5 Top MFT Programs in the Bay Area
The Bay Area offers some of the best MFT programs available, and your timing couldn’t be better. Mental health services and professionals have seen a dramatic rise in demand over the last decade.
Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) continues to grow faster as more people seek it as part of their detailed psychological treatment. The Bay Area presents several excellent MFT programs throughout San Francisco and nearby cities for anyone thinking about this rewarding career path. On top of that, working professionals can find many part-time MFT programs that are available across the Bay Area.
Quality accreditation is a vital component that will give a solid foundation to your education. These programs typically embrace a family systems viewpoint and blend human development, multicultural diversity, ethics, and professional standards into their main curriculum. Students can also take advantage of evening and weekend classes that fit their packed schedules.
This guide will direct you through the top five MFT programs in the Bay Area. You’ll find everything from CACREP-accredited options to programs with specialized tracks like chemical dependency certification.
San Francisco State University
San Francisco State University is has one of the top MFT programs in the Bay Area. The university has a rich history and takes a complete approach to marriage and family therapy education. This 71-year-old program has grown to meet mental health care’s changing needs.
Program overview
The Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling (MFCC) specialization sits within the Department of Counseling and offers a Master of Science degree that creates skilled therapists. The program has accreditation from the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), which guarantees high-quality education standards. The program aims to train counselor leaders who understand that community liberation needs an intersectional, participatory counseling approach.
MFCC program teaches therapists to employ a developmentally informed systemic-familial-relational orientation. While this specialty centers on couples and families, graduates can provide assessment, diagnosis, and intervention to people of all ages with a systemic view. The program studies behavior in social and relational contexts and understands normative family life stage adjustment processes.
Curriculum and specializations
SFSU’s curriculum provides theoretical and applied training based on psychodynamic, family systems, multicultural, and community psychology views. Students get specialized education beyond core counseling generalist training in:
- Multicultural and social justice approaches to couple and family systems
- Child, adolescent, and school-based therapy techniques
- Advanced theory and skills in systemic-familial counseling across developmental stages
- Human sexuality education relevant to therapeutic practice
The program combines academic coursework with extensive practical experience. First-year students split their clinical practice between community-based placements and the university’s Psychology Clinic. They receive weekly individual supervision from faculty members and additional supervision from adjunct faculty. Second-year students work in internships at external sites and continue getting regular supervision from site professionals.
The program’s impressive 8:1 student-to-faculty ratio gives personalized attention, which becomes valuable during supervised clinical experiences. The faculty brings diverse clinical and research specializations, including trauma, serious mental illness, relationships, community mental health, and work with LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC communities.
Tuition and financial aid
SF State ranks as California’s second most affordable college, making graduate education available to many. Tuition fees for full-time enrollment (6.1 or more units) currently stand at $4,487 per semester for post-baccalaureate students pursuing a master’s degree. Part-time students (6.0 units or less) pay $3,091 per semester. These costs don’t include program fees or non-resident tuition.
Students can get financial support through:
- State University Grants (SUG) for California residents
- Federal student loans through FAFSA (file by March 2 for maximum grant funding)
- California Dream Act Application for eligible undocumented students
- Over 700 campus and external scholarship opportunities
Graduate Assistant (GA) and Graduate Teaching Associate (GTA) positions are available for eligible students. These roles provide valuable experience and financial support but limit work to 20 hours weekly so students can focus on academics.
Format and flexibility
SFSU’s MFCC program follows a structured full-time format that takes two consecutive years to complete. The program doesn’t offer part-time options due to its intensive nature. Students must commit fully to handle rigorous coursework and significant clinical training requirements.
Students can work part-time during their studies, but their schedule must stay flexible for program requirements. The mix of coursework, supervised clinical practice, and internship placements creates a demanding schedule that needs careful time management.
First-year students start hands-on mental health field practice right away. They begin training in two different mental health practica during the program’s first month. This early immersion gives valuable practical experience but requires significant time commitment from the start.
