Choosing a counseling master's in Texas means comparing more than tuition: the degree must fit the license you want, the clinical training you need, and the work you can afford to leave behind. This guide accompanies the 2027 Most Valuable Marriage, Couple, And Family Counseling Degree Programs Ranking in Texas, created by the Research.com team of data scientists to help students make an informed choice about which programs are worth considering. It explains how to compare program fit, costs, timelines, and career prospects before you apply.
Key findings about Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling degrees in Texas
For marriage and family therapists nationally, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a $66,940 median annual wage in May 2025. That occupation-level figure is a benchmark, not a predicted starting salary for a Texas graduate.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 14% national employment growth from 2025 to 2035 for marriage and family therapists. Compare programs on licensure preparation and clinical placement, not demand alone.
Texas's marriage and family therapist education rules call for a qualifying graduate degree and specified coursework; a program's title or counseling accreditation alone does not establish eligibility. Check the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council's current requirements against the exact curriculum before enrolling.
What can I expect from a Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling degree in Texas?
Marriage, couple, and family counseling studies how relationships and family systems affect mental health. At the graduate level, students typically learn assessment, treatment planning, ethics, and therapy with couples and families, then practice under supervision. A bachelor's degree can provide a foundation, but it is not itself the graduate education required for Texas marriage and family therapist licensure (Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council).
Degree titles can obscure an important difference: some programs are built around marriage and family therapy, while others offer family-focused coursework within a broader counseling degree. This comparison shows which question to resolve first.
Program type
Likely fit
Check before applying
Marriage and family therapy-focused master's
Students primarily seeking the Texas LMFT pathway
Whether the full curriculum and supervised training meet current Texas board rules
Counseling master's with a marriage-and-family emphasis
Students considering family work alongside a broader counseling path
Which license or licenses its specific courses support; an emphasis name is not proof of eligibility
Postgraduate certificate or additional courses
Graduates addressing an identified coursework gap
Whether the Texas board will accept the courses alongside the existing degree
Ask for a current course-to-license checklist, not simply a statement that graduates pursue licensure. Texas regulates licensed marriage and family therapists and licensed professional counselors through distinct pathways (Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council).
Where can I work with a Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling degree in Texas?
Marriage and family therapists work in settings such as outpatient mental health practices, community agencies, and healthcare organizations (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). In Texas, the practical distinction is whether an employer offers appropriate supervision while you pursue licensure. A promising job title is less useful if its duties or supervisor do not satisfy the Texas board's requirements.
Large metro areas may offer more practice settings to investigate, while a program serving a less-populated area may require extra planning for a suitable placement. Ask each school where its recent students completed clinical training and whether it can help arrange placements near where you intend to live. Do not assume an online program will secure a local site for you.
The national median annual wage for marriage and family therapists was $66,940 in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' occupational data. Half of workers in that occupation earned more and half earned less. This is not a Texas-specific wage or a new-graduate salary; pay depends on experience, setting, location, and employment arrangement.
For a useful return-on-investment estimate, compare likely earnings after you reach the credential required for your target job with your present earnings. Account for tuition, fees, unpaid clinical time, borrowing, time away from work, and how long licensure may take. Private-practice revenue is not take-home pay: operating expenses and an uncertain client caseload also matter.
These programs differ most usefully in how directly they identify a family-focused degree or pathway. Compare the current catalogs against your intended license; program labels and accreditation should not substitute for a Texas board requirements check. The distinctions below are drawn from the institutions' program descriptions.
Texas State University: Its nonthesis M.A. in Professional Counseling explicitly identifies marriage and family counseling in the degree title (Texas State University graduate catalog). That makes it a focused option for applicants who want family work within a professional-counseling degree; confirm how its current course sequence maps to the specific Texas license you want.
Southern Methodist University: SMU publishes an M.S. in Counseling curriculum that lets applicants inspect required coursework before committing to a particular counseling direction (SMU Simmons School of Education and Human Development). It is especially worth examining if you want to compare family-focused study with broader counseling preparation rather than choose on a specialization label alone.
University of Mary Hardin-Baylor: Its program is specifically presented as marriage, family, and child counseling (University of Mary Hardin-Baylor). The explicit child component may appeal to applicants interested in work with children within family systems; ask how child-focused courses and placements fit your intended license.
