Best Psychology Programs in Texas

Considering a psychology career in Texas? Find the best graduate psychology programs in Texas with this guide to psychology schools and licensing requirements.

Psychology.org is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.

Are you ready to discover your college program?

Credit: Bill Barfield | Moment | Getty Images

With so many clinical psychology programs in Texas, how do you choose? This guide to the top graduate and undergraduate psychology programs in Texas identifies the best schools, explains what factors to consider, and describes what you can do with a psychology degree at any level.

Keep reading for more on the best psychology programs in Texas.

What to Look For in a Psychology Program

The best graduate psychology program in Texas for you depends on your background, experience, and goals. Factors to consider include cost and financial aid, the program quality and reputation, staff-to-student ratio, curriculum, graduation rate, and the admission requirements.

Most states require psychologists to have a doctorate from an accredited program. In addition, accredited programs don't accept transfer credits from unaccredited programs. This guide only lists accredited options, so can pick any of these schools with confidence that you're earning a valid and respected degree.

At the undergraduate level, you may want to explore different disciplines and approaches. For graduate school, however, make sure that the school offers programs and professors in your specialty. The top psychology Ph.D. programs in Texas all have different strengths for different students.

Licensing Requirements in Texas

To become a licensed psychologist in Texas, you must earn a doctorate, pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP), and pass the jurisprudence examination on legal factors in practicing psychology. You also need at least 1,750 hours of supervised internship experience during your doctoral program and at least 1,750 hours of supervised post-doctoral experience.

If you graduated from an American Psychological Association (APA)- or a Canadian Psychological Association (CPA)-accredited degree program, you may be able to apply some of your graduate experience to the post-doctoral hour requirements.

If you have an active Certificate of Professional Qualification in Psychology (CPQ), you only need to pass the jurisprudence examination. Similarly, if you have an active specialist certification with the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP), you only need to take the EPPP and the jurisprudence examination.

Career Relevance

While you must have a doctorate to practice as a clinical psychologist, you can use a psychology degree for many other careers. An associate degree can prepare you for a job working in psychology, human services, or in law enforcement.

With a psychology bachelor's degree, you can work in a variety of fields, including marketing, media and publishing, human resources, government, or administration and management. Many students with a bachelor's in psychology go on to graduate school in another field, such as business administration, law, or medicine.

Depending on state regulations, you can qualify for a career as a counselor, school psychologist, or therapist with a master's degree. Be sure to check your state for specifics. Finally, you can become a licensed psychologist once you have your doctoral degree, or you can teach psychology.

Best Psychology Programs in Texas

#1 Best Psychology Programs in Texas

The University of Texas at Austin

  • Austin, TX
  • 4 years
  • Online + Campus

The University of Texas at Austin offers a bachelor of science and a bachelor of arts in psychology. Both degrees require psychology core coursework. BA degree-seekers develop intermediate knowledge of a foreign language. The university recommends the BS program for students planning to attend medical school or enter a professional health field.

Psychology students can take courses in subfields such as cognition, neuroscience, evolutionary psychology, and perception psychology. Enrollees must complete at least 18 psychology credits at UT.

About 1,500 students enroll in UT's psychology programs, and about 380 learners graduate with a psychology degree each year. Graduates can work in business, health, education, and law. About 64% of graduates pursue further education.

Prospective students should indicate psychology as their first major of choice on their application. Learners take an introductory psychology course during their first year at UT.

Average Undergrad Tuition
In-state
$10,824
Out-of-state
$38,326
Average Graduate Tuition
In-state
$11,998
Out-of-state
$22,966
Retention Rate
96%
Admission Rate
32%
Students Enrolled
51,090
Institution Type
Public
Percent Online Enrollment
25% Percentage of all students who are enrolled online.
Accreditation
Yes Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

#2 Best Psychology Programs in Texas

Rice University

  • Houston, TX
  • 4 years
  • Online + Campus

A private institution located in Houston, Texas, Rice University offers a doctorate in psychology. One of the best graduate psychology programs in Texas, this degree requires about five years to complete.

