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Clinical Psychology: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries

Program Overview

Designed for those pursuing advanced expertise in mental health, this program equips students with the knowledge and practical skills necessary to assess, diagnose, and treat a wide range of psychological and behavioral conditions. Grounded in scientific rigor and clinical application, it prepares graduates for independent professional practice within diverse healthcare and counseling environments.

  • Clinical Assessment and Diagnosis: Mastery of standardized tools and methodologies to evaluate psychological functioning and identify mental health disorders using diagnostic criteria.
  • Personality Appraisal: In-depth study of personality theories and assessment techniques to understand individual differences in behavior and emotional patterns.
  • Psychopathology: Comprehensive exploration of the nature, causes, and manifestations of mental disorders across the lifespan.
  • Clinical Psychopharmacology: Understanding the role, effects, and ethical use of medications in treating psychological conditions, with emphasis on collaboration with medical professionals.
  • Behavior Modification: Application of evidence-based strategies to assess and change maladaptive behaviors through reinforcement, conditioning, and functional analysis.
  • Therapeutic Intervention Skills: Development of adaptable techniques to support clients in achieving psychological well-being and behavioral change.
  • Patient Interviewing: Training in structured and empathetic communication to gather accurate clinical histories and build therapeutic rapport.
  • Individual and Group Therapy: Practice in delivering tailored therapeutic approaches in one-on-one and group settings, addressing a range of emotional and interpersonal challenges.
  • Child and Adolescent Therapy: Specialized instruction in developmental considerations and age-appropriate interventions for younger populations.
  • Cognitive and Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Core training in cognitive restructuring and behavioral activation techniques to address maladaptive thought patterns and behaviors.
  • Supervised Clinical Practice: Real-world experience under expert guidance, integrating theory with hands-on application in diverse clinical settings.
  • Professional Ethics and Regulatory Standards: Emphasis on legal, ethical, and professional responsibilities essential for accountable and effective clinical practice.

Clinical Psychology Graduate Trends (2010-2024)

6,059
Total Graduates (2023-2024)
202
Universities & Colleges
3
Career Pathways

Clinical Psychology Career Pathways & Salary Outlook

The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Clinical Psychology degrees, including Managers, All Other, Clinical and Counseling Psychologists and Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 744,780 professionals.


National Average Salaries

Occupation Median Salary Salary Range Total Employment Hourly Rate
Managers, All Other 11-9199 $136,550 $68,860 - $227,590 630,980 $65.65
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists 19-3033 $95,830 $50,470 - $170,150 72,190 $46.07
Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1066 $80,330 $47,870 - $158,900 41,610 N/A

Clinical Psychology Salary Map by State

Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $73,745 in Arkansas to $130,577 in California—a 77% difference. The highest-paying states include California, District of Columbia, and Connecticut. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 744,780 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.

Average Salary Range:

Top Universities for Clinical Psychology by Graduate Enrollment

Below are the top 100 institutions offering Clinical Psychology programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Clinical Psychology is found at Pepperdine University (788 graduates), Antioch University (AULA), Los Angeles (296 graduates), Alliant International University, San Diego (209 graduates), Nova Southeastern University (NSU) (180 graduates), and University of California (UCSD), San Diego (167 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 5,365 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.

