If you’re searching for the cheapest PsyD programs or an affordable clinical psychology master’s, cost comes down to funding as much as sticker price. This guide counts down 47 clinical psychology programs, from terminal master’s degrees to fully funded PhDs, starting with the most expensive at #47 and ending with the single most affordable option at #1.
Clinical psychology graduate programs vary enormously in what they actually cost a student. A handful of the PhD programs on this list fund every admitted student with a tuition waiver and an annual stipend, while several master’s and PsyD programs bill $400 to $1,500 per credit hour. We built this list by identifying schools offering degrees that prepare graduates for clinical psychology practice at the master’s, PsyD, and PhD levels, then verifying each program’s current tuition or funding model directly against the school’s own site.
This is a countdown, not a top-10 style list: program #47 is the most expensive school on the list, and the numbers count down from there. Program #1, at the very end, is the single most affordable option we found. As you scroll, the cost generally decreases.
Master’s, PsyD, or PhD: Which Path Fits Your Goal
A master’s degree in clinical psychology typically takes two years and prepares graduates for roles like Licensed Psychological Associate or Licensed Mental Health Counselor, depending on the state. It does not qualify a graduate to use the title “psychologist” or bill insurance as one. Most master’s programs on this list feed directly into doctoral study, and a few explicitly market themselves as pre-doctoral tracks.
A PsyD or PhD is the credential required for full psychologist licensure in every state. The two doctorates differ in emphasis rather than prestige: PsyD programs weigh clinical practice more heavily, while PhD programs weigh original research, and many PhD programs fund students through assistantships that a PsyD rarely matches. For a closer look at how the two doctoral tracks differ in training and funding, see our guide to choosing between a PsyD and a PhD.
47 Most Affordable Clinical Psychology Graduate Programs at a Glance
Every school below carries regional institutional accreditation. Regional accreditors (the HLC, MSCHE, NECHE, SACSCOC, WSCUC, and NWCCU) are what most employers and graduate schools expect, and they’re distinct from the American Psychological Association’s programmatic accreditation, which applies only to doctoral-level clinical, counseling, and school psychology programs.
Tuition in the table below is reported in whatever format each school itself publishes, since not every program bills the same way. That means you’ll see a mix of per-credit rates, flat annual tuition, total program cost, and “fully funded” for PhD and PsyD programs that waive tuition and pay every admitted student a stipend. Where a school lists “fully funded” or “subsidized,” that reflects the school’s own funding structure for admitted students, not a sticker price. Tuition, funding, and accreditation figures were verified directly against each school’s own site as of July 2026 and change at least annually, so confirm the current rate and status on each school’s own site before applying.
| School | Degree | Tuition | Accreditation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 47. Biola University | PsyD / PhD | $1,504/credit | Regionally accredited by the WSCUC. |
| 46. Barry University | MS | $1,050/credit | Regionally accredited by the SACSCOC. |
| 45. Marywood University | PsyD | $880/credit* | Regionally accredited by the MSCHE. |
| 44. Union Institute & University | MA | $810/credit | Regionally accredited by the HLC. |
| 43. Vanguard University of Southern California | MS | ~$840/credit | Regionally accredited by the WSCUC. |
| 42. Brenau University | MS | $845/credit | Regionally accredited by the SACSCOC. |
| 41. Montclair State University | MA / PhD | $909 / $792 per credit | Regionally accredited by the MSCHE. |
| 40. Eastern Kentucky University | PsyD | ~$22,196/yr | Regionally accredited by the SACSCOC. |
| 39. Indiana University of Pennsylvania | PsyD | $17,599/yr | Regionally accredited by the MSCHE. |
| 38. CUNY Queens College | PhD | $530-$905/credit | Regionally accredited by the MSCHE. |
| 37. University of Iowa | PhD | Fully funded | Regionally accredited by the HLC. |
