10 Online Counseling Master's Programs That Accept a 2.7 GPA

A 2.7 GPA sits just below the 3.0 that many counseling programs list as their standard, but it's right at the cutoff for several respected online programs. Some schools use 2.7 as their actual minimum, while others accept applicants in this range through conditional admission or a short written explanation.

That means you have more than one way in. The programs below cover clinical mental health, rehabilitation, and school counseling, and each one has a clear, published policy that makes room for a 2.7 GPA.

Can You Get Into an Online Counseling Master's Program With a 2.7 GPA?

Yes, and in some cases you'll qualify for regular admission rather than conditional status. A handful of programs set their minimum at exactly 2.7, so your GPA meets the standard outright.

At schools that prefer a 3.0, a 2.7 usually opens the door to a holistic review or conditional start. Admissions teams in counseling pay close attention to your interview, writing samples, and experience, and those pieces can carry as much weight as your transcript.

10 Online Counseling Master's Programs That Accept a 2.7 GPA

The programs on this list either use 2.7 as their minimum, set their standard lower, or offer a defined path for applicants at this level. You'll find options for future licensed professional counselors, rehabilitation counselors, and school counselors.

Accreditation varies more on this list than you might expect. Several programs hold accreditation from the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), while others are aligned with CACREP standards or prepare graduates for licensure in a specific state.

1. Liberty University

Liberty University's online MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is one of the clearest fits for applicants at this level. A 2.7 GPA is the stated requirement for admission in good standing, and the program is CACREP-accredited.

If your GPA falls just short, Liberty offers an alternate route through its Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Studies. After you finish the certificate with at least a 3.0, you can be reevaluated for the master's program, and once you're enrolled, you'll need to maintain a 3.0 graduate GPA.

2. University of Arkansas at Little Rock

The University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UA Little Rock) offers a fully online MA in Counseling with regular admission at a 2.7 overall GPA. You can also qualify with a 3.0 in your last 60 hours, which gives you a second route if your grades improved over time.

Applicants below both thresholds can still earn regular admission with qualifying GRE or Miller Analogies Test (MAT) scores. The program meets Arkansas licensure requirements, but if you plan to practice elsewhere, confirm whether your state requires a CACREP-accredited degree.

3. Winston-Salem State University

Winston-Salem State University (WSSU), a historically Black university in North Carolina, offers an MS in Rehabilitation Counseling through distance learning, adding to the growing number of HBCUs with online master's programs. The minimum cumulative GPA is 2.7, making it an exact match for applicants at this level.

All applicants submit GRE scores, but there's no minimum score, and the program awards points based on your results rather than screening you out. Graduates are eligible to sit for the Certified Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC) exam and pursue clinical mental health counselor licensure in North Carolina.

4. University of Phoenix

The University of Phoenix, a for-profit university, offers an online MS in Counseling with a Clinical Mental Health Counseling concentration that holds CACREP accreditation. Rather than listing a minimum GPA on its program page, the university ties admission to completing an introductory graduate portfolio course.

There's no GMAT, essay, or application fee. The program isn't available to residents of every state, so check with an enrollment representative to confirm that you're eligible before you start.

5. Wilmington University

Wilmington University in Delaware offers its MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling through an online live cohort as well as a hybrid cohort. Successful applicants typically have a 3.0 or better, and if your GPA is lower, you'll submit a GPA Substantiation form that gives you space to explain your record.

The GRE isn't required. Cohorts begin each summer with a February application deadline, so plan ahead if you're aiming for a specific start date.

6. Northwest University

Northwest University in Kirkland, Washington, offers a CACREP-accredited MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling online and on campus. The standard is a 3.0 GPA, but applicants below that mark can still apply by sending an Explanation of Grades to their enrollment counselor.

That process gives you a direct chance to provide context for a 2.7, whether it reflects work obligations, family responsibilities, or a slow start in college. The GRE isn't required, which keeps your application centered on your record and goals.

7. Eastern Oregon University

Eastern Oregon University offers an online MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling that prefers a 3.0 GPA but considers applicants with lower grades. You'll submit three letters of recommendation and two essays, which give admissions reviewers a fuller picture of your readiness for counseling work.

If you've already taken graduate coursework elsewhere, you can transfer up to nine semester hours. Cohorts fill on a rolling basis, so applying early can improve your chances of starting when you want.

8. West Texas A&M University

West Texas A&M University (WTAMU) offers an online MA in Counseling with no GRE requirement and no on-campus attendance. Formal admission requires a 2.75 GPA based on your last 60 undergraduate hours rather than your full transcript.

That calculation can work in your favor if you have a 2.7 cumulative GPA but stronger grades in your junior and senior years. Courses are mostly asynchronous with some evening Zoom sessions, and the program meets academic requirements for Texas Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) licensure.

9. Amberton University

Amberton University, a private nonprofit school in the Dallas area, keeps its counseling admissions straightforward. Its MA in School Counseling requires a 2.5 GPA on your most recent bachelor's degree or your last 60 hours, so a 2.7 meets the standard with room to spare.

Amberton's counseling degrees can be completed online or through a mix of online and on-campus classes, and there are no entrance exams. The school counseling program is built around Texas certification, so it's best suited to applicants who plan to work in Texas schools.

10. Culver-Stockton College

Culver-Stockton College in Canton, Missouri, offers an MA in Counseling with coursework delivered online and an in-person counseling skills lab on campus each summer. Full acceptance requires a 2.75 GPA, and applicants with a GPA between 2.0 and 2.74 can be considered for conditional acceptance.

The program is a newer offering that's aligned with CACREP standards, and the college plans to seek accreditation once its first cohort graduates. If CACREP status matters for licensure in your state, factor that timeline into your decision.

