The field of psychology is growing. The need for professionally trained counselors who have earned an online Master’s in Clinical Psychology is also growing. These clinical psychology online programs are designed to prepare students for work as clinical psychologists. Clinical psychologists are highly trained mental health professionals. They work with families or individual clients in need of psychiatric care. With nearly 200 graduate clinical psychology programs to choose from, finding the school that is the right fit for your needs and goals can be a challenge. Potential clinical psychologists might be wondering, “What school has the best clinical psychology program online?” We have developed a list of the top 10 Master’s in Clinical Psychology degrees online to help future clinical psychologists on this journey.
Methodology
This ranking list was developed with the goal of identifying the top master’s in clinical psychology degrees based on a number of ranking factors. To start, we generated a list of schools from the College Navigator database. We used search terms for “Master’s in Clinical Psychology degree online.” We took the initial pool of 40 institutions and narrowed the list down to the top 10 graduate schools based. We used the following ranking criteria.
Average Cost of Graduate Attendance
When narrowing down a list of potential schools, one of the most important factors for many students is the average cost of attendance. When looking at tuition rates, it is important to remember that cheaper is not always better. What may appear to be an extremely affordable education might not be ideal when it comes to the quality of education. We used the College Navigator Tool and data taken from each institution’s website to obtain tuition information for the purpose of determining the average costs of graduate attendance and awarded points accordingly.
Points:
Under $20,000: 3 points
$20,001 to $24,999: 2 points
$25,000+: 1 point
College Ranking
Recognization from a national body dedicated to reviewing colleges and universities such as U.S. News & World Report indicates that the school in question is more likely to offer high-quality, affordable programs to its students. In addition to evaluating schools based on how they rank regionally, we also used data compiled from lists for:
- best value schools
- best national universities
- top public schools
We also used rankings for their graduate psychology and graduate clinical psychology programs online.
Points:
U.S. News & World Report: Best Regional University, Best Value School, and Top Public School Ranking
Top 25: 3 points
Top 50: 2 points
Top 100: 1 point
U.S. News & World Report: Best National University, Graduate Psychology Program, Graduate Clinical Psychology Program Ranking:
Top 50: 5 points
Top 100: 3 points
Top 150: 2 point
Top 200: 1 point
Accreditation
When choosing a school, it is important to consider whether the school and the programs it offers are accredited to ensure that the institution is adhering to high standards of quality in terms of the education it provides. Schools that have achieved accreditation are given more consideration than those that have not earned any type of accreditation. In addition, colleges and universities that offer specialized programs in the field of psychology that have been recognized by the two psychology-specific accrediting agencies gain additional points.
Points:
American Psychological Association: 3 points
Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs: 2 points
Regional accreditation: 2 points
Ranking Master’s in Clinical Psychology
10. Lindsey Wilson College
Columbia, Kentucky
Points: 8
Program Website
Lindsey Wilson College is a four-year United Methodist college is located in Columbia, Kentucky. It offers undergraduate and graduate degrees to online and traditional students. LWC’s School of Professional Counseling offers an online Master of Education in Counseling and Human Development with a specialization in mental health counseling that consists of 60 semester hours and requires students to participate in a non-credit group experience of at least 10 hours. Students complete 21 hours of special requirements in mental health counseling, nine hours of clinical instruction, and 30 hours from nine core areas, including:
- research and program evaluation
- group work
- social and cultural foundations
- human growth and development
Degree Options:
Master of Education in Counseling and Human Development
Average Program Cost: $11,376
U.S. News & World Report Ranking:
#107-#141 in Regional Universities South
Accreditations:
Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
9. Palo Alto University
Palo Alto, California
Points: 9
Program Website
Palo Alto University offers one of the top clinical psychology master’s programs online. It was founded as the Pacific Graduate School of Psychology in 1975. Palo Alto University now offers four graduate programs and two undergraduate programs in the field of psychology. The online degree in clinical psychology is a highly structured, innovative two-year master’s degree. The clinical psychology degree program can be used to improve career opportunities or as a bridge to apply for a doctoral degree in clinical psychology. Palo Alto also offers an online Master of Arts in Counseling degree with a concentration in clinical mental health that fulfills all educational requirements for future clinical psychologist graduates to pursue licensure as a licensed professional clinical counselor in California.