Students can pursue research in cognitive and affective neuroscience, health psychology and behavioral medicine, human computer interaction, industrial psychology, or psychometrics and quantitative psychology.

Degree-seekers may conduct external research with organizations such as the Texas Medical Center or NASA. Students can take courses not available at Rice from the University of Houston, Baylor College of Medicine, or the University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler.

Applicants without a graduate degree can pursue two master's programs leading to enrollment in the doctoral program: a master's in industrial-organizational psychology and a master's in human-computer interaction and human factors.

Each year, the school accepts about 10 doctoral students and 10 master's students out of about 400 applicants. Rice prefers applicants who demonstrate research interests aligning with faculty expertise.

Average Undergrad Tuition
In-state
$48,330
Out-of-state
$48,330
Average Graduate Tuition
In-state
$48,791
Out-of-state
$48,791
Retention Rate
98%
Admission Rate
9%
Students Enrolled
7,282
Institution Type
Private
Percent Online Enrollment
5% Percentage of all students who are enrolled online.
Accreditation
Yes Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

#3 Best Psychology Programs in Texas

The University of Texas at Dallas

  • Richardson, TX
  • 4 years
  • Online + Campus

Students can pursue a bachelor's degree, a master's degree, or one of the top psychology Ph.D. programs in Texas at the University of Texas at Dallas.

Undergraduates complete 120 credits and can major in psychology, cognitive science, or child learning and development. Learners can complete up to 12 graduate credits while pursuing a bachelor's degree.

Master's degree-seekers can study psychology, applied cognition and neuroscience, or human development and early childhood disorders. Psychology majors take 36 credits and can specialize in developmental psychology, cognition, social and personality psychology, or neuroscience. Courses take place during the day, and learners study full time.

Ph.D. students may focus on general psychology or cognition and neuroscience. They complete 75 credits beyond the bachelor's degree, including coursework and research requirements.

The doctoral program emphasizes research in developmental psychology, cognitive psychology, and social and personality psychology. Rice offers on-campus research opportunities and maintains partnerships with nearby schools, agencies, clinics, and hospitals.

Average Undergrad Tuition
In-state
$13,442
Out-of-state
$38,168
Average Graduate Tuition
In-state
$13,874
Out-of-state
$27,796
Retention Rate
89%
Admission Rate
79%
Students Enrolled
29,543
Institution Type
Public
Percent Online Enrollment
19% Percentage of all students who are enrolled online.
Accreditation
Yes Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

#4 Best Psychology Programs in Texas

Texas A & M International University

  • Laredo, TX
  • 4 years
  • Online + Campus

Founded in 1970, Texas A&M International University enrolls more than 8,400 undergraduate and graduate students. With a main campus in Laredo, TAMIU offers a 120-credit bachelor of arts in psychology.

Major courses include social psychology, cognitive psychology, biological psychology, and learning and memory. Students complete the university's core curriculum, a math elective, and a foreign language sequence.

The psychology degree typically requires four years to complete. Graduates can pursue a master's in psychology or a master's in counseling psychology from TAMIU.

Admission requirements vary based on the student's academic background. Applicants who hold a GED, were homeschooled, or did not graduate in the top 40% of their high school class need minimum ACT or SAT scores.

Average Undergrad Tuition
In-state
$3,818
Out-of-state
$13,946
Average Graduate Tuition
In-state
$3,350
Out-of-state
$10,946
Retention Rate
79%
Admission Rate
54%
Students Enrolled
8,305
Institution Type
Public
Percent Online Enrollment
46% Percentage of all students who are enrolled online.
Accreditation
Yes Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

#5 Best Psychology Programs in Texas

Texas A & M University-College Station

  • College Station, TX
  • 4 years
  • Online + Campus

Students can pursue a bachelor of science or a bachelor of arts in psychology from Texas A&M University. Each 120-credit program equips students to use the scientific method to answer questions about human behavior.

The bachelor of science program prepares students for medical school, health-related graduate programs, and entry-level business and applied psychology careers.

