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Compare tuition, accreditation, clinical hours, and licensure alignment for every NH MFT program
New Hampshire requires a minimum of 1,000 supervised postgraduate clinical hours before granting LMFT licensure, a commitment that makes choosing the right graduate program especially consequential. The state's MFT pipeline is narrow: only a handful of programs operate here, with in-state tuition ranging from roughly $10,400 to nearly $19,000 per year depending on the institution and format. COAMFTE-accredited programs exist alongside graduate certificate tracks for clinicians adding a specialty.
That limited pool creates a practical tension. Fewer programs mean less local competition for clinical placements, but it also means fewer scheduling and format choices. Nationally, demand for marriage and family therapists continues to outpace the supply of new licensees, and New Hampshire's small cohort sizes keep the in-state talent pipeline tight. If you are weighing your options, understanding how to become a licensed marriage and family therapist is the best place to start.
New Hampshire offers a small but notable selection of marriage and family therapy programs, anchored by COAMFTE-accredited options at the University of New Hampshire and Antioch University New England. Whether you are looking for a full master's degree, a doctoral track, or a post-master's certificate, each program below serves a distinct student profile. Note that graduation rates shown are institution-wide figures, net price reflects an institution-level average (not program-specific costs), and program-level earnings data are not yet available for these MFT programs.
Durham, NH · $24,000/yr (net price)
Best for: Future clinicians serving rural NH families
The University of New Hampshire's Durham campus houses the state's flagship COAMFTE-accredited Master of Science in Human Development and Family Studies with a Marriage and Family Therapy option. The 72-credit program requires 500 hours of supervised clinical practice and boasts a reported 97% graduation rate and 100% national exam pass rate. Clinical placements emphasize work with rural and small-town New Hampshire families through partnerships with community mental health centers and family resource agencies, and interprofessional collaboration with UNH's social work, nursing, and psychology programs strengthens graduates' readiness for integrated care settings. Prospective students should be aware that admissions are paused for the 2025 to 2026 cycle, so contacting the program directly for the latest enrollment timeline is essential.
Plymouth, NH · $15,000 – $20,000/yr
Best for: Students adding addictions or play therapy focus
Plymouth State University offers a campus-based Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy designed to serve central and northern New Hampshire. The program stands out for its modular structure, letting students layer specialized components in addictions treatment, eating disorders, or play therapy on top of the core MFT curriculum. Clinical training sites span community mental health centers, hospitals, and state child and family service agencies across rural NH. While the program is not COAMFTE-accredited, it prepares graduates for New Hampshire LMFT licensure and is a strong fit for students who want to combine MFT training with niche clinical specializations.
Manchester, NH · ~$11,000/yr (est.)
Best for: Working professionals seeking flexible scheduling
The University of New Hampshire College of Professional Studies in Manchester provides a COAMFTE-accredited MFT master's program structured for greater flexibility than the Durham campus option. The curriculum mirrors the 72-credit, 500-clinical-hour framework and integrates telehealth competencies and a multicultural sensitivity focus suited to serving diverse New Hampshire communities. A 10-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio supports close mentorship, and institutional tuition is notably lower than the Durham campus. Students considering this program should confirm the current admissions cycle directly with UNH CPS, as detailed program pages have been less consistently updated than the Durham listing.
Keene, NH
Antioch University New England in Keene is the only New Hampshire institution offering both a COAMFTE-accredited MA and a COAMFTE-accredited PhD in Couple and Family Therapy, with the master's program accredited since 1993 and the doctoral program since 2010. For licensed clinicians who already hold a master's degree, Antioch also offers a 27 to 30 credit Post-Master's Certificate in Couple and Family Therapy that combines online coursework with low-residency intensives in Keene. The certificate's individualized program planning helps students align coursework with New Hampshire LMFT educational requirements or those of neighboring states, making it especially practical for working professionals across New England.
The table below compares the MFT programs available in New Hampshire, including tuition, program format, accreditation status, and key details. Use this side by side view to quickly identify which program aligns with your budget, schedule, and career goals. Note that program-level earnings data is not yet available for these programs.
| School | Location | Degree Level | COAMFTE Accredited | Credits Required | Format | In-State Tuition (Annual) | Out-of-State Tuition (Annual) | Key Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of New Hampshire | Durham, NH | Master's (M.S.) | Yes | 72 | On Campus | $16,932 | $30,912 | Full-time, 2 years including 2 summers; 500 supervised clinical hours; 100% national exam pass rate; competitive stipends available |
| University of New Hampshire College of Professional Studies Online | Manchester, NH | Master's | Yes | 72 | On Campus | $10,448 | $11,708 | COAMFTE accredited; 500 clinical practice hours; 10:1 student to faculty ratio; no entrance exam required |
| Antioch University | Keene, NH | Master's (M.A.) | Yes | N/A | On Campus | N/A | N/A | COAMFTE accredited; also offers a Ph.D. in Marriage and Family Therapy |
| Antioch University | Keene, NH | Doctoral (Ph.D.) | Yes | N/A | On Campus | N/A | N/A | COAMFTE accredited doctoral program for advanced study and research |
| Plymouth State University | Plymouth, NH | Graduate Certificate | No | N/A | On Campus | $18,903 | $25,665 | Offers a graduate certificate in Marriage and Family Therapy; may complement an existing master's degree |
Earning your LMFT credential in New Hampshire follows a clear, sequential path overseen by the NH Board of Mental Health Practice. Each stage builds on the last, so understanding the full progression helps you plan your timeline and budget from day one.
Earning your master's degree is a major milestone, but it is only the first step toward practicing independently as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in New Hampshire. The NH Board of Mental Health Practice oversees LMFT licensure, and the process involves supervised clinical experience, a national exam, and a formal application. Here is what to expect at each stage.