Degree Options:
M.S. Psychology
M.A. Counseling
Average Program Cost: $21,690
U.S. News & World Report Ranking: N/A
Accreditations:
Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
American Psychological Association (APA)
Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
8. Adams State University
Alamosa, Colorado
Points: 9
Program Website
Adams State University is located in Alamosa, Colorado. It offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in disciplines such as:
- nursing
- business
- education
- physical and social sciences
The Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is a 60-hour program that meets state requirements for licensure as a licensed professional counselor in Colorado. The program provides students with a wide range of diagnostic and intervention skills. In addition, through an internship, students begin to choose a specialty, selecting a placement that enhances their experience in an area of interest in community counseling.
Degree Options:
Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Average Program Cost: $10,440
U.S. News & World Report Ranking:
#96-#127 in Regional Universities West
Accreditations:
Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
7. California Baptist University
Riverside, California
Points: 10
Program Website
California Baptist University was founded as California Baptist College in 1950. It is a private Christian liberal arts university that operates colleges in:
- engineering
- arts and sciences
- health sciences
- education
- social and behavioral sciences
- others
The 62-credit Master of Science in Counseling Psychology program is available in an online or hybrid format. It is designed to prepare graduate students to enter the professional field of clinical counseling or marriage and family therapy with a sound spiritual, psychological foundation. The program provides psychology students with the training and education they need to treat and assess clients who are experiencing relational difficulties. graduates may be eligible to pursue California licensure in their respective disciplines.
Degree Options:
Master of Science in Counseling Psychology
Average Program Cost: $21,731
U.S. News & World Report Ranking:
#20 in Best Value Schools
#32 in Regional Universities West
Accreditations:
WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)
6. Lock Haven University
Lock Haven, Pennsylvania
Points: 10
Program Website
Lock Haven University is located along the Susquehanna River in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania. It enrolls 5,500 students and offers four graduate programs as well as nearly 70 undergraduate degrees. LHU’s master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling is an online, 60-credit program that prepares psychology students to sit for licensure as a professional counselor in Pennsylvania. The core curriculum features courses related to:
- ethics
- differential diagnosis
- assessment
Nine credits are required in one of three specialization areas including:
- counseling children and adolescents
- counseling military/veterans and their families
- general clinical mental health counseling
Degree Options:
Master Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Average Program Cost: $20,598
U.S. News & World Report Ranking:
#40 (tie) in Top Public Schools
#126 (tie) in Regional Universities North
Accreditations:
Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
5. Indiana Wesleyan University
Marion, Indiana
Points: 12
Program Website
Indiana Wesleyan University is a Christian, private university on a 350-acre campus in Marion, Indiana. It is associated with the Wesleyan Church. It enrolls more than 15,000 students. It is the largest private college in the state. The school offers a 60-credit-hour Master of Arts degree with a concentration in clinical mental health counseling. It prepares students to treat and assess:
- organizations
- families
- groups
- individuals
Professional practice, learning, and faith are interwoven throughout the curriculum of study. An internship is required for degree completion.
Degree Options:
Master of Arts With a Major in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Average Program Cost: $16,380
U.S. News & World Report Ranking:
#32 (tie) in Regional Universities Midwest
#67 in Best Value Schools
Accreditations:
Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
4. Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Points: 13
Program Website
Wake Forest University was founded in 1844. It is located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Wake Forest University is a liberal arts school that enrolls more than 8,000 students across 40 majors and 57 minors in various fields of study. The online Master of Arts in Counseling with a focus on clinical mental health counseling consists of 60 credits. Students progress through core courses such as:
- research and program evaluation
- social and cultural foundations
- human growth and development
Students also take clinical courses in specialty areas such as mental and emotional disorders. They are required to complete internships and a professional identity capstone project prior to graduation.