Available courses include Black psychology, elementary statistics for psychology, sensation-perception, and neuroscience of learning and memory.

The bachelor of arts curriculum prepares students for graduate programs in fields such as counseling, social work, law, and management. BA degree-seekers complete coursework in the humanities and a foreign language. Texas A&M also offers a 15-credit psychology minor.

Applicants who graduated in the top 10% of their class from a Texas high school qualify for automatic admission. Other prospective students receive a holistic application review that considers academic and non-academic factors.

Average Undergrad Tuition
In-state
$7,941
Out-of-state
$34,190
Average Graduate Tuition
In-state
$6,677
Out-of-state
$18,700
Retention Rate
93%
Admission Rate
58%
Students Enrolled
68,726
Institution Type
Public
Percent Online Enrollment
14% Percentage of all students who are enrolled online.
Accreditation
Yes Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

#6 Best Psychology Programs in Texas

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

  • Edinburg, TX
  • 4 years
  • Online + Campus

Located in Brownsville, the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley offers a bachelor's in psychology that prepares students for careers in mental health.

The 120-credit program requires 27 credits of psychology core courses and 15 credits of psychology electives. Available courses include human motivation, cross-cultural psychology, theories of personality, and psychopathology of childhood.

While test scores are optional for UTRGV applicants, admitted students possess an average 19.74 ACT score and 1030 SAT score.

Students interested in the top clinical psychology programs in Texas can consider UTRGV's master's and Ph.D. programs. The master's in clinical psychology program offers thesis and non-thesis options. Master's degree-seekers can pursue a board certified behavior analyst concentration.

The Ph.D. program emphasizes clinical research in areas such as Latinx mental health, family violence, and clinical neuropsychology. Applicants need a bachelor's degree and at least 18 undergraduate psychology credits.

Average Undergrad Tuition
In-state
$6,664
Out-of-state
$16,792
Average Graduate Tuition
In-state
$5,959
Out-of-state
$13,555
Retention Rate
76%
Admission Rate
80%
Students Enrolled
29,113
Institution Type
Public
Percent Online Enrollment
51% Percentage of all students who are enrolled online.
Accreditation
Yes Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

#7 Best Psychology Programs in Texas

Texas Christian University

  • Fort Worth, TX
  • 4 years
  • Online + Campus

A private institution in Fort Worth, Texas Christian University offers a master's in developmental trauma and a Ph.D. in experimental psychology.

TCU's master's program requires 30 graduate credits, including 12 elective credits. Courses include advanced neuroscience, trauma and behavior, theories of development, and interactive data analysis. Students must maintain a minimum 2.75 GPA and receive no more than two grades below a C+.

Ph.D. students explore a broad spectrum of content areas and quantitative research methods. Applicants need a thesis-based master's degree. Doctoral students take six core courses and complete a dissertation.

Course options include cognition, advanced social psychology, theories of development, and analysis of variance. Only courses completed with at least a B- count toward graduation requirements.

TCU also offers a master of arts and a master of science in psychology, along with a graduate-level certificate program.

Average Undergrad Tuition
In-state
$49,160
Out-of-state
$49,160
Average Graduate Tuition
In-state
$30,780
Out-of-state
$30,780
Retention Rate
91%
Admission Rate
47%
Students Enrolled
11,024
Institution Type
Private
Percent Online Enrollment
3% Percentage of all students who are enrolled online.
Accreditation
Yes Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

#8 Best Psychology Programs in Texas

University of Dallas

  • Irving, TX
  • 4 years
  • Online + Campus

A private Catholic school, the University of Dallas offers one of the top psychology programs in Texas. Students can earn a bachelor's in psychology with an optional concentration in industrial-organizational psychology. The degree requires 35 major credits and nine credits of advanced psychology electives.

Enrollees who add the concentration complete 16 credits in industrial-organizational psychology. Course options include global entrepreneurship, group and team dynamics, statistical methods for the behavioral sciences, and cultural psychology and multicultural studies.

