7 Leading Marriage and Family Therapy Master’s Programs in Illinois
The Breakdown
Choosing an MFT program in Illinois isn’t as simple as picking the school with the best reputation. Several programs exist across the state, each with different accreditation types, delivery formats, costs, and clinical training requirements. Here’s what you should look at before you apply.
What you need to know:
- COAMFTE accreditation gives you the strongest license portability across states, while CACREP programs open dual LPC/LMFT pathways. Make sure you know which credential matches your career plans and where you intend to practice.
- Public universities cost 40-60% less than private institutions (NIU/UIS: $30,000-34,000 vs. Northwestern: $172,550, and several offer COAMFTE-accredited programs, so a lower price tag doesn’t mean a lesser education.
- Clinical training hours vary widely from program to program. Look for programs requiring 500 or more supervised hours rather than bare minimums, since stronger clinical experience helps with both licensure applications and standing out to employers.
- Federal loan limits changed July 1, 2026, capping graduate borrowing at $20,500 annually with a $100,000 lifetime limits. Students enrolled before this date may continue under prior rules with certain limitations, so timing matters.
- Delivery formats range from fully online to campus-only. Northwestern and Chicago School offer online options with residencies, while NIU and Wheaton require full-time campus attendance.
Finding an MFT program in Illinois depends on quite a few factors. First, you’ll need to look at admissions and see if you are a good candidate for these counseling programs. Then, you’ll need to look at things like program delivery, tuition and location. All of these play a factor in your decision. But, you’re in luck. MFTs are in high demand, and Illinois has a shortage of qualified professionals just like everywhere else. And once you are licensed? There’s a ton of career opportunities all across the state, and you can even work in telehealth.
Check out our program list to see what your options are.
1. Northwestern University – Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy
The Family Institute at Northwestern University spent 25 years developing the Integrative Systemic Therapy (IST) approach through clinical practice and research. This therapeutic framework teaches you to look at client concerns from relational and larger systemic perspectives – moving well beyond the traditional individual therapy model. If you’re drawn to numbers, Northwestern reports the highest median alumni earnings at $89,363 among comparable programs, which says a lot about the career outcomes graduates experience. The program also holds a 96% graduation rate and a 6-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio, with classes capped at 15 students.
Northwestern partners with 2U, Inc. to deliver online coursework through live classroom sessions combined with asynchronous components. Throughout six quarters of clinical training, students complete 250 hours of group and individual supervision. You’ll also attend one required on-campus immersion experience during your third or fourth quarter.
Accreditation and Licensing
Both the on-campus and online branches hold COAMFTE accreditation – the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education. This accreditation provides the graduate education required for license eligibility in most states. Keep in mind that each state still requires an examination and specified postgraduate supervised clinical work before you receive full licensure.
One thing worth knowing before you apply: Northwestern cannot currently accept students from Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, District of Columbia, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. The university continues working to expand state availability, so check the current list before assuming your state qualifies.
Program Delivery Options
You can choose between the on-campus and online branches, though transfers between the two aren’t permitted once you enroll. The on-campus branch runs as a full-time program with fall quarter enrollment only, finishing in two years including the summer quarter after year one.
The online branch gives you more scheduling flexibility – enrollment opens every quarter in January, April, June, and September. Full-time online students finish in 21 months, while part-time students take 36 months. California residents should note a minimum of 24 months for full-time completion due to state regulations on pre-internship curricula.
Required Clinical Training
The curriculum covers 20 academic courses plus six quarters of intensive clinical internship. During your internship, you’ll conduct 400 hours of therapy, with at least 125 hours involving couples and families. Some sources indicate 100 relational hours are required – be sure to verify the current requirement directly with the program.
On-campus students see clients at The Family Institute’s Bette D. Harris Family and Child Clinic. Online students work in clinical settings within their home states, with placement specialists available to help identify appropriate practicum sites. Your clinical internship begins winter quarter of the first year and runs through summer, requiring roughly 15 to 20 hours per week.
