The increasing demand for mental health counselors has led to a surge in popularity and demand for graduate programs in marriage and family therapy. Luckily, these programs are more accessible than ever for those hoping to enter the mental health field, as online program options grow in number. The high number of such programs can be overwhelming to choose from, so we’ve compiled a list of the top online MFT programs for 2025 to help the process. Our rankings consider program cost, program accreditation (especially in relation to state licensure requirements), program length, and the faculty that teach the courses and complete research in the marriage and family therapy space.
Key Takeaways
Jump to a Top 10 Program:
- M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy – Kairos University
- MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (Specialization in Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling) – Walden University
- Online Master of Marriage and Family Therapy – Abilene Christian University Online
- M.A. in Counseling, Specialization in Marriage and Family Counseling – Geneva College
- MA in Marital and Family History – Alliant International University
- Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy – Capella University
- M.S. in Counseling With an Emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy – Hope International University
- Master in Marriage and Family Therapy – Indiana Wesleyan University
- M.S. in Marital and Family Therapy – Loma Linda University
- Marriage, Couples, and Family Counseling M.A. – Messiah University
The Best Online MFT Programs
In our search for the top 24 online MFT programs of 2025, we examined a number of factors to assess the best overall online programs. Cost, accreditation, length, faculty, and course delivery are all criteria examined in making the decision to include or not include this list.
Cost
The average cost of an MFT online graduate program is between $23,000 and $86,000 in 2025, according to Research.com. Relative affordability balanced with the other items on this list was a major consideration in the programs included here. Programs that hit either a median or lower cost price were prioritized over more expensive MFT programs.
Accreditation
Licensure as a marriage and family therapist requires education in a program that meets minimum requirements. While licensee hopefuls can go through the process of auditing the program’s coursework during the licensure process, time can be saved by seeking out programs accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE). We prioritized programs that have been accredited by the COAMFTE, but many of these programs were accredited by another top accrediting agency, the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).
Length
The overall length of an MFT graduate program differs wildly depending on the delivery format, courses offered, whether a student is full-time or part-time, whether it is an accelerated program or not, and what internship requirements are included. On average, it takes two to three years to complete an MFT program. That being said, we have prioritized programs that fall into this range or offer multiple options for completion timelines.
Faculty
The student-to-faculty ratio and experience of faculty were also taken into consideration. Opportunities for faculty and student engagement were considered, as were opportunities for extracurricular practice in MFT competency and supervision.
Top 24 Online MFT Programs
M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy – Kairos University
- Sioux Falls, SD
- 65 credits
- Online
Key Highlights:
- No GRE required for admission
- Emphasis on “self-of-the-therapist” philosophy
- Cohort model
- 300-500+ face-to-face client contact hours through the internship
- Accelerated option available
- Faith-based curriculum
Accreditation: COAMFTE
Format: Online
Student population: 306 grad students enrolled
Credits: 65 credits
Tuition: $599 per credit, $38,935 total
Institution type: Private, for-profit
Program Overview:
The 65-credit online couples and family therapy program from Kairos university prepares students to work in the mental health field with an emphasis in Christian worldview, multiculturalism, and professional and ethical competence. We put Kairos at the top of our list for its flexibility, emphasis on self-exploration and personal and professional development, and for its collaborative environment through the cohort model. The program, which can be completed part time on an accelerated basis (2 to 2.5 years to complete) or on a regular basis (3-4 years go complete), takes a “self-of-the-therapist” approach, which means students and future therapists are taught to examine their own beliefs, feelings, biases, and experiences and how they affect the therapeutic process.
Students learn together in classes arranged around the cohort model, which has students go through the online program together to foster greater collaboration. Students explore coursework in human development, spiritual and faith foundations, research, professional studies, personal enrichment, and more. Coursework culminates in the minimum 300-hour internship, where students get their hands-on application working with client’s in a real-world setting.
MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (Specialization in Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling) – Walden University
- Minneapolis, MN
- 100-106 credits
- Online
Key Highlights:
- No GRE required for admission
- Built-in field experience, including a 100-hour practicum and 600-hour internship
- Offers support in creation of a professional development plan and licensure plan
- Requires 2 pre-practicum labs (6 weeks online with 4 days of face-to-face experience)
- Includes group lab
- Offers Believe and Achieve Scholarship
Accreditation: CACREP
Format: 100% Online
Institution Type: Private, for-profit online university
Credits: 100 to 106 quarter credits
Tuition: $53,500
Student Population: 36,861 graduate students in Fall 2023
Program Overview:
At number 2 on our list is Walden University’s online MFT program, which we like for its chances for extra practice applying clinical principles through group labs. We also appreciate the program’s focus on student’s post-graduation success through the development of a professional and licensure plan of action during the program.
The program itself is a specialization of the general Clinical Mental Health Counselor program, which is 90 credits. The extra 10 to 16 credits are specific to the specialization. We like that this program prioritizes preparedness, offering two labs before the practicum (which is 100 hours) and has students interacting with faculty and students both online for 6 weeks and in person for 4 days. It also emphasizes life post graduation with the creation of a plan for licensure and professional development.
Including the core classes focused on ethics, techniques of therapy, development, diagnosis, and multicultural competence (among others), the MFT specialization offers additional coursework in child and adolescent counseling; human sexuality; and advanced theory and application in marriage, couples, and family therapy.
Online Master of Marriage and Family Therapy – Abilene Christian University Online
- Abilene, TX
- 60 credits
- Online
Key Highlights:
- Five specialization areas to choose from
- 12-month internship with 100 + hours of supervision
- Operates from a systems perspective
- Christian worldview
- Designed for working students
- Locked-In Tuition Program assures the same tuition throughout enrollment
Accreditation: COAMFTE
Format: Online
Institution Type: Private, for-profit
Credits: 60 credits
Program Overview:
Abilene Christian University Online’s online MFT takes number 3 on this list for its scholar-practitioner faculty and locked-in tuition. ACU’s program is 60 credits and has five possible specialization areas, including general, child and adolescent therapy, therapy with military families, treatment of trauma, and medical family therapy. We picked this program in part for its focus on holistic applications of trauma-informed care on family and couples as well as its emphasis on mental health, substance abuse and addiction, and diagnosis and treatment.
The program’s faculty are made up of licensed couples and family therapists, and students complete at least 100 hours of supervision throughout the program’s practicum and internship portions.
M.A. in Counseling, Specialization in Marriage and Family Counseling – Geneva College
- Beaver Falls, PA
- 60 credits
- Online + Campus + Hybrid
Key Highlights:
- No GRE required for admission
- Includes a 100-hour practicum and 600-hour internship
- Low residency
- Multiple start dates
- Highlight on group counseling
- Foundation in Biblical worldview
Accreditation: CACREP
Format: Online, on-campus, and hybrid
Institution Type: Private, for-profit
Credits: 60 credits
Tuition: $699 per credit, $41,940 total
Student Population: 104 grad students
Program Overview:
We put Geneva College’s online MFT program at number 4. We like that, unlike many programs on this list, there is a low residency requirement, meaning while there may be in-person components to this program, the coursework designers have limited the need to come offline. Multiple start dates and an emphasis on group counseling also make this program stand out and rank higher on this list. The program is 60 credits offered in online, on-campus, and hybrid formats. The coursework is the same, regardless of which delivery option you choose. Since couples and family counseling often involves work with more than one client at a time, the program puts a heavy emphasis on group counseling and dynamics.
Core coursework focuses on ethics, statistics, theory, testing, diagnosis, and others, while the specialization in MFT highlights issues specific to couples and family counseling, foundational concepts, professional issues, and couples counseling as well as the 100-hour practicum and 600-hour internship, which prioritizes student’s hands-on work with couples and families.
