Choosing a master's is the one decision on this path you cannot work around. It is the degree that makes you an MFT: there is no accredited undergraduate route into the profession, and nothing above it is required to practice. The programs below are ordered on what each publishes about its own graduates, so you can see who finishes, who gets hired and who reaches licensure before you shortlist anyone.
98
accredited master's MFT programs nationally
59
published enough cohort data to be among the best MFT programs ranked here
84.8%
median on-time graduation across accredited MFT programs at master's level
Reading the cards. Each score is a headcount-weighted average of that program's own published rates since 2015, so a large cohort counts for more than a small one. A dash in place of a figure means the program did not publish it. "GAD table" opens the disclosure each number was read from.
The 25 best master's MFT programs
The 25 best master's MFT programs are ordered by a score out of 100 built from each program's own published graduation, job placement and licensure rates, weighted by cohort size. Every one holds COAMFTE accreditation, and every figure on a card links to the disclosure it was read from.
- #1
University of South Florida (MS)
Tampa, FL
100
outcome score
Campus-basedMaster's2 years4 scored cohortsWhat University of South Florida publishes about its graduates, against the median for comparable programs - Finish on time100%typical is 91.2%
- Working in the field100%typical is 97.8%
- Reached licensure100%typical is 96.2%
From 4 completed cohorts the program published itself. The mark on each bar is the median for comparable programs.
Why it ranks here
University of South Florida runs this degree from Tampa, FL. The record behind that is unusually clean: every one of its 4 completed cohorts graduated in full, on time. Taking the last cohort with complete figures, its 2023 intake of 7: 100% finished on time. Intake has grown across the window, from about 7 a cohort to 10. Several cohorts are still running, 2 of them, the most recent entering in 2025. Next accreditation review falls in 2030.
Cohort by cohort
Cohort Admitted Graduated Placed Licensed 2025 15 in process in process in process 2024 9 in process in process in process 2023 7 100% in process in process 2022 7 100% 100% 100% 2021 7 100% 100% 100% 2020 7 100% 100% 100% University of South Florida program page Its published outcome table
Score breakdown
- Graduation rate (45%) 100%over 4 cohorts
- Job placement rate (35%) 100%over 3 cohorts
- Licensure rate (20%) 100%over 3 cohorts
52 students admitted since 2015
- #2
University of New Hampshire (MS)
Durham, NH
100
outcome score
Campus-basedMaster'sAccredited since 7/1/19945 scored cohortsWhat University of New Hampshire publishes about its graduates, against the median for comparable programs - Finish on time100%typical is 91.2%
- Working in the field100%typical is 97.8%
- Reached licensure100%typical is 96.2%
From 5 completed cohorts the program published itself. The mark on each bar is the median for comparable programs.
Why it ranks here
The record here rests on cohorts of about 2 students. Taking the last cohort with complete figures, its 2020-2021 intake of 2: 100% finished on time, 100% found relevant work, 100% reached licensure. Scale is the caveat: 14 students across the scored cohorts, against a median of 119 among master's MFT programs. Curriculum runs to 72 credits. First accredited in 1994, with the next review due in 2028.
Cohort by cohort
Cohort Admitted Graduated Placed Licensed 2023-2024 2 in process in process in process 2022-2023 2 in process in process in process 2021-2022 2 in process in process in process 2020-2021 2 100% 100% 100% 2019-2020 2 100% 100% 100% 2018-2019 1 100% 100% 100% University of New Hampshire program page Its published outcome table
Score breakdown
- Graduation rate (45%) 100%over 5 cohorts
- Job placement rate (35%) 100%over 5 cohorts
- Licensure rate (20%) 100%over 5 cohorts
14 students admitted since 2015
- #3
Converse University - University Center of Greenville
Greenville, SC
97.3
outcome score
Campus-basedMaster's2 YearsAccredited since 7/1/20055 scored cohortsWhat Converse University - University Center of Greenville publishes about its graduates, against the median for comparable programs - Finish on time98.3%typical is 91.2%
- Working in the field100%typical is 97.8%
- Reached licensure90.1%typical is 96.2%
From 5 completed cohorts the program published itself. The mark on each bar is the median for comparable programs.
Why it ranks here
Converse University has held accreditation on this degree since 2005. Taking the last cohort with complete figures, its 2023-2024 intake of 15: 100% finished on time, 100% found relevant work. Much of the published table is still pending, 5 cohorts complete out of 10. Several cohorts are still running, 5 of them, the most recent entering in 2024-2025. Its licensure rate, 90.1% against 96.2% across the field, is the number to put to the program directly.
Cohort by cohort
Cohort Admitted Graduated Placed Licensed 2024-2025 15 in process in process in process 2023-2024 15 100% 100% in process 2022-2023 12 91.7% 100% 91.7% 2021-2022 13 100% 100% 92.3% 2020-2021 9 100% 100% 100% 2019-2020 9 100% 100% 75% Converse University - University Center of Greenville program page Its published outcome table
Score breakdown
- Graduation rate (45%) 98.3%over 5 cohorts
- Job placement rate (35%) 100%over 5 cohorts
- Licensure rate (20%) 90.1%over 4 cohorts
73 students admitted since 2015
- #4
Saint Louis University (MA)
Saint Louis, MO
97.1
outcome score
Campus-basedMaster's4 scored cohortsWhat Saint Louis University publishes about its graduates, against the median for comparable programs - Finish on time100%typical is 91.2%
- Working in the field100%typical is 97.8%
- Reached licensure85.7%typical is 96.2%
From 4 completed cohorts the program published itself. The mark on each bar is the median for comparable programs.