The university also offers three master's programs for part-time learners. Degree-seekers can pursue a master of psychology, a master of arts in psychology, or a master of psychology with a clinical concentration. Students in these programs examine psychology through a humanistic lens. Curricula support studies of the human experience with natural science observations.

Undergraduate applicants submit high school transcripts and recommendations.

Average Undergrad Tuition
In-state
$39,680
Out-of-state
$39,680
Average Graduate Tuition
In-state
$33,750
Out-of-state
$33,750
Retention Rate
85%
Admission Rate
45%
Students Enrolled
2,481
Institution Type
Private
Percent Online Enrollment
24% Percentage of all students who are enrolled online.
Accreditation
Yes Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

#9 Best Psychology Programs in Texas

Baylor University

  • Waco, TX
  • 4 years
  • Online + Campus

A Christian institution of more than 20,000 students, Waco-based Baylor University provides a master of arts in educational psychology. One of the top school psychology programs in Texas, the MA prepares learners to pursue a doctorate in education or psychology.

Baylor's curriculum requires 30 credits, including coursework and a thesis. Students can concentrate in applied behavior analysis, gifted and talented, or twice exceptionalities.

The applied behavior analysis concentration focuses on developmental disabilities. Students learn to deal with challenging behavior and manage behavior change programs. The gifted and talented specialization covers curriculum development for gifted children, along with relevant social and emotional needs.

Baylor's twice exceptionalities concentration focuses on the unique needs of gifted learners with disabilities. Students explore the psychology of exceptional children and complete a practicum.

Applicants need a minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA and competitive GRE scores. The application deadline is February 1.

Average Undergrad Tuition
In-state
$42,842
Out-of-state
$42,842
Average Graduate Tuition
In-state
$32,130
Out-of-state
$32,130
Retention Rate
88%
Admission Rate
45%
Students Enrolled
18,033
Institution Type
Private
Percent Online Enrollment
10% Percentage of all students who are enrolled online.
Accreditation
Yes Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

#10 Best Psychology Programs in Texas

University of Houston

  • Houston, TX
  • 4 years
  • Online + Campus

A member of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, the University of Houston enrolls more than 47,000 students. The school offers 417 graduate and undergraduate programs, including an undergraduate major and minor in psychology.

UH also offers a 4+1 program in which students can earn a bachelor's in psychology and a master's in public policy in five years. Graduates can enter the workforce or pursue doctoral studies.

Psychology degree-seekers take courses in areas such as adolescent psychology, child development, and social psychology. Faculty research interests include clinical psychology; social psychology; industrial-organizational psychology; and developmental, cognitive, and behavioral neuroscience.

To declare a psychology major, UH students need a minimum 2.0 GPA and must be enrolled in a psychology course. Learners can pursue a BA or BS in psychology

Average Undergrad Tuition
In-state
$8,219
Out-of-state
$20,747
Average Graduate Tuition
In-state
$8,370
Out-of-state
$17,746
Retention Rate
85%
Admission Rate
65%
Students Enrolled
46,148
Institution Type
Public
Percent Online Enrollment
43% Percentage of all students who are enrolled online.
Accreditation
Yes Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Frequently Asked Questions About Texas Psychology Programs


What college has the best psychology program in Texas?

The best program depends on your professional interests. For example, the top clinical psychology program in Texas may not be right for an aspiring cognitive psychologist. This guide can help you choose the program that's best for you.

What can you do with a master's in psychology in Texas?

With a master's degree, you can practice as a licensed counselor or work in applied psychology as a consultant, administrator, or human resource professional. If you graduate from one of the best graduate psychology programs in Texas, you can go on to earn a doctorate.

How long does it take to become a psychologist in Texas?

It takes at least 8-10 years in school and a minimum of 1,750 hours of supervised experience after you graduate.

How do I become a school psychologist in Texas?

If you graduate from a master's level school psychology program in Texas or another state, pass the national exam, and qualify for certification, you can become a licensed specialist in school psychology (LSSP). You must have a doctorate to call yourself a school psychologist.

Latest Posts