Sacramento has fewer graduate counseling programs than Los Angeles or the Bay Area, but the local options cover several important professional paths. Students can find CACREP-accredited counseling at a public university, COAMFTE-accredited marriage and family therapy, dual LMFT/LPCC preparation, school counseling with an embedded PPS credential, rehabilitation counseling, career counseling, and faith-integrated clinical programs.
Those paths are not interchangeable. In California, the Board of Behavioral Sciences regulates Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs) and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors (LPCCs). The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing regulates the Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) School Counseling Credential. A master’s degree may prepare a graduate for one of these routes, more than one, or a more specialized counseling career.
This guide focuses on current programs in Sacramento and the immediate Sacramento metro area. Schools are numbered for easier comparison, not as a strict best-to-worst ranking. Students who are still deciding which type of counseling degree they need can also review the broader range of counseling degrees in California.
Counseling Programs in Sacramento at a Glance
| No. | School and program | Location | Main California pathway | Format / length | Current cost reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sacramento State, M.S. in Counseling | Sacramento | LPCC across all concentrations; LMFT + LPCC in MCFC; PPS in School Counseling | 60 units, full-time, 3 years | About $11,366 in 2026-27 resident tuition + mandatory fees for two full-time semesters |
| 2 | Alliant International University, M.A. Marital and Family Therapy | Sacramento | LMFT | 60 credits, minimum 2 years | $1,463 per unit on campus |
| 3 | University of San Francisco, M.A. Counseling Psychology, MFT Concentration | Downtown Sacramento | LMFT; optional LPCC eligibility with additional fieldwork | 60 credits, 3 years | $1,350 per unit; about $81,000 at current rate |
| 4 | Jessup University, M.A. Counseling Psychology | Rocklin | LMFT + LPCC | 63 units, about 26 months | $660 per credit; $43,155 currently published total direct program cost |
These figures are planning references rather than guaranteed total degree prices. Tuition can change during enrollment. Students should also budget for books, university fees, transportation, personal therapy where required, practicum expenses, and the possibility of reducing paid work hours during field training.
How We Selected Sacramento Counseling Programs
This guide prioritizes graduate programs that are currently admitting or serving new counseling students in Sacramento or the immediate metropolitan area and that have a clear professional counseling or therapy outcome.
We reviewed:
- official university program and catalog pages
- 2026-27 tuition and fee information when available
- California BBS licensure information
- California CTC school counseling requirements
- CACREP and COAMFTE accreditation information
- program format and required units
- practicum and internship structure
- whether the degree leads toward LPCC, LMFT, PPS, or another counseling credential
- major current institutional developments that could affect prospective students
Programmatic accreditation is treated separately from institutional accreditation. CACREP accredits counseling programs and specialties. COAMFTE accredits marriage and family therapy programs. WSCUC and other institutional accreditors evaluate the university as a whole.
A California program does not need CACREP or COAMFTE accreditation simply to be designed around state licensure requirements. Students who care about specialized accreditation for professional mobility or other reasons should verify the exact program rather than assuming accreditation applies to every degree at a university.
1. Sacramento State M.S. in Counseling
Sacramento State has the broadest counseling program in the region and the lowest published tuition among the major local options for California residents.
The M.S. in Counseling is a 60-unit, full-time, three-year cohort program. Students apply to one of four concentrations: Career Counseling, Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling, Rehabilitation Counseling, or School Counseling.
All four concentrations are currently CACREP-accredited. CACREP lists the Sacramento State specialties as accredited through March 31, 2029, with a progress report required. That status means the programs remain accredited while CACREP requires the university to provide additional information or documentation.
Four Concentrations With Different Professional Outcomes
Sacramento State does not treat the four concentrations as interchangeable.
| Concentration | Main California pathway | Other professional direction |
|---|---|---|
| Career Counseling | LPCC | Career development, colleges, agencies, government, private practice |
| Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling | LMFT + LPCC | Couples, families, individuals, community mental health |
| Rehabilitation Counseling | LPCC | Rehabilitation counseling and CRC preparation |
| School Counseling | PPS School Counseling; optional LPCC eligibility with added coursework | K-12 school counseling |
All four programs share a substantial counseling core, but approximately 15 units are devoted to concentration-specific preparation.
That structure gives Sacramento State a wider range of counseling careers than most universities on this list. A student interested in disability and rehabilitation has a different curriculum from someone planning to become an LMFT, even though both are part of the same M.S. in Counseling.
Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling
The Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling concentration is the most direct Sacramento State option for students who want psychotherapy with individuals, couples, and families.
