Best institutions to study Clinical Psychology
A program that prepares individuals for the independent professional practice of clinical psychology, involving the analysis, diagnosis, and clinical treatment of psychological disorders and behavioral pathologies.
205 U.S. institutions graduated 6,396 Clinical Psychology students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 42.2801, a specialization of Clinical (CIP 42.28), and leads most directly to the Clinical and Counseling Psychologists occupation (BLS SOC 19-3033).
About Clinical Psychology programs
A program that prepares individuals for the independent professional practice of clinical psychology, involving the analysis, diagnosis, and clinical treatment of psychological disorders and behavioral pathologies. Includes instruction in clinical assessment and diagnosis, personality appraisal, psychopathology, clinical psychopharmacology, behavior modification, therapeutic intervention skills, patient interviewing, personalized and group therapy, child and adolescent therapy, cognitive and behavioral therapy, supervised clinical practice, ethical standards, and applicable regulations.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Clinical Psychology program prepares individuals for the independent practice of clinical psychology, focusing on the analysis, diagnosis, and treatment of psychological disorders. This program is ideal for those who wish to help others through therapeutic interventions and clinical assessments, making it suitable for aspiring psychologists dedicated to improving mental health.
Students in this program gain essential skills in clinical assessment, personality appraisal, and therapeutic intervention. Coursework covers topics such as psychopathology, clinical psychopharmacology, and both individual and group therapy, equipping graduates with the knowledge needed for effective patient care.
Credentials awarded
What Clinical Psychology graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Master's degree3,412 graduates / yr · 119 institutions53%
- Doctor's degree - professional practice1,542 graduates / yr · 66 institutions24%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship964 graduates / yr · 84 institutions15%
- Bachelor's degree328 graduates / yr · 9 institutions5.1%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate77 graduates / yr · 4 institutions1.2%
- Doctor's degree - other53 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.8%
- Post-master's certificate14 graduates / yr · 4 institutions0.2%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year3 graduates / yr · 2 institutions0.0%
- Award of at least 1 but less than 2 academic years3 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.0%
Graduates over time
Clinical Psychology completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 5,182 |
| 2013 | 5,540 |
| 2014 | 5,738 |
| 2015 | 5,280 |
| 2016 | 5,587 |
| 2017 | 5,259 |
| 2018 | 5,255 |
| 2019 | 5,283 |
| 2020 | 5,066 |
| 2021 | 5,112 |
| 2022 | 5,478 |
| 2023 | 5,814 |
| 2024 | 6,044 |
| 2025 | 6,396 |
Top 50 institutions for Clinical Psychology, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pepperdine University Malibu, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral (prof.) | 813 | 83% | $41,986 | — |
| 2 | Antioch University - Los Angeles Culver City, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 304 | — | — | — |
| 3 | Alliant International University - San Diego San Diego, CAPrivate for-profitDoctoral (prof.)Master's | 218 | — | — | — |
| 4 | University of California - San Diego La Jolla, CAPublicBachelor's | 208 | 86% | — | $26,953 |
| 5 | Nova Southeastern University Fort Lauderdale, FLPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral (prof.)Doctoral | 198 | 63% | $31,672 | — |
| 6 | Capella University Minneapolis, MNPrivate for-profitMaster'sDoctoral | 176 | 20% | $19,369 | — |
| 7 | Palo Alto University Palo Alto, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral | 175 | — | — | — |
| 8 | William James College Newton, MAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral (prof.) | 163 | — | — | — |
| 9 | Albizu University - San Juan San Juan, PRPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral | 109 | 67% | $15,077 | — |
| 10 | The Wright Institute Berkeley, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral | 107 | — | — | — |
| 11 | Fielding Graduate University Santa Barbara, CAPrivate not-for-profitDoctoralPost-degree cert.Master'sMaster's | 104 | — | — | — |
| 12 | Wheaton College Wheaton, ILPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sPost-degree cert.Doctoral (prof.) | 82 | 85% | $23,461 | — |
| 13 | Antioch University - Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral (prof.) | 80 | — | — | — |
| 14 | Pacific University Forest Grove, ORPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral (prof.)Master'sDoctoral | 79 | 67% | $30,571 | — |
| 15 | University of Denver Denver, COPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral (prof.)Master'sDoctoral | 70 | 76% | $29,726 | — |
| 16 | Michigan School of Psychology Farmington Hills, MIPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral (prof.) | 70 | — | — | — |
| 17 | Spalding University Louisville, KYPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral (prof.) | 67 | 52% | $23,661 | — |
| 18 | National Louis University Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral (prof.) | 65 | 30% | $18,904 | — |
| 19 | University of Indianapolis Indianapolis, INPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral (prof.)Master's | 62 | 56% | $18,930 | — |
