The San Francisco Bay Area has an unusually broad mix of graduate counseling programs. Students can choose from lower-cost California State University programs, private universities with evening schedules, CACREP-accredited clinical mental health counseling degrees, marriage and family therapy programs, and school counseling programs leading to California’s Pupil Personnel Services credential.
Those options do not all lead to the same professional endpoint. A Bay Area master’s degree with “counseling” in the title could prepare a graduate for Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) licensure, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) licensure, the PPS School Counseling Credential, or a non-licensure counseling role. Some programs provide more than one pathway.
That makes professional outcome the first thing to check, followed by cost, location, class schedule, fieldwork requirements, and accreditation. Prospective students who are still comparing degree types can also review the broader California counseling degree options.
Bay Area Counseling Programs at a Glance
The programs below include options in San Francisco, the East Bay, South Bay, Peninsula, and North Bay. Tuition figures reflect published 2026–27 rates when available. They are planning figures rather than guaranteed total degree prices because tuition, fees, enrollment patterns, and program requirements can change.
| University | Featured counseling program | Location | Primary California pathway | Format/length | 2026–27 tuition reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco State University | M.S. Clinical Mental Health Counseling | San Francisco | LPCC | 60 units | About $10,534 for two full-time resident semesters |
| Cal State East Bay | M.S. Counseling Psychology, MFT | Hayward | LMFT, with LPCC preparation available | Full-time, about 2 years | About $10,164 resident tuition and mandatory fees for academic year |
| Sonoma State University | M.A. Clinical Mental Health Counseling | Rohnert Park | LMFT and LPCC | 60 units | About $11,216 for two full-time resident semesters |
| San José State University | M.A. Counseling and Guidance | San José | PPS and/or LPCC depending on plan | 60+ units depending on pathway | State-supported CSU graduate tuition plus campus fees |
| Palo Alto University | M.A. Clinical Mental Health Counseling | Palo Alto/Mountain View and online | LPCC, with marriage/family counseling emphasis available | Approximately 9 quarters | $717 per quarter unit in tuition and unit fees |
| Santa Clara University | M.A. Counseling Psychology | Santa Clara | LMFT, LPCC, or both | 90 quarter units | $816 per quarter unit |
| University of San Francisco | M.A. Counseling Psychology, MFT | Multiple Bay Area locations | LMFT and LPCC preparation | 60 semester units, 2 or 3 years depending on location | Estimated $81,000 tuition at 2026–27 rate |
| Saint Mary’s College of California | M.A. Counseling, MFT/PCC | Moraga | LMFT and LPCC | 68 units | $1,180 per unit |
| Notre Dame de Namur University | M.S. Clinical Psychology, MFT/LPCC | Belmont and online | LMFT and LPCC | 67 units, about 2 to 3 years | $1,059 per unit |
| Dominican University of California | M.S. Counseling Psychology | San Rafael | LMFT, LPCC, or both | 60-unit licensure track | University estimates about $83,882 including tuition and listed fees over three years |
| California Institute of Integral Studies | M.A. Counseling Psychology, Community Mental Health | San Francisco | LMFT or LPCC depending on curriculum | 60 or 67 units, about 2.5 to 3 years | $1,449 per unit |
The least expensive choices for California residents tend to be the public CSU programs. Private programs can cost substantially more, but some provide scheduling, specializations, online coursework, or clinical orientations that may justify the additional expense for a particular student.
How to Compare Counseling Programs in the Bay Area
A Bay Area location is not enough to determine whether a program fits your plans. Before applying, look at four separate questions.
First, determine the license or credential the curriculum supports. California’s Board of Behavioral Sciences regulates both LMFTs and LPCCs, while the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing regulates school counselors working under the PPS School Counseling Credential. These are separate professional pathways.
Second, examine specialized accreditation separately from university accreditation. CACREP accredits counseling programs. MPCAC accredits master’s programs in psychology and counseling. Institution-wide accreditation applies to the university as a whole and should not be described as though it were CACREP or another counseling-specific accreditation.