Sacramento State states that the 60-unit curriculum meets the educational requirements for both California LMFT and LPCC licensure.
The program includes:
- a 100-hour clinical practicum
- 600 hours of fieldwork
- full-time enrollment over three years
- approximately 9 to 12 units each fall and spring
- a cohort sequence
- clinical and experiential coursework
Students also train through Sacramento State’s Center for Counseling and Diagnostic Services and community placements.
For someone who wants both LMFT and LPCC educational eligibility, this is one of the strongest combinations of public tuition and specialized accreditation in Northern California.
Career and Rehabilitation Counseling
Sacramento State’s Career Counseling concentration is not simply an academic advising degree. The 60-unit curriculum is designed to meet California’s LPCC educational requirements while adding specialized preparation in career development and career decision-making.
Graduates may work in settings such as:
- colleges and universities
- community agencies
- government
- schools
- workforce or career-development organizations
- private practice after applicable licensure requirements are met
The Rehabilitation Counseling concentration also supports LPCC preparation but focuses on disability, medical and psychosocial aspects of disability, vocational issues, addiction, co-occurring disorders, and rehabilitation systems. Sacramento State identifies Certified Rehabilitation Counselor preparation as an additional professional direction.
Both concentrations are CACREP-accredited.
School Counseling With an Embedded PPS Credential
The School Counseling concentration is a 60-unit program with the California PPS School Counseling Credential embedded in the degree.
Students complete a 100-hour practicum and 800 hours of field experience. The program is designed to prepare counselors for elementary, middle, and secondary school settings.
Sacramento State also states that school counseling students can complete an additional course needed for LPCC educational eligibility.
That creates a useful distinction:
- the standard school counseling program leads toward the PPS credential
- students can add the specified coursework for an LPCC educational pathway
- the PPS credential and LPCC license remain separate professional credentials
The school counseling concentration is both CACREP-accredited and aligned with California Commission on Teacher Credentialing requirements.
A Competitive Full-Time Program
Sacramento State reports an average acceptance rate below 20% for the M.S. in Counseling and says it generally accepts about 20 students per concentration in each application cycle.
Applicants should also understand the scheduling commitment. This is not designed as a part-time evening master’s. Sacramento State describes it as a full-time, in-person cohort program, and classes can occur during the day, late afternoon, and evening.
That can make the low tuition less practical for a student who must maintain a conventional full-time work schedule.
Sacramento State Tuition
For fall 2026 and spring 2027, Sacramento State lists full-time post-baccalaureate tuition and mandatory campus fees of $5,683 per semester.
That produces a current academic-year figure of approximately:
| Charge | Two-semester amount |
|---|---|
| Systemwide graduate tuition | $8,548 |
| Mandatory campus fees | $2,818 |
| Total | $11,366 |
A three-year degree will cost more than three times the current annual figure because future CSU tuition rates and campus fees can change.
Nonresident tuition is additional. Sacramento State lists a 2026-27 nonresident charge of $420 per unit on top of applicable tuition and campus fees.
2. Alliant International University M.A. in Marital and Family Therapy
Alliant International University offers a 60-credit M.A. in Marital and Family Therapy at its Sacramento campus.
The program is a more specialized choice than Sacramento State because its central professional identity is marriage and family therapy rather than a broad counselor-education department.
COAMFTE-Accredited MFT Education
Alliant’s master’s program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education.
COAMFTE accreditation applies specifically to marriage and family therapy education. It is different from CACREP counseling accreditation and from Alliant’s institution-wide accreditation.
Students who expect to move to another state may place extra value on COAMFTE accreditation because MFT licensure rules vary by jurisdiction and specialized accreditation can make educational review easier in some circumstances.
California licensure is still controlled by the BBS. A COAMFTE degree does not eliminate California’s registration, supervised experience, examination, and application requirements.
Clinical Training Is a Large Part of the Degree
Alliant requires substantial practical experience during the program. The university identifies:
- at least 300 hours of direct client contact
- 100 hours of supervision
- at least 100 hours of professional development
- a broader practical training total that can reach approximately 600 to 1,300 hours
Those hours are part of graduate clinical preparation. Students should not confuse them with completing the full California post-degree requirement for LMFT licensure.
The BBS currently requires LMFT applicants to accumulate 3,000 hours of supervised experience over at least 104 weeks before full licensure.
Sacramento Campus or Online
Alliant offers the MFT master’s both on campus in Sacramento and online. The program requires 60 credits and can be completed in a minimum of two years.