| 36. Auburn University | PhD | Fully funded | Regionally accredited by the SACSCOC. |
| 35. University of Alaska Anchorage | MS | $513/credit | Regionally accredited by the NWCCU. |
| 34. University of Northern Iowa | MA | $569/credit | Regionally accredited by the HLC. |
| 33. Ohio University | PhD | Fully funded | Regionally accredited by the HLC. |
| 32. Cleveland State University | MA | $590.40/credit | Regionally accredited by the HLC. |
| 31. University of North Dakota | PhD | $496/credit | Regionally accredited by the HLC. |
| 30. Jackson State University | PhD | $483/credit | Regionally accredited by the SACSCOC. |
| 29. University of Maine | PhD | Fully funded | Regionally accredited by the NECHE. |
| 28. University of Houston | PhD | Fully funded | Regionally accredited by the SACSCOC. |
| 27. Minnesota State University, Mankato | MA | $530/credit | Regionally accredited by the HLC. |
| 26. Marshall University | MA / PsyD | $440-445/credit | Regionally accredited by the HLC. |
| 25. Ball State University | MA | $417-424/credit | Regionally accredited by the HLC. |
| 24. Alabama A&M University | MS Counseling | $422/credit | Regionally accredited by the SACSCOC. |
| 23. University of Kansas | PhD | Fully funded | Regionally accredited by the HLC. |
| 22. Union Commonwealth University (formerly Union College) | MA | ~$400/credit | Regionally accredited by the SACSCOC. |
| 21. University of the Cumberlands | PsyD | ~$355/credit* | Regionally accredited by the SACSCOC. |
| 20. University of Texas Rio Grande Valley | MA / PhD | $367/credit (MA) | Regionally accredited by the SACSCOC. |
| 19. University of Central Florida | MA | $369.65/credit | Regionally accredited by the SACSCOC. |
| 18. Indiana University Indianapolis (formerly IUPUI) | PhD | Fully funded | Regionally accredited by the HLC. |
| 17. San Diego State University | PhD | Fully funded | Regionally accredited by the WSCUC. |
| 16. Brigham Young University – Provo | PhD | Subsidized | Regionally accredited by the NWCCU. |
| 15. Idaho State University | PhD | $498.13/credit | Regionally accredited by the NWCCU. |
| 14. The University of Texas at Tyler | MS / PhD | ~$437.50/credit (MS) | Regionally accredited by the SACSCOC. |
| 13. Sam Houston State University | PhD | ~$320/credit | Regionally accredited by the SACSCOC. |
| 12. Texas Tech University | PhD | ~$11,852/yr | Regionally accredited by the SACSCOC. |
| 11. Eastern Illinois University | MA | $326/credit | Regionally accredited by the HLC. |
| 10. Northwestern State University of Louisiana | MS | $484/credit | Regionally accredited by the SACSCOC. |
| 9. Missouri State University-Springfield | MS | $379/credit | Regionally accredited by the HLC. |
| 8. University of North Texas | PhD | ~$465/credit | Regionally accredited by the SACSCOC. |
| 7. Emporia State University | MS | $22,522 total | Regionally accredited by the HLC. |
| 6. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center | PhD | $26,200/yr | Regionally accredited by the SACSCOC. |
| 5. University of North Carolina at Charlotte | PhD | Fully funded | Regionally accredited by the SACSCOC. |
| 4. East Carolina University | PhD | Fully funded | Regionally accredited by the SACSCOC. |
| 3. Prairie View A&M University | PhD | ~$748/credit | Regionally accredited by the SACSCOC. |
| 2. Appalachian State University | PsyD | Fully funded | Regionally accredited by the SACSCOC. |
| 1. CUNY City College of New York | PhD | $530-$905/credit | Regionally accredited by the MSCHE. |
47. Biola University
PsyD / PhD in Clinical Psychology — La Mirada, California
The Rosemead School of Psychology offers both PsyD and PhD tracks in clinical psychology, training students in the practitioner model with theological study alongside clinical coursework. Both programs run five to six years and award a master’s degree after the second year. Visit the program’s website for current admissions details.
Tuition: $1,504 per credit for the 2026-27 academic year, covering the Master’s, Special, and Doctoral blocks.
Accreditation: Regionally accredited by the WSCUC. Both the PhD and the PsyD have been APA-accredited since 1980.
46. Barry University
MS in Clinical Psychology — Miami Shores, Florida
Barry’s MS in Clinical Psychology runs evening classes to accommodate working students, with a choice between a 36-credit and a 60-credit track. Visit the program’s website for current admissions details.
