2026 Best Value Marriage and Family Therapy/Counseling Schools in California
[Marriage and Family Therapy/Counseling](/majors/health-care-professions/mental-social-health-services/marriage-and-family-therapy-counseling/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong marriage and family therapy/counseling education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 27 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best value marriage and family therapy/counseling schools.
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2026 Best Value Marriage and Family Therapy/Counseling Schools in California
If you want to know which schools deliver the best value for the marriage and family therapy/counseling degrees they offer, see the list below.
Best Value Marriage and Family Therapy/Counseling Schools
For return on investment in marriage and family therapy/counseling, no school beat California State University Dominguez Hills this year. Located in the city of Carson, California State University Dominguez Hills is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $7,454, with out-of-state students paying around $20,054. Students borrow a median of $15,886 to complete the marriage and family therapy/counseling program here. Marriage And Family Therapy/counseling graduates of California State University Dominguez Hills earn a median of $52,683 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 93%.
Students looking for strong value in marriage and family therapy/counseling will find it at California State University Northridge, which ranked #2. California State University Northridge is a very large public school located in the city of Northridge. Students from in state pay about $7,458 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $20,058. Students borrow a median of $16,202 to complete the marriage and family therapy/counseling program here. Early-career marriage and family therapy/counseling graduates make about $48,437. That is a strong return on a $16,202 median debt. California State University Northridge admits about 93% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in marriage and family therapy/counseling will find it at San Diego State University, which ranked #3. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,728, while out-of-state students pay about $21,328. Students borrow a median of $16,417 to complete the marriage and family therapy/counseling program here. Soon after graduation, marriage and family therapy/counseling degree recipients from San Diego State University generally make around $51,162. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 36%.
Fresno Pacific University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best value marriage and family therapy/counseling schools. Set in the city of Fresno, Fresno Pacific University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $36,660. Typical student debt for marriage and family therapy/counseling graduates is $24,596. Marriage And Family Therapy/counseling graduates of Fresno Pacific University earn a median of $40,622 early in their careers. Set against $24,596 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 64% of applicants are accepted.
A rank of #5 makes Touro University Worldwide one of the best values for marriage and family therapy/counseling. Touro University Worldwide is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Los Alamitos. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $14,640. Students borrow a median of $32,289 to complete the marriage and family therapy/counseling program here. Marriage And Family Therapy/counseling graduates of Touro University Worldwide earn a median of $53,988 early in their careers. Set against $32,289 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
California Lutheran University landed the #6 spot for marriage and family therapy/counseling value this year. Set in the city of Thousand Oaks, California Lutheran University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $52,560. Typical student debt for marriage and family therapy/counseling graduates is $22,727. Soon after graduation, marriage and family therapy/counseling degree recipients from California Lutheran University generally make around $50,691. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
University Of La Verne landed the #7 spot for marriage and family therapy/counseling value this year. Located in the suburb of La Verne, University Of La Verne is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $49,470. Students borrow a median of $26,314 to complete the marriage and family therapy/counseling program here. Soon after graduation, marriage and family therapy/counseling degree recipients from University Of La Verne generally make around $35,364. Set against $26,314 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 71%.
Biola University earned the #8 position for value in marriage and family therapy/counseling this year. Located in the suburb of La Mirada, Biola University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $48,984. Typical student debt for marriage and family therapy/counseling graduates is $25,308. Marriage And Family Therapy/counseling graduates of Biola University earn a median of $45,003 early in their careers. Set against $25,308 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 74% of applicants are accepted.
University Of San Diego ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value marriage and family therapy/counseling schools. Set in the city of San Diego, University Of San Diego is a large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $59,486 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $23,795 to complete the marriage and family therapy/counseling program here. Early-career marriage and family therapy/counseling graduates make about $57,169. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 52%.
Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System landed the #10 spot for marriage and family therapy/counseling value this year. Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System is a large public school located in the suburb of Aliso Viejo. In-state tuition and fees average $12,540. Students borrow a median of $27,471 to complete the marriage and family therapy/counseling program here. Early-career marriage and family therapy/counseling graduates make about $65,898. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Southern California came in at #11 for value in marriage and family therapy/counseling this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $71,647 in tuition and fees. Marriage And Family Therapy/counseling graduates carry a median of $15,625 in student loans. Marriage And Family Therapy/counseling graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of $61,960 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,625 median debt. Roughly 10% of applicants are accepted.
Loyola Marymount University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best value marriage and family therapy/counseling schools. Located in the city of Los Angeles, Loyola Marymount University is a large private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $61,867. Typical student debt for marriage and family therapy/counseling graduates is $22,248. Early-career marriage and family therapy/counseling graduates make about $55,470. That is a strong return on a $22,248 median debt. Loyola Marymount University admits about 45% of applicants.
Chapman University placed #13 among the best values for marriage and family therapy/counseling. Set in the city of Orange, Chapman University is a large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $64,984. Typical student debt for marriage and family therapy/counseling graduates is $21,657. Soon after graduation, marriage and family therapy/counseling degree recipients from Chapman University generally make around $59,081. That is a strong return on a $21,657 median debt. Roughly 65% of applicants are accepted.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 27 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 7 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
