Top Associate’s Degree Programs in Counseling New York

You might feel overwhelmed when choosing among associate’s degree programs in counseling in New York, especially when you have so many reputable institutions offering different specializations. Jobs in social and human service occupations are projected to increase by 10% by 2031. Social and human service assistants will see an even greater increase of 12%. This means the need for qualified counselors is surging and you have to start somewhere – why not start with an associate’s degree? People often enroll in an associate’s program to get general education classes such as English 101 and basic Math and Science courses out of the way at a lower cost-per-credit before transferring to a four-year university. Even better, you can often start working once you have an associate’s in your chosen field before completing your bachelor’s degree.

You can learn about an associate’s degree in counseling online or a traditional campus-based program, and both are great options, depending on how it’s best for you to attend school. This guide breaks down the top programs and covers costs, CASAC eligibility, and career outcomes to help you decide.

Here’s a look at some of our top picks:

North Country Community College – Addictions Counseling

North Country Community College is in Saranac Lake, New York, and serves around 1,602 students each year. The Addictions Counseling program (formerly Chemical Dependency Counseling) prepares you to work with individuals, families, and communities affected by substance abuse disorders. You can complete this associate’s degree in counseling online through a 100% virtual format and participate in live classes led by the same faculty who teach on-campus courses.

The program is on a semester-based schedule. You can complete coursework around your work and family commitments without set login times for asynchronous courses. Field experiences are a core component and place you in ground settings such as inpatient and outpatient counseling facilities, adolescent treatment centers, and substance abuse prevention agencies throughout the North Country region.

Key Features & Curriculum

The A.A.S. in Addictions Counseling requires 63 credits distributed across program core courses (33 credits), liberal arts and science courses (22 credits), general electives (6 credits), and physical education requirements (2 credits).

Your program core has courses such as Introduction to Human Services, Basic Counseling Skills, Introduction to Group Counseling, and Introduction to Substance Abuse Prevention. Specialized coursework covers Physiology and Pharmacology of Addiction, Abnormal Psychology, Psychology of Personal Growth, and Sociology of Addiction. The required internship and seminar component (HUS 205) puts you on the front lines and lets you work with substance abuse counselors in participating agencies.

You must earn a minimum grade of C (2.0) in each core course to receive graduation credit for this degree. The liberal arts portion includes social science courses such as Introductory Psychology and Developmental Psychology, humanities requirements with English Composition, mathematics, and natural science with Human Biology.

Costs & Financial Aid

The financial commitment breakdown for North Country Community College helps you plan:

Cost CategoryNY ResidentsNon-Residents

Full-time students (12+ credits) pay tuition on a term basis. Part-time students (1-11 credits) are charged per credit hour. Tuition and fees are due by the first day of classes each semester, though the college offers payment plans with a one-time $50 non-refundable fee split across three installments.

Financial support is substantial. More than 87% of students receive some form of financial assistance, and the college distributes over $6 million in student financial aid for the 2023-2024 academic year. You can access federal aid through FAFSA, state programs like TAP (up to $5,165 each year), and the Excelsior Scholarship for families earning up to $125,000.

The SUNY Reconnect program offers free tuition, fees, books, and supplies for New Yorkers aged 25-55 without a college degree who enroll in the Addictions Counseling program. The New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) provides scholarships through the Addiction Professionals Scholarship Program, funded by the New York State Opioid Settlement Fund and targets individuals working in or interested in the addictions field.

Accreditation & CASAC Eligibility

North Country Community College holds accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. The college received its most recent accreditation reaffirmation on March 10, 2022, with the next self-study evaluation scheduled for 2028-2029.

Graduates fulfill the NYS Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services requirements to complete 350 hours of education and training. This qualification makes you eligible to apply for status as a Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC) trainee right after graduation.

