credit curriculum is designed to meet Pennsylvania’s education requirements for professional counselor licensure. Post-master’s supervised experience and the state’s other licensing requirements still apply. You can sit for the National Counselor Examination in your final semester.
Good to know: Shippensburg also offers a 36-credit M.S. in Student Affairs that is not CACREP-accredited. If accreditation matters to you, make sure you apply to the 60-credit program.
South Dakota State University: M.S. in Counseling and Human Resource Development, College Counseling
Best for: Students anywhere who want a small program with a counseling license in view
Location: Brookings, SD, with a Rapid City site | Credits: 60 | Length: About 2.5 years full-time
Format: Brookings, Rapid City or online (CACREP-confirmed)
Accreditation: CACREP-accredited (College Counseling and Student Affairs) through October 31, 2033
South Dakota State has held CACREP accreditation in this specialty since 1994. CACREP added digital delivery in July 2024, so you can now complete the program online as well as in Brookings or Rapid City.
This is a small program. SDSU’s 2025 figures show three graduates and seven students enrolled, with 100% completion and 100% placement. If you want close contact with faculty, that size works in your favor. Full-time students typically finish in about two and a half years.
SDSU is direct about which degree to choose. It also offers an M.Ed. in Administration of Student Affairs, but it tells students who want strong counseling skills or LPC status to choose the College Counseling M.S. You can take the National Counselor Examination six months before graduation.
Good to know: Only the M.S. appears in CACREP’s register in this specialty. Check the degree name on your application.
University of North Georgia: M.S. in Counseling, College Counseling and Student Affairs
Best for: Students who want a student affairs program that puts counseling first
Location: Cumming, GA | Credits: 60
Format: On campus
Accreditation: CACREP-accredited (College Counseling and Student Affairs) through October 10, 2031
UNG offers its M.S. in Counseling in three CACREP-accredited tracks: clinical mental health counseling, college counseling and student affairs, and addictions counseling. UNG describes its college track as a counseling curriculum first, built to prepare counselors for student affairs settings.
The program uses problem-based learning and requires practica and internships. Classes meet on the Cumming campus, and internships take place at counseling agencies and colleges in the North Georgia area.
UNG says the degree was designed to meet state and national criteria, so graduates are eligible to apply for counselor licensure and certification. Eligibility to apply isn’t the license itself. Your state’s licensing board sets the remaining requirements.
Good to know: UNG doesn’t offer a school counseling program. If you might want K-12 work later, compare it with universities on this list that offer both.
Virginia Commonwealth University: M.Ed. in Counselor Education, College Counseling and Student Affairs
Best for: Students who want family and addictions counseling coursework alongside student development
Location: Richmond, VA | Credits: 60 | Length: At least 2 years
Format: Ask the program
Accreditation: CACREP-accredited (College Counseling and Student Affairs) through April 30, 2034
VCU’s concentration has been CACREP-accredited since 2007, and its current cycle runs to 2034, the longest on this list. The 60-credit M.Ed. prepares counselors for jobs in higher education, with a minimum of two years of study.
The curriculum pairs student development coursework with clinical classes. Alongside student development services in higher education, you’ll take marriage, couple and family counseling and addictions counseling. Fieldwork includes a practicum and a six-credit internship in college student development and counseling.
VCU’s counselor education program also holds CACREP accreditation for its school counseling track. VCU says the college concentration meets licensure requirements in other states, though some states have different rules.
Good to know: VCU’s program page doesn’t describe the delivery format. Ask about class schedules and whether any courses are online.
Youngstown State University: M.S.Ed. in Counseling, College Counseling and Student Affairs
Best for: Students who want to choose between a licensure track and a student affairs track
Location: Youngstown, OH | Credits: 60 (student affairs track), 60 or 63 (licensure track)
Format: Full-time or part-time
Accreditation: CACREP-accredited (College Counseling and Student Affairs) through October 31, 2031
YSU says it’s the only CACREP-accredited program in this specialty in Ohio. It’s also the clearest example of the licensure question on this list. The College Counseling track prepares you for licensure as a professional counselor. The Student Affairs track prepares you for work across higher education.