St. Edward's University: Its M.A. in Counseling presents marriage and family study within a counseling master's (St. Edward's University). For applicants comparing broader counseling degrees, the key question is which required courses - not merely optional electives - support their intended Texas credential.
No program description alone verifies an individual graduate's licensure eligibility, placement availability, or eventual employment. Request each school's current degree plan and a written explanation of the license pathway it is designed to support.
A full-time counseling or marriage and family therapy master's commonly takes about two to three years; part-time study can take longer. The calendar depends on course sequencing, required clinical work, and whether placements are available when needed. A shorter advertised classroom schedule does not necessarily mean an earlier licensure date.
Ask for a term-by-term plan showing when practicum and internship begin, whether summer enrollment is required, and how a missed placement affects graduation. If you work full time, compare the cost of a longer part-time program with the income you would give up in a faster full-time one. Enrollment interest, reflected in lists of the most popular marriage, couple, and family counseling programs, does not tell you whether a school can accommodate your schedule.
Online coursework can reduce commuting or make a distant Texas program feasible. It does not remove the need for supervised clinical training, and required live sessions or in-person activities may limit flexibility. On-campus study can make regular contact with faculty and nearby placement networks easier, but may require relocation or commuting.
The decisive comparison is where and how you will complete clinical requirements. Ask an online program who identifies and approves sites, whether it has placement relationships in your area, and what happens if a site falls through. For either format, verify that the exact curriculum satisfies the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council's current education rules; delivery mode by itself establishes neither approval nor licensure eligibility.
There is no dependable single price for a Texas marriage and family counseling master's. Published university tuition averages often cover many graduate fields and may not include program-specific charges or the full time needed for clinical training (National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS). A misleadingly precise "average program cost" would be less helpful than an itemized estimate for the programs on your shortlist.
Request the total estimated cost to complete, including tuition at your expected residency rate, mandatory fees, books, travel to clinical sites, and any costs tied to placements. Public-university resident and nonresident rates can differ, so confirm how the institution determines your classification; private nonprofit status does not by itself indicate a higher or lower net cost. Use the most affordable marriage, couple, and family counseling programs as a starting shortlist, then compare offers after aid and likely completion time.
Graduate students can investigate university assistantships, institutional scholarships, eligible federal loans, employer tuition assistance, and any Texas programs for which their school and circumstances qualify. File the FAFSA and obtain an aid estimate for the specific graduate program; undergraduate grant eligibility should not be assumed to continue into a master's (Federal Student Aid).
Federal Graduate PLUS rules have changed for new graduate borrowers. Federal Student Aid explains that students who meet the applicable transition conditions for an existing program may retain limited eligibility, while new graduate borrowers should not budget on receiving a Graduate PLUS loan. Have the financial aid office confirm your status under the current rules before accepting an offer. Compare borrowing across the whole degree, especially if clinical hours will reduce your ability to work.
View the chart data as a table
Projected job growth 2025-2035 - Marriage & Family Therapists (U.S.) (Source: BLS)
Category
Value
Marriage & Family Therapists
14
All occupations
3
Applicants generally need a completed bachelor's degree, transcripts, and the materials required by the particular graduate school. Programs may also request a statement of purpose, recommendations, an interview, or prerequisite coursework; requirements are set by each institution, not by one statewide admissions rule (Texas State University; Southern Methodist University; University of Mary Hardin-Baylor; St. Edward's University).
If your undergraduate degree is outside psychology or counseling, do not rule yourself out - or assume automatic admission. Ask whether foundational courses can be completed before enrollment, whether prior graduate credits can transfer, and whether accepted credits replace required licensure coursework. A transfer award can shorten study only if it fits both the degree plan and the intended Texas license pathway.
Expect training in counseling theories, family systems, assessment, ethics, research or evidence-informed practice, and supervised clinical work. Programs may approach couples, children, and families through different course sequences (Texas State University graduate catalog; Southern Methodist University counseling curriculum; University of Mary Hardin-Baylor; St. Edward's University).
Compare required courses with the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council's current marriage and family therapist education rules. An elective that is offered irregularly may not solve a licensing gap when you need it. Request course descriptions and a written map of where relationship-focused instruction and clinical training occur in the degree.