Career Outcomes

Your career path after completing this program includes positions as a substance abuse counselor, substance abuse prevention specialist, social worker, or psychologist (though some paths require additional education). The program serves as a foundation for transfer to bachelor’s degree programs in social work, psychology, or human services and prepares you for immediate employment in the profession.

Student demographics reveal the program attracts 100% women, with 75% of associate’s degree recipients identifying as white and 25% as racial-ethnic minorities. This gender distribution reflects broader trends in helping professions and counseling fields.

Monroe University – Human Services (Online)

Monroe University delivers its Associate of Science in Human Services online and connects you with instructors who bring decades of ground experience from military and veteran services, group homes, foster care, adult day care, residential care and homeless shelters. This remote format eliminates geographical barriers and maintains the same rigorous standards as on-campus instruction.

The program requires 62 total credits split between 32 credits of major-related courses and 30 credits of general education. You can complete the degree in four semesters. Monroe’s accelerated three-semester academic calendar allows completion in less than a year and a half when studied consecutively. The program operates on 7.5-week mini-mesters alongside traditional 15-week semesters and gives you flexibility to match your personal schedule.

Your education goes beyond virtual classrooms through a mandatory supervised internship with human services agencies or community-based organizations throughout the New York City metro area. You’ll complete at least 160 hours of field experience. This practicum component places you in ground settings before graduation.

Key Features & Curriculum

Coursework spans counseling theory, psychology, sociology, ethics in human services, social issues and political science. The curriculum trains you to work with diverse populations including veterans, senior citizens, victims of domestic violence, people living with disabilities or mental illnesses, substance abuse disorders, immigrant populations, unhoused persons and the formerly incarcerated.

Faculty emphasize cultural competence when you engage with these communities and deepen your communication, presentation, writing and research skills. The program prepares you to identify and explain contributing factors to the human services profession’s origin, distinguish between major theoretical approaches to service provision and write client needs tracking documentation including bio-psychosocial and progress notes.

Monroe offers a trial option for online learners through 7.5-week modules. You take two human services classes remotely before you commit to a full 15-week term, with credits applicable toward your degree.

Costs & Financial Aid

Monroe provides multiple financial aid pathways to reduce educational costs. The financial aid office pairs you with counselors who discuss your situation and map out tailored financial aid packages. These packages combine grants (federal and New York State need-based aid that doesn’t require repayment), scholarships based on academic or athletic accomplishments, work-study through on-campus employment and federal loans.

New York State residents may qualify for need-based grants for both full-time and part-time online study, plus scholarships for specific categories such as active service veterans and their children. Monroe University offers its own grants for undergraduate students, with some available whatever your financial need.

Employees of Monroe’s 400-plus partner companies and organizations receive Corporate Partnership Grants up to 20% of tuition. Working adults benefit from this 20% tuition reduction. The university recognizes that furthering your education remains available at any career stage.

Accreditation & CASAC Eligibility

Monroe University provides a pathway toward CASAC (Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor) certification through a separate 30-credit certificate program. This specialized training prepares you to work with people struggling with alcohol and drug addictions across detoxification, rehabilitation, long-term residential modalities, medical health, mental health, school prevention, correctional services and homeless shelters.

The CASAC program gives you theoretical and practical foundations to assess addiction levels and types, identify associated life issues, set up treatment plans and implement strategies for early intervention, prevention and treatment. Satisfactory completion qualifies you to receive your CASAC-T (Trainee) certificate from the NYS Office of Alcoholism & Substance Abuse Services.

Career Outcomes

Graduates from the 2021 class of Associate in Human Services numbered 116 students, with an 89% response rate for outcome tracking. Of those tracked, 99% achieved positive outcomes. They secured employment, continued education or both. Among employed graduates, 44% worked directly in their field of study.

Employment projections indicate steady demand. The Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts 8% growth in this area from 2023 to 2033. Graduates seek positions in social service agencies, mental health and substance abuse treatment facilities, domestic abuse shelters and community centers working with both adults and children.