Fieldwork totals more than 700 hours. Recent interns have worked in academic advising, admissions, athletics and campus recreation. Others placed in student conduct, the honors college, career services, residence life and student activities. The program says campus offices actively seek its students for graduate assistantships, and faculty help connect you to openings.
Full-time students finish in about two years. The part-time option is built for people already working on a college campus, who have up to six years to finish. Your current job can even become your internship site, with your employer’s and the program’s approval. Admission includes a required interview, and applicants come from many majors.
Good to know: YSU’s program page lists the licensure track at 63 credits, but other YSU materials list 60, so confirm the current total. Ohio’s licensing board sets the requirements for the license itself. YSU also reports 100% job placement six months after graduation, so ask how many graduates that figure covers.
Do College Counselors Need a Counseling License?
It depends on the job. Many student affairs roles, like residence life, student activities and advising, don’t require a counseling license. Roles that provide mental health counseling to students may require one, depending on the duties and the state. Check job postings in the area you’re aiming for.
The programs on this list handle this differently. Youngstown State splits its program into a licensure track and a student affairs track. South Dakota State points future LPCs to its College Counseling M.S. Shippensburg says its 60-credit curriculum is designed for Pennsylvania’s education requirements, with supervised experience still to come after graduation. In New Jersey, the LAC requires 60 graduate semester hours in counseling and a passing score on the National Counselor Examination.
Exams differ by state, too. Confirm which exam applies, and which agency issues the license, with the state where you plan to practice. Ask every program for its state-by-state licensure disclosure before you enroll.
Can You Move Into School Counseling Later?
Not automatically. A college counseling degree doesn’t qualify you to work as a K-12 school counselor on its own. School counselor credentials are issued by each state, usually based on a school counseling program and school-based fieldwork. Our guide walks through the typical path to a school counselor credential.
There are bridges, though. Monmouth lets students add New Jersey school counseling certification with two more courses and two more internships. Eastern Michigan offers a post-master’s certificate for school counselor licensure. And 10 of the 11 universities on this list also have a CACREP-accredited school counseling program.
If you’re still deciding between the two careers, compare programs in both specialties at the same universities. You can compare school counseling master’s degrees in our program guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a college counseling and student affairs degree the same as a higher education administration degree?
Not usually. Many student affairs and higher education degrees aren’t CACREP-accredited and aren’t built around counseling. Shippensburg and South Dakota State each run a separate student affairs degree alongside their accredited counseling program. If counseling is part of your goal, choose the CACREP-accredited version.
Are there online college counseling and student affairs programs?
Yes, a few. CACREP confirms online delivery for East Carolina, NC State and South Dakota State. Each still requires in-person fieldwork, and NC State requires your practicum and internship sites to be in North Carolina. ECU also has required campus residencies. If you’re also weighing K-12 work, our guide to online school counseling programs covers that side.
Will a college counseling degree qualify me to work as a K-12 school counselor?
Not on its own. School counselor credentials are state-specific and usually require a school counseling program with school-based fieldwork. Some universities offer add-on routes, like Monmouth’s New Jersey certification option and Eastern Michigan’s post-master’s certificate.
How long does a college counseling and student affairs program take?
Most programs require around 60 credits. Full-time students usually finish in two to three years. Youngstown State’s full-time path takes about two years, South Dakota State’s typically takes two and a half, and NC State’s takes about three. Part-time options can take longer.
- Accreditation is program-specific: Some universities run a student affairs degree CACREP doesn’t accredit, so check the exact program.
- Licensure varies: Some programs support a counseling license, and others focus on student affairs work. Your state sets the licensing rules.
- Fieldwork shapes your career: Ask where recent interns worked and who arranges your site.
- Online options are limited: CACREP confirms online delivery for three programs on this list.
- You can keep K-12 in view: Most universities here also have a CACREP-accredited school counseling program.
If you’re weighing a campus career against a K-12 one, compare programs in both specialties before you apply. Licensing rules vary by state, so check where you plan to work first.