New Hampshire requires a graduate degree in marriage and family therapy or a closely related field. Programs accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE) are the clearest path, but equivalent programs may also be accepted if they meet the board's curricular standards.1 If you graduate from a COAMFTE-accredited program, you can transfer up to 500 hours of pre-degree practicum experience toward your postgraduate clinical requirement, along with up to 100 supervision hours. Graduates of non-COAMFTE programs may still apply the standard 300 pre-degree practicum hours. For a broader overview of the steps involved, see our guide to becoming an MFT.
After completing your degree, you must accumulate 3,000 hours of postgraduate clinical experience over a minimum of two years, with no more than 1,500 hours counted in any single year. Within those 3,000 hours:
Before supervision begins, you must file a supervision agreement with the board and pay a $25 processing fee. If you want to know more about what supervised practice looks like day to day, our article on MFT clinical internship expectations is a helpful starting point.
New Hampshire requires passing the National Marriage and Family Therapy Examination, administered by the Association of Marital and Family Therapy Regulatory Boards (AMFTRB). The exam fee is $295, paid directly to the testing organization. The board does not publish a separate passing score threshold beyond the standard cut score set by AMFTRB.
Once you have met the education, experience, and exam requirements, you can submit your LMFT application to the NH Board of Mental Health Practice. The total cost at this stage includes:
Plan for processing time, and submit all transcripts, supervision logs, and exam score reports together to avoid delays.
New Hampshire LMFT licenses renew every two years. To renew, you must complete 40 hours of continuing education, including at least 6 hours in ethics and 3 hours in suicide prevention.4 Meeting these requirements on time keeps your license in good standing and ensures uninterrupted practice.
If you already hold an active LMFT license in another state, New Hampshire offers a fast-track endorsement pathway for professionals with five or more years of licensed practice. This streamlined process can significantly reduce the time between relocation and starting a New Hampshire practice, though you will still need to complete a background check and submit verification of your out-of-state license.
Choosing between online and on-campus MFT programs is one of the most consequential decisions New Hampshire students will make. Both formats can lead to the same LMFT credential, but the day-to-day experience, costs, and logistical demands differ significantly. Because New Hampshire is an NC-SARA member state, residents can enroll in approved out-of-state online programs and still meet licensure requirements, provided the program holds COAMFTE accreditation.
Choosing to pursue a marriage and family therapy degree is a significant investment, so understanding what you can expect to earn in New Hampshire helps you weigh the return on that commitment. While program-level earnings data for New Hampshire MFT graduates are not yet available through federal reporting, state and national wage statistics paint a useful picture of where the profession stands.
According to Bureau of Labor Statistics data from 2024, the median annual wage for marriage and family therapists in New Hampshire is $57,220.1 That figure sits close to the national median of $58,510 (reported for 2023), meaning New Hampshire MFTs earn roughly in line with their peers across the country. The pay range in the state is broad: therapists at the 25th percentile earn around $44,490, while those at the 75th percentile bring in approximately $80,300.1 Experience, practice setting, and whether you eventually move into private practice all influence where you land on that spectrum.
Nationally, the 10th percentile wage is about $39,090, while the top 10 percent of MFTs earn upward of $104,710. Therapists who build specialized caseloads or take on supervisory roles tend to reach the upper end more quickly. For a deeper breakdown of pay across different states and settings, see our guide to marriage and family therapist salary.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 13 percent job growth for marriage and family therapists nationwide between 2024 and 2034, a pace well above the average for all occupations.3 While state-specific projection figures for New Hampshire have not been published through official channels, the broader trend reflects growing public acceptance of therapy services, expanded insurance coverage for mental health, and increasing demand in rural and underserved communities, all of which are relevant factors across the Granite State. You can explore more about what this marriage and family therapy career outlook means for day-to-day practice in our careers guide.
New Hampshire MFT programs carry varying price tags. In-state master's tuition at the University of New Hampshire, for example, starts around $16,932 per year, while Plymouth State University lists graduate tuition near $18,903 for in-state students. It is worth noting that New Hampshire has a relatively high cost of living compared to much of the country, though it remains somewhat lower than neighboring Massachusetts and Connecticut. The absence of a state income tax also means a larger share of your earnings stays in your paycheck, a meaningful advantage when comparing New Hampshire salaries against similar figures in other New England states where state income taxes range from roughly 3 to 6 percent.
When you weigh median early-career earnings near $57,220 against the total cost of a master's program, the math generally works in your favor, especially if you secure in-state tuition rates or take advantage of the competitive stipends and scholarships that several New Hampshire programs offer. If you want to run the numbers yourself, our return on investment MFT degree analysis walks through the calculation in detail. Debt loads for graduates of these institutions tend to cluster in the mid-$20,000 range, a manageable figure relative to a salary that can climb meaningfully as you gain licensure hours and clinical experience.
New Hampshire offers MFT salaries that are competitive with the national median, strong projected demand, and a tax environment that stretches your take-home pay further than in most neighboring states. If you are evaluating whether this career path pencils out financially, the combination of reasonable program costs, growing workforce demand, and solid mid-career earning potential makes a compelling case.
Program-level earnings data for New Hampshire MFT programs are not currently reported, and the state does not have enough programs in the dataset to allow a side-by-side comparison. However, Bureau of Labor Statistics data offers a useful benchmark for what licensed marriage and family therapists earn statewide.
Below are answers to some of the most common questions prospective students ask about MFT programs and licensure in New Hampshire. Each answer draws on the latest available data and state requirements to help you plan your path with confidence.