Monroe Community College – Addictions Counseling

Monroe Community College operates within the State University of New York system. This associate’s degree in counseling provides an affordable path toward professional substance abuse treatment credentials. The Addictions Counseling A.S. stands out for offering two distinct tracks: one requires a field placement and seminar, and another features coursework for working with people who reenter communities after incarceration. Both routes prepare you for transfer into bachelor’s degree programs in social work or related fields. They meet New York State credentialing requirements at the same time.

You can complete 75% or more of this program online. This makes it available if you have schedule flexibility. The curriculum requires 63 total credits, distributed over four semesters under both track options. Monroe Community College serves as one of the few community colleges in New York State to provide a dedicated addictions counseling degree.

Key Features & Curriculum

The program builds around the 12 Core Functions designated by the New York State Office of Alcohol & Substance Abuse Services. These competencies span screening, intake procedures, orientation, assessment and evaluation, referral skills, treatment planning, counseling techniques, crisis intervention, patient education, case management, record keeping, and consultation with other professionals.

You’ll complete seven substance abuse treatment courses. Six are offered as 3-credit classes and a seventh is structured as a 6-credit course that incorporates your 300-hour internship. Expert faculty who spent years working as practicing drug and alcohol counselors lead your classes. They bring field experience into instruction. Coursework covers intake screening, treatment planning, crisis intervention, case management, referral processes, consultation with health professionals, and legal aspects of addiction counseling.

Supporting courses include psychology, sociology, communication, statistics, and health education. The experiential track ends in ACD 246 (Alcohol/Chemical Dependency Internship Seminar), while the reentry track substitutes courses like Working with Clients Post-Incarceration and Criminology.

Costs & Financial Aid

Monroe Community College provides what they describe as outstanding education at affordable cost through SUNY membership. Beyond standard federal and state financial aid, you can access the Empowerment for Change Scholarship, which awards up to $6,150 for students enrolled in Addictions Counseling programs who demonstrate financial need and maintain a 2.5 GPA. Preference goes to students who pursue CASAC certification and those who overcame obstacles to pursue their education.

The MCC Assist program addresses unexpected financial emergencies through mini-grants up to $500, with an annual maximum of $1,000. These emergency funds cover housing, food, utilities, and childcare expenses that might force you to withdraw otherwise. You must maintain at least a 2.0 GPA, register for at least 6 credit hours, and exhaust other financial possibilities first to qualify.

Accreditation & CASAC Eligibility

Program completion provides the education component required for CASAC certification. This makes you eligible to apply for Credentialed Alcohol & Substance Abuse Counselor-in-Training (CASAC-T) designation. This trainee status represents the first step toward full CASAC licensure, which qualifies you for employment as a substance abuse counselor in New York State.

The program follows all coursework requirements specified by the New York Office of Alcoholism & Substance Abuse Services. Your 300-hour internship at Rochester area addiction-related agencies fulfills most training hours mandated by OASAS.

Career Outcomes

New York faces a shortage of well-trained addiction counselors. This creates strong job opportunities for graduates. The median salary for substance abuse counselors reaches $44,000. Major employers include Rochester Regional Health, FLACRA (Finger Lakes Area Counseling & Recovery Agency), University of Rochester, and East House. Graduates maintain a strong record of continued education and career success. Transfer credits are accepted at four-year schools around the country, including all SUNY campuses.

Kingsborough Community College – Mental Health and Human Services

Kingsborough Community College’s Mental Health and Human Services A.S. degree prepares you for a variety of helping professions in social work, psychology, counseling, mental health, rehabilitation and special education. Faculty members bring expertise from psychology, counseling and social work backgrounds. The program includes courses in counseling, social policy, human service organization, vulnerable populations, group leadership, domestic violence, developmental disabilities and gerontology.

