PhD versus 2nd Masters

[sklineho]

Obviously it's going to be different for the different programs out there. A huge chunk of it is if there's any type of credential or licensing involved. As an example, most of the counseling Masters that I've priced have been in the $30k range. For the most part, they run 60 credits due to state requirements, but there are some that are 45 (which would be rather useless for those states that require 60 credits to be licensed, and a lot do). Then you have the whole RA/NA debate and For-Profit/Not For-Profit and Private/Public divisions. NA tends to be cheaper, & For-Profit is usually, but not always, on the expensive side of things. Public can gouge you just as much as Private if you're out of state. And, colleges that have specific programmatic certification tends to run a little higher as well.

I know we tend to find ways to do education as cost-effective as possible around here, but past the bachelor's degree, you really will tend to start focusing what works for you and sometimes there's just not getting around a higher cost on it, especially when it comes to programmatic accreditation requirements (if any), state requirements (if any) or other requirements, personal or professional. And then it all goes south when you start factoring in paying for the school name.

And TBH, I haven't found an online (non-APA accredited) Psych doctorate for less that about 45k. The one DL APA accredited Psych Doctorate that's available (and always under review by the APA, it seems) looks to run somewhere around $200k. I could go to a local B&M (two of which are APA accredited, both of which are about 1.5 hours away, one's public/state and one's private and expensive as all get out) and pray that I can be one of the 0-3 people they take each year and give my life away for about 5 years. The state school says that if accepted, you have to fully dedicate yourself to the program and that you are encouraged heavily not to have any outside commitments (no job that's not involved with the program, etc.). At my age, with a family, I can't do that.

So, I'll be happy with my $22k doctorate.

With a counseling degree you also have to pay attention to CACREP accredited programs. They cost more but are worth it. I'm in one that will cost me over 40K but it's CACREP and at a ranked university with prestigious professors in the field that have already allowed me to make very solid networking connections. So you get what you pay for.