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)
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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