By Kirsten Hughes
December 2017
Welcome to our list of Tuition-Free Doctoral Programs in Counseling. We have accumulated a list of doctoral programs in counseling offering generous financial support packages to their students. The programs listed here cover tuition for students at least during their first year in graduate school, but often all the way through years four or five (students typically secure paid internships during their fifth year).
Generally, when programs are able to offer tuition remission it is provided through a graduate assistantship (research and/or teaching). Graduate assistantships benefit students not only through financial support, but also through hands-on training in research and/or teaching. Additionally, graduate assistantship placements support students in developing professional networks with faculty, which contribute to their future professional opportunities and success. While students who receive a graduate assistantship tend to remain responsible for university fees, they often earn a monthly or annual stipend as well as partial or full health insurance.
The doctoral degrees in counseling we cover here are offered in three primary areas: Counseling Psychology, Clinical Psychology, and School Psychology. Two types of doctoral degrees are offered: Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), which tends to emphasize research; and the Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.), which tends to emphasize clinical practice. However, you will find that most doctoral programs in counseling (with a Ph.D. or Psy.D) provide students with a solid foundation in both research and clinical training, but perhaps emphasize one area more than the other. Doctoral level programs in counseling are typically committed to training students in conducting and contributing to the field of research as well as training in a clinical setting, providing direct service. Additionally, doctoral counseling programs hope that students will engage in a life long practice of integrating research and practice and allowing each to inform the other.
Graduates with their doctoral degree (Ph.D. or Psy.D.) in counseling go on to pursue careers in a variety of settings, such as private practice, mental health clinics, hospitals, residential treatment centers, and schools. Graduates also frequently take positions at colleges and universities teaching, providing training, consultation and supervision, and conducting research. Most graduates of doctoral counseling programs go on to pursue professional licensure in their field.
All of the doctoral programs listed here are accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA). When looking into programs, applicants are encouraged to consult their home state licensing board to determine their state’s licensure requirements. The benefit of attending an APA-accredited program is that the program has met rigorous criteria and standards designed by this governing board to ensure that academic programming provides a top education for students in the program. Attending a program with this accreditation also ensures that graduates will likely encounter a more streamlined process as they pursue professional licensure.
We wish you luck as you pursue your goal of earning a tuition-free doctoral degree in counseling. If you are looking for an outstanding and fully funded doctoral program in counseling you will find it here! For more information on how we arrived at this list, see our methodology at the end of this article.
Ball State University
Muncie, IN
Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology
Ball State University offers a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology. This APA-accredited program is able to fully fund all doctoral students through an assistantship that includes a full tuition waiver for the first year of the program and often for up to three years. Financial support is also offered to students to support research and presentations at professional conferences. The program works to attract an ethnically and culturally diverse student population and encourages students with a bachelor’s or master’s degree to apply. The program accepts up to 10 students each year. Students in the program are encouraged to collaborate with peers, faculty, and community members as they work towards their doctoral degree.
Faculty areas of expertise include: behavioral medicine; brief therapy; career development; chronic illness; cross-cultural psychology; gifted and talented populations; health psychology; human sexuality; multicultural counseling; organizational psychology; peace psychology; pediatric psychology; prevention; rehabilitation counseling; school counseling; social justice; trauma; wellness; and women’s issues.
- Licensure Percentage: 90%
- EPPP Pass Rate: 84.21%
- Application Deadline: December 1st
- Mean time to complete program: 4.46 years
Boston College
Chestnut Hill, MA
Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology
An APA-accredited Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology is offered through the Lynch School of Education at Boston College. The program is able to guarantee funding through assistantships for the first three years of the doctoral program (and often in years four and beyond). With an overarching commitment to social justice, students will integrate social justice principles and advocacy into professional practice, research, teaching, and leadership. Students in the program have access to diverse clinical training and research opportunities. Currently, faculty research interests include social issues related to school, workplace, and community concerns, such as bullying, positive youth development, domestic violence, immigration, and trauma resiliency and recovery.
Courses include: multicultural issues; counseling theory; career development; professional issues in counseling psychology; quantitative research design; design of qualitative research; intellectual assessment; psychological testing; history and theories of psychology; advanced seminar in psychopathology; cognitive-affective bases of behavior; and social bases of behavior.