Why it ranks here
Saint Louis University runs this degree from Saint Louis, MO. The record behind that is unusually clean: every one of its 4 completed cohorts graduated in full, on time. Taking the last cohort with complete figures, its 2020-2021 intake of 8: 100% finished on time, 100% found relevant work, 75% reached licensure. Coursework named on its own page covers medical family therapy. Cohorts this small mean every percentage above is built from a handful of people.
Cohort by cohort
Cohort Admitted Graduated Placed Licensed 2020-2021 8 100% 100% 75% 2019-2020 6 100% 100% 100% 2018-2019 2 100% 100% 100% 2016-2017 5 100% 100% 80% Saint Louis University program page Its published outcome table
Score breakdown
- Graduation rate (45%) 100%over 4 cohorts
- Job placement rate (35%) 100%over 4 cohorts
- Licensure rate (20%) 85.7%over 4 cohorts
21 students admitted since 2015
- #5 Accredited with stipulations
Drexel University (MFT)
Philadelphia, PA
96.7
outcome score
Campus-basedMaster's2 yearsAccredited since 5/1/19858 scored cohortsWhat Drexel University publishes about its graduates, against the median for comparable programs - Finish on time95.1%typical is 91.2%
- Working in the field98.4%typical is 97.8%
- Reached licensure97.2%typical is 96.2%
From 8 completed cohorts the program published itself. The mark on each bar is the median for comparable programs.
Why it ranks here
Drexel University has held accreditation on this degree since 1985. Direction of travel is the worry, falling from 98.5% in the earlier cohorts to 92.3% in the later ones. Individual years swing hard, though, from 87% in 2023-2024 to 100% in 2015-2016, so the average is doing some hiding. Coursework named on its own page covers emotionally focused therapy and sex therapy. Disclosure runs deeper than most, 8 cohorts complete out of 9 published. Next accreditation review falls in 2033. Stipulations are on file, meaning a fixed window to correct something. License eligibility is unaffected, and it is a fair question at interview.
Cohort by cohort
Cohort Admitted Graduated Placed Licensed 2023-2024 16 87% 87% in process 2022-2023 18 94% 100% in process 2021-2022 17 88% 100% in process 2020-2021 5 in process 100% in process 2019-2020 6 100% 100% 100% 2018-2019 18 94% 100% 88% Score breakdown
- Graduation rate (45%) 95.1%over 8 cohorts
- Job placement rate (35%) 98.4%over 9 cohorts
- Licensure rate (20%) 97.2%over 5 cohorts
134 students admitted since 2015
- #6
Utah Valley University (MA)
Orem, UT
96
outcome score
Campus-basedMaster's2 yearsAccredited since May 1, 20245 scored cohortsWhat Utah Valley University publishes about its graduates, against the median for comparable programs - Finish on time94.4%typical is 91.2%
- Working in the field97%typical is 97.8%
- Reached licensure98%typical is 96.2%
From 5 completed cohorts the program published itself. The mark on each bar is the median for comparable programs.
Why it ranks here
Utah Valley University runs this degree from Orem, UT. Year to year it holds a narrow band, 91% to 100%. Taking the last cohort with complete figures, its 2023-2024 intake of 22: 100% finished on time, 95% found relevant work, 100% reached licensure. Curriculum runs to 54 credits. Several cohorts are still running, 2 of them, the most recent entering in 2025-2026. Accreditation dates to 2024 and runs to its next review in 2030.
Cohort by cohort
Cohort Admitted Graduated Placed Licensed 2025-2026 24 in process in process in process 2024-2025 24 in process in process in process 2023-2024 22 100% 95% 100% 2022-2023 22 91% 95% 95% 2021-2022 22 95% 100% 100% 2020-2021 23 95% 95% 95% Utah Valley University program page Its published outcome table
Score breakdown
- Graduation rate (45%) 94.4%over 5 cohorts
- Job placement rate (35%) 97%over 5 cohorts
- Licensure rate (20%) 98%over 5 cohorts
160 students admitted since 2015
- #7
East Carolina University (MS)
Greenville, NC
96
outcome score
Campus-basedMaster's2 years10 scored cohortsWhat East Carolina University publishes about its graduates, against the median for comparable programs - Finish on time97.4%typical is 91.2%
- Working in the field93%typical is 97.8%
- Reached licensure98.3%typical is 96.2%
From 10 completed cohorts the program published itself. The mark on each bar is the median for comparable programs.
Why it ranks here
The record here rests on cohorts of about 11 students. Year to year it holds a narrow band, 91.7% to 100%. Placement has strengthened alongside it, 88.4% across the earlier cohorts against 98.5% more recently. Taking the last cohort with complete figures, its 2024-2025 intake of 12: 100% finished on time, 100% found relevant work, 91.6% reached licensure. A concentration in medical and healthcare settings sits alongside the core degree. Coursework named on its own page covers medical family therapy. Next accreditation review falls in 2027. Six or more completed cohorts is enough history to trust the pattern rather than the latest year.
Cohort by cohort
Cohort Admitted Graduated Placed Licensed 2025-2026 12 in process in process in process 2024-2025 12 100% 100% 91.6% 2023-2024 10 100% 100% 100% 2022-2023 11 100% 100% 100% 2021-2022 13 92.3% 92.3% 92.3% 2020-2021 12 100% 100% 100% East Carolina University program page Its published outcome table
Score breakdown
- Graduation rate (45%) 97.4%over 10 cohorts
- Job placement rate (35%) 93%over 10 cohorts
- Licensure rate (20%) 98.3%over 10 cohorts
129 students admitted since 2015
- #8
Utah State University (MS)
Logan, UT
95.3
outcome score
Campus-basedMaster'sAccredited since January 1, 19967 scored cohortsWhat Utah State University publishes about its graduates, against the median for comparable programs - Finish on time94.3%typical is 91.2%
- Working in the field96.2%typical is 97.8%
- Reached licensure96.2%typical is 96.2%
From 7 completed cohorts the program published itself. The mark on each bar is the median for comparable programs.
