6 Best California DMFT Programs
Ready to pursue a doctorate in marriage and family therapy? The field offers remarkable career opportunities and a chance to make a real difference. Mental health clinicians will see their job market grow by 23% in the next five years. Marriage and family therapists specifically can expect 16% more jobs over the next decade, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
California stands out with some of the nation’s most prestigious marriage and family therapy doctoral programs. These programs teach you to tackle mental health disparities at both family and community levels. A doctorate in MFT can boost your earning potential by a lot – marriage and family therapists earn a median annual salary of $63,780, while top performers make more than $104,710.
Students have many flexible options to choose from. Programs range from fully online COAMFTE-accredited degrees completed in 3 years to adaptable formats that let you finish in 54 months on your schedule. California’s DMFT programs also feature weekend immersives with practical consultations, role-plays, and engaging presentations to improve your learning experience.
Take a look at California’s 6 best DMFT programs to help chart your professional future.
Loma Linda University DMFT Program
Loma Linda University has the country’s only fully online Doctor of Marital and Family Therapy (DMFT) program with COAMFTE accreditation. This makes it the top choice for professionals who want to advance their credentials in this field.
Program Overview
The Loma Linda DMFT program takes a practical approach. Students learn to be practitioners, administrators, and program assessors with a focus on clinical practice and management skills. The program teaches students how to use evidence-based methods and systemic principles when they design and run marriage therapy programs.
Students can learn both in real-time and at their own pace. Real-time courses happen weekly in virtual classrooms, usually in the evening. These sessions include lectures and group discussions. Self-paced courses don’t need weekly meetings, but instructors guide students throughout each quarter.
This 78-unit doctorate takes at least three years of full-time study. Students must complete coursework, a doctoral project, and supervised professional development. The curriculum lets students explore original marriage therapy concepts and recent developments like social constructionism, evidence-based practice, and global viewpoints.
Specializations Offered
Students learn to understand themselves better and see how their values, social position, and background affect their clinical work and program development. The program helps students build on their strengths while they develop their professional philosophy and ethical awareness.
The program teaches students to apply deep theoretical knowledge to therapy interventions at family, community, and social levels. Students use core marriage and family therapy concepts in their work.
Students can complete requirements to become AAMFT-approved supervisors before graduating, since this is a COAMFTE-accredited program. Students must submit their own applications to AAMFT.
Tuition and Financial Aid
The 2025-2026 academic year costs are:
- First year (9 months enrolled): $17,208
- Second year (12 months enrolled): $26,768
- Third year (12 months enrolled): $31,792
Students should plan for about $3,500 yearly for books and supplies. Living costs change based on housing choices. Annual expenses range from $7,290 to $27,540 depending on whether students live in dorms, LLU-owned rentals, with parents, or off-campus.
The DMFT program offers work-study positions and department-funded jobs in research, teaching, and administration. Work-study pay is available only to California residents. Students can get federal financial aid based on their qualifications. The School of Behavioral Health gives out yearly scholarships, and students can also try for the AAMFT minority fellowship.
Career Opportunities
The program’s graduates become experts in applied research and ethical leaders who help advance marriage and family therapy. They bring a multicultural viewpoint to their work.
Graduates often work as:
- Program directors
- Grant proposal writers
- Program assessors
- Advanced clinicians
- Clinical supervisors
- University faculty members and adjunct professors
Graduates can help address mental health issues at both family and community levels. Their advanced training makes them ethical leaders who can improve the MFT profession in many ways.
The program helps students develop a professional identity that matches national and COAMFTE standards. They become skilled in systems/relational practice and excel as therapists, program developers, assessors, and administrators.
National University DMFT Program
National University’s Doctorate of Marriage and Family Therapy (DMFT) program gives working professionals a flexible path to advanced credentials. The program shines through its easy access and practical application of marriage and family therapy principles.
Program Overview
Students can complete their DMFT program at National University 100% online at their own pace. The program features weekly course start dates, and students can start their first course any Monday that works best for them. This setup helps students manage their work life while pursuing their education.
The program requires 60 credit hours through 20 courses and takes about 48 months to finish. National’s faculty works closely with each student to provide personal mentorship throughout their educational trip. The university takes pride in staffing 100% doctoral faculty, so students learn from experts who hold the highest degrees in their fields.
