Editor’s Top Picks for the Best Master’s Degrees and Graduate Certificates in Substance Abuse Counseling

top picks for best master's If you want to do the most good in addiction counseling, then it’s natural to want to get the very best education. The complexity of modern substance use disorders (SUD) and their relationship with issues of crime, mental health, and homelessness can’t be solved without the deep intersectional knowledge that comes from a graduate-level education.

You’ll find this reflected in the fact that almost 40 states require a master’s degree as the minimum for becoming licensed at the top level of substance abuse counseling. That means extra time spent in advanced research, experiential training, and advanced classes in clinical treatment. That study brings you the ability to not just treat SUD patients independently, but also supervise and guide other counselors and even entire treatment programs.

SUD counseling is a mission. It has a deep impact on the lives of individuals and entire communities.

If you’re going to take the extra effort to get that level of qualifications, you don’t want to compromise on quality.

What Makes for a Top-Level Graduate Education in Addiction Counseling Today?

With so much at stake, it only makes sense to get the best graduate education you can find. And that’s exactly what brought you here to this list of our top picks for the very best substance abuse counseling master’s degrees and graduate certificate programs in the country.

But how exactly do you go about making a real quality assessment in a world where everyone strives to be the best, or at least claims to be? It’s not a perfect science, of course, but our team has been around the substance abuse education space long enough to spot the characteristics that make a program special.

Schools That Bring in the Finest Available Instructors

In many ways, the quality of your education in any field begins and ends with the people you are learning from. For substance abuse counseling, that means individuals with a strong education of their own, but also real-world experience dealing with all the complexities of modern addiction therapy. On top of that, they also need to have the kind of commitment and attention to detail to connect with each of their students and ensure they are absorbing the advanced lessons that a graduate education delivers.

Colleges With the Resources To Ensure Student Success

Engaged and energetic instructors are a must-have, but they can only work with the resources they are given. So we looked for schools that bring the funding and the services needed to fully support substance abuse education. That comes through well-appointed classrooms, fully equipped computer labs, and well-stocked research libraries.

Student Services To Support You Through Every Challenge

Top schools come with tough classes. You can expect to be challenged every single semester. But great schools also give you everything you need to meet and overcome those challenges. Academic counseling to help you schedule your courses in the optimal order, support from campus writing centers and research librarians, and full-time technical support to ensure you don’t miss a minute of online classes are the order of the day at the best graduate schools.

Strong Community Connections in Treatment and Recovery

Because so much of a good substance abuse counseling education comes through practical experiences, the best schools all have strong connections with effective agencies and organizations offering real-world addiction treatment. Those connections ensure students get the most up-to-date lessons in the light-speed evolution of drug use on the streets, as well as immersive opportunities to put their coursework to good use under the watchful eye of professional SUD counselors. These connections open up opportunities to network and find mentors in the communities serving the exact populations you’re interested in helping.

The Right Reputation in the Recovery Community

Those connections, and graduates who go on to continue strengthening them, foster a reputation of excellence in the addiction treatment community. Schools that have strong programs produce top candidates for high-level positions as master counselors and supervisors. We looked for schools whose graduating crop of certificate and master’s students are in high demand each year with organizations that need their talents.

Finding Your Top Graduate Program in Substance Abuse Counseling Means Thinking through Your Individual Objectives

There are plenty of factors that will go into your decision about which schools to apply to for your master’s degree or post-degree certificate in substance abuse counseling. And those factors go beyond just our assessment of educational excellence.

For starters, with each state setting their own educational requirements for top-level credentials in addiction counseling, you’re probably going to be looking for schools close to home. While excellence was always the deciding factor for inclusion, we did make an effort to build our list to provide a representative sample of what’s available from coast-to-coast. Only a handful of states are represented here, but you’ll find options from out west, in the midwest, and back east.

Even within states, there are various reasons why one top school may be a better choice for you than another. So we load up our list with the kind of important information you’ll need to find the best candidates. That includes standard data like:

We also put together some of the highlights offered by each school that might immediately catch your eye. Flexible daytime and evening courses may be worth calling out; additional student services that go above and beyond even our high standards for top master’s programs; a particularly notable ranking from other third-party education evaluation organizations.

