Top Online Master's in Family Counseling Programs for 2019

An online master's degree in marriage and family counseling leads to a stable career helping others. Marriage and family therapists (MFTs) are mental health professionals who assist people with problems such as alcoholism and depression by focusing on the individual and their relationships. MFTs earn an average salary of $49,000 per year, and with more and more insurance companies reimbursing for mental health treatment, the projected growth rate for the industry is higher than average. Our ranking of the best online master's in marriage and family counseling programs will help you decide whether a career as an MFT is right for you.

WHAT ARE THE BEST ONLINE MASTER'S IN FAMILY COUNSELING PROGRAMS?

Top Online Masters in Family Counseling Programs for 2019

1. Pepperdine University — Malibu, California

Admissions Rate

38%

Graduation Rate

84%

Online Enrollment

3%

Retention Rate

94%

Default Rate

3%

Pepperdine is a Christian school that emphasizes leadership and diversity. The main campus is located in Malibu, California. The school's master's in marriage and family therapy online comprises 11-12 sessions. Six credits of foundation coursework, 62 credits of master's level coursework, and four clinical rotations are required. The program prepares graduates for California licensure as a marriage and family therapist or professional clinical counselor. The curriculum emphasizes social justice, service, and strengths-based counseling. Core coursework includes multicultural counseling, psychopharmacology, and substance abuse treatment. Students receive aid from a dedicated placement team to find and secure their approved practicum and internship placements. The school participates in the Yellow Ribbon matching program with veterans' affairs to provide educational benefits for eligible military veterans.

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2. Messiah College — Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania

3. Nova Southeastern University — Fort Lauderdale, Florida

4. Concordia University-Wisconsin — Mequon, Wisconsin

5. Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion — Marion, Indiana

6. Regent University — Virginia Beach, Virginia

7. Dallas Baptist University — Dallas, Texas

8. Abilene Christian University — Abilene, Texas

9. Touro University Worldwide — Los Alamitos, California

10. Southern California Seminary — El Cajon, California

11. University of Massachusetts-Boston — Boston, Massachusetts

12. Fresno Pacific University — Fresno, California

13. Lee University — Cleveland, Tennessee

14. Amridge University — Montgomery, Alabama

15. University of West Alabama — Livingston, Alabama

16. City University of Seattle — Seattle, Washington

17. Houston Baptist University — Houston, Texas

18. Mid-America Christian University — Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

19. Western Seminary — Portland, Oregon

20. Palo Alto University — Palo Alto, California

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How to Choose an Online Master's in Family Counseling Program

In addition to the cost of tuition, there are many factors to consider when choosing the best online master's in marriage and family counseling program for you. The program should be accredited by an appropriate agency, such as the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education, to ensure it meets minimum educational standards to prepare students for careers in mental health. Also look carefully at the offered classes to make sure they will help you meet licensing requirements for the state in which you intend to practice. This may require speaking with an advisor.

Most importantly, ensure the program's schedule and format fits your lifestyle. Online programs may be part-time, full-time, or accelerated, and coursework may be delivered in synchronous or asynchronous formats; the former requires students to attend classes at any time, and the latter allows students to complete work at their convenience. Evaluate your options and decide which is best for you.

Careers for Graduates of Master's in Family Counseling Programs

Graduates with an online master's degree in marriage and family counseling pursue careers working at outpatient care centers, specialty healthcare facilities, religious organizations, and private practices. Salaries depend on geographic location and type of organization, but the typical salary is about $50,000, with increased income potential for experienced professionals. The table below includes examples of common positions for graduates with an MFT master's degree.

Job Outlook and Salary

Marriage and family therapists and those with MFT degrees treat issues such as anxiety, alcoholism, sex addiction, and substance abuse. The demand for mental health professionals is growing, as an increasing number of insurance companies and healthcare providers recognize the need for early intervention.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a combined 19% increase in employment for mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists by 2024. While specific opportunities and salaries vary by industry and geographic location, graduates of online master's in family counseling programs can expect ample job opportunities.

Salary Growth by Experience for Graduates of Family Counseling Programs

Many jobs requiring an MFT degree have respectable starting salaries, but more importantly, careers in marriage and family counseling have great potential for income growth. The longer you work in a profession, the more money you can expect to earn, meaning a career in family counseling is both personally and financially rewarding.

Family Counseling Professional Organizations

Joining a professional organization makes applying your degree to a professional role less overwhelming. Professional associations offer resources such as job boards, networking events, continuing education opportunities, and annual conferences to help members stay apprised of developments in the field. With many regional, national, and international associations, the field of marriage and family therapy offers plenty of peer support, including the following top organizations:

To determine the best online business management programs, we looked at the most important factors prospective students, mainly common predictors of future success and a school's commitment to online programs. This boils down to admissions rate, student loan default rate, retention rate, graduation rate, and the percent of students enrolled in online classes. All data points are taken from information provided by colleges and universities to the National Center for Education Statistics.

Each factor is weighted evenly in order to give an objective view and determine the 25 best online business management degree programs. To calculate our rankings, we looked at a school's ranking when organized by a single factor, and then averaged each category's ranking to find an overall score: Admissions Rate (20%) + Default Rate (20%) + Retention Rate (20%) + Graduation Rate (20%) + Percent of Students Enrolled in Online Classes (20%) = Final score.