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Explore the best psychology programs in California, and find out how to get a psychology license in the state.
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?
With over 500 colleges and universities in California, it can be daunting to try to narrow down your options. If you're looking for the best colleges for psychology in California, check out our list of the best psychology programs in the Golden State. You can also find tips on what to consider when choosing a school to ensure you make the right decision for you.
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
We use trusted sources like Peterson's Data and the National Center for Education Statistics to inform the data for these schools. 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. from our partners appear among these rankings and are indicated as such.
#1 Best Psychology Programs in California
UC Berkeley's graduate school in psychology offers specializations in behavioral and systems neuroscience, clinical science, cognition, cognitive neuroscience, developmental, and social-personality.
The program comprises three components — seminars, teaching assistantships, and research — and culminates with a dissertation. Seminars include professional socialization, statistics, teaching, and topics within specialization areas.
Competitive candidates for the research-focused Ph.D. programs have a bachelor's degree in psychology or a closely related field from an accredited four-year university. The department advises applicants with a bachelor's in fields other than psychology to obtain a post-baccalaureate in psychology. Admission requires laboratory or field research experience. Admitted students receive five years of guaranteed funding.
Average Undergrad Tuition Out-of-state Average Graduate Tuition Out-of-state Retention Rate Acceptance Rate Students Enrolled Institution Type Percent Online Enrollment 69% Percentage of all students who are enrolled online. Accreditation Yes Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission More Details#2 Best Psychology Programs in California
Graduate psychology at UCLA offers Ph.D. training in eight emphasis areas:
UCLA encourages psychology students to explore other departmental research opportunities, including the Brain Research Institute, the Neuropsychiatric Institute, and the Fernald Child Study Center. Learners also train at local hospitals, including the Veterans Administration.
Admission requirements include a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution, an interview, three letters of recommendation, and a personal statement. GRE score submission is voluntary. The psychology department may offer to fund five years of the enrollee's program upon approval.
Average Undergrad Tuition Out-of-state Average Graduate Tuition Out-of-state Retention Rate Acceptance Rate Students Enrolled Institution Type Percent Online Enrollment 68% Percentage of all students who are enrolled online. Accreditation Yes Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission More Details#3 Best Psychology Programs in California
Stanford's Ph.D. program in psychology focuses on developing research competence and productivity. Courses and seminars emphasize computational and empirical theoretical methods and information.
Practical experience with the methods of psychological investigation and study comprises half of students' time in one or more research areas: affective, cognitive, developmental, neuroscience, or social psychology. All students complete five teaching assistantships.
Applicants need a bachelor's degree, transcripts, and up to six recommendation letters. The department prefers those with independent research experience as an undergraduate or master's student.
Funding sources for tuition, living stipends, and health insurance support students through their fifth year.
Average Undergrad Tuition Out-of-state Average Graduate Tuition Out-of-state Retention Rate Acceptance Rate Students Enrolled Institution Type Percent Online Enrollment 5% Percentage of all students who are enrolled online. Accreditation Yes Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission More Details#4 Best Psychology Programs in California
Students can earn a master's in applied psychology at USC as residential or online students. The residential track is a one-year, on-campus intensive. Distance learners take entirely online classes part time and can graduate in 16 months.
The curriculum focuses on theory, research, and practice in business settings. Coursework includes consumer psychology, cross-cultural psychology in applied settings, organizational psychology, and user experience. Learners complete applied internships and original research projects. Team-based projects offer opportunities to help companies solve problems. Students can opt for summer internships in Dublin or spring break trips to Dubai.
Graduates pursue careers in consumer insights, learning and development, and organizational consulting.
Average Undergrad Tuition Out-of-state Average Graduate Tuition Out-of-state Retention Rate Acceptance Rate Students Enrolled Institution Type Percent Online Enrollment 46% Percentage of all students who are enrolled online. Accreditation Yes Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission More Details#5 Best Psychology Programs in California
The Ph.D. in psychology program at UCSD offers full funding packages for five years, with teaching assistant duties. The department trains researchers in core subfields of experimental psychology and offers emphasis areas in cognitive and behavioral neuroscience, cognitive psychology, developmental psychology, and social psychology.
