Online master’s degrees in Christian counseling offer an affordable and convenient path to anyone interested in providing counseling employing Christian principles and biblical teachings. Learn what you can expect from today’s top programs in this guide.
Author: Shannon Lee
Expertise: Graduate EducationCareer DevelopmentOnline LearningEditor: Kristin Marino
- Which Student Are You?
What Kind of Christian Counseling Program Is Right for You?
Read more - In-Depth Profiles
In-depth Profiles: Online Christian Counseling Master's Programs
Read more - What You'll Learn
What You'll Learn in a Christian Counseling Master's Program
Read more - Accreditation
Accreditation for Christian Counseling Master's Degrees
Read more - Salary/Pay
Salary Outlook with a Master's in Christian Counseling
Read more - Costs
Paying for Your Online Master's in Christian Counseling
Read more - Best Programs
Best Online Master's in Christian Counseling
Read more
What Kind of Christian Counseling Program Is Right for You?
Christian counseling programs blend clinical training with a faith-based framework, but they still must meet state licensure rules, so how a program balances theology against CACREP-aligned clinical training matters more than it might seem. Pick one that shortchanges the clinical side and licensure gets harder. See which Christian counseling persona below balances theology and clinical training the way you need.
Which Christian Counseling Student Persona Matches You Best?
The Career Starter
You’ve just finished your bachelor’s degree, likely at a Christian college, and want a counseling program that lets you integrate your faith into clinical training from day one.
If you eventually want to hold a state counseling license, look specifically for CACREP accreditation — theological accreditation alone (through a body like ABHE) doesn’t meet most state licensing board requirements, even at explicitly Christian seminaries. A hybrid format lets you take faith-integrated coursework online while completing supervised practicum hours in a local clinical setting.
The Career Changer
You’re coming from ministry, teaching, or another career and want to move into professional counseling without leaving your faith commitments behind.
A program open to students without a prior psychology background lets your ministry or pastoral experience count as relevant, not disqualifying. A fully online, CACREP-accredited option lets you complete coursework while transitioning out of your current role, while still keeping you on track for state licensure rather than a faith-credential-only path.
The Promotion Seeker
You’re already doing informal counseling or pastoral care in a church setting and want the formal license that lets you see clients independently and bill for clinical services.
Moving from pastoral care to licensed practice means your coursework needs to satisfy a state licensing board, not just a church or denominational standard, so confirm the program is licensure-track and CACREP-aligned before enrolling. Part-time, hybrid study lets you keep serving in your current ministry role while you complete coursework and accrue supervised clinical hours.
The Working Balancer
You’re juggling a full-time job, family, and possibly church involvement, and need a Christian counseling program that works around a schedule that’s already full.
Fully online, part-time coursework lets you study on your own schedule, and a cohort-based model — common at Christian universities — gives you a consistent group of classmates for support and accountability. You’ll still need to plan for in-person supervised hours if you’re pursuing state licensure, so factor that into how you sequence your other commitments.
The Faith Integrated Counselor
You want full state licensure as a professional counselor and see your faith as something to integrate into clinical practice, not a substitute for it.
This path requires the same CACREP-aligned coursework, supervised practicum hours, and state licensing exam (typically the NCE) as any other clinical mental health counseling license — faith integration is a curricular emphasis layered on top, not a substitute for those requirements. Confirm your state board recognizes the specific program before enrolling, since some faith-based schools offer both licensure-track and non-licensure tracks under similar names.
The Biblical Counselor
You want to counsel within a church or parachurch setting under biblical authority and aren’t seeking a state counseling license.
Biblical or pastoral counseling programs (often leading to a certification like ACBC rather than a state license) let you counsel within a church’s authority structure without the state-mandated coursework, supervised hours, or exam a clinical license requires — but that also means you generally can’t bill insurance or practice independently outside a ministry context. Many of these programs emphasize in-person, mentorship-based training since the model centers on supervised practice within a congregation, not a clinical caseload.
In-Depth Profiles: Online Christian Counseling Master’s Programs
There are plenty of master’s in Christian counseling degree programs available today online, so choosing the best program suited to meet your professional and academic goals can be challenging. Three top-notch online Christian counseling programs are profiled below to show you who stands out for their quality of education, learning flexibility, and affordability.
Grand Canyon University
The Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with an Emphasis in Christian Counseling from Grand Canyon University suits individuals looking to become Licensed Associate Counselors or Licensed Professional Counselors. Many of the techniques and strategies taught in this program are similar to secular clinical mental health counseling programs, but the Christian approach allows students to also aid in a client’s spiritual growth.
The program consists of 74 credits with most classes lasting eight weeks each. The bulk of required coursework can be finished online.
