There are eight school counseling master’s degree programs offered by public and private institutions in the state of Maryland.
Maryland is a northeastern state known for its proximity to the nation’s capital city, Washington, DC. With a population of 6.3 million, Maryland has several options to pursue a master’s degree in school counseling. From historic state schools to prestigious private universities, there is a program in Maryland for every type of learner. Keep reading to learn more about what programs are available.
Maryland School Counseling Programs Quick Facts
- Number of School Counseling Programs in Maryland: 8
- CACREP-Accredited School Counseling Programs: 5
- Hybrid or Online School Counseling Programs in Maryland: 3
- Tuition Cost Range: $22,020 – $79,200
- Average Cost of Tuition: $41,465
The University of Maryland
- College Park, MD
- 60 credits
- In-Person
Program:
Master of Education
City: College Park, MD
Modality: In-Person
Length: 60 credit hours
Tuition: $878 per credit hour, $52,680 estimated total program cost
Program Overview:
The University of Maryland offers a school counseling master’s degree program in a cohort model. The curriculum emphasizes “social justice in urban educational settings.” Students in this program enjoy a 4:1 student-to-professor ratio for individualized attention.
Why We Like This Program:
- 90% of graduates find work as school counselors within one year of graduation.
- This program boasts a 100% licensure exam pass rate.
- Applicants are not required to submit their GRE scores for consideration.
Additional Considerations:
- This program is not CACREP-accredited.
Online School Counseling Master’s Programs in Maryland
There is one fully online school counseling master’s program and two hybrid school counseling master’s programs in Maryland.
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.
Loyola University Maryland
- Baltimore, MD
- 60 credits
- Hybrid
Program:
Master of Arts or Master of Education
City: Baltimore, MD
Modality: Hybrid
Length: 60 credit hours
Tuition: $760 per credit hour, $45,600 estimated total program cost
Program Overview:
Loyola University Maryland stands out for offering two different school counseling master’s programs. The Master of Arts (MA) “is designed for the practitioner researcher who wishes to further examine school counselor practice.” MA students complete a thesis instead of school counseling elective courses. In contrast, the Master of Education (MEd) focuses on relevant electives in school counseling, such as College Advising.
Why We Like This Program:
- Loyola University’s school counseling program boasts a 100% licensure exam pass rate and a 97% job placement rate.
- Students in these programs are eligible to become both certified school counselors and licensed professional counselors (LPCs) in either of the MA and MEd tracks.
- This program is CACREP-accredited.
Additional Considerations:
- This program admits students in the spring and summer terms. The application deadline for the spring term is October 3rd, and the application deadline for the summer term is March 6th.
- A maximum of 30 students are admitted per cohort.
McDaniel College
- Westminster, MD
- 51 credits
- Online + In-Person
Program:
Master of Science
City: Westminster, MD
Modality: Online & In-Person
Length: 51 credit hours
Tuition: $625 per credit hour, $31,875 estimated total program cost
Program Overview:
McDaniel College offers an online school counseling master’s program that is centered around flexibility for students, with the option to also take classes in person. The sequence of study is self-designed, meaning that students can prioritize certain topics over others.
Why We Like This Program:
- Students can attend an optional workshop day on campus each semester for additional learning and connection with faculty and peers.
- At only 51 credits, students may be able to complete this program more quickly than most other school counseling programs, which are often 60 credits.
- Applicants are not required to submit their GRE scores for consideration.
Additional Considerations:
- This program is not CACREP-accredited.
Frostburg State University
- Frostburg, MD
- 48 credits
- Hybrid
Program:
Master of Education
City: Frostburg, MD
Modality: Hybrid
Length: 48 credit hours
Tuition: $483 per credit hour, $23,184 estimated total program cost
Program Overview:
Frostburg State University offers a school counseling master’s program on both a full-time and part-time schedule. Students can take courses at both the Frostburg and Hagerstown campuses, and applicants of all professional backgrounds are welcome to apply.
Why We Like This Program:
- Students earning a Master of Education can select courses from various tracks to create an interdisciplinary plan of study.
- Frostburg State University offers unique electives, such as courses in juvenile delinquency and children’s literature.
- Applicants are not required to submit their GRE scores unless their undergraduate GPA was below 3.0.
Additional Considerations:
- This program is not CACREP-accredited.
CACREP-Accredited School Counseling Master’s Programs in Maryland
There are five CACREP-accredited school counseling programs offered by public and private institutions in Maryland.
“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, the school counseling master’s program at McDaniel College is also CACREP-accredited.
Hood College
- Frederick, MD
- 60 credits
- In-Person
Program:
Master of Science
City: Frederick, MD
Modality: In-Person
Length: 60 credit hours
Tuition: $820 per credit hour, $49,200 estimated total program cost
Program Overview:
Hood College offers its dual-track counseling and school counseling program in late afternoon, evening, and weekend classes to accommodate working students. Class sizes are small, and students can complete the program on either a full-time or part-time basis.
