2026 Best Marriage and Family Therapy/Counseling Schools in California
Marriage and Family Therapy/Counseling programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. The schools below stand out for the quality of their marriage and family therapy/counseling programs.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 27 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for marriage and family therapy/counseling students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Marriage and Family Therapy/Counseling in California
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest overall marriage and family therapy/counseling education in California.
Top Schools in Marriage and Family Therapy/Counseling
University Of Southern California is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in marriage and family therapy/counseling. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Los Angeles. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. There were roughly 71 marriage and family therapy/counseling students who graduated with this degree at University Of Southern California in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, marriage and family therapy/counseling degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $61,960. University Of Southern California graduates carry a median of $15,625 in student loans.
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Loma Linda University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in marriage and family therapy/counseling, ranking #2. Loma Linda University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Loma Linda. There were roughly 44 marriage and family therapy/counseling students who graduated with this degree at Loma Linda University in the most recent data year. Marriage And Family Therapy/counseling graduates of Loma Linda University earn a median of $58,654 early in their careers. Loma Linda University graduates carry a median of $25,094 in student loans.
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San Diego State University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in marriage and family therapy/counseling, landing the #3 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the city of San Diego. San Diego State University graduates 76% of students within six years. San Diego State University awarded about 22 marriage and family therapy/counseling degrees in the most recent data year. Marriage And Family Therapy/counseling graduates of San Diego State University earn a median of $51,162 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,417 to complete this degree.
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University Of San Diego is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in marriage and family therapy/counseling, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the city of San Diego, University Of San Diego is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 84% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 28 marriage and family therapy/counseling students who graduated with this degree at University Of San Diego in the most recent data year. Graduates of the marriage and family therapy/counseling program make about $57,169 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $23,795 to complete this degree.
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Loyola Marymount University came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best marriage and family therapy/counseling schools. Located in the city of Los Angeles, Loyola Marymount University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 79% of students finish within six years. About 19 marriage and family therapy/counseling degrees were awarded at Loyola Marymount University in the most recent year. Students who receive their marriage and family therapy/counseling degree from Loyola Marymount University earn around $55,470 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,248.
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Palo Alto University came in at #6 for marriage and family therapy/counseling this year. Located in the rural area of Palo Alto, Palo Alto University is a small private not-for-profit university. Palo Alto University awarded about 57 marriage and family therapy/counseling degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, marriage and family therapy/counseling degree recipients from Palo Alto University generally make around $59,295. Students borrow a median of $20,334 to complete this degree.
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Chapman University earned the #7 position for marriage and family therapy/counseling this year. Chapman University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Orange. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 27 marriage and family therapy/counseling students who graduated with this degree at Chapman University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their marriage and family therapy/counseling degree from Chapman University earn around $59,081 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,657 to complete this degree.
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Alliant International University ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best marriage and family therapy/counseling schools. This moderately-sized private for-profit university is located in the city of San Diego. Alliant International University awarded about 240 marriage and family therapy/counseling degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, marriage and family therapy/counseling degree recipients from Alliant International University generally make around $70,157. Alliant International University graduates carry a median of $21,234 in student loans.
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Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best marriage and family therapy/counseling schools. Set in the suburb of Aliso Viejo, Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System is a large public institution. Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System awarded about 183 marriage and family therapy/counseling degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, marriage and family therapy/counseling degree recipients from Brandman University Part Of The Chapman University System generally make around $65,898. Students borrow a median of $27,471 to complete this degree.
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California State University Northridge ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best marriage and family therapy/counseling schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Northridge. The six-year graduation rate is 57%. There were roughly 48 marriage and family therapy/counseling students who graduated with this degree at California State University Northridge in the most recent data year. Marriage And Family Therapy/counseling graduates of California State University Northridge earn a median of $48,437 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,202.
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California Lutheran University came in at #11 for marriage and family therapy/counseling this year. Located in the city of Thousand Oaks, California Lutheran University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. About 36 marriage and family therapy/counseling degrees were awarded at California Lutheran University in the most recent year. Students who receive their marriage and family therapy/counseling degree from California Lutheran University earn around $50,691 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,727 to complete this degree.
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University Of La Verne came in at #12 for marriage and family therapy/counseling this year. University Of La Verne is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of La Verne. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of La Verne awarded about 20 marriage and family therapy/counseling degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the marriage and family therapy/counseling program make about $35,364 in their early career. University Of La Verne graduates carry a median of $26,314 in student loans.
