Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling/Counselor
A program that prepares individuals to counsel and assist disabled individuals and recovering patients in order to achieve their greatest physical, mental, social, educational, and vocational potential. Includes instruction in patient evaluation and testing, rehabilitation program planning, patient support services and referral, job analysis, adjustment psychology, rehabilitation services provision, patient counseling and education, applicable law and regulations, and professional standards and ethics.
- Schools offering
- 14
- Annual completions
- 155
- Typical degree level
- Associate's + Bachelor's
- Median earnings (5yr)
- $56k
About this major
A program that prepares individuals to counsel and assist disabled individuals and recovering patients in order to achieve their greatest physical, mental, social, educational, and vocational potential. Includes instruction in patient evaluation and testing, rehabilitation program planning, patient support services and referral, job analysis, adjustment psychology, rehabilitation services provision, patient counseling and education, applicable law and regulations, and professional standards and ethics.
Examples of specialized tracks: Rehabilitation Counseling, Rehabilitation Services.
Where this major leads
Occupations most often associated with this major, from the federal BLS+O*NET crosswalk. Job-growth projections and median wages are national.
| Occupation | Median wage | Job growth | Typical education |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health specialties teachers, postsecondary | $106k | +17.3% | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Rehabilitation counselors | $46k | +1.4% | Master's degree |
Earnings at a glance
Median graduate earnings from the federal College Scorecard, 5 and 10 years out.
Median 5-year earnings
$56k
Associate's vs Bachelor's — early-career earnings
Associate's
$46k
Bachelor's
$58k
Top colleges for Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling/Counselor
Ranked by annual completions at the associate's or bachelor's level — a proxy for program scale.
| College | Location | Assoc. | Bach. | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California State University-Los Angeles | Los Angeles, CA | 0 | 48 | 48 |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison | Madison, WI | 0 | 28 | 28 |
| Winston-Salem State University | Winston-Salem, NC | 0 | 19 | 19 |
| East Carolina University | Greenville, NC | 0 | 19 | 19 |
| Southern University and A & M College | Baton Rouge, LA | 0 | 13 | 13 |
| University of Wisconsin-Stout | Menomonie, WI | 0 | 10 | 10 |
| Wright State University-Main Campus | Dayton, OH | 0 | 9 | 9 |
| Taft College | Taft, CA | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| Emporia State University | Emporia, KS | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Thomas University | Thomasville, GA | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Related majors to explore
Rehabilitation Science
843 completions/yr
Therapeutic Recreation/Recreational Therapy
628 completions/yr
Occupational Therapy/Therapist
501 completions/yr
Music Therapy/Therapist
451 completions/yr
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions, Other
374 completions/yr
Physical Therapy/Therapist
255 completions/yr
Art Therapy/Therapist
195 completions/yr
Kinesiotherapy/Kinesiotherapist
49 completions/yr
Considering this direction?
We've taken a hard look at the debt, earnings trajectory, and degree-level tradeoffs for the Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling/Counselor field. Read our verdict before you commit.
Is Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling/Counselor worth it? Read verdict