Tuition-Free Doctoral Programs in Counseling

Students at Boston-based Northeastern can enroll in a four-year Ph.D. program in counseling psychology. The program allows students to practice in multicultural and urban settings.

In addition to a dissertation and a one-year internship, each enrollee must complete two years of advanced fieldwork. They dedicate at least 20 hours each week to a total of 600 hours in the field each year. Half of these hours take place in direct services, and the fieldwork involves one hour of individual supervision, each with a licensed psychologist. Degree-seekers must also maintain at least a 3.0 GPA to graduate.

Each candidate must possess a master's degree and submit GRE scores to apply. Northeastern prefers applicants with a minimum 3.5 GPA. Students may apply for grants and scholarships to help cover tuition costs.

Courses Include:

• Cognitive and Affective Bases of Behavior
• Social Psychology in an Organizational and Ecological Context
• Introduction to Cognitive Assessment
• Advanced Clinical Interventions
• Doctoral Seminar in Contemporary Theories of Psychotherapy

Unique Features:

• Cost: $15,395/semester
• Credits Required: 62
• Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education; American Psychological Association

Located in Kirkland, Washington, NU offers a Psy.D. in counseling psychology that integrates the school's Christian worldview into the curriculum.

The degree includes 119 credits of coursework, including a faith integration with psychology course that incorporates biblical teachings with psychology theory. The curriculum requires students to take a qualifying examination during their third year. After passing this exam, each doctoral candidate completes a dissertation, two practicums, and an internship. In addition, students undergo 10 hours of individual psychotherapy.

The program also includes a cross-cultural immersion experience during the second year, during which students travel to countries, such as India, Turkey, and El Salvador. During this 10-14 day trip, students complete clinical practice and interact with cultural specialists in a new global context.

Each applicant must possess a bachelor's degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA and submit GRE scores. Incoming students may also apply for assistantships to help cover the cost of tuition.

Courses Include:

• History and Systems of Psychology
• Psychopharmacology
• Human Sexuality and Sexual Disorders
• Interventions and Practice II: Population-Based Approaches
• Interprofessional Practice and Consultation

Unique Features:

• Cost: $947/credit
• Credits Required: 119
• Accreditation: Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities; American Psychological Association

Founded in 1885, Massachusetts-based Springfield fosters a humanics philosophy -- the ancient Greek worldview of the balanced individual -- in its academic programs. The Psy.D. in counseling psychology incorporates this philosophy into the curriculum, with psychology courses considering social justice and inquiry.

Doctoral candidates study psychology theory and counseling methods. In addition to writing a dissertation, each learner participates in a practicum and an internship. The practicum comprises 1,400 supervised hours and takes place in the fourth year. Degree-seekers may either opt to fulfill the 2,000 required internship hours through full-time work over one year or part-time work for two years.

Each applicant must submit two recommendation letters and GRE scores. Incoming students may transfer in up to 30 credits of graduate coursework. They may also receive a tuition waiver through fellowships and associateships.

Courses Include:

• Assessment, Appraisal, and Testing in Counseling
• Psychopharmacology
• Counseling Diverse Populations
• Social Psychology
• Foundations and Methodology of Social Inquiry

Unique Features:

• Cost: $680/credit
• Credits Required: 88
• Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education; American Psychological Association

Based in College Station, Texas A&M offers about 400 undergraduate, master's, and doctoral programs to its 69,000 students. The Ph.D. in counseling psychology at Texas A&M integrates themes of multiculturalism, community engagement, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Throughout the program, students learn about the history and systems of psychology; cognitive, biological, and social aspects of behavior; and research methods and statistical analysis. Learners complete field practicums throughout their first few years before focusing on their dissertations and internships during their last two years.

Most graduates find employment in hospitals, medical centers, university counseling centers, and independent practice.

Prospective students can apply with either a bachelor's or master's degree. All applicants must submit GRE scores. Texas A&M provides funding for graduate students through both fellowship and assistantship opportunities.