Why it ranks here
Utah State University has held accreditation on this degree since 1996. Taking the last cohort with complete figures, its 2023-2024 intake of 8: 87.5% finished on time, 87.5% found relevant work, 87.5% reached licensure. Graduates reaching a license has fallen over the window, 100% to 91.7%, which is worth a question. Scale is the caveat: 61 students across the scored cohorts, against a median of 119 among master's MFT programs. Coursework named on its own page covers play therapy and sex therapy. Next accreditation review falls in 2028. Six or more completed cohorts is enough history to trust the pattern rather than the latest year.
Cohort by cohort
Cohort Admitted Graduated Placed Licensed 2024-2025 8 in process in process in process 2023-2024 8 87.5% 87.5% 87.5% 2022-2023 8 87.5% 87.5% 87.5% 2021-2022 8 87.5% 100% 100% 2020-2021 7 100% 100% 100% 2019-2020 7 100% 100% 100% Utah State University program page Its published outcome table
Score breakdown
- Graduation rate (45%) 94.3%over 7 cohorts
- Job placement rate (35%) 96.2%over 7 cohorts
- Licensure rate (20%) 96.2%over 7 cohorts
61 students admitted since 2015
- #9
University of Louisiana at Monroe (MA)
Monroe, LA
94.8
outcome score
Campus-basedMaster's2 yearsAccredited since July 1, 19868 scored cohortsWhat University of Louisiana at Monroe publishes about its graduates, against the median for comparable programs - Finish on time93.6%typical is 91.2%
- Working in the field97.8%typical is 97.8%
- Reached licensure92%typical is 96.2%
From 8 completed cohorts the program published itself. The mark on each bar is the median for comparable programs.
Why it ranks here
University of Louisiana at Monroe teaches this one in Monroe, LA over 2 years. Direction of travel is the worry, falling from 97.5% in the earlier cohorts to 89.8% in the later ones. Individual years swing hard, though, from 85% in 2023-2024 to 100% in 2017-2018, so the average is doing some hiding. Disclosure runs deeper than most, 8 cohorts complete out of 9 published. Six or more completed cohorts is enough history to trust the pattern rather than the latest year.
Cohort by cohort
Cohort Admitted Graduated Placed Licensed 2024-2025 12 in process in process in process 2023-2024 13 85% 82% 82% 2022-2023 15 87% 100% 85% 2021-2022 17 94% 100% 94% 2020-2021 14 93% 100% 100% 2019-2020 11 100% 100% 91% University of Louisiana at Monroe program page Its published outcome table
Score breakdown
- Graduation rate (45%) 93.6%over 8 cohorts
- Job placement rate (35%) 97.8%over 8 cohorts
- Licensure rate (20%) 92%over 8 cohorts
119 students admitted since 2015
- #10
Seattle Pacific University (MS)
Seattle, WA
94.2
outcome score
Campus-basedMaster'sAccredited since July 1, 19968 scored cohortsWhat Seattle Pacific University publishes about its graduates, against the median for comparable programs - Finish on time87.1%typical is 91.2%
- Working in the field100%typical is 97.8%
- Reached licensure100%typical is 96.2%
From 8 completed cohorts the program published itself. The mark on each bar is the median for comparable programs.
Why it ranks here
Seattle Pacific University has been accredited on this degree since 1996, and now admits about 27 students a cohort. Taking the last cohort with complete figures, its 2023-2024 intake of 25: 91% finished on time. Few programs here run at its scale, 263 students across the scored cohorts against a median of 119. Coursework named on its own page covers medical family therapy. On its own published figures that is 70 credits at $843 each, or roughly $59,010 in tuition before fees. Curriculum runs to 70 credits. A concentration in medical and healthcare settings sits alongside the core degree. Next accreditation review falls in 2029. Six or more completed cohorts is enough history to trust the pattern rather than the latest year.
Cohort by cohort
Cohort Admitted Graduated Placed Licensed 2025-2026 33 – – – 2024-2025 22 – – – 2023-2024 25 91% – – 2022-2023 26 88.2% 100% 100% 2021-2022 26 92.2% 100% 100% 2020-2021 23 82.3% 100% 100% Seattle Pacific University program page Its published outcome table
Score breakdown
- Graduation rate (45%) 87.1%over 8 cohorts
- Job placement rate (35%) 100%over 7 cohorts
- Licensure rate (20%) 100%over 7 cohorts
263 students admitted since 2015
- #11
Southern Connecticut State University (MFT)
New Haven, CT
94.2
outcome score
Blended or hybridMaster's2 year8 scored cohortsWhat Southern Connecticut State University publishes about its graduates, against the median for comparable programs - Finish on time89%typical is 91.2%
- Working in the field99.4%typical is 97.8%
- Reached licensure97%typical is 96.2%
From 8 completed cohorts the program published itself. The mark on each bar is the median for comparable programs.
Why it ranks here
The record here rests on cohorts of about 28 students. Taking the last cohort with complete figures, its 2023-2024 intake of 24: 94% finished on time, 100% found relevant work, 100% reached licensure. Few programs here run at its scale, 243 students across the scored cohorts against a median of 119. Clinical hours run through a training clinic the program runs itself, which is the difference between being placed and finding your own site. Next accreditation review falls in 2030. Six or more completed cohorts is enough history to trust the pattern rather than the latest year.