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Biola University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best marriage and family therapy/counseling schools. Set in the suburb of La Mirada, Biola University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 68% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 18 marriage and family therapy/counseling students who graduated with this degree at Biola University in the most recent data year. Marriage And Family Therapy/counseling graduates of Biola University earn a median of $45,003 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $25,308.
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California State University Dominguez Hills came in at #14 for marriage and family therapy/counseling this year. California State University Dominguez Hills is a large public school located in the city of Carson. About 43% of students finish within six years. About 25 marriage and family therapy/counseling degrees were awarded at California State University Dominguez Hills in the most recent year. Students who receive their marriage and family therapy/counseling degree from California State University Dominguez Hills earn around $52,683 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,886 to complete this degree.
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Pacific Oaks College landed the #15 spot for marriage and family therapy/counseling this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Pasadena. About 72 marriage and family therapy/counseling degrees were awarded at Pacific Oaks College in the most recent year. Graduates of the marriage and family therapy/counseling program make about $58,767 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $31,608.
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Touro University Worldwide landed the #16 spot for marriage and family therapy/counseling this year. Touro University Worldwide is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Los Alamitos. About 29% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 368 marriage and family therapy/counseling students who graduated with this degree at Touro University Worldwide in the most recent data year. Students who receive their marriage and family therapy/counseling degree from Touro University Worldwide earn around $53,988 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $32,289 to complete this degree.
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Fresno Pacific University placed #17 among the best marriage and family therapy/counseling schools. Located in the city of Fresno, Fresno Pacific University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Fresno Pacific University graduates 50% of students within six years. There were roughly 12 marriage and family therapy/counseling students who graduated with this degree at Fresno Pacific University in the most recent data year. Marriage And Family Therapy/counseling graduates of Fresno Pacific University earn a median of $40,622 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,596.
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The Chicago School Of Professional Psychology At Los Angeles came in at #18 for marriage and family therapy/counseling this year. The Chicago School Of Professional Psychology At Los Angeles is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. About 45 marriage and family therapy/counseling degrees were awarded at The Chicago School Of Professional Psychology At Los Angeles in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, marriage and family therapy/counseling degree recipients from The Chicago School Of Professional Psychology At Los Angeles generally make around $54,966. The Chicago School Of Professional Psychology At Los Angeles graduates carry a median of $32,107 in student loans.
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The Chicago School Of Professional Psychology At Irvine came in at #19 for marriage and family therapy/counseling this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Anaheim. There were roughly 36 marriage and family therapy/counseling students who graduated with this degree at The Chicago School Of Professional Psychology At Irvine in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, marriage and family therapy/counseling degree recipients from The Chicago School Of Professional Psychology At Irvine generally make around $54,966.
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Fuller Theological Seminary In California landed the #20 spot for marriage and family therapy/counseling this year. This mid-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Pasadena. About 90 marriage and family therapy/counseling degrees were awarded at Fuller Theological Seminary In California in the most recent year. Graduates of the marriage and family therapy/counseling program make about $48,129 in their early career.
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The Chicago School Of Professional Psychology At San Diego placed #21 among the best marriage and family therapy/counseling schools. Located in the city of San Diego, The Chicago School Of Professional Psychology At San Diego is a small private not-for-profit university. The Chicago School Of Professional Psychology At San Diego awarded about 23 marriage and family therapy/counseling degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, marriage and family therapy/counseling degree recipients from The Chicago School Of Professional Psychology At San Diego generally make around $54,966.
More information about a degree in marriage and family therapy/counseling from The Chicago School Of Professional Psychology At San Diego
Northcentral University landed the #22 spot for marriage and family therapy/counseling this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of San Diego. There were roughly 367 marriage and family therapy/counseling students who graduated with this degree at Northcentral University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the marriage and family therapy/counseling program make about $45,211 in their early career. Northcentral University graduates carry a median of $42,500 in student loans.
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University Of Phoenix California earned the #23 position for marriage and family therapy/counseling this year. Located in the city of Ontario, University Of Phoenix California is a small private for-profit university. Roughly 22% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 64 marriage and family therapy/counseling students who graduated with this degree at University Of Phoenix California in the most recent data year. Marriage And Family Therapy/counseling graduates of University Of Phoenix California earn a median of $58,837 early in their careers. University Of Phoenix California graduates carry a median of $37,432 in student loans.
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 27 schools evaluated.
- 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.