Best colleges for Clinical
Ranked by graduate earnings
The top bachelor's colleges for Clinical by graduate earnings are CUNY Bernard M Baruch College ($57,204), Albright College ($48,838) and Thomas Jefferson University ($43,964), based on median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, among programs with at least 20 graduates a year, excluding online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools and those with a graduation rate under 30%.
- CUNY Bernard M Baruch College (New York, NY): $57,204, 80 graduates a year
- Albright College (Reading, PA): $48,838, 35 graduates a year
- Thomas Jefferson University (Philadelphia, PA): $43,964, 56 graduates a year
- Saint Cloud State University (Saint Cloud, MN): $42,406, 54 graduates a year
- Boston College (Chestnut Hill, MA): $42,384, 119 graduates a year
Compare 739 U.S. colleges offering Clinical by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 53 states.
Clinical programs report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $34,506 (College Scorecard, 2019), and map to CIP 42.28 and the Clinical and Counseling Psychologists occupation (BLS SOC).
About Clinical programs
The Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology program focuses on understanding and addressing psychological, emotional, and behavioral issues. It is designed for students interested in pursuing careers in various areas of psychology, including clinical, community, and counseling settings. This program equips students with the necessary skills to support individuals and groups in overcoming challenges and improving mental health.
Students in this program will develop core skills in reading comprehension, critical thinking, and effective communication. Coursework typically covers essential knowledge areas such as therapy and counseling, psychology, and sociology, preparing graduates to assess and address mental health issues effectively.
Top 25 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, predominant credential. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CUNY Bernard M Baruch College New York, NY Public · Bachelor's degree | $57,204 | 80 | 72% | — | — |
| 2 | Albright College Reading, PA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $48,838 | 35 | 51% | $21,906 | $39,762 |
| 3 | Thomas Jefferson University Philadelphia, PA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $43,964 | 56 | 69% | $26,034 | $47,976 |
| 4 | Saint Cloud State University Saint Cloud, MN Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,406 | 54 | 40% | — | $24,948 |
| 5 | Boston College Chestnut Hill, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $42,384 | 119 | 91% | $21,126 | $17,361 |
| 6 | Emmanuel College Boston, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $41,522 | 25 | 68% | $29,723 | $27,000 |
| 7 | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Daytona Beach Daytona Beach, FL Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $41,456 | 69 | 67% | $38,899 | $24,620 |
| 8 | Pace University New York, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $40,671 | 35 | 60% | $29,994 | $26,000 |
| 9 | California State University - San Bernardino San Bernardino, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,316 | 35 | 55% | — | $14,958 |
| 10 | University of Chicago Chicago, IL Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $39,808 | 28 | 96% | $13,333 | $12,000 |
| 11 | Tiffin University Tiffin, OH Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $38,989 | 49 | 40% | $24,126 | $27,000 |
| 12 | Lesley University Cambridge, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $38,404 | 27 | 58% | $30,837 | $26,000 |
| 13 | SUNY College of Technology at Canton Canton, NY Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,254 | 58 | 38% | — | $26,000 |
| 14 | Tufts University Medford, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $35,806 | 71 | 94% | $23,570 | — |
| 15 | CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice New York, NY Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,656 | 638 | 56% | — | $13,421 |
| 16 | Florida Institute of Technology Melbourne, FL Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $34,506 | 1,265 | 64% | $33,585 | $32,000 |
| 17 | Gardner-Webb University Boiling Springs, NC Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $34,491 | 44 | 55% | $22,863 | $29,166 |
| 18 | University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Belton, TX Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $33,805 | 58 | 49% | $27,869 | $27,000 |
| 19 | University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle, WA Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,192 | 30 | 85% | — | $14,259 |
| 20 | University of North Texas Denton, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,553 | 191 | 61% | — | $19,583 |
| 21 | Augsburg University Minneapolis, MN Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $31,211 | 23 | 52% | $23,585 | $29,625 |
| 22 | Delaware Valley University Doylestown, PA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $29,383 | 35 | 56% | $25,402 | $25,000 |
| 23 | Farmingdale State College Farmingdale, NY Public · Bachelor's degree | $28,904 | 65 | 53% | — | $20,175 |
| 24 | Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, MI Public · Bachelor's degree | $28,007 | 53 | 58% | — | $27,000 |
| 25 | Mississippi State University Mississippi State, MS Public · Bachelor's degree | $27,841 | 101 | 67% | — | $26,000 |
Top certificate or associate program
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Cincinnati Cincinnati, OH Public · Graduate degree | $61,980 | 273 | 75% | — | $19,000 |
Specializations within Clinical
17 of the 18 6-digit CIP codes under CIP 42.28 have U.S. graduates (NCES CIP 2020, IPEDS 2024–25). Each links to its own page, ranked by graduates.