Third, consider where fieldwork takes place. In the Bay Area, a graduate program that is geographically convenient for classroom attendance can still require substantial travel once practicum begins. Palo Alto University, for example, tells students that second-year practicum placements commonly require daytime availability during the workweek.
Finally, compare total enrollment time rather than tuition per unit alone. Programs in this list range from roughly two years to three years or longer, and several require summer coursework.
San Francisco State University: M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
San Francisco State has one of the broadest counselor-education departments in Northern California. Its offerings include Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Marriage, Family and Child Counseling, School Counseling, Career Counseling, and College Counseling. The 60-unit M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is the most direct option for students planning to pursue LPCC licensure.
CACREP Accreditation and LPCC Preparation
The Clinical Mental Health Counseling program is CACREP-accredited. CACREP currently lists the program as accredited with reaffirmation in process and an accreditation cycle extending through October 31, 2027. SF State’s school, career, college, and marriage/family counseling specialties also appear in CACREP’s directory.
That gives SF State an advantage for applicants who specifically want CACREP training rather than simply a California-compliant clinical degree.
Public-University Tuition in San Francisco
For 2026–27, SF State charges full-time graduate students $4,274 in systemwide tuition plus $993 in listed local fees per semester, or $5,267. Two full-time fall and spring semesters therefore total about $10,534 before books, housing, transportation, and other expenses. Nonresidents pay an additional $471 per unit.
The tuition is relatively low for the region. The larger financial issue may be the cost of living in or commuting to San Francisco.
Students who want LMFT rather than LPCC preparation should look at SF State’s separate Marriage, Family and Child Counseling pathway rather than assuming the clinical mental health specialization serves both licenses.
California State University, East Bay: M.S. in Counseling Psychology, Marriage and Family Therapy
Cal State East Bay’s Hayward campus offers one of the faster public clinical counseling routes in the region. The Marriage and Family Therapy concentration is structured as a full-time program that can be completed in approximately two years, or about five semesters. Classes can occur during the day, evening, and on some weekends.
Clinical Training Starts During the Program
Students begin placement work during the second year, and Cal State East Bay maintains fieldwork relationships across the Bay Area. The university also operates a Community Counseling Clinic where master’s-level trainees provide counseling under licensed clinical supervision.
The MFT concentration is designed around California’s educational requirements for marriage and family therapy. The department also discusses additional coursework for students interested in LPCC preparation, so applicants interested in both pathways should have their individual course plan reviewed carefully rather than assuming the standard MFT sequence automatically covers everything needed for both.
Cost
Cal State East Bay’s 2026–27 graduate cost-of-attendance figures list $8,548 in resident graduate tuition and $1,616 in fees for two semesters, approximately $10,164 in direct tuition and university fees before other expenses.
Cal State East Bay also has a separate 60-unit School Counseling concentration for the PPS School Counseling Credential, with an optional MFT component. That program is particularly relevant to students who want to work with children and families both inside and outside school systems.
Sonoma State University: M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Sonoma State provides a North Bay public-university option with an unusually clear dual-licensure curriculum.
The 60-unit Clinical Mental Health Counseling specialization includes 19 units of counseling core requirements and 41 units of specialization coursework. Sonoma State states that completion satisfies the academic requirements for both MFT and PCC licensure in California.
Accreditation Is MPCAC, Not CACREP
Sonoma State’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling M.A. is accredited by the Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council through September 2030. MPCAC is specialized programmatic accreditation, but it is different from CACREP.
That distinction should be kept clear for applicants who may eventually seek licensure in another state with specific CACREP-related rules.
Tuition and the North Bay Location
For 2026–27, Sonoma State lists full-time post-baccalaureate/graduate tuition of $4,274 plus $1,334 in campus-based fees per semester. That comes to $5,608 per semester, or approximately $11,216 for two regular semesters.