Tuition: $1,050 per credit for the current graduate rate.
Accreditation: Regionally accredited by the SACSCOC. The program is MPCAC-accredited through September 2031.
45. Marywood University
PsyD in Clinical Psychology — Scranton, Pennsylvania
Marywood trains PsyD students as scholar-practitioners, emphasizing the application of research to clinical work over producing new research. The program admits a small cohort split between post-bachelor’s and post-master’s entry points. Visit the program’s website for current admissions details.
Tuition: approximately $880 per credit at the general graduate rate. Confirm the PsyD-specific rate directly with admissions, since doctoral programs sometimes bill at a different rate than the institution-wide figure.
Accreditation: Regionally accredited by the MSCHE. APA-accredited since 2006, reaccredited for a full 10-year term with the next site visit in 2033.
44. Union Institute & University
MA in Clinical Psychology — Cincinnati, Ohio
Union’s MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is a hybrid program built for working adults, with part-time and full-time options and three start dates a year. Graduates pursue counselor licensure or continue toward a doctorate. Visit the program’s website for current admissions details.
Tuition: $810 per credit, plus a technology fee and a LiveText fee each semester.
Accreditation: Regionally accredited by the HLC. The program is CACREP-accredited.
43. Vanguard University of Southern California
MS in Clinical Psychology — Costa Mesa, California
Vanguard’s MS in Clinical Psychology takes a faith-integrated approach and meets California’s academic requirements for Marriage and Family Therapist licensure. Classes run in the late afternoon and evening. Visit the program’s website for current admissions details.
Tuition: approximately $840 per credit.
Accreditation: Regionally accredited by the WSCUC. APA does not accredit master’s-level psychology programs, so this program carries institutional accreditation only.
42. Brenau University
MS in Clinical Psychology — Gainesville, Georgia
Brenau’s MS in Clinical Counseling Psychology follows the scientist-practitioner model and requires a research thesis alongside clinical coursework, preparing graduates for professional counselor licensure or continued doctoral study. Visit the program’s website for current admissions details.
Tuition: $845 per credit for the current academic year.
Accreditation: Regionally accredited by the SACSCOC. The program is MPCAC-accredited through January 2027.
41. Montclair State University
MA / PhD in Clinical Psychology — Montclair, New Jersey
Montclair State offers a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology, with Child/Adolescent or Forensic concentrations, and a PhD in Clinical Psychology. The forensic concentration is designed for people already working in the field, including social workers and counselors. Visit the program’s website for current admissions details.
Tuition: $909 per credit for the master’s program and $792 per credit for the doctoral program, at the current in-person rate.
Accreditation: Regionally accredited by the MSCHE. The PhD has been APA-accredited since April 2020, with the next scheduled review in 2033.
40. Eastern Kentucky University
PsyD in Clinical Psychology — Richmond, Kentucky
EKU’s PsyD blends coursework in rural mental health with training inside the university’s own psychology clinic. Students entering with a related master’s degree can finish the doctorate in as few as three years. Visit the program’s website for current admissions details.
Tuition: approximately $22,196 a year, the same rate for in-state and out-of-state students.
Accreditation: Regionally accredited by the SACSCOC. APA-accredited since 2018.
39. Indiana University of Pennsylvania
PsyD in Clinical Psychology — Indiana, Pennsylvania
IUP’s PsyD is designed to satisfy Pennsylvania’s academic licensure requirements while training students across a broad range of clinical settings. Visit the program’s website for current admissions details.
Tuition: $17,599 a year for Pennsylvania residents, among the least expensive APA-accredited PsyD rates in the country.
Accreditation: Regionally accredited by the MSCHE. APA-accredited since 1987.
38. CUNY Queens College
PhD in Clinical Psychology — Flushing, New York
The Graduate Center’s Clinical Psychology program at Queens College emphasizes neuropsychology alongside general clinical training. The program has paused new admissions for fall 2026 due to an internal curriculum review and expects to resume for fall 2027. Visit the program’s website for current admissions details.
Tuition: between $530 and $905 per credit for New York State residents, depending on doctoral level.