Courses Include:

• Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy
• Professional Issues in Counseling Psychology
• Social-Counseling Interface
• Multicultural Counseling
• Statistical Analysis in Educational Research

Unique Features:

• Cost: $7,874/academic year for in-state students; $17,014/academic year for out-of-state students
• Credits Required: 75
• Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges; American Psychological Association

Operating as a public, research-intensive institution, UB enrolls about 31,500 learners in its undergraduate and graduate programs. The university's doctorate in counseling psychology and school psychology offers funding resources and an opportunity for full-time study.

Students may choose a specialization in counseling psychology, which focuses on older adolescent and adult populations, or in school psychology, which concentrates on children. The program typically lasts 5-6 years, which comprises coursework, a practicum, internship, research project, and dissertation.

Doctoral candidates receive tuition waivers and an annual stipend through graduate assistantships, research assistantships, and minority fellowships for their initial years of study. During advanced study in their final years, students can find additional funding through other scholarships, assistantships, fellowships, and part-time research positions.

An applicant does not need to possess a master's degree, but they still submit their undergraduate transcripts demonstrating completion of a bachelor's degree.

Courses Include:

• Personality Assessment
• Advanced Group Counseling
• Psychological Assessment, Child and Adults
• Human Development
• Cognitive Psychology

Unique Features:

• Cost: $5,655/semester for in-state students; $11,550 for out-of-state students
• Credits Required: 96
• Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education; American Psychological Association

DU is a private institution of about 12,000 students. Among the 300 available academic programs, the counseling psychology Ph.D. prepares students for state counseling licensure.

The full program comprises 90 credits, which includes coursework, two supervised practicum experiences, comprehensive exams, a pre-dissertation research project, and a dissertation. Students may choose the general counseling concentration, or they can opt for a specialization in clinical mental health counseling, school counseling, and research. All Ph.D. candidates also fulfill a one-year internship requirement.

Degree-seekers submit departmental financial aid applications for assistantships. The university reports that all students in this department receive some funding for their studies, with doctoral candidates obtaining funding for at least three years.

Applicants do not need to possess a master's degree to apply to this program. However, all prospective students must submit GRE scores.

Courses Include:

• Physiology Psychology
• Counseling Psychology: Social Psychology
• Psychometric Theory
• Counseling Psychology Seminar: Advanced Integrative Course
• Cognitive Assessment

Unique Features:

• Cost: $17,112/semester
• Credits Required: 90
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission; American Psychological Association

Located in Athens, UGA educates nearly 39,000 students in its many schools and colleges. The university's Ph.D. in counseling psychology integrates values of social justice and multiculturalism into its curriculum, with courses approaching psychology from a biopsychosocial framework.

The program comprises coursework, clinical training in psychotherapy and psychological assessment, and a one-year internship. Each enrollee also completes a publishable paper, a dissertation, and a portfolio outlining their achievements in their clinical work and assessment ethics. Generally, learners can complete the degree in five years.

The curriculum plan allows degree-seekers to specialize in psychological assessment, preparing future faculty, supervision, and marriage and family therapy. They may also opt for a subspecialization in health psychology.

Each applicant must possess a master's degree and submit GRE scores. The university offers assistantships to cover tuition costs, although students must enroll in at least 12 credits per term to qualify for this funding.

Courses Include:

• History of Psychology and the Evolution of Contemporary Practice
• Research Methods in Counseling Psychology
• Biopsychosociocultural Approach to Health and Illness
• Consultation in Human Systems
• Practicum in Counseling Psychology

Unique Features:

• Cost: $370/credit for in-state students; $1,050/credit for out-of-state students
• Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges; American Psychological Association

With more than 46,000 undergraduate and graduate students, UH features 46 doctoral degrees, including a 102-credit Ph.D. in counseling psychology.

The program includes coursework, an internship and practicum, a candidacy research project, and a dissertation. Each learner also completes a residency component at the beginning of the program, such as a dissertation defense meeting or a research symposium. The program takes about 5-6 years to complete. Alumni go into many fields, including research and professional practice, and 98% of graduates receive licensure.

Doctoral candidates may opt to add a health psychology emphasis. This 15-credit minor covers topics like health disparities, women's health, public health, and childhood obesity. Students may also choose elective courses.

