Tuition and Fees
Sentio University offers a top-tier education at a mid-range tuition level. This page provides information about tuition, fees, scholarships, and financial aid so you can assess whether our Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy program is a good fit for you financially.
Tuition and Fees
| Total Tuition ($1,120 per credit) | Textbook Costs* | Registration + STRF Fee | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| $67,200 | $1,000 | $200 | $68,400 |
The tuition and fee structure for Sentio University’s 60 semester credit hour Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy program is as follows:
Students are expected to pay for each semester in full prior to the beginning of the semester. The payment amount will depend on the number of courses offered in the semester. Students who wish to make monthly payments instead of on a per-semester basis may do so upon completion and approval of the Request for Monthly Payments Form.
Students must submit payment within five business days after the start of the new payment period. A $35 late fee will be added to all late payments. There are no additional financing fees or interest charges. Students who maintain a balance from a previous payment period will not be allowed to begin a new semester until the balance is paid.
Tuition covers the cost of educational services, instructional materials, admission costs, technology access, proctoring, and library services. Students are responsible for their own travel, housing, and meal costs when attending the Intensive In-Person Residencies, except for lunches.
Costs for optional services, defined as services that are not required to matriculate through the program but are available upon request, include:
Transcript Fee: Two provided at no cost, then $10.00 each.
Diploma Fee: One provided at no cost, then $30.00 each.
Return Payment Fee: $25.00 each occurrence
K. Anders Ericsson Memorial Scholarship
Sentio University is proud to offer the K. Anders Ericsson Memorial scholarship. This scholarship is merit based and is specifically tailored for students enrolled in the Marriage and Family Therapy program, and aims to provide financial support and foster academic excellence. The K. Anders Ericsson Memorial Scholarship grants funding ranging from $1,000 to $67,200, with three tiers of financial assistance. Sentio University is committed to empowering the next wave of therapists, and this scholarship provides accessible and inclusive educational opportunities for aspiring professionals pursuing Marriage and Family Therapy.
Click here to learn more about the scholarship and how to apply!
Jeremy Safran Scholarship
Sentio University is excited to offer the Jeremy Safran scholarship. This scholarship is need based and aims to help students lessen the financial strain of graduate school. Students who are enrolled in the Marriage and Family Therapy program may be considered for this scholarship which offers financial assistance ranging from $1,000 to $67,200, with selection criteria based on three tiers of financial need. At Sentio University, we are dedicated to empowering the next generation of therapists, and this scholarship underscores our commitment to creating accessible and inclusive educational opportunities for aspiring professionals in the field of Marriage and Family Therapy.
Click here to learn more about the scholarship and how to apply!
Contact Us
Mikaela Abundez
Director of Student Services
310-916-9378
Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm
How Much Does an MFT Degree Cost in California?
If you are comparing the cost of marriage and family therapy programs in California, you have probably noticed that tuition varies enormously from one institution to the next. Public university programs at CSU campuses can range from roughly $14,000 to $25,000 in total, though many have limited seats, long waitlists, and completion timelines of two to three years or more. Mid range private programs typically fall between $50,000 and $80,000. At the higher end, well known private universities like USC, Pepperdine, and similar institutions can exceed $100,000 in total cost of attendance.
The tuition figures above tell you what each program charges. They do not tell you what each program includes, how long you will be in school, what kind of clinical training you will receive, or how prepared you will be to practice effectively as a therapist after graduation. Those are the factors that determine the real value of your degree, and they are worth examining carefully before making one of the largest financial decisions of your career.
Understanding the True Cost of an MFT Program
When evaluating the total cost of any MFT program, it is important to look beyond the tuition number on the website. There are several hidden or variable costs that can significantly affect what you actually pay and how long it takes to finish your degree and begin earning as a licensed professional.
Practicum placement is one of the biggest variables. At many California MFT programs, students are responsible for finding their own practicum site. This process can take months, and there is no guarantee that the site a student finds will provide high quality supervision, a diverse client population, or enough clinical hours to stay on track for timely graduation. Some students end up extending their programs by a semester or more because of practicum delays, adding tuition, opportunity cost, and months of foregone income. At Sentio, every student in good standing receives a guaranteed practicum placement at the Sentio Counseling Center, beginning in the second semester. This eliminates the search process entirely and ensures that clinical training is integrated into the program from early on rather than treated as something students must figure out on their own.
Program length is another factor. Sentio's MFT program is completed in 20 months, which is faster than many California programs that take 24 to 36 months. A shorter time to degree means fewer months paying tuition, fewer months out of or underemployed in the workforce, and an earlier start to accumulating the supervised clinical hours required for LMFT licensure. You can review the full program timeline and semester structure on our Academic Calendars page.
Cohort size and faculty access also have financial implications that are easy to overlook. In large programs with 30, 40, or 50 or more students per class, the per student investment in supervision and mentorship is inherently lower. Sentio caps cohorts at 16 students and maintains a 4:1 student to faculty ratio, which means more direct observation of your clinical work, more personalized feedback, and more faculty time devoted to your individual development. This level of training intensity is typically associated with programs at much higher price points. You can learn more about our faculty and supervisors and the qualifications they bring to the training experience.
What an MFT Degree Is Worth in California
Marriage and family therapy is one of the most in demand mental health professions in California. The state has the largest number of licensed MFTs in the country, and demand continues to grow as awareness of mental health needs expands across communities, healthcare systems, schools, and workplaces. Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists in California work in a wide range of settings including private practice, community mental health agencies, hospitals, school systems, employee assistance programs, and nonprofit organizations.
Earning potential varies by setting, location, and years of experience, but the career trajectory for LMFTs in California is strong. Private practice therapists in particular have significant control over their income and schedule once they are fully licensed. The path to licensure begins with completing a BBS approved master's degree, which Sentio's program fulfills in full. From there, graduates accumulate the remaining supervised clinical hours required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences and pass the state licensing exams. You can find a detailed overview of how this process works on our Licensure Information page.
The quality of your graduate training directly affects how quickly you develop the clinical competence needed to build a successful practice and serve your clients effectively. Sentio's curriculum is built entirely on Deliberate Practice, an evidence based methodology that research consistently shows accelerates skill development compared to traditional lecture and case discussion formats. Students begin practicing clinical skills in their first semester through hundreds of hours of structured rehearsal, and they receive weekly video based feedback on actual client sessions throughout the program. The research on Deliberate Practice in psychotherapy training supports what Sentio students experience firsthand: focused, feedback driven practice produces more effective therapists, faster.
Sentio also prepares graduates for an evolving professional landscape through its AI Research program. As the first graduate institution to formally integrate AI training into mental health education, Sentio ensures that students graduate understanding how to evaluate and use AI tools safely and ethically in clinical settings, a competency that will become increasingly relevant across the field in the years ahead.
Making Your Decision
Choosing an MFT program is a significant investment, and the right choice depends on your financial situation, career goals, learning preferences, and the kind of clinician you want to become. We encourage prospective students to compare programs carefully and ask detailed questions about what is included in tuition, how practicum placement works, what the student to faculty ratio actually is during clinical supervision, and what kind of training methodology the program uses.
If you would like to discuss how Sentio's program and financial options fit your specific circumstances, you can request information to connect with an admissions advisor, or attend an open house to meet our team and ask questions in a live setting. You can also explore the full curriculum and degree requirements in our Academic Catalog, review answers to common financial and program questions on our FAQ page, or start your application on our Apply Now page.