This gives students a choice that Sacramento State does not provide: they can pursue the same general MFT degree through a private university without committing to a three-year, fully in-person CSU cohort.
The online program is also COAMFTE-accredited, although its tuition differs from the campus program.
Tuition
Alliant currently lists on-campus M.A. Marital and Family Therapy tuition at $1,463 per unit.
At 60 credits, the simple current-rate calculation is approximately $87,780 in base tuition before additional fees or future tuition changes.
The university lists a lower per-unit rate for its online MFT program, so students who are open to online study should compare both formats rather than assuming the Sacramento campus price applies to every Alliant MFT student.
The cost difference from Sacramento State is substantial. Alliant’s case is based on focused MFT preparation, COAMFTE accreditation, a shorter minimum timeline, and the availability of online study rather than low tuition.
3. University of San Francisco M.A. in Counseling Psychology, Marriage and Family Therapy Concentration
The University of San Francisco operates a Sacramento campus at 1 Capitol Mall and offers its M.A. in Counseling Psychology with a Marriage and Family Therapy concentration there.
This is a 60-credit program designed around working adults, with a highly structured three-year schedule.
One Evening Per Week
USF’s Sacramento format is notably different from Sacramento State’s full-time daytime-and-evening model.
The university states that Sacramento students attend classes:
- one evening per week
- on occasional Saturdays
- during fall, spring, and summer
- for three years
Students move through the program as a cohort.
That schedule can be more manageable for someone who needs to keep a daytime job, although clinical fieldwork can still require availability outside the regular class schedule.
LMFT With an Optional LPCC Path
USF states that graduates of the Sacramento program are educationally eligible for the California LMFT path.
Students can also complete additional fieldwork hours to become eligible for the LPCC pathway.
That detail matters because the degree should not be presented as though every student automatically follows identical LMFT and LPCC requirements. Applicants interested in both should verify the precise fieldwork and coursework plan before beginning the program.
The California BBS remains the primary authority for determining whether an applicant has met current licensing requirements.
Accreditation
The University of San Francisco is institutionally accredited by WSCUC. Its School of Education also has California Commission on Teacher Credentialing accreditation for educator-preparation work.
USF does not list this Sacramento MFT concentration among its current CACREP or COAMFTE programmatic accreditations. Students should therefore distinguish the university’s institutional accreditation from specialized MFT or counselor-education accreditation.
That does not mean the program lacks California licensure utility. It means applicants specifically seeking a CACREP- or COAMFTE-accredited degree should compare Sacramento State or Alliant.
Tuition
For 2026-27, USF lists Counseling Psychology, Marriage and Family Therapy tuition at $1,350 per unit.
The degree requires 60 units, producing a current estimated tuition total of $81,000.
USF notes that tuition and fees are subject to annual adjustment. Because students remain enrolled for three years, the eventual total can be higher than the current-rate calculation.
The Sacramento campus format has a clear practical advantage for some students: predictable evening attendance in downtown Sacramento. The tradeoff is private-university pricing.
4. Jessup University M.A. in Counseling Psychology
Jessup University is in Rocklin, roughly within the northern Sacramento metropolitan area, and offers a 63-unit M.A. in Counseling Psychology.
The program is designed around dual California LMFT and LPCC preparation and integrates clinical psychology coursework with an explicitly Christian educational framework.
A 26-Month Dual-Licensure Program
Jessup lists the M.A. at:
- 63 units
- approximately 26 months
- Rocklin campus or remote synchronous delivery
- California BBS-approved educational preparation
- LMFT and LPCC pathways
The program uses a cohort model and includes individual, couples, family, child, and group counseling preparation.
Jessup also reports an extended practicum period of approximately 14 months, giving students more than a single semester to work with clients during graduate training.
Faith Integration Is Central
Jessup does not simply offer a secular counseling curriculum at a Christian university. The program explicitly integrates biblical principles and spiritual formation with psychological theory and clinical preparation.
Students who want a faith-integrated counseling education may see that as a major reason to choose Jessup. Students who prefer a secular counselor-education model may find Sacramento State, Alliant, or USF a better philosophical fit.
Accreditation Requires a Current Look
Jessup is institutionally accredited by WSCUC, and its Counseling Psychology program is approved by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences for the stated licensure preparation.
The counseling program does not advertise CACREP or COAMFTE accreditation.
There is also a current institutional accreditation development applicants should know. On June 26, 2026, WSCUC voted to issue Jessup University a Warning related to compliance with one of its institutional accreditation standards.