Accreditation: Regionally accredited by the MSCHE. APA-accredited, with the next reaccreditation review in 2034.
37. University of Iowa
PhD in Clinical Psychology — Iowa City, Iowa
Iowa’s Clinical Science PhD is a charter member of the Academy for Psychological Clinical Science and has held continuous APA accreditation longer than almost any program in the country. Read more about the University of Iowa.
Tuition: fully funded. Every admitted student receives a tuition scholarship, a stipend of $18,816, and partial fee coverage for at least five years.
Accreditation: Regionally accredited by the HLC. APA-accredited since 1948, with the next scheduled review in 2027, and PCSAS-accredited with the next review in 2031.
36. Auburn University
PhD in Clinical Psychology — Auburn, Alabama
Auburn’s Clinical PhD follows the scientist-practitioner model and has held APA accreditation since 1976. Visit the program’s website for current admissions details.
Tuition: fully funded through graduate teaching and research assistantships, which cover tuition for up to 110% of the credit hours required to graduate.
Accreditation: Regionally accredited by the SACSCOC. APA-accredited since 1976, with the next scheduled review in 2029.
35. University of Alaska Anchorage
MS in Clinical Psychology — Anchorage, Alaska
UAA’s MS in Clinical Psychology offers a Clinical track and a Behavior Analysis track, both built around Alaska’s master’s-level licensure requirements. Training happens partly through the department’s own Psychological Services Center. UAA also offers a separate APA-accredited PhD in Clinical-Community Psychology, jointly delivered with the University of Alaska Fairbanks, with a rural and Indigenous emphasis and a combined master’s-to-PhD pathway. That doctoral track admits 6 to 8 students a year from more than 100 applicants and is the only APA-accredited doctoral psychology program in Alaska. Visit the program’s website for current admissions details.
Tuition: $513 per credit.
Accreditation: Regionally accredited by the NWCCU. The MS ranked here carries no APA accreditation, since APA does not accredit master’s-level psychology programs. UAA’s separate Clinical-Community PhD has been APA-accredited since 2011.
34. University of Northern Iowa
MA in Clinical Psychology — Cedar Falls, Iowa
UNI’s MA in Psychology includes a Clinical Science emphasis for students planning to enter a doctoral program or work at the master’s level under supervision, built around a required thesis. Visit the program’s website for current admissions details.
Tuition: $569 per credit for Iowa residents.
Accreditation: Regionally accredited by the HLC.
33. Ohio University
PhD in Clinical Psychology — Athens, Ohio
Ohio University’s clinical psychology doctoral program trains students across both adult and clinical child/adolescent tracks, with an elective concentration in clinical neuropsychology. Visit the program’s website for current admissions details.
Tuition: fully funded for every student who requests full support, through assistantships that include a stipend and tuition remission.
Accreditation: Regionally accredited by the HLC. APA-accredited since 1968.
32. Cleveland State University
MA in Clinical Psychology — Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland State’s MA in Clinical Psychology is a two-year, full-time program split into a thesis-based doctoral-prep track and a non-thesis practitioner track. About three-quarters of graduates go on to APA-accredited doctoral programs. Visit the program’s website for current admissions details.
Tuition: $590.40 per credit for Ohio residents.
Accreditation: Regionally accredited by the HLC.
31. University of North Dakota
PhD in Clinical Psychology — Grand Forks, North Dakota
UND’s Clinical Psychology PhD trains roughly 40 students at a time as scientist-practitioners, admitting about seven students a year from more than 100 applicants. Read more about the University of North Dakota.
Tuition: $496 per credit for North Dakota residents, including fees.
Accreditation: Regionally accredited by the HLC. APA-accredited since 1969.
30. Jackson State University
PhD in Clinical Psychology — Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson State’s Clinical Psychology PhD builds a multicultural training model into every stage of the curriculum, from coursework through community-based practicum placements. Visit the program’s website for current admissions details.
Tuition: $483 per credit, the same rate for in-state and out-of-state students.
Accreditation: Regionally accredited by the SACSCOC. APA-accredited since 2001, with the next accreditation application due in 2033.
