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School Psychology: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries

Program Overview

Programs in School Psychology equip professionals to support student well-being through evidence-based psychological practices within educational settings. The curriculum emphasizes the integration of developmental science, assessment, and intervention to address academic, emotional, and behavioral challenges in children and adolescents.

  • Child and Adolescent Development: Explores cognitive, social, emotional, and physical growth across key developmental stages to inform psychological assessment and support strategies.
  • Learning Theory: Examines foundational models of how individuals acquire, process, and retain knowledge, providing a basis for educational interventions.
  • Psychological Assessment: Focuses on standardized testing, observational techniques, and data analysis to evaluate intelligence, academic achievement, personality, and motor skills.
  • Disability and Disorder Identification: Teaches methods for recognizing and classifying conditions such as learning disabilities, ADHD, and emotional disorders that impact educational performance.
  • Therapeutic Intervention: Develops skills in designing and delivering individual, group, and family-based strategies to promote mental health and behavioral improvement.
  • Service Planning and Coordination: Prepares professionals to design, implement, and evaluate comprehensive psychological services within school environments.
  • Supervised Clinical Practice: Provides hands-on experience in real-world school settings under professional guidance to build competence and confidence.
  • Ethical and Legal Standards: Covers professional conduct, confidentiality, informed consent, and compliance with federal, state, and institutional regulations.

School Psychology Graduate Trends (2010-2024)

3,685
Total Graduates (2023-2024)
200
Universities & Colleges
4
Career Pathways
Career & Salary Outlook Schools Offering This Program Related Programs

School Psychology Career Pathways & Salary Outlook

The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with School Psychology degrees, including Managers, All Other, School 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 1,078,770 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
School Psychologists 19-3034 $86,930 $60,880 - $132,320 63,830 $41.79
Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1066 $80,330 $47,870 - $158,900 41,610 N/A
Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors 21-1012 $65,140 $43,580 - $105,870 342,350 $31.32

Salary Comparison

School Psychology Salary Map by State

Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $67,260 in Arkansas to $122,460 in California—a 82% difference. The highest-paying states include California, Washington, and Maryland. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 1,078,770 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 School Psychology by Graduate Enrollment

