There are seven school counseling master’s degree programs offered by public and private institutions in the state of Kansas.
Kansas is a midwestern state with a population of approximately 2.9 million people. Those looking to pursue school counseling in Kansas can choose from traditional on-campus programs, such as those offered by Wichita State University and Pittsburg State University. There are also online programs, such as those offered by Kansas State University and Emporia State University. Keep reading to learn more about the school counseling master’s programs available in Kansas.
Kansas School Counseling Programs Quick Facts
- Number of School Counseling Programs in Kansas: 7
- CACREP-Accredited School Counseling Programs: 3
- Hybrid or Online School Counseling Programs in Kansas: 4
- Tuition Cost Range: $20,160 – $41,478
- Average Cost of Tuition: $26,389
Pittsburg State University
- Pittsburg, KS
- 48-57 credits
- In-Person
Program:
Master of Science
City: Pittsburg, KS
Modality: In-Person
Length: 48-57 credit hours
Tuition: $4,756.50 per semester, $23,783 estimated total program cost
Program Overview:
Pittsburg State University offers a school counseling master’s degree primarily intended for those who are already working as licensed teachers. Those without a Kansas teaching license will be required to complete an additional nine credit hours of coursework.
Why We Like This Program:
- This program emphasizes diversity and cultural competence.
- Applicants are not required to submit their GRE scores for consideration.
Additional Considerations:
- Applicants must pass the Praxis II exam for admission to this program.
- This program is not CACREP-accredited.
The University of Saint Mary
- Leawood, KS
- 48 credits
- In-Person, Online, or Hybrid
Program:
Master of Arts
City: Leawood, KS
Modality: In-Person, Online, or Hybrid
Length: 48 credit hours
Tuition: $420 per credit hour, $20,160 estimated total program cost
Program Overview:
The University of Saint Mary offers multiple modalities for school counseling graduate students to complete their coursework; entirely online, entirely on-campus at their location in Leawood or on-campus with some classes online. Those with and without Kansas teaching licenses are welcome in this program.
Why We Like This Program:
- Students in this program have the option to meet the educational requirements to become a licensed professional counselor (LPC) for an additional four credits.
- Applicants are not required to submit their GRE scores for consideration.
Additional Considerations:
- This program is not CACREP-accredited.
Online School Counseling Masters Programs in Kansas
There are three fully online school counseling master’s programs in Kansas. Online and hybrid programs have become increasingly popular, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. The ease of taking classes from anywhere can mean less time and money spent on commuting.
Additionally, The University of Saint Mary offers both an online and a hybrid version of its school counseling master’s program.
Emporia State University
- Emporia, KS
- 60 credits
- Online
Program:
Master of Science
City: Emporia, KS
Modality: Online
Length: 60 credit hours
Tuition: $355 per credit hour, $21,300 estimated total program cost
Program Overview:
Emporia State University prides itself on affordability, with low tuition costs and numerous scholarships available. Classes are both synchronous (live) and asynchronous, with live ones held in the evenings to accommodate working students. Students in this program will qualify for dual licensure as a school counselor and Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Kansas.
Why We Like This Program:
- Emporia State University has the unique distinction of establishing and hosting the annual School Counseling Conference.
- Applicants are not required to submit their GRE scores for consideration.
- This program is CACREP-accredited.
Additional Considerations:
- Students may enroll in the program during the summer, fall, or spring semesters. The application deadlines are March 1st, July 1st, and October 1st, respectively.
Fort Hays State University
- Hays, KS
- 60 credits
- Online
Program:
Master of Science
City: Hays, KS
Modality: Online
Length: 60 credit hours
Tuition: $360.29 per credit hour, $21,617 estimated total program cost
Program Overview:
Fort Hays State University’s school counseling program is conducted entirely online. Students typically complete their plan of study in 2 to 3 years. Graduates of this program will be qualified to work as professional school counselors in Kansas.
Why We Like This Program:
- Students in this program may also pursue careers as licensed professional counselors (LPCs), career counselors, and/or mental health counselors.
- Applicants are not required to submit their GRE scores for consideration.
Additional Considerations:
- While the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program is CACREP-accredited, the School Counseling program at Fort Hays State University is not.
Kansas State University
- Manhattan, KS
- 60 credits
- Online
Program:
Education Specialist
City: Fayette, IA
Modality: Online
Length: 60 credit hours
Tuition: $10,534 per year, $26,335 estimated total program cost
Program Overview:
Kansas State University offers an Education Specialist degree in school counseling, which is more advanced than a master’s degree and generally leads to better compensation in most school districts. Students can complete the program on a full-time or part-time schedule and will qualify to become a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Kansas.
