Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Adolescent counselor education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become an adolescent counselor. Adolescent counselors usually study psychology, social work, or criminal justice. 63% of adolescent counselors hold a bachelor's degree, and 21% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 1,050 real adolescent counselor resumes to see exactly what adolescent counselor education sections show.
The most common colleges for adolescent counselors are the Liberty University and the Liberty University.
There are also many online adolescent counselor courses to help get the education required to be an adolescent counselor.
There are certain adolescent counselor certifications that you should consider. These adolescent counselor certifications include Pastoral Counseling Certification and National Certified Counselor (NCC).
What education do you need to become an adolescent counselor?
What degree do you need to be an adolescent counselor?
- Bachelor's, 63%
- Master's, 21%
- Associate, 10%
- High School Diploma, 2%
- Other Degrees, 4%
What should I major in to become an adolescent counselor?
- Psychology, 30%
- Social Work, 13%
- Criminal Justice, 9%
- Other Majors, 41%
Most common colleges for adolescent counselors
| Adolescent counselor common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Liberty University | 8.18% |
| Southern Illinois University Carbondale | 6.36% |
| Pennsylvania State University | 5.45% |
| Alabama State University | 5.45% |
| Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey | 5.45% |
Best majors for adolescent counselors
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Psychology | 30.2% |
| 2 | Social Work | 12.7% |
| 3 | Criminal Justice | 9.0% |
| 4 | School Counseling | 7.2% |
| 5 | Human Services | 6.3% |
Best colleges for adolescent counselors
The best colleges for adolescent counselors are Boston College, Johns Hopkins University, and Boston University.
An adolescent counselor with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for adolescent counselors. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become adolescent counselors.
1. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Enrollment
31,503
2. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$8,987
Enrollment
18,946
3. San Jose State University
San Jose, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,796
Enrollment
27,125
4. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,584
Enrollment
10,764
5. SUNY at Binghamton
Vestal, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$9,808
Enrollment
13,990
6. San Diego State University
San Diego, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,488
Enrollment
30,018
7. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Enrollment
32,072
8. Boston College
Chestnut Hill, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$55,464
Enrollment
9,639
9. Hunter College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,182
Enrollment
16,205
10. Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA • Private
In-state tuition
$18,454
Enrollment
40,108
20 best online courses for adolescent counselors
Advertising disclosure
1. School Health for Children and Adolescents
Children and adolescents spend so much of their time in school regardless of where they live in the world. Health and learning are closely connected in the school setting, where good health and healthy practices create the optimal conditions for students’ academic success. And the contrary is also true: poor heath and unhealthy practices build tall barriers to student learning.\n\nThe courses of this specialization are designed to equip learners to manage common health conditions including...
2. [Accredited] Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) Counselor
Learn DBT in depth, start conducting sessions with ready to use templates, and set up counseling practice within weeks!...
3. Counselling Children & Adolescents - ACCREDITED CERTIFICATE
Work from home, become a professional counsellor, teenagers and child psychology, grief and bereavement, depression...
4. Crisis Intervention Seminar
The emphasis is on the development of fundamental clinical skills in the area of crisis intervention...
5. Anger Management & Conflict Resolution Program - (4 hours)
How to manage anger and ensure it does not explode into rage. Enhance your life by building quality relationships...
6. Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT): The Complete Course
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)...
7. Counselling clients affected by the COVID-19 pandemic
Learn step by step, highly practical and rapid learning. Useful during and after the pandemic. CBT-REBT based...
8. Conflict Resolution for Co-Workers
You'll learn diagnosis and resolution techniques for tense, sensitive conflicts with your co-workers, manager or peers...
9. Addiction & Mental Health (Dual Diagnosis) Integrative 12hrs
Substance Abuse & Mental Health Interventions: Drug & Alcohol Addiction & Mental Health - Integrative Holistic Approach...