However, students must complete several in-person practicum and internship courses as well. These requirements test what you’ve learned in a supervised clinical setting and are necessary for licensure. In addition to online learning, on-campus classes are available evenings and meet just once a week. The current tuition rate is $600 per credit hour.
FIND PROGRAMS NEAR YOU:
Liberty University
Liberty University is an academic leader when it comes to flexible online learning, and its Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling demonstrates this. This program is not intended for those looking to earn their state licensure as therapists or counselors. Instead, it’s intended for individuals who are already licensed counselors but who want to shift their practice into a more Christian-oriented approach that integrates biblical teachings.
One of the biggest advantages of this master’s program at SACSCOC-accredited Liberty University is the speed at which you can earn your degree. The program consists of 36 credits, allowing most students to complete their programs in less than two years.
Classes last just eight weeks each, and students can receive up to 18 transfer credits. The program offers several specializations, including Addiction and Recovery, Community Chaplaincy, Leadership and Church Ministry, Marriage and Family, and Theology.
Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary
Going above and beyond in terms of accreditation, Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary’s Master of Arts in Christian Counseling (MACC) program has regional accreditations from both the New England Commission for Higher Education (NECHE) and the Association of Theological Schools (ATS). It also has programmatic accreditation from the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
Students in Gordon Cromwell’s MACC program complete a curriculum that trains them to diagnose and treat various behavioral health issues for a variety of clients, including families, groups, couples, and individuals. All course requirements can be completed online, but hybrid learning is also an option.
Because this program leads to licensure, students also complete supervised in-person internships and practicums. The entire program consists of 66 credits with 15 of those credits focused on biblical and Christian-specific coursework.
What You’ll Learn in a Christian Counseling Master’s Program
In addition to training individuals to become counselors and therapists, master’s in Christian counseling programs provide theological teaching. Many Christian counseling master’s programs require students complete supervised practicums and internships, while others do not.
If in-person requirements exist, the program most likely leads to licensure. Regardless of whether a program leads to licensure, most offer many of the same types of classes. Some of the most common courses are:
Popular Courses
Crisis Counseling
Various crises, including sudden death, loss, grief, and other unpleasant life events, are covered in this course. It also identifies and explains relevant biblical passages and ideas that can apply to different crisis situations.
Introduction to Christian Counseling
This course offers a basic overview of how Christian methods and paradigms can be applied to counseling. Christian counseling methods are matched with appropriate scenarios as well as the type of clients they are most effective with. Special emphasis is placed on applying Christian counseling techniques to current events and issues.
Legal, Ethical and Professional Issues
The obligations of the counselor or therapist are covered in this class. Students learn about the current legal and ethical standards that apply to their practice from both secular and biblical perspectives. Students additionally learn about the historical background of these requirements and the issues that helped develop them.
Marriage and Family Counseling
The focus of this course is on counseling individuals and couples who want to improve their family relationships. It begins by teaching the fundamentals of marriage and family structure, and then shifts into different family systems and relationships.
Spiritual Formation – Becoming a Healthy Practitioner
This course looks at counseling services that included consideration of the client’s spiritual needs. Students learn about the stages of spiritual growth as well as how a person’s spiritual beliefs can affect their mental health, personality, and how they treat others.
Accreditation for Christian Counseling Master’s Degrees
There are two main types of accreditations to look out for when choosing an online master’s in Christian counseling program. The first is institutional or regional accreditation, which concerns a school’s overall academic quality. Regional and institutional accreditation should be recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
The second type of accreditation is programmatic, which applies to specific degree programs. Christian counseling programs at the master’s level are typically programmatically by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Program (CACREP). However, other types are possible, including the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) and the Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC).
Ideally, you want to attend a Christian counseling master’s program with both institutional and programmatic accreditation, but many won’t have programmatic accreditation. If not, it’s critical to confirm the school’s institutional accreditation and that their Christian counseling master’s program meets the requirements for licensure in the state where it is located.
Salary Outlook with a Master’s in Christian Counseling
A master’s in Christian counseling prepares you for practice in faith-based settings including churches, Christian nonprofits, counseling centers, and private practice. Graduates apply counseling theory and therapeutic techniques within a framework that integrates faith — supporting clients through personal, relational, and spiritual challenges. The credential is valued by faith communities and organizations looking for counselors who understand the intersection of mental health and spirituality.
Compensation in faith-based counseling reflects the broader counseling market, with earnings varying by setting, licensure level, and geographic location. Private practice and healthcare-adjacent roles tend to offer stronger compensation than church-based positions.
Browse the salary table below to explore counselor earnings by state, and use it as a financial benchmark for your counseling career path.