The university requires applicants to submit GRE scores. Incoming students can also apply for help covering tuition costs through fellowships and assistantships.

Courses Include:

• History and Philosophy of Psychological Systems
• Foundations of Neuropsychology
• Theories and Research in Social and Personality Psychology
• Atypical Growth and Behavior
• Supervision and Consultation in Counseling Psychology

Unique Features:

• Cost: $386/credit for in-state students; $908/credit for out-of-state students
• Credits Required: 102
• Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges; American Psychological Association

Students at UI can pursue a doctorate in counseling psychology tuition-free with the help of graduate assistantships, grants, and other funding opportunities. The degree takes about 5-6 years of full-time study to complete, and doctoral candidates with assistantships work an extra 20 hours each week.

Coursework explores the biological and cognitive-affective bases of behavior, along with counseling and assessment techniques. Learners complete two practicum experiences and a yearlong internship. Comprehensive examinations include both a written and an oral component; after students complete their exams, they undertake a dissertation resulting in two articles.

To apply, Prospective students need at least a bachelor's degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA. Applicants with a master's degree can also apply, but they need graduate GPAs of at least 3.5. Each candidate submits GRE scores, three recommendation letters, and a personal statement.

Courses Include:

• Psychotherapy of Change
• Intelligence Assessment
• Processes and Outcomes in Counseling/Psychotherapy
• Cognitive-Affective Bases of Behavior
• Psychopathology Across the Lifespan

Unique Features:

• Cost: $13,476/academic year for in-state students; $32,424/academic year for out-of-state students
• Credits Required: 103
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission; American Psychological Association

The Ph.D. program in counseling psychology at the Lawrence-based KU prepares students to pursue professional counseling practice. Approximately 96% of program graduates obtain state licensure.

Learners typically complete the full-time program in 5-6 years. In addition to completing coursework, students fulfill a practicum experience and carry out dissertation research. Students must pass comprehensive exams to qualify as full doctoral candidates. Each degree-seeker also takes on a one-year internship to meet state and federal licensure requirements.

To apply, each prospective student must possess either a bachelor's degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA or a master's degree with at least a 3.5 GPA. Applicants also submit GRE scores, including scores from the psychology subject test. Incoming students may also apply for financial aid through graduate research or teaching assistantships.

Courses Include:

• Diagnosis and Psychopathology
• Diversity Issues in Clinical Psychology
• Human Development Through the Lifespan
• Individual and Group Assessment
• Counseling and Interviewing Skills

Unique Features:

• Cost: $424/credit for in-state students; $1,017/credit for out-of-state students
• Credits Required:
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission; American Psychological Association

The Ph.D. program in counseling psychology at UK uses an apprentice model of training, in which students learn through both supervised work and research. The university reports that 100% of alumni from this program find employment after graduation.

First and second-year students focus on coursework, taking a qualifying exam for doctoral candidacy at the end of their second year. Each learner then spends years 3-5 working on their dissertation and completing practicum and internship requirements.

Each doctoral candidate works on a faculty member's research team. Approximately 98% of students who apply for funding received it in the form of an assistantship or fellowship. These learners dedicate an extra 20 hours each week to working in the psychology department.

An interested individual can apply with either a bachelor's or master's degree. All applicants submit GRE scores.

Courses Include:

• Human Cognitive Development
• Seminar in Counseling Psychology (Substance Abuse)
• Psychology of Career Counseling
• Diagnosis and Psychopathology in Counseling Psychology
• Multicultural Psychology

Unique Features:

• Cost: $13,404/academic year for in-state students; $32,564/academic year for out-of-state students
• Credits Required: 99
• Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges; American Psychological Association

UM offers a Ph.D. in counseling psychology that prioritizes a scientist practitioner-approach to the field. Each enrollee completes 87-90 credits of coursework, a practicum, an internship, and a dissertation.

Learners may only enroll in this program full time. They can finish the degree in five years, although many take an extra sixth year to complete their dissertation. Graduates of the program work in academic, clinical research, and counseling positions at universities, hospitals, and other health centers.

