Best Addiction Studies Bachelor's Degrees

Why Get A Bachelor’s Degree in Addiction Studies Counseling?

A bachelor’s degree in addiction studies counseling is the ideal program for students who want to make a big difference in the lives of people struggling with addiction.

Being a substance abuse counselor can be an extremely rewarding position. You’ll have the opportunity to help people get their life together by treating a variety of conditions including substance abuse, depression, stress, and grief.

The career is also a great option for people who want experience working in a wide variety of environments. When students receive this degree, they can even hold a wide range of positions throughout their career.

Generally speaking, graduates of these programs will be responsible for counseling patients, maintaining client/patient caseloads, collaborating with families, performing evaluations, and many other responsibilities.

Bachelor’s in Substance Abuse Counseling

A bachelor’s degree in substance abuse counseling or addiction counseling typically takes three to four years to complete and encompasses 120 semester hours of college credit.

With a bachelor’s degree, aspiring substance abuse counselors will start their careers off on the right foot. Students will graduate with an understanding of the basic psychological and sociological factors behind addiction, as well as a grasp on counseling theory, techniques, and ethics.

While each school’s program differs in the specific courses students will have to take, the bulk of general class requirements remain the same. Your course load will likely start off with several general education classes before focusing on the psychology and sociology courses students will need to meet the requirements of their major. Topics will include individual and family counseling, healthcare ethics, and addiction-specific topics about assessing, treating, and preventing substance abuse disorders.

A master’s or doctoral degree beyond a bachelor’s is preferred by many employers and is required for therapists to hold before they can open a private practice. However, a bachelor’s degree in substance abuse counseling may be enough to get a foot in the industry door.

School Curriculum

Students who want to start on the path to become a substance abuse counselor should expect to take a curriculum of courses focused on psychology and sociology topics. Students will come away with the assessment and counseling skills needed to perform their jobs well.

Course topics may include:

Addiction Counseling Theories of Counseling Case Management Psychology Family and Group Counseling Individual Counseling Psychological Evaluation Diagnosis of Behavioral and Chemical Dependency Pharmacology and Psychopharmacology

Required courses will vary from school to school, but students can expect to graduate with a knowledge of the fundamentals of substance abuse counseling. Some of the topics that students will come away with a working understanding of include:

Assessment and diagnostic skills Treatment methods and tactics Case evaluation and documentation Facilitation of group and individual sessions Legal and ethical issues associated with and/or caused by substance abuse

Students may also tailor their degree to the career path they plan to follow upon graduation by taking classes that will be directly applicable to their desired career focus. Concentrations lead to careers involving social work, child psychology, psychotherapy, and more. Students should consult with their advisors to choose a path that works for them.

Top 10 Addiction Counseling Bachelor's Programs in the US

1. University of South Florida

The college offers a minor in Addictions Studies for students who are pursuing a bachelor’s degree. Students must complete a total of 18 credit hours to receive this minor. After completing the program, students will be qualified to become a certified addictions professional. Students just need to pass the state examination for this credential.

Tuition

In-State: $6,410

Out-of-State: $17,324

Average Net Price: $9,787

# of Applicants: 36,986

% Admitted: 48%

Retention Rate: 91%

Total Enrollment: 44,246

Undergraduate Enrollment: 32,684 (74%)

Graduate Enrollment: 11,562 (26%)

Graduation Rate: 75%

Student Faculty Ratio: 23 to 1

Average Grads Salary: $65,905

10 Year ROI*: $619,902

2. James Madison University

James Madison University is located on a beautiful, medium-sized campus in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Bachelor degree-seeking students at JMU have the option of pursuing a substance abuse education minor. Students can obtain this minor by completing 18 credit hours. The course will prepare students to take the Certified Prevention Professionals-ATOD examination.

Tuition

In-State: $12,206

Out-of-State: $29,106

Average Net Price: $18,708

# of Applicants: 23,579

% Admitted: 77%

Retention Rate: 89%

Total Enrollment: 21,820

Undergraduate Enrollment: 19,895 (91%)

Graduate Enrollment: 1,925 (9%)

Graduation Rate: 84%

Student Faculty Ratio: 16 to 1

Average Grads Salary: $66,607

10 Year ROI*: $591,238

3. CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice

Bachelor of Arts students at this college are eligible to enroll in the minor in Addiction Studies Program. Here are some sample courses in this program: Drug Use and Abuse, Understanding Addictions through Research, and Chemical Dependency and the Dysfunctional Family. The program prepares students to become certified substance abuse counselors.

Tuition

In-State: $7,470

Out-of-State: $15,420

Average Net Price: $3,814

# of Applicants: 20,568

% Admitted: 41%

Retention Rate: 80%

Total Enrollment: 15,880

Undergraduate Enrollment: 13,746 (87%)

Graduate Enrollment: 2,134 (13%)

Graduation Rate: 52%

Student Faculty Ratio: 18 to 1

Average Grads Salary: $63,191

10 Year ROI*: $616,654

4. Ramapo College of New Jersey

Students who would like to pursue a career in substance abuse counseling can enroll in a bachelor degree program of their choice while minoring in substance use disorders. The mission of the program is to ensure that students become knowledgeable in substance use disorders, psychology, social work, and counseling. When students complete this program, they will be eligible to become a Certified Alcohol and Drug Abuse counselor.