How We Rank Schools

To create this list, we review data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), along with program-level details published by each university. For this ranking, we focused on online counseling programs with published admission policies that accept a 2.7 GPA, either directly or through a defined alternate path.

We also looked at a few other factors. Each program was evaluated on:

• Accreditation: CACREP accreditation was prioritized, and programs that are aligned with CACREP standards or built for a specific state's licensure are identified in their entries.
• Admissions requirements: Published minimums at or below 2.7, conditional admission, and written explanation options all counted toward inclusion.
• Online availability: Coursework is delivered fully or mostly online, with in-person labs or residencies noted.
• Student outcomes: Graduation, retention, and earnings data from College Scorecard helped round out the evaluation.

Learn more about our ranking methodology.

Counseling Specializations to Consider

The programs on this list lead to different types of counseling careers. Knowing the main specializations can help you narrow your search:

• Clinical mental health counseling: Prepares you to work with individuals, couples, and groups in agencies, hospitals, and private practice, typically leading to LPC licensure.
• Rehabilitation counseling: Focuses on helping people with disabilities reach personal, career, and independent living goals, often leading to CRC certification.
• School counseling: Prepares you to support K-12 students' academic, career, and social-emotional development, with requirements set by each state's education department.
• Marriage, couple, and family counseling: Emphasizes relationship and family systems, which some programs offer as a separate track.

If you're also weighing related fields, many MSW programs with high acceptance rates offer another route into clinical practice. Social work and counseling lead to different licenses, so compare the scope of practice in your state before you commit to one path.

What Average GPA Do You Need for a Counseling Master's Program?

Many counseling programs use a 3.0 as their standard, but there's a meaningful group that sets the bar between 2.5 and 2.75. Programs at regional public universities and private nonprofit schools are especially likely to offer conditional admission or a holistic review in that range, much like the broader group of grad schools that accept a 2.5 GPA.

Where you apply matters as much as your GPA. Large, campus-based programs with limited clinical placements tend to be more selective, while online programs built for working adults often weigh experience and readiness more heavily, which is also true of many master's in psychology programs with high acceptance rates.

Can You Get Financial Aid With a 2.7 GPA?

Your GPA won't stop you from getting federal aid for graduate school. Once you're admitted to an eligible program, you can file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and access federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans, provided you maintain satisfactory academic progress. Here are a few other sources to explore:

• Employer support: If you work in human services, education, or healthcare, ask whether your employer offers tuition reimbursement for counseling coursework.
• Military benefits: Service members and veterans can use military benefits for college, including the GI Bill, at many online programs.
• Professional scholarships: Counseling associations and foundations offer graduate awards that often focus on your goals and commitment to the field.
• Loan repayment programs: Licensed counselors who work in underserved areas may qualify for federal loan repayment through the National Health Service Corps after graduation.

If you're admitted conditionally, ask how your status affects your course load in the first semester. A lighter schedule can change how much aid you receive each term.

Tips for Getting Into a Counseling Master's Program With a 2.7 GPA

With a 2.7, a focused application can make the difference between a conditional start and regular admission. Keep these strategies in mind:

• Target programs with a 2.7 minimum first: Liberty, UA Little Rock, and WSSU accept a 2.7 outright, so those are natural places to begin.
• Check how each school calculates GPA: Programs that use your last 60 hours, like UA Little Rock and WTAMU, may see a stronger number than your cumulative GPA.
• Use explanation forms wisely: When a program invites a GPA explanation, knowing how to explain a low GPA helps you keep it brief, take responsibility, and focus on what's changed.
• Show helping experience: Work or volunteer roles in crisis support, case management, or youth services show you're ready for clinical training.
• Consider a standardized test strategically: Some programs let a solid GRE or MAT score replace a GPA requirement, which can help if you test well.
• Balance your list: Applying to grad schools that don't require the GRE alongside test-based programs gives you more chances at admission.

FAQs About Online Counseling Master's Programs That Accept a 2.7 GPA

If you're applying with a 2.7, you may have questions about specific programs and how they fit your long-term plans. Here are answers to a few common ones.

Can a Rehabilitation Counseling Degree Lead to Clinical Licensure?

In many states, it can. Some rehabilitation counseling programs, including WSSU's, prepare graduates for both the CRC exam and clinical mental health counselor licensure, though requirements vary by state.

What Should You Expect in a Counseling Program Interview?

Counseling interviews often focus on your motivation, self-awareness, and ability to handle feedback. Some programs use group interviews or role-play exercises, so practice describing your interest in the field and the experiences that shaped it.

Does It Matter if a Counseling Program Isn't CACREP-Accredited?

It can, depending on where you plan to practice. Some states and employers require a CACREP-accredited degree for licensure or hiring, while others accept degrees that meet specific state requirements, so check your state licensing board's rules before you enroll.

Can GRE Scores Help Offset a 2.7 GPA?

At some schools, yes. UA Little Rock, for example, offers regular admission to applicants below its GPA standards if they earn qualifying GRE or MAT scores, and WSSU factors GRE results into its admission scoring.

Do Online Counseling Programs Accept Transfer Credits?

Many accept a limited number of graduate credits from accredited institutions. Eastern Oregon University, for instance, allows up to nine semester hours, but policies vary widely, so ask how your previous coursework will apply before you enroll.

Explore Online Counseling Programs for a 2.7 GPA

Learn.org offers information and resources to help you compare online counseling master's programs with admission policies that fit a 2.7 GPA. Browse programs through Learn.org and connect directly with schools to get personalized information about accreditation, clinical requirements, and licensure in your state.