Students may encounter family-focused study as a dedicated degree, a concentration in counseling, or coursework emphasizing areas such as child and adolescent concerns, couples work, or clinical mental health. These labels describe academic focus; they are not interchangeable credentials. In Texas, LMFT and LPC are separate licensure pathways administered under the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council.
Choose by the clients and settings you hope to serve, then work backward to the relevant license and its education requirements. If you want broad individual mental health practice as well as couples work, ask whether a program supports both goals and what additional coursework or supervised experience either path would require. Avoid paying for a specialization solely because its name resembles a job title.
Start with the license and role you want, not a ranking position. The best marriage, couple, and family counseling programs can help build a shortlist, but your strongest choice is the one whose required education, placements, schedule, and net cost work together for your circumstances.
Before paying an application fee, get clear answers to these questions:
Which Texas license is this exact degree designed to support, and where can I see its current course-to-requirement map?
Who arranges clinical placements, and can students complete them where I plan to live?
What will the entire degree cost at my residency rate after confirmed aid, and how much work time might clinical training displace?
What are the program's recent completion and licensure-exam outcomes, with reporting periods and the number of students represented?
How will accepted transfer credits affect both graduation and the intended license?
A common mistake is to equate CACREP recognition, a family-focused title, or a general statement about licensure preparation with Texas LMFT eligibility. Verify the applicable accreditation and education rules with the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council, and use the school's written answers to resolve gaps before enrolling.
View the chart data as a table
Wage range - Marriage & Family Therapists in Texas (BLS OEWS, May 2025) (Source: BLS)
Category
Value
10th percentile
36,700
25th percentile
38,250
Median
46,300
75th percentile
72,820
90th percentile
93,500
A fitting graduate degree can be one step toward marriage and family therapy practice, but graduation does not confer a license. Texas's pathway also involves board requirements concerning supervised experience and examination (Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council). Depending on their education, credentials, and employer requirements, graduates may pursue supervised clinical roles, agency work, or other counseling-related positions while progressing toward independent practice.
If your goal is school counseling, general mental health counseling, or another regulated role, check that profession's separate requirements before treating a marriage and family degree as a substitute. Someone primarily seeking a short route into a nonclinical support role should also compare the time and borrowing required for a master's with roles that do not require this license.
View the chart data as a table
Annual earnings-to-program-cost ratio by program (Source: Research.com)
Category
Value
St. Edward's University
0.408
University of Mary Hardi
0.63
Southern Methodist Unive
0.853
Texas State University
2.476
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 14% growth in marriage and family therapist employment nationally from 2025 to 2035. That indicates growing national demand for the occupation, not a forecast of openings in a particular Texas city or a guarantee that every graduate will find a job.
For a local decision, examine current postings in the Texas area where you intend to work: note whether employers ask for full licensure, accept an associate credential, and provide qualifying supervision. Compare that evidence with schools' placement support. A program near many potential employers may still be a poor fit if its clinical schedule or degree plan prevents you from reaching the credential those employers require.
2027 Most Valuable Marriage, Couple, And Family Counseling Degree Programs Ranking in Texas
Investing in graduate education is a consequential decision. Research.com developed its counseling rankings to make comparisons more transparent, using multiple sources to check program characteristics and outcomes rather than relying on a school's description alone.
The ranking draws on these data sources:
IPEDS database - institutional enrollment, completions, and other reported education data.
Peterson's database - program and institutional information used in comparisons.
College Scorecard database - federal institutional data, including cost and outcomes information where available.
Research.com's counseling methodology considers program completion, employment or doctoral admission, applicable licensure-exam pass rates, CACREP programmatic accreditation, federal Title IV eligibility, and cost. Its Best ranking first combines outcomes and accreditation, then gives cost a smaller role; rankings named for another dimension order programs by that dimension. Criteria that do not apply are excluded and the remaining weights adjusted. The same approach applies to online and on-campus programs. These measures help narrow a shortlist, but they cannot establish that a particular degree satisfies Texas marriage and family therapist licensing rules. See Research.com's methodology for more detail, then confirm licensing fit and current charges directly with each school.
# 1 position
Texas State University
Master
M.A. Major in Professional Counseling
Delivery mode: campus
68.40
/ 100
Final score
Specialization
Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling
Required credits
60
GPA range
3.00 - 4.00
Application process
direct
GRE
yes
Prerequisites
Baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited university (non-U.S. degrees must be equivalent to a four-year U.S. Bachelor's degree).