Why We Like This Program:
- Students in these programs are eligible to become both certified school counselors and licensed professional counselors (LPCs).
- The plan of study allows students to take 12 credits of elective courses.
- This program is CACREP-accredited.
Additional Considerations:
- The application deadlines for the fall and spring semesters are February 1st and October 1st, respectively.
The University of Maryland Eastern Shore
- Princess Anne, MD
- 60 credits
- In-Person
Program:
Master of Education
City: Princess Anne, MD
Modality: In-Person
Length: 60 credit hours
Tuition: $367 per credit hour, $22,020 estimated total program cost
Program Overview:
Classes in the school counseling program at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore are primarily held on campus, once a week in the evenings. One course per semester is held in an intensive weekend format. All of the counseling programs are designed to accommodate working students.
Why We Like This Program:
- Scholarships that are specifically earmarked for school counseling students are available.
- Applicants are not required to submit their GRE scores for consideration.
- This program is CACREP-accredited.
Additional Considerations:
- Students may begin their coursework in either the fall, spring, or summer semesters. The application deadlines for each semester are May 1st, November 1st, and April 1st, respectively.
Bowie State University
- Bowie, MD
- 60 credits
- In-Person
Program:
Master of Education
City: Bowie, MD
Modality: In-Person
Length: 60 credit hours
Tuition: $466 per credit hour, $27,960 estimated total program cost
Program Overview:
Bowie State University has a strong emphasis on multiculturalism, especially in its counseling graduate programs. This is exemplified by the numerous student organizations on campus for counseling students: The African Psychology Student Association, the BSU School Counseling Association, Chi Sigma Iota, and the Student Adlerian Society.
Why We Like This Program:
- At $466 per credit hour, Bowie State University offers one of the most affordable school counseling master’s programs in Maryland.
- Applicants are not required to submit their GRE scores for consideration.
- This program is CACREP-accredited.
Additional Considerations:
- This program is designed to be completed in three years as opposed to two.
Johns Hopkins University
- Baltimore, MD
- 60 credits
- In-Person
Program:
Master of Science
City: Baltimore, MD
Modality: In-Person
Length: 60 credit hours
Tuition: $1,320 per credit hour, $79,200 estimated total program cost
Program Overview:
Johns Hopkins University is a world-renowned research institution offering a Master of Science in school counseling. The program has small classes with a focus on social justice. Students are expected to complete this program in three years as full-time students or in five years as part-time students.
Why We Like This Program:
- 100% of school counseling master’s students in this program passed their licensure exam.
- For international students, this program qualifies them to receive Optional Practical Training (OPT) to remain in the United States for work after graduating from this program on an F-1 visa.
- This program is CACREP-accredited.
Additional Considerations:
- At over $1,100 per credit hour, Johns Hopkins University has the most expensive school counseling master’s program in Maryland.
No GRE Required School Counseling Master’s Programs in Maryland
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. Fortunately, most schools in Maryland do not require GRE scores. In fact, Frostburg State University is the only school to require school counseling program applicants to submit their GRE scores, and this is only if the applicant’s undergraduate GPA is under 3.0.
Maryland’s Most Affordable School Counseling Master’s Program
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, some of the school counseling master’s degree programs in Maryland have tuition costs below $30,000. The program with the lowest estimated tuition cost is The University of Maryland at Eastern Shore.
School Counseling In Maryland
There are over 890,100 students in grades pre-K through 12 enrolled in Maryland public schools. These students are spread out across 1,421 schools in 24 school districts. Maryland is a diverse state; 33% of students are white, 33% are black, 22% are Hispanic, 7% are Asian, and 5% are two or more races. Maryland’s enrollment has increased by 3% each year since 2014, with a recent surge in Hispanic students over the past several years.
The American School Counseling Association (ASCA) recommends a student-to-school counselor ratio of 250:1. In the 2022-2023 school year, Maryland’s student-to-school counselor ratio was 319:1. While this is higher than the official recommendation, this ratio is on par with many other states. This means Maryland’s student-to-school counselor ratio is about average.
School Counselor Certification In Maryland
Maryland offers numerous pathways to licensure for school counselors. (The terms “licensure” and “certification” often are used interchangeably to express the same professional credential.) Candidates for licensure can complete a Maryland-approved master’s program or complete a master’s program and become a National Board Certified Counselor (NBCC). For more information, visit the Maryland State Department of Education website.
FAQs
How much does a school counselor make in Maryland?
On average, a school counselor in Maryland makes between $46,900 and $102,200, with a median salary of $64,300.
How long does it take to become a school counselor in Maryland?
Typically, it takes between two and three years to become a school counselor in Maryland. This is because earning a master’s degree in school counseling (including completing the necessary fieldwork) usually takes this amount of time.