College Name Award Levels Graduates Location Control Website
Pepperdine University
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
788 Malibu, California Private pepperdine.edu
Antioch University (AULA)
Master's
296 Culver City, California Private antiochla.edu
Alliant International University
Doctorate (Research)
Doctorate (Professional)
Other Award
209 San Diego, California Private alliant.edu
Nova Southeastern University (NSU)
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
Doctorate (Professional)
180 Fort Lauderdale, Florida Private nova.edu
University of California (UCSD)
Bachelor's
167 La Jolla, California Public ucsd.edu
William James College (MSPP)
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
164 Newton, Massachusetts Private williamjames.edu
Palo Alto University (PAU)
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
160 Palo Alto, California Private paloaltou.edu
Capella University
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
126 Minneapolis, Minnesota Private capella.edu
The Wright Institute
Master's
Doctorate (Other)
123 Berkeley, California Private wi.edu
Albizu University
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
112 San Juan, Puerto Rico Private albizu.edu
Fielding Graduate University
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
106 Santa Barbara, California Private fielding.edu
Pacific University
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
Doctorate (Professional)
95 Forest Grove, Oregon Private pacificu.edu
Adler University
Doctorate (Professional)
94 Chicago, Illinois Private adler.edu
Antioch University (AUSB)
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
86 Santa Barbara, California Private antiochsb.edu
Spalding University
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
76 Louisville, Kentucky Private spalding.edu
Michigan School of Psychology (MSP)
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
73 Farmington Hills, Michigan Private msp.edu
The Chicago School
Doctorate (Professional)
69 Chicago, Illinois Private thechicagoschool.edu
Wheaton College
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
67 Wheaton, Illinois Private wheaton.edu
Widener University
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
66 Chester, Pennsylvania Private widener.edu
The Chicago School
Doctorate (Professional)
60 Washington, District of Columbia Private thechicagoschool.edu
Point Loma Nazarene University (PLNU)
Master's
53 San Diego, California Private pointloma.edu
University of Denver (DU)
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
Doctorate (Professional)
53 Denver, Colorado Private du.edu
University of Hartford (UHart)
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
51 West Hartford, Connecticut Private hartford.edu
Wright State University
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
51 Dayton, Ohio Public wright.edu
George Fox University
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
51 Newberg, Oregon Private georgefox.edu
Midwestern University (MWU)
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
51 Glendale, Arizona Private midwestern.edu
The Chicago School (TCSPP)
Doctorate (Professional)
50 Anaheim, California Private thechicagoschool.edu
Kansas City University (KCU)
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
48 Kansas City, Missouri Private kansascity.edu
National Louis University (NLU)
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
47 Chicago, Illinois Private nl.edu
University of Indianapolis (UIndy)
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
47 Indianapolis, Indiana Private uindy.edu
University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (UMHB)
Bachelor's
46 Belton, Texas Private go.umhb.edu
The Chicago School (TCSPP)
Doctorate (Professional)
44 Los Angeles, California Private thechicagoschool.edu
Pacifica Graduate Institute
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
42 Carpinteria, California Private pacifica.edu
Boston University (BU)
Master's
42 Boston, Massachusetts Private bu.edu
Immaculata University
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
42 Immaculata, Pennsylvania Private immaculata.edu
La Salle University
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
41 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Private lasalle.edu
Florida Institute of Technology (Florida Tech)
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
39 Melbourne, Florida Private fit.edu
Biola University
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
38 La Mirada, California Private biola.edu
George Washington University (GW)
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
37 Washington, District of Columbia Private gwu.edu
William Paterson University of New Jersey
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
36 Wayne, New Jersey Public wpunj.edu
Long Island University (LIU)
Doctorate (Research)
36 Brookville, New York Private liu.edu
Roosevelt University
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
35 Chicago, Illinois Private roosevelt.edu
Eastern Michigan University (EMU)
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
35 Ypsilanti, Michigan Public emich.edu
Yeshiva University (YU)
Doctorate (Research)
35 New York, New York Private yu.edu
Brenau University
Master's
34 Gainesville, Georgia Private brenau.edu
Chestnut Hill College (CHC)
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
33 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Private chc.edu
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM)
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
33 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Private pcom.edu
Loyola University Maryland
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
32 Baltimore, Maryland Private loyola.edu
Stevenson University
Master's
32 Owings Mills, Maryland Private stevenson.edu
Wisconsin School of Professional Psychology (WSPP)
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
32 Milwaukee, Wisconsin Private wspp.edu
Antioch University (AUNE)
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
30 Keene, New Hampshire Private antiochne.edu
Tufts University
Bachelor's
29 Medford, Massachusetts Private tufts.edu
Vanguard University of Southern California
Master's
28 Costa Mesa, California Private vanguard.edu
Walden University
Doctorate (Research)
28 Minneapolis, Minnesota Private waldenu.edu
Hofstra University
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
28 Hempstead, New York Private hofstra.edu
Marywood University
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
28 Scranton, Pennsylvania Private marywood.edu