Cohort by cohort
Cohort Admitted Graduated Placed Licensed 2025-2026 39 in process in process in process 2024-2025 20 in process in process in process 2023-2024 24 94% 100% 100% 2022-2023 22 86.7% 100% 100% 2021-2022 22 90.8% 95.4% 95.4% 2020-2021 21 81% 100% 100% Southern Connecticut State University program page Its published outcome table
Score breakdown
- Graduation rate (45%) 89%over 8 cohorts
- Job placement rate (35%) 99.4%over 8 cohorts
- Licensure rate (20%) 97%over 8 cohorts
243 students admitted since 2015
- #12
Ohio State University (MS)
Columbus, OH
94.1
outcome score
Campus-basedMaster's6 scored cohortsWhat Ohio State University publishes about its graduates, against the median for comparable programs - Finish on time91.2%typical is 91.2%
- Working in the field96.5%typical is 97.8%
- Reached licensure96.5%typical is 96.2%
From 6 completed cohorts the program published itself. The mark on each bar is the median for comparable programs.
Why it ranks here
Ohio State University runs this degree from Columbus, OH. Taking the last cohort with complete figures, its 2024-2025 intake of 5: 80% finished on time. Graduates reaching a license has fallen over the window, 100% to 91.7%, which is worth a question. Direction of travel is the worry, falling from 100% in the earlier cohorts to 83% in the later ones. Intake has grown across the window, from about 5 a cohort to 9. Clinical hours run through a training clinic the program runs itself, which is the difference between being placed and finding your own site. Six or more completed cohorts is enough history to trust the pattern rather than the latest year.
Cohort by cohort
Cohort Admitted Graduated Placed Licensed 2025-2026 16 in process in process in process 2024-2025 5 80% in process in process 2023-2024 6 83.3% 83.3% 83.3% 2022-2023 7 85.7% 100% 100% 2021-2022 8 100% 100% 100% 2020-2021 4 100% 100% 100% Ohio State University program page Its published outcome table
Score breakdown
- Graduation rate (45%) 91.2%over 6 cohorts
- Job placement rate (35%) 96.5%over 5 cohorts
- Licensure rate (20%) 96.5%over 5 cohorts
50 students admitted since 2015
- #13 Accredited with stipulations
Pacific Lutheran University (MA)
Tacoma, WA
93.8
outcome score
Campus-basedMaster'sAccredited since January 1, 19909 scored cohortsWhat Pacific Lutheran University publishes about its graduates, against the median for comparable programs - Finish on time92.6%typical is 91.2%
- Working in the field97.1%typical is 97.8%
- Reached licensure90.5%typical is 96.2%
From 9 completed cohorts the program published itself. The mark on each bar is the median for comparable programs.
Why it ranks here
Pacific Lutheran University runs this degree from Tacoma, WA. Individual years swing hard, though, from 80% in 2016-2017 to 100% in 2018-2019, so the average is doing some hiding. Taking the last cohort with complete figures, its 2023-2024 intake of 22: 100% finished on time, 90% found relevant work, 86% reached licensure. Clinical hours run through a training clinic the program runs itself, which is the difference between being placed and finding your own site. First accredited in 1990, with the next review due in 2033. Stipulations are on file, meaning a fixed window to correct something. License eligibility is unaffected, and it is a fair question at interview.
Cohort by cohort
Cohort Admitted Graduated Placed Licensed 2024-2025 20 in process in process in process 2023-2024 22 100% 90% 86% 2022-2023 24 92% 100% 86% 2021-2022 22 95% 100% 86% 2020-2021 21 81% 100% 100% 2019-2020 20 95% 94% 100% Pacific Lutheran University program page Its published outcome table
Score breakdown
- Graduation rate (45%) 92.6%over 9 cohorts
- Job placement rate (35%) 97.1%over 9 cohorts
- Licensure rate (20%) 90.5%over 9 cohorts
211 students admitted since 2015
- #14
University of Rochester (MS)
Rochester, NY
93.7
outcome score
Campus-basedMaster's9 scored cohortsWhat University of Rochester publishes about its graduates, against the median for comparable programs - Finish on time90.2%typical is 91.2%
- Working in the field100%typical is 97.8%
- Reached licensure90.4%typical is 96.2%
From 9 completed cohorts the program published itself. The mark on each bar is the median for comparable programs.
Why it ranks here
University of Rochester runs this degree from Rochester, NY. Graduates reaching a license has risen over the window, 85.1% to 96.5%. Direction of travel is the worry, falling from 100% in the earlier cohorts to 79.3% in the later ones. Individual years swing hard, though, from 60% in 2023-2024 to 100% in 2015-2016, so the average is doing some hiding. Curriculum runs to 60 credits. Disclosure runs deeper than most, 9 cohorts complete out of 10 published. Six or more completed cohorts is enough history to trust the pattern rather than the latest year.
Cohort by cohort
Cohort Admitted Graduated Placed Licensed 2024-2025 7 in process in process in process 2023-2024 12 60% in process in process 2022-2023 12 100% 100% 86% 2021-2022 14 82% 100% 100% 2020-2021 12 75% 100% 100% 2019-2020 9 100% 100% 100% University of Rochester program page Its published outcome table
Score breakdown
- Graduation rate (45%) 90.2%over 9 cohorts
- Job placement rate (35%) 100%over 8 cohorts
- Licensure rate (20%) 90.4%over 8 cohorts
109 students admitted since 2015
- #15
Colorado State University (MS)
Fort Collins, CO
93.7
outcome score
Campus-basedMaster's8 scored cohortsWhat Colorado State University publishes about its graduates, against the median for comparable programs - Finish on time87.2%typical is 91.2%
- Working in the field100%typical is 97.8%
- Reached licensure97.4%typical is 96.2%
From 8 completed cohorts the program published itself. The mark on each bar is the median for comparable programs.
Why it ranks here
The record here rests on cohorts of about 10 students. Taking the last cohort with complete figures, its 2023-2024 intake of 9: 100% finished on time, 100% found relevant work, 88.9% reached licensure. Curriculum runs to 56 credits. Next accreditation review falls in 2033. Disclosure runs deeper than most, 8 cohorts complete out of 10 published. Six or more completed cohorts is enough history to trust the pattern rather than the latest year.