MA in Marital and Family History – Alliant International University
- San Diego, CA
- 2 years
- Online + Campus
Key Highlights:
- No GRE required for admission
- Includes 300 hours of direct client contact and 100 supervision hours
- Offers chemical dependency specialization
- Possible $50,000 in loan reimbursement from the National Health Services Corps for qualified students
- Institutional scholarships available
- Multiple program start dates
Accreditation: COAMFTE
Format: Online and on-campus
Student population: 62 students in the program (2023).
Credits: 60 credits; 2 years to complete
Tuition: $1,113 per credit, $66,780 total
Institution type: Private, for-profit
Program Overview:
The 60-credit, 2-year online MFT program from Alliant lands number 5 on our list for its diverse faculty experienced in the world of couples and family therapy, specialization in chemical dependency, and the scholarship and funding options. The program offers a semester-long and eight-week term program, each of which have their own open enrollment periods during which students can begin their MFT programs.
Cultural competency is a priority for Alliant’s MFT online program, and students can expect to complete their graduate degree with confidence in their ability to work with multiple populations. We also like that, because the degree program is designed based on California’s MFT licensure requirements, the degree itself has a certain amount of portability, as California’s requirements are the same as many other states, which tend to look for COAMFTE-accredited programs.
Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy – Capella University
- Minneapolis, MN
- 16 courses
- Online + Campus
Key Highlights:
- No GRE required for admission
- Includes internship with 300 direct client contact hours
- Scholar-practitioner faculty
- Uses the GuidedPath learning format
- 36-month and 42-month program options
- $2.5K Capella Progress Reward scholarship
Accreditation: COAMFTE
Format: Online and on-campus
Student population: 20K grad students enrolled (2023).
Credits: 72 credits; 16 courses
Tuition: $497 per credit, $35,784 total
Institution type: Private, for-profit
Program Overview:
Capella University’s MFT program takes 6 on our list for its GuidedPath learning method and flexible program length options. The GuidedPath learning method combines a structured timeline with flexibility of where and when to study that helps students complete their degree with both a standard to follow and the adaptability to suit the students’ needs.
With courses in gender and sexuality, lifespan development, hands-on couples and marriage counseling, and more, students gain a theoretical understanding of MFT application before their on-campus residency, which helps prepare them for their on-site practicum and internship. Students complete a total of 72 credits in their time in the COAMFTE-accredited program.
M.S. in Counseling With an Emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy – Hope International University
- Fullerton, CA
- 61 units
- Online
Key Highlights:
- No GRE required for admission
- Professional development activities available for students and faculty
- Hope Counseling Center
- Christian worldview
- Named a top grad counseling program in the U.S. in 2021 by Psychology Degree Guide
- Approved by the Board of Behavioral Sciences for LPCC or LMFT licensure in California
Accreditation: COAMFTE
Format: Online
Student population: 80 students in the program (2023)
Credits: 61 units
Tuition: $775 per credit, $47,275 total
Institution type: Private, for-profit
Program Overview:
We liked that Hope International’s online MFT program gives students access to the Hope Counseling Center and multiple professional development opportunities, both of which put this program at number 7 on our list. The 61-unit online MFT program takes pride in its ability to offer students a mix of theory, practice, and a Christian worldview in the world of mental health counseling to couples and families. Students complete the core courses of the M.S. in Counseling and additional courses for the MFT emphasis.
Students complete their coursework in areas related to child abuse, family violence, multiculturalism, group therapy, and psychopathology, as well as other courses in foundational theory and interventions. Additionally, students complete on-site internship training under the watchful eye of approved supervisors. Students have the opportunity to gain clinical training in the Hope Counseling Center, the school’s own clinic which offers mental health counseling services to the local community.