Investment and Financial Considerations
Tuition for the 2026-2027 academic year runs $6,902 per credit. The program charges 25 credits for tuition purposes, putting total tuition at approximately $172,550 – making this among the most expensive MFT programs in Illinois. A one-time technology fee of $215 covers clinical tracking software.
Federal student loan rules changed significantly on July 1, 2026. Most graduate students will see borrowing caps of $20,500 annually, with lifetime limits of $100,000 for graduate degrees. Grad PLUS Loans will no longer be available to new borrowers after this date, meaning federal loans alone may not cover your full attendance costs. Students already enrolled before July 1, 2026, may continue borrowing under prior rules with certain limitations.
Northwestern awards limited scholarships and partner organization benefits. The application fee is $95, though applying before early deadlines waives this cost.
Who Should Apply
The admissions committee welcomes students from diverse backgrounds – business, arts, education, and beyond – provided you demonstrate emotional maturity and academic readiness for clinical work. You need a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. If your degree isn’t in behavioral or family sciences, you’ll need to complete college-level psychology and human development courses before starting.
No GRE scores are required. Northwestern uses holistic admissions, so your personal statement, professional recommendations, and relevant life or volunteer experience carry significant weight. Background checks cost $38, and any adverse criminal history receives case-by-case consideration.
2. Adler University – Master of Arts in Couple and Family Therapy
Adler University’s Chicago-based program shifted from a dual-license model to focused MFT training in 2012 – receiving COAMFTE accreditation in November 2016, with the first accredited cohort graduating in Fall 2015. You complete 60 credits over two years in a full-time format. Faculty members hold active MFT licenses and serve as AAMFT Approved Supervisors or Supervisor Candidates, so the mentorship you receive is grounded in real systemic practice rather than theory alone.
One thing that sets this program apart is the ability to stack certificate credentials alongside your degree:
- Sex Therapy Certificate: A 10-credit AASECT-approved program in blended format that fulfills educational requirements toward AASECT Certified Sex Therapist designation
- Substance Abuse Counseling Certificate: A 12-credit program accredited by IAODAPCA as an Advanced Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Counselor Training Program
Graduates who want to keep climbing can also pursue the only COAMFTE-accredited PhD in Couple and Family Therapy in Illinois, accredited through May 1, 2028. That kind of clear upward path matters when you’re thinking about where your career can go long-term.
Accreditation and Licensing
COAMFTE accreditation improves portability of your degree for licensure across states. The curriculum and supervised training help you meet educational requirements for LMFT licensure in Illinois. That said, requirements vary significantly from state to state in completed practicum hours and coursework – so if you plan to practice outside Illinois, review licensing requirements in your target state before enrolling.
Program Delivery Options
The program runs full-time on the Chicago campus. Your first year includes a Social Justice Practicum, followed by Clinical Practicum in the second year. The program also lays groundwork for licensure early on through MCFT-505: Systemic Ethics, which you take at the outset.
Required Clinical Training
Practicum is built into the degree requirements. You complete 100 hours of supervision with an AAMFT Approved Supervisor or Supervisor Candidate – and those 100 hours can be applied directly toward LMFT licensure requirements in Illinois. Before graduating, you’ll also pass the Master’s Qualifying Exam, which helps prepare you for the licensure exam itself.
Investment and Financial Considerations
Adler awards merit scholarships to academically accomplished first-year students admitted to the Chicago campus. Every admitted applicant receives automatic consideration based on undergraduate GPA – no separate scholarship application needed. You may also receive additional merit funding through a holistic review of your admissions interview, relevant work or volunteer experience, and demonstrated commitment to Adler’s mission.
Active-duty, veteran, or retired U.S. military service members, Reservists, National Guard members, and their spouses or civil partners qualify for a $1,000 Military Scholarship – and unlike most other university scholarships, this one can be combined with merit awards.