Cohort by cohort
Cohort Admitted Graduated Placed Licensed 2025-2026 11 in process in process in process 2024-2025 11 in process in process in process 2023-2024 9 100% 100% 88.9% 2022-2023 9 88.9% 100% 88.9% 2021-2022 14 78.6% 100% 100% 2020-2021 9 100% 100% 100% Colorado State University program page Its published outcome table
Score breakdown
- Graduation rate (45%) 87.2%over 8 cohorts
- Job placement rate (35%) 100%over 8 cohorts
- Licensure rate (20%) 97.4%over 8 cohorts
100 students admitted since 2015
- #16
University of Maryland (MS)
College Park, MD
92.6
outcome score
Campus-basedMaster's8 scored cohortsWhat University of Maryland publishes about its graduates, against the median for comparable programs - Finish on time87.7%typical is 91.2%
- Working in the field98.6%typical is 97.8%
- Reached licensure93.2%typical is 96.2%
From 8 completed cohorts the program published itself. The mark on each bar is the median for comparable programs.
Why it ranks here
The record here rests on cohorts of about 10 students. Taking the last cohort with complete figures, its 2023-2024 intake of 8: 100% finished on time, 100% found relevant work, 100% reached licensure. Coursework named on its own page covers cognitive behavioral therapy. Curriculum runs to 51 credits. Next accreditation review falls in 2027. Disclosure runs deeper than most, 8 cohorts complete out of 10 published. Six or more completed cohorts is enough history to trust the pattern rather than the latest year.
Cohort by cohort
Cohort Admitted Graduated Placed Licensed 2025-2026 11 in process in process in process 2024-2025 10 in process in process in process 2023-2024 8 100% 100% 100% 2022-2023 9 100% 100% 100% 2021-2022 9 100% 100% 66.7% 2020-2021 10 80% 100% 100% University of Maryland program page Its published outcome table
Score breakdown
- Graduation rate (45%) 87.7%over 8 cohorts
- Job placement rate (35%) 98.6%over 8 cohorts
- Licensure rate (20%) 93.2%over 8 cohorts
94 students admitted since 2015
- #17
Syracuse University (MA)
Syracuse, NY
92.5
outcome score
Campus-basedMaster's10 scored cohortsWhat Syracuse University publishes about its graduates, against the median for comparable programs - Finish on time91.3%typical is 91.2%
- Working in the field97.1%typical is 97.8%
- Reached licensure87.1%typical is 96.2%
From 10 completed cohorts the program published itself. The mark on each bar is the median for comparable programs.
Why it ranks here
Syracuse University runs this degree from Syracuse, NY. Performance has barely moved in 10 years, 91.4% across the earlier cohorts and 89.5% across the later ones. Individual years swing hard, though, from 77.8% in 2015-2016 to 100% in 2017-2018, so the average is doing some hiding. Coursework named on its own page covers trauma-informed practice. Disclosure runs deeper than most, 10 cohorts complete out of 11 published. Six or more completed cohorts is enough history to trust the pattern rather than the latest year.
Cohort by cohort
Cohort Admitted Graduated Placed Licensed 2025-2026 18 in process in process in process 2024-2025 20 89% in process in process 2023-2024 24 79.4% 100% 94% 2022-2023 16 100% 87% 81% 2021-2022 36 97.1% 100% 88.3% 2020-2021 17 82% 92% 92% Syracuse University program page Its published outcome table
Score breakdown
- Graduation rate (45%) 91.3%over 10 cohorts
- Job placement rate (35%) 97.1%over 9 cohorts
- Licensure rate (20%) 87.1%over 9 cohorts
228 students admitted since 2015
- #18
Abilene Christian University (MMFT)
Abilene, TX
92.5
outcome score
Campus-basedMaster's2 yearsAccredited since August 1, 19838 scored cohortsWhat Abilene Christian University publishes about its graduates, against the median for comparable programs - Finish on time89.7%typical is 91.2%
- Working in the field100%typical is 97.8%
- Reached licensure85.7%typical is 96.2%
From 8 completed cohorts the program published itself. The mark on each bar is the median for comparable programs.
Why it ranks here
Abilene Christian University teaches this one in Abilene, TX over 2 years. Individual years swing hard, though, from 67% in 2018-2019 to 100% in 2017-2018, so the average is doing some hiding. Taking the last cohort with complete figures, its 2022-2023 intake of 9: 89% finished on time, 100% found relevant work, 88% reached licensure. Graduates reaching a license has risen over the window, 81.3% to 92.3%. Intake has contracted, from about 17 a cohort early in the window to 11 now. Accreditation dates to 1983 and runs to its next review in 2031. Disclosure runs deeper than most, 8 cohorts complete out of 9 published. Six or more completed cohorts is enough history to trust the pattern rather than the latest year.
Cohort by cohort
Cohort Admitted Graduated Placed Licensed 2023-2024 13 in process in process in process 2022-2023 9 89% 100% 88% 2021-2022 10 100% 100% 90% 2020-2021 11 91% 100% 91% 2019-2020 14 86% 100% 100% 2018-2019 12 67% 100% 100% Abilene Christian University program page Its published outcome table
Score breakdown
- Graduation rate (45%) 89.7%over 8 cohorts
- Job placement rate (35%) 100%over 8 cohorts
- Licensure rate (20%) 85.7%over 8 cohorts
119 students admitted since 2015
- #19
University of Nebraska (MS)
Lincoln, NE
92.1
outcome score
Campus-basedMaster's8 scored cohortsWhat University of Nebraska publishes about its graduates, against the median for comparable programs - Finish on time85%typical is 91.2%
- Working in the field98.5%typical is 97.8%
- Reached licensure97%typical is 96.2%
From 8 completed cohorts the program published itself. The mark on each bar is the median for comparable programs.
