Marriage and Family Therapy/Counseling Major: Graduates, International Students, Colleges and Careers

Overview

Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) is a specialized field within the mental health profession that focuses on the dynamics of relationships, particularly within families and marriages. This discipline is rooted in the understanding that individual well-being is closely linked to the relational context in which individuals operate. MFT practitioners are trained to address a wide range of issues, including but not limited to communication problems, conflict resolution, parenting challenges, trauma, and mental health disorders that affect family dynamics.

The training for MFT typically includes a master's degree in marriage and family therapy, psychology, or a related field, along with supervised clinical experience. Therapists often utilize a systems theory approach, which views problems within the context of family relationships rather than solely within the individual. This perspective allows therapists to identify patterns of interaction and help families develop healthier communication strategies.

MFT is applicable to various settings, including private practice, hospitals, schools, and community organizations. Therapists may work with couples, families, or individuals, facilitating sessions that promote understanding, empathy, and cooperation among family members.

The field is continuously evolving, with an increasing awareness of diverse family structures and cultural considerations. MFT professionals often engage in ongoing education to stay current with best practices and emerging research, ensuring they provide effective and culturally competent care. Overall, Marriage and Family Therapy plays a crucial role in enhancing the emotional and relational well-being of individuals and families.

Graduates by year

Graduates by degree level (first and second majors)

968 03

1,086 04

1,420 05

1,456 06

1,812 07

1,925 08

1,923 09

2,031 10

2,658 11

2,997 12

3,252 13

3,180 14

3,212 15

3,330 16

3,281 17

3,095 18

3,155 19

3,096 20

3,105 21

3,424 22

3,691 23

4,228 24

4,268 25

AssociateBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral

From 2003 to 2025, graduates grew 341% and the international share went from 3.6% to 2.5%.

International share (%)

4 03

4 04

5 05

5 06

3 07

3 08

3 09

3 10

3 11

2 12

2 13

1 14

2 15

2 16

2 17

2 18

2 19

2 20

3 21

2 22

3 23

2 24

2 25

Graduates by group, 2025

White

50.1%

Asian

6.6%

Hispanic

17.2%

Black

11.3%

Other

12.3%

Intl.

2.5%

Colleges that award this degree

In 2025, 134 schools awarded this degree as a first major. The table lists those in the 2027 U.S. News National or Liberal Arts rankings, plus the unranked schools with the most graduates.

Rank	School	State	Graduates	International
#9	Northwestern University	Illinois	52	5
#27	University of Southern California	California	64	5
#34	University of Florida	Florida	16	0
#49	University of Maryland-College Park	Maryland	9	1
#49	University of Rochester	New York	7	0
#59	Florida State University	Florida	5	2
#72	Syracuse University	New York	67	1
#80	Drexel University	Pennsylvania	17	0
#90	Yeshiva University	New York	11	0
#90	Gonzaga University	Washington	10	0
#100	Chapman University	California	23	0
#100	University of San Diego	California	40	3
#100	University of South Florida-Main Campus	Florida	7	0
#100	Saint Louis University	Missouri	3	1
#109	Loyola Marymount University	California	20	1
#109	Fairfield University	Connecticut	14	0
#116	University of Oregon	Oregon	19	0
#116	Brigham Young University-Provo	Utah	15	3
#121	Arizona State University-Tempe	Arizona	2	0
#121	University of Central Florida	Florida	18	0
#133	Thomas Jefferson University	Pennsylvania	23	0
#137	San Diego State University	California	26	0
#148	Mercer University	Georgia	34	0
#156	Duquesne University	Pennsylvania	3	0
#179	University of Louisville	Kentucky	16	0
#179	Seattle University	Washington	28	4
#186	California Lutheran University	California	43	2
#186	Texas Tech University	Texas	20	2
#191	Hofstra University	New York	14	0
#202	East Carolina University	North Carolina	12	0
#208	University of La Verne	California	14	0
#236	University of Colorado Denver	Colorado	27	0
#236	Stetson University	Florida	5	0
#236	University of Nevada--Las Vegas	Nevada	23	2
#250	Nova Southeastern University	Florida	70	2
#250	La Salle University	Pennsylvania	10	2
#250	Lipscomb University	Tennessee	30	0
#262	George Fox University	Oregon	15	0
#262	Seattle Pacific University	Washington	27	1
#276	Harding University	Arkansas	5	0
#276	Regis University	Colorado	32	0
#276	Western Michigan University	Michigan	6	0
#288	Biola University	California	19	2
#288	Utah State University	Utah	6	0
#299	Azusa Pacific University	California	122	2
#299	Southern Connecticut State University	Connecticut	19	0
#299	Saint Mary's University of Minnesota	Minnesota	50	0
#308	Abilene Christian University	Texas	106	4
#317	Kean University	New Jersey	8	0
#332	Jacksonville University	Florida	40	0
#332	Mercy University	New York	11	1
#332	Texas Woman's University	Texas	21	0
#342	University of Northern Colorado	Colorado	5	0
#342	Mississippi College	Mississippi	2	0
#342	University of Akron	Ohio	16	0
#353	Plymouth State University	New Hampshire	2	0
#353	Trevecca Nazarene University	Tennessee	29	0
#353	University of Houston--Clear Lake	Texas	7	0
#365	University of Louisiana--Monroe	Louisiana	17	0
#382	Grand Canyon University	Arizona	11	0
#382	Valdosta State University	Georgia	22	0
#382	Idaho State University	Idaho	8	0
#382	Houston Christian University	Texas	19	0
#382	Regent University	Virginia	14	0
LAC #57	Wheaton College (IL)	Illinois	11	1
LAC #97	Lewis & Clark College	Oregon	45	0
LAC #106	Pacific Lutheran University	Washington	22	0
LAC #111	Whitworth University	Washington	28	0
LAC #184	Utah Tech University	Utah	9	0
—	Capella University	Minnesota	404	2
—	Touro University Worldwide	California	378	0
—	Northcentral University	California	324	0
—	Alliant International University	California	263	9
—	University of Massachusetts Global	California	145	0
—	Fuller Theological Seminary	California	69	11
—	Pacific Oaks College	California	65	0
—	California State University-Northridge	California	53	0
—	Antioch University-Seattle	Washington	53	0
—	Friends University	Kansas	48	0
—	The Chicago School at Los Angeles	California	46	0
—	American InterContinental University System	Arizona	45	0
—	Loma Linda University	California	40	2
—	The Chicago School at Anaheim	California	40	1
—	The Chicago School at San Diego	California	38	0
—	Western Seminary	Oregon	35	0
—	Northwest Nazarene University	Idaho	31	0
—	Daybreak University	California	29	21
—	Mount Mercy University	Iowa	26	0
—	Kairos University	South Dakota	26	0
—	Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global	Indiana	26	1
—	Converse University	South Carolina	25	0
—	Cameron University	Oklahoma	24	0
—	Antioch University-New England	New Hampshire	24	2
—	Adler University	Illinois	23	0
—	Saint Martin's University	Washington	23	1
—	Edgewood University	Wisconsin	23	0
—	Utah Valley University	Utah	22	0
—	Lee University	Tennessee	21	2
—	Montreat College	North Carolina	19	0