by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Marriage and Family Therapy/Counseling covers Marriage And Family Therapy/counseling. A Program That Prepares Individuals For The Independent Professional Practice Of Marriage And Family Therapy, Involving The Diagnosis Of Cognitive, Affective, And Behavioral Domain Disorders, Both Mental And Emotional, Within The Context Of Marriage And Family Systems And The Application Of Short- And Long-Term Therapeutic Strategies In Family Group Contexts. Includes Instruction In Psychotherapy, Family Systems And Studies, Small Group Intervention And Therapy, Marital Problems, Depression, Identification Of Psychopathologies And Behavioral Disorders, Holistic Health Care, Practice Management, Applicable Regulations, And Professional Standards And Ethics. Read on to learn the essential details every marriage and family therapy/counseling student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering marriage and family therapy/counseling programs.
Nationwide, marriage and family therapy/counseling is a popular field of study, with 4,476 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Marriage and Family Therapy/Counseling Schools ranking analyzes these 139 schools to determine the best overall colleges for marriage and family therapy/counseling students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of marriage and family therapy/counseling programs later in this article.
Studies in Marriage and Family Therapy/Counseling build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations marriage and family therapy/counseling graduates commonly enter.
Skills developed in a marriage and family therapy/counseling program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a marriage and family therapy/counseling major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several marriage and family therapy/counseling degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 4,228 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 248 |
People currently working in careers related to marriage and family therapy/counseling tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 39.2% |
| Master’s degree | 34.7% |
| Post-doctoral training | 21.7% |
| First professional degree | 3.0% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 0.6% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in marriage and family therapy/counseling careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying marriage and family therapy/counseling opens doors to many career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to marriage and family therapy/counseling.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to marriage and family therapy/counseling.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary | 513,614 | -3.0% |
| Marriage and Family Therapists | 229,049 | -3.8% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of marriage and family therapy/counseling graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $46,066 |
| 4 years | $46,824 |
| 5 years | $52,641 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for marriage and family therapy/counseling graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers marriage and family therapy/counseling grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary | $98,479 |
| Marriage and Family Therapists | $74,325 |
With 139 different marriage and family therapy/counseling programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased marriage and family therapy/counseling school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in marriage and family therapy/counseling, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