| 20 | Widener University Chester, PAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral (prof.) | 58 | 68% | $29,049 | — |
| 21 | Wright State University - Main Campus Dayton, OHPublicMaster'sDoctoral (prof.)Master's | 56 | 42% | — | — |
| 22 | Point Loma Nazarene University San Diego, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 54 | 77% | $48,795 | — |
| 23 | Adler University Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral (prof.) | 54 | — | — | — |
| 24 | George Fox University Newberg, ORPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral (prof.) | 54 | 72% | $26,564 | — |
| 25 | Ponce Health Sciences University - East Ponce, PRPrivate for-profitDoctoral (prof.) | 53 | 50% | $19,366 | — |
| 26 | California Lutheran University Thousand Oaks, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral (prof.) | 52 | 70% | $23,129 | — |
| 27 | Walden University Minneapolis, MNPrivate for-profitDoctoral | 52 | — | — | — |
| 28 | The Chicago School at Chicago Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral (prof.) | 51 | — | — | — |
| 29 | Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine Philadelphia, PAPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral (prof.)Master's | 51 | — | — | — |
| 30 | University of Mary Hardin - Baylor Belton, TXPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 51 | 49% | $27,869 | $33,805 |
| 31 | Midwestern University - Glendale Glendale, AZPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral (prof.) | 49 | — | — | — |
| 32 | George Washington University Washington, DCPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral | 48 | 84% | $29,789 | — |
| 33 | Antioch University - New England Keene, NHPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral (prof.) | 47 | — | — | — |
| 34 | Yeshiva University New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral | 46 | 83% | $39,696 | — |
| 35 | University of Hartford West Hartford, CTPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral (prof.) | 42 | 54% | $28,311 | — |
| 36 | William Paterson University of New Jersey Wayne, NJPublicMaster'sDoctoral (prof.) | 42 | 44% | — | — |
| 37 | The Chicago School at Los Angeles Los Angeles, CAPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral (prof.) | 42 | 0% | — | — |
| 38 | Midwestern University - Downers Grove Downers Grove, ILPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral (prof.) | 40 | — | — | — |
| 39 | Regent University Virginia Beach, VAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral (prof.) | 40 | 57% | $18,677 | — |
| 40 | Biola University La Mirada, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral | 39 | 68% | $26,727 | — |
| 41 | The Chicago School at Anaheim Anaheim, CAPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral (prof.) | 38 | — | — | — |
| 42 | The Chicago School at Washington DC Washington, DCPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral (prof.) | 38 | — | — | — |
| 43 | Vanguard University of Southern California Costa Mesa, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 37 | 57% | $18,716 | — |
| 44 | Immaculata University Immaculata, PAPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral (prof.)Master's | 37 | 71% | $26,941 | — |
| 45 | Florida Institute of Technology Melbourne, FLPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral (prof.) | 36 | 64% | $33,585 | $34,506 |
| 46 | Boston University Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 36 | 89% | $21,956 | — |
| 47 | California Baptist University Riverside, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral | 35 | 62% | $26,940 | — |
| 48 | Roosevelt University Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitDoctoral (prof.)Master's | 34 | 35% | $21,085 | — |
| 49 | Hofstra University Hempstead, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral | 34 | 69% | $34,539 | — |
| 50 | Tufts University Medford, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 33 | 94% | $23,570 | $35,806 |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Clinical field (CIP 42.28) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 47 states & territories
Where Clinical Psychology graduates come from. Each state links to all Clinical programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-3033, Clinical and Counseling Psychologists, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Clinical Psychology program often pursue careers as Clinical and Counseling Psychologists. The job outlook is promising, with a projected growth rate of 11.2% and approximately 4,800 annual openings. Typically, a doctoral or professional degree is required, and the median wage for these professionals is $95,830.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 42.2801
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Clinical and Counseling Psychologistsprimary SOC 19-3033 | $100,580 | +11.2% Much faster than average | ~4,800 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Managers, All Other SOC 11-9199 | $141,900 | +4.5% About as fast as average | ~106,700 | Bachelor's degree |
Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1066 | $80,340 | +3.6% About as fast as average | ~4,000 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
- Education
- Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
- Training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Related careers
Skills & knowledge in Clinical Psychology programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this specialization most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
Abilities that matter most
Day-to-day work activities
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.