29. University of Maine
PhD in Clinical Psychology — Orono, Maine
Maine’s Clinical Psychology PhD is the state’s only APA-accredited doctoral program in psychology. A funding shortfall means the program will not admit a fall 2026 cohort and plans to resume admissions for fall 2027. Visit the program’s website for current admissions details.
Tuition: fully funded, including tuition remission and an annual stipend of about $20,000 for the first four years.
Accreditation: Regionally accredited by the NECHE. APA-accredited since 1975.
28. University of Houston
PhD in Clinical Psychology — Houston, Texas
UH’s Clinical Psychology PhD follows the Boulder scientist-practitioner model and offers adult, child, and neuropsychology tracks. Visit the program’s website for current admissions details.
Tuition: fully funded through a Graduate Tuition Fellowship plus a nonresident tuition waiver, so most students pay little out of pocket.
Accreditation: Regionally accredited by the SACSCOC. APA-accredited since 1959.
27. Minnesota State University, Mankato
MA in Clinical Psychology — Mankato, Minnesota
Mankato’s MA in Clinical Psychology is a two-year, full-time program built as preparation for doctoral study, with a required thesis and practicum placements that have included the Mayo Clinic. Visit the program’s website for current admissions details.
Tuition: $530 per credit for Minnesota residents.
Accreditation: Regionally accredited by the HLC.
26. Marshall University
MA / PsyD in Clinical Psychology — Huntington, West Virginia
Marshall offers both a clinical psychology emphasis at the master’s level and an APA-accredited PsyD, which reserves half its incoming class for students from West Virginia and the surrounding Appalachian region. Visit the program’s website for current admissions details.
Tuition: between $440 and $445 per credit for West Virginia residents at the general graduate rate.
Accreditation: Regionally accredited by the HLC. The PsyD has been APA-accredited since 2006, with the next review in 2028.
25. Ball State University
MA in Clinical Psychology — Muncie, Indiana
Ball State’s MA in Clinical Psychology includes an Accelerated Master’s Program that lets undergraduates begin master’s coursework early, cutting the program down to a single year of graduate-only tuition. Visit the program’s website for current admissions details.
Tuition: between $417 and $424 per credit for Indiana residents.
Accreditation: Regionally accredited by the HLC.
24. Alabama A&M University
MS Counseling in Clinical Psychology — Normal, Alabama
Alabama A&M’s graduate psychology and counseling department now offers this program as an MS in Counseling with a Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling specialization rather than as a standalone clinical psychology degree. Students complete a 600-hour internship and choose either a thesis or a national exam to finish the program. Visit the program’s website for current admissions details.
Tuition: $422 per credit.
Accreditation: Regionally accredited by the SACSCOC. The program is CACREP-accredited.
23. University of Kansas
PhD in Clinical Psychology — Lawrence, Kansas
KU’s Clinical Science PhD has held continuous APA accreditation longer than nearly any program in the country, with representatives present at the 1949 Boulder conference that shaped the field’s scientist-practitioner model. Read more about the University of Kansas.
Tuition: fully funded. Tuition is waived for every student in good standing.
Accreditation: Regionally accredited by the HLC. APA-accredited since 1949.
22. Union Commonwealth University (formerly Union College)
MA in Clinical Psychology — Barbourville, Kentucky
Union’s MA in Psychology offers a hybrid Clinical Psychology track alongside a fully online general-psychology option. The college became Union Commonwealth University in 2024 as it expanded its graduate programs. Visit the program’s website for current admissions details.
Tuition: approximately $400 per credit. Confirm the current rate directly with admissions.
Accreditation: Regionally accredited by the SACSCOC.
21. University of the Cumberlands
PsyD in Clinical Psychology — Williamsburg, Kentucky
Cumberland’s PsyD combines evening and weekend on-campus classes with online coursework, following a practitioner-scholar model aimed at clinical licensure in Kentucky. Visit the program’s website for current admissions details.
Tuition: billed under the university’s all-inclusive “One Price Promise” model, adopted in 2023. The blended graduate rate runs about $355 per credit, though the PsyD-specific figure should be confirmed directly with admissions.
Accreditation: Regionally accredited by the SACSCOC.