Tuition

In-State: $14,678

Out-of-State: $24,229

Average Net Price: $16,823

# of Applicants: 7,331

% Admitted: 66%

Retention Rate: 85%

Total Enrollment: 6,142

Undergraduate Enrollment: 5,574 (91%)

Graduate Enrollment: 568 (9%)

Graduation Rate: 72%

Student Faculty Ratio: 16 to 1

Average Grads Salary: $65,128

10 Year ROI*: $583,988

5. Colorado State University-Fort Collins

At this campus based in Fort Collins, Colorado, CSU is home to over 25,000 undergraduate students, and it boasts a 14 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio. The public institution has 300 academic programs including a bachelor’s in psychology degree with a concentration in addictions counseling. This bachelor’s degree is perfect for students who would like to work in the clinical counseling field. Students who enroll in this bachelor’s program will complete coursework to qualify for the addiction counseling certification.

Tuition

In-State: $11,901

Out-of-State: $30,622

Average Net Price: $16,793

# of Applicants: 28,319

% Admitted: 81%

Retention Rate: 84%

Total Enrollment: 33,426

Undergraduate Enrollment: 25,789 (77%)

Graduate Enrollment: 7,637 (23%)

Graduation Rate: 70%

Student Faculty Ratio: 14 to 1

Average Grads Salary: $68,542

10 Year ROI*: $618,248

6. Old Dominion University

ODU has a total student body of about 23,600 and a student-to-faculty ratio of 17 to 1. Bachelor degree-seeking students can enroll in the addiction prevention and treatment minor program. Students will take courses such as Introduction to Substance Abuse and Human Behavior. The program can be completed online or on campus.

Tuition

In-State: $10,680

Out-of-State: $30,840

Average Net Price: $16,681

# of Applicants: 13,761

% Admitted: 89%

Retention Rate: 53%

Total Enrollment: 23,675

Undergraduate Enrollment: 19,176 (81%)

Graduate Enrollment: 4,499 (19%)

Graduation Rate: 80%

Student Faculty Ratio: 17 to 1

Average Grads Salary: $67,620

10 Year ROI*: $609,476

7. Washington State University

WSU is a great choice for students who would like a career in clinical and health psychology. Students who are enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program have the option of pursing a minor in Addiction Studies. The program prepares students to become a chemical dependency professional. Throughout the program, students will study addictive behaviors.

Tuition

In-State: $11,841

Out-of-State: $26,419

Average Net Price: $18,002

# of Applicants: 21,434

% Admitted: 76%

Retention Rate: 79%

Total Enrollment: 31,607

Undergraduate Enrollment: 26,062 (82%)

Graduate Enrollment: 5,545 (18%)

Graduation Rate: 60%

Student Faculty Ratio: 16 to 1

Average Grads Salary: $71,310

10 Year ROI*: $641,092

8. Eastern Washington University

Founded in 1882, Eastern Washington University is the preferred choice for students who want to work in their desired field after graduation as 79% of alumni have jobs related to their major. Students who would like to maintain a career in the clinical counseling field can complete a Bachelor of Arts in Addiction Studies through the College of Social Sciences. As a student of this program, students will take courses such as Community Prevention Methods, Relapse Prevention, and Survey of Alcohol/Drug Problems. These courses prepare students for the Substance Use Disorder Professionals certification

Tuition

In-State: $7,526

Out-of-State: $25,057

Average Net Price: $12,764

# of Applicants: 5,297

% Admitted: 96%

Retention Rate: 70%

Total Enrollment: 12,410

Undergraduate Enrollment: 10,756 (87%)

Graduate Enrollment: 1,654 (13%)

Graduation Rate: 54%

Student Faculty Ratio: 18 to 1

Average Grads Salary: $62,916

10 Year ROI*: $578,104

9. SUNY College at Brockport

This SUNY campus is located in Brockport, New York, within thirty minutes of Rochester and Buffalo. The public institution invites students to pursue the bachelor’s in Alcohol and Substance Abuse Studies degree program, which consists of courses such as Introduction to Alcohol and Other Drugs and Criminal Justice and Addictions. During this program, students will learn a wide variety of counseling techniques so that they can effectively meet clients’ unique needs.

Tuition

In-State: $8,680

Out-of-State: $18,590

Average Net Price: $14,747

# of Applicants: 9,672

% Admitted: 55%

Retention Rate: 4%

Total Enrollment: 7,924

Undergraduate Enrollment: 6,673 (84%)

Graduate Enrollment: 1,251 (16%)

Graduation Rate: 64%

Student Faculty Ratio: 17 to 1

Average Grads Salary: $60,244

10 Year ROI*: $543,452

10. University of Central Arkansas

UCA is a public college in a small town boasting a student population of 10,869. Students who would like to be an addiction counselor should consider enrolling in the Bachelor of Science in Addiction Studies program, partially because it is the only college in the state that offers this degree. After graduating from this program, students will have the necessary knowledge to work as an addiction counselor in a wide variety of environments, from outpatient clinics to government agencies.

Tuition

In-State: $9,188

Out-of-State: $15,998

Average Net Price: $14,796

# of Applicants: 5,397

% Admitted: 90%

Retention Rate: 75%

Total Enrollment: 10,869

Undergraduate Enrollment: 9,134 (84%)

Graduate Enrollment: 1,735 (16%)

Graduation Rate: 43%

Student Faculty Ratio: 16 to 1

Average Grads Salary: $59,290

10 Year ROI*: $533,716

Check out the full list of the 35 best bachelors in addiction studies.