Why it ranks here
The record here rests on cohorts of about 11 students. Taking the last cohort with complete figures, its 2023-2024 intake of 12: 91% finished on time, 100% found relevant work, 100% reached licensure. Direction of travel is the worry, falling from 88.5% in the earlier cohorts to 80% in the later ones. Curriculum runs to 49 credits. Next accreditation review falls in 2031. Disclosure runs deeper than most, 8 cohorts complete out of 10 published. Six or more completed cohorts is enough history to trust the pattern rather than the latest year.
Cohort by cohort
Cohort Admitted Graduated Placed Licensed 2025-2026 10 in process in process in process 2024-2025 12 in process in process in process 2023-2024 12 91% 100% 100% 2022-2023 8 71% 100% 100% 2021-2022 8 75% 100% 100% 2020-2021 6 83% 100% 100% University of Nebraska program page Its published outcome table
Score breakdown
- Graduation rate (45%) 85%over 8 cohorts
- Job placement rate (35%) 98.5%over 8 cohorts
- Licensure rate (20%) 97%over 8 cohorts
90 students admitted since 2015
- #20
Nova Southeastern University (MS)
Fort Lauderdale, FL
91.8
outcome score
Campus-basedMaster's2 yearsAccredited since July 1, 19978 scored cohortsWhat Nova Southeastern University publishes about its graduates, against the median for comparable programs - Finish on time85.1%typical is 91.2%
- Working in the field95.7%typical is 97.8%
- Reached licensure99.9%typical is 96.2%
From 8 completed cohorts the program published itself. The mark on each bar is the median for comparable programs.
Why it ranks here
Nova Southeastern University runs this degree from Fort Lauderdale, FL. Taking the last cohort with complete figures, its 2022-2023 intake of 41: 95% finished on time, 97% found relevant work. Performance has barely moved in 8 years, 84.5% across the earlier cohorts and 87% across the later ones. Few programs here run at its scale, 487 students across the scored cohorts against a median of 119. Curriculum runs to 60 credits. Coursework named on its own page covers solution-focused therapy and medical family therapy. Accreditation dates to 1997 and runs to its next review in 2029. Disclosure runs deeper than most, 8 cohorts complete out of 10 published. Six or more completed cohorts is enough history to trust the pattern rather than the latest year.
Cohort by cohort
Cohort Admitted Graduated Placed Licensed 2023-2024 53 in process in process in process 2023-2024 40 in process in process in process 2022-2023 41 95% 97% in process 2021-2022 35 86% 100% in process 2020-2021 44 84% 100% 99% 2019-2020 47 83% 95% 100% Nova Southeastern University program page Its published outcome table
Score breakdown
- Graduation rate (45%) 85.1%over 8 cohorts
- Job placement rate (35%) 95.7%over 8 cohorts
- Licensure rate (20%) 99.9%over 6 cohorts
487 students admitted since 2015
- #21
Chapman University (MA)
Orange, CA
91.1
outcome score
Campus-basedMaster's8 scored cohortsWhat Chapman University publishes about its graduates, against the median for comparable programs - Finish on time86.9%typical is 91.2%
- Working in the field93.2%typical is 97.8%
- Reached licensure96.9%typical is 96.2%
From 8 completed cohorts the program published itself. The mark on each bar is the median for comparable programs.
Why it ranks here
The record here rests on cohorts of about 28 students. Individual years swing hard, though, from 79% in 2015-2016 to 96% in 2020-2021, so the average is doing some hiding. Taking the last cohort with complete figures, its 2022-2023 intake of 28: 86% finished on time. Graduates reaching a license has risen over the window, 92% to 100%. Few programs here run at its scale, 261 students across the scored cohorts against a median of 119. Several cohorts are still running, 2 of them, the most recent entering in 2024-2025. Next accreditation review falls in 2027. Six or more completed cohorts is enough history to trust the pattern rather than the latest year.
Cohort by cohort
Cohort Admitted Graduated Placed Licensed 2024-2025 28 in process in process in process 2023-2024 27 in process in process in process 2022-2023 28 86% in process in process 2021-2022 24 96% 100% 100% 2020-2021 28 96% 100% 100% 2019-2020 30 83% 83% 100% Score breakdown
- Graduation rate (45%) 86.9%over 8 cohorts
- Job placement rate (35%) 93.2%over 7 cohorts
- Licensure rate (20%) 96.9%over 7 cohorts
261 students admitted since 2015
- #22
Kansas State University (MS)
Manhattan, KS
90.9
outcome score
Campus-basedMaster's2.5 yearsAccredited since January 1, 19839 scored cohortsWhat Kansas State University publishes about its graduates, against the median for comparable programs - Finish on time86.1%typical is 91.2%
- Working in the field95%typical is 97.8%
- Reached licensure94.3%typical is 96.2%
From 9 completed cohorts the program published itself. The mark on each bar is the median for comparable programs.
Why it ranks here
Kansas State University teaches this one in Manhattan, KS over 2.5 years. Performance has barely moved in 9 years, 86.3% across the earlier cohorts and 86% across the later ones. Individual years swing hard, though, from 56% in 2016-2017 to 100% in 2015-2016, so the average is doing some hiding. At 2.5 years it asks longer than most here, where the median is 2 years. Applicants are told the GRE is not required. Disclosure runs deeper than most, 9 cohorts complete out of 10 published. Six or more completed cohorts is enough history to trust the pattern rather than the latest year.
