by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 388 U.S. colleges awarded 6,362 degrees and certificates in Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 48% of graduates. College Factual ranks 146 schools in its 2027 Best Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $45,762 one year after completing, rising to $55,481 after four years.
Studying Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling involves the study of Substance Abuse/addiction Counseling. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Help Prevent Substance Abuse, Counsel Individuals And Families With Drug And Alcohol Problems, And Perform Intervention And Therapeutic Services For Persons Suffering From Addiction. Includes Instruction In Individual And Group Counseling Skills, Psychology Of Addiction, Sociology, Crisis Intervention, Substance Abuse Identification Methodologies, Substance Abuse Treatment Modalities, Substance Abuse Prevention And Treatment Resources, Pharmacology And Behavioral Aspects Of Abused Substances, Treatment Evaluation, Patient Observation And Education, Group Dynamics, Professional Standards And Ethics, And Applicable Law And Regulations.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, substance abuse/addiction counseling is a popular field of study, with 6,362 degrees awarded annually. 388 colleges award substance abuse/addiction counseling degrees, an average of 16 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 292.
By level, the 6,362 awards include 1,138 certificates, 1,402 associate degrees, 479 bachelor’s degrees, 3,037 master’s degrees and 5 doctorates.
Women earned 70% of substance abuse/addiction counseling degrees and certificates in the latest year (4,420 of 6,362). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (3,419) and Hispanic or Latino (1,206), and international students earned 28.
College Factual ranks 146 schools in its 2027 Best Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling Schools ranking, including 53 for associate degrees, 19 for bachelor’s degrees and 31 for master’s degrees. It also ranks substance abuse/addiction counseling schools within 25 states. In all, 388 colleges offer substance abuse/addiction counseling programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common substance abuse/addiction counseling credential is the master’s degree: 3,037 of the 6,362 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to substance abuse/addiction counseling call most for Active Listening, Speaking and Reading Comprehension, and for knowledge of English Language, Education and Training and Psychology, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Written Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a substance abuse/addiction counseling degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 1,138 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 1,402 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 479 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 3,037 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 5 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to substance abuse/addiction counseling, at 44.7%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 44.7% |
| Doctoral degree | 20.0% |
| Post-doctoral training | 15.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 10.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 4.6% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.3% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.4% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.8% |
| First professional degree | 0.6% |
Source: O*NET Online.
3 occupations are related to Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling, with an average median salary of $57,268; the strongest outlook belongs to Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary, at 10.7% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Coding Educator, Veterinary Science Teacher, Speech Therapy Teacher and Mental Health Aides Teacher.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to substance abuse/addiction counseling, at 1,335,407.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
| Mental Health Counselors | 246,978 | 2.8% |
| Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors | 55,443 | 3.3% |
Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling graduates earn a median $45,762 one year after completing their program, $55,481 after four years and $50,915 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $45,762 |
| 4 years | $55,481 |
| 5 years | $50,915 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to substance abuse/addiction counseling is Mental Health Counselors, with a median salary of $72,983.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Mental Health Counselors | $72,983 |
| Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors | $52,157 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $46,663 |
Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling has 12 similar majors in the Health Professions field, which together award 29,754 degrees a year; the largest are Mental Health Counseling/Counselor (12,039), Marriage and Family Therapy/Counseling (4,547) and Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions, Other (3,934). Browse all Health Professions majors or the full list of college majors.
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