Continuing Chicago students can apply for the Alfred Adler Scholarship or Seymour Schneider Scholarship each spring semester. Both awards provide $5,000 disbursed across Fall and Spring terms. Selection is based on academic performance and 500-word essays that either demonstrate commitment to Adlerian values or reflect on how Adlerian training has shaped your current and future practice.
Who Should Apply
Adler takes a holistic look at applications. Strong candidates typically show a 3.25 or higher GPA on a 4.0 scale for graduate-level coursework. You need a clinical master’s degree in marriage and family therapy, couple and family therapy, medical family therapy, or a related clinical field from a regionally accredited U.S. institution. Your application essay should make clear why you’re committed to the couple and family therapy profession.
3. Northern Illinois University – MS with MFT Specialization
Few MFT programs can claim an accreditation history as long as NIU’s. First accredited in 1983, the program holds one of the longest COAMFTE accreditation records of any MFT program in the Midwest. Reaccreditation came again in 2022 for a full seven-year cycle – a strong signal that external reviewers found the curriculum, supervision model, and student outcomes meeting or exceeding national standards. Among all Illinois options, NIU is also the only COAMFTE-accredited program housed at a public university. That combination of history and public pricing is hard to find anywhere else.
Small cohort sizes are another thing that sets this program apart. Direct faculty access, closer supervision relationships, and tighter peer networks are the result – and those things matter when you’re learning clinical work. Practicum placements span diverse community sites, giving you exposure to a range of client populations and presenting concerns. Licensing boards and future employers both value that kind of breadth.
Keep in mind, though, that DeKalb sits roughly 65 miles west of Chicago. If the clinical variety and networking opportunities of a major metro area are important to you, that’s worth factoring into your decision. Some practicum sites are located closer to Chicago suburbs, but it’s something to research before you commit.
Accreditation and Licensing
Fewer than half of MFT graduate programs nationwide hold COAMFTE accreditation. NIU’s does. Because your 500 supervised hours are earned under COAMFTE-accredited supervision, state licensing boards across the country broadly recognize them. That matters a great deal if you’re not certain you’ll practice in Illinois long-term – it reduces potential headaches down the road.
Program Delivery Options
The 54-credit program is delivered entirely on campus in DeKalb. There are no online or hybrid options. If you’re looking for distance learning, you’ll want to explore other COAMFTE-accredited programs on this list instead.
Required Clinical Training
You must accumulate a minimum of 500 supervised clinical hours before graduating[233]. Those hours come through a structured practicum and internship sequence – working with individuals, couples, and families under close faculty and site-based supervision. Placement sites typically include community mental health agencies, university-affiliated clinics, and in some cases hospital or medical settings across northern Illinois.
The program coordinates the placement process, matching you with sites that fit your developing interests and clinical goals. The Couple and Family Therapy Clinic serves as an integral partner throughout.
You also choose between a thesis and comprehensive examination pathway[233]. Both require an oral examination, so either way, you’ll leave able to articulate and defend your clinical knowledge before stepping into the field.
Investment and Financial Considerations
Graduate tuition runs approximately $387.70 per credit hour – a roughly 5 percent increase over the prior year’s rate of $369.24. NIU applies the same tuition rate regardless of residency status for this program.
Using the current per-credit rate, tuition alone comes to roughly $23,262. Mandatory student fees add approximately $3,494 per year, which means another $7,000 to $10,500 over a two-to-three-year timeline. Estimated total program cost – tuition plus fees, excluding living expenses and insurance – generally falls in the $30,000 to $34,000 range. That’s typically 40 to 60 percent lower than private COAMFTE-accredited programs in Illinois. For many students, that difference alone makes NIU the practical choice.
NIU also offers teaching, research, and service assistantships to qualified MFT students. Half-time appointments require about 20 hours per week over the nine-month academic year, and benefits include a tuition waiver plus a stipend in the $10,000 to $15,000 range. Assistantship spots are competitive, so applying early improves your chances.