Master in Marriage and Family Therapy – Indiana Wesleyan University
- Marion, IN
- 60 credits
- Online + In-Person
Key Highlights:
- GRE only required if undergraduate GPA is less than 3.25
- Christian worldview
- Emphasis on supervision and research opportunities
- Focus cultural competence and professional integrity
- Up to 35% of transfer credits can be used to satisfy graduation requirements
- Can be completed in 36, 48, and 60 credits (only 46 and 60-credit options lead to licensure)
Accreditation: COAMFTE
Format: Online and in-person
Student population: 20 grad students enrolled (2023-2024)
Credits: 60 credits
Tuition: $602 per credit, $36,120 total
Institution type: Private, for-profit
Program Overview:
Why did we put Indiana Wesleyan’s online MFT program at number 8? For its focus on supervision and research and its prioritization of developing cultural competence and professional ethics. This COAMFTE-accredited program prepares students for careers in pastoral counseling, group counseling, and couples and family therapy with its 60-credit curriculum, which includes a 100-hour practicum and a 300-hour supervised internship.
This program stands out for its emphasis on supervision. Students are given opportunities to view session recordings, have their sessions and their peers’ sessions recorded and reviewed, and experience live supervision as well. IWU stresses a Christian worldview in its application of therapeutic interventions and theory.
M.S. in Marital and Family Therapy – Loma Linda University
- Loma Linda, CA
- 90 quarter units
- Online + Campus
Key Highlights:
- Cohort model
- GRE not required
- Professional self-care emphasis
- Medical Family Therapy specialization option
- Tuition waiver for students who pursue Play Therapy or Drug & Alcohol Counseling Certificate
- Faith-based curriculum
Accreditation: COAMFTE
Format: Online and on-campus
Student population: 1,574 grad students enrolled (2024-2025)
Credits: 90 quarter units
Tuition: $86,130 total
Institution type: Private, for-profit
Program Overview:
Loma Linda takes number 9 for its focus on professional self-care, which is a must for future professionals in the burnout-heavy field of mental healthcare. Its offering of specializations and certifications on top of its core curriculum also put it higher on our list. The online marital, couple, and family counseling program puts faith, professional self-care, multicultural competency, and ethical and professional standards at its core. The program is offered online and on-campus. The online program is open to students in California and students in State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) states.
Students learn the basics of MFT counseling in the cohort-based curriculum, which takes 2.5 years to complete. We also like that the program has coursework embedded in the curriculum to prepare students to work with military and veteran populations, and internships can occur in placements in the communities where students live or through the Loma Linda University Health system.
Marriage, Couples, and Family Counseling M.A. – Messiah University
- Mechanicsburg, PA
- 60 credits
- Online
Key Highlights:
- No GRE required for admission
- Adaptable timelines (2, 3, and 4 year options)
- Biblical worldview
- Flexible start date
- CACREP accreditation makes the program portable to many other states
- No-fee tuition
Accreditation: CACREP
Format: Online
Student population: 774 grad students
Credits: 60 credits
Tuition: $800 per credit, $48,000 total
Institution type: Private, for-profit
Program Overview:
Adaptable completion timelines and flexible start dates make this online MFT program from Messiah University a number 10 on our list. The marriage, couples, and family counseling master’s is one possible track students can pursue in the core counseling program. Messiah’s program also strikes us for its extensive alumni network and connection to clinical placement sites nation-wide for the required internship and practicum.
The 60-credit program has courses starting every 8 weeks, which means students have flexible start dates to work with as they begin their 2-year academic journey. Faculty offer professional and academic support as scholar-practitioners and counselors in the field, and students learn coursework from a Biblical perspective.
