2026 Best Value Marriage and Family Therapy/Counseling Schools in the Southwest Region
[Marriage and Family Therapy/Counseling](/majors/health-care-professions/mental-social-health-services/marriage-and-family-therapy-counseling/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 22 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for marriage and family therapy/counseling students.
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2026 Best Value Marriage and Family Therapy/Counseling Schools in the Southwest Region
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 Texas A And M University Central Texas this year. Set in the rural area of Killeen, Texas A And M University Central Texas is a mid-sized public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,363, while out-of-state students pay about $17,155. Typical student debt for marriage and family therapy/counseling graduates is $23,160. Soon after graduation, marriage and family therapy/counseling degree recipients from Texas A And M University Central Texas generally make around $49,328. Texas A And M University Central Texas admits about 100% of applicants.
A rank of #2 makes Texas Womans University one of the best values for marriage and family therapy/counseling. Set in the city of Denton, Texas Womans University is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,640 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,480 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $24,211 to complete the marriage and family therapy/counseling program here. Early-career marriage and family therapy/counseling graduates make about $62,324. Set against $24,211 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Texas Womans University admits about 96% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in marriage and family therapy/counseling will find it at University Of Houston Clear Lake, which ranked #3. University Of Houston Clear Lake is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Houston. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,346, with out-of-state students paying around $22,290. Marriage And Family Therapy/counseling graduates carry a median of $21,100 in student loans. Marriage And Family Therapy/counseling graduates of University Of Houston Clear Lake earn a median of $49,971 early in their careers. Set against $21,100 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Houston Clear Lake admits about 90% of applicants.
A rank of #4 makes Arizona State University one of the best values for marriage and family therapy/counseling. Located in the city of Tempe, Arizona State University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,223, with out-of-state students paying around $33,139. Marriage And Family Therapy/counseling graduates carry a median of $21,842 in student loans. Soon after graduation, marriage and family therapy/counseling degree recipients from Arizona State University generally make around $55,876. That is a strong return on a $21,842 median debt. The acceptance rate is 90%.
University Of Phoenix Arizona is a great value for students pursuing a degree in marriage and family therapy/counseling, landing the #5 spot this year. University Of Phoenix Arizona is a very large private for-profit school located in the city of Phoenix. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $9,552. Students borrow a median of $35,323 to complete the marriage and family therapy/counseling program here. Early-career marriage and family therapy/counseling graduates make about $58,837. That is a strong return on a $35,323 median debt.
American Intercontinental University Online placed #6 among the best values for marriage and family therapy/counseling. Set in the city of Chandler, American Intercontinental University Online is a very large private for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $12,397 in tuition and fees. Marriage And Family Therapy/counseling graduates carry a median of $39,107 in student loans. Marriage And Family Therapy/counseling graduates of American Intercontinental University Online earn a median of $43,008 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Texas Tech University came in at #7 for value in marriage and family therapy/counseling this year. Located in the city of Lubbock, Texas Tech University is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $11,852, with out-of-state students paying around $24,157. Marriage And Family Therapy/counseling graduates carry a median of $24,271 in student loans. Early-career marriage and family therapy/counseling graduates make about $48,542. That is a strong return on a $24,271 median debt. Texas Tech University admits about 73% of applicants.
Houston Baptist University placed #8 among the best values for marriage and family therapy/counseling. Houston Baptist University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Houston. In-state tuition and fees average $39,430. Marriage And Family Therapy/counseling graduates carry a median of $25,601 in student loans. Soon after graduation, marriage and family therapy/counseling degree recipients from Houston Baptist University generally make around $34,087. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 84% of applicants are accepted.
St Marys University earned the #9 position for value in marriage and family therapy/counseling this year. Located in the city of San Antonio, St Marys University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $37,434. Typical student debt for marriage and family therapy/counseling graduates is $25,040. Soon after graduation, marriage and family therapy/counseling degree recipients from St Marys University generally make around $41,496. Set against $25,040 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 98%.
Grand Canyon University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best value marriage and family therapy/counseling schools. Set in the city of Phoenix, Grand Canyon University is a very large private for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $18,508 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for marriage and family therapy/counseling graduates is $39,560. Soon after graduation, marriage and family therapy/counseling degree recipients from Grand Canyon University generally make around $47,062. That is a strong return on a $39,560 median debt. Grand Canyon University admits about 79% of applicants.
Letourneau University placed #11 among the best values for marriage and family therapy/counseling. Located in the city of Longview, Letourneau University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Students from in state pay about $37,160 in tuition and fees. Marriage And Family Therapy/counseling graduates carry a median of $32,086 in student loans. Early-career marriage and family therapy/counseling graduates make about $53,569. Set against $32,086 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Letourneau University admits about 38% of applicants.
Kings University landed the #12 spot for marriage and family therapy/counseling value this year. Set in the suburb of Southlake, Kings University is a small private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,480. Typical student debt for marriage and family therapy/counseling graduates is $48,998. Early-career marriage and family therapy/counseling graduates make about $40,532. That is a strong return on a $48,998 median debt. Roughly 61% of applicants are accepted.
Abilene Christian University placed #13 among the best values for marriage and family therapy/counseling. Located in the city of Abilene, Abilene Christian University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $44,200. Students borrow a median of $23,772 to complete the marriage and family therapy/counseling program here. Early-career marriage and family therapy/counseling graduates make about $43,665. Set against $23,772 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 66% of applicants are accepted.
University Of Mary Hardin Baylor ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best value marriage and family therapy/counseling schools. Located in the suburb of Belton, University Of Mary Hardin Baylor is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $34,300. Students borrow a median of $26,782 to complete the marriage and family therapy/counseling program here. Marriage And Family Therapy/counseling graduates of University Of Mary Hardin Baylor earn a median of $47,322 early in their careers. Set against $26,782 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 96%.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled 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 · 22 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 10 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.