- Licensure Percentage: 91%
- EPPP Pass Rate: 84.62%
- Application Deadline: December 1st
- Mean time to complete program: 6.09 years
Case Western Reserve University
Cleveland, OH
Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology
A Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology is offered at Case Western University. All students accepted into this APA accredited Clinical Psychology program will receive a four-year tuition waiver. All incoming students will also be supported by a stipend. Additionally, all graduate students will be considered for assistantships (teaching and/or research) and the program is able to offer students the opportunity to work with their advisor to apply for matching travel awards. The majority of students complete the program in six years. The program utilizes the scientist-practitioner model of training to successfully prepare graduates for clinical practice as evidenced by the 100% licensure rate for graduates of the program.
Unique feature:Students will have the opportunity to train and provide clinical services under licensed supervisors at the Case Western Reserve University Psychology Clinic. Training will prepare students to be experts in providing clinical support in areas including: coping with trauma; anxiety, worry, and nervousness; sadness, depression, and loss; empirically supported therapies; and cognitive-behavioral therapy.
- Licensure Percentage: 100%
- EPPP Pass Rate: 100.00%
- Application Deadline: December 1st
- Mean time to complete program: 6.33 years
Catholic University of America
Washington, DC
Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology
An APA-accredited Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology is available at the Catholic University of America. The program reports that none of their first year students paid tuition and that the program has a history of providing funding to students during their first three years in the program, through research and teaching assistantships that include full tuition waivers, with 80% of students also being eligible for a stipend. Graduates will be prepared to pursue careers as professional clinical psychologists with the skills to thoughtfully integrate science in practice. The program offers a concentration in Children, Families, and Cultures.
Courses include: statistical methods; historical and biological foundations; research methods in psychology; psychopathology; clinical assessment; cognitive and social foundations; psychotherapy- research and method; cultural issues in clinical psychology; ethics and professional issues; human development; cognitive neuroscience; social development; and psychology of emotions.
- Licensure Percentage: 91%
- EPPP Pass Rate: 100.00%
- Application Deadline: December 1st
- Mean time to complete program: 6.00 years
Central Michigan University
Mount Pleasant, MI
Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology
The College of Humanities and Social and Behavioral Science at Central Michigan University offers a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. The program is able to provide full funding (tuition remission and a stipend) for first and most second year students. Students in the program will have the opportunity to explore various theoretical models and learn to integrate theory with practice and research throughout their time in the program. Graduates of this APA-accredited program will be prepared to pursue careers in clinical practice and in research.
Faculty research interests include: prevention and applied youth development; cultural competence in service organizations; anxiety disorders; PTSD; panic disorders; parent child interactions; child conduct problems; child maltreatment; emotional processes; personality disorders; behavioral medicine; health psychology; violence and aggression; decision-making and risk-taking; and psychological assessment.
- Licensure Percentage: 83%
- EPPP Pass Rate: 100.00%
- Application Deadline: December 1st
- Mean time to complete program: 5.88 years
Clark University
Worcester, MA
Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology
Clark University offers a tuition-free Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. This APA accredited program is able to offer full tuition remission to all students, along with a stipend for research assistantships and teaching assistantships. The scientist-practitioner model of training prepares graduates to be competent in theory, research, and practice, and the integration of all three areas. Practicum experiences offer students training in working therapeutically with children and adults in a variety of contexts, including in preschools, K-12 educational settings, and hospitals.
Courses include: theory and method- research design; statistical methods; adult assessment; clinical workshop; theories of psychotherapy; psychopathology; ethics; child assessment; historical backgrounds; social and emotional development; human neuropsychology; social and emotional development; morality and culture; culture and human development; diversity issues; and couples therapy practicum.
- Licensure Percentage: 89%
- EPPP Pass Rate: 100.00%
- Mean time to complete program: 6.50 years
Drexel University
Philadelphia, PA
Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology
The College of Arts and Sciences at Drexel University offers an APA-accredited Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. The program is able to provide full tuition remission to all clinical psychology doctoral students in good standing. All doctoral students in the College of Arts and Sciences will receive extensive training in the theory and practice of teaching through ways such as being a lead instructor; running student seminars or conferences; or training student researchers. All students in the program will receive clinical training with an emphasis on cognitive-behavioral approaches and be able to choose an area of focused study in: clinical child psychology; clinical neuropsychology; forensic psychology; or health psychology. All students will be supported throughout their time in the program by being mentored by one or two faculty members.