M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy – National University
- San Diego, CA
- 45 credits
- Online
Key Highlights:
- No GRE scores needed
- Year-round enrollment
- 9 areas of specialization
- 300 hours of client contact; 100 hours of supervision
- Needs-based tuition reduction grant
- Veteran-founded university
Accreditation: COAMFTE
Format: Online
Student population: 322 students in the program (2023-2024)
Credits: At least 45 credits
Tuition: $913 per credit, $46,274 total
Institution type: Private, nonprofit
Program Overview:
National University claims fame as being the first online MFT program to be accredited by the COAMFTE, which is enough to place it at an 11 on the list. However, we also like the year-round enrollment, 9 areas of specialization, and needs-based tuition reduction.
Core coursework includes education in systemic evaluation, case management, cultural diversity, gender studies, family development, couples and sex therapy, and lifespan development, but with 9 areas of specialization, additional courses vary by student interest. Program attendees can specialize in child and adolescent family therapy, couples therapy, general family therapy, LGBTQ couples and family therapy, medical family therapy, military family therapy, systemic sex therapy, systemic treatment of addiction, and trauma-informed systemic therapy.
M.A. in Counseling: Marriage, Family, and Child Emphasis – Palo Alto University
- Palo Alto, CA
- 94.5 credits
- Online + Campus
Key Highlights:
- No GRE required
- Faculty with active experience in the field
- 700 hours in direct clinical work
- Cohort model
- Live Zoom classes
- In-person residencies
Accreditation: CACREP
Format: Online and on-campus
Student population: 1,129 students enrolled in the university (2022)
Credits: 94.5 credits
Tuition: $43,467 to $71,442
Institution type: Private, nonprofit
Program Overview:
Palo Alto University takes a unique approach to its online marriage, couple, and family counseling master’s degree, which puts it at number 12. Many online programs offer classes asynchronously, which means coursework can be accessed anytime from anywhere. In Palo Alto’s MFT program, students attend classes via live Zoom sessions more akin to a traditional classroom, meaning students are getting a more traditional experience mixed with the benefits of distance learning.
The MFT emphasis of the counseling degree gives students a core competency in counseling along with marital, couples, and family therapy theory and interventions, such as sex therapy, lifespan development, and adolescent and child therapy.
M.S. in Marital, Couples, and Family Counseling – Barry University
- Miami Shores, FL
- 66 credits
- Online + Campus
Key Highlights:
- No GRE required for admission
- Includes internship with 600 supervised clinical hours
- Flexible start date
- Hands-on in-person and virtual clinical hours from Barry University’s CARE Center
- Option to switch between virtual and in-person
- Active chapter of counseling honors society, Chi Sigma Iota
Accreditation: CACREP
Format: Online and on-campus
Student population: 1,929 graduate students in 2023
Credits: 66 credits
Tuition: $850 per credit, $56,100 total
Institution type: Private
Program Overview:
An active counseling honor’s society and the access to the university’s CARE Center win this program the 13th spot on our list. The counseling master’s degree from Barry University has a specialization in marriage, couples, and family counseling that is completely online. The core curriculum is made up of 42 credits, and the online MFT is an additional 24 credits.
Psychopathology, human sexuality, marriage and family systems, couples counseling, and substance abuse round out the MFT curriculum, along with an internship which provides students with 600 hours of supervised clinical experience working with clients. With the way the program is designed, full-time students can finish up in as few as 2.5 years.
M.A. in Marriage, Couples, and Family Counseling – Regent University
- Virginia Beach, VA
- 60 credits
- Online + Campus
Key Highlights:
- No GRE required for admission
- Biblical worldview
- Faculty are trained couples and family therapists
- Regent ranked Best Master’s Programs in Virginia by University HQ (2025)
- Cohort model
- 2 on-campus, week-long residencies
Accreditation: CACREP
Format: Online and on-campus
Student population: 4,665 grad students enrolled (2023).