The program also maintains a separate School Counseling specialization leading toward the PPS credential. For a student in Marin, Sonoma, Napa, or northern parts of the Bay Area, attending Sonoma State may substantially reduce the travel burden compared with a program in San Francisco or the South Bay.
San José State University: M.A. in Counseling and Guidance
San José State is a particularly flexible choice because its counselor education department supports both school counseling and LPCC preparation.
School Counseling With a PPS Credential
SJSU’s current M.A. plus K-12 School Counseling plan requires a minimum of 60 units and can be completed in five semesters by students following the full-time sequence. Coursework, practicum, and supervised fieldwork prepare graduates to apply for California’s PPS School Counseling Credential. The program is approved for this credential pathway by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing.
Students can also add preparation for the Child Welfare and Attendance authorization.
An LPCC Route Is Available Too
SJSU separately publishes an LPCC preparation plan. The department identifies a 60-unit M.A. with LPCC preparation and a 63-unit plan combining LPCC coursework with PPS preparation.
That flexibility distinguishes SJSU from programs that are strictly clinical or strictly school-based.
California residents also receive CSU state-supported graduate tuition rather than private-university per-credit rates. Applicants should check the current SJSU Bursar fee schedule for the semester they enter, since campus fees are added to CSU systemwide tuition.
Palo Alto University: M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Palo Alto University takes a different approach from the CSU programs. Its Clinical Mental Health Counseling master’s is built around counseling-specific accreditation, flexible delivery, and a cohort schedule that can accommodate students who need online or hybrid coursework.
CACREP Through 2033
The Clinical Mental Health Counseling M.A. is CACREP-accredited. CACREP lists the Palo Alto and online delivery formats as accredited through October 31, 2033.
Students may also complete a Marriage, Family and Child Counseling emphasis. Palo Alto University explicitly notes that the emphasis itself is not within the scope of CACREP accreditation, an important distinction between the accredited CMHC program and the additional emphasis.
Online Does Not Mean No Campus Requirements
The degree can be completed in online or hybrid formats, generally over nine quarters. Distance-learning students attend two in-person residencies in the Bay Area.
Clinical fieldwork is substantial. Palo Alto University requires at least 700 hours of counseling-related field experience, including at least 280 face-to-face client hours. The university warns that evening and weekend practicum placements are difficult to find, so students who work full time may need to alter their employment schedule during the clinical portion of the degree.
For new master’s students in 2026–27, PAU lists $652 per unit in tuition plus $65 per-unit fees, for $717 per unit. Online counseling students also pay two $375 residency fees.
Santa Clara University: M.A. in Counseling Psychology
Santa Clara University’s 90-quarter-unit M.A. in Counseling Psychology gives students considerable control over which clinical pathway they pursue.
Students can select:
- MFT preparation
- LPCC preparation
- A combined MFT/LPCC track
- A non-licensure track
Optional emphasis areas include Community Mental Health, Health Psychology, Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Latine Counseling, and LGBTQ+ Counseling. Some combinations require slightly more than 90 quarter units.
The Combined Track Is the Key Option
The ability to complete a combined MFT/LPCC curriculum is useful for students who want to preserve both clinical license options. The degree also includes a three-quarter practicum sequence taken near the end of the program.
Santa Clara operates on the quarter system, so its 90-unit figure should not be compared directly with a 60-semester-unit program as if each unit represented the same amount of instruction.
For 2026–27, Counseling Psychology tuition is $816 per quarter unit, plus a $55 graduate student association fee each term. A simple 90-unit calculation at the current rate is about $73,440 in tuition, but actual total cost can be higher if a concentration adds units or tuition changes during enrollment.
University of San Francisco: M.A. in Counseling Psychology, Marriage and Family Therapy
USF is unusual because the same 60-unit counseling psychology curriculum is offered in several Northern California locations.
