Graduate Admissions
Admissions Deadlines
Spring 2026
MS Counseling; EdS Experiential Counseling; and Counseling Certifications
Priority Deadline – October 1
Extended Deadline – November 1 (if space is available)
MS Education Leadership; MS Environmental Studies and Sustainability; MA Organizing and Community Justice, MA Outdoor Leadership; MA; MEd School Counseling; and PhD Sustainability Education
Priority Deadline – November 1
Regular Deadline – December 1
Summer 2026
MS Education Leadership and School Counseling
Priority Deadline – April 15
Regular Deadline – May 10
Fall 2026
MS Counseling, EdS and Certifications
Priority Deadline – May 1
Extended Deadline – June 15 (if space is available)
All other graduate programs
Priority Deadline – June 1
Regular Deadline – August 1
Spring 2026 Orientations:
MS Counseling, EdS Experiential Counseling and Counseling Certifications
Required:
Virtual all-day New Student Orientation: Wednesday, January 7
Virtual 3-day Colloquium; January 8 – 10
PhD Sustainability Education
Strongly encouraged:
Virtual New Student Orientation: Tuesday, January 13 from 11-2 PM MST (1-4 EST)
Earn Your Degree Where You Want, When you Want
Our graduate degree programs are offered in a 100% online or limited residency format that allows you to apply what you learn in each course to your local community. Whether you have a specific career path in mind or seek to curate your own degree plan across multiple disciplines, our professional track programs allow you to study what you want, where you want.
Admissions for Graduate Programs
All applicants to a Prescott College Master’s program must have completed and been awarded a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) in the U.S. or a 4-year degree equivalent from a recognized institution of higher learning abroad. (See International Student Admission Policy) Applicants enrolled in the final year of a bachelor’s degree, or international equivalent will be considered for conditional admission. Application requirements and program requirements vary by program.
To be eligible for the Education Specialist program, applicants must have been awarded a master’s degree in counseling, or a closely related field, from an accredited institution, recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) in the U.S. or an equivalent from a recognized institution of higher learning abroad. Applicants may also be concurrently enrolled in Prescott College’s MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program.
To be eligible for the Ph.D. program, applicants must have been awarded a master’s or other graduate degree from an accredited institution recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) in the U.S. or an equivalent from a recognized institution of higher learning abroad.
Applicants may apply online at prescott.edu/admissions/apply/. Materials (e.g., official transcripts) can be mailed to:
Office of Admissions
Prescott College
220 Grove Avenue
Prescott, AZ 86301
See below for additional requirements based on your chosen program.
Additional Requirements
Clinical Mental Health Counseling, MS
- Completed admissions application
- Two professional and/or academic references.
- Once the application is submitted, the references will receive an email inviting them to complete a recommendation questionnaire.
- Application essay
- Resume or CV
- Transcripts
- Unofficial transcripts that show a bachelor’s degree conferral are acceptable for an applicant to receive a conditional admissions decision.
- Official transcripts showing a conferred bachelor’s degree are required by the end of the first term.
- Official transcripts of graduate coursework are optional if you wish them to be considered for transfer credit.
- Official transcripts must arrive electronically or in a sealed envelope directly from the institution providing them.
- An admissions interview is required.
Master of Education, M.Ed., which includes: (Educational Leadership, School Counseling)
- Completed admissions application
- Two professional and/or academic references.
- Once the application is submitted, the references will receive an email inviting them to complete a recommendation questionnaire.
- Personal Statement
- Resume or CV
- Transcripts
- Unofficial transcripts that show a bachelor’s degree conferral are acceptable for an applicant to receive a conditional admissions decision.
- Official transcripts showing a conferred bachelor’s degree are required by the end of the first term.
- Official transcripts of graduate coursework are optional if you wish them to be considered for transfer credit.
- Official transcripts must arrive electronically or in a sealed envelope directly from the institution providing them.
- Admission interviews may be required on a case-by-case basis.
- Completed admissions application
- Two professional and/or academic references.
- Once the application is submitted, the references will receive an email inviting them to complete a recommendation questionnaire.
- Personal Statement
- Resume or CV
- Transcripts
- Unofficial transcripts that show a bachelor’s degree conferral are acceptable for an applicant to receive a conditional admissions decision.
- Official transcripts showing a conferred bachelor’s degree are required by the end of the first term.
- Official transcripts of graduate coursework are optional if you wish them to be considered for transfer credit.
- Official transcripts must arrive electronically or in a sealed envelope directly from the institution providing them.