Degree Options:
Master of Arts in Counseling – Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Average Program Cost: $48,312
U.S. News & World Report Ranking:
#24 in Best Value Schools
#27 (tie) in National Universities
Accreditations:
Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
3. West Virginia University
Morgantown, West Virginia
Points: 13
Program Website
West Virginia University is a space-grant, land-grant institution located in Morgantown, West Virginia. The university operates 14 schools and colleges, offering 350 majors in just about every industry possible. The online Master of Science in Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling program consists of 60 credits. It includes two on-campus visits for the Counseling Theory and Techniques course and the Group Counseling Theories class. The school also offers a robust practicum and critical internship experience, preparing graduates to gain licensure and seek careers in mental health counseling with confidence and skill.
Degree Options:
Master of Science in Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling
Average Program Cost: $18,711
U.S. News & World Report Ranking:
#57 (tie) in Clinical Psychology
#112 (tie) in Top Public Schools
#131 (tie) in Psychology
Accreditations:
Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
2. Oregon State University
Corvallis, Oregon
Points: 14
Program Website
Oregon State University is a public research university in Corvallis, Oregon that offers more than 200 undergraduate programs as well as a number of doctoral and graduate degrees. Through the school’s College of Education, students may pursue a part-time 90-credit hybrid Master of Counseling in Clinical Mental Health Counseling degree. The program is designed to provide students with the practice and theory to deliver professional counseling services in clinical mental health settings. The hybrid format includes online coursework and on-campus sessions held two Fridays and Saturdays per term.
Degree Options:
Master of Counseling in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Average Program Cost: $14,580
U.S. News & World Report Ranking:
#70 (tie) in Top Public Schools
#116 in Best Value Schools
#140 (tie) in National Universities
#148 (tie) in Psychology
Accreditations:
Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP)
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
1. University of Tennessee at Martin
Martin, Tennessee
Points: 14
Program Website
University of Tennessee at Martin is located in Martin, TN. It is one of five campuses that make up the University of Tennessee System. It offers online and on-campus undergraduate and graduate degrees. UTM also operates several satellite centers and a large experimental farm. Students pursuing a master’s degree in counseling can choose from three concentrations:
- School Counseling Endorsement
- Clinical Mental Health
- School Counseling
Specifically, the clinical mental health concentration consists of 60 credit hours of coursework in areas such as:
- relationships
- career development
- social and cultural diversity
- assessment
- group work
- electives
Degree Options:
Master’s in Counseling
Average Program Cost: $11,760
U.S. News & World Report Ranking:
#14 (tie) in Top Public Schools
#42 (tie) in Regional Universities South
#44 in Best Value Schools
Accreditations:
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
Frequently Asked Questions
What are My Career Options for a Master’s in Clinical Psychology Degree?
Those who have earned online clinical psychology degrees might be wondering about their career options. Newly graduated clinical psychologists from online clinical psychology programs will be happy to know there are plenty of options. Clinical psychology is the field of psychology that is most concerned with the treatment and diagnosis of mental illness and abnormal behaviors. Those who graduate with an online masters in clinical psychology may find employment in a broad spectrum of settings, from assessing mental disorders in social care settings to working in their own private practices. Clinical psychologists may also specialize in subcategories such as learning disabilities or health psychology, which could influence their chances of finding a position in a specific area. The following are 10 interesting jobs that Master’s in Clinical Psychology graduates could pursue:
- Adult Mental Health Psychologist
- University Clinical Psychologist
- Rehabilitation Clinical Psychologist
- Child Mental Health Specialist
- Learning Disabilities Specialist
- Substance Abuse Clinical Psychologist
- Geriatric Clinical Psychologist
- Clinical Social Worker
- Professor in Clinical Psychology
- Private Clinical Psychologist
How Much Can You Earn in This Field?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) groups clinical psychologists under the broader category of school, counseling, and clinical psychologists. As of May 2019, the mean salary for this occupation was $87,450 per year. Those in the highest 10th percentile earned $132,670 or more, while those in the lowest 10th percentile earned $45,240 or less. When looking at salary by employer, the BLS reports that clinical psychologists who worked for outpatient care centers averaged $99,870 per year, those who worked for substance abuse and psychiatric hospitals averaged $86,350, and those who worked for family and individual services averaged $85,140. Counselors and clinical psychologists who worked for offices of other health practitioners earned an average of $100,300 per year as of May 2019.
This concludes our ranking of the Top 10 Master’s in Clinical Psychology online degree programs.