Pursuing a career in counseling is a noble goal, but the cost of a master’s degree can be a major hurdle. The good news is that you don’t have to start your helping profession buried in debt. While challenging to find, fully-funded master’s programs in counseling do exist. This guide will show you what to look for, where to find these opportunities, and how to become a top candidate.
When you hear the term “fully-funded,” especially in the context of a PhD program, it typically means the university covers the full cost of your tuition and provides a living stipend in exchange for work. For a master’s degree in a professional field like counseling, the definition can be a bit more varied, but the goal is the same: graduating with little to no debt.
It’s important to manage expectations. Unlike research-focused PhDs, terminal master’s programs are less likely to be funded because they are seen as professional training degrees. However, funding is still possible, usually through a combination of the following:
Finding a program that offers a full tuition waiver and a generous stipend is the ultimate goal, but any program that significantly reduces your tuition cost through assistantships or scholarships is a huge win.
For master’s students, the graduate assistantship (GA) is the primary pathway to getting your degree paid for. These are part-time jobs on campus that not only provide financial support but also offer invaluable professional experience. Most GAs require about 10-20 hours of work per week.
There are three main types of assistantships you will encounter:
As a research assistant, you will work directly with a faculty member on their research projects. Your tasks could include conducting literature reviews, collecting and analyzing data, preparing manuscripts for publication, and helping with grant proposals. This is an excellent option if you are interested in the scientific side of counseling and potentially pursuing a PhD later.
As a teaching assistant, you support the instructional mission of the university. You might lead undergraduate discussion sections, grade papers and exams, hold office hours to help students, or manage course materials.
These positions involve working in a university office, providing administrative or programmatic support. You could work in the admissions office, student affairs, a career center, or a campus wellness center. While not directly related to counseling coursework, these roles provide great insight into how universities operate and can offer relevant experience in student services.
Finding these programs requires strategic searching. Instead of just Googling “fully-funded counseling programs,” you need to look for the characteristics of departments that are likely to have funding.
Focus on Research-Intensive Universities: Start by looking at large, public R1 and R2 universities. These institutions receive more research grants, which directly fund the RA positions that support graduate students.
Look for Programs with an Associated PhD Program: A department that offers a PhD in Counseling Psychology or Counselor Education is more likely to have funding available for its master’s students. The master’s students often serve as TAs for undergraduate courses or support the research of doctoral students and faculty.
Be Open to Related Fields: Consider programs in Counseling Psychology or Educational Psychology. These programs are often more research-focused and housed in Colleges of Education or Psychology departments that have a stronger tradition of funding master’s students.
Here are a few examples of universities that have historically offered strong funding opportunities for their counseling-related master’s programs. Note: Funding is highly competitive and changes annually, so you must verify the details with each department directly.
Securing a funded spot is incredibly competitive. Your application needs to stand out and show the admissions committee that you are a worthy investment.
What is the difference between a Master’s in Counseling and Counseling Psychology? A Master’s in Counseling (like an M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling) is typically a practitioner-focused degree that prepares you for state licensure (LPC). A Master’s in Counseling Psychology often has a stronger emphasis on research and psychological science, and it can be a stepping stone to a PhD. Because of the research focus, Counseling Psychology programs are sometimes more likely to offer funding.
Are online master’s programs ever fully-funded? It is extremely rare for online programs to offer assistantships, as these typically require an on-campus presence. While some online programs may offer scholarships, you are far more likely to find robust funding packages in traditional, on-campus programs.
What if I don’t get a fully-funded offer? Don’t be discouraged! Many students piece together funding from multiple sources. You can still apply for external scholarships, work a part-time job, or utilize federal work-study. Also, look into loan forgiveness programs like the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, which can forgive your remaining federal student loans after 10 years of working for a qualifying non-profit or government organization.