Rehabilitation Counselors
| Area | Median | 75th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. | $46,850 | $59,260 | $77,170 |
| Alabama | $54,040 | $72,490 | $80,110 |
| Alaska | $61,590 | $90,240 | $103,400 |
| Arizona | $48,330 | $54,230 | $60,670 |
| Arkansas | $35,210 | $47,430 | $70,670 |
| California | $44,480 | $51,420 | $69,260 |
| Colorado | $47,840 | $64,080 | $89,510 |
| Connecticut | $56,340 | $79,380 | $97,140 |
| Delaware | $48,840 | $56,450 | $73,560 |
| District of Columbia | $49,680 | $81,550 | $95,530 |
| Florida | $45,990 | $54,150 | $67,980 |
| Georgia | $55,000 | $62,980 | $85,510 |
| Hawaii | $48,720 | $60,430 | $71,000 |
| Idaho | $54,550 | $69,120 | $75,710 |
| Illinois | $49,350 | $59,820 | $75,020 |
| Indiana | $44,390 | $52,620 | $62,520 |
| Iowa | $39,630 | $47,540 | $58,220 |
| Kansas | $41,980 | $47,830 | $57,430 |
| Kentucky | $58,540 | $70,380 | $77,790 |
| Louisiana | $47,990 | $71,940 | $128,130 |
| Maine | $51,150 | $62,580 | $74,410 |
| Maryland | $40,860 | $50,260 | $67,630 |
| Massachusetts | $47,320 | $73,190 | $101,760 |
| Michigan | $44,580 | $55,750 | $72,400 |
| Minnesota | $48,010 | $62,310 | $81,840 |
| Mississippi | $41,500 | $50,110 | $71,960 |
| Missouri | $45,180 | $56,330 | $62,600 |
| Montana | $45,240 | $58,000 | $59,900 |
| Nebraska | $47,050 | $59,830 | $68,040 |
| Nevada | $40,120 | $46,300 | $62,550 |
| New Hampshire | $42,600 | $48,310 | $57,300 |
| New Jersey | $49,730 | $69,740 | $92,670 |
| New Mexico | $48,240 | $67,430 | $77,010 |
| New York | $47,960 | $59,210 | $76,600 |
| North Carolina | $45,890 | $50,460 | $59,600 |
| North Dakota | $63,050 | $70,690 | $76,120 |
| Ohio | $42,620 | $58,300 | $78,210 |
| Oklahoma | $38,260 | $48,410 | $57,320 |
| Oregon | $54,970 | $67,170 | $83,510 |
| Pennsylvania | $48,650 | $60,050 | $77,220 |
| Rhode Island | $47,020 | $76,750 | $85,800 |
| South Carolina | $35,990 | $44,320 | $55,310 |
| South Dakota | $49,350 | $60,580 | $76,680 |
| Tennessee | $46,060 | $53,310 | $59,800 |
| Texas | $49,990 | $61,150 | $72,800 |
| Utah | $43,900 | $63,490 | $85,050 |
| Vermont | $50,030 | $63,560 | $82,180 |
| Virginia | $47,530 | $73,100 | $97,240 |
| Washington | $58,050 | $66,560 | $84,500 |
| West Virginia | $48,050 | $57,610 | $64,240 |
| Wisconsin | $46,530 | $57,730 | $69,990 |
| Wyoming | $67,640 | $67,640 | $76,870 |
Source: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/community-and-social-service/rehabilitation-counselors.htm
Showing 1 – 10 of 52 entries | Data does not reflect school-specific information.
Paying for Your Online Master’s in Christian Counseling
For many students seeking a master’s degree in Christian counseling, the cost of attendance is a major hurdle. Fortunately, there are many forms of funding available to help alleviate the financial burden.
Scholarships, which don’t need to be paid back, and employer tuition assistance are popular options, as are private and government school loans that eventually need to be paid back. Learn more about these and other financial aid options by visiting OMD’s financial aid page.
What Your Online Master’s in Christian Counseling Could Cost
| School Name | No. of Credits | Cost/Credit | Est. Tuition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntington University | 60 | $575 | $34,500 |
| Grace College | 60 | $625 | $37,500 |
| Luther Rice College & Seminary | 36 | $391 | $14,076 |
FAQs About Online Christian Counseling Master’s Degrees
Best Online Master’s in Christian Counseling
Liberty University
Best for: licensed faith-integrated counselors
Cairn University-Langhorne
Best for: career changers
Regent University
Best for: licensed faith-integrated counselors
Maranatha Baptist University
Best for: licensed faith-integrated counselors
Spring Arbor University
Best for: licensed faith-integrated counselors
World Mission University
Best for: licensed faith-integrated counselors
South Florida Bible College and Theological Seminary
Best for: licensed faith-integrated counselors
America Evangelical University
Best for: licensed faith-integrated counselors
Bethany Lutheran College
Best for: career changers
Eastern University
Best for: licensed faith-integrated counselors