First-year courses include human rationality, probabilistic models of cognition, quantitative methods, and substance abuse. Learners can also take seminars in other concentration areas. Psychology students can interact with researchers in other departments at weekly Brown Bag meetings. A qualifying paper or exam during the second year measures readiness to begin thesis research.
Admission looks primarily at applicants' undergraduate research experience and interests.
Average Undergrad Tuition Out-of-state Average Graduate Tuition Out-of-state Retention Rate Acceptance Rate Students Enrolled Institution Type Percent Online Enrollment 53% Percentage of all students who are enrolled online. Accreditation Yes Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission More Details#6 Best Psychology Programs in California
UC Davis psychology Ph.D. students take minimal coursework and begin working closely with one or two faculty members to develop research during year one. The program offers concentrations in biological, developmental, quantitative, and social personality psychology, along with perception, cognition, and cognitive neuroscience. An annual departmental conference allows students to present their research.
First-year students take a course that introduces them to faculty research interests before they select their advising committee. Those who attend a class on teaching introductory psychology and pass an oral qualifying exam may have the opportunity to teach courses. Funding sources, including teaching and research assistantships, are guaranteed for five years.
Average Undergrad Tuition Out-of-state Average Graduate Tuition Out-of-state Retention Rate Acceptance Rate Students Enrolled Institution Type Percent Online Enrollment 21% Percentage of all students who are enrolled online. Accreditation Yes Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission More Details#7 Best Psychology Programs in California
San Diego State's master's in psychology degrees can put students on the path to becoming competitive Ph.D. program applicants or entering the job market.
The master of arts (M.A.) program offers concentration areas in behavioral and cognitive neuroscience, cognitive psychology, developmental psychology, physical and/or mental health, and social psychology. Graduation requires the completion of a thesis.
The master of science (M.S.) in applied psychology includes tracks in industrial organizational psychology and quantitative methods and includes a research thesis and 300 internship hours.
Most admitted students hold a bachelor's degree in psychology, a 3.6 GPA, and research experience. The M.A. program does not require GRE scores for admission, but the M.S. does.
Average Undergrad Tuition Out-of-state Average Graduate Tuition Out-of-state Retention Rate Acceptance Rate Students Enrolled Institution Type Percent Online Enrollment 64% Percentage of all students who are enrolled online. Accreditation Yes Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission More Details#8 Best Psychology Programs in California
UC Riverside's Ph.D. in psychology students can specialize in behavioral neuroscience, cognition and cognitive neuroscience, developmental psychology, or social/personality psychology. Subfields span diversity and inclusion psychology, health and well-being psychology, and quantitative psychology.
The first two years of the five-year program develop statistical and research methods skills and concentration-area expertise. Learners complete most of their coursework in the first two years. Years 3-5 include a qualifying exam, dissertation proposal preparation, and dissertation writing and research.
Students work as teaching assistants and typically receive five years of funding. Admission evaluates applicants' undergraduate grades, work and research experience, recommendations, and faculty willingness to serve as their mentors.
Average Undergrad Tuition Out-of-state Average Graduate Tuition Out-of-state Retention Rate Acceptance Rate Students Enrolled Institution Type Percent Online Enrollment 84% Percentage of all students who are enrolled online. Accreditation Yes Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission More Details#9 Best Psychology Programs in California
One of the best colleges for psychology in California, Cal State Long Beach offers three psychology master's programs. The master of arts (M.A.) in psychological research prepares graduates for master's-level employment or doctoral study.
The master of science (M.S.) in human factors trains students to improve worker's comfort, performance, and safety using research-informed job design, information systems, and equipment. The M.S. in industrial organizational psychology prepares students to enhance organizations and the well-being of professional staff.
