There are seven school counseling master’s degree programs offered by public and private institutions in the state of Iowa.
Iowa is a midwestern state with a population of over 3 million people. Those looking to pursue school counseling in Iowa can choose from traditional on-campus programs, such as those offered by The University of Iowa and Loras College. There are also online programs, such as those offered by Northwestern College of Iowa and Upper Iowa University. Keep reading to learn more about the school counseling master’s programs available in Iowa.
Iowa School Counseling Programs Quick Facts
- Number of School Counseling Programs in Iowa: 7
- CACREP-Accredited School Counseling Programs: 3
- Hybrid or Online School Counseling Programs in Iowa: 4
- Tuition Cost Range: $22,035 – $32,700
- Average Cost of Tuition: $27,966
Loras College
- Dubuque, IA
- 39 credits
- In-Person
Program:
Master of Arts
City: Dubuque, IA
Modality: In-Person
Length: 39 credit hours
Tuition: $755 per credit hour, $29,445 estimated total program cost
Program Overview:
Loras College is a private Catholic college located right on the border of Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin. Students complete their coursework on campus in evening classes held at 4pm or later.
Why We Like This Program:
- This program meets the requirements to become a school counselor in Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Minnesota.
- Students in this program have a 100% pass rate on the Praxis exam and a 100% post-graduation job placement rate.
- Applicants are not required to submit their GRE scores for consideration.
Additional Considerations:
- Applicants must have completed at least 12 undergraduate credits in behavioral sciences as a prerequisite for admission to this program.
- This program is not CACREP-accredited.
Online School Counseling Masters Programs in Iowa
There are four fully online school counseling master’s programs in Iowa. 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.
In addition to the programs listed below, The University of Northern Iowa also offers an online version of its school counseling master’s program.
Northwestern College of Iowa
- Orange City, IA
- 48 credits
- Online
Program:
Master of Arts
City: Orange City, IA
Modality: Online
Length: 48 credit hours
Tuition: $590 per credit hour, $28,320 estimated total program cost
Program Overview:
Northwestern College of Iowa is a private Christian college offering a 100% online school counseling master’s program. This program operates in a small cohort model and is designed for working professionals. The majority of the coursework is self-paced with occasional live classes.
Why We Like This Program:
- Students can finish this program in just five semesters, which is slightly under two years, if they attend full-time.
- Applicants are not required to submit their GRE scores for consideration.
- The program blends the faith-based perspective with the ASCA National Model.
Additional Considerations:
- This program is not CACREP-accredited.
Buena Vista University
- Storm Lake, IA
- 48 credits
- Online
Program:
Master of Science in Education
City: Storm Lake, IA
Modality: Online
Length: 48 credit hours
Tuition: $495 per credit hour, $23,760 estimated total program cost
Program Overview:
Buena Vista University offers an online school counseling master’s program that can be completed in two years. Students attend virtual classes once a week during each 7.5 week term. They also attend an in-person residency on campus for four days once a year.
Why We Like This Program:
- Candidates who already have a master’s degree in counseling may qualify for the “professional licensure only” school counseling track, which reduces the course load.
- Applicants are not required to submit their GRE scores for consideration.
Additional Considerations:
- This program is not CACREP-accredited.
Upper Iowa University
- Fayette, IA
- 60 credits
- Online
Program:
Master of Science in Counseling
City: Fayette, IA
Modality: Online
Length: 60 credit hours
Tuition: $545 per credit hour, $32,700 estimated total program cost
Program Overview:
Upper Iowa University’s counseling master’s programs permanently transitioned to an online modality in 2020. Students attend their classes via Zoom once per week in the evening. Courses are held over 14-week and 16-week semesters and during 8-week summer semesters.
Why We Like This Program:
- Upper Iowa University’s counseling program has a 15:1 student to faculty ratio.
- Applicants are not required to submit their GRE scores for consideration.
- Students may complete this program on a full-time or part-time schedule.