Students develop their critical thinking, information literacy, and clinical expertise through the scholar-practitioner model. The program wants to create competent, ethical, and culturally aware marriage and family therapists who can envision client processes from a family systems viewpoint.
Specializations Offered
The DMFT program features six unique specializations:
- Child and Adolescent Therapy: Teaches therapists to work with young people using family therapy methods
- Couple Therapy: Explores therapeutic techniques for couples
- General Family Therapy: Lets students choose from various elective courses
- Systemic Administration and Entrepreneurship: Builds business and administrative skills
- Systemic Organizational Leadership: Focuses on non-clinical leadership roles
- Therapy with Military Families: Addresses military families’ specific needs
The General Family Therapy track lets students pick four courses (12 credit hours) from the Marriage and Family Therapy curriculum at the 8000 level. Students might also take School of Psychology courses with special approval.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Graduate tuition at National University costs $442 per quarter unit as of 2022. A standard 4.5 quarter unit course costs $1,989. Doctoral programs’ total cost ranges from $57,870 to $63,728. Students also pay a one-time $450 learning management fee.
Students can access scholarships, grants, and loans to help with educational costs. National University provides tuition scholarships and grants to students with financial needs. The university also offers tuition discounts through employer partnerships.
Students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each fiscal year to get financial aid. Students remain responsible for their balance whatever their federal funding status.
Career Opportunities
The DMFT program builds expertise in relational/systemic knowledge, professional ethics, and working with diverse populations. Students learn to create applied projects that impact their field measurably.
DMFT graduates qualify for roles as clinical service providers, clinician supervisors, administrators, and mental health practice managers. The program’s mix of theory and practice prepares graduates to succeed in many professional settings.
Keep in mind that completing the program doesn’t guarantee licensure. Each state has different requirements, so students should research their state’s specific requirements before starting practice.
Fuller Theological Seminary DMFT Program
Fuller Theological Seminary’s School of Psychology & Marriage and Family Therapy offers a distinctive Doctor of Marriage and Family Therapy (DMFT) degree that serves licensed mental health clinicians who want to deepen their expertise. The program distinguishes itself through its clinician-consultant model and combines faith with therapeutic practice.
Program Overview
The Fuller DMFT program combines online coursework with in-person weekend intensives to create a hybrid learning experience. The program started in Fall 2021 [link_1] and runs for two years. Licensed marriage and family therapists or mental health professionals with master’s degrees who work in clinical settings like private practice, community agencies, schools, hospitals, or universities can join this program.
Fuller’s approach centers on the clinician-consultant model, which recognizes that clinicians who specialize in couples and family treatment are uniquely qualified for consulting roles. Students receive four quarters of comprehensive clinical consultation from faculty members and participate in weekly live observation sessions covering various therapeutic modalities.
The program’s curriculum combines faith and family therapy with multicultural competence in both clinical and professional practice. Students participate in challenging experiential learning to build their clinical skills while they learn consulting capabilities they can use in churches, businesses, and other agencies. The program structure is unique – all courses except Practicum Consultation and Dissertation Instruction include one in-person weekend intensive, while the rest of the coursework happens online.
Specializations Offered
Fuller’s faculty members are experts in several specialized clinical frameworks:
- Emotionally Focused Therapy
- Restoration Therapy
- Experiential Therapy
- Socio-Emotional Relationship Therapy
Students get detailed consultation in these specialized areas and learn to apply these theories in their clinical practice. The program focuses on cultural humility and competence, giving students many chances to improve their cross-cultural skills in both psychotherapy and consultation.
The Fuller DMFT curriculum helps students develop and transform their clinical knowledge into practical interventions for diverse populations. Students complete either a clinically focused dissertation or a clinical project that shows how they can use research in clinical practice.
Tuition and Financial Aid
The program follows specific application deadlines:
- Early application opens: August 1
- Early application deadline: January 15 (application fee waived)
- Final application deadline: March 15 ($75 application fee)
Fuller’s estimated tuition for the 2025-2026 academic year is $23,664 [link_2]. Students can access various financial aid options through Fuller’s “Paying for Grad School” resources to help with costs. Available options include:
- Federal student loans (for US citizens/permanent residents)
- Work-study positions (for eligible students)
- Scholarships through Fuller’s Universal Scholarship Application
- Denominational or church support
Students must submit the FAFSA (school code G01200) to qualify for federal financial aid. International students cannot get federal loans or work-study aid but might qualify for institutional scholarships.
