by our College Data Analytics TeamAre you interested in helping individuals with psychological or mental health disorders? Getting your degree in Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology will teach you about the professional practice of psychology. This involves the diagnosis and treatment of individuals with disorders and behavioral pathologies.
Some of the things you will learn and discuss in your classes are growth and development, nature vs. nurture, reactions towards a specific environment, health problems and family issues. You should be deeply interested in people and comfortable working with diverse populations. Some of the courses you will take are chemistry, biology, abnormal psychology, statistics, child development, and clinical methods. This branch of psychology is focused around practical application.
You may be able to choose a concentration or specialization in this major. Some of the more common ones available are Community Psychology; Counseling Psychology; Industrial and Organizational Psychology; School Psychology; Educational Psychology; Clinical Child Psychology; Environmental Psychology; Geropsychology; Health/Medical Psychology; Family Psychology; Forensic Psychology; and Applied Psychology.
Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology was the 33rd most popular major in the 2021-2022 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 36,293 degrees in this year alone. Our 2025 Best Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology Schools ranking analyzes 414 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for clinical, counseling & applied psychology students. Explore this or one of our many other custom clinical psychology rankings further below.
The study of psychology involves time spent in lecture halls, labs and libraries. Students will perform experiments and write lab reports, conduct research and prepare papers and presentations, and participate in class discussions. This requires a balanced individual who is comfortable working with numbers and science as well as interacting with people.
Your major will most likely include an internship or work study program where you will gain some real-world experience. It is important to be able to listen and respond appropriately in potentially emotional situations. Environmental awareness and attention to detail will help you understand the reactions and behavior of people.
New students will need to have completed high school or a GED program and each school will have their own minimum GPA and SAT/ACT test requirements. Specific clinical psychology careers may require a certain level of degree attainment or additional certifications beyond that.
Clinical Psychology degree levels vary. You can get anything from a in clinical, counseling & applied psychology to the highest clinical psychology degree, a . The type of clinical psychology degree you choose will determine how long it takes to get your diploma.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to clinical psychology, with approximately 29.4% of workers getting one. See the the most common levels of education for clinical psychology workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 29.8% |
| Master’s Degree | 22.4% |
| Post-Doctoral Training | 17.2% |
| Doctoral Degree | 16.4% |
| Post-Master’s Certificate | 4.4% |
About 61.8% of workers in careers related to clinical psychology obtain at least master's degrees. The chart below shows what degree level those who work in clinical, counseling & applied psychology have obtained.
The education level required is different depending on the clinical psychology career you are seeking.
A major in Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology prepares you for work in several different fields as a clinical psychologist, counselor or social worker. Most of these occupations do require an advanced degree in the field of psychology. If graduates decide not to obtain an advanced degree, their college education also prepares them for work in social work, public service, marketing, sales or any other career working with people.
Want a job when you graduate with your clinical psychology degree? Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology careers are expected to grow 9.1% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to clinical, counseling & applied psychology.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Managers | 1,071,700 | 8.0% |
| Clinical, Counseling, and School Psychologists | 168,500 | 14.2% |
| Psychology Professors | 54,000 | 15.1% |
| Psychologists | 19,200 | 10.3% |
| Industrial-Organizational Psychologists | 1,800 | 5.9% |
Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates between <nil> reported earning an average of $54,470 in the <nil> timeframe. Earnings can range from as low as $6,023 to as high as $97,464. As you might expect, salaries for clinical psychology graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for clinical, counseling & applied psychology graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers clinical psychology grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Managers | $115,590 |
| Industrial-Organizational Psychologists | $109,030 |
| Psychologists | $95,610 |
| Psychology Professors | $88,490 |
| Clinical, Counseling, and School Psychologists | $85,340 |
With over 2,265 different clinical psychology degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased clinical psychology school rankings to help you with this.
One of 24 majors within the Psychology area of study, Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Counseling Psychology | 10,225 |
| Clinical Psychology | 5,507 |
| Applied Behavior Analysis | 5,459 |
| School Psychology | 3,645 |
| Forensic Psychology | 2,491 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| General Psychology | 143,648 |
| Child Development & Psychology | 19,646 |
| Other Psychology | 2,728 |