Additional Considerations:
- This program is not CACREP-accredited.
CACREP Accredited School Counseling Masters Programs in Iowa
There are three CACREP-accredited school counseling programs offered by public and private institutions in Iowa.
“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.
The University of Northern Iowa
- Cedar Falls, IA
- 60 credits
- In-Person and Online
Program:
Master of Arts
City: Fayette, IA
Modality: In-Person and Online
Length: 60 credit hours
Tuition: $10,230 per year, $30,690 estimated total program cost
Program Overview:
The University of Northern Iowa is recognized as one of the best in the nation. Applicants do not need a degree in education or teaching experience for admission. The first two years of the program are conducted on campus. Summer semesters are held online as is the third year of the program so that students can explore internships outside of the Cedar Falls area.
Why We Like This Program:
- The school counseling program at the University of Northern Iowa boasts a 100% job placement rate.
- Applicants are not required to submit their GRE scores for consideration.
- This program is CACREP-accredited.
Additional Considerations:
- Students who do not have a teaching license will be required to complete an additional two credit hours of coursework.
Drake University
- Des Moines, IA
- 39-42 credits
- In-Person
Program:
Master of Science
City: Fayette, IA
Modality: In-Person
Length: 39-42 credit hours
Tuition: $565 per credit hour, $22,035 estimated total program cost
Program Overview:
Drake University’s school counseling master’s program is designed to be completed in 2 to 3 years. Classes are held on weeknights and weekends to accommodate working students. Those without a teaching license will be required to complete two additional courses.
Why We Like This Program:
- Students may transfer up to 20 graduate credits.
- Applicants are not required to submit their GRE scores for consideration.
- This program is CACREP-accredited.
Additional Considerations:
- Students may begin this program in the summer, fall, or spring semesters. The deadline for the summer and fall semester is February 15th while the deadline for the spring semester is September 1st.
The University of Iowa
- Iowa City, IA
- 60 credits
- In-Person
Program:
Master of Arts
City: Iowa City, IA
Modality: In-Person
Length: 60 credit hours
Tuition: $14,405 per year, $28,810 estimated total program cost
Program Overview:
The University of Iowa offers a school counseling master’s program that is designed to be completed in two years. Students in this program can apply to the MPath grant to help cover program and tuition costs. This program also has a 100% job placement rate after graduation.
Why We Like This Program:
- The University of Iowa’s school counseling program has been recognized by US News & World Report.
- This program is CACREP-accredited.
- Applicants are not required to submit their GRE scores for consideration.
Additional Considerations:
- Students may begin the program in the fall or spring semester, but the application deadline is February 1st regardless.
No GRE Required School Counseling Masters Programs in Iowa
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 Iowa require applicants to submit their GRE scores.
Iowa’s 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 Iowa have tuition costs below $30,000. The programs with the lowest estimated tuition costs are Drake University and Buena Vista University.
School Counseling In Iowa
There are over 517,400 students in grades pre-K through 12 enrolled in Iowa public schools (including charter schools). These students are spread out across 1,310 schools in 328 school districts. Iowa has a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.5:1, 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, Iowa’s student-to-school counselor ratio was 353:1. While this is higher than the official recommendation, Iowa’s student-to-school counselor ratio is in the average range.
School Counselor Certification In Minnesota
School counselors in Iowa hold Professional School Counselor certificates for either grades k-8 or grades 5-12. School counselors must hold a master’s degree from an accredited institution in compliance with Iowa Department of Education standards. Those who hold a school counseling certificate in another state may be able to transfer their credentials to Iowa. For more information, visit the Iowa Department of Education website.
FAQs
How much does a school counselor make in Iowa?
On average, school counselors in Iowa make between $36,500 and $77,500, with a median salary of $49,300.
How long does it take to become a school counselor in Iowa?
Typically, it takes between two and three years to become a school counselor in Iowa. This is because earning a master’s degree in school counseling (including completing the necessary fieldwork) usually takes this amount of time.