M.A. enrollees complete a capstone thesis, and M.S. students can choose between a thesis and applied research or portfolios.
Average Undergrad Tuition Out-of-state Average Graduate Tuition Out-of-state Retention Rate Acceptance Rate Students Enrolled Institution Type Percent Online Enrollment 87% Percentage of all students who are enrolled online. Accreditation Yes Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission More Details#10 Best Psychology Programs in California
Located in San Luis Obispo, Cal Poly offers a master's in psychology that prepares clinicians to counsel couples, families, individuals, and groups. The program meets the requirements for California marriage and family therapist licensure. The curriculum also readies graduates to enter doctoral programs.
Students experience small classes held during the day and evening and individual attention at practicum training clinics and community internship sites. Program completion typically takes around two years.
Applicants must hold bachelor's degrees from regionally accredited schools and 3.0 GPAs. Bachelor's degrees can be in any field, but program prerequisites include abnormal psychology, lifespan development, personality theory, research methods, and statistics.
Average Undergrad Tuition Out-of-state Average Graduate Tuition Out-of-state Retention Rate Acceptance Rate Students Enrolled Institution Type Percent Online Enrollment 74% Percentage of all students who are enrolled online. Accreditation Yes Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission More DetailsPsychology.org ranks education programs using data from reputable sources like the U.S. Department of Education. Our vetting process also includes a quality assurance team that assesses datasets for accuracy.
Psychology.org reserves the right to exclude any schools that lack significant data from the rankings to ensure accurate calculations. For more about how Psychology.org evaluates and ranks education programs, read more about our full ranking methodology.
There are many factors to consider when choosing a college for psychology in California, including:
Like much of the country, California is currently experiencing a shortage of mental health care professionals, with only 24% of the state's mental health needs met. Given this shortage and the positive employment growth projections for psychologists from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as shown below, it may be a good time to become a psychologist in California.
Psychologists earn a lucrative salary, often in the six-figure range. However, many psychologists in California need a doctoral degree and a state license, which requires many hours of supervised clinical experience and multiple exams.
| Occupation | Average Annual Salary | Change in Employment 2020-2030 |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $132,410 | 8.6% |
| School Psychologists | $96,530 | 8.6% |
| Industrial-Organizational Psychologists | $125,270 | 5.6% |
| Psychologists, All Other | $116,420 | 0.0% |
| Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary | $121,110 | 7.7% |
Clinical psychologists, counseling psychologists, and school psychologists all need to earn licensure in California before they can practice.
To earn licensure in California, psychologists must earn a doctoral degree and complete specific coursework that meets state requirements. They also need 3,000 hours of supervised clinical experience, with 1,500 of those hours occurring after they complete their doctorate.
Aspiring psychologists in California must then pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) and the California Psychology Laws and Ethics Examination (CPLEE). Finally, they must apply for licensure and pass a background check.
Yes, California has good psychology programs. California is home to many nationally and internationally recognized schools, such as Stanford, the California Institute of Technology, and schools in the University of California system.
Yes, psychology careers are in demand in California, as the state is experiencing a shortage of mental health professionals. Jobs for clinical psychologists, counseling psychologists, and school psychologists are projected to grow almost 9% between 2020 and 2030. And jobs for substance use, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors in California are projected to increase by roughly 17% in that same timeframe.
Depending on your previous experience and education choices, it can take around 12 years to become a psychologist in California. Earning an undergraduate degree typically takes four years, and graduate school takes another 6-8 years. Aspiring psychologists will typically also need to complete a year or two of supervised clinical experience and pass the EPPP exam.
According to the California Licensing Board, the overall pass rate for the EPPP exam in California is about 39%. The pass rate for first-time test-takers is almost 60%.
Yes, you can earn a psychology degree online in California. Many schools in California offer online psychology programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Learners should note that the APA does not currently accredit doctoral programs offered entirely online.
Page last reviewed on May 22, 2024