Below are the top 100 institutions offering School 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 School Psychology is found at National University (NU) (103 graduates), Alliant International University, San Diego (71 graduates), Capella University (65 graduates), University of Massachusetts Global (UMass Global) (64 graduates), and Fresno Pacific University (FPU) (58 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 2,885 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 Admissions Location Control Website
National University (NU)
Master's
 103 N/A San Diego, California Private nu.edu
Alliant International University
Postbac Cert.
Master's
 71 N/A San Diego, California Private alliant.edu
Capella University
Master's
Doctorate (R)
 65 N/A Minneapolis, Minnesota Private capella.edu
University of Massachusetts Global (UMass Global)
Master's
 64 N/A Irvine, California Public umassglobal.edu
Fresno Pacific University (FPU)
Master's
 58 N/A Fresno, California Private fresno.edu
Teachers College at Columbia University (TC)
Master's
Doctorate (R)
 54 N/A New York, New York Private tc.columbia.edu
Fordham University
Post-Master's
Doctorate (R)
 53 SAT: 1330-1490
ACT: 30-33 		Bronx, New York Private fordham.edu
Loyola University Chicago (LUC)
Master's
Doctorate (R)
 50 SAT: 1160-1340
ACT: 27-31 		Chicago, Illinois Private luc.edu
Albizu University
Master's
 49 N/A San Juan, Puerto Rico Private albizu.edu
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Master's
Doctorate (R)
 48 SAT: 1360-1510
ACT: 28-32 		Madison, Wisconsin Public wisc.edu
CUNY Brooklyn College
Master's
Post-Master's
 47 SAT: 1140-1420 Brooklyn, New York Public brooklyn.cuny.edu
Northeastern University (NU)
Master's
Post-Master's
 45 SAT: 1460-1550
ACT: 33-35 		Boston, Massachusetts Private northeastern.edu
St. John's University (SJU)
Master's
Doctorate (R)
 45 SAT: 1110-1320
ACT: 24-29 		Queens, New York Private stjohns.edu
Nova Southeastern University (NSU)
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (P)
 44 SAT: 1050-1310
ACT: 21-28 		Fort Lauderdale, Florida Private nova.edu
Rowan University
Master's
Post-Master's
 44 SAT: 1100-1310
ACT: 26-30 		Glassboro, New Jersey Public rowan.edu
Eastern Washington University (EWU)
Master's
 44 N/A Cheney, Washington Public ewu.edu
Temple University
Master's
Doctorate (R)
 43 N/A Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Public temple.edu
University of Detroit Mercy (UDM)
Master's
Post-Master's
 42 SAT: 1020-1260
ACT: 22-28 		Detroit, Michigan Private udmercy.edu
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM)
Master's
Doctorate (P)
 41 N/A Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Private pcom.edu
Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU)
Master's
Post-Master's
 40 N/A New Haven, Connecticut Public southernct.edu
Hofstra University
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (R)
 40 SAT: 1210-1380
ACT: 27-31 		Hempstead, New York Private hofstra.edu
Georgian Court University (GCU)
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (P)
 38 N/A Lakewood, New Jersey Private georgian.edu
William James College (MSPP)
Master's
Doctorate (P)
 37 N/A Newton, Massachusetts Private williamjames.edu
Yeshiva University (YU)
Master's
Doctorate (R)
 37 SAT: 1320-1500
ACT: 28-33 		New York, New York Private yu.edu
University of Wisconsin (UWL)
Master's
 37 ACT: 21-27 La Crosse, Wisconsin Public uwlax.edu
Azusa Pacific University (APU)
Master's
Post-Master's
 36 SAT: 994-1314
ACT: 18-26 		Azusa, California Private apu.edu
Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT)
Postbac Cert.
Master's
 36 SAT: 1280-1460
ACT: 29-33 		Rochester, New York Private rit.edu
CUNY Queens College
Master's
 34 SAT: 1100-1320 Queens, New York Public qc.cuny.edu
Ponce Health Sciences University (PHSU)
Master's
 34 N/A Ponce, Puerto Rico Private psm.edu
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus
Master's
Doctorate (R)
 32 SAT: 980-1220
ACT: 21-27 		Denver, Colorado Public ucdenver.edu
National Louis University (NLU)
Post-Master's
Doctorate (R)
 32 N/A Chicago, Illinois Private nl.edu
Pennsylvania Western University (PennWest)
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Post-Master's
 32 SAT: 940-1170
ACT: 20-26 		California, Pennsylvania Public pennwest.edu
Loyola Marymount University (LMU)
Post-Master's
 30 N/A Los Angeles, California Private lmu.edu
Alverno College
Master's