Jessup’s accredited status continues during the Warning period, and the university states that student status is not affected by the sanction. Still, this is material information for a prospective graduate student, and applicants should review the current WSCUC status before enrolling.
Current Published Cost
Jessup’s current cost-of-attendance information lists:
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Cost per credit | $660 |
| Required credits | 63 |
| Published total direct program cost | $43,155 |
That puts Jessup considerably below USF and Alliant based on currently published tuition, although it remains more expensive than Sacramento State for a California resident.
The combination of a shorter timeline, dual LMFT/LPCC preparation, and comparatively moderate private-university tuition gives Jessup a distinct position in the Sacramento market.
What About Western Seminary in Sacramento?
Students searching older Sacramento counseling lists may find Western Seminary’s California M.A. in Counseling.
Western’s Sacramento program historically offered a Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling specialization designed around both LMFT and LPCC educational requirements. However, Western Seminary’s current academic catalog states that the Sacramento site is in the process of closing and is conducting a teach-out for existing students.
The catalog specifically states that no new students will be admitted to the Sacramento M.A. in Counseling program.
For that reason, Western Seminary is not included as a numbered option for prospective new students.
The distinction is important because older university pages and program documents remain online. A program can still appear in search results even when it is no longer accepting a new Sacramento cohort.
What About University of the Pacific?
University of the Pacific has a Sacramento campus, and Benerd College offers graduate Counseling Psychology programs in Marriage and Family Therapy and Professional Clinical Counseling.
However, the current official counseling program pages identify the Counseling Psychology program location as the Stockton campus. Stockton is within reach of some Sacramento-area commuters, but it should not be presented as though the degree is currently based in Sacramento.
Pacific is still a reasonable nearby comparison for students willing to travel south or use available hybrid components.
For 2026-27, Pacific lists Counseling Psychology graduate tuition at $1,244 per unit, with programs ranging up to 63 units depending on the selected route.
Because the program’s official location information points to Stockton, it is not included in the numbered Sacramento list.
LPCC Programs in Sacramento
California’s LPCC pathway is regulated by the Board of Behavioral Sciences.
The BBS states that current applicants generally need a qualifying graduate degree meeting Business and Professions Code Section 4999.33, followed by registration as an Associate Professional Clinical Counselor.
After graduation, the pathway includes:
- APCC registration
- supervised professional experience
- the California Law and Ethics Examination
- 3,000 supervised hours accumulated over at least 104 weeks
- the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination
- final licensure application and issuance requirements
The official BBS LPCC applicant page should be checked before enrollment and again during the associate stage because rules can change.
Sacramento-area programs with an LPCC path include:
- Sacramento State, across all four counseling concentrations
- USF Sacramento, with the program’s additional LPCC fieldwork requirements
- Jessup University, through its dual LMFT/LPCC curriculum
Alliant’s Sacramento master’s is primarily an MFT degree. Alliant separately offers CACREP-accredited clinical counseling online, but that is not the same as its Sacramento campus MFT program.
LMFT Programs in Sacramento
The BBS also regulates the LMFT profession.
A qualifying California master’s degree is only the educational stage. After graduation, candidates generally register as Associate Marriage and Family Therapists, complete supervised experience, take the California Law and Ethics Examination, meet the 3,000-hour and 104-week requirements, and pass the LMFT Clinical Examination before full licensure.
The official BBS LMFT applicant page is the primary source for current requirements.
Local programs explicitly designed around LMFT preparation include:
- Sacramento State’s Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling concentration
- Alliant’s M.A. Marital and Family Therapy
- USF Sacramento’s Counseling Psychology MFT concentration
- Jessup University’s M.A. Counseling Psychology
These programs differ considerably in accreditation and structure. Sacramento State is CACREP-accredited. Alliant is COAMFTE-accredited. USF and Jessup are institutionally accredited but do not advertise CACREP or COAMFTE accreditation for the programs profiled here.
School Counseling in Sacramento
Sacramento State is the clearest local option for students seeking the California PPS School Counseling Credential.
California-prepared candidates generally need a bachelor’s degree or higher and at least 48 semester units in a Commission-approved school counseling preparation program, including practicum with school-aged children. The university must then formally recommend the candidate for the credential.
Sacramento State embeds PPS preparation within its 60-unit M.S. in Counseling, School Counseling concentration and requires 800 hours of field experience.
The program also offers a route toward LPCC educational eligibility through an additional course.