20. University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
MA / PhD in Clinical Psychology — Edinburg, Texas
UTRGV offers a terminal MA in Clinical Psychology and a PhD, opened in 2019, that trains bilingual clinicians to work with the Rio Grande Valley’s largely Hispanic and Mexican American population. Visit the program’s website for current admissions details.
Tuition: about $367 per credit for the MA at the in-state rate. The PhD covers tuition through assistantships and scholarships for admitted students.
Accreditation: Regionally accredited by the SACSCOC. The PhD has held APA Accreditation on Contingency since January 26, 2024, with the next scheduled review in 2027.
19. University of Central Florida
MA in Clinical Psychology — Orlando, Florida
UCF’s Pre-Licensure MA track prepares graduates to become Licensed Mental Health Counselors in Florida after a two-year postgraduate internship. A separate Research/Thesis track exists for students continuing to a doctoral program. Visit the program’s website for current admissions details.
Tuition: $369.65 per credit for Florida residents.
Accreditation: Regionally accredited by the SACSCOC. The Pre-Licensure track is MPCAC-accredited through September 2031.
18. Indiana University Indianapolis (formerly IUPUI)
PhD in Clinical Psychology — Indianapolis, Indiana
This Clinical Psychology PhD trains students across clinical health psychology, diversity science, and severe mental illness. The university was renamed Indiana University Indianapolis in 2024 when Purdue and IU split their joint Indianapolis campus. Visit the program’s website for current admissions details.
Tuition: fully funded since the program began admitting students in 1996, with a tuition scholarship covering 24 credit hours a year.
Accreditation: Regionally accredited by the HLC. APA-accredited since 1996.
17. San Diego State University
PhD in Clinical Psychology — San Diego, California
SDSU’s Clinical Psychology PhD is a joint doctoral program with UC San Diego, drawing on both campuses for coursework, practicum placements, and research training. Visit the program’s website for current admissions details.
Tuition: fully funded. A faculty mentor covers each student’s tuition and fees for up to five years, plus the internship year.
Accreditation: Regionally accredited by the WSCUC. APA-accredited since 1990.
16. Brigham Young University – Provo
PhD in Clinical Psychology — Provo, Utah
BYU’s Clinical Psychology PhD combines a master’s and doctorate into a single five-year program. Visit the program’s website for current admissions details.
Tuition: heavily subsidized. All students receive scholarships covering at least half of tuition during the first four years, and recent cohorts have had tuition fully covered through university endowments.
Accreditation: Regionally accredited by the NWCCU. APA-accredited since 1971.
15. Idaho State University
PhD in Clinical Psychology — Pocatello, Idaho
Idaho State’s Clinical Psychology PhD trains students inside its own on-campus psychology clinic before moving them into community placements. Visit the program’s website for current admissions details.
Tuition: $498.13 per credit for Idaho residents.
Accreditation: Regionally accredited by the NWCCU. APA-accredited since 2001.
14. The University of Texas at Tyler
MS / PhD in Clinical Psychology — Tyler, Texas
The MS qualifies graduates for Licensed Psychological Associate status in Texas. Read more about The University of Texas at Tyler.
Tuition: approximately $437.50 per credit for the 60-credit MS, based on the program’s published total cost. Funded PhD students receive a four-year scholarship plus a 50% tuition reduction.
Accreditation: Regionally accredited by the SACSCOC. The PhD has held APA Accreditation on Contingency since February 27, 2024, with the next scheduled review in 2027.
13. Sam Houston State University
PhD in Clinical Psychology — Huntsville, Texas
Sam Houston’s Clinical Psychology PhD offers both a general and a forensic clinical emphasis, and has matched 100% of its students to APA-accredited internships since earning its own APA accreditation in 2006. Read more about Sam Houston State University.
Tuition: approximately $320 per credit at the combined statutory and designated rate. Most doctoral students also receive an assistantship stipend and a $2,000-per-semester scholarship.
Accreditation: Regionally accredited by the SACSCOC. APA-accredited since 2006.
12. Texas Tech University
PhD in Clinical Psychology — Lubbock, Texas
Texas Tech’s Clinical Psychology PhD trains students across both adult and child/adolescent populations. Read more about Texas Tech University.