Additional requirements
Online application; official transcripts; minimum 3.0 GPA overall or in last 60 hours; GRE general test (may be waived with a master's/doctoral degree); informed consent form; resume/CV; statement of purpose; English scores for international.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
Texas State University earned a Research.com Value Score of 68.4/100, supported by $53,083 median earnings and $21,442 total tuition (estimated). The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2032-10-31.
# 2 position
Southern Methodist University
Master
Master of Science in Counseling
Delivery mode: campus
17.50
/ 100
Final score
Specialization
Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling
Required credits
63 semester credits
GPA range
3.00 - 4.00
Application deadline
Spring: Sep 15
Application process
direct
GRE
Conditional: GRE (minimum 146 Quantitative, 156 Verbal, 3.5 Writing) required if cumulative undergraduate GPA is below 3.0
Prerequisites
Application; three recommendation forms; two-page essay on why you want to study counseling; resume; minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA (GRE math and verbal required if below 3.0); criminal history background check.
Additional requirements
Bachelor's degree; online application; two-page essay; three recommendations; resume; official transcripts; $40 fee; 3.0 GPA minimum (GRE required below 3.0); TOEFL/IELTS if applicable; interview day (PONI Day) if invited; criminal background check.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
Southern Methodist University earned a Research.com Value Score of 17.5/100, supported by $42,474 median earnings and $49,770 total tuition. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2027-10-31.
# 3 position
University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
Master
Master of Arts in Counseling
Delivery mode: campus
10.50
/ 100
Final score
Program length
Approximately 7 semesters (full-time, year-round enrollment)
Specialization
Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling
Required credits
60 semester credits
GPA range
3.00 - 4.00
Program completion rate
91% (2022-23)
Employment or doctoral admission
100% (2022-23)
Licensure exam pass rate
100% (2022-23)
Application deadline
rolling
Application process
direct
GRE
no
Additional requirements
Program application; official transcripts (min. 3.0 cumulative or last-60-hour GPA); three letters of recommendation (one needed for interview invite, all three for admission decision); faculty interview with an in-person timed writing sample.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
University of Mary Hardin-Baylor earned a Research.com Value Score of 10.5/100, supported by $47,322 median earnings and 100% licensure exam pass rate. The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2029-10-31.
# 4 position
St. Edward's University
Master
Master of Arts in Counseling
Delivery mode: campus
3.50
/ 100
Final score
Program length
About 2.5 to 3 years (8 semesters)
Specialization
Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling
Required credits
60 semester credits
GPA range
2.75 - 4.00
Application deadline
Fall: Jun 1; Spring: Oct 1; Summer: Mar 1
Application process
direct
GRE
no
Prerequisites
Bachelor's degree from an accredited university
Accreditation
Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), with institutional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
St. Edward's University earned a Research.com Value Score of 3.5/100, supported by $39,898 median earnings and $97,760 total cost (tuition and fees, estimated). The program is CACREP-accredited, valid through 2028-03-31.
Frequently asked questions about Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling degree in Texas
Do I need a master's degree to become an LMFT in Texas?
Texas requires qualifying graduate education for marriage and family therapist licensure. The degree must meet the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council's applicable coursework and training rules; a relevant title alone is insufficient.
Does a CACREP-accredited counseling degree automatically qualify me for Texas LMFT licensure?
No. Accreditation and state licensure eligibility are different questions. Check the exact degree and coursework against current Texas LMFT requirements with the school and the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council.
Can I complete a Texas marriage and family counseling degree entirely online?
Coursework may be online, but supervised clinical training still requires an approved practice setting. Confirm any in-person requirements and who is responsible for securing a placement near you.
Is a marriage and family counseling master's worth the cost?
It may be if it fits your intended license and the likely career benefit justifies total tuition, debt, clinical time, and foregone earnings. Compare the complete cost and timeline with your current income rather than using a national occupational median as a promised salary.
Will a counseling master's qualify me for both LMFT and LPC licensure?
Not automatically. Texas has distinct requirements for the two licenses. Ask the program to identify, in writing, which requirements its required courses satisfy and what additional steps each pathway involves.
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