Who Should Apply
Your statement of purpose should be typed, double-spaced, and no more than eight pages. It should cover three areas:
- Personal philosophy: Discuss the ideas, values, and preferences that guide you – as well as people or experiences that shaped your life
- Marriage and family therapy: Discuss what motivates you to become an MFT, what qualities you think successful therapists share, and where you see yourself professionally five and 15 years after graduating
- Education: Discuss what drew you to this program specifically and why now is the right time to pursue graduate-level study
You’ll also need three letters of recommendation. At least one should come from a professor who can speak to your ability to handle graduate-level work. Candidates who advance past the first round must attend an in-person interview day.
4. University of Illinois Springfield – MA in Human Development Counseling
If cost is a major factor in your decision – and for most people, it is – UIS deserves a close look. The university ranks in the Top 25 for best value schools from 2022 through 2026 and places in the Top 20 for students graduating with the least debt in the Midwest Region. During the 2024-2025 academic year alone, UIS awarded more than $20 million in scholarships. Graduates working in Illinois see earnings increases of $31,700 to $69,000 annually compared to those holding only a high school diploma. That kind of return on investment is hard to ignore.
The Human Development Counseling Program gives you three concentration options, all accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). You can choose Clinical Mental Health Counseling, School Counseling, or Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling. The marriage, couple and family counseling concentration adds four courses – 12 credit hours – beyond the 49-credit core curriculum, with all three concentrations requiring a minimum of 61 semester hours total.
Class sizes stay small, with an average of 15 students and roughly 75 students enrolled across the program. In the 2024-2025 academic year, 24 students graduated – a detail worth noting, because smaller graduating cohorts often mean more individualized faculty attention throughout your time in the program.
Accreditation and License Portability
One of the appealing things about this program is the dual-pathway option it opens up. Students in the marriage, couple and family counseling concentration may apply for licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor and/or an Associate Marriage and Family Therapist in Illinois. Completing the program also makes you eligible for LPC licensure in Illinois and certification through the National Board of Certified Counselors. That flexibility can matter quite a bit depending on where your career takes you.
CACREP accreditation means your degree meets recognized educational standards across states. Keep in mind that licensure requirements – including practicum hours and coursework – vary from state to state, so check the rules wherever you plan to practice.
Program Delivery Options
UIS delivers courses fully online, which makes it a practical option if you’re balancing work, family, or other commitments. Courses are asynchronous, meaning you complete lectures, assignments, and discussions on your own schedule within weekly deadlines – not according to a fixed class time. The same faculty who teach on campus handle online instruction, so you’re not getting a watered-down experience.
Applications are accepted for fall admission only. Once enrolled, you access everything through Canvas, available via web browser or mobile app.
Required Clinical Training
The marriage, couple, and family counseling concentration requires a minimum of 100 hours of direct service in marriage, couple, or family counseling during your combined practicum and internship. Placements happen at approved community agencies.
Before graduating, you must demonstrate competencies across personal, professional, and social development. You’ll also pass a comprehensive exam that tests knowledge from required coursework and complete three clinical case presentations – covering foundational skills, multicultural competence, and your concentration’s theoretical orientation. Working closely with the concentration coordinator helps ensure you stay on track with both curricular and clinical requirements.
Investment and Financial Considerations
For the first year, gross tuition runs approximately $11,184. The application fee is $75, and estimated annual living costs come in around $9,700. Because UIS is a public university, your total costs will typically fall well below what private institutions charge for comparable programs – a difference that can add up to tens of thousands of dollars over the course of your degree.
Who Should Apply
Full admission requires a minimum GPA of 3.0 for the last 60 credit hours of your undergraduate degree, or a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.75. Once enrolled, you must earn a B- or better in HDC 501, HDC 511, HDC 512, HDC 513, and HDC 515 – a C+ or lower in any of these means you’ll need to retake the course. Maintaining a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 throughout the program is also required.