10. Existential Therapy, Psychotherapy & Counselling
Helping Individuals to Live Meaningful, Free & Authentic Lives...
11. CBT: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy For Therapists & Coaches
Comprehensive CBT Therapy Training Cognitive Behavior Therapy Practitioner Level Treat Anxiety, Depression & More...
12. Professional Certification in Counseling - Fully Accredited
Become Professional Counselor (Counsellor)...
13. Addiction & Mental Health - Chemically Speaking Two (2hrs)
Substance Abuse & Mental Health Interventions - Understand Drug & Alcohol Addiction & Mental Health. How to help people...
14. Introduction to CBT: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Online Counselling & Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) Training Course...
15. Couples Counselling using Systemic Family Therapy
Help people build stronger relationships and marriages by learning couples counselling skills...
16. Abnormal Behavior & Clinical Psychology (Certificate)
Guiding students into the field of mental health services for either personal and/or professional development...
17. Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) Certificate
Become a Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) practitioner and help people improve their mental health...
18. Introduction to Solution Focused Therapy
Learn Solution Focused Therapy To Empower Clients & Improve Outcomes Ideal For Social Workers, Coaches & Therapists...
19. Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
Learn SFBT skills for creative conversations and better outcomes. With video of live sessions...
20. Professional Anger & Aggression Counselling Diploma
Fully Accredited Diploma Course For Powerful Counselling Techniques For Anger & Aggression Management...
Top 10 most affordable universities for adolescent counselors
The most affordable schools for adolescent counselors are Hunter College of the City University of New York, california state university - long beach, and california state university - bakersfield.
If the best universities for adolescent counselors are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for adolescent counselors.
1. Hunter College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,182
Cost of attendance
13,998
2. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
3. California State University - Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,309
Cost of attendance
16,714
4. Baruch College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,262
Cost of attendance
14,046
5. California State University - Fullerton
Fullerton, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,886
Cost of attendance
17,645
6. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Cost of attendance
21,623
7. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
8. Florida International University
Miami, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,556
Cost of attendance
19,434
9. California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,942
Cost of attendance
14,469
10. California State University - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,749
Cost of attendance
14,823
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for adolescent counselors
The hardest universities for adolescent counselors to get into are Boston College, Johns Hopkins University, and Boston University.
Some great schools for adolescent counselors are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for adolescent counselors based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.
1. Boston College
Chestnut Hill, MA • Private
Admissions rate
28%
SAT average
1,429
2. Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD • Private
Admissions rate
11%
SAT average
1,513
3. Boston University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
22%
SAT average
1,420
4. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
5. University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,492
6. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,512
7. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
19%
SAT average
1,466
8. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC • Private
Admissions rate
23%
SAT average
1,398
9. Northwestern University
Evanston, IL • Private
Admissions rate
8%
SAT average
1,508
10. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for adolescent counselors
The easiest schools for adolescent counselors to get into are Nyack College, mount saint mary's university, and kean university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as an adolescent counselor without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for adolescent counselors.
1. Nyack College
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
999
2. Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,031
3. Kean University
Union, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
86%
SAT average
991
4. Wayland Baptist University
Plainview, TX • Private
Admissions rate
98%
SAT average
1,003
5. Felician University
Lodi, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
81%
SAT average
999
6. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,006
7. Texas Woman's University
Denton, TX • Private
Admissions rate
87%
SAT average
1,059
8. Ottawa University
Ottawa, KS • Private
Admissions rate
78%
SAT average
1,024
9. College of New Rochelle, The
New Rochelle, NY • Private
Admissions rate
83%
SAT average
982
10. Notre Dame de Namur University
Belmont, CA • Private
Admissions rate
82%
SAT average
983
Average adolescent counselor salary by education level
| Adolescent counselor education level | Adolescent counselor salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $42,928 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $35,657 |
Adolescent counselor education FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common community and social services questions.
Search for adolescent counselor jobs
Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025