Credits: 60 credits
Tuition: $730 per credit, $43,800 total
Institution type: Private
Program Overview:
Students looking for a Christian online MFT program that mixes a foundation in faith with hands-on and academic training in the theory and practice of marital, couples, and family counseling should consider Regent University’s M.A. in Marriage, Couples, and Family Counseling. We put Regent’s MFT program on our list at number 14 for its cohort model and reasonable pricing, as well as its MFT trained faculty. The 60-credit program features coursework including addiction therapy for individuals and family, concepts of family systems, marital and couples therapy, models of family therapy, and MFT internship.
M.A. in Counseling: Marriage, Couples, and Family Specialization – University of Holy Cross
- New Orleans, LA
- 60 credits
- Online
Key Highlights:
- No GRE need to apply
- 700+ hours of supervised clinical experience
- Early entry accelerated path allows students to finish 2 degrees in 6 years
- 2 four-day residencies
- Practicum and internships gain students 280 direct and 420 indirect client hours
- Opportunity to present research to national conferences
Accreditation: CACREP
Format: Online
Acceptance rate: 87.4% (2022)
Credits: 60 credits
Tuition: $735 per credit, $44,100 total
Institution type: Private
Program Overview:
University of Holy Cross goes beyond the teaching and application of counseling to couples and family and offers students opportunities to research and present their findings at conferences attended by hundreds of professional counselors every year, a priority not mentioned by other programs. That unique focus and opportunity given to students peaked our interest enough to put the Holy Cross program on our list at number 15.
Students in the online counseling program with a specialization in MFT get their in-person clinical experiences through the practicum and internship, which provides at least 700 hours in hands-on experience with clients and in clinical work and supervision.
M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling: Marriage, Couple, and Family Specialization – Walden University
- Minneapolis, MN
- 100–106 credits
- Online
Key Highlights:
- No GRE
- Flexible education plan to meet individual student’s needs
- 2 pre-practicum labs to prepare students for hands-on clinical work
- Believe and Achieve Scholarship and Walden grants available
- Professional Development Plan, Licensure Plan
- Practicum: 100 hours; Internship: 600 hours
Accreditation: CACREP
Format: Online
Student population: 25,208 grad students enrolled (2023).
Credits: 100–106 quarter credits
Tuition: $535 per credit, $53,500 total
Institution type: Private
Program Overview:
Walden University’s claim to fame is its online and flexible degree options. Its online clinical mental health counseling (CMHC) masters with an MFT specialization is no exception. We chose this program for our number 16 spot for its mix of students’ ability to adapt the curriculum to suit their needs mixed with its opportunities for hands-on learning through in-person or online group labs, 100-hour practicum, and 600-hour internship.
Along with the foundational learning of the CMHC core program, the MFT specialization has students learning and applying interventions and techniques specific to families and couples. The program also emphasizes evaluating and applying research and understanding legal and ethical issues.
M.Ed. in Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling – Western Kentucky University
- Bowling Green, KY
- 60 credits
- Online
Key Highlights:
- Joint undergraduate and master’s program (JUMP)
- Specialization certificates in Addictions Education, College and Career Readiness, and Play/Expressive Arts Therapy.
- 2 in-person counseling skills residencies
- Cohort model
- 2, 3, and 4 year completion plan options
- No GRE needed
Accreditation: CACREP
Format: Online
Student population: More than 16,000 students enrolled overall (2025)
Credits: 60 credits
Tuition: $707 per credit, $42,420 total
Institution type: Private
Program Overview:
This CACREP-accredited online MFT program is a Master’s in Education program with chances for students to specialize or gain certification in Addictions Education, College and Career Readiness, or Play/Expressive Arts Therapy, options which we decided earned it the number 17 spot on our list.
Coursework in crisis management, group counseling, diagnosis and treatment, couples counseling, and family systems counseling are among the classes students can expect to take. The theoretical, in-class learning culminates in the practicum and internship, which get students the hours they need to satisfy both graduation and licensure requirements.