The two-year program emphasizes learning ways to help people lead satisfying and productive lives. You learn to prevent and treat serious emotional and psychological problems. The program also teaches you to intervene with social conditions to expand access, equity and health. You gain hands-on experience through two semester-long internship courses in human services placements. These field experiences can lead directly to employment within host organizations and strengthen your resume for positions elsewhere.

Key Features & Curriculum

The program requires 60 credits distributed in three components. Your required core spans 12 credits. It covers composition, mathematical reasoning and life sciences. The flexible core adds 18 credits from six groups. These address world cultures, U.S. diversity, creative expression, individual and society (including Human Growth and Development or Abnormal Psychology), and scientific world perspectives with General Psychology.

Major requirements total 30 credits in ten courses. You complete Introduction to Human Services, Human Services Organizations and Introduction to Gerontology as foundational coursework. Psychology courses include General Psychology, Human Growth and Development, and Abnormal Psychology. Specialized training comes through Principles of Interviewing and Group Leadership or Introduction to Domestic Violence Counseling. This pairs with Mental Health Practice with Vulnerable Populations or Assessment and Intervention Modalities with Domestic Violence Survivors.

The two supervised instructional experiences (MH 9801 and MH 9802) place you in field settings for practical application. Students who complete domestic violence courses receive internship placements that focus on that specialization.

Costs & Financial Aid

New York State offers adults aged 25 to 55 without college degrees free attendance at Kingsborough through the Reconnect program. This initiative covers tuition, fees and books for the Mental Health and Human Services A.S. when you take at least six credits part-time or 12+ credits full-time per semester. You must live in New York State, submit FAFSA, and apply for NYS TAP or the NYS DREAM Act if eligible to qualify.

Beyond this program, financing options include federal and state grants, scholarships, loans and institutional financing plans. The college provides access to standard federal student aid when you complete the FAFSA application.

Accreditation & CASAC Eligibility

The Mental Health and Human Services program is different from Kingsborough’s separate Addiction Studies pathway. The college offers CASAC-eligible programs through its Addiction Studies Certificate and A.S. degree accredited by the National Addiction Studies Accreditation Commission. The Mental Health and Human Services track focuses on helping professions rather than addiction-specific credentialing.

Career Outcomes

Graduates transfer to bachelor’s programs at institutions including Medgar Evers College (BSW), New York City College of Technology (Human Services), St. John’s University and SUNY Empire State College (Community and Human Services). Hunter College accepts field internship courses toward BSW prerequisite requirements with proper documentation.

Employment projections show social workers growing 6% from 2024 to 2034, with median annual wages at $61,330 in May 2024. Substance abuse, behavioral disorder and mental health counselors will increase 17% during the same period. They earn median wages of $59,190. Psychologists project 6% growth with median wages reaching $94,310. Many graduates continue education to MSW, MHC and Ph.D. levels.

SUNY Online – Associate’s Degree in Counseling Programs

SUNY Online functions as a centralized platform that connects you to associate’s degree programs in counseling from multiple State University of New York campuses. This system combines programs from community colleges statewide rather than representing a single institution. Each college offers different specializations in behavioral science and human services fields.

Various delivery formats make these programs available to you. Some operate 100% online. Others blend online and on-campus components at 75% or 50% virtual delivery. Programs span Chemical Dependency Counseling, Human Services, Addiction Studies, and Alcohol and Substance Abuse Studies at institutions including Finger Lakes Community College, Genesee Community College, Hudson Valley Community College, and Tompkins Cortland Community College.

Key Features & Curriculum

Programs delivered through SUNY Online maintain the same quality standards as traditional classroom instruction. Faculty who teach on-campus students lead live classes where you learn in real time. Courses follow semester-based schedules. You can complete assignments around work and family responsibilities without mandatory login times for asynchronous components.

Field experiences remain central to your education. Internships, clinical placements, and service learning allow you to apply academic knowledge in professional settings. Credit requirements vary by program and range from 32 credits for certificates to 64 credits for associate degrees.

