A master's in clinical psychology can prepare you to become a licensed therapist, counselor, or other mental health practitioner. Your best program will depend on your future goals, such as whether you want to pursue doctoral study, be involved in research, or become licensed to practice right out of school.
We've found four of the best clinical psychology master's programs for affordability, research, lab experience, and flexibility. In our guide, we'll show you the highlights and how to compare programs to find the one that best suits you.
4 Best Clinical Psychology Master's Programs
How We Identified Top Schools and Programs
Our editorial team reviewed each school and program to identify standout characteristics, prioritizing factors like flexibility, affordability, hands-on experience, and relevance of the curriculum to a career in psychology. We assigned each school a superlative category based on its strengths.
Since many psychology programs share similar course offerings and outcomes, our goal is to support your program selection process by highlighting features that matter to you most.
We verified these school and program facts in October 2026.
How to Choose a Clinical Psychology Master's Program
To find the best match for you, you'll need to analyze your career and clinical training goals, whether you need to prepare for a doctorate, and the logistics of cost and location.
Match the Program to Your Career Goal
To find the best match for you, you'll need to analyze your career and clinical training goals, whether you need to prepare for a doctorate, and the logistics of cost and location.
Your first step in choosing a clinical psychology master's program is to see whether it meets your career goals. While all of our programs lead to a license to practice clinical psychology, different programs can lead to different types of licensure and set you up for success in different areas, such as research, professional development, or further education.
Ask yourself what outcomes and experiences you want within your program. Are you looking for a specific license, a program that sets you up for a research career within clinical psychology, a population, or a specialization?
For example, Pepperdine University and San José State University (SJSU) are great if you want to pursue a career in marriage and family counseling. The University of Delaware (UD) emphasizes more research, and the University of Tulsa (UTulsa) boasts six unique labs you can participate in.
Compare Clinical Training
In a clinical psychology program, you're required to take the number of supervised clinical hours determined by the state your program resides in, which varies from state to state.
Programs like the UD separate clinical hours from coursework, while those like UTulsa weave those hours into the same time you're taking classes.
Determine how you want to be placed in a clinical practicum and where you want to be placed. Some colleges, like Pepperdine, have the option to place you in a clinical setting in or around where you live (in California). Pepperdine is also our most flexible option since you can attend online or in the evenings at three campuses.
For specific placement opportunities, talk with a faculty member or advisor about where you can be placed, such as a university hospital, a private practice, a prison, or a school.
Some states also offer license reciprocity, so you can receive a license in one state and be able to practice in another.
Consider Faculty Fit and Graduate Outcomes
As a graduate student, you'll be in smaller classes and work more closely with faculty. If you're interested in pursuing a doctoral degree, find a faculty member who shares your interests and can help you grow.
The best school on our list to work closely with a professor is UTulsa, where you can join six different labs to work with faculty on projects within their respective niches. Working with your faculty, building professional relationships, and networking with others in the field can benefit you if you're pursuing a research-heavy professional degree.
If you're concerned about whether faculty are a good fit for you, look up their department biography to find their specializations. If you have more questions for them, you may be able to email them directly.
Compare Research and Doctoral Preparation
Not every program will prepare you for graduate school; some colleges, like SJSU, specifically state that it will not prepare you for a PhD in clinical psychology.
UD is our top school for research and doctoral preparation because it is the only school that requires a master's thesis in addition to clinical hours. The university also offers professional development to teach you how to present your research and to give you opportunities to do so through the Spark! Symposium.
Compare Program Length and Location
Lastly, compare the logistics of attending each school. The program and clinical placement location can make a big difference in your education. Since most of these programs are in-person, you'll need to commute several times a week to campus and either use public transportation or purchase a parking pass on campus.
If you're looking to attend an out-of-state school, you also need to research if that program meets your state's licensing requirements. If you're unsure, you may need to reach out to the program and research your state's requirements.
Most clinical psychology programs are from 2-3 years, but you may be able to cut that time by transferring credits. However, programs like SJSU don't typically allow you to transfer credits. A large portion of your degree time is also dedicated to clinical hours.
How Much Does a Clinical Psychology Master's Cost?
For the four schools on our list, a clinical psychology degree will cost you an average of $1,361 per credit hour.
Our most affordable school is SJSU, which charges only $331 per credit for in-state students and $802 for out-of-state students. In total, education will cost a California resident $19,868 and a nonresident for four semesters.
Our second-most affordable school, UTulsa, costs more per credit than others, but since it has the smallest credit requirement, it comes in second for total program tuition at $59,570. UTulsa also lets graduate students know they can qualify for full scholarships, including a $14,359 stipend per academic year, plus additional support for up to nine credits.
You may be able to find third-party scholarships, such as those from UTulsa, at your school, online, or in your local community from other organizations. Applying to a teaching assistant or research assistant position can also provide you with a small stipend to help with educational costs.
Frequently Asked Questions About Clinical Psychology Master's Programs
No. Becoming a clinical psychologist requires a doctoral degree. Depending on your state's licensure requirements a master's in clinical psychology may qualify you to become a mental health counselor or marriage and family therapist.
