10 Most Affordable Online MFT Programs in California

If you are in California and you are seeking an MFT program to join without breaking the bank, I have curated a list of affordable online MFT programs in California that you can enroll in and kick-start your career.

Before we delve into our topic properly, I know you will be wondering what MFT means. It simply means Marriage and Family Therapy. MFT is a branch of physiotherapy that has to do with families and couples in intimate relationships and how they nurture change and development.

It deals with the challenges couples face in their relationships by helping them resolve those conflicts and promote a healthy relationship.

As global divorce continues to rise, many people are establishing careers in MLT careers and using it as a means of earning money and also as a means of helping reduce the adverse effects of divorce or conflict in the family.

To before a marriage and family therapist, you must have a master’s degree or a doctorate degree in MFT and also obtain your license to practice by sitting for MLT exams.

Every state has its own licensure requirements to become a marriage and family therapist and if you fail to meet the requirements, you won’t sit for the examinations.

California is a state in the western United States Along the Pacific coast. With over 38.9 million residents, California is popularly known as the Divorce Capitol of The World.

This alone is enough reason for you to bag an MFT career in this state as the employment rate will be very high.

Aside from being the world divorce capital, California is one of the most expensive states with a very high cost of living, costly accommodations, and expensive schools as well.

The state also has some of the most expensive and sophisticated schools in the US. You will get value for your money if you study at one of the colleges in California.

Their universities are regarded as one of the best so if you want to pursue an MFT program in California, be rest assured that it will be a reputable one.

Despite how expensive these programs may be, there are still some of them that are affordable. Just to be clear, the average cost for MFT degree programs in the US ranges between $15,000 to $120,000. These programs can be done either offline or online.

Online learning is the new gold. It is gradually taking over and there is no limit to what you can learn online.

There are lots of online learning platforms that are available for you to learn literally anything you want.

But for the sake of this blog post, we will be laying emphasis on the online MFT programs.

Without further ado, let’s delve into the Affordable online MFT programs in California.

Affordable online MFT programs in California

10 Most Affordable Online MFT Programs in California

Below is a list of affordable online MFT programs in California for aspiring marriage counselors who do not want to break the bank to earn a degree in the program.

  • M.A in counseling psychology- Rhombus University
  • Master of Arts (M.A) in psychology – California Southern University
·  M.A in Clinical Psychology with Emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy – Pepperdine Graduate School of Education and Psychology
·   M.A in Counseling Psychology –Santa Clara University
  • Alliant International University (The California School of Professional Psychology)
  • Antioch University- M.A in clinical psychology
  • California institute of integral studies- M.A in Counseling Psychology
  • Daybreak University – MA in Counselling with a specialization in marriage and family
  • Fresno Pacific University-M.A in marriage and family therapy
  • Kaiser Permanente School of Allied Health Sciences: M.A in Counselling, marriage, and family therapy concentration

1.  M.A in counseling psychology- Rhombus University

Rhombus University is offering an online and affordable Master of Arts in coins psychology program that means licensure in California as an LMFT or LPCC.

So if you are a working professional and wish to enroll in a flexible and affordable online MFT program in California, then this program is the best for you.

This program is 100% online and one of the perks of it is that you can get the degree while handling other responsibilities.

The estimated amount for the program at Rhombus University is $15,000 and also it allows students to pay while studying so as to help them be free of debt at Graduation.

Enroll here

2.  Master of Arts (M.A) in psychology – California Southern University

California Southern University is offering an affordable online MFT program in California. The program is 100% online with an emphasis on Marriage and family therapy and is designed for aspiring Marriage and family counselors.

The program is approved by the Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) and it also meets the California educational requirements for MFT and licensed Professional clinical counselors.

The program is a full-time program that takes about 4 years to complete, and the estimated total cost is $32,700.

Enroll here

3.     MA in Clinical Psychology with Emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy – Pepperdine Graduate School of Education and Psychology

Pepperdine Graduate School of Education and Psychology offers online and affordable MFT programs in California and is ranked amongst the best colleges in California for psychology.

The schools offer both online and offline formats of study. The online format takes about 27 months to complete while the offline format takes about 2-3 years to complete.

Both of the formats meet the requirements for state licensure.

The total cost of the program is between $85,000 and $115,600 depending on the format you decide to go for.

Enroll here

4.  M.A in Counseling Psychology –Santa Clara University

The Master of Arts in Counseling and Psychology offered by Santa Clara University is one of the affordable online MFT programs in California that equips students with the skills and knowledge that they need to become a Marriage and family therapist.

There are four different specializations that students can choose they include: Correctional psychology, Latino psychology, health psychology, and LGBTQ psychology.

The program is offered both online and offline as well in full-time and part-time with a duration of 2 to 3 years to complete.

The estimated tuition fee is $710 per unit.

Enroll here

5.  Alliant International University (The California School of Professional Psychology)

Alliant International University offers one of the most affordable online MFT programs in California. It has both online and offline options.

The program is accredited by COAMFTE. Graduate students who enroll in this program have the option of specializing in chemical dependency, and understanding how to treat addiction is one of the core skills an MFT professional should learn.

The MFT program is a 60-credit unit program with a duration of two years to complete. The estimated amount for tuition is $73,000 for online and $57,000 for offline classes.

Enroll here

6.  Antioch University – MA in clinical psychology

Antioch University offers an affordable online LMFT program with lots of specializations such as:

  • Addiction and recovery specialists
  • Applied community psychology specialization
  • Child studies specialization
  • Psychological trauma studies specialization
  • Spiritual and depth psychology specialization

And a host of others.

The Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology degree is a 90-unit program with a duration of 8 full-time quarters or 16 half-time quarters.

The estimated amount is $69,888 per unit.

Enroll here

7.  California institute of integral studies – M.A in Counseling Psychology

California Institute of Integral Studies MFT programs are accredited by The North American Drama Therapy Section (NADTA). They offer one of the most affordable online MFT courses in California.

They have various specializations such as Community mental health, drama therapy, Expressive arts therapy,  Somatic psychology, and lots more.

The program is a 68-unit program with a duration of two to three years full-time.

The estimated amount for tuition is $74,520 to $84,456.

Enroll here

8.  Daybreak University – MA in Counselling with a specialization in marriage and family

Daybreak University offers an affordable online MFT program in California with an emphasis on Marriage and family. Other specializations include Imago relationship therapy, human sexuality, and sex therapist.

The program is a 90-unit program and takes about 2 years to complete. The estimated amount for the program is $27,000.

Enroll here

9.  Fresno Pacific University- M.A in marriage and family therapy

Fresno Pacific University offers an affordable online MFT program with a specialization in MFT only. The program is accredited by WSCUS and ATS.

It has both online and offline options as well.

The duration of the program is 3 years for full-time and 4 years for part-time and the estimated amount is $35,750.

Enroll here

10.         Kaiser Permanente School of Allied Health Sciences: M.A in Counselling, marriage, and family therapy concentration

The Kaiser Permanente School of Allied Health Sciences is a hybrid school that offers an affordable online MFT program in California.

Their hybrid learning environment is designed to allow students who are enrolled in the program to continue working.

The program is a 90-credit program with a duration of 2 years full-time. The estimated amount is $36,000.

Enroll here

Conclusion

All these affordable online MFT programs in California meet the licensure requirements for the state and are highly recommended for counselors who wish to study MFT programs.

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