The platform emphasizes individual-specific support through dedicated advisors. These advisors serve as single points of contact for questions. Tutoring assistance supplements your coursework when needed.

Costs & Financial Aid

SUNY tuition rates stand more than 10% lower than national averages for public universities and nearly 50% below for-profit institutions. Tuition and fees vary by campus. Community colleges charge approximately $295 per credit for New York State residents. Full-time enrollment (12+ credits) for in-state students costs around $5,560 per semester, while out-of-state residents pay $9,890.

The SUNY Reconnect program provides free tuition, fees, books, and supplies to New Yorkers aged 25-55 without college degrees who enroll in eligible programs. Several counseling programs combine SUNY Online+ features with Reconnect benefits and create available pathways for adult learners. Housing costs are excluded from this coverage.

Accreditation & CASAC Eligibility

Programs operate under Middle States Commission on Higher Education accreditation. Multiple SUNY Online programs fulfill educational requirements for CASAC-TR (Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor-Trainee) licensure and prepare you to meet New York State’s credentialing standards.

Career Outcomes

Graduates transfer successfully to four-year institutions for bachelor’s degrees in social work, psychology, and human services. Employment opportunities span community services agencies, healthcare providers, justice system facilities, and nonprofits. Positions include social worker, case manager, community outreach coordinator, crisis intervention specialist, and human services administrator.

LaGuardia Community College – Human Services Counseling

LaGuardia Community College’s Human Services Program stands apart through intensive training in Motivational Interviewing, an evidence-supported communication style accessible to more people across human services, social work, and community health settings. The Associate in Arts degree, coordinated by the Health Sciences Department, prepares you for careers in mental health, social work, and related helping professions. It builds a foundation for bachelor’s degree programs in human services, social work, disability studies, gerontology, and psychology.

The program trains you to provide culturally competent helping and supportive services to individuals, families, groups, and communities from diverse backgrounds. Human service professionals work to give the ability to individuals and communities, emphasize strengths and abilities, and promote human growth and development. Transfer remains the main goal, but you can also pursue entry-level professional employment in group homes, after-school programs, shelters, senior centers, day care programs, and community-based organizations right upon graduation.

Key Features & Curriculum

Your education requires 60 credits split between Pathways Common Core (30 credits) and Program Core (30 credits). The Common Core covers English composition, mathematical reasoning, life sciences, and flexible core categories. These address world cultures, U.S. diversity, creative expression, individual and society, and scientific view.

Program Core allocates 6 credits to Health Sciences courses. These include Health and Wellness, Community Health, and Community Health Research. Human Services coursework spans 18 credits across Introduction to Human Services, Social Policy and Social Welfare, Social Gerontology, Interviewing and Counseling, Health and Human Services Seminar and Internship, and Community Organizing. You select two electives from options that include Human Services and Disabilities, Group Interviewing and Counseling, Introductory Nutrition, Drugs and Behavior, Human Sexuality, HIV/AIDS Science and Society, or Food and Culture.

The capstone course requires 72 hours of fieldwork and weekly seminar attendance. You create a professional ePortfolio. Motivational Interviewing training supports people making difficult changes such as reducing substance use, adhering to medications, adjusting diet and exercise, and maintaining care for chronic health conditions through an autonomy-supportive approach.

Costs & Financial Aid

In-state tuition and fees total $5,218 annually, while out-of-state students pay $8,098. Books and supplies are estimated at $1,516. Financial assistance reaches 54 percent of undergraduates. Average scholarship or grant awards stand at $5,349.

Accreditation & CASAC Eligibility

This human services program is different from addiction-specific tracks at other institutions. The curriculum follows National Standards for Associate Degree in Human Services from the Council for Standards in Human Service Education.

Career Outcomes

Graduates develop empathic skills, listening abilities, client data assessment, service record maintenance, and community resource utilization. The Center for Career & Professional Development connects you with employers and provides knowledge and opportunities for achieving career goals.