San Francisco State University licensure preparation
The program excels at preparing students for professional licensure. The MFCC curriculum meets all educational requirements for Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) licensure in California as described by the Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS). This covers academic coursework and pre-master’s supervised clinical hours.
Graduates can register as Associate MFTs to complete their post-degree hours for licensure. Most graduates take 1-3 years to fulfill the post-master’s supervised hours requirement before getting full licensure. Students must complete two additional requirements: Child Abuse Reporting and Human Sexuality requirements through weekend education seminars offered by various institutions.
Graduates build successful careers in mental health agencies, hospitals, private practice, crisis and trauma centers, and educational institutions.
Unique features
SFSU’s MFCC program stands out through several key features:
- Immediate practical experience – Clinical training begins within the first month, giving early exposure to real-life practice.
- Diverse training environments – Clinical experiences cover an on-site mental health clinic, residential treatment programs for children and families, and community-based organizations serving Bay Area communities.
- Cultural competence emphasis – The program shows strong dedication to training culturally diverse and sensitive therapists. The curriculum addresses cultural, social, and racial diversity, antiracism, and affirmative and trauma-informed clinical practices.
- Optional research opportunities – Research-minded students can join faculty research labs to complement their clinical training.
- Strong faculty engagement – The small student-to-faculty ratio enables close mentorship from licensed clinical faculty throughout the program.
These unique elements, plus the program’s theoretical depth and practical focus, make San Francisco State University an excellent choice for future marriage and family therapists who want complete preparation in a supportive academic setting.
University of San Francisco
The University of San Francisco stands out among MFT programs in the Bay Area with its community-focused approach and multiple campus locations. Their Marriage and Family Therapy program equips students to become socially and culturally responsive therapists who serve diverse populations.
Program overview
Students earn a Master’s in Counseling Psychology with a concentration in Marriage and Family Therapy through a 60-credit program that prepares them for professional practice. Graduates become eligible for Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) licensure. The program lets students boost their career options with extra fieldwork that leads to Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) licensure.
The program’s core values shape its curriculum and approach. These values include:
- Expanding traditional notions of family
- Recognizing diversity in relationships and identity
- Using inclusive language in instruction
- Varying student body and teaching faculty
- Working from a strengths-based view
- Meeting community needs through professional trends
USF’s program becomes available to more people through its multiple locations. Students can study at the main San Francisco campus or at satellite campuses in Sacramento, Santa Rosa, South Bay, or East Bay. This network makes quality education available to students whatever their location in the Bay Area.
Curriculum and specializations
USF combines classroom learning with hands-on experience through community mental health fieldwork. Small class sizes and cohort-based learning promote strong professional bonds between students and faculty.
The MFT education at USF features:
- Community mental health coursework with direct service opportunities
- Recovery and wellness approaches to client care
- Training to serve diverse cultures and communities
- Evidence-based practices that build on client strengths
- Supportive cohort learning for networking
- Individual attention through small classes
- Detailed clinical fieldwork placement and supervision
Students dive deep into theory, counseling techniques, skill development, and trauma and crisis counseling. Practicing mental health clinicians teach many courses, bringing ground expertise to the classroom.
The final year includes a traineeship with Bay Area community-based and school-based partners. Students gain valuable industry connections and internship opportunities. This hands-on experience helps develop practical therapy skills.
Tuition and financial aid
A USF education needs careful financial planning. The program costs approximately $75,000, with each unit priced at $1,695 in 2025. Graduate students should understand both direct and indirect costs:
Direct costs include:
- Tuition (based on $1,695 per unit)
- Student fees ($80 annually)
- Health insurance ($4,168 annually if not waived)
Indirect costs include:
- Housing ($14,490 off-campus or $16,018 on-campus)
- Food ($3,705 off-campus or $5,985 on-campus)
- Books and supplies ($1,089)
- Transportation ($1,251-$3,292 depending on living situation)
- Personal expenses ($3,195-$4,400)
The total cost ranges from $61,666 to $62,228 yearly based on housing choices.
