Commonwealth University Ranked No. 1 for Best Counseling Programs in the State

Commonwealth University was ranked No. 1 on the 2026 Best Master’s in Counseling Programs in Pennsylvania list by Counseling Psychology for its master’s in school counseling and master’s in clinical mental health counseling programs.

Counseling Psychology experts at counselingpsychology.org have compiled a comprehensive ranking of the best Master’s in Counseling Programs across the state. Rankings consider factors like program quality, faculty expertise, clinical training opportunities and student outcomes.

CU’s master’s degree in school counseling is approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), students are eligible to earn a Pennsylvania PK-12 Elementary and Secondary School Counseling certificate upon program completion. The program is also CAEP accredited, ensuring new teachers are prepared to know their subjects, students and have the clinical training that allows them to enter the classroom ready to teach effectively.

The master’s in clinical mental health counseling program at CU is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Relate Education Programs (CACREP) and is designed to be consistent with the requirements for licensure as a professional counselor in Pennsylvania.

Courses for both programs are delivered 100% online through a combination of synchronous and asynchronous classes with full-time and part-time options.

CU’s expert faculty have extensive experience working as professional counselors and weave that expertise into their courses to provide content that is relatable and applicable to students.

The school counseling and clinical mental health programs at CU are recognized as some of the most affordable options in the field and offers a cost estimator tool for students to obtain a preview of their investment.