Joining professional associations like the International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors (IAMFC) is encouraged, and it’s a smart way to start building connections in the field while you’re still in school.
5. Northeastern Illinois University – MA in Couple and Family Counseling
Few programs in Illinois can claim 40-plus years of counselor preparation – and Northeastern Illinois University is one of them. The Department of Counselor Education has been developing skilled counselors for decades, and that experience shows in how the program is structured. The university also stands out as one of the most ethnically diverse institutions in the nation, meaning you’ll learn alongside peers from a wide range of cultural backgrounds. That kind of exposure matters in a field where understanding diverse client experiences is essential.
Do you want to leave graduate school eligible for more than one license? The 60-credit hour program (20 courses) prepares you for Illinois licensure as both a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC/LCPC) and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (ALMFT/LMFT). That dual pathway gives you more flexibility when you’re job hunting or deciding which client population to focus on. Upon graduation, you also automatically receive Associate Marriage and Family Therapy membership once you submit your application. Small class sizes and flexible scheduling make this a workable option even if you’re balancing a job or family obligations.
Faculty members bring real-world credibility to the classroom – most continue active practice as professional counselors and psychologists.
Accreditation and Licensing
CACREP accreditation runs through March 2033, so you won’t need to worry about accreditation lapsing while you’re still completing your degree. During your final year, you become eligible to sit for the National Counselor Examination. A passing NCE score counts toward one of the requirements for LPC or LCPC licensure. Graduates can additionally sit for the AMFTRB National Marriage and Family Therapist Exam, and the curriculum meets the educational requirements for Clinical Membership in the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. Requirements for full licensure vary by state, so verify specifics if you plan to practice outside Illinois.
Program Delivery Options
The program accepts students for both fall and spring semesters. If you’re targeting Fall, applications close February 1 – no extensions are granted. Complete applications go through a departmental committee review, and selected applicants receive an invitation to attend a mandatory Pre-admission Workshop in March. This is an all-day, in-person, on-campus interview – the final step before admission decisions are made. Plan accordingly.
Required Clinical Training
The clinical training requirements here are among the most substantial on this list. Practicum and internship combined total 700 hours of documented field experience, with a cumulative minimum of 300 face-to-face counseling hours required. COUN 445 Practicum accounts for 100 hours, including 40 direct client contact hours. COUN 465 Internship I and COUN 475 Internship II then combine for 600 hours, requiring 240 clinical contact hours. Of those, 150 clinical contact hours must specifically involve counseling couples and families – good preparation for the LMFT credential.
Before you graduate, you must also pass a comprehensive departmental proficiency examination, offered in February, June, and October.
Investment and Financial Considerations
Tuition reflects public university pricing – generally lower than private CACREP-accredited programs offering similar preparation. If cost is a deciding factor for you, that’s worth keeping in mind when comparing this program against private alternatives.
Who Should Apply
You need a minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.75. Already hold a graduate degree from an accredited university? You’re exempt from that requirement. Your application should include the fee, official transcripts from every institution you’ve attended, a current resume, two recommendations, a signed informed consent, and a 500-750 word Statement of Goals and Objectives. The statement should address your career interests in counseling, what you’re hoping to gain from this specific program, and how your goals align with the university’s mission. If your undergraduate GPA falls below 3.0, include additional context that helps the committee understand the full picture.
6. Wheaton College Graduate School – MA in Marriage and Family Therapy
Wheaton College stands apart from every other MFT program on this list – it weaves Christian theology directly into clinical training. Since enrolling its first cohort in 2012, the program requires six theological studies credits alongside 44 core clinical credits. If faith is central to how you approach healing and human relationships, this program was built with you in mind.
