Loma Linda University MFT Program: Comprehensive Profile and Student Fit Analysis
Sentio University believes in program transparency and that all prospective students should have access to detailed, objective information about MFT programs to make the best possible decision for their education and career.
Program data collected April 2026 from publicly available sources including the program's official website, the Loma Linda University academic catalog, the COAMFTE directory, and BBS records. Prospective students should verify all details directly with the program before applying.
Program Snapshot
University: Loma Linda University
Official Degree Name: Master of Science in Marital and Family Therapy
Campus Location: Griggs Hall, 11065 Campus Street, Loma Linda, CA 92350 (School of Behavioral Health, Department of Counseling and Family Sciences)
Program Page Links: On-Campus Format, Online Format
Modality: Two formats offered: on-campus in Loma Linda and fully online.
Licensure Track: LMFT track (default). Dual LMFT and LPCC eligibility available by completing four additional units.
Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE); described by the program as the only COAMFTE-accredited MFT program in the Inland Empire. Regional accreditation for the university through the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).
Program Length: 90 quarter units. On-campus full-time: 2 years (7 academic quarters); on-campus part-time: minimum 3 years. Online full-time: 2.5 years (9 academic quarters); online part-time: minimum 3.5 years. Maximum time to completion: 5 years for both formats. Per the LLU catalog.
Estimated Total Program Tuition: Approximately $94,739 total based on the university's published annual tuition estimates of $46,881 (Year 1) and $47,858 (Year 2) for the MS in Marital and Family Therapy per the LLU Marital and Family Therapy cost table. A per-quarter-unit rate is not publicly listed on the program's own cost page, and students should verify the current rate directly with the LLU Student Finance Office.
GRE Requirement: Not required. The program states there are no GRE or course prerequisites for admission.
Religious Orientation: Seventh-day Adventist (the university is a Seventh-day Adventist institution; the program states that preference is given to applicants aligned with the faith-based mission of the University and the Seventh-day Adventist Church).
Entering Class Size: Not publicly listed.
Specializations: Medical Family Therapy concentration; optional certificates in Play Therapy and in Drug and Alcohol Counseling (with tuition waivers for current MS students). Embedded coursework for military and veteran practice.
Schedule and Format Details
On-Campus Format: First-year students typically attend classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays; second-year students typically attend Mondays and Wednesdays. Full-time minimum enrollment is 8 units per quarter across Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer quarters. Fall quarter admission only.
Online Format: Distance delivery with a 9-quarter full-time plan. Fall quarter admission. Students complete clinical fieldwork at community mental health settings in their own geographic region.
Concentrations and Specializations
Medical Family Therapy Concentration: Designed for students interested in working with patients and families affected by illness, injury, or disability. This track draws on clinical placements across the Loma Linda University Health system, which includes the Medical Center, Children's Hospital, the Behavioral Medicine Center, and the Behavioral Health Institute.
Play Therapy Certificate: Available as an add-on for current MS students with a tuition waiver.
Drug and Alcohol Counseling Certificate: Available as an add-on for current MS students with a tuition waiver.
Clinical Training and Fieldwork
Clinical Hours: Per the 2025-2026 LLU catalog entry for the MS in Marital and Family Therapy, students must complete a minimum of 300 direct face-to-face client contact hours, of which at least 100 must be relational or systemic work (couples, families, or relationship systems), with a minimum of 12 months of field experience. Students complete at least 100 hours of clinical supervision, of which at least 50 must use observable data (audio, video, or live observation). Supervision ratio is at least 1 hour of supervision per 5 hours of clinical work, with at least 1 hour of individual supervision per week when seeing clients.
Training Clinic: Yes. Students may complete placements at the program's Resiliency Clinic as well as at community mental health centers, agencies, schools, and hospitals, including sites across the Loma Linda University Health system.
Practicum Arrangement: Students complete fieldwork at program-approved clinical sites, with access to the LLU Health system and the program's Resiliency Clinic alongside community placements.
Personal Psychotherapy Requirement: Not publicly listed.
Culminating Requirements
Per the 2025-2026 LLU catalog, students must pass a written comprehensive examination prior to advancement to candidacy and an oral examination at the end of the program.
Application Process
Application Deadline: On-Campus Fall 2026 deadline: April 15, 2026. No application fee.
Start Term: Fall only (admission occurs in autumn quarter only).
GPA Requirement: Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA on bachelor's degree, with an exception permitting a 2.75 overall GPA if the last 45 quarter credits (30 semester units) are at 3.0 or higher. Grade of B or better required for course progression.