- Admission interviews may be required on a case-by-case basis.
- Completed admissions application
- Two professional and/or academic references.
- Personal Statement
- Resume or CV
- Transcripts
- Unofficial transcripts that show a bachelor’s degree conferral are acceptable for an applicant to receive a conditional admissions decision.
- Official transcripts showing a conferred bachelor’s degree are required by the end of the first term.
- Official transcripts of graduate coursework are optional if you wish them to be considered for transfer credit.
- Official transcripts must arrive electronically or in a sealed envelope directly from the institution providing them.
- Admission interviews may be required on a case-by-case basis.
- Completed admissions application
- Two professional and/or academic references.
- Once the application is submitted, the references will receive an email inviting them to complete a recommendation questionnaire.
- Personal Statement
- Resume or CV
- Transcripts
- Unofficial transcripts that show a bachelor’s degree conferral are acceptable for an applicant to receive a conditional admissions decision.
- Official transcripts showing a conferred bachelor’s degree are required by the end of the first term.
- Official transcripts of graduate coursework are optional if you wish them to be considered for transfer credit.
- Official transcripts must arrive electronically or in a sealed envelope directly from the institution providing them.
- Admission interviews may be required on a case-by-case basis.
- Completed admissions application
- Two professional and/or academic references.
- Personal Statement
- Resume or CV
- Transcripts
- Unofficial transcripts that show a bachelor’s degree conferral are acceptable for an applicant to receive a conditional admissions decision.
- Official transcripts showing a conferred bachelor’s degree are required by the end of the first term.
- Official transcripts of graduate coursework are optional if you wish them to be considered for transfer credit.
- Official transcripts must arrive electronically or in a sealed envelope directly from the institution providing them.
- Admission interviews may be required on a case-by-case basis.
All undergraduate students at Prescott College are welcome to apply to an accelerated master’s degree, which allows them to begin taking graduate level courses while still completing their bachelor’s degree.
Students interested in accelerating should meet with their Success Coach in their junior year to discuss their degree plan and begin the application process, which includes:
- Personal Statement
- Completing a new admissions application form at prescott.edu/admissions/apply
- PDF of your Degree Plan
Adventure-based Counseling Certificate
- Completed admissions application
- Two professional and/or academic references
- Application essay
- Resume or CV
- Transcripts. Official transcripts indicating a conferred undergraduate and graduate degree. Unofficial transcripts can be used for an admissions decision, with official transcripts due by the end of the first enrollment term.
- Prerequisites:
- Four non-credit bearing expedient field intensives
- Current Wilderness First Responder
- Proof of Adventure Skill Competency
- Documentation of 100 direct service hours that utilize adventure-based counseling interventions
Expressive Arts Therapy Certificate
- Completed admissions application
- Two professional and/or academic references
- Application essay
- Resume or CV
- Transcripts. Official transcripts indicating a conferred undergraduate and graduate degree. Unofficial transcripts can be used for an admissions decision, with official transcripts due by the end of the first enrollment term.
- A portfolio with 12-15 examples of your creative practice
Nature-based Counseling Certificate
- Completed admissions application
- Two professional and/or academic references
- Application essay
- Resume or CV
- Transcripts. Official transcripts indicating a conferred undergraduate and graduate degree. Unofficial transcripts can be used for an admissions decision, with official transcripts due by the end of the first enrollment term.
Our Admissions Process: Finding the Right Fit
At the core of our admissions process is who you are and how we fit together.
Our Students. You are empathetic and adventurous, creative and rebellious, self-driven and forward-thinking. You are passionate about sustainability, social justice, and the humanities. You are leaders and lifelong learners.
Our Faculty and Staff. We are expert and nurturing, invested in your success, and support you whether you’re undergraduate or graduate, on campus or online.
Our Programs are hands-on, interdisciplinary, and non-traditional, rooted in real-world learning.
Together we are changemakers.
Take the Next Step
Explore Our Degree Options
If.you seek to study a local or global issue or topic that is best informed by an interdisciplinary or transdisciplinary perspective, you have the flexibility to craft a degree plan that matches your interests and goals.
Attend an Online Event
We have several program-specific online Admissions Info Sessions and workshops throughout the year, as well as Graduate Open Houses designed to help you get to know us and interact with members of our community.
Connect With Us
Whether you’re just beginning to consider one (or more) of our programs or are curious about specific details, we look forward to connecting with you. The Admissions team is here to help you every step of the way.
Start Your Journey
We provide an education that spans areas of study and brings together knowledge from various fields.