There are two school counseling master’s degree programs offered by public and private institutions in the state of Maine.
Maine is a northeastern state that shares its borders with New Hampshire and Canada. Maine is known for its natural beauty and excellent seafood. With a population of only 1.4 million people, the Pine Tree state has only a couple of options to pursue a master’s degree in school counseling. Keep reading to learn more about them.
Maine School Counseling Programs Quick Facts
- Number of School Counseling Programs in Maine: 2
- CACREP-Accredited School Counseling Programs: 2
- Hybrid or Online School Counseling Programs in Maine: 0
- Tuition Cost Range: $28,500 – $46,200
- Average Cost of Tuition: $37,350
The University of Southern Maine
- Portland, ME
- 60 credits
- In-Person
Program:
Master of Science
City: Portland, ME
Modality: In-Person
Length: 60 credit hours
Tuition: $475 per credit hour, $28,500 estimated total program cost
Program Overview:
The University of Southern Maine offers a school counseling master’s program that students can finish within two years on a full-time schedule or four years on a part-time schedule. Students in this program will sit for the National Counselor Exam (NCE) to become nationally certified. This program also has a 98% post-graduation employment rate.
Why We Like This Program:
- Graduates of this program are qualified to work as both school counselors and licensed professional counselors (LPCs) in Maine.
- Applicants are not required to submit their GRE scores for consideration.
- This program is CACREP-accredited.
Additional Considerations:
- Students can begin their plan of study in either the fall or spring terms. The application deadlines are February 15th and October 1st, respectively.
Husson University
- Bangor, ME
- 60 credits
- In-Person
Program:
Master of Science
City: Bangor, ME
Modality: In-Person
Length: 60 credit hours
Tuition: $770 per credit hour, $46,200 estimated total program cost
Program Overview:
Husson University allows students to complete their master of science in school counseling on either a full-time or part-time schedule. Students take classes in the late afternoon and early evenings. Class sizes are small, as the university has under 700 graduate students total.
Why We Like This Program:
- Husson University’s school counseling program boasts both a 100% licensure exam pass rate and a 100% job placement rate.
- GRE scores are only required if an applicant’s undergraduate GPA is below a 3.0.
- This program is CACREP-accredited.
Additional Considerations:
- The most recent data available from this program is from the 2021-2022 academic year.
School Counseling In Maine
There are over 176,463 students in grades pre-K through 12 enrolled in Maine public schools. These students are spread out across 569 schools in 192 school districts. Maine has a student-to-teacher ratio of 12:1, which is significantly 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, Maine’s student-to-school counselor ratio was 292:1. While this is higher than the official recommendation, most states have a ratio of over 300 students to one school counselor. This means that school counselors in Maine are more likely to have smaller caseloads than in most other states.
School Counselor Certification In Maine
School Counselors in Maine hold a specific certificate known as “Certificate 075.” This requires school counselors to qualify for a regular teaching certificate and to meet separate criteria for school counselors. There are three separate pathways for certification, but all require candidates to have completed or be in the process of completing an approved master’s or doctorate program in school counseling. Candidates may be awarded a conditional certificate after completing at least 24 credit hours of a CACREP-aligned graduate program. For more information, visit the Maine Department of Education website.
FAQs
How much does a school counselor make in Maine?
On average, a school counselor in Maine makes between $38,400 and $78,400, with a median salary of $50,300.
How long does it take to become a school counselor in Maine?
Typically, it takes between two and three years to become a school counselor in Maine. This is because earning a master’s degree in school counseling (including completing the necessary fieldwork) usually takes this amount of time.