Prerequisites: None required.
Application Components: Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution, three letters of recommendation (academic or employment), and a pre-entrance health clearance.
Interview: Required. Interviews occur January through May and may be conducted in person or virtually. Evaluation criteria include communication skills, alignment with institutional values, critical thinking, cultural competence, and commitment to the field.
What This Program Says About Itself
✓ Per Loma Linda's MFT program page, the MS in Marital and Family Therapy is the only COAMFTE-accredited MFT program in the Inland Empire.
✓ The program describes itself as rooted in a Christian commitment to compassionate, whole-person care, with the university as a Seventh-day Adventist institution.
✓ Students can pursue a Medical Family Therapy concentration that draws on placements across the Loma Linda University Health system.
✓ The program offers both on-campus and fully online formats, with equivalent COAMFTE accreditation and curriculum, per the online program description.
✓ The program integrates embedded coursework for military and veteran practice and offers certificates in Play Therapy and Drug and Alcohol Counseling with tuition waivers, per Loma Linda's program overview.
This Program May Be a Good Fit For
✓ Career changers entering the field: The program requires no undergraduate prerequisite courses and does not require the GRE.
✓ Students seeking an accelerated path: The on-campus full-time plan can be completed in two years (7 academic quarters).
✓ Students seeking strong practicum infrastructure: Access to the LLU Health system network and the on-site Resiliency Clinic supports supervised clinical training from early in the program.
✓ Students planning to practice in multiple states: COAMFTE accreditation supports portability of the degree across U.S. jurisdictions that recognize COAMFTE-accredited programs.
✓ Students interested in dual licensure (MFT and LPCC): A dual LMFT/LPCC pathway is available by completing four additional units.
✓ Students seeking faith-integrated training: The program is rooted in a Christian, Seventh-day Adventist mission of whole-person care.
✓ Students interested in a fully online format: A COAMFTE-accredited, 9-quarter online plan is available alongside the on-campus option.
✓ Students in the Inland Empire: The on-campus program is based in Loma Linda and is the only COAMFTE-accredited MFT program in the region.
✓ Students interested in serving medical and health care populations: The Medical Family Therapy concentration provides training for work with patients and families affected by illness, injury, or disability within the LLU Health system.
Making Your Decision: What to Do Before You Apply
Salary data and job market projections are useful inputs to your program search, but they cannot tell you what a school is actually like to attend. Marketing materials, program websites, and admissions presentations are designed to present a program favorably. The most reliable way to cut through that and understand what a program actually delivers in the classroom is to ask to sit in on a live class session, whether in person or online, before you commit. Every program that is confident in the quality of its instruction should not only allow this but actively welcome it. If a program is reluctant to let prospective students observe a class, that reluctance is itself informative. The California MFT job market rewards clinical skill, and the training environment you choose over the next two to three years will shape the kind of therapist you become. Take the time to see it for yourself before you decide.
For a detailed comparison of every MFT program in the state, explore The Absurdly Complete Guide to MFT Programs in California.
To learn more about the Loma Linda University MFT program, visit their official website at the LLU Marital and Family Therapy program page. If you are comparing MFT programs in California, you can explore Sentio University's MFT program to see how our Deliberate Practice training model compares.
Disclaimer: This profile was prepared by Sentio University for informational purposes only. Sentio University is an MFT program in California and a peer institution to the program profiled above. All information was drawn from publicly available sources and the program's own published materials as of April 2026. Sentio University makes no guarantee regarding the accuracy or completeness of this information. Prospective students should contact the program directly to verify all details, including admissions requirements, tuition, accreditation status, and clinical training structure. This profile does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation. For a full list of California MFT programs, visit our California MFT Program Directory.
About the Authors
Tony Rousmaniere, PsyD is the President of Sentio University and Executive Director of the Sentio Counseling Center. He is Past President of the psychotherapy division of the American Psychological Association and the author of over 20 books on deliberate practice and psychotherapy training, including The Essentials of Deliberate Practice book series (APA Books). He is a licensed psychologist in California and Washington. Learn more
Alexandre Vaz, PhD is the Chief Academic Officer of Sentio University and cofounder of the Deliberate Practice Institute. He is co-editor of The Essentials of Deliberate Practice book series (APA Books) and the author of over a dozen books on deliberate practice and psychotherapy training. Dr. Vaz is the founder and host of Psychotherapy Expert Talks. He is a licensed clinical psychologist in Portugal. Learn more