Courses include: principles of psychotherapy; cognitive-behavioral therapy; psychopathology; psychological and intellectual assessment; theories of intervention; clinical case conceptualization; professional issues and ethics; multicultural perspectives in psychology; biological bases of behavior and treatment; developmental psychology; social psychology; cognitive psychology; neuropsychological assessment; motivation and emotion; forensic assessment; family therapy; pediatric psychology; and mental health law.
- Licensure Percentage: 91%
- EPPP Pass Rate: 100.00%
- Application Deadline: December 1st
- Mean time to complete program: 5.80 years
East Tennessee State University
Johnson City, TN
Ph.D. in Psychology with a Concentration in Clinical Psychology
A Ph.D. in Psychology with a Concentration in Clinical Psychology is offered at East Tennessee State University. All students accepted into the program will receive financial support through a graduate assistantship for the first two years of the program (at minimum). Financial support provides a full tuition waiver and a stipend of $12,200. The program emphasizes training graduates to work professionally as clinical psychologists to provide behavioral health services to rural populations in an integrated primary health care setting. A unique feature of the program is the focus on providing integrated health care. Students will engage in coursework and practicum experiences with students and faculty from other disciplines, including the medical school, nursing, social work, public health, and pharmacy programs (among others) to provide evidence-based prevention, assessment, intervention, and treatment.
Courses include: introduction to psychological measurement; psychopathology; clinical interviewing techniques; methods of psychological research; legal and ethical issues in psychology; personality and psychotherapy models; advanced history and systems of psychology; psychological assessment- adult; evidence based interventions; advanced behavioral neuroscience; clinical psychology practicum and seminar; primary care; psychopharmacology; cultural anthropological applications to rural practice; and diversity in psychological sciences.
- Licensure Percentage: 100%
- EPPP Pass Rate: 100%
- Application Deadline: December 1st
- Mean time to complete program: 4.90 years
Eastern Michigan University
Ypsilanti, MI
Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology
The Department of Psychology at Eastern Michigan University offers a tuition-free Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. All students accepted into the program will receive a doctoral fellowship that provides a tuition waiver (for up to 90 credits) and an annual stipend of $16,500. This full time doctoral fellowship is available to students for the first three to four years of the program. The program prepares graduates to pursue professional licensure as a clinical psychologist with the skills to provide mental health services (assessment, intervention, treatment, program development, and clinical supervision) to diverse populations.
Faculty research interests include: personality assessment; age-related differences in individuals with cognitive and motor difficulties; friendships and romantic relationships among adolescents and young adults; psychological interventions at the intersection of physical and behavioral health; the impact of the educational context and parent-child relationship on development of social, cognitive and health outcomes of at-risk youth; neurodevelopmental and genetics disorders; pediatric psychology; and behavioral processes common to multiple diagnostic presentations.
- Licensure Percentage: 93%
- EPPP Pass Rate: 100.00%
- Application Deadline: December 1st
- Mean time to complete program: 6.36 years
Illinois State University
Normal, IL
Ph.D in School Psychology
Illinois State University offers an APA-accredited Ph.D. in School Psychology. The program is also accredited by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) and the Council for Accreditation of Teacher Educator Preparation (CAEP). Doctoral students in the School Psychology program who are enrolled full-time and in good standing are eligible for assistantships that provide 100% of tuition and a monthly stipend. The program can be completed in four years of on-campus study followed by a 12 month internship. All students will complete the program under the support of a program advisor. Advisors provide students with annual feedback to support their individual and professional development as they work towards completing requirements for graduation.
Courses include: advanced behavior modification; legal, ethical, and professional issues in school psychology; advanced child and adolescent psychopathology; social emotional and behavioral assessment and intervention; theories and techniques of counseling children and adolescents; theory and practice of mental health consultation in the schools; psychology of diversity; learning and cognition; theory and practice of cognitive assessment; seminar in developmental psychology; theories of personality; measurement, statistics, and research design; and brain and behavior relationships.
- Licensure Percentage: 52%
- Application Deadline: November 15th
- Mean time to complete program: 6.70 years
Iowa State University
Ames, IA
Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology
Iowa State University offers a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology. All first year doctoral students in the counseling psychology program are offered funding, through assistantships, which typically includes full tuition, a stipend, medical, and dental insurance. Additional funding opportunities through fellowships and scholarships are available on a competitive basis. Funding opportunities continue and expand as students move through the program. Students in the program will have the opportunity to work closely with faculty in their counseling training. Faculty take on roles as instructors, supervisors, and even co-therapists as students work to take what they have learned in the classroom into direct service with diverse populations.