Tools and technology used
Other Clinical specializations
The 17 other 6-digit CIP codes under Clinical (CIP 42.28).
- Counseling PsychologyCIP 42.280312,264 graduates / yr277 institutions
- Applied Behavior AnalysisCIP 42.28147,215 graduates / yr143 institutions
- School PsychologyCIP 42.28053,734 graduates / yr205 institutions
- Industrial and Organizational PsychologyCIP 42.28043,169 graduates / yr127 institutions
- Applied PsychologyCIP 42.28132,999 graduates / yr96 institutions
- Forensic PsychologyCIP 42.28122,718 graduates / yr59 institutions
- Educational PsychologyCIP 42.28061,874 graduates / yr84 institutions
- ClinicalCIP 42.2899711 graduates / yr46 institutions
- Family PsychologyCIP 42.2811partial data630 graduates / yr6 institutions
- Community PsychologyCIP 42.2802464 graduates / yr34 institutions
- Health/CIP 42.2810
Medical Psychology 428 graduates / yr25 institutions - Performance and Sport PsychologyCIP 42.2815318 graduates / yr18 institutions
- Clinical Child PsychologyCIP 42.2807partial data101 graduates / yr9 institutions
- Transpersonal/CIP 42.2817
Spiritual Psychology limited data40 graduates / yr1 institutions - Environmental PsychologyCIP 42.2808partial data22 graduates / yr3 institutions
- GeropsychologyCIP 42.2809limited data2 graduates / yr1 institutions
Show 1 more CIP codes 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.
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Master's degree, Doctor's degree in professional practice, Doctor's degree in research/scholarship, or a Bachelor's degree.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, active listening, and effective communication, among others.
What kind of jobs can I get after graduation?+
You can work as a Clinical and Counseling Psychologist, among other roles.
What is the job outlook for clinical psychologists?+
The job outlook is much faster than average, with an expected growth rate of 11.2%.
What is the CIP code for Clinical Psychology?+
Clinical Psychology is CIP 42.2801 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Clinical (CIP 42.28). NCES defines it as: A program that prepares individuals for the independent professional practice of clinical psychology, involving the analysis, diagnosis, and clinical treatment of psychological disorders and behavioral pathologies. Includes instruction in clinical assessment and diagnosis, personality appraisal, psychopathology, clinical psychopharmacology, behavior modification, therapeutic intervention skills, patient interviewing, personalized and group therapy, child and adolescent therapy, cognitive and behavioral therapy, supervised clinical practice, ethical standards, and applicable regulations.
How many institutions offer Clinical Psychology programs?+
205 U.S. institutions reported Clinical Psychology graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 47 states & territories, awarding 6,396 credentials in the year. That is 14.8% of all Clinical graduates.
How much do Clinical Psychology graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Clinical and Counseling Psychologists occupation, which Clinical Psychology most directly leads to, pays a median of $100,580 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Clinical field report median earnings of $31,211 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
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.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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