- Counseling PsychologyCIP 42.280312,264 graduates / yr277 institutions47 states
- Applied Behavior AnalysisCIP 42.28147,215 graduates / yr143 institutions38 states
- Clinical PsychologyCIP 42.28016,396 graduates / yr205 institutions47 states
- School PsychologyCIP 42.28053,734 graduates / yr205 institutions47 states
- Industrial and Organizational PsychologyCIP 42.28043,169 graduates / yr127 institutions34 states
- Applied PsychologyCIP 42.28132,999 graduates / yr96 institutions33 states
- Forensic PsychologyCIP 42.28122,718 graduates / yr59 institutions28 states
- Educational PsychologyCIP 42.28061,874 graduates / yr84 institutions35 states
- ClinicalCIP 42.2899711 graduates / yr46 institutions25 states
- Family PsychologyCIP 42.2811partial data630 graduates / yr6 institutions5 states
- Community PsychologyCIP 42.2802464 graduates / yr34 institutions22 states
- Health/CIP 42.2810
Medical Psychology 428 graduates / yr25 institutions18 states - Performance and Sport PsychologyCIP 42.2815New in CIP 2020318 graduates / yr18 institutions13 states
- Clinical Child PsychologyCIP 42.2807partial data101 graduates / yr9 institutions7 states
- Transpersonal/CIP 42.2817
Spiritual Psychology New in CIP 2020limited data40 graduates / yr1 institutions1 states - Environmental PsychologyCIP 42.2808partial data22 graduates / yr3 institutions3 states
- GeropsychologyCIP 42.2809limited data2 graduates / yr1 institutions1 states
Show all 18 codes (1 with no U.S. programs reported)+
- Somatic Psychology42.2816
No institution reported completions for these codes in the latest IPEDS year, so they have no page.
Offered across 53 states & territories
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-3033, Clinical and Counseling Psychologists, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Clinical program can pursue careers in various psychology fields, with an outlook for job growth at 11.2% and approximately 4,800 annual openings. The median wage for professionals in this area is $95,830, and most positions require a doctoral or professional degree.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Clinical
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 42.28.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 42.28 (Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology) maps to 16 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 11-3121 | Human Resources Managers |
| 11-3131 | Training and Development Managers |
| 11-9199 | Managers, All Other |
| 13-1071 | Human Resources Specialists |
| 13-1111 | Management Analysts |
| 13-1151 | Training and Development Specialists |
| 19-3032 | Industrial-Organizational Psychologists |
| 19-3033 | Clinical and Counseling Psychologistsprimary |
| 19-3034 | School Psychologists |
| 19-3039 | Psychologists, All Other |
| 21-1012 | Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors |
| 21-1014 | Mental Health Counselors |
| 21-1019 | Counselors, All Other |
| 25-1066 | Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary |
| 25-9043 | Teaching Assistants, Special Education |
| 27-2022 | Coaches and Scouts |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Clinical programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
What graduates do on the job
- Conduct assessments of patients' risk for harm to self or others.
- Document patient information including session notes, progress notes, recommendations, and treatment plans.
- Identify psychological, emotional, or behavioral issues and diagnose disorders, using information obtained from interviews, tests, records, or reference materials.
- Write reports on clients and maintain required paperwork.
- Counsel individuals, groups, or families to help them understand problems, deal with crisis situations, define goals, and develop realistic action plans.
- Interact with clients to assist them in gaining insight, defining goals, and planning action to achieve effective personal, social, educational, or vocational development and adjustment.
Common questions
What specializations are available in this program?+
Specializations include Clinical Psychology, Community Psychology, Counseling Psychology, and more.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in active listening, critical thinking, and effective communication.
What is the job outlook for graduates?+
The job outlook is much faster than average, with a growth rate of 11.2%.
What level of education is typically required?+
Most careers in this field require a doctoral or professional degree.
How much do Clinical graduates earn?+
Clinical graduates report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $34,506, College Scorecard (2019); the Clinical and Counseling Psychologists occupation pays about $112,750 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Clinical?+
Clinical maps to CIP 42.28 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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