Courses include: behavioral research; counseling theory; techniques in counseling; psychopathology; research methods; vocational behavior; behavioral neurology; professional issues and ethics; social psychology; research; multicultural counseling; personality assessment; group counseling; advanced cognition; research issues in counseling; practicum in assessment; cognitive neuroscience; and history and philosophy of psychology.
- Licensure Percentage: 95%
- EPPP Pass Rate: 83.33%
- Application Deadline: December 1st
- Mean time to complete program: 5.95 years
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA
Psy.D. in Clinical – School Psychology
A tuition free Combined-Integrated Doctoral (Psy.D.) Program in Clinical and School Psychology is available at James Madison University. 100% of students are funded for each of their three years on campus. This comprehensive and versatile integrated program trains students in working with diverse populations across the lifespan. This APA-accredited doctoral program is designed for students who already hold a master’s degree, and, as a result, it can be completed in four years, with three years of on-campus coursework and one year of an internship. Graduates of this Psy.D. program will be prepared to pursue licensure as a clinical psychologist and licensure/certification as a school psychologist. Graduates have gone on to work in a variety of settings as clinicians, administrators, consultants and other leadership positions.
Courses include: cognitive and neuropsychological assessment; advanced adult psychopathology; behavioral assessment; child and adolescent psychopathology; clinical interviewing; ethics; cultural issues in psychology and psychotherapy; child and adolescent psychotherapy; cognition, perception, and cognitive therapy; social and community; and group therapy.
- Licensure Percentage: 96%
- EPPP Pass Rate: 83.33%
- Application Deadline: February 1st
- Mean time to complete program: 4.05 years
Loyola University Chicago
Chicago, IL
Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology
Loyola University Chicago offers a tuition-free Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. This APA-accredited psychology program has been able to provide funding through tuition remission, health insurance and a stipend for all first-year students. The program trains students through the scientist-practitioner model of training with skills students can take into the workforce in clinical, research, and/or academic professional settings. Attention to individual and cultural diversity is emphasized. The Clinical Psychology program offers a child-clinical sub-specialty because of the faculty’s strong interest and research in this area. Additionally, a Neuropsychology Module is offered to support students who wish to develop expertise in clinical neuropsychological assessment. Students in the program have the opportunity to select electives that match their professional interests. Students will work closely with faculty to enhance their professional development through elective selections.
Program electives include: child psychopathology; child psychotherapy; child assessment; family therapy; neuropsychological assessment; health psychology; psychopharmacology; adolescence; and structural equation modeling.
- Licensure Percentage: 90%
- EPPP Pass Rate: 100%
- Application Deadline: December 1st
- Mean time to complete program: 6.23 years
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Chicago, IL
Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology
The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine offers a tuition-free Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. All students accepted into the program will receive a Research Assistant Scholarship (or equivalent) with a package that includes 100% of tuition, health insurance, and a monthly stipend. Located within an academic medical center the program balances both research and clinical training. The program strives to prepare clinical psychologists who are prepared to pursue careers within academic health care systems, medical centers, and children’s hospitals.
Courses include: scientific and professional ethics in psychology; diversity in psychological science and practice; life-span developmental psychology; behavioral neuroscience; cognitive and affective psychology; advanced social psychology; psychopathology; introduction to psychotherapy; cognitive behavior therapy; and advanced research methodology. Electives include: acceptance and commitment therapy; child and adolescent psychotherapy; cognitive and behavioral treatments for depression; forensic psychology and neuropsychology; health psychology; marital and sex therapy; mental health policy; and psychodynamic traditions.
- Licensure Percentage: 96%
- EPPP Pass Rate: 100%
- Application Deadline: December 1st
- Mean time to complete program: 5.90 years
Oklahoma State University
Stillwater, OK
Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology
A tuition-free Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology is offered at Oklahoma State University. The program lists tuition as $0 for first year students. Students may be responsible for the cost of required summer courses if assistantships are not available. Students are trained to see clinical psychology as a science-based discipline with the goal of preparing graduates to use science to inform clinical interventions and to be leaders in the field of research contributing to clinical psychology. Areas of specialization are offered in: clinical child; health psychology; pediatric psychology; and adult psychopathology. Faculty members hold a wide range of research interests offering students a variety of research opportunities.