Career Opportunities
The program creates ethically competent leaders who can advance the marriage and family therapy profession. Students build professional and personal relationships that last beyond graduation through mentoring with faculty during online classes, consultation groups, and quarterly in-person intensives.
Graduates are ready to:
- Lead private clinical practices with advanced expertise
- Work as consultants for various organizations
- Use their skills in church settings and businesses
- Help individuals, couples, families, and communities
- Turn clinical expertise into practical interventions
- Add to the field through research-informed practice
The program shapes students into Christian clinician-consultants who focus on relational health at every level—from individual therapy to community service. This blend of faith, cultural competence, and advanced clinical training helps graduates make meaningful contributions to the field.
Touro University Worldwide DMFT Program
Touro University Worldwide offers a fully online Doctorate of Marriage and Family Therapy (DMFT) program. Licensed mental health clinicians with a master’s degree in MFT or related fields can strengthen their careers through this program. The curriculum helps clinical professionals advance to leadership positions in education, administration, supervision, and research.
Program Overview
The program requires 60 credit hours and builds advanced skills needed to excel in marriage and family therapy. Working professionals can balance their commitments while pursuing their doctorate thanks to the program’s flexible structure.
Students become innovative leaders in the ever-changing field of marriage and family therapy. The curriculum covers trauma and crisis intervention, advanced family therapy, grant writing, program development for families and communities, supervision methods, evaluation techniques, and research methodologies – both quantitative and qualitative.
Students complete their coursework at their own pace through the online format while receiving individual attention from faculty. The practical focus of the program lets graduates use their improved skills right away in their work settings.
Specializations Offered
Students can choose between two concentrations in the DMFT program:
- Organizational Systems in MFT: Graduates gain specialized skills for professional growth in organizations of all types, with focus on community leadership and educational roles.
- Supervision: This path creates qualified supervisors for new practitioners in the MFT field. Graduates can train future supervisors. The concentration meets professional standards and prepares graduates to guide upcoming therapists.
Tuition and Financial Aid
The program costs $700 per semester credit unit. Students need 60 credits to graduate, bringing the total program cost to about $42,000.
Touro provides several ways to help students manage their education costs. Many employers offer tuition support programs. Students should check with their HR departments about possible financial help. The university’s Tuition Assistance Counselors help students find aid programs they qualify for.
Students can access scholarships, employer tuition support, and federal financial aid based on their situation.
Career Opportunities
Marriage and family therapist jobs will grow by 17% over the next decade according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The median yearly salary is $63,780, while top earners make more than $104,710. These numbers show great potential for professionals with doctoral degrees.
The program prepares graduates for leadership roles such as:
- Agency Administrator
- Clinical Supervisor
- Private Practitioner
- Clinical Analyst
- Mental Health Educator
- Mental Health Researcher
- Leadership roles in mental health-related practices
Graduates can use their skills in many career paths. The education from Touro’s program helps graduates make valuable contributions to their profession while enjoying strong job prospects in this growing field.
Hope International University DMFT Program
Hope International University’s Doctor of Marriage and Family Therapy program creates skilled clinicians who can connect research to ground applications. The program combines academic excellence with practical experience in a supportive Christian setting.
Program Overview
Hope International University’s 120-unit doctoral program builds on their COAMFTE-accredited Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy program. Students work at community-based clinical training sites where they help diverse clients. This approach helps students develop both theoretical knowledge and practical skills.
The program focuses on four main goals:
- Understanding systemic theory and principles
- Meeting high standards of professionalism and ethical behavior
- Using effective therapeutic techniques for clients with different needs
- Doing research that benefits the field
Students who take 12-15 units each semester can finish the 120-unit track in about four years. Those who need just the final 60 units can graduate in about two years with summer terms included.
Specializations Offered
Students can choose from several internship specializations to advance their careers:
- Grant writing
- Clinical supervision
- Private practice or clinic management
- University teaching
Beyond coursework, students write a dissertation and complete an internship in their chosen specialty. Many DMFT students get their clinical training hours at the Hope Counseling Center right on campus. The program needs 500 hours of clinical training and 100 hours of professional development, including hours from the Master’s degree.