Within the Bay Area, students may encounter options associated with San Francisco, the South Bay, East Bay, and Santa Rosa. Location availability can change by cohort, so applicants should verify the current intake before choosing USF based primarily on commute.
Designed Around Working Adults at Some Locations
The standard program can be completed in a three-year format, while USF has also offered an intensive two-year option at the San Francisco campus. South Bay scheduling is built around one evening of class per week with occasional Saturdays.
The curriculum is consistent with California BBS educational requirements for marriage and family therapists and professional clinical counselors. Students should still confirm the precise fieldwork and coursework required for the license they intend to pursue.
Private-University Pricing
USF publishes a 2026–27 rate of $1,350 per unit for the 60-unit program and estimates total tuition at $81,000 at that rate. Tuition and other fees can be adjusted annually.
The cost is substantially higher than the Bay Area CSU programs, so USF’s strongest practical argument is not price. It is the combination of multiple instructional locations, cohort scheduling, and a curriculum structured around clinical counseling and MFT practice.
Saint Mary’s College of California: M.A. in Counseling, MFT/PCC
Saint Mary’s in Moraga offers several counseling routes under one graduate department, including MFT/PCC, School Counseling, General Counseling, and a combined School Counseling plus MFT/PCC specialization.
Three Licensure and Credential Combinations
The standard MFT/PCC degree requires 68 units and is designed to meet educational requirements for California LMFT and LPCC practice. Saint Mary’s also offers an 81-unit dual specialization combining the clinical curriculum with School Counseling and PPS preparation.
That creates several possible directions:
| Saint Mary’s route | Main outcome |
|---|---|
| MFT/PCC | LMFT and LPCC preparation |
| School Counseling | PPS School Counseling Credential |
| Dual School Counseling + MFT/PCC | PPS plus LMFT/LPCC education |
| General Counseling | Counseling-related work or further study, not the same clinical licensure path |
The distinction between the General Counseling degree and the clinical MFT/PCC curriculum is important. Applicants planning to become therapists should select the licensure-specific pathway rather than assuming every MA in Counseling qualifies for BBS registration.
Schedule and Tuition
Classes are held at the Moraga campus, primarily in afternoons and evenings Monday through Thursday, with some Saturday classes. The MFT/PCC program offers three- to five-year plans of study.
For 2026–27, Saint Mary’s lists counseling tuition at $1,180 per unit. At the current rate, 68 units would equal about $80,240 in tuition before fees or future increases.
Notre Dame de Namur University: M.S. in Clinical Psychology, MFT/LPCC
Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont offers one of the more flexible Peninsula options for students who want both LMFT and LPCC preparation.
The 67-unit M.S. in Clinical Psychology with MFT/LPCC specialization is designed for dual California licensure preparation and generally takes two to three years. NDNU also offers a 60-unit MFT-only track.
In Person or Synchronous Online
Students can complete the licensure programs through in-person or online study. NDNU explains that the graduate clinical programs cannot be completed entirely through asynchronous coursework; online students participate in synchronous instruction. Evening classes are available, and the program is structured with working adults in mind.
NDNU is institutionally accredited by WSCUC. That is university-level accreditation and should not be confused with CACREP or COAMFTE programmatic accreditation.
For 2026–27, NDNU charges $1,059 per unit for graduate psychology programs. At the current rate, 67 units would produce a base tuition estimate of about $70,953 before applicable fees and future rate changes.
The combination of Belmont access, synchronous online study, and dual-license preparation makes NDNU a practical comparison for students who like Santa Clara or Saint Mary’s but need more flexibility in where they attend class.
Dominican University of California: M.S. in Counseling Psychology
Dominican University in San Rafael provides another North Bay clinical option, with curricula designed for MFT, PCC, or combined preparation.
Students on the clinical licensure track complete 60 units. Classes are scheduled in late afternoons, evenings, and on weekends, which can make the program more feasible for students remaining employed during graduate school. Dominican also reports that its practicum program works with more than 50 community agencies.
