Ohio has 12 universities offering APA-accredited doctoral programs in psychology, mostly PhDs in clinical, counseling, or school psychology, plus PsyD options at Wright State and Xavier. Programs typically run five to seven years and include a full-year internship. Many are designed to meet Ohio’s psychologist licensure requirements, though applicants should confirm current standards with the state board.
Every psychology doctoral program in Ohio requires at least a bachelor’s degree in psychology or a closely related field, and some also require a related graduate degree before you apply. The 12 universities below span large research schools and Wright State’s dedicated School of Professional Psychology. The biggest decision ahead of you is which kind of doctorate fits your goals: a PhD or a PsyD.
PhD vs. PsyD: Which Doctorate Fits Your Goals?
Both degrees lead to licensure as a psychologist in Ohio, and both require passing the EPPP. A PhD follows the scientist-practitioner or clinical-science model, weights coursework toward research methodology and a dissertation, and is more often funded through graduate assistantships or fellowships. Ohio State’s clinical program, for example, holds dual APA and PCSAS accreditation and is built around a clinical-science research track.
A PsyD follows the practitioner-scholar model instead, weighting coursework toward clinical training and assessment over original research, and is more often tuition-funded. Wright State and Xavier are Ohio’s two PsyD programs. If you’re still weighing the two paths, our guide to choosing between a PhD and a PsyD in psychology breaks down the trade-offs in greater depth.
Ohio Psychology Doctoral Programs at a Glance
All 12 schools below are accredited by the APA Commission on Accreditation. Select a school name to jump to its full program details.
| School | Degree | Focus | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowling Green State University | PhD | Clinical Psychology | Bowling Green, OH |
| Case Western Reserve University | PhD | Clinical Psychology | Cleveland, OH |
| Cleveland State University | PhD | Counseling Psychology | Cleveland, OH |
| Kent State University | PhD | Clinical, School | Kent, OH |
| Miami University | PhD | Clinical Psychology | Oxford, OH |
| The Ohio State University | PhD | Clinical, School | Columbus, OH |
| Ohio University | PhD | Clinical Psychology | Athens, OH |
| University of Akron | PhD | Counseling Psychology | Akron, OH |
| University of Cincinnati | PhD | Clinical Psychology | Cincinnati, OH |
| University of Toledo | PhD | Clinical Psychology | Toledo, OH |
| Wright State University | PsyD | Clinical Psychology | Dayton, OH |
| Xavier University | PsyD | Clinical Psychology | Cincinnati, OH |
Bowling Green State University
PhD in Clinical Psychology
Bowling Green’s clinical psychology program combines a master’s and a PhD into one sequence, so you don’t need a master’s already in hand to apply, just an undergraduate background in psychology. Coursework builds toward the diagnosis and treatment of common psychological disorders, and students work alongside faculty on research and, if they choose, undergraduate teaching assistantships.
This program is accredited by the APA Commission on Accreditation.
Location: Bowling Green, OH. Program website.
Case Western Reserve University
PhD in Clinical Psychology
Case Western’s Department of Psychological Sciences runs a scientist-practitioner PhD with adult and child/family tracks, the latter open to a pediatric psychology focus. A bachelor’s degree gets you in the door, with a master’s earned along the way. Students complete two year-long psychotherapy practicums, extensive field placements around Cleveland, and a final-year clinical internship.
This program is accredited by the APA Commission on Accreditation.
Location: Cleveland, OH. Program website.
Cleveland State University
PhD in Counseling Psychology
Cleveland State’s counseling psychology program isn’t run out of a psychology department. It’s a specialty area within the Urban Education PhD, housed in the Department of Counseling, Administration, Supervision, and Adult Learning at the Levin College of Public Affairs and Education. The program leans into its urban setting, requiring an urban education course and at least one community-based practicum in an urban context, in addition to two year-long practica in psychotherapy and assessment.
This program is accredited by the APA Commission on Accreditation.
Location: Cleveland, OH. Program website.
Kent State University
PhD in Clinical Psychology
Kent State’s Department of Psychological Sciences trains clinical students in diagnosis and treatment across youth, adult, and medical populations, with a required ongoing research project built into the degree. This program is accredited by the APA Commission on Accreditation.
PhD in School Psychology
This is a separate program offered through the School of Lifespan Development and Educational Sciences in the College of Education, Health and Human Services, not the psychology department. It focuses on assessment and intervention for kids facing academic, behavioral, and psychological challenges, with coursework on how home and community factors shape students’ experiences at school. If you’re weighing this path against a master’s-level route, our guide to school psychologist education requirements lays out the options. This program is accredited by the APA Commission on Accreditation and recognized by the National Association of School Psychologists.
Location: Kent, OH. Clinical psychology program website or school psychology program website.
Miami University
PhD in Clinical Psychology
Miami’s clinical PhD follows the scientist-practitioner Boulder Model over five years in residence, plus a sixth year on internship, with a master’s built into the sequence rather than required upfront. Students work under a primary research mentor from year one and defend a dissertation before heading out for their predoctoral internship.