Faculty research interests include: ADHD; risk and resilience in early child development; the role of repetitive negative thought on cognitive processes associated with anxiety disorders; motivation and ambivalence in the behavior change process; child and family adjustment to pediatric chronic illness; factors contributing to vulnerability and resilience to major depressive disorder and suicidal thinking; emotional adjustment in pediatric chronic illness populations; child and family health promotion; effective parenting strategies and child misbehavior in early childhood; and suicidality in ethnic minority groups.
- Licensure Percentage: 83%
- EPPP Pass Rate: 100%
- Application Deadline: December 1st
- Mean time to complete program: 5.89 years
Radford University
Radford, VA
Psy.D. in Counseling Psychology
Radford University offers a tuition-free Psy.D. in Counseling Psychology. Graduate assistantships are offered to cover the cost of tuition, and, in may cases, also provide a stipend. This program is designed for students with a master’s degree in a related field of human services (the master’s degree must be from a regionally accredited institution). This APA accredited program is built around a focus on, and a commitment to, rural mental health with additional emphasis on cultural diversity; social justice; and evidence-based practice in psychology. Graduates of the program will have the clinical skills to provide comprehensive mental health services in rural communities.
Courses include: introduction to counseling psychology; multicultural counseling; advanced cognitive and intellectual assessment techniques; ethical, legal, and professional issues; supervision and consultation; couples and family systems therapy; neuropsychological assessment; advanced research methods in counseling psychology; human growth and lifespan development; health psychology; assessment and treatment of addictive disorders in rural settings; vocational psychology; advanced social psychology; and group dynamics in processing and counseling.
- Licensure Percentage: 100%
- EPPP Pass Rate: 100%
- Application Deadline: December 1st
- Mean time to complete program: 4.13 years
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Carbondale, IL
Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology
Southern Illinois University at Carbondale offers a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology. Tuition is waived for all students in the first year cohort. The program has a history of being able to continue this funding through the fourth or fifth year with assistantships or fellowships. This health service psychology program emphasizes a commitment to social justice and valuing diversity and embracing multiculturalism. Students have access to a range of counseling experiences with training sites offered on and off campus at locations such as: the on-campus Counseling and Psychological Services Center; and local mental health clinics, primary care clinics, hospitals, and rehabilitation settings. Faculty and students work together to create and foster a supportive learning and training environment.
Courses include: history and systems of psychology; cognition, affect, and behavior; neurological bases of behavior; psychopharmacology and behavior; theory and research in cognitive psychology; aging, memory, and cognition; development, personality, and psychopathology; advanced social psychology; cross-cultural psychology; research in counseling; fundamentals of counseling psychology; advanced treatment planning and implementation; psychological assessment; and ethical and professional issues.
- Licensure Percentage: 91%
- EPPP Pass Rate: 87.50%
- Application Deadline: December 1st
- Mean time to complete program: 5.5 years
Temple University
Philadelphia, PA
Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology
Temple University offers a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. All full-time doctoral students in the APA-accredited Clinical Psychology Program receive full tuition remission. The program emphasizes a clinical scientist model of training to prepare professional clinical psychologists to pursue careers in academic, research, and/or clinical settings. Students will have the opportunity to work closely on research with faculty members. For students who are interested, the program offers a developmental psychopathology concentration, which is not a formal program of study but rather a recommended list of courses and areas of training covering developmental psychopathology.
Faculty research interests include: mood disorders; depression; bipolar disorder; eating and weight disorders; developmental psychopathology; youth externalizing problems; schizophrenia; neuropsychological assessment; neuropsychology; Alzheimer’s disease; cognitive-behavioral treatments; anxiety disorders; affect dysregulation; and aggression.
- Licensure Percentage: 92%
- EPPP Pass Rate: 100%
- Application Deadline: December 1st
- Mean time to complete program: 6.30 years
Texas A&M University
College Station, TX
Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology
The Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at Texas A&M University offers a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. The department is able to provide funding for full-time graduate students. The training in the Clinical Psychology program combines the clinical-scientist model and the scientist-practitioner model. This provides students with a well rounded and in depth foundation in clinical and research skills, enabling graduates to build careers in the area of their choice. Faculty-led research teams allow students to engage in the process of research at all levels, from designing studies to presenting findings at national conferences. Elective courses provide students to explore areas of potential interest.