Tuition: approximately $11,852 a year for Texas residents, with a guaranteed 12 months of half-time funding for first-year students.
Accreditation: Regionally accredited by the SACSCOC. APA-accredited since 1972.
11. Eastern Illinois University
MA in Clinical Psychology — Charleston, Illinois
EIU’s MA in Clinical Psychology requires a thesis, a 100-hour practicum, and a 600-hour internship, aimed at students heading toward doctoral study or master’s-level clinical work. Visit the program’s website for current admissions details.
Tuition: $326 per credit for Illinois residents.
Accreditation: Regionally accredited by the HLC.
10. Northwestern State University of Louisiana
MS in Clinical Psychology — Natchitoches, Louisiana
Northwestern State’s MS in Clinical Psychology covers four core subject areas across 45 credit hours: clinical assessment, application, research, and theory, with a required 300-hour practicum. Visit the program’s website for current admissions details.
Tuition: $484 per credit for Louisiana residents.
Accreditation: Regionally accredited by the SACSCOC.
9. Missouri State University-Springfield
MS in Clinical Psychology — Springfield, Missouri
Missouri State’s MS in Clinical Psychology uses a cohort model taught by licensed faculty, with concentration options including child and adolescent, adult, health, and neuropsychology. Read more about Missouri State University-Springfield.
Tuition: $379 per credit for Missouri residents.
Accreditation: Regionally accredited by the HLC.
8. University of North Texas
PhD in Clinical Psychology — Denton, Texas
UNT’s Clinical Psychology PhD is housed at a top-tier research university that is also a federally designated minority-serving institution. Its faculty ranks in the top 6% nationally for publications in major assessment journals. Visit the program’s website for current admissions details.
Tuition: approximately $465 per credit for Texas residents.
Accreditation: Regionally accredited by the SACSCOC. APA-accredited since 1978.
7. Emporia State University
MS in Clinical Psychology — Emporia, Kansas
Emporia State’s MS in Clinical Psychology is a generalist training program flexible enough for students pursuing independent research or specialized study. Roughly half of graduates continue into doctoral programs. Visit the program’s website for current admissions details.
Tuition: $22,522.40 for the full program at the Kansas-resident rate, billed as a total program cost rather than a flat per-credit rate.
Accreditation: Regionally accredited by the HLC.
6. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
PhD in Clinical Psychology — Dallas, Texas
UT Southwestern’s Clinical Psychology PhD trains students at an academic medical center, with clinical rotations that include a psychiatric emergency department and interdisciplinary teams across the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Read more about the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.
Tuition: $26,200 a year for Texas residents. Funding begins with a stipend in the second year: $10,000 during practicum and $20,000 annually during internship.
Accreditation: Regionally accredited by the SACSCOC. APA-accredited since 1986.
5. University of North Carolina at Charlotte
PhD in Clinical Psychology — Charlotte, North Carolina
This Clinical Health concentration sits inside a broader Health Psychology PhD. Read more about the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
Tuition: fully funded. Admitted students receive a 9-month graduate assistantship worth $20,000, tuition remission, and health insurance, renewable for up to four years.
Accreditation: Regionally accredited by the SACSCOC. The Clinical Health concentration has been APA-accredited since 2012, with the next scheduled review in 2027.
4. East Carolina University
PhD in Clinical Psychology — Greenville, North Carolina
ECU’s Clinical Health concentration, part of a Health Psychology PhD, trains students across primary care and inpatient medical settings alongside its own in-house clinic. Read more about East Carolina University.
Tuition: fully funded. Every PhD student receives a monthly stipend for nine months, a full tuition waiver, and health insurance. Only university fees are the student’s responsibility.
Accreditation: Regionally accredited by the SACSCOC. APA-accredited since 2012, with the next scheduled review in 2031.
3. Prairie View A&M University
PhD in Clinical Psychology — Prairie View, Texas
Prairie View A&M’s Clinical Adolescent Psychology PhD focuses on adolescent development and the environmental and genetic factors that shape mental health at that age. Read more about Prairie View A&M University.