That dual possibility can be useful, but PPS and LPCC should not be collapsed into one credential. The PPS credential authorizes school counseling services in California educational settings. LPCC is a clinical license regulated by the BBS.
Students can verify current requirements through the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing PPS School Counseling information.
CACREP and COAMFTE Accreditation in Sacramento
Sacramento students have access to both major forms of specialized accreditation used in the counseling programs discussed here.
CACREP at Sacramento State
Sacramento State’s four counseling concentrations are CACREP-accredited:
- Career Counseling
- Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling
- Rehabilitation Counseling
- School Counseling
CACREP currently lists the programs as accredited through March 31, 2029, with a progress report required.
COAMFTE at Alliant
Alliant’s Sacramento M.A. in Marital and Family Therapy is COAMFTE-accredited.
COAMFTE evaluates marriage and family therapy education specifically, while CACREP evaluates counseling education.
Neither accreditation automatically produces a California license. Students still need to meet the applicable BBS requirements.
For students likely to remain in California, licensure alignment, cost, fieldwork, and schedule may matter as much as specialized accreditation. Students who expect to move between states may place greater weight on CACREP or COAMFTE because state education rules can differ.
How Much Do Counseling Programs in Sacramento Cost?
The local price spread is substantial.
| Program | Current published cost reference |
|---|---|
| Sacramento State M.S. Counseling | About $11,366 for two full-time resident semesters in 2026-27 |
| Jessup M.A. Counseling Psychology | $660 per credit; $43,155 published total direct program cost |
| USF Sacramento MFT | $1,350 per unit; about $81,000 at current rate |
| Alliant Sacramento MFT | $1,463 per unit; about $87,780 for 60 units at current rate |
These figures should not be compared as though they represent exactly the same thing. Sacramento State’s number is one academic year, while Jessup publishes a total direct program cost and USF and Alliant are simple current-rate degree calculations.
Program length also changes the financial picture. Sacramento State is low cost but requires a full-time three-year cohort. Jessup advertises a much shorter 26-month program. USF uses a three-year evening schedule that may make continued daytime employment easier.
Practicum can be just as important as class scheduling. Clinical placements often require daytime client hours even when academic courses occur at night.
Counseling Careers in Sacramento
Sacramento’s role as the state capital creates counseling employment opportunities across government, public agencies, schools, healthcare, rehabilitation programs, nonprofits, community mental health organizations, and private practices.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that marriage and family therapists had a national median annual wage of $66,940 in May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 14% from 2025 to 2035.
For substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors, BLS reports a national median wage of $59,350 in May 2025 and projected employment growth of 18% from 2025 to 2035.
Sacramento counseling graduates may work in:
- county or state behavioral health programs
- community mental health agencies
- K-12 schools
- colleges and universities
- rehabilitation and disability services
- hospitals and healthcare organizations
- substance use treatment programs
- career development programs
- nonprofit organizations
- group practices
- private practice after completing applicable licensure requirements
The degree and credential determine which roles are available. A PPS school counselor, LPCC, LMFT, rehabilitation counselor, and career counselor do not have identical scopes of practice or training requirements.
How to Choose a Counseling Program in Sacramento
Start with the credential you expect to use.
If you want the lowest-cost local route and can commit to a full-time three-year program, Sacramento State deserves close attention. Its four CACREP-accredited concentrations cover more counseling specialties than any other local university.
If marriage and family therapy is the clear goal and COAMFTE accreditation matters, Alliant provides a specialized MFT route at its Sacramento campus.
USF can work well for students who need a predictable one-evening-per-week academic schedule and are comfortable with private-university tuition.
Jessup offers a shorter dual LMFT/LPCC curriculum with comparatively moderate private tuition and explicit Christian integration. Applicants should also review Jessup’s current WSCUC Warning and monitor the university’s accreditation status.
Then compare practical details:
- required units
- program length
- full-time versus working-adult scheduling
- daytime clinical obligations
- practicum and internship locations
- total tuition rather than one semester’s price
- CACREP or COAMFTE accreditation
- LMFT, LPCC, or PPS alignment
- faith-based versus secular curriculum
- institutional accreditation developments
- whether the program is actually accepting new Sacramento students
Sacramento does not have an enormous number of counseling schools, but that can make the comparison more manageable. The local programs differ sharply enough that the right choice usually becomes clearer once a student identifies the intended license, preferred schedule, and realistic budget.
California licensing and credential requirements can change. Before enrolling, verify current LMFT and LPCC requirements directly with the California Board of Behavioral Sciences and school counseling requirements with the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing.