Masters in Clinical Psychology in USA is a 2 to 3 years degree that can be acquired as a stand-alone degree or as part of a doctoral program with thesis work. Master's degree in clinical psychology is designed for those who want to work as clinical psychologists or mental health counsellors. Masters in Clinical Psychology in USA is offered as MA in Clinical Psychology in most US universities, while some universities may offer this program with a Master of Science degree.

Indian students planning to study in USA may have to spend approximately 25,000 USD- 60,000 USD (20.70 lakhs - 49.69 lakhs INR) per year to study Masters in Clinical Psychology in USA. Currently, The graduates after MA or MS in Clinical Psychology in USA can earn salaries ranging from 57,000 USD to 60,000 USD (47.21 lakhs to 49.69 lakhs INR) per annum.
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: Psychology Colleges in USA in 2022

Highlights

Program Masters in Clinical Psychology
Degrees Available MA | MS
Duration 2 to 3 years
Eligibility Requirements Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 3.0 (83-86%) or above
Exams Required IELTS: 6.0 - 6.5 | TOEFL-iBT: 80 - 90
Top Job Profiles Clinical Psychologist | Clinical Coordinator | Mental Health Clinician | Clinical Therapist | Clinical Professional Counselor
Salary Range 25,000 USD- 60,000 USD (20.70 lakhs - 49.69 lakhs INR)
Average Salary 57,000 USD (47.21 lakhs INR) per annum

Top Colleges for Masters in Clinical Psychology in USA

Tabulated below are the top universities offering Masters in Clinical Psychology in USA with details of programs, deadline and total course fees

College/University Program Deadlines Total Program Fees (USD)
Northwestern University MA in Clinical Psychology May 1, 2023 103,605
University of Central Florida MA in Clinical Psychology January 1, 2023 72,834
University of Tulsa MA in Clinical Psychology December 1, 2022 (Closed) 117,900
Wheaton College MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling February 1, 2023 46,800
Pepperdine University MA in Clinical Psychology (Marriage and Family Therapy) January 31, 2023 85,500 - 94,050
Vanguard University of Southern California MS in Clinical Psychology March 1, 2023 50,020 - 54,120
Clayton State University MS in Clinical Psychology March 1, 2023 70,272
University of Northern Iowa MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Priority Deadline [Feb 15, 2023] | Final Deadline [Mar 15, 2023] 44,148
Eastern Illinois University MA in Clinical Psychology February 1, 2023 56,892

Why Study Masters in Clinical Psychology in USA?

The master's degree in clinical psychology teaches students how to diagnose mental disease, treat and prevent mental health disorders, and conduct cutting-edge research. Apart from being home to some of the world's most prestigious universities and colleges, the United States provides a diverse range of master's degrees. Psychologists earned a median yearly salary of USD 82,180 (67.97 lakhs INR). Mentioned below are some interesting facts that you must know:

  • There are currently an estimated 147,500 clinical psychologists in the United States.
  • The clinical psychologist job market is expected to grow by 14.2% between 2016 and 2026.
  • According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the employment projection of psychologists is 14% from 2018-28.

Masters in Clinical Psychology in USA: Admission Procedure

Clinical psychology master's programs integrate graduate-level coursework with clinical research and research methodologies. Clinical Psychology programs may grant either a Master of Science (MS) or a Master of Arts (MA) degree in Clinical Psychology.

To study in the United States, students must provide confirmation of standardised exams such as the GRE, TOEFL, IELTS, and others. Aside from these, there are additional standards that a student must meet, which are mentioned further below.

  • Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 3.0 (83-86%) or above
  • English language Proficiency
    • IELTS: 6.0 - 6.5
    • TOEFL-iBT: 80 - 90
  • Statement of Purpose
  • 2 to 3 Letter of Recommendation
  • Resume

Eligibility Requirements

The table below contains information on the qualifications and documentation required for admission to the top-ranked universities in the United States.

College/University GPA Required ELP Scores Other Requirements
Northwestern University 3.2 IELTS: 6.0 | TOEFL-iBT: 90 2 LOR | SOP | Resume
University of Central Florida 3.0 IELTS: 6.5 | TOEFL-iBT: 80 3 LOR | SOP
University of Tulsa 3.75 IELTS: 6.0 | TOEFL-iBT: 70 2 LOR | SOP
Wheaton College 2.8 IELTS: 7.0 | TOEFL-iBT: 95 4 LOR
Pepperdine University 3.69 IELTS: 6.5 | TOEFL-iBT: 85 2 LOR | SOP
Vanguard University of Southern California 2.0 IELTS: 7.0 | TOEFL-iBT: 80 2 LOR | SOP | Resume
Clayton State University 2.0 IELTS: 6.5 | TOEFL-iBT: 75 3 LOR | SOP | Resume
University of Northern Iowa 3.0 IELTS: 6.0 | TOEFL-iBT: 79 LOR | SOP | Resume
Eastern Illinois University 2.75 IELTS: 6.5 | TOEFL-iBT: 79 2 LOR | SOP | Resume

US Students VISA

An international student must apply for an F-1 visa to study in the United States. After receiving a confirmation letter from the university, students must complete the I-20 form and submit it with their application.

  • Passport must be valid for at least 6 months.
  • Form DS-160 (Nonimmigrant visa application confirmation page)
  • Application fee payment Receipt
  • Acceptance Letter from the University
  • Form I-20
  • English Language Proficiency score
  • Proof of financial support

Also Check:

Masters in Clinical Psychology in USA: Cost of Studying

The details of pursuing a Masters in Clinical Psychology degree in USA including annual tuition fees and cost of living for international students.

Tuition Fees:

University Annual Tuition Fees (USD) Annual Tuition Fees (INR)
Northwestern University 82,884 68.60 lakhs
University of Central Florida 36,417 30.14 lakhs
University of Tulsa 39,300 32.52 lakhs
Wheaton College 23,400 19.36 lakhs
Pepperdine University 42,750 (2 years) | 31,350 (3 years) 35.38 lakhs (2 years) | 24.94 lakhs (3 years)
Vanguard University of Southern California 25,010 (2 years) | 13,530 (4 years) 20.70 lakhs (2 years) | 11.19 lakhs (4 years)
Clayton State University 35,136 29.08 lakhs
University of Northern Iowa 14,716 12.18 lakhs
Eastern Illinois University 28,446 23.54 lakhs

Cost of Living in USA

Different factors in the United States, such as city, transport, and student housing, all have an impact on total living costs. The average monthly living expenses in USA for international students is seen to be around 1,767 USD (1.46 lakhs INR). The following is an estimate of the cost of living in the United States:

Categories Cost per month (USD) Cost per month (INR)
Accommodations 816 67,582
Food 677 56,070
Transportation 50 - 100 4,141 - 8,282
Personal Expenses 98 8,116

Also Check: Student accommodations in the US

Masters in Clinical Psychology in USA: Scholarships

Studying in the United States can be rather expensive. Thus, in order to keep costs to a minimum while in the United States, students should plan ahead of time. There are a variety of international scholarships available in the United States, which are offered by the individual colleges.

Some of the popular scholarships offered universities offering MA/MS in Psychology in USA:

Awarding Institute Scholarship Eligibility Criteria Award
American Psychological Association American Psychological Foundation Scott and Paul Pearsall Scholarship Strong academic standings 10,000 USD
Wheaton College Graduate School A. Donald MacLeod/Doris Bruns Honorary Scholarship Strong academic standings 1,000 USD to 3,000 USD per year
Stenzel Clinical Mental Health Counseling Scholarship Strong academic standings 5,000 USD per year
Frances J. White Scholarship for Mental Health and Ministry Strong academic standings 750 USD to 1,800 USD per year
Janice Harrison Psychology Scholarship Strong academic standings 8,000 USD to 12,000 USD per year
Vanguard University Graduate Academic Scholarship A GPA between 3. 50 to 3.75 in bachelor’s Gold: 15% Discount Silver: 10% Discount
University of Northern Iowa Robert L. Frank Scholarship - Counseling Scholarship

3.35 GPA in bachelor’s Students enrolled in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program
Other requirements:
-2 letter of recommendation
-Statement of purpose
-Demonstrate financial need

Varies
Norene A. Smith - School Counseling Scholarship Students enrolled in School of Counseling are eligible
Other requirements:
-FAFSA From
-Essay
-transcript copy
Varies

Masters in Clinical Psychology in USA: Salaries

Clinical psychology jobs are most typically seen in the healthcare field, where they provide counselling services in hospitals, private clinics, psychotherapy centres, nursing homes, and rehabilitation facilities. Some Clinical Psychologists work as professors and researchers in academic environments. They may also work in specialised fields, the military, government agencies, private business groupings, and consulting firms.

It is expected that the United States will require 24,800 clinical psychologists over the next ten years. This estimate is based on the addition of 21,000 new clinical psychologists and the retirement of 3,800 old clinical psychologists.

The graduates of MA in Clinical Psychology in USA have an average annual salary of 57,000 USD (47.21 lakhs INR) while those with MS in Clinical Psychology may earn an average annual salary of 60,000 USD (49.69 lakhs INR). With years of experience the salary may go beyond 100,000 USD (82.83 lakhs INR) per annum. Given below is the trend of annual salaries based on years of experience.

Also Check: Highest Paying degree in USA

Top Paying Job Profiles for graduates Masters in Clinical Psychology degree in USA:

Job Role Average Salary (USD) Average Salary (INR)
Clinical Psychologist 68,378 56.63 lakhs
Clinical Coordinator 56,320 46.64 lakhs
Mental Health Clinician 53,334 44.17 lakhs
Clinical Therapist 50,985 42.23 lakhs
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor 50,368 41.71 lakhs
Psychotherapist 44,249 36.65 lakhs
Mental Health Counselor 43,580 36.09 lakhs
Mental Health Therapist 43,450 35.98 lakhs
Marriage/Family Therapist 42,733 35.39 lakhs

Masters in Clinical Psychology in USA: Return on Investment

The below table shows return of return for universities offering MA or MS in Clinical Psychology in USA:

University Annual Tuition Fees (USD) Annual Salary (USD)
Northwestern University 82,884 87,000
Pepperdine University 42,750 80,000
University of Tulsa 39,300 76,000
University of Central Florida 36,417 68,000
Wheaton College 23,400 67,000
Vanguard University of Southern California 25,010 64,000
Clayton State University 35,136 64,000
Eastern Illinois University 28,446 64,000
University of Northern Iowa 14,716 63,000

Masters in Clinical Psychology in USA: University Comparison

Comparison of top 3 universities for masters of MA Clinical Psychology USA based on course duration, total fees, application fees, admission requirements and average salary:

Basis Northwestern University University of Central Florida University of Tulsa
Program Duration 15 months 2 years 3 years
Total Tuition Fees 103,605 USD 72,834 USD 117,900 USD
Application Fees 95 USD 30 USD 60 USD
GPA Required 3.2 3.0 3.75
GMAT/GRE Scores Not Required Not Required Not Required
ELP Scores IELTS: 6.0 | TOEFL-iBT: 90 IELTS: 6.5 | TOEFL-iBT: 80 IELTS: 6.0 | TOEFL-iBT: 70
Scholarships International Scholarships available International Scholarships available International Scholarships available
Average Salary 87,000 USD 68,000 USD 76,000

Entry-level Clinical Psychologists may expect to earn USD 65,000 per year, with mid-level earners making USD 80,000 per year on average. Psychologists with 10-20 years of experience may expect to earn USD 89,000 per year, while those in their late careers can expect to earn USD 98,000 per year.

FAQS

Ques. How do I get a Masters in Clinical Psychology in USA?

Ans. To be eligible for admission for Masters in Clinical Psychology in USA, the candidates must have achieved a minimum GPA of 3.0 or 3.5 in bachelor’s and submit 2 to 3 letters of recommendation with SOPs. GRE scores are not considered for the session 2023.

Ques. How do I become a Clinical Psychologist in the US?

Ans. To become a clinical psychologist in USA, one must have a masters or doctoral degree in clinical psychology along with demonstrating completion or relevant training in the same field. After completion of training, the applicant may apply for a license to be able to practise as a clinical psychologist in USA.

Ques. Is GRE required for Masters in Psychology in USA?

Ans. Majority of the graduate schools in USA are not accepting GRE for admission to Masters in Clinical Psychology in USA. However, some universities may ask for GRE scores as an optional requirement that would improve a candidate’s chances of admission.

Ques. How much does it cost to study Masters in Psychology in USA?

Ans. The Masters in Clinical Psychology program in USA may cost somewhere between 25,000 USD- 60,000 USD (20.70 lakhs - 49.69 lakhs INR) for international students.

Ques. What Can You Do With a Master's in Psychology?

Ans. The graduates of Masters in Psychology may either look for high paying job roles in USA or pursue doctorate degrees in public health, education, anthropology, etc.

Ques. How long is Masters in Psychology in USA?

Ans. The Masters in Psychology generally lasts from 2 to 3 years in USA as a full-time degree. Some universities in USA may also offer part-time masters in Psychology with a duration of 3 to 4 years.

Ques. Is it worth it to study Psychology in USA?

Ans. A psychology masters in USA is worth going for as it is one of the highest paying degrees with annual salaries ranging from 183,000 USD to 422,000 USD (1.51 lakhs to 3.48 lakhs INR) based on years of experience.