Tuition: approximately $748 per credit for Texas residents. Full-time students qualify for a graduate assistantship that waives the out-of-state portion of tuition.
Accreditation: Regionally accredited by the SACSCOC.
2. Appalachian State University
PsyD in Clinical Psychology — Boone, North Carolina
What was once a standalone master’s has grown into a full PsyD, built to train psychologists for rural and underserved parts of the Appalachian region. Read more about Appalachian State University.
Tuition: fully funded. Every admitted student receives a guaranteed $22,000 annual stipend.
Accreditation: Regionally accredited by the SACSCOC. APA-accredited on contingency since February 2, 2024, with the next scheduled review in 2027.
1. CUNY City College of New York
PhD in Clinical Psychology — New York City, New York
City College’s Clinical Psychology PhD runs a four-year, on-site training clinic, The Psychological Center, that serves the West Harlem community alongside CCNY students. Visit the program’s website for current admissions details.
Tuition: between $530 and $905 per credit for New York State residents, depending on doctoral level. The program covers most or all in-state tuition in the first year and layers in teaching assistantships and, later, Clinical Fellowships.
Accreditation: Regionally accredited by the MSCHE. APA-accredited since 1968.
What to Look For in an Affordable Clinical Psychology Program
Sticker price tells you less than it looks like it does. Most of the PhD programs on this list waive tuition entirely and pay every admitted student a stipend, which makes them cheaper in practice than several master’s programs charging $400 or $500 a credit. Before you rule a school out on cost, check whether it funds its doctoral students and what portion of a master’s cohort typically receives an assistantship.
Confirm institutional accreditation separately from program accreditation. Regional accreditation (the HLC, MSCHE, NECHE, SACSCOC, WSCUC, and NWCCU) is what most employers and graduate schools expect, and it governs whether your credits transfer and whether you qualify for federal financial aid. National accreditation is legitimate and federally recognized, but it can make transferring credit harder down the line. Separately, the APA only accredits doctoral programs in clinical, counseling, and school psychology. A bachelor’s degree or a terminal master’s is never “APA-accredited,” so at that level, institutional accreditation is the whole story. Read more about what makes APA-CoA accreditation different from institutional accreditation.
Match the degree level to the license you want. A master’s in clinical psychology can lead to state credentials like Licensed Psychological Associate, Licensed Professional Counselor, or Licensed Mental Health Counselor, but it does not make you a psychologist. Only a doctoral degree, PsyD or PhD, followed by supervised experience and a passing score on the EPPP, leads to full psychologist licensure. If your goal is doctoral study, ask any master’s program directly what share of its recent graduates were admitted to PhD or PsyD programs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a PsyD in clinical psychology cost?
PsyD tuition varies widely, from roughly $17,000 a year at public universities like Indiana University of Pennsylvania to well over $50,000 a year at some private schools. If you’re looking specifically for the cheapest PsyD programs, start with public universities and the handful of PsyD programs, including Appalachian State’s, that now fund every admitted student with a stipend. Always confirm the current rate directly with the school, since PsyD tuition often runs higher than a university’s general graduate rate.
Can I become a licensed psychologist with a master’s degree in clinical psychology?
No. Every state requires a doctoral degree, a PsyD or PhD, to use the title “psychologist” and to sit for the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology. A master’s in clinical psychology can qualify you for other state credentials, such as Licensed Psychological Associate or Licensed Professional Counselor, but the requirements and titles vary by state.
What’s the difference between regional and national accreditation?
Regional accreditors, including the HLC, MSCHE, NECHE, SACSCOC, WSCUC, and NWCCU, are what most employers and graduate schools expect, and they make transferring credit between schools straightforward. National accreditors are also recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, but transferring credit earned under national accreditation to a regionally accredited school can be harder.
Are fully funded PhD programs in clinical psychology competitive to get into?
Yes. Programs that waive tuition and pay a stipend, like those at Iowa, Kansas, and Auburn, typically admit a small cohort each year from a large applicant pool, often in the single digits of students out of more than 100 applications. Strong research experience and a clear fit with a specific faculty mentor matter more at these programs than at programs where students pay their own way.
Select your state below to find accredited psychology programs, application links, and licensing requirements for your jurisdiction.