Best institutions to study Health/Medical Psychology
A program that focuses on the psychological study of health and illness, and recovery, from the perspective that these phenomena arise from a combination of physical, behavioral, and social conditions.
25 U.S. institutions graduated 428 Health/Medical Psychology students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 42.2810, a specialization of Clinical (CIP 42.28), and leads most directly to the Clinical and Counseling Psychologists occupation (BLS SOC 19-3033).
About Health/Medical Psychology programs
A program that focuses on the psychological study of health and illness, and recovery, from the perspective that these phenomena arise from a combination of physical, behavioral, and social conditions. Includes instruction in abnormal and social psychology, psychophysiology, psychopharmacology, learning processes, clinical and behavioral therapies, biopsychosocial modeling, clinical procedures and assessment, preventive education, psychotherapy, rehabilitation processes, and research methods.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Health/Medical Psychology program focuses on the psychological aspects of health, illness, and recovery. It examines how physical, behavioral, and social factors interact to influence health outcomes. This program is ideal for students interested in understanding the complexities of human behavior in medical contexts and those aiming to support individuals through psychological challenges related to health.
Students in this program will gain knowledge in areas such as abnormal and social psychology, psychophysiology, clinical therapies, and biopsychosocial modeling. Essential skills developed include critical thinking, active listening, and effective communication, which are vital for assessing and supporting patients.
Credentials awarded
What Health/Medical Psychology graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree207 graduates / yr · 9 institutions48%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year116 graduates / yr · 2 institutions27%
- Master's degree56 graduates / yr · 5 institutions13%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship31 graduates / yr · 5 institutions7.2%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate16 graduates / yr · 4 institutions3.7%
- Post-master's certificate2 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.5%
Graduates over time
Health/Medical Psychology completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 109 |
| 2013 | 103 |
| 2014 | 114 |
| 2015 | 113 |
| 2016 | 109 |
| 2017 | 134 |
| 2018 | 167 |
| 2019 | 204 |
| 2020 | 205 |
| 2021 | 260 |
| 2022 | 324 |
| 2023 | 382 |
| 2024 | 442 |
| 2025 | 428 |
Top 25 institutions for Health/Medical 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 | University of Missouri - Columbia Columbia, MOPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 79 | 75% | — | — |
| 2 | Eastern Washington University Cheney, WAPublicBachelor's | 60 | 43% | — | — |
| 3 | University of California - San Diego La Jolla, CAPublicBachelor's | 54 | 86% | — | $26,953 |
| 4 | Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant, MIPublicBachelor's | 51 | 59% | — | — |
| 5 | Texas A&M University - College Station College Station, TXPublicAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 37 | 84% | — | — |
| 6 | Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Boston, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 18 | 62% | $35,358 | — |
| 7 | Northcentral University San Diego, CAPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 18 | — | — | — |
| 8 | Albizu University - San Juan San Juan, PRPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 14 | 67% | $15,077 | — |
| 9 | East Carolina University Greenville, NCPublicDoctoral | 13 | 63% | — | — |
| 10 | Northern Kentucky University Highland Heights, KYPublicPost-degree cert. | 11 | 52% | — | — |
| 11 | North Carolina A & T State University Greensboro, NCPublicMaster's | 11 | 57% | — | — |
| 12 | Thomas Jefferson University Philadelphia, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 10 | 69% | $26,034 | $43,964 |
| 13 | Salve Regina University Newport, RIPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sMaster's | 8 | 77% | $31,899 | — |
| 14 | University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, ALPublicMaster's | 7 | 64% | — | — |
| 15 | University of Mary Hardin - Baylor Belton, TXPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 7 | 49% | $27,869 | $33,805 |
| 16 | University of South Alabama Mobile, ALPublicDoctoral | 5 | 53% | — | — |
| 17 | University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus Denver, COPublicDoctoral | 5 | 46% | — | — |
