Affordable In-Person Marriage and Family Therapy Degrees in Texas
Marriage and family are both social institutions that form the core of a community’s foundation. Marriage is a life-long commitment where a family begins.
The family as an informal social institution helps to raise the children where it is the responsibility of the parent or parents to impart education and social values to them. This responsibility is carried out until the child is ready to be part of a formal institution such as a school.
However, in life there comes a point where certain marriages and families go through rough transitions due to differences.
Professionals that specialize in marriage and family therapy can help couples and families to get through these rough terrains in life and build stronger bonds between themselves.
Difference between a Marriage and Family Therapist and a Psychologist
| Occupations | Marriage and Family Therapist | Clinical Psychologist |
| Required Degrees | The minimum degree required to become a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist is a Masters degree in Marriage and Family Therapy or other equivalent degrees. | The minimum degree required to become a Clinical Psychologist is either a PsyD or a PhD in Clinical Psychology. |
| Focus | The occupation of a Marriage and Family Therapist involves the practice of providing therapy and guidance to couples and families who: Are about to enter a union of marriage, Are in need of therapy regarding the state of their marriage, Are in need of therapy regarding rough transitions the family may be going through. | This occupation involves the practice of working with patients/individuals that require therapy regarding their mental health or individuals who have severe mental health issues. Their educational programs are longer than that of LMFTs. A Clinical Psychologist normally works with individuals rather than in groups like a Marriage and Family Therapist would. |
Why become a Marriage and Family Therapist?
The advantage of having a degree in Marriage and Family Therapy allows graduates to pursue careers in various other settings. This includes hospital settings, schools, clinics, communities, organizations and more. But aside from observing it as just another occupation, this field of work does provide a level of fulfilment that is personal.
It is clear that the institution of marriage and family are the cores of communities and individuals that work to improve the relationship of struggling couples and families are in a way contributing to building a more stable society.
From a career perspective, graduates with a Marriage and Family Therapy degree have the freedom to either work for organizations or instead have their own business in MFT.
Types of Marriage and Family Therapy Degrees
The table below shows the types of degree required for a career in Marriage and Family Therapy:
| Type of Degree | Typical Program Length | Admission Requirements |
| Master’s Degree | 2 to 3.5 years | Bachelor’s Degree with official college or university transcripts, letters of recommendation. |
5 Affordable In-Person Marriage and Family Therapy Master’s Degree
1. Amberton University
Program: M.A. Marriage and Family Therapy
Tuition: $285/credit hour
Credits: 60 credit hours
Accreditation: Regionally accredited by SACSCOC
Financial Aid: Available.
The master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy helps students to understand areas encompassing cognitive knowledge of counseling, lifespan development, principles and concepts that deal with counseling with special focus on marriage and family.
2.Texas A&M University – Central Texas
Program: M.S. Marriage and Family Therapy
Tuition: $297/credit hour (resident); $705/credit hour (non-resident)
Credits: 60 credit hours.
Accreditation: Regionally accredited by the SACSCOC.
Financial Aid: Available, with 94% of students receiving financial aid.
A degree in Marriage and Family Therapy will train graduates professionally allowing them to serve family systems with the help of therapeutic practices and involvement of the community.
3. The King’s University
Program: Master of Marriage and Family Therapy
Tuition: $525/credit hour
Credits: 60 credit hours
Accreditation: Regionally accredited by the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS).
Financial Aid: Available, with 89% of students receiving financial aid.
The Marriage and Family Therapy degree prepares graduates by integrating both psychological theories and biblical truths that can be applied in both marriage and family settings.
4. Texas Tech University
Program: Couple, Marriage, and Family Therapy – Master’s Degree
Tuition: $9518 per semester (resident); $17,698 per semester (non-resident)
Credits: 65 credit hours.
Accreditation and ranking: Regionally accredited by the SACSCOC; Ranked #7 Best Colleges in Texas.