Cohort by cohort
Cohort Admitted Graduated Placed Licensed 2024-2025 13 in process in process in process 2023-2024 15 73% 80% in process 2022-2023 14 93% 100% in process 2021-2022 14 86% 100% 86% 2020-2021 12 92% 100% 91% 2019-2020 9 89% 100% 100% Kansas State University program page Its published outcome table
Score breakdown
- Graduation rate (45%) 86.1%over 9 cohorts
- Job placement rate (35%) 95%over 9 cohorts
- Licensure rate (20%) 94.3%over 7 cohorts
113 students admitted since 2015
- #23
Central Connecticut State University (MS)
New Britain, CT
90.5
outcome score
Campus-basedMaster's3 years7 scored cohortsWhat Central Connecticut State University publishes about its graduates, against the median for comparable programs - Finish on time84.8%typical is 91.2%
- Working in the field97.6%typical is 97.8%
- Reached licensure90.7%typical is 96.2%
From 7 completed cohorts the program published itself. The mark on each bar is the median for comparable programs.
Why it ranks here
The program teaches this one in New Britain, CT over 3 years. Direction of travel is the worry, falling from 87.8% in the earlier cohorts to 78.7% in the later ones. Individual years swing hard, though, from 73.3% in 2021-2022 to 89.6% in 2016-2017, so the average is doing some hiding. Placement has softened, from 100% in the earlier cohorts to 88.8% in the later ones. Intake has contracted, from about 42 a cohort early in the window to 13 now. Teaching is scheduled in the evenings, which matters if you are keeping a job. Disclosure runs deeper than most, 7 cohorts complete out of 9 published. Several cohorts are still running, 2 of them, the most recent entering in 2023-2024. Its licensure rate, 90.7% against 96.2% across the field, is the number to put to the program directly.
Cohort by cohort
Cohort Admitted Graduated Placed Licensed 2023-2024 15 in process in process in process 2022-2023 9 in process in process in process 2021-2022 15 73.3% 70% 81.8% 2020-2021 21 76.2% 100% 93.8% 2019-2020 37 86.5% 96.4% 96.9% 2018-2019 45 82.2% 100% 94.6% Central Connecticut State University program page Its published outcome table
Score breakdown
- Graduation rate (45%) 84.8%over 7 cohorts
- Job placement rate (35%) 97.6%over 7 cohorts
- Licensure rate (20%) 90.7%over 7 cohorts
268 students admitted since 2015
- #24
University of Oregon (MS)
Eugene, OR
90.5
outcome score
Campus-basedMaster's8 scored cohortsWhat University of Oregon publishes about its graduates, against the median for comparable programs - Finish on time92.4%typical is 91.2%
- Working in the field94.2%typical is 97.8%
- Reached licensure79.9%typical is 96.2%
From 8 completed cohorts the program published itself. The mark on each bar is the median for comparable programs.
Why it ranks here
University of Oregon runs this degree from Eugene, OR. Individual years swing hard, though, from 82% in 2018-2019 to 100% in 2015-2016, so the average is doing some hiding. Taking the last cohort with complete figures, its 2022-2023 intake of 18: 94% finished on time, 94% found relevant work, 82% reached licensure. Performance has barely moved in 8 years, 91% across the earlier cohorts and 94.8% across the later ones. Clinical hours run through a training clinic the program runs itself, which is the difference between being placed and finding your own site. Next accreditation review falls in 2027. Disclosure runs deeper than most, 8 cohorts complete out of 10 published. Six or more completed cohorts is enough history to trust the pattern rather than the latest year.
Cohort by cohort
Cohort Admitted Graduated Placed Licensed 2024-2025 17 in process in process in process 2023-2024 14 in process in process in process 2022-2023 18 94% 94% 82% 2021-2022 16 94% 93% 80% 2020-2021 16 100% 94% 75% 2019-2020 22 91% 91% 77% University of Oregon program page Its published outcome table
Score breakdown
- Graduation rate (45%) 92.4%over 8 cohorts
- Job placement rate (35%) 94.2%over 8 cohorts
- Licensure rate (20%) 79.9%over 8 cohorts
192 students admitted since 2015
- #25
Converse University (MMFT)
Spartanburg, SC
90.5
outcome score
Campus-basedMaster's2 YearsAccredited since 7/1/20059 scored cohortsWhat Converse University publishes about its graduates, against the median for comparable programs - Finish on time90.8%typical is 91.2%
- Working in the field97.5%typical is 97.8%
- Reached licensure77.6%typical is 96.2%
From 9 completed cohorts the program published itself. The mark on each bar is the median for comparable programs.
Why it ranks here
Accredited since 2005, taught on campus over 2 years. Taking the last cohort with complete figures, its 2023-2024 intake of 12: 75% finished on time, 100% found relevant work, 50% reached licensure. Graduates reaching a license has fallen over the window, 84.3% to 64.1%, which is worth a question. Performance has barely moved in 9 years, 88.6% across the earlier cohorts and 91.3% across the later ones. Next accreditation review falls in 2032. Disclosure runs deeper than most, 9 cohorts complete out of 10 published. Six or more completed cohorts is enough history to trust the pattern rather than the latest year.
Cohort by cohort
Cohort Admitted Graduated Placed Licensed 2024-2025 15 in process in process in process 2023-2024 12 75% 100% 50% 2022-2023 10 90% 100% 75% 2021-2022 10 100% 100% 50% 2020-2021 16 100% 100% 81.3% 2019-2020 15 100% 100% 86.7% Converse University program page Its published outcome table
Score breakdown
- Graduation rate (45%) 90.8%over 9 cohorts
- Job placement rate (35%) 97.5%over 9 cohorts
- Licensure rate (20%) 77.6%over 9 cohorts
145 students admitted since 2015
What does a master's MFT program cover?
A master's MFT program covers systemic and relational theory, human development across the lifespan, assessment and diagnosis, ethics and law, research methods, and a long supervised clinical practicum. The distinguishing content is the systemic part: you are trained to treat the pattern between people rather than the symptom inside one of them.
