by our College Data Analytics TeamSchool Psychology was the 260th most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 3,230 degrees in this year alone. This 99 less than the prior year, a decrease of 3.1%.
This year's Best School Psychology Schools ranking compares 142 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of school psychology programs later in this article.
A major in school psychology prepares you for careers in which giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times is crucial. Required skills include talking to others to convey information effectively and understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
school psychology degree applicants generally need have finished high school or their GED. Many schools may also have GPA and SAT/ACT score minimums that must be met. Once you obtain your degree, additional school psychology certifications required to pursue a career in this field.
School Psychology degree levels vary. You can get anything from a in school psychology to the highest school psychology degree, a . How long it takes to complete some common school psychology degree levels is shown below.
| 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 school psychology, with approximately 27.7% of workers getting one. People currently working in careers related to school psychology tend obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 29.1% |
| Master’s Degree | 21.1% |
| Doctoral Degree | 18.0% |
| Post-Doctoral Training | 14.8% |
| Post-Master’s Certificate | 8.5% |
About 67.1% of workers in careers related to school psychology obtain at least master's degrees. See the chart below for the most common degree level workers in school psychology have received.
This of course varies depending on which school psychology career you choose.
Want a job when you graduate with your school psychology degree? School 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 school 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% |
As you might expect, salaries for school psychology graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for school psychology graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers school psychology grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Managers | $115,590 |
| Psychology Professors | $88,490 |
| Clinical, Counseling, and School Psychologists | $85,340 |
With over 343 different school 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 school psychology school rankings to help you with this.
One of 16 majors within the Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology area of study, School Psychology has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Counseling Psychology | 9,463 |
| Applied Behavior Analysis | 5,497 |
| Clinical Psychology | 5,125 |
| Industrial & Organizational Psychology | 2,386 |
| Forensic Psychology | 2,290 |
