by our College Data Analytics TeamIn 2020-2021, marriage and family therapy/counseling was the 211th most popular major nationwide with 3,405 degrees awarded. This is a difference of 97 over the prior year, a growth of 2.8%.
Our 2023 Best Marriage and Family Therapy/Counseling Schools ranking analyzes 117 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for marriage and family therapy/counseling students. Explore this or one of our many other custom marriage and family therapy/counseling rankings further below.
A major in marriage and family therapy/counseling prepares you for careers in which giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times is crucial. Required skills include talking to others to convey information effectively and understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
marriage and family therapy/counseling degree applicants generally need have finished high school or their GED. Many schools may also have GPA and SAT/ACT score minimums that must be met. Once you obtain your degree, additional marriage and family therapy/counseling certifications required to pursue a career in this field.
Marriage and Family Therapy/Counseling degree levels vary. You can spend many years getting as high as a in marriage and family therapy/counseling to something that takes less time like a . The time it takes to complete a marriage and family therapy/counseling degree varies depending on the program.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A master's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to marriage and family therapy/counseling, with approximately 37.2% of workers getting one. See the the most common levels of education for marriage and family therapy/counseling workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral Degree | 32.9% |
| Master’s Degree | 31.0% |
| Post-Doctoral Training | 18.5% |
| Post-Master’s Certificate | 14.2% |
| First Professional Degree | 0.7% |
100.0% of marriage and family therapy/counseling workers have at least a master's. View the chart below to get an idea of what degree level most of those in marriage and family therapy/counseling careers have.
The education level required is different depending on the marriage and family therapy/counseling career you are seeking.
Want a job when you graduate with your marriage and family therapy/counseling degree? Marriage and Family Therapy/Counseling careers are expected to grow 19.0% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to marriage and family therapy/counseling.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology Professors | 54,000 | 15.1% |
| Marriage and Family Therapists | 51,200 | 23.4% |
As you might expect, salaries for marriage and family therapy/counseling graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for marriage and family therapy/counseling graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers marriage and family therapy/counseling grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Psychology Professors | $88,490 |
| Marriage and Family Therapists | $54,150 |
With over 218 different marriage and family therapy/counseling degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased marriage and family therapy/counseling school rankings to help you with this.
Learn about other programs related to Marriage and Family Therapy/Counseling that might interest you.
Marriage and Family Therapy/Counseling is one of 11 different types of Mental & Social Health Services programs to choose from.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Mental Health Counseling/Counselor | 7,609 |
| Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling | 5,433 |
| Other Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions | 4,069 |
| Psychiatric/Mental Health Services Technician | 2,779 |
| Clinical/Medical Social Work | 2,534 |
View All Marriage and Family Therapy/Counseling Related Majors >
