Best institutions to study Family Psychology
A program that prepares individuals to provide therapeutic, evaluative, and research services to families and individuals in the family unit context.
6 U.S. institutions graduated 630 Family Psychology students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 42.2811, a specialization of Clinical (CIP 42.28), and leads most directly to the Clinical and Counseling Psychologists occupation (BLS SOC 19-3033).
About Family Psychology programs
A program that prepares individuals to provide therapeutic, evaluative, and research services to families and individuals in the family unit context. Includes instruction in natural and family systems theory, family and group rituals, family evaluation and assessment, marital and couples therapy, sex therapy, parenting, interviewing techniques, genogram construction, family sculpting, diversity issues, family violence, family law, and professional standards and ethics.
See also: 51.1505 - Marriage and Family Therapy/Counseling., 19.0704 - Family Systems.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Family Psychology (Clinical) program prepares individuals to provide therapeutic, evaluative, and research services within family contexts. This program is designed for those interested in understanding and addressing the psychological needs of families and individuals, focusing on various aspects of family dynamics and relationships. It is ideal for students who aspire to work in clinical settings, helping families navigate challenges and improve their overall well-being.
Students in this program will gain knowledge in natural and family systems theory, family evaluation and assessment, marital and couples therapy, and diversity issues. Core skills developed include critical thinking, active listening, and effective communication, essential for conducting assessments and counseling.
Credentials awarded
What Family Psychology graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year578 graduates / yr · 2 institutions92%
- Master's degree47 graduates / yr · 2 institutions7.5%
- Bachelor's degree3 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.5%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate2 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.3%
Graduates over time
Family Psychology completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 48 |
| 2013 | 99 |
| 2014 | 65 |
| 2015 | 76 |
| 2016 | 62 |
| 2017 | 83 |
| 2018 | 90 |
| 2019 | 94 |
| 2020 | 92 |
| 2021 | 70 |
| 2022 | 54 |
| 2023 | 56 |
| 2024 | 101 |
| 2025 | 630 |
Top 6 institutions for Family 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 | Brigham Young University - Idaho Rexburg, IDPrivate not-for-profitAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 570 | 55% | $6,760 | — |
| 2 | Our Lady of the Lake University San Antonio, TXPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 32 | 46% | $18,564 | — |
| 3 | Texas Wesleyan University Fort Worth, TXPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 15 | 32% | $21,036 | — |
| 4 | University of Maine Orono, MEPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 8 | 55% | — | $23,828 |
| 5 | Barclay College Haviland, KSPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 3 | 32% | $31,827 | — |
| 6 | University of Nebraska - Lincoln Lincoln, NEPublicPost-degree cert. | 2 | 67% | — | — |
* 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 5 states
Where Family Psychology graduates come from. Each state links to all Clinical programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho | 1 | 570 | Brigham Young University - Idaho570 / yr |
| Texas | 2 | 47 | Our Lady of the Lake University32 / yr |
| Maine | 1 | 8 | University of Maine8 / yr |
| Kansas | 1 | 3 | Barclay College3 / yr |
| Nebraska | 1 | 2 | University of Nebraska - Lincoln2 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-3033, Clinical and Counseling Psychologists, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Family Psychology program can pursue careers as Clinical and Counseling Psychologists, with a strong job outlook projected at 11.2% growth and approximately 4,800 annual openings. The median wage for this field is $95,830, typically requiring a doctoral or professional degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 42.2811
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 |
Psychologists, All Other SOC 19-3039 | $110,840 | +4.3% About as fast as average | ~3,900 | Master's 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 Family 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
- Clinical PsychologyCIP 42.28016,396 graduates / yr205 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
- 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 degree do I need to pursue a career in Family Psychology?+
A doctoral or professional degree is typically required.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, active listening, and effective communication.
What is the job outlook for Family Psychology graduates?+
The job outlook is much faster than average, with an expected growth of 11.2%.
How many colleges offer this program in the U.S.?+
There are currently 6 colleges offering the Family Psychology program in the U.S.
What is the CIP code for Family Psychology?+
Family Psychology is CIP 42.2811 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 to provide therapeutic, evaluative, and research services to families and individuals in the family unit context. Includes instruction in natural and family systems theory, family and group rituals, family evaluation and assessment, marital and couples therapy, sex therapy, parenting, interviewing techniques, genogram construction, family sculpting, diversity issues, family violence, family law, and professional standards and ethics.
How many institutions offer Family Psychology programs?+
6 U.S. institutions reported Family Psychology graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 5 states, awarding 630 credentials in the year. That is 1.5% of all Clinical graduates.
How much do Family Psychology graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Clinical and Counseling Psychologists occupation, which Family 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 $23,828 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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