University of San Francisco (USF)
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
27 San Francisco, California Private usfca.edu
Albizu University
Doctorate (Research)
27 Miami, Florida Private albizu.edu
Adelphi University
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
27 Garden City, New York Private adelphi.edu
The University of Texas
Master's
27 Tyler, Texas Public uttyler.edu
Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico (PUCPR)
Doctorate (Research)
27 Ponce, Puerto Rico Private pucpr.edu
Ponce Health Sciences University (PHSU)
Doctorate (Professional)
26 Ponce, Puerto Rico Private psm.edu
California Baptist University (CBU)
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
25 Riverside, California Private calbaptist.edu
San Diego State University (SDSU)
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
25 San Diego, California Public sdsu.edu
Regent University
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
25 Virginia Beach, Virginia Private regent.edu
California Lutheran University (CLU)
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
24 Thousand Oaks, California Private callutheran.edu
Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science (RFU)
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
24 North Chicago, Illinois Private rosalindfranklin.edu
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania (SRU)
Postbac Cert.
24 Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania Public sru.edu
Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico (PUCPR)
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
23 Arecibo, Puerto Rico Private pucpr.edu
Eastern Kentucky University (EKU)
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
22 Richmond, Kentucky Public eku.edu
Notre Dame de Namur University (NDNU)
Master's
20 Belmont, California Private ndnu.edu
CUNY City College (CCNY)
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
20 New York, New York Public ccny.cuny.edu
Southern Adventist University
Bachelor's
Master's
Post-Master's
20 Collegedale, Tennessee Private southern.edu
Divine Mercy University (DMU)
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
20 Sterling, Virginia Private divinemercy.edu
Augsburg University
Bachelor's
Doctorate (Professional)
19 Minneapolis, Minnesota Private augsburg.edu
Columbia University in the City of New York
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
18 New York, New York Private columbia.edu
The New School
Doctorate (Research)
18 New York, New York Private newschool.edu
Xavier University (XU)
Doctorate (Professional)
17 Cincinnati, Ohio Private xavier.edu
University of Central Florida (UCF)
Master's
16 Orlando, Florida Public ucf.edu
Pennsylvania State University
Master's
16 Middletown, Pennsylvania Public harrisburg.psu.edu
Point Park University
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
16 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Private pointpark.edu
University of Houston (UHCL)
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
16 Houston, Texas Public uhcl.edu
University of Houston (UH)
Doctorate (Research)
16 Houston, Texas Public uh.edu
Wayland Baptist University (WBU)
Master's
16 Plainview, Texas Private wbu.edu
Marshall University
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
16 Huntington, West Virginia Public marshall.edu
California State University (CSUSB)
Master's
15 San Bernardino, California Public csusb.edu
San Jose State University (SJSU)
Master's
15 San Jose, California Public sjsu.edu
Clayton State University
Master's
15 Morrow, Georgia Public clayton.edu
University of Detroit Mercy (UDM)
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
15 Detroit, Michigan Private udmercy.edu
Rowan University
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
15 Glassboro, New Jersey Public rowan.edu
University of South Carolina (USC)
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
15 Columbia, South Carolina Public sc.edu
Sam Houston State University (SHSU)
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
15 Huntsville, Texas Public shsu.edu
Chaminade University of Honolulu
Doctorate (Professional)
14 Honolulu, Hawaii Private chaminade.edu
Midwestern University (MWU)
Doctorate (Professional)
14 Downers Grove, Illinois Private midwestern.edu
Benedictine University (BenU)
Master's
14 Lisle, Illinois Private ben.edu
Northwestern University
Master's
14 Evanston, Illinois Private northwestern.edu
Antioch University (AUS)
Doctorate (Professional)
14 Seattle, Washington Private antiochseattle.edu
National University (NU)
Doctorate (Professional)
13 San Diego, California Private nu.edu
Mercer University
Doctorate (Professional)
13 Macon, Georgia Private mercer.edu
Emporia State University (ESU)
Master's
13 Emporia, Kansas Public emporia.edu

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to the most common questions about Clinical Psychology programs

How much can I earn with a Clinical Psychology degree?

Salaries for Clinical Psychology graduates vary by role and location. Managers, All Other earn a median of $136,550 annually, while Clinical and Counseling Psychologists earn around $95,830. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $130,577 compared to $73,745 in Arkansas. Approximately 744,780 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.

Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.

Which universities have the largest Clinical Psychology programs?

Currently 202 accredited institutions offer Clinical Psychology degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Pepperdine University (788 graduates), Antioch University (AULA), Los Angeles (296 graduates), and Alliant International University, San Diego (209 graduates).

Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.

Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.

Is enrollment in Clinical Psychology growing or declining?

Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 4,849 in 2010 to 6,059 in 2023-24. This represents a 25% increase overall from 2010.

The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.

Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.

What career paths are available with a Clinical Psychology degree?

This degree prepares you for roles such as Managers, All Other, Clinical and Counseling Psychologists, and Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary. Related occupations employ approximately 744,780 professionals nationwide.

Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.

Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.

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