| 18 | Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, VAPublicDoctoral | 5 | 63% | — | — |
| 19 | University of Northwestern - St Paul Saint Paul, MNPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 4 | 68% | $23,114 | — |
| 20 | University of Connecticut Storrs, CTPublicPost-degree cert. | 3 | 83% | — | — |
| 21 | Virginia State University Petersburg, VAPublicDoctoral | 3 | 39% | — | — |
| 22 | Faulkner University Montgomery, ALPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 2 | 37% | $25,801 | $26,988 |
| 23 | University at Buffalo Buffalo, NYPublicPost-degree cert. | 1 | 75% | — | — |
| 24 | Ohio State University - Main Campus Columbus, OHPublicPost-degree cert. | 1 | 88% | — | — |
| 25 | Albright College Reading, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 1 | 51% | $21,906 | $48,838 |
* 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 18 states & territories
Where Health/Medical Psychology graduates come from. Each state links to all Clinical programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Missouri | 1 | 79 | University of Missouri - Columbia79 / yr |
| California | 2 | 72 | University of California - San Diego54 / yr |
| Washington | 1 | 60 | Eastern Washington University60 / yr |
| Michigan | 1 | 51 | Central Michigan University51 / yr |
| Texas | 2 | 44 | Texas A&M University - College Station37 / yr |
| North Carolina | 2 | 24 | East Carolina University13 / yr |
| Massachusetts | 1 | 18 | Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences18 / yr |
| Alabama | 3 | 14 | University of Alabama at Birmingham7 / yr |
| Puerto Rico | 1 | 14 | Albizu University - San Juan14 / yr |
| Pennsylvania | 2 | 11 | Thomas Jefferson University10 / yr |
| Kentucky | 1 | 11 | Northern Kentucky University11 / yr |
| Virginia | 2 | 8 | Virginia Commonwealth University5 / yr |
| Rhode Island | 1 | 8 | Salve Regina University8 / yr |
| Colorado | 1 | 5 | University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus5 / yr |
| Minnesota | 1 | 4 | University of Northwestern - St Paul4 / yr |
| Connecticut | 1 | 3 | University of Connecticut3 / yr |
| New York | 1 | 1 | University at Buffalo1 / yr |
| Ohio | 1 | 1 | Ohio State University - Main Campus1 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-3033, Clinical and Counseling Psychologists, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Health/Medical Psychology program can pursue careers as Clinical and Counseling Psychologists, among other roles. The field is expected to grow by 11.2%, with approximately 4,800 annual job openings. The median wage for professionals in this area is $95,830, typically requiring a doctoral or professional degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 42.2810
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 Health/Medical 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
- Family PsychologyCIP 42.2811partial data630 graduates / yr6 institutions
- Community PsychologyCIP 42.2802464 graduates / yr34 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 Bachelor's degree, a Master's degree, or a Doctor's degree in Health/Medical Psychology.
What skills will I develop?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, active listening, and effective communication.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is much faster than average, with an expected growth rate of 11.2%.
What types of careers can I pursue?+
You can work as a Clinical Psychologist, Counseling Psychologist, or in various other psychology-related roles.
What is the CIP code for Health/Medical Psychology?+
Health/Medical Psychology is CIP 42.2810 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 focuses on the psychological study of health and illness, and recovery, from the perspective that these phenomena arise from a combination of physical, behavioral, and social conditions. Includes instruction in abnormal and social psychology, psychophysiology, psychopharmacology, learning processes, clinical and behavioral therapies, biopsychosocial modeling, clinical procedures and assessment, preventive education, psychotherapy, rehabilitation processes, and research methods.
How many institutions offer Health/Medical Psychology programs?+
25 U.S. institutions reported Health/Medical Psychology graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 18 states & territories, awarding 428 credentials in the year. That is 1.0% of all Clinical graduates.
How much do Health/Medical Psychology graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Clinical and Counseling Psychologists occupation, which Health/Medical 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 $33,805 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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