Good news – 65% of USF graduate students receive financial aid. The School of Education offers several funding options:
- Automatic scholarship review for accepted students, covering three to six credits of first-year tuition
- Social Justice Scholarship for students dedicated to equity in schools and communities
- Graduate Assistantships with faculty mentors
- Conference Presentation Stipends for professional development
- Special fellowships for international students, particularly from Africa
- Support for undocumented and DACAmented students
Students should complete the FAFSA or California Dream Act application to maximize their aid options.
Program format and flexibility
USF knows many graduate students work while studying. The program offers two formats:
2-Year Intensive Format (San Francisco campus only):
- 7-semester accelerated program
- Perfect for psychology or mental health background students
- Not suitable with full-time work, especially in year two
- Best for those with psychology or related experience
3-Year Format (Available at all campuses):
- 8-semester balanced program
- Great for students without psychology backgrounds
- Works well with full-time employment
- Offers a steady pace
This makes USF one of the most available part time MFT program choices for working professionals.
Classes fit various schedules. San Francisco campus holds weekday classes in late afternoon (3:45-6:15 p.m.) and evening (7:20-9:50 p.m.) plus some Saturdays. Regional campuses offer late afternoon and evening classes (4-10 p.m.) once weekly, with occasional Saturdays.
Students progress through the program with the same peer group. Classes run year-round through fall, spring, and summer semesters, keeping the momentum steady.
Summer sessions pack more content into less time. Instead of 15-week meetings, summer courses last eight weeks with longer classes. This helps students advance while managing summer plans.
Santa Clara University
Santa Clara University’s Bay Area MFT program brings the unique Jesuit tradition to life. The programs focus on social justice, multiculturalism, and diversity throughout Marriage and Family Therapy education. Students learn in Silicon Valley’s heart, where SCU gives future therapists detailed training. The program balances theory and hands-on experience in a supportive environment.
Program overview
SCU’s Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology is a robust 90-quarter unit program that prepares students for Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) or Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) licensure. Full-time students typically complete the program in three years. Part-time options help students with different scheduling needs. Campus-based classes let students build meaningful relationships with faculty and peers.
SCU stands out by letting students start their journey in any quarter – fall, winter, spring, or summer. This makes the program more accessible than other MFT programs in San Francisco that only open admissions once or twice yearly.
Students can choose from four tracks that match their career goals:
- MFT Track: Qualifies students for the MFT license exam after completing California’s coursework, practicum, and clinical hours
- LPCC Track: Gets students ready for the LPCC license exam with a focus on individual adult clients
- Combined MFT/LPCC Track: Lets students qualify for both licenses within 90 units
- No Track: Gives extensive training without licensure, perfect for those wanting more than the 52.5-unit M.A. in Counseling
The main difference between MFT and LPCC paths lies in clinical hours. MFT students can complete much of their 3,000 training hours before graduation. LPCC students must finish all 3,000 hours after graduating.
Curriculum and specializations
The program’s heart beats with detailed psychotherapy training and specialized family systems knowledge. Students can pick from five emphasis areas, much like academic minors:
- Correctional Psychology: Teaches students to work with youth and adults in correctional institutions, law enforcement, and rehabilitation
- Health Psychology: Explores psychology’s role in health, disease, and prevention
- Latinx Counseling: Develops skills for counseling Latinx populations, addressing culture, ethnicity, and acculturation
- LGBTQ Counseling: Covers gender, sexual identity diversity, and discrimination issues
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health: Builds expertise in supporting young people through proven approaches
Students who skip these emphases can take various electives to broaden their expertise. The program mixes theory and practice to prepare students for work with diverse clients.
Practicum experience puts learning into action. Students use their therapeutic skills in real clinical settings with professional guidance. MFT track students need 225 hours of face-to-face counseling with individuals, families, or groups. They can use up to 75 hours for client advocacy. LPCC track students must log 280 face-to-face clinical hours. Both tracks require 550 total site hours for the academic year.
Tuition and financial aid
Graduate education costs need careful planning. SCU’s 2025-2026 CPED programs cost $28,260 for 12 units. The full 90-unit program runs about $94,200, not counting housing, books, and living costs.