Small cohorts of 18 students mean you won’t get lost in the crowd. You build close relationships with faculty who maintain active clinical practices while teaching – so the guidance you receive comes from people still doing the work. International students make up 30% of each cohort, which adds meaningful cultural perspective to your training. The Center for Relational and Family Health, opened in October 2020, gives you on-campus clinical training opportunities right where you study.
Accreditation and Licensing
The Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education accredited the program in 2016. Your degree meets Illinois LMFT licensure requirements. Keep in mind that state-specific regulations vary for master’s-level therapists, so verify requirements in any state where you plan to practice.
Program Delivery Options
The program is full-time and on campus in Wheaton. If you’re looking for online flexibility, this isn’t the right fit – but if you want an immersive, community-centered experience, it delivers. Priority application deadline falls November 1, with a regular deadline of February 1.
Required Clinical Training
The 60-credit curriculum breaks into core courses, theological studies, and clinical pre-practicum and practicum totaling 10 credit hours. You complete nine credit hours of clinical practicum across 12 months – a focused, structured timeline that keeps you moving forward steadily.
Investment and Financial Considerations
Tuition runs $910 per credit hour for graduate MA programs, bringing total tuition for 60 credits to approximately $54,600. Wheaton awarded 58 master’s degrees recently, and merit scholarships, graduate assistantships, and Federal Work-Study are available to help manage costs.
Who Should Apply
You need a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. No specific prerequisite coursework is required – the interview process plays a key role in the final admission decision. If you are drawn to faith-integrated clinical work and want a tight-knit training environment, Wheaton is worth a close look.
7. Mid-America Christian University – MS in Counseling
Mid-America Christian University operates out of Oklahoma City, yet it produces more counseling graduates than any other program in Oklahoma. If you’re a working adult juggling family obligations, the program’s format alone may catch your attention. You focus on one six-week course at a time, which means you’re not splitting your energy across multiple subjects simultaneously. That’s a meaningful difference when you’re trying to balance a job, a household, and a graduate degree.
The Christian worldview runs throughout the curriculum – not just in electives, but across coursework covering interpersonal communication, marital and family treatment techniques, and clinical issues related to aging, death, and dying. Faculty bring real-world credibility to that foundation: 94 percent hold active licenses and currently work in private practices, community settings, or agencies.
Accreditation and License Portability
The Higher Learning Commission accredits MACU at the institutional level. The MS in Counseling program holds approval from Oklahoma’s State Board of Behavioral Health and aligns with CACREP curricular standards. Keep in mind, though, that graduates pursuing LMFT credentials must verify their specific state’s requirements before enrolling – portability depends on individual licensing board regulations, and those vary more than most people expect.
Program Delivery Options
Classes are offered 100% online. There are no required campus visits beyond an optional online orientation. That kind of flexibility is hard to find in programs that also maintain strong clinical and faculty support structures.
Required Clinical Training
The program requires both practicum and internship experiences. Clinical training takes place in your local area, with support from both on-site supervisors and university faculty. This setup allows you to build hours close to home without relocating or traveling to a central campus.
Investment and Financial Considerations
Tuition runs $675 per credit hour. The 60-63 credit program totals approximately $39,120 – a notable difference from several private programs on this list. Military members receive a 15% tuition discount, while alumni qualify for 10% off. Those savings add up quickly across a 60-credit program.
Who Should Apply
You need a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution with a minimum 2.75 GPA. There’s no GRE requirement mentioned, which removes one common barrier for working adults returning to graduate school after several years away.
Find the Right Program
Given these points, selecting your MFT program requires matching accreditation status, delivery format, and clinical training structure to your specific circumstances. COAMFTE-accredited options provide the strongest licensure portability, while CACREP programs offer dual-license pathways. Public universities like NIU and UIS deliver comparable education at 40 to 60 percent lower costs than private institutions.
As a matter of fact, your choice should prioritize three factors: accreditation that supports your geographic mobility, clinical training hours that exceed minimum requirements, and total investment you can manage without a lot of debt.