That is not a slogan, it changes the clinical work. Where an individually trained clinician might treat one partner's anxiety, a systemically trained one asks what the anxiety is doing in the relationship and what the relationship is doing to the anxiety. Both approaches help people. They are genuinely different crafts, and the coursework in an accredited MFT program is built around the second.
How long does a master's MFT program take?
A master's MFT program takes two to three years of full-time study, and the programs ranked above publish their own advertised length on each card. Part-time routes commonly run three to four. The number that matters more is the one nobody advertises: after you graduate, you still owe your state board a period of supervised clinical hours, usually about two further years, before you hold a full license.
Plan for that stretch financially. You are working during it, as a pre-licensed associate, but frequently at associate pay, and it is the part of the path people most often discover late. A program that is candid about it in the admissions interview is telling you something good about itself.
What practicum and relational hours does an MFT program require?
An MFT program requires several hundred hours of supervised direct client contact in practicum, and additionally requires a defined share of those to be relational, meaning more than one member of a couple or family physically in the room. That relational requirement is specific to this license and it is the reason MFT clinical placements are harder to arrange than individual-therapy ones.
Ask any program three questions about it. Does the program place you, or are you expected to find your own site? How many of its students hit the relational minimum without extending? And what happens if a placement falls through mid-year? The answers predict the graduation rate on the card above better than anything in the prospectus.
MS, MA or MMFT: does the MFT degree title matter?
Choose on the program, not the letters: for an MFT degree, MS, MA and MMFT are equivalent for licensure purposes and state boards do not rank them. Among the accredited master's programs ranked here the split runs 25MS, 25MA, 4MMFT and 2MFT, which reflects institutional naming conventions rather than any difference in what graduates may do.
What does differ, and what is worth comparing, is the practicum model, whether the program places you or leaves you to find a site, the cost per credit, and whether the curriculum satisfies your state's coursework rules on its own. Those four decide your experience. The initials on the diploma do not.
Will an MFT program let you get licensed in your state?
An MFT program will let you get licensed in your state when two things hold: its accreditation satisfies that state's board, and its coursework does too. A COAMFTE-accredited MFT program clears the degree requirement everywhere. It does not by itself clear every state's coursework and hour rules, which vary. The accreditation removes the individual degree review that unaccredited routes trigger. It does not remove the state's own list.
Before you enroll, take the program's curriculum sheet to the licensing board of the state where you intend to practice and check it line by line, especially if that state is not where the program is. Many programs publish a state-by-state disclosure of where their curriculum has been determined to meet requirements. Ask for it. Licensure does not automatically transfer between states either, so the state you want to end up in matters more than the state you study in.
What do you earn after a master's in marriage and family therapy?
After a master's in marriage and family therapy you earn a median of $66,940 a year as a marriage and family therapist, with the bottom tenth under $44,650 and the top tenth over $123,730, on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics figures for May 2025.
Many graduates spend their pre-licensed years employed under a broader behavioral health job title, where the median is $59,350. That is worth knowing when you compare a first-job offer against the headline MFT figure: early roles often sit closer to the lower number, and the gap closes as licensure and caseload arrive.
How were the best master's MFT programs chosen?
The best master's MFT programs here were chosen on the same three published outcomes used across every ranking on this site, weighted 45% graduation rate, 35% job placement rate and 20% licensure rate, and restricted here to programs COAMFTE lists at master's level.
A program must have 3 completed cohorts and 12 students since 2015 to be ranked at all, which is why 39 accredited master's programs do not appear. Where a program publishes no licensure rate, its score is renormalized over the components it does publish. Full weights sit on the methodology page.
What this ranking of the best MFT programs leaves out
This ranking of the best MFT programs does not tell you tuition, cohort culture, faculty specialties, or whether a program will place you within driving distance of home. For a degree with a mandatory in-person clinical component, that last one is often the deciding factor, and it is personal rather than rankable.
It also says nothing about the newest programs. A master's accredited in the last three years has not yet graduated enough cohorts to publish a record, and its absence here is a statement about elapsed time, not quality.
Common questions about master's MFT programs
Is a master's degree enough to practice as a marriage and family therapist?
How many clinical hours does a master's in MFT require?
Does it matter whether the degree is an MS, an MA or an MMFT?
Can you do a master's in marriage and family therapy online?
What graduation rate should a master's MFT program have?
Sources
These are the sources behind every figure on this page, each also linked inline where it is used.
- COAMFTE Directory of Accredited Programs Which programs are accredited at master's level, and their delivery mode, city and accreditation status. Read 2026-08-21
- Each program's Graduate Achievement Data table Every graduation, job placement and licensure figure quoted here, by cohort, linked from the program's card. Read 2026-08-21
- Each program's own page
For what a program says about its own curriculum, schedule, concentrations and
cost. 25 of the 25 programs here publish one at the address COAMFTE holds for them. Read 2026-08-21
Show all 25 program pages cited
University of South Florida (MS) University of New Hampshire (MS) Converse University - University Center of Greenville Saint Louis University (MA) Drexel University (MFT) Utah Valley University (MA) East Carolina University (MS) Utah State University (MS) University of Louisiana at Monroe (MA) Seattle Pacific University (MS) Southern Connecticut State University (MFT) Ohio State University (MS) Pacific Lutheran University (MA) University of Rochester (MS) Colorado State University (MS) University of Maryland (MS) Syracuse University (MA) Abilene Christian University (MMFT) University of Nebraska (MS) Nova Southeastern University (MS) Chapman University (MA) Kansas State University (MS) Central Connecticut State University (MS) University of Oregon (MS) Converse University (MMFT)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Every wage figure, for Marriage and Family Therapists (SOC 21-1013) and Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors (SOC 21-1018). Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 national release