 30 N/A Milwaukee, Wisconsin Private alverno.edu
University of La Verne
Master's
 29 SAT: 970-1303
ACT: 18-25 		La Verne, California Private laverne.edu
Adelphi University
Master's
Doctorate (P)
 29 SAT: 1140-1310
ACT: 24-30 		Garden City, New York Private adelphi.edu
University of Arizona
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (R)
 28 SAT: 1160-1420
ACT: 21-30 		Tucson, Arizona Public arizona.edu
Georgia Southern University
Master's
 28 SAT: 980-1160
ACT: 18-23 		Statesboro, Georgia Public georgiasouthern.edu
The Chicago School
Post-Master's
Doctorate (P)
 28 N/A Chicago, Illinois Private thechicagoschool.edu
Chapman University
Master's
Doctorate (R)
 27 SAT: 1250-1430
ACT: 28-32 		Orange, California Private chapman.edu
Ball State University (BSU)
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (R)
 26 SAT: 1080-1250
ACT: 25-30 		Muncie, Indiana Public bsu.edu
Long Island University (LIU)
Master's
 26 SAT: 1140-1350
ACT: 25-30 		Brookville, New York Private liu.edu
University of Wisconsin-River Falls (UWRF)
Master's
 26 ACT: 19-25 River Falls, Wisconsin Public uwrf.edu
California State University (CSULB)
Master's
 25 N/A Long Beach, California Public csulb.edu
University of Northern Colorado (UNCO)
Master's
Doctorate (R)
 25 SAT: 970-1180
ACT: 17-26 		Greeley, Colorado Public unco.edu
Indiana University (IUB)
Master's
Doctorate (R)
 25 SAT: 1170-1400
ACT: 27-32 		Bloomington, Indiana Public indiana.edu
University of Wisconsin (UWEC)
Master's
 25 ACT: 21-27 Eau Claire, Wisconsin Public uwec.edu
California State University (CSUSB)
Master's
 24 N/A San Bernardino, California Public csusb.edu
University of Massachusetts
Master's
Post-Master's
 24 SAT: 1080-1290
ACT: 24-30 		Boston, Massachusetts Public umb.edu
Wayne State University (WSU)
Master's
Post-Master's
 24 SAT: 1040-1260
ACT: 21-28 		Detroit, Michigan Public wayne.edu
University of Oregon (UO)
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (R)
 24 SAT: 1130-1360
ACT: 22-30 		Eugene, Oregon Public uoregon.edu
University of Florida (UF)
Master's
Doctorate (R)
 23 SAT: 1300-1480
ACT: 28-33 		Gainesville, Florida Public ufl.edu
Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU Metro)
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (P)
 23 N/A Teaneck, New Jersey Private fdu.edu
Kean University
Post-Master's
Doctorate (R)
 23 SAT: 1020-1198 Union, New Jersey Public kean.edu
University of Toledo (UToledo)
Master's
Post-Master's
 23 SAT: 1050-1300
ACT: 22-28 		Toledo, Ohio Public utoledo.edu
University of Wisconsin-Stout
Master's
 23 ACT: 19-26 Menomonie, Wisconsin Public uwstout.edu
Worcester State University (WSU)
Master's
Post-Master's
 22 SAT: 1008-1280 Worcester, Massachusetts Public worcester.edu
University of Dayton (UD)
Master's
 22 SAT: 1195-1370
ACT: 26-31 		Dayton, Ohio Private udayton.edu
Seattle University (Seattle U)
Master's
 22 SAT: 1130-1350
ACT: 23-30 		Seattle, Washington Private seattleu.edu
Fairfield University
Master's
Post-Master's
 21 SAT: 1240-1380
ACT: 29-32 		Fairfield, Connecticut Private fairfield.edu
University of Hartford (UHart)
Master's
Post-Master's
 21 SAT: 1100-1280
ACT: 25-32 		West Hartford, Connecticut Private hartford.edu
Georgia State University
Master's
Doctorate (R)
 21 SAT: 1040-1280
ACT: 19-26 		Atlanta, Georgia Public gsu.edu
Mercy University
Master's
 21 N/A Dobbs Ferry, New York Private mercy.edu
Miami University
Master's
 21 SAT: 1210-1380
ACT: 26-31 		Oxford, Ohio Public miamioh.edu
Winthrop University
Master's
Post-Master's
 21 SAT: 1010-1220
ACT: 20-26 		Rock Hill, South Carolina Public winthrop.edu
Baylor University
Master's
Doctorate (R)
 21 SAT: 1210-1400
ACT: 27-32 		Waco, Texas Private baylor.edu
California State University
Master's
 20 N/A Sacramento, California Public csus.edu
Appalachian State University (App State)
Master's
 20 SAT: 1100-1280
ACT: 21-27 		Boone, North Carolina Public appstate.edu
Eastern University
Master's
Post-Master's
 20 N/A Saint Davids, Pennsylvania Private eastern.edu
Ottawa University (OU Online)
Master's
 20 N/A Overland Park, Kansas Private ottawa.edu
Grand Valley State University (GVSU)
Master's
Post-Master's
 19 SAT: 940-1190
ACT: 21-28 		Allendale, Michigan Public gvsu.edu
Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM)
Master's
Post-Master's
 19 ACT: 19-24 Moorhead, Minnesota Public mnstate.edu
University of Nevada (UNLV)
Post-Master's
Doctorate (R)
 19 SAT: 980-1230