Bronx Community College – Human Services & Addiction Studies

Bronx Community College offers an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree in Human Services. This program has greater specialization compared to the AA in Liberal Arts and Sciences with Human Services option. The curriculum gives you entry-level knowledge, values and skills for helping professions. You must complete 60 credits total. This has major requirements, liberal arts courses and two mandatory fieldwork internships that provide supervised learning experiences in actual work situations.

Key Features & Curriculum

Major requirements span 33 credits across eleven courses. You complete foundational courses. These are Human Services and Social Welfare Institutions (HSC 10), Case Management (HSC 11) and Human Services Skills and Methods (HSC 12). Psychology components cover Abnormal Psychology and Life Span Development. Sociology coursework has Introduction to Social Work and Social Inequity. Communication skills development comes through either Fundamentals of Interpersonal Communication or Public Speaking and Critical Listening.

The two fieldwork experiences (HSC 91 and HSC 92) place you at community social agencies. You develop skills in diagnosis, treatment and evaluation of individual, family, group and institutional problems. Weekly seminars ensure you integrate skills and values appropriately.

Costs & Financial Aid

Full-time NYC or NYS residents pay $2,400 per semester for 12 or more credits. Part-time students are charged $210 per credit hour. Student fees add $202.60 for full-time enrollment or $115.10 for part-time. Payment plans through Nelnet Campus Commerce allow installment payments with a $25 enrollment fee.

Accreditation & CASAC Eligibility

Bronx Community College has accreditation from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, reaffirmed on June 27, 2019. The degree articulates with SUNY Empire State College and Boricua College to complete a bachelor’s degree. Human Services qualifies as an approved field for CASAC applicants. Coursework counts toward education and training requirements.

Career Outcomes

Graduates qualify for positions as mental health aides, group residence workers, neighborhood outreach workers, social casework assistants, geriatric counselors and assistant probation officers. Employment opportunities exist in day care, mental health services, social services, aging, rehabilitation of the disabled and group and community work.

Rockland Community College – Associate’s Degree in Counseling Online

Rockland Community College earned SUNY Online+ designation from the State University of New York and New York State Education Department. This signals the college’s steadfast dedication to excellence in online teaching and learning. D2L Brightspace Learning Management System gives you access to courses anytime and anywhere. Programs run either 100% online with asynchronous courses or as hybrid combinations that blend asynchronous and synchronous live sessions.

Key Features & Curriculum

PSY 17500 (Introduction to Counseling) brings you into the counseling profession. The course covers history, theories, ethics, multicultural counseling and techniques. You’ll look at counseling relationships and process stages. The course also explores employment settings where professional counselors work.

Costs & Financial Aid

Residency StatusAnnual TuitionPer SemesterPer Credit

Technology fees add $25 per credit. Distance learning courses charge $50 per course. More than 3,000 students receive financial aid each year. The college distributed over $11 million in 2021-2022.

Accreditation & CASAC Eligibility

RCC offers a separate NYS 350-hour CASAC certification program. The total cost is $3,500, structured as four 10-week modules at $875 each. You earn 32 Empire State College credits upon completion: 16 after training and 16 upon CASAC certification.

Career Outcomes

Career counseling provides individualized support to students, alumni and those thinking about career changes. Job placement services connect you with part-time, full-time, on-campus and off-campus opportunities.

Begin Now

Finding the right associate’s degree program in counseling depends on your career goals, budget, and how flexible your schedule is. You might prioritize CASAC eligibility, online convenience, or hands-on internship experiences. New York offers diverse pathways to enter this growing field. The programs highlighted here are the foundations for both immediate employment and bachelor’s degree transfers.

Take time to compare costs, accreditation status, and specializations. Then reach out to admissions counselors at your top choices. Discuss financial aid options and program fit with them. Your trip toward a rewarding counseling career starts with making an informed choice today.