Graduate students’ total costs break down as:
Direct Costs:
- Tuition (12 units): $28,260
Indirect Costs:
- Housing and food: $22,752
- Books and supplies: $1,089
- Transportation: $1,989
- Personal/miscellaneous: $5,067
- Loan fees: $636
The yearly total comes to $59,793. Most students need financial help to manage these costs.
SCU offers over $2 million in scholarships and support. Students don’t need a FAFSA for SCU scholarships – the online admissions application takes care of that.
Available counseling psychology scholarships include:
- Kenneth Blaker Endowed Scholarship Fund: Helps counseling psychology students who need financial support
- Molina Bernadett Latino Counseling Scholarship: Supports Latino Counseling emphasis students
- The Pride Scholarship: Backs LGBTQ+ Counseling emphasis students
- Bernice Lynch Bajada Endowed Scholarship: Assists Marriage and Family Counseling students
- Jill Lillie Endowed Scholarship: Supports kind and compassionate students with financial needs
- Tone Yao Lee Counseling Psychology Scholarship Fund: Helps licensure-track students who want to serve young people
Students can also get federal aid through FAFSA or the California Dream Act application.
Licensure preparation
The program gets students ready for California licensure requirements. Both MFT and LPCC tracks meet all California Board of Behavioral Sciences educational standards.
Practicum gives students essential training in:
- Assessment, diagnosis, and prognosis
- Treatment planning and interventions
- Documentation and professional writing
- Individual, couple, family, and child therapy
- Crisis intervention and suicide assessment
- Case management and community resourcing
- Telehealth service delivery models
Students get both individual and group supervision. They need one hour of individual or triadic supervision and two hours of group clinical supervision weekly. This layered approach builds crucial clinical qualities like integrity, sensitivity, flexibility, insight, and compassion.
Graduates can register as Associate MFTs or LPCCs to gather post-degree supervised hours for full licensure. SCU’s practical training helps graduates land jobs in community agencies, private practices, schools, and healthcare organizations across the Bay Area.
Palo Alto University
Palo Alto University stands out among Bay Area MFT options with its flexible online and hybrid learning formats. Quality education is available to students whatever their location. PAU creates counselors who practice ethically in global contexts, with a strong focus on diversity, social justice, and clinical excellence.
Program overview
PAU’s Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program equips students to provide professional counseling services to clients of all types. The program fully accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) will give a solid foundation for licensure.
Students can choose between residential hybrid and distance learning formats. The distance learning option lets you complete all coursework while arranging practicum and internship placements in your local community. This makes PAU a great choice if you have busy schedules and geographic limitations and are looking for part time MFT programs.
PAU’s counseling program shows a deep commitment to diversity. The school promotes a diverse student body and supports every student’s aspirations. Critical debate about important ideas happens in an atmosphere of respect, which forms the core of academic enterprise. The faculty and staff value human variability and respect differences—especially when you have counselors and therapists.
Curriculum and specializations
Students must complete at least 94.5 quarter units of study. The program requires a minimum of 100 hours of practicum experience and two 300-hour internships. This complete clinical training creates graduates ready for professional practice.
San Francisco students can benefit from PAU’s Marriage, Family, Child Counseling (MFCC) emphasis. This specialization meets California’s requirements for Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) licensure or dual MFT/LPCC licensure. The dual license option provides great value to students who plan to practice in California but want flexibility for relocation.
The program offers two main emphasis options:
- Marriage, Family and Child emphasis: Meets requirements for LMFT or dual MFT/LPCC licensure—perfect for students who want to practice as MFTs in California
- Clinical Mental Health emphasis: Meets requirements for Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) licensure in most U.S. states and territories
Distance learning students must attend two residential training experiences on campus. These in-person residencies provide intensive hands-on learning and training with peers and faculty to develop counseling and clinical skills.
Students can join the program’s chapter of Chi Sigma Iota—the International Academic and Professional Honor Society for counseling—after completing nine units with a minimum 3.5 GPA.