Dominican Publishes an Unusually Detailed Cost Estimate
Rather than presenting only a current per-unit rate, Dominican publishes a projected three-year budget for its 60-unit MFT or PCC counseling psychology track.
For a student beginning under the 2026–27 schedule, Dominican estimates:
- 60 total units
- $81,680 in projected tuition
- $83,882 in projected tuition and listed university fees
- A three-year enrollment sequence
The university’s calculation already assumes projected 3% annual tuition increases in later years. That makes the estimate more realistic than multiplying today’s price by 60 units, although it is still subject to change.
For students living in Marin County or farther north, Dominican may also reduce commuting time enough to change the overall financial calculation, particularly during practicum.
California Institute of Integral Studies: M.A. in Counseling Psychology, Community Mental Health
CIIS in San Francisco approaches counselor education differently from a conventional clinical mental health counseling department. Its Counseling Psychology offerings include several psychotherapy-oriented concentrations, and the Community Mental Health program is especially tied to public-sector and community behavioral health practice.
Community Mental Health With Two Unit Paths
The Community Mental Health concentration is offered in a hybrid format and generally takes 2.5 to three years. CIIS lists a 60-unit MFT curriculum and a 67-unit LPCC curriculum.
This makes the professional pathway explicit instead of treating LPCC and LMFT as interchangeable.
The concentration was developed in connection with public-sector mental health organizations and emphasizes community mental health settings, which may appeal to students who already expect to work in agencies, nonprofits, county behavioral health systems, or similar environments.
Tuition
CIIS charges master’s students $1,449 per unit for 2026–27. At that rate:
| Curriculum | Current-rate tuition calculation |
|---|---|
| 60-unit MFT path | About $86,940 |
| 67-unit LPCC path | About $97,083 |
These are simple estimates based on the current per-unit rate, not guaranteed total program prices. CIIS states that tuition is subject to change each semester, and additional registration, technology, wellness, retreat, or course-specific fees may apply.
CIIS is therefore not a low-cost Bay Area option. Its case rests more on its particular counseling orientation and community mental health focus than on tuition.
Which Bay Area Counseling Programs Are the Most Affordable?
For California residents, the public universities generally have a sizable cost advantage.
Using published 2026–27 figures, a full-time academic year of tuition and mandatory fees is roughly $10,164 at Cal State East Bay, $10,534 at San Francisco State, and $11,216 at Sonoma State. SJSU also uses CSU state-supported tuition rather than the substantially higher per-unit prices common at private universities.
Private programs in this guide range considerably. Palo Alto University’s published unit rate is lower than several of the traditional private universities, while Santa Clara, NDNU, Saint Mary’s, USF, Dominican, and CIIS can move into the $70,000 to $90,000-plus range in base or projected tuition depending on the degree.
That does not automatically make a CSU program the less expensive choice for every student. A long commute, reduced work hours, required daytime clinical placements, and an extra year of enrollment can easily change the real cost of graduate school.
LPCC, LMFT, or School Counseling: Choose the Path Before the School
The program list becomes much easier to evaluate once the intended California credential is clear.
If You Want to Become an LPCC
California’s BBS regulates LPCC licensure. A qualifying modern degree generally contains at least 60 semester units or 90 quarter units and must satisfy specified coursework and practicum requirements. After graduation, California applicants continue through APCC registration, supervised professional experience, the California Law and Ethics examination, and the NCMHCE as applicable. BBS currently requires 3,000 supervised hours over at least 104 weeks for LPCC licensure.
Bay Area options with clear LPCC pathways include:
- San Francisco State
- Sonoma State
- Palo Alto University
- Santa Clara University
- San José State
- Saint Mary’s
- Notre Dame de Namur
- Dominican
- CIIS
- USF, depending on the selected plan and fieldwork
Check the actual licensure curriculum rather than choosing based on the words “counseling” or “clinical psychology” in the degree title.