The university usually provides doctoral candidates with graduate assistantships, which includes a tuition waiver and stipend of about $20,000 for nine months. Through the assistantship, students work for 20 hours each week. They can also apply for additional funding through smaller, university-sponsored scholarships.

Each prospective student must possess a master's or bachelor's degree and submit undergraduate scores. The admissions process remains highly selective; out of around 100 applicants, the university admits a class of about five students each year.

Courses Include:

• Counseling Psychology: Theory, Research, and Practice
• Psychological Appraisal
• Cultural Diversity and Mental Health
• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Adult Psychopathology

Unique Features:

• Cost: $37,800/academic year
• Credits Required: 87-90
• Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges; American Psychological Association

USD educates over 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students. The public institution offers several programs, including a Ph.D. in counseling.

The degree comprises 108 credits for a student who possesses a bachelor's degree or just 60 credits for an enrollee with a master's. Each learner must maintain a 3.5 GPA throughout the degree to qualify for graduation and pass a written comprehensive exam to obtain doctoral candidacy status.

To complete the program, degree-seekers participate in supervised practicums and internships. They also carry out dissertation research, which culminates with an oral defense.

Each applicant must possess a bachelor's degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA and submit GRE scores. Incoming students who apply for graduate teaching or research assistantships may receive a 53% reduction in tuition fees. Graduate assistants also receive stipends for their work.

Courses Include:

• Advanced Counseling Issues in Culture, Diversity, and Advocacy
• Theoretical Approaches to Counseling
• Seminar in Professional Issues: Research in Counselor Education
• Cognitive Approaches to Educational Psychology
• Qualitative Methods of Educational Research

Unique Features:

• Cost: $336/credit for in-state tuition; $647/credit for out-of-state tuition
• Credits Required: 108
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission; Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs

Based in St. Paul, the Catholic-affiliated UST is the largest private university in Minnesota. UST offers a Psy.D. in counseling psychology for individuals aiming to obtain licensure.

The full curriculum comprises 82 credits, exploring theoretical and research methods coursework in addition to a dissertation, advanced practicum, and an internship. Many doctoral candidates complete their practicum and internship requirements at the university's Interprofessional Center for Counseling and Legal Services, which provides services to uninsured or underinsured low-income clients.

The university also allows students to take a required course in diversity issues in Singapore. Through this study abroad experiences, learners study how Eastern cultures treat mental health issues.

Each prospective student must possess a master's degree and submit GRE scores. Incoming Psy.D. candidates may apply for graduate grants and scholarships, as well.

Courses Include:

• Introduction to Doctoral Studies in Counseling Psychology
• Diversity Issues in Counseling Psychology
• Biological Bases of Behavior
• Qualitative Methods of Inquiry
• Contemporary Approaches to Psychotherapy

Unique Features:

• Cost: $1,048/credit
• Credits Required: 82
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission; American Psychological Association

At the University of Wisconsin Madison, students can graduate with a doctorate in counseling psychology in 5-6 years, depending on whether they begin with a bachelor's or master's degree.

The degree follows a few major modules, including discipline-specific courses, research methods coursework, professional counseling seminars, a clinical training sequence, and a dissertation and internship. Doctoral candidates may also opt to add a concentration.

Students can choose a topic within the department, such as educational psychology, or pursue cross-disciplinary topics. Learners can additionally supplement their degree by participating in research teams led by faculty members.

Each applicant must submit GRE scores, three recommendation letters, and an essay outlining their motivations for graduate study. Incoming students may apply for fellowships, teaching assistantships, and project assistantships. These funding opportunities come with a tuition waiver, monthly stipend, and health insurance.

Courses Include:

• Thinking, Feeling, and Learning
• Theory and Issues in Human Development
• Counseling Psychology Research in Individual Intervention
• Mental Health Consultation in Health Service Psychology
• Seminar: Research in Vocational Psychology and Career Development

Unique Features:

• Cost: $780/credit for in-state students; $1,613/credit for out-of-state students
• Credits Required: 63
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission; American Psychological Association