Hope International Career Opportunities
Mental health clinician jobs should grow by 23% over the next five years. The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects marriage and family therapist jobs to grow 17% from 2024-2034.
A doctorate in Marriage & Family Therapy from Hope International University opens more career paths than a Master’s degree. Graduates can work as:
- College professors
- Department directors
- Agency administrators
- University researchers
- Private practitioners
- Department of Mental Health professionals
Dr. Susan Hastings, the program director, says: “The DMFT Program offers a variety of ways for students to specialize within internships to learn new skills to take them into the next level of their career”. Graduates leave ready to make lasting contributions to marriage and family therapy.
Alliant International University DMFT Program
Alliant International University has California’s largest COAMFTE-accredited marriage and family therapy program. The university operates from five campus locations – Irvine, San Diego, Los Angeles, Sacramento, and San Francisco. Students seeking a doctorate in MFT will find exceptional accessibility throughout the region.
Program Overview
The PsyD in Marital and Family Therapy program teaches students to become scholar-practitioners. Students learn to assess, diagnose, and treat individuals and relationship systems effectively. The program runs at the Irvine, San Diego, Los Angeles, and Sacramento campuses with two options:
- A detailed 114-credit post-baccalaureate track that takes about five years
- A faster 69-credit post-master’s track designed for students with prior MFT education
Students learn major systemic theories through hands-on training. The program prepares them to work with individuals, couples, and families using a systemic viewpoint. The COAMFTE accreditation ensures students receive high-quality coursework that meets the field’s highest standards. Students can gain practical experience at excellent service centers like the Bay Area Psychological Service Center, San Diego MFT Consortium, and the Center for Innovation and Change.
Specializations Offered
The Chemical Dependency Specialization Track offers focused training for working with addiction in individuals, couples, and families. This CAADE-accredited specialization helps therapists develop one of their most important professional tools – understanding addiction treatment. Students learn to treat families using a systemic viewpoint, with special attention to addiction and substance abuse cases. The program includes this specialization without extra coursework.
Tuition and Financial Aid
The academic year tuition rates were:
- Doctor of Psychology in MFT (114 credits): $1,465 per credit, totaling about $166,994
- Doctor of Psychology in MFT Online (114 credits): $1,458 per credit, totaling about $166,292
Students should plan for additional costs like the $100 degree conferral fee. Alliant’s payment options include full payment, university payment plans, financial aid, and approved third-party funding. Students can also apply for private and public scholarships to help with educational costs.
Career Opportunities
Graduates can choose from many career paths. While many new MFT licensees start private practices, doctoral graduates often explore roles in:
- Academia and higher education
- Clinical management positions
- Religious organizations
- Research centers
- Administrative roles
- Consulting positions
Alliant University takes pride in producing clinically skilled psychologists who make a real difference in their communities. The program prepares graduates to seek licensure and apply their systemic approach in various professional settings.
Choose a California DMFT Program Today
Your career in marriage and family therapy can take a big leap forward with the right DMFT program. California offers some of the best doctoral programs that match your career goals and personal needs. Each program comes with its own strengths – you can choose based on online flexibility, faith integration, specialized tracks, or depth psychology approaches.
Mental health professionals are in high demand, and these California DMFT programs prepare you for success. The field expects 16-23% growth in the next few years. Your doctoral degree is a big deal as it means your earning potential could reach over $100,000 annually.
These programs are accessible to more people thanks to flexible formats. If you’re a working professional, fully online options at Loma Linda University or California Southern might work best for you. Programs like Fuller Theological Seminary offer hybrid learning for those who want a more hands-on experience. You can complete your degree in three to five years, depending on your credentials and schedule.
DMFT graduates work way beyond traditional therapy practice. They become program directors, university faculty, clinical supervisors, researchers, consultants, and administrative leaders. The programs give you both theoretical knowledge and practical skills through supervised experiences.
Take time to evaluate each program’s unique features. Look at their specializations, format, location, cost, and philosophical approach. The right DMFT program should match your professional goals and give you advanced education. This education helps you make a real difference in the lives of individuals, couples, families, and communities across California and beyond.