Elective courses include: treatment of problem behaviors in children and families; seminar in clinical/community psychology; health psychology and behavioral medicine; pediatric psychology; couples therapy; special topics in clinical psychology; consultation theory and techniques; child therapy for school behavior problems; and behavioral assessment and intervention.
- Licensure Percentage: 82%
- EPPP Pass Rate: 100%
- Application Deadline: December 1st
- Mean time to complete program: 5.92 years
The Ohio State University
Columbus, OH
Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology
The Ohio State University’s Department of Psychology offers a A Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. This APA-accredited program is able to provide complete financial support to all graduate students for five years of study. Along with a tuition waiver and a fee waiver, all students are eligible for a stipend ranging from $14,400 – $18,000. Additional university fellowships are available on a competitive basis. Students will benefit from the newly designed Psychology Building, where they will have access to conveniently located student and faculty offices and research space. Clinic rooms, where students will work with individuals, couples, families, and groups, are equipped with audio/visual equipment for supervised clinical training. Areas of emphasis include health psychology and psychopathology. Faculty research interests are extensive.
Faculty research interests include: anxiety disorders; depression; aggression and antisocial behavior; developmental psychology; early onset bipolar disorder; the role of attentional systems in emotion regulation and dysregulation across the lifespan; cognitive therapy; behavior therapy; personality disorder; self-regulation; and older adulthood and sexuality.
- Licensure Percentage: 89%
- EPPP Pass Rate: 100%
- Application Deadline: December 1st
- Mean time to complete program: 6.02 years
The University of Akron
Akron, OH
Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology
A Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology is offered through the department of psychology at the University of Akron. The program is able to provide all students with a full tuition waiver and an assistantship (last year the assistantship package ranged from $11,500 to $12,500). This APA accredited program was established in 1983 and utilizes an apprenticeship model to provide a scientist-practitioner model of training. Students have the opportunity work closely with faculty and benefit from their particular areas of expertise for professional development. The program has a high level of research productivity and students are encouraged to collaborate with faculty on research and publication.
Courses include: psychopharmacology- a primer for drugs, brain, and behavior; psychology of cognition and emotion; social psychology; history and systems of psychology; development; psychology of adulthood and aging; introduction to counseling psychology; ethics; vocational behavior; psychopathology; and multicultural counseling; issues of diversity.
- Licensure Percentage: 56%
- EPPP Pass Rate: 83.33%
- Application Deadline: December 1st
- Mean time to complete program: 6.96 years
The University of Memphis
Memphis, TN
Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology
A Ph.D in Counseling Psychology is offered at the University of Memphis. The program has been continuously accredited by the APA since 1989. Over the last seven years the department has been able to offer a graduate assistantship to all students who have requested on. The assistantship makes students eligible for in-state tuition and covers 9 credits per semester plus a stipend. The program strives to balance clinical competency and research skills in training with a focus on human welfare and working with diverse populations in urban settings. All doctoral students will engage in research as part of a faculty supervised research team and will have the opportunity to publish in academic journals and present at conferences. Currently, research teams in the counseling psychology program are looking at topics including: international issues; health disparities; multicultural and early family career issues; animal-assisted therapy; and masculinity.
Courses include: counseling theories; foundations of counseling psychology; counseling and counseling psychology research; clinical techniques; professional issues; assessment techniques; assessment of family therapy; group counseling; personality assessment; advanced theories; career counseling; cognitive assessment; multicultural counseling; vocational psychology; and dissertation.
- Licensure Percentage: 92%
- EPPP Pass Rate: 71.43%
- Application Deadline: December 15th
- Mean time to complete program: 4.47 years
University at Albany
Albany, NY
Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology
The University of Albany offers a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. The department is able to offer clinical psychology graduate students a stipend and tuition remission for the first three years of their graduate study. The Department of Psychology’s Clinical Psychology Program has a reputation for being one of the top cognitive-behavioral training programs in the country. The program works hard to create and maintain a supportive learning environment for all doctoral students with the goal of providing an individualized education and training that meets each student’s individual professional goals and that can be completed in five years.
Courses include: survey of psychopathology; introduction to clinical psychology- the scientist-practitioner; clinical methods-assessment; survey of developmental psychology; research methods; clinical methods-psychotherapy and behavior change; survey of learning and conditioning; survey of biopsychology; survey of social psychology; and diversity issues.