This program is accredited by the APA Commission on Accreditation.
Location: Oxford, OH. Program website.
The Ohio State University
PhD in Clinical Psychology
Ohio State’s clinical program, housed in the Department of Psychology, follows a clinical-science model. Students pick a specialty track in adult clinical psychology, health psychology, or clinical neuropsychology, sit for a candidacy exam in year three, and finish with a clinical internship in year six. This program has been accredited by the APA Commission on Accreditation since 1948. It holds accreditation separately from the Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System, which the university’s own program page describes as one of the first 30 programs nationally to earn it.
PhD in School Psychology
Offered through the College of Education and Human Ecology rather than the psychology department, this is a separate APA-accredited program in its own right, currently accredited through February 2027. It trains scientist-practitioner school psychologists around an ecological model that looks at the full range of systems a child moves through, not just the classroom. Graduates work in public, private, and charter schools as well as mental health agencies.
Location: Columbus, OH. Clinical psychology program website or school psychology program website.
Ohio University
PhD in Clinical Psychology
Ohio University’s program blends academic, research, and clinical training with concentrations in clinical child psychology, health psychology, and quantitative psychology. A master’s thesis is part of the sequence rather than a prerequisite, and students typically spend five years on campus before a required internship.
This program is accredited by the APA Commission on Accreditation.
Location: Athens, OH. Program website.
University of Akron
PhD in Counseling Psychology
Akron’s Counseling Psychology Program uses an apprenticeship model built around generalist training, with a strong focus on social justice and diversity in practice. Students take advanced coursework in treatment, diagnosis, and cognitive-behavioral approaches in addition to their master’s-level counseling foundation.
This program is accredited by the APA Commission on Accreditation.
Location: Akron, OH. Program website.
University of Cincinnati
PhD in Psychology, Clinical Psychology Track
Cincinnati’s PhD in Psychology offers a Clinical Psychology track alongside a Behavioral Science track, both organized around a mentor model in which you’re admitted to work with a specific faculty member from the start. Clinical students choose an area of emphasis, such as child and adolescent, health, or neuropsychology, and train at sites including Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and the university’s own medical center.
This program is accredited by the APA Commission on Accreditation.
Location: Cincinnati, OH. Program website.
University of Toledo
PhD in Clinical Psychology
Toledo’s clinical program balances research training with three core functions: assessment, evidence-based psychotherapy, and clinical research. A master’s thesis is part of the sequence; students train at the university’s psychology clinic, and most complete the program in five years, including a final internship year.
This program is accredited by the APA Commission on Accreditation.
Location: Toledo, OH. Program website.
Wright State University
PsyD in Clinical Psychology
Wright State’s School of Professional Psychology was one of the first in the country to offer a PsyD, built around a practitioner model with seven core competency areas, from patient relationships and assessment to consultation and supervision. Every student is paired with both an advisor and a research supervisor.
This program is accredited by the APA Commission on Accreditation.
Location: Dayton, OH. Program website.
Xavier University
PsyD in Clinical Psychology
Xavier’s Doctor of Clinical Psychology program is a full-time, five-year PsyD built on the Jesuit tradition of cura personalis, or care for the whole person. Students gain direct clinical experience at Xavier’s own Psychological Services Center under the supervision of licensed psychologists, plus standard practicum placements and a year-long predoctoral internship.
This program is accredited by the APA Commission on Accreditation.
Location: Cincinnati, OH. Program website.
Admission requirements, funding, and program length vary from school to school, so confirm current details directly with each program before you apply. If you’re still deciding whether a doctorate is the right next step, our guide to what a clinical psychologist actually does day-to-day is a good place to start. Our breakdown of what psychologists actually earn can help you weigh the investment.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many APA-accredited psychology doctoral programs are in Ohio?
Ohio has 12 universities with APA-accredited psychology doctoral programs, most of which offer a PhD in clinical, counseling, or school psychology. Two schools, Wright State and Xavier, offer a PsyD instead.
Which Ohio schools offer a PsyD instead of a PhD?
Wright State University and Xavier University are Ohio’s two APA-accredited PsyD programs, both in clinical psychology. Every other program on this list is a PhD.
Can I earn a psychology doctorate in Ohio online?
No. APA-accredited clinical, counseling, and school psychology doctoral programs require in-person coursework and supervised clinical training, so none of the programs above are offered fully online.
How long does it take to become a licensed psychologist in Ohio?
Most Ohio doctoral programs take five to seven years, including a required internship year that counts toward the state’s supervised-experience requirement. Ohio requires 3,600 total hours of supervised professional experience, split between predoctoral and postdoctoral training, with at least 1 year of that occurring after you finish your doctorate. Confirm current requirements with our state-by-state psychology licensing guide before you apply.
Select your state below to find accredited psychology programs, application links, and licensing requirements for your jurisdiction.