Financial Aid: Available, with 84% of students receiving financial aid.
The master’s degree in Couples, Marriage and Family Therapy follows a systemic clinical approach to help students prepare for a career in Marriage and Family Therapy.
5. University of Houston – Clear Lake
Program: Family Therapy M.A.
Tuition: $9,902 per semester (resident); $19,082 per semester (non-resident)
Credits: 60 credit hours
Accreditation: Regionally accredited by the SACSCOC.
Financial Aid: Available, with 76% of students receiving financial aid.
The Family Therapy master’s degree focuses on preparing graduates to be able to help married couples and families to connect and thrive in their relationships.
6. Houston Baptist University
Program: M.A. Marriage and Family Therapy
Tuition: $575/credit hour
Credits: 60 credit hours.
Accreditation: Regionally accredited by the SACSCOC.
Financial Aid: Available, with 100% of students receiving financial aid.
A degree in Marriage and Family Therapy will prepare graduates to become capable of administering therapy to couples and families going through challenging periods in their lives.
Affordable Online Marriage and Family Therapy Degrees in Texas
An online degree in Marriage and Family Therapy is by no means inferior to a traditional degree. In fact, both hold equivalent value and will certainly help graduates launch themselves in the field as Marriage and Family Therapists and equivalent careers available with the degree.
USDegrees lists some of the affordable online Marriage and Family Therapy degrees in Texas, have a look.
3 Affordable Online Marriage and Family Therapy Master’s Degree
1. Houston Baptist University
Program: M.A. Marriage and Family Therapy Online
Tuition: $585/credit hour
Credits: 60 credit hours
Accreditation: Regionally accredited by the SACSCOC.
Financial Aid: Available, with 100% of students receiving financial aid.
2. Abilene Christian University
Program: Master of Marriage and Family Therapy Online
Tuition: $825/credit hour
Credits: 60 credit hours.
Accreditation and ranking: Regionally accredited by the SACSCOC; Ranked #15 Best Colleges in Texas.
Financial Aid: Available, with 100% of students receiving financial aid.
3. Our Lady of the Lake University
Program: M.A. in Counseling: Clinical Mental Health Specialization
Tuition: $962/credit hour
Credits: 60 credit hours.
Accreditation: Regionally accredited by the SACSCOC.
Financial Aid: Available, with 100% of students receiving financial aid.
How long does it take to get a master’s degree in MFT?
The typical length of a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy is approximately 2 years. However, a master’s degrees in Marriage and Family Therapy can take up to 3-3.5 years before individuals can pursue a Marriage and Family Therapist career with a license.
Where can Marriage and Family Therapists work?
A graduate with a Marriage and Family Therapy degree can pursue careers not just as therapists but in different departments of employment too. Here is a list of jobs available with median salaries for graduates with a degree in Marriage and Family Therapy:
| Occupation | Median Salary |
| Clinical Director | $85,907 |
| Crisis Response Specialist | $51,893 |
| Social Worker | $50,390 |
| Professor | $69,370 |
| Juvenile Probation Officer | $46,765 |
| Marriage and Family Therapist | $49,880 |
Is a Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy worth it?</h2>
According to a marriage and divorce data for the US by NCHS, the number of divorces recorded in 2020 alone was 630,505 (includes 45 states and D.C.). This affects a lot of children emotionally and mentally growing up.
If you are motivated to help couples and families to mend their relationships with their spouses and their loved ones, then this degree is worth pursuing given the increasing number of divorce rates in the US.
According the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment for professionals in marriage and family therapy is predicted to grow 14 percent from the year 2021 to 2031. In other words, a total of around 9,100 job opportunities in the field of marriage and family therapy is projected to be seen till 2031.
Here is a summary of the change in employment percentage in the field of Marriage and Family Therapy:
If you are motivated to help the community by helping families and couples solve their relationship struggles and hardships with the help of clinical therapeutic practices, then surely a degree in MFT will be worth it.