Why We Like This Program:
- Many students find work as a school counselor under provisional status while completing the EdS program.
- Applicants are not required to submit their GRE scores for consideration.
- Classes are held on weekday late afternoons and evenings to accommodate working students, especially those already working in schools.
Additional Considerations:
- While Kansas State University’s counseling programs have been CACREP-accredited since 1999, their recent shift to an online modality must undergo a new CACREP review for accreditation.
CACREP Accredited School Counseling Masters Programs in Kansas
There are three CACREP-accredited school counseling programs offered by public and private institutions in Kansas.
“CACREP” stands for Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs. This is a nationally recognized specialized accreditation for master’s and doctoral programs related to counseling. Attending a CACREP-accredited program can be a boost to your resume. In addition to the programs listed below, Emporia State University also offers a CACREP-accredited school counseling master’s program.
Mid America Nazarene University
- Olathe, KS
- 62-63 credit hours
- In-Person
Program:
Master of Arts
City: Olathe, KS
Modality: In-Person
Length: 62-63 credit hours
Tuition: $669 per credit hour, $41,478 estimated total program cost
Program Overview:
Mid America Nazarene University offers its School Counseling + program in-person with the option for students who live outside of a 30-mile radius of the campus to complete coursework remotely. Students in this program will also be qualified to work as licensed professional counselors (LPCs) in Kansas.
Why We Like This Program:
- 50% of students in this program find work as a provisional school counselor while enrolled in this program and 100% find work upon graduation.
- Mid America Nazarene University has an active chapter of Chi Sigma Iota, an international honors society for counseling students.
- This program is CACREP-accredited.
Additional Considerations:
- At $669 per credit hour, the School Counseling program at Mid America Nazarene University has a significantly higher tuition cost than most other comparable programs in Kansas. Mid America Nazarene University does offer numerous scholarships, so candidates should carefully consider their cost of attendance.
Wichita State University
- Wichita, KS
- 60 credits
- In-Person
Program:
Master of Education
City: Wichita, KS
Modality: In-Person
Length: 60 credit hours
Tuition: $12,020 per year, $30,050 estimated total program cost
Program Overview:
Wichita State University allows for both students with and without a Kansas teaching license can complete this program via their respective pathways. Students may complete this program on a full-time or part-time schedule, with full-time students completing their coursework in about two years.
Why We Like This Program:
- Applicants are not required to submit their GRE scores for consideration.
- This program is CACREP-accredited.
- Transfer credits are accepted; up to 12 from an unfinished degree and up to 6 from a finished degree.
Additional Considerations:
- While both pathways lead to licensure as a school counselor in Kansas, those without a teaching license will be required to complete a one-year four credit hour post-degree internship.
No GRE Required School Counseling Masters Programs in Kansas
If taking standardized tests isn’t your strong suit, fear not! There are plenty of schools that understand that test scores don’t tell the full story, especially for school counseling programs.
In fact, none of the school counseling master’s programs in Kansas require applicants to submit their GRE scores.
Kansas’ Most Affordable School Counseling Masters Programs
A career in school counseling is tremendously rewarding but often has relatively lower pay. For this reason, prospective school counseling students should carefully consider the cost of attendance when applying to graduate school. Fortunately, several of the school counseling master’s degree programs in Kansas have tuition costs below $30,000. The program with the lowest estimated tuition cost is the University of Saint Mary.
School Counseling In Kansas
There are over 497,700 students in grades pre-K through 12 enrolled in Kansas public schools (including charter schools). These students are spread out across 1,305 schools in 287 school districts. Kansas has a student-to-teacher ratio of 14:1, which is better than the national average of 16:1.
The American School Counseling Association (ASCA) recommends a student-to-school counselor ratio of 250:1. In the 2022-2023 school year, Kansas’ student-to-school counselor ratio was 386:1. While this is higher than the official recommendation, Kansas’ student-to-school counselor ratio is in the average range.
School Counselor Certification in Kansas
School counselors in Kansas hold a School Specialist License (the use of the terms “certification” and “licensure” vary by state). In many cases, students pursuing their master’s degree in school counseling may be hired under a provisional school specialist license while they finish their coursework. This license is valid for two years and can be renewed a maximum of one time. This license can be upgraded to a Professional School Specialist License that is valid for five years. For more information, visit the Kansas State Department of Education website.
FAQs
How much does a school counselor make in Kansas?
On average, a school counselor in Kansas makes between $38,600 and $80,400, with a median salary of $49,600.
How long does it take to become a school counselor in Kansas?
Typically, it takes between two and three years to become a school counselor in Kansas. This is because earning a master’s degree in school counseling (including completing the necessary fieldwork) usually takes this amount of time.
