Best Online Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy and Counseling Programs for 2024
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Marriage and family counseling is one of the most popular fields of counseling. These counselors help couples and families identify and address the causes of family tension or dysfunctions through a variety of methods. To begin in the field, you must have a master's in marriage and family therapy or a doctoral degree, as well as supervised work experience.
This guide outlines the top marriage and family counseling degree programs at the master's level and what to expect in your program. Learn more about earning your master's in marriage and family counseling today.
The Best Online Master's in Marriage and Family Therapy and Counseling of 2024
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Touro University Worldwide
Los Alamitos, CA - 4 years
- Online + Campus
Programmatic Accreditation: Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS), Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE)
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $500
Out-of-State | $500
Credits to Graduate: 54-82, depending on the track.
TUW's online marriage and family therapy program offers clinical, non-clinical, and licensed professional clinical counseling (LPCC) tracks. The clinical and LPCC tracks both require 300 practicum hours.
Students can attend on a full-time or part-time basis. Full-time students can complete the non-clinical track in 18 months, the clinical track in two years, and the LPCC clinical track in 2.5 years. Applicants must have a bachelor's degree and a 2.5 GPA. If transferring from another graduate program, then applicants need a 2.75 GPA.
Abilene Christian University
Abilene, TX - 4 years
- Online + Campus
Programmatic Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE)
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $799
Out-of-State | $799
Credits to Graduate: 60
ACU's online master's program for aspiring marriage and family therapists prepares graduates to take the marriage and family therapy national exam. Students can choose from concentrations in general, child and adolescent, military families, or treatment of trauma. Students who maintain a 2.0 GPA are eligible for locked-in tuition rates.
Palo Alto University
Palo Alto, CA - 4 years
- Online + Campus
Programmatic Accreditation: Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $580
Out-of-State | $580
Credits to Graduate: 94.5 quarter units
The Palo Alto University online master's of science in psychology is delivered on a part-time basis with classes in the evening. Students must attend two on-campus residencies. The program offers four concentrations: general, forensic, Ph.D. preparation, and technology and mental health. Students can graduate in six quarters or 27 months. Note that the Ph.D. prep program requires seven quarters, and acceptance to the Ph.D. program is not guaranteed.
Applicants must live in an eligible state and have a bachelor's degree. The school encourages applicants to have work or volunteer experience in mental health.
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Popular Online Counseling Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
What to Look for in an Online Master's in Marriage and Family Therapy and Counseling Program
The best marriage and family counseling degree for you depends on many factors, but these are some of the most important to consider.
- Accreditation: Program accreditation is a lengthy review process an independent board of experts conducts. You need a marriage and family counseling degree from an accredited program to earn a license in most states. For this reason, all programs on this list and this site hold accreditation.
- Practicum: Consider the logistics, format, and type of placement. If you live a significant distance from your school, can you get placement in your community?
- School Graduation Rate: The school graduation rate for a marriage and family counseling degree tells you how successful students are and how happy they are with the program.
- Online Learning Format and Requirements: Find out what the format for your classes will be. Are the classes synchronous or asynchronous? If you have an unpredictable schedule or one that you cannot arrange to accommodate synchronous classes, self-paced, or asynchronous, classes may work better for you.
What to Expect From an Online Master's in Marriage and Family Therapy and Counseling Program
You must complete 30-60 credits and 300-500 hours of supervised experience in a master's in marriage and family therapy program. The program spans roughly two years for full-time students and about three years for part-time students.
The curriculum includes classroom work and fieldwork. The coursework builds group counseling skills and deepens your knowledge of individual counseling techniques, career counseling, lifespan development, and psychological research.
You must attend the fieldwork in person. During your fieldwork, you observe a licensed practitioner and work with clients under supervision.
Online courses can follow synchronous or asynchronous schedules. Counseling programs recognized by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education carry additional distinction and meet licensure requirements.
Master's in Marriage and Family Therapy and Counseling Curriculum
The best online marriage and family therapy programs prepare you to pass the state exam to become a licensed counselor. You will learn different modalities to help couples and families and apply these principles in a clinical setting during practicums.
To prepare you for sessions with families and couples, the coursework teaches you about counseling and psychotherapy theories, multicultural counseling, clinical interviews, diagnosis and treatment for mental health conditions, and ethical decision making. Common courses include:
- Advanced systems of marital and family therapy
- Assessment of individuals, couples, and families
- Clinical interventions in couples therapy
- Clinical interventions with children and adolescents
- Development psychology across the lifespan
- Diagnosis and treatment of mental health disorders
- Ethics and therapy
- Marriage and family therapy practicum
- Research and statistics
How Much Does an Online Master's in Marriage and Family Therapy and Counseling Degree Cost?
The final cost for your marriage and family counseling degree depends on the tuition and fees as well as any scholarships, grants, or loans you receive.
Consider expenses not included in tuition and fees, such as books and any travel for on-campus components or fieldwork.
According to The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), public school tuition costs an average of $12,596 per year and private school costs an average $29,931 per year. Make sure to check the application deadlines for psychology scholarships as there are numerous sources of aid available.
Average Annual Tuition Cost
Public Institution
$12,596
Private Institution (Nonprofit)
$29,931
How Much Can I Make as a Marriage and Family Therapist or Counselor?
Marriage and family counselors earn higher salaries compared to other counselors. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, counselors earn an average annual salary of $58,910, while marriage and family counselors make $68,730 — a difference of about $10,000 a year.
Marriage and family counseling salaries vary depending on experience, work setting, and location. The bottom 10% of marriage and family counselors earn an average annual salary of $39,090 and the top 90% of earners make $104,710 a year.
Each state also compensates counselors differently. New Jersey, Maryland, and Utah pay the top three highest salaries for these occupations, with average salaries ranging from $83,980-$92,120 per year.
Median Annual Marriage and Family Therapist Salary
$58,510
Median Hourly Marriage and Family Therapist Salary
$28.13
Everything Else You Need to Know About Online Master's in Marriage and Family Therapy and Counseling Programs
What does a typical day look like for a marriage and family therapist?
A typical day for a marriage and family therapist might involve meeting new clients and establishing goals, assessing progress for existing clients, and providing direct marriage and family therapy. As a therapist, you may meet with members of a marriage or family both individually and as a couple or group.
What's the difference between a counselor and a therapist?
The difference between counselors and therapists is that typically, therapists work to identify and address specific dysfunctions, while counselors provide advice on life challenges. Your state regulations often spell out specific roles and scope of practice.
What is the difference between marriage and family therapy and social work?
The difference between marriage and family therapy and social work is that social work addresses how a person functions in society, while marriage and family therapy addresses functions within a marriage or family. A client may work with both a social worker and a marriage and family therapist, or one professional may refer a client to the other.
What are 3 skills that marriage and family therapists must possess?
Some skills marriage and family therapists must possess include professional integrity, the ability to follow legal and ethical guidelines; facilitation skills, to help clients better function and communicate with one another; and cultural competence, to work effectively with clients from different backgrounds.
Note: The insights on this page — excluding school descriptions — were reviewed by an independent third party compensated for their time by BestColleges. Page last reviewed on November 22, 2023.