If You Want to Become an LMFT
The LMFT pathway is also regulated by the BBS. Completing a qualifying graduate program is only the education stage. California currently requires 3,000 hours of supervised experience accumulated over at least 104 weeks before full LMFT licensure, along with the applicable examinations and registration requirements.
Strong Bay Area choices specifically built around MFT education include Cal State East Bay, Sonoma State, Santa Clara, USF, Saint Mary’s, NDNU, Dominican, and several CIIS counseling psychology concentrations.
SF State also has a Marriage, Family and Child Counseling program separate from the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program discussed above.
If You Want to Be a California School Counselor
School counseling follows a different system. The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing administers the PPS Credential with a School Counseling specialization.
For candidates prepared in California, the CTC requires a bachelor’s degree or higher, completion of a Commission-approved post-baccalaureate school counseling preparation program containing at least 48 semester units, including appropriate practicum experience, and formal recommendation by the approved institution.
SJSU is an obvious South Bay option. SF State, Sonoma State, Cal State East Bay, and Saint Mary’s also offer school counseling preparation.
Do not assume an LMFT or LPCC degree alone qualifies someone to serve in a California public-school counseling position requiring the PPS credential.
Does CACREP Accreditation Matter for Bay Area Students?
CACREP is relevant, but it should be evaluated separately from California licensure eligibility.
Among the programs discussed here, San Francisco State and Palo Alto University have CACREP-accredited Clinical Mental Health Counseling programs. SF State also has additional CACREP-accredited counseling specialties.
Sonoma State’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling program is accredited by MPCAC rather than CACREP. Other universities may hold institutional accreditation without having CACREP accreditation for the specific counseling program.
A California program does not have to be CACREP-accredited simply to prepare a graduate for BBS licensure. California’s BBS requirements remain the controlling issue for someone seeking an LPCC or LMFT license in the state.
CACREP can become more significant for students who expect to move, seek licensure in another jurisdiction, pursue certain professional certifications, or enter settings that specifically prefer graduates of CACREP programs.
Think About Bay Area Geography Before You Apply
Location deserves more attention in counseling education than it does for many graduate degrees.
During the classroom portion of a program, commuting one or two evenings per week may be manageable. Practicum changes the equation. Students can spend hundreds of hours at schools, community mental health centers, hospitals, counseling clinics, or other training locations, often during normal business hours.
A student living in San José may find SJSU, Santa Clara, Palo Alto University, NDNU, or USF’s South Bay option considerably more practical than crossing into San Francisco multiple times each week. An East Bay student can compare Cal State East Bay and Saint Mary’s before taking on a bridge commute. Sonoma State and Dominican give North Bay residents options that do not require traveling into San Francisco for every class.
Also ask programs where their recent students completed practicum. A university’s campus address tells you where you attend classes. It does not necessarily tell you where you will spend your clinical training year.
How to Choose a Bay Area Counseling Program
Begin with the license or credential. Eliminate programs that do not support it.
Then compare the remaining programs on factors that will actually affect your experience:
- total required units
- expected time to completion
- full-time or part-time structure
- daytime versus evening classes
- summer enrollment
- in-person, hybrid, or online requirements
- practicum schedule
- geographic placement options
- current tuition and mandatory fees
- CACREP or other programmatic accreditation, when relevant
- ability to prepare for more than one California license or credential
Do not pay private-university tuition simply because a program has a convenient degree title. Conversely, do not choose the cheapest CSU option if its professional pathway, schedule, or location makes it impractical to finish.
Bay Area students have enough counseling programs available that they can be more selective. The goal is not simply to find a master’s degree close to home. It is to find a program whose curriculum, fieldwork, cost, and professional outcome all point toward the type of counseling work you plan to do.
California licensure and credential requirements can change. Before enrolling, verify current requirements with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences for LMFT and LPCC practice or the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing for school counseling.