ACT: 18-24 		Las Vegas, Nevada Public unlv.edu
Lewis & Clark College
Post-Master's
 19 SAT: 1210-1390
ACT: 28-31 		Portland, Oregon Private lclark.edu
University of Wisconsin
Master's
 19 ACT: 18-24 Whitewater, Wisconsin Public uww.edu
Emporia State University (ESU)
Post-Master's
 18 ACT: 18-24 Emporia, Kansas Public emporia.edu
University of Nebraska (UNO)
Master's
Post-Master's
 18 ACT: 18-26 Omaha, Nebraska Public unomaha.edu
SUNY College
Master's
Post-Master's
 18 SAT: 1100-1270 Plattsburgh, New York Public plattsburgh.edu
Kent State University
Master's
 18 SAT: 1000-1230
ACT: 18-25 		Kent, Ohio Public kent.edu
Texas State University (TXST)
Master's
 18 SAT: 980-1190
ACT: 19-26 		San Marcos, Texas Public txst.edu
Governors State University (GSU)
Master's
 17 N/A University Park, Illinois Public govst.edu
Indiana State University (ISU)
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (R)
 17 N/A Terre Haute, Indiana Public indstate.edu
Alfred University
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (R)
 17 SAT: 1100-1280
ACT: 24-31 		Alfred, New York Private alfred.edu
University of Cincinnati (UC)
Master's
Doctorate (R)
 17 SAT: 1150-1360
ACT: 24-29 		Cincinnati, Ohio Public uc.edu
Duquesne University
Doctorate (R)
Doctorate (P)
 17 SAT: 1160-1350
ACT: 26-31 		Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Private duq.edu
California Baptist University (CBU)
Master's
 16 N/A Riverside, California Private calbaptist.edu
Idaho State University (ISU)
Master's
Post-Master's
 16 N/A Pocatello, Idaho Public isu.edu
Eastern Illinois University (EIU)
Master's
Post-Master's
 16 SAT: 890-1110 Charleston, Illinois Public eiu.edu
Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP)
Master's
Doctorate (R)
 16 SAT: 940-1170
ACT: 17-24 		Indiana, Pennsylvania Public iup.edu
The University of Texas
Master's
 16 SAT: 1010-1220
ACT: 19-25 		Tyler, Texas Public uttyler.edu
The University of Texas (UTSA)
Master's
 16 SAT: 1000-1200
ACT: 19-26 		San Antonio, Texas Public utsa.edu
Spring Arbor University (SAU)
Master's
 15 SAT: 935-1165
ACT: 17-25 		Spring Arbor, Michigan Private arbor.edu
Rider University
Post-Master's
 15 SAT: 1100-1310
ACT: 22-29 		Lawrenceville, New Jersey Private rider.edu
Oklahoma State University (OSU)
Post-Master's
Doctorate (R)
 15 SAT: 1030-1240
ACT: 20-27 		Stillwater, Oklahoma Public okstate.edu
Millersville University of Pennsylvania
Master's
 15 SAT: 1030-1210 Millersville, Pennsylvania Public millersville.edu
Brigham Young University (BYU)
Master's
 15 SAT: 1290-1450
ACT: 28-32 		Provo, Utah Private byu.edu
Marshall University
Post-Master's
 15 SAT: 890-1130
ACT: 18-24 		Huntington, West Virginia Public marshall.edu
California State University (CSUMB)
Master's
 15 N/A Seaside, California Public csumb.edu
University of South Florida (USF)
Master's
Doctorate (R)
 14 SAT: 1140-1330
ACT: 24-29 		Tampa, Florida Public usf.edu
Michigan State University (MSU)
Master's
Post-Master's
Doctorate (R)
 14 SAT: 1150-1350
ACT: 26-31 		East Lansing, Michigan Public msu.edu

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to the most common questions about School Psychology programs

How much can I earn with a School Psychology degree?

Salaries for School Psychology graduates vary by role and location. Managers, All Other earn a median of $136,550 annually, while School Psychologists earn around $86,930. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $122,460 compared to $67,260 in Arkansas. Approximately 1,078,770 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 School Psychology programs?

Currently 200 accredited institutions offer School Psychology degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include National University (NU) (103 graduates), Alliant International University, San Diego (71 graduates), and Capella University (65 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 School Psychology growing or declining?

Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 2,905 in 2010 to 3,685 in 2023-24. This represents a 27% 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 School Psychology degree?

This degree prepares you for roles such as Managers, All Other, School Psychologists, and Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary. Related occupations employ approximately 1,078,770 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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