M.S. in Marriage and Family Therapy – Northwestern University, The Family Institute
- Evanston, IL
- 25 classes
- Online
Key Highlights:
- Integrative Systemic Therapy (IST) perspective
- 250 hours of group and individual supervision, and 400 hours of clinical practicum work
- 6 internship courses
- Completed in 21 to 36 months, depending on enrollment status
- At least 400 clinical hours
- 250 hours of supervision
Accreditation: COAMFTE
Format: Online
Student population: 1,023 grad students enrolled (2023).
Credits: 26 credits, 25 classes
Tuition: $22,304 per quarter
Institution type: Private
Program Overview:
We like that The Family Institute is both a behavioral health organization treating families and individuals in the community and the home of Northwestern University’s online MFT master’s program, a unique organizational choice which put this program at number 18 on the list. Students in the online program have the benefit of not only learning from experts in the field but also having access to the community being served by The Family Institute in their hands-on application of theory and techniques learned in the academic portion of the program. The emphasis on The Family Institute and its integration in the program’s coursework and student experience make this program stand out and influenced its inclusion on this list.
M.A. in Marriage, Couples, and Family Counseling – Adler Graduate School
- Minnetonka, MN
- 60 Hours
- Online
Key Highlights:
- No GRE required for admission
- Flexible options for learning
- Scholar-practitioner faculty
- Electric portfolio made over the course of student’s academic career
- 100-hour practicum and 600-hour internship
- Emphasis on diversity and inclusion
Accreditation: CACREP
Format: Online
Student population: 245 grad students enrolled (2023-2024).
Credits: 60 credits
Tuition: $710 per credit, $42,600 total
Institution type: Private
Program Overview:
We put Adler Graduate School’s 60-credit online MFT program at our number 19 spot on the list because it stands out for its foundation and commitment to teaching counseling from an Adlerian perspective. Adlerian therapy focuses on understanding a person’s lifestyle, social experiences, past experiences, and family dynamics and emphasizes goal setting to enhance a sense of belonging and purpose.
For MFT students, the 100-hour practicum and 600-hour internship take place in settings with real clients under a supervisor who is licensed as a couples and family counselor. MFT students are required to work with a certain percentage of couples and families.
Marriage and Family Therapy M.A. – Syracuse University
- Syracuse, NY
- 60 credits
- Online
Key Highlights:
- No GRE
- 500-hour practicum
- School’s MFT department oldest of its kind in the U.S.
- Emphasis on social justice and cultural humility, self-awareness in relation to others, and understanding research and issues in psychosocial context
- Self and systems training and supervision
- Synchronous and asynchronous coursework
Accreditation: COAMFTE
Format: Online
Student population: 6K grad students enrolled (2025).
Credits: 60 credits
Tuition: $1,167 per credit, $70,020 total
Institution type: Private
Program Overview:
We put Syracuse University’s program at number 20 because of its mix of synchronous and asynchronous learning, its history as being the oldest MFT department in the U.S., and for its self and systems training. The program puts diversity and social justice at the heart of its 60-credit online MFT program. Students gain understanding and practical knowledge of skills to work with clients with LGBTQ concerns, trauma issues, childhood and parenting challenges, marital and couple struggles, family violence, and relationship and communication issues, among others.
The online master’s in MFT give students a chance to apply their academic learning in the 500-hour practicum, which students complete in clinics and mental health settings in their communities.
Master’s Degree in Marriage, Couples, and Family Counseling – George Fox University
- Portland, OR
- 65 credits
- Online + Campus
Key Highlights:
- Online classes are synchronous
- In-person residency in the first year to give hands-on skills practice opportunity
- Integration of faith in curriculum learning
- Access to the Northwest Center for Play Therapy Studies.
- Trauma Response Institute
- Requirement to complete 20 hours of personal therapy
Accreditation: CACREP
Format: Online and on-campus
Student population: 1,566 grad students enrolled (2024-2025).