And finally, each school gets a brief write-up that goes into the points that we feel make it an excellent choice.

Our Favorite Master’s Degrees and Graduate Certificate Programs in Substance Abuse Counseling

Albertus Magnus College

Department of Psychology
New Haven, CT
Website

albertus maguns college

MS in Human Services and a Certificate in Addiction Counseling (on-campus, online, hybrid)

Post Graduate Certificate in Addiction Counseling (Graduate level) (on-campus)

Albertus Magnus College’s MS in Human Services features a Certificate in Addiction Counseling to prepare students to land leadership positions in a variety of human and social services settings. Offered in a truly flexible format, this program boasts an accelerated format of eight-week courses. Students have the option of attending classes at the New Haven campus two nights per week through a hybrid format or through a fully online format. Choose the MS in Human Services with a Certificate in Addiction Counseling and you’ll qualify for the Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC) credential. Or choose the Post Graduate Certificate in Addiction Counseling if you already hold a master’s degree and are interested in earning the LADC credential. We love these programs for their hands-on, experiential learning experiences, collaborative work experiences, small class sizes, and dedicated professors.

Fairfield University

School of Education and Human Development
Fairfield, CT
Website

fairfield university

Graduate Certificate in Substance Use Counseling (on-campus)

Fairfield University’s Graduate Certificate in Substance Use Counseling features a six-course program of study that’s expertly designed to prepare you to sit for the certification exam through the Connecticut Certification Board for Drug and Alcohol Counseling. A sampling of courses in this program includes Substance Use Counseling: HIV/AIDS and Other Conditions/Disorders; Psychopharmacology of Substance Use; Substance Use Counseling Skills & Strategies with Diverse Populations; and Co-Occurring Disorders in Substance Use Counseling. Choose Fairfield’s Graduate Certificate in Substance Use Counseling and you’ll be part of an outstanding legacy of academic excellence – students here enjoy a 98 percent employment rate!

Indiana University Northwest

College of Arts and Sciences/College of Health and Human Services
Gary, IN
Website

MS in Clinical Counseling – specialization in Drug and Alcohol Counseling (on-campus)

MSW with a concentration in Mental Health and Addictions (online)

Indiana University Northwest is home to two programs designed to prepare the next generation of SUD counselors. The MS in Clinical Counseling features a specialization in Drug and Alcohol Counseling that provides students with a comprehensive exploration of the field and of topics such as pharmacology, abnormal psychology, theories of addictions, and treatment options. It also prepares students to develop the counseling skills and treatment methods and techniques used in SUD counseling roles. The MSW is a unique program that features a concentration in Mental Health and Addictions. Offered in a fully online format for maximum flexibility and convenience, this exciting program is grounded in social work and complemented with study of the addictions counseling field. It’s the university’s largest online program!

Western Michigan University

College of Health and Human Services
Kalamazoo, MI
Website

Clinical Addiction Certificate (Graduate level) (online, hybrid)

Graduate-level Addiction Specialization (online, hybrid)

Western Michigan University is home to two, exciting graduate programs in the rewarding SUD counseling profession! The Clinical Addiction Certificate is an 18-credit, graduate-level program of study that’s designed to prepare students for Michigan’s CADC credential, and the Addiction Specialization Certificate is a 9-credit program that’s designed for dual-enrolled graduate students or those looking to obtain continuing education credits for Michigan’s CAADC credential. Western Michigan is an outstanding destination for SUD counseling education – their specialty program in alcohol and drug abuse was the first of its kind in Michigan, and the university is home to the first university-based training clinic that addresses substance use disorders.

University of Detroit Mercy

College of Liberal Arts and Education
Detroit, MI
Website

MA in Addiction Counseling (on-campus)

Post-Graduate Certificate in Addiction Studies (on-campus)

The University of Detroit Mercy’s MA in Addiction Counseling and Post-Graduate Certificate in Addiction Studies are part of the university’s esteemed, nationally recognized counseling program that’s been educating students since 1964. Both programs are grounded in evidence-based practices and a sound curriculum that’s focused on assessment, diagnosis and treatment planning, enhanced training in consultation and program development, and the treatment of addiction and trauma. The MA in Addiction Counseling is complemented with a community-based clinical internship and a semester-long practicum that takes place at the university’s no-cost counseling clinic – a teaching clinic that serves the public.

