Best Online Master’s in Marriage and Family Counseling for 2024

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.

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

The best marriage and family counseling degree for you depends on many factors, but these are some of the most important to consider.

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.

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:

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.

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.