Doctoral candidates interested in an online Ed.D. in Educational Counseling know that finding the right program is crucial at this step in the careers. After years of academic study, work experience in the field, earning licensure and becoming a member of professional psychological programs, these professionals are ready to take their place in academic settings, helping young students find their way through the educational system. They are ready to give back to their communities and the country, using their skills to help build up the next generation of professionals.
This is an admirable quest, but one that can be dampened by the fact that online doctoral programs in educational counseling can be difficult to find. This is because this degree is comprehensive and demanding; a lot is expected of these candidates before they ever enter into the program. And this is why this ranking is necessary; students need to have a ranking that discusses the requirements and options in these degrees in order to make an educated decision.
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Methodology
This ranking began with exhaustive research that was conducted on the National Center for Education Statistics' College Navigator search engine, which was created by the United States Government to provide the public with necessary information on different schools and programs. From 50 schools, the final 10 were decided upon based on in-state graduate tuition rates and are listed below in descending order.
Ranking Low-cost Online Educational Counseling EdD Programs
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Career Options for an Online Doctorate in Educational Counseling?
The online Doctorate in Educational Counseling often leads to a small selection of careers. This is because the degree itself is specific and does not offer students the option to go into another field of counseling; that's because different positions require a different subset of skills and education as well as licensure.
Most students who take on this degree find work as school or guidance counselors within the education system. This includes working in K-12, community colleges, and universities. It is also possible for these professionals to work as counselors for professional organizations, helping professionals move through their licensure and credential pathways.
Some professionals go to work for themselves as college recruiters, admission specialists, and specialists in early childhood development and education. They often build their own consulting firms or work freelance for a variety of educational systems.
Again, because of the specificity of the education, students in this field will not be able to jump to another counseling field without first going back to school to earn a graduate degree in that discipline. It is important for doctoral candidates to understand the specificity of the field because there are many career options that will be closed to them if they choose to undertake this career.
How Much Can You Earn in this Field?
The median salary for professionals in the field of educational counseling is around $54,000. This includes counselors working K-12 educational institutions; professors and academics at the college and university level generally begin their careers making close to $75,000, which can increase once they earn tenure.
Most educational counselors can find jobs working for the government, community services, in the corrections system, and more. These jobs all have varying salary potential, but most students with this degree tend to earn between $54,000 and $100,000 a year, depending on their work experience, position, and area of residency.
There is currently a growing need for educational counselors; however, these jobs may not be in a student's home state or region. For professionals in this field, changing states is par for the course, especially at the beginning of their careers. The move will require them to be re-certified in their new state, which may take time. If they do end up moving, however, these jobs will often compensate them with a comprehensive benefits package, paid time off, and more.
What are the Various Disciplines of Educational Counseling?
Educational counseling is a broad subfield of counseling, and therefore there are a variety of disciplines that play a role. Many students also take on a cognate while in their doctoral program, which may change the focus of the disciplines that are available to them during their program of study.
Education and counseling, and psychology to a general degree, are the major disciplines of this field. This will come as no surprise to students already familiar with the field. Policy, ethics, law, and development are also major disciplines.
Students who attend an academic or research-based school will also find that history, philosophy, research, and theory are all disciplines that must be mastered prior to completing the degree. Because research is a large part of this program, students can also find statistics, economics, mathematics, and science disciplines regularly represented in the curriculum.
Does Accreditation Matter?
To put it bluntly, accreditation is a requirement for this field. That's because this is a terminal counseling degree, and in order to work in the field, every professional must receive licensure from their home state. And while accreditation doesn't automatically lead to licensure, it is a pathway towards licensure that should not be ignored by any student.
The most recognizable accreditation comes from the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs; it is also known as CACREP. Quality programs, even cheap online educational counseling Ed.D. programs, carry this accreditation without exception. Students should not entertain the idea of attending a school without this recognition because it will make the pathway to licensure longer and more difficult.
It is also possible to find programs that also hold recognition by the American Psychological Association; programs that are approved by the National Association of School Psychologists are also available. While not as necessary as CACREP accreditation, it can make earning certification as an educational counselor that much easier.
Does This Degree Lead to Licensure?
An online Ed.D. in Educational Counseling can lead to licensure but doctoral students will have to do some research to ensure that the school they choose can offer them licensure. This is because licensure is delivered based on both a student's career ambition and their area of residency.
Generally speaking, online doctoral degrees in the field of educational counseling can lead to licensure, provided a student resides in the same state as the school's campus. This is because educational counseling jobs require state, not national, licensure and certification. It is possible that some states will regulate credentials through national examinations, but most require state examinations.
What this means is this: if a student chooses to attend an online school that is not in their own state, they will have to research whether or not their state will accept that degree as part of the requirements for sitting for licensure. This can be done through the department's admissions office, by checking the American Psychological Association, or by contacting state regulators for more information.
It is also important to note that many states will require additional certification in the field of educational counseling. This can be obtained by sitting for certification. All states have different requirements, so students are advised to research the needs of their state prior to applying for any program.
Educational counseling is an important part of any student's journey towards finding the career that is right for them. Counseling in an academic setting, then, is an integral career, one that should be filled by passionate psychologists determined to help their students work through intellectual and behavioral issues in order to become capable and ethical leaders in their community. Students will find that this ranking is the best place to start when searching for an online EdD in Educational Counseling degree.
GSH StaffMarch 2020