Credits: 65 credits
Tuition: $826 per credit, $52,864 total
Institution type: Private
Program Overview:
We put George Fox University’s online MFT degree at number 21 because it uniquely requires students to complete 20 hours of their own personal therapy during the course of the program. We also like the access to the Northwest Center for Play Therapy Studies and the Trauma Response Institute.
George Fox University’s master’s degree in MFT takes two to four years to complete, depending on whether it is completed on a full or part-time basis. The in-person residency taken in the first year in the program gives students the first taste of hands-on application of course content, and work with actual clients comes with the 700-hour supervised clinical practicum.
Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy – Touru University Worldwide
- New York, NY
- 72 credits
- Online
Key Highlights:
- Systems perspective
- Three possible tracks to pursue (MFT Clinical Track, LPCC Track, Non-Clinical Track)
- 300 practicum hours in real-world clinical experience
- Transfer up to 12 credits
- Emphasis on holistic mental health care
- 100% online with 8-week courses
Accreditation: COAMFTE
Format: Online
Student population: 19K students enrolled (2021).
Credits: 72 credits
Tuition: $525 per credit, $37,800 total
Institution type: Private
Program Overview:
Touru University Worldwide lands at number 22 on our list for its multiple tracks, its emphasis on holistic mental health care, and systems perspective. It was created with the vision of preserving and promoting Jewish heritage, according to the school’s website. The online MFT master’s program adds a new layer to this vision with its emphasis on creating clinicians who take a holistic view of couple and family issues and health.
Cousework is taught from the systems perspective, meaning family and couple’s issues are explored through the lens of the individual or group’s environment and psychosocial and cultural background. Students complete 72 credits in the MFT track, but they can complete these credits and additional electives in order to complete the Licensed Professional Clinical Counseling track. An additional non–clinical track option is also available.
M.S. in Marriage and Family Therapy – Chaminade University of Honolulu
- Honolulu, HI
- 60 credits
- Online + Campus
Key Highlights:
- No GRE required for admission
- Only MFT graduate program in Hawaii
- Cohort-based program
- Ranked Best Western Regional University (2025) by U.S. News
- Finish in 32 months
- Satisfies Hawaii’s standards for licensure
Accreditation: WASC Senior College and University Commission
Format: Online and on-campus
Acceptance rate: 92%
Credits: 60 credits
Tuition: $1,155 per credit, $69,300 total
Institution type: Private, for-profit
Program Overview:
What stands out to us about Chaminade University of Honolulu’s online MFT program and puts it at number 23 on our list isn’t the cohort-based format or the 12-month internship with placement offered by the 60-credit program. What we like is that this is the only MFT master’s program in Hawaii, according to the school’s site. While it isn’t yet accredited by the COAMFTE or CACREP, it does satisfy Hawaii’s licensure requirements.
Coursework is both geared toward giving a foundational understanding and building on that foundation in areas like diagnosis and treatment of children and adolescents, couples therapy, sex therapy, violence and trauma interventions, and psychopharmacology, among other courses. Students can complete the internship and required coursework in 32 months.
Liberty University – MA in Family and Marriage Therapy
- Lynchburg, VA
- 60 credits
- Online
Key Highlights:
- Transfer in up to 50% of the total degree program
- In Niche.com’s top 5 college campus ranking
- Biblical worldview
- No GRE required
- Two 3-credit-hour in-person intensives
Accreditation: School is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
Format: Online
Student population: 50,245 grad students enrolled (2023-2024).
Credits: 60 credits
Tuition: $565 per credit, $33,900 total
Institution type: Private
Program Overview:
Last but not least, we put Liberty University at number 24 for its relative affordability mixed with its hands-on learning opportunities and acceptance of transfer credits for up to 50% of the total program requirements.
The faith-based online MFT program from Liberty gives students hands-on and academic learning in the field of couples and family counseling while also helping students understand coursework from a Biblical worldview. While it currently isn’t listed as COAMFTE or CACREP, its curriculum satisfies minimum requirements for licensure in Virginia.