St. Cloud State University

College of Health and Wellness Professions
St. Cloud, MN
Website

Graduate Certificate in Substance Use Counseling (on-campus)

Graduate Certificate included (on-campus, online)

Graduate Certificate-Addictions Specialist (on-campus, online)

St. Cloud State University is home to an MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling that comes complete with an Addictions Specialist Graduate Certificate and the flexibility of earning it in an on-campus or online format. Expertly designed to prepare culturally responsive, trauma-informed counselors in the human and social services field, including addictions counseling, this exciting graduate program emphasizes a reflective-practitioner model that includes embedded clinical and research experiences. This program is designed in a cohort model that welcomes 18 full-time students every year. Students take classes just two to three times per week in an intimate learning environment that features a low, 6:1 student-to-faculty ratio.

Walden University

Minneapolis, MN
Website

MSW with a focus in Addictions or Embedded Certificate in Addictions (online)

MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with an Addiction Counseling specialization (online)

Walden University is home to not one, but two exciting graduate programs in addiction counseling! Both the MSW with a focus in Addictions/embedded Certificate in Addictions and the MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with an Addiction Counseling specialization are offered in your choice of two online formats to suit the needs of today’s busy, working professionals. Choose from course-based learning (instructor-led approach) that features a standard, course-based format, or Tempo Learning, your opportunity to control the pace of your program. Led by a faculty of respected scholars, researchers, and leaders and featuring multiple start dates each year, these programs ensure outstanding convenience and flexibility.

University of Providence

Great Falls, MT
Website

MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling-Addictions Counseling concentration (online, hybrid)

The University of Providence’s MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling features an online design for outstanding convenience and an Addictions Counseling concentration that provides a solid pathway to professional certification and leadership roles in the SUD counseling field. We love the outstanding opportunities for real-life learning here. The School of Health Professions has clinical education agreements with multiple agencies in the region, including Providence Health and Services, for student practicums and internships. Choose the MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling through the University of Providence and you’ll enjoy studying in an intimate cohort model that ensures outstanding guidance and a personalized learning experience.

Plymouth State University

Counselor Education and School Psychology
Plymouth, NH
Website

MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling-Addictions Treatment concentration (on-campus)

MS in Marriage and Family Therapy-Addictions Treatment concentration (on-campus)

Plymouth State University offers two graduate pathways to the exciting and rewarding SUD counseling field. The MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a concentration in Addictions Treatment provides a solid pathway to clinical mental health counseling in New Hampshire, while the MS in Marriage and Family Therapy with an Addictions Treatment concentration provides students with the skills and knowledge needed to become a licensed marriage and family therapist and an American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) Clinical Fellow. With a low, student-to-faculty ratio of just 17:1 and a 98 percent job placement rate within six months of graduation, these programs ensure an outstanding academic experience!

The College of New Jersey

School of Education
Ewing, NJ
Website

the college of new jersey

MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling-Addiction Counseling specialization (online, on-campus)

The College of New Jersey is home to an MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, a flexible program that includes an Addiction Counseling specialization and your choice of an asynchronous or synchronous/asynchronous online format. This exciting graduate program boasts three start dates per year, an accelerated design, and just two classes per term. And if you live near the campus, there’s also an on-campus option. Regardless of whether you study on-campus or online, you’ll enjoy learning in an intimate, student-centered learning environment and learning from an outstanding faculty of expert counselors who are fully immersed in the field of mental health counseling. These professionals bring their firsthand experience to the classroom, thereby ensuring a truly dynamic learning experience.

Monmouth University

School of Social Work
West Long Branch, NJ
Website

Monmouth University

MSW-Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LCADC) track (on-campus)

Monmouth University is home to an MSW that features a Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC) track – a clear pathway to the Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LCADC) credential and a rewarding career in social work! Just some of the exciting social work electives offered in this program include Social Work Practice in Groups; Social Work Practice with the Aged; Social Innovations; and Empowering Adults with Acute Stress and Trauma. Offered in an intimate, collaborative learning environment, students here enjoy plenty of personal attention through a low, 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio.

