by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 17 U.S. colleges awarded 214 degrees and certificates in Trauma Counseling. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 97% of graduates. College Factual ranks 6 schools in its 2027 Best Trauma 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 Trauma Counseling covers A Program That Focuses On Understanding Elements Of Traumatic Exposure, Trauma-Sensitive Care, And Crisis Intervention. Includes Instruction In Disaster Response, Grief And Loss Counseling, Crisis Intervention And Management, Trauma Counseling, Neurobiology Of Trauma, Ptsd And Combat-Related Trauma, Relational Trauma And Treatment Of Trauma-Related Disorders.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, trauma counseling is a popular field of study, with 214 degrees awarded annually. 17 colleges award trauma counseling degrees, an average of 13 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 56.
By level, the 214 awards include 7 certificates and 207 master’s degrees.
Women earned 92% of trauma counseling degrees and certificates in the latest year (196 of 214). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (157) and Black or African American (25), and international students earned 4.
College Factual ranks 6 schools in its 2027 Best Trauma Counseling Schools ranking, including 2 for master’s degrees. It also ranks trauma counseling schools within 1 state. In all, 17 colleges offer trauma counseling programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Trauma Counseling Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common trauma counseling credential is the master’s degree: 207 of the 214 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to trauma counseling call most for Active Listening, Social Perceptiveness and Speaking, and for knowledge of Therapy and Counseling, Psychology and Customer and Personal Service, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Comprehension, Oral Expression and Problem Sensitivity.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a trauma counseling degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 7 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 207 |
Master’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to trauma counseling, at 89.3%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 89.3% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 7.1% |
| First professional degree | 3.6% |
Source: O*NET Online.
1 occupations are related to Trauma Counseling, with an average median salary of $72,983; the strongest outlook belongs to Mental Health Counselors, at 2.8% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Treatment Coordinator, Behavioral Health Therapist, Behavior Analyst and Elder Counselor.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to trauma counseling, at 246,978.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Mental Health Counselors | 246,978 | 2.8% |
Trauma 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 same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to trauma counseling, with a median salary of $72,983.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Mental Health Counselors | $72,983 |
Trauma Counseling has 12 similar majors in the Health Professions field, which together award 35,902 degrees a year; the largest are Mental Health Counseling/Counselor (12,039), Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling (6,362) and Marriage and Family Therapy/Counseling (4,547). Browse all Health Professions majors or the full list of college majors.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