Tuition and financial aid
The MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program requires substantial investment. First-year tuition and fees cost approximately $33,801 for four quarters (including summer). Annual costs reach $99,746 when you add housing, transportation, books, and personal expenses.
Second-year tuition drops to about $25,056 for four quarters, with total annual costs estimated at $69,987. Students pay for all required residency costs, including travel, accommodations, and food.
PAU provides various financial aid options to help with expenses. More than 70% of PAU students receive some form of financial aid. Available aid options include:
- Federal Pell Grants (up to $7,395 for 2023-2024)
- Cal Grants (between $9,358 and $10,868 for 2023-2024)
- Federal Work-Study opportunities
- Various scholarships based on merit, program-specific criteria, or financial need
The school reviews admitted students automatically for scholarships. You only need to complete the FAFSA or CA Dream Act application. International students receive equal consideration for scholarship awards based on academic merit and financial need.
California State University – East Bay
California State University – East Bay rounds out our top MFT program choices in the Bay Area with its unique cohort-based learning approach. The university’s Hayward campus offers a 72-unit master’s program that prepares students to become successful marriage and family therapists.
Program overview
Students can complete their Master of Science in Counseling with Marriage and Family Therapy option in about five semesters. The program readies students to work in clinical settings of all types and promotes social justice values. Students learn a relational counseling approach that highlights multicultural diversity, shared treatment, wellness, and recovery. The curriculum aligns with California Board of Behavioral Sciences’ MFT licensure requirements.
Curriculum and specializations
The faculty brings rich experience in marriage and family therapy theories and practices. Students learn strength-based interventions, social-emotional and cognitive behavioral techniques, modern approaches, and multicultural counseling. The program covers group therapy, couples therapy, brief therapy, child therapy, and consultation. Students develop skills to help clients with daily challenges and serious conditions. The program blends coursework with hands-on training to create skilled therapists who work from a relational viewpoint.
Tuition and financial aid
California residents pay about $9,607 yearly for full-time graduate studies. Total yearly costs range from $28,279 for students living at home to $38,685 for off-campus housing. Non-resident students pay extra per-unit fees. Students can access federal loans, grants, and work-study programs. More than 72% of CSU East Bay students receive financial support.
Format and flexibility
Students move through the program as a cohort, starting and graduating together. This setup creates a supportive learning environment. Classes run during days, evenings, and some weekends. The program runs full-time but offers flexible schedules to meet student needs.
Licensure preparation
Clinical work begins in the second year. Students can find placement sites throughout the Bay Area. The program requires 150 hours of clinical experience. Graduates can apply for an MFT Intern License with the California Board of Behavioral Science. Full licensure needs 3,000 hours of supervised experience and passing required exams.
Choose Your Bay Area MFT Program Today
Your future career as a marriage and family therapist starts with picking the right MFT program. The Bay Area is an amazing place to get your education. You’ll find several programs here that match different career goals and needs.
These programs each bring something special to the table. San Francisco State University gives you an affordable CACREP-accredited education and lets you start clinical work right away. University of San Francisco has multiple locations and flexible formats that work well if you have a job. Santa Clara University lets you focus on specific areas while preparing you for licensure. Palo Alto University shines with its online and hybrid options. CSU East Bay teaches multicultural counseling through a supportive group-based approach.
The cost between schools is different by a lot. Public universities like CSU East Bay charge around $9,000 yearly, while private schools can cost more than $30,000 per year. Financial aid is available at every school, so you can get your education whatever your money situation looks like.
Each school handles scheduling differently. Some want you to study full-time, while others let you take classes part-time so you can keep working. Look at how each program’s schedule fits your life before you decide.
Your choice should match your career plans, how you like to learn, your budget, and your schedule. All five programs will get you ready for California MFT licensure, but they each take their own path to get you there. Visit the campuses, talk to teachers and students, and research each program to find your best fit.
Starting your path to become a licensed marriage and family therapist begins with the right education foundation. Now that you know about the top MFT programs in the Bay Area, you can take your next step toward a career that helps people, couples, and families direct their way through life’s challenges.