University of Nevada, Reno

School of Public Health, Center for the Application of Substance Abuse Technologies (CASAT)
Reno, NV
Website

Graduate Certificate in Addiction Treatment Services (online)

The University of Nevada Reno’s Center for the Application of Substance Abuse (CASAT) offers a Graduate Certificate in Addiction Treatment Services, a fully online program designed for students who already hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree in a related field and are looking for the education needed to pursue licensure in Nevada as a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC). For more than 30 years, CASAT has been providing outstanding academic programs, research-based training, and technology transfer activities in the field of addiction prevention and treatment. In short, CASAT offers unparalleled opportunities to advance your knowledge in the field of addictions counseling.

Hofstra University

School of Health Sciences, Department of Counseling and Mental Health Professions
Hempstead, NY
Website

MA in Mental Health Counseling with an Advanced (Graduate) Certificate in Addiction and Substance Abuse included (on-campus)

Advanced (Graduate) Certificate in Addiction and Substance Abuse (on-campus)

Hofstra University’s MA in Mental Health Counseling includes an Advanced Certificate in Addiction and Substance Abuse to prepare students for licensure as a mental health counselor and certification as an addiction counselor in New York and as competent and compassionate professionals in the field of addictions counseling. This clinically focused program is home to a state-of-the-art training lab that provides students with exciting opportunities to apply what they’ve learned in the classroom. The Advanced Certificate in Addiction and Substance Abuse, whether taken as part of the MA in Mental Health Counseling or as a stand-alone program, meets the requirements for the CASAC credential in New York. Choose Hofstra for your SUD counseling education and you’ll be part of a nationally and internationally recognized institution that’s been lauded by esteemed publications like Forbes, U.S. News & World Report, Washington Monthly, and the Princeton Review.

Cameron University

School of Graduate and Professional Studies, Department of Psychology
Lawton, OK
Website

cameron university

MA in Mental Health (Counseling option) with an Embedded Certificate in Alcohol and Drug Counseling (on-campus)

Cameron University is home to an MA in Mental Health Counseling that features an embedded Certificate in Alcohol and Drug Counseling – your opportunity to earn the education and training needed to pursue licensure as an LPC and certification as an alcohol and drug counselor and begin a career in the exciting and rewarding SUD counseling field. The embedded Certificate in Alcohol and Drug Counseling consists of five courses: Addiction in the Family Counseling; Alcohol and Drug Addiction; Alcohol and Drug Counseling Theories and Techniques; Psychopharmacology and Addiction; and Addiction and Family Theory. Choose Cameron University for your SUD counseling education and you’ll have the opportunity to begin applying what you’ve learned in the classroom in the Cameron Psychology Clinic – a free community clinic staffed with graduate students.

Carlow University

College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Psychology Counseling and Criminology
Pittsburgh, PA
Website

MS in Professional Counseling-Addictions Counseling (on-campus)

Post-Master’s Certificate in Addiction Counseling (online)

Carlow University’s MS in Professional Counseling offers a comprehensive pathway to the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CAADAC) designation and a rewarding career in the SUD counseling field. Graduates of this program have the skills and knowledge needed to diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders, including addiction, in a variety of settings. Students of this program also have the option of completing it in an accelerated format by taking graduate courses as a Carlow undergraduate student! You’ll feel good about choosing a university that boasts a 98 percent employment rate among graduate students!

City University of Seattle

School of Health and Social Sciences
Seattle, WA
Website

city university of seattle

Graduate Certificate-Substance Use Disorder Professional (on-campus)

The City University of Seattle’s Graduate Certificate – Substance Use Disorder Professional is designed for master’s trained professionals who are interested in pursuing certification as a Substance Use Disorder Professional. This 15-credit course of study features courses like Survey of Addictions: Pharmacology and Physiology of Addictions; Substance Use Disorder Law and Ethics and Treatment of Addictions: Individual, Group, and Family Addictions Counseling using ASAM Criteria. Offered through a private university that’s known for its intimate, student-centered learning environment, this program is designed with your success in mind!