- Licensure Percentage: 82%
- EPPP Pass Rate: 100%
- Application Deadline: December 1st
- Mean time to complete program: 6.08 years
University at Buffalo, State University of New York
Buffalo, NY
Ph.D. in Combined School & Counseling Psychology
The Graduate School of Education at the University at Buffalo, State University of New York, offers a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology and School Psychology. Students can choose between an emphasis in Counseling Psychology or School Psychology. The program lists tuition as $0 and is able to provide funding to students, for the first two years of the program, through graduate assistantships, research assistantships, and minority fellowships. Funding provides a tuition waiver and a stipend ($9,000 – $15,000). As students progress through the program, beyond the first two years, additional funding opportunities through the university and outside agencies open up. The Counseling Psychology emphasis focuses on working with adults and adolescents and the School Psychology emphasis focuses on working with children and adolescents. Graduates of the program typically obtain professional licensure and pursue careers in settings such as hospitals, mental health clinics, university counseling centers; and K-12 schools.
Courses include: foundations of counseling theories; multicultural counseling; adult cognitive assessment; psychopathology and evidence based interventions; personality assessment; human development; cognitive psychology; advanced group counseling; vocational psychology; supervision and consultation in counseling; social psychology; perspectives in school psychology; counseling with children and adolescents; and functional neuroscience.
- Licensure Percentage: 77%
- EPPP Pass Rate: 92.31%
- Application Deadline: December 1st
- Mean time to complete program: 4.50 years
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, AL
Ph.D. in Psychology (Medical / Clinical Concentration)
The Department of Psychology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) offers a tuition-free Medical/Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program. The program is offered through the combined efforts of the UAB School of Medicine and the College of Arts and Sciences. Students accepted into the program are guaranteed at least five years of financial support. Financial support includes an annual stipend of at least $26,000/year, as well as full coverage of tuition, lab fees, and health insurance. First year students are supported by a fellowship which means that first year students do not have a service requirement and can focus strictly on coursework and research. Students in years two through five continue to receive the same benefits (stipend, coverage of tuition, lab fees, and health insurance,) but will also participate in a training, and/or clinical or research assistantship. Strengths of the program include medically-relevant areas such as: health psychology and behavioral medicine; neuropsychology; geropsychology; and pediatric psychology.
Department of Psychology faculty interests include: autism spectrum disorders; biological factors related to emotion; cognitive decline and dementia risk factors; behavioral medicine; social and cognitive neuroscience; childhood and adolescent ADHD; peer relationships and peer influence; parenting and child abuse risk; cognitive, emotional, behavioral and interpersonal aspects of pain and disability; psycho-oncology; re-entry of returning veterans; and study of human psychological strengths such as hope, kindness, and gratitude.
- Licensure Percentage: 98%
- EPPP Pass Rate: 100%
- Application Deadline: November 30th
- Mean time to complete program: 5.80 years
University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, AR
Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology
The University of Arkansas offers an APA-accredited Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. The program is able to provide financial support to all first year students that includes full tuition remission, a graduate stipend, and coverage of 66% of student health insurance. Students are trained with the clinical skills necessary to provide mental health services and the ability to pursue careers in research. The program provides a generalist training through the carefully designed curriculum, practicum opportunities, and research experiences. Students are accepted into the program through the mentor-apprentice model where students are matched with a faculty member based on similar research interests.
Courses include: psychopathology theory and assessment; introduction to clinical science- research, design, and ethical guidelines; assessment of intellectual and cognitive abilities; personality theory and assessment; advanced developmental psychology; advanced social psychology; psychotherapy outcomes; theories of learning; advanced behavioral neuroscience; advanced history or systems; supervision and consultation; and diversity.
- Licensure Percentage: 82%
- EPPP Pass Rate: 100%
- Application Deadline: December 1st
- Mean time to complete program: 5.74 years
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL
Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology
The Department of Psychology at the University of Florida offers a Ph.D. in Counseling. The program is able to provide funding to all first-year doctoral students and often is able to continue this funding for up to five years. Funding is provided through a teaching or research assistantship or a fellowship. The assistantships and fellowships include tuition remission for 9-12 credits a semester (fall and spring) and a stipend ranging from $15,500 to $20,500. Guided by feminist and multicultural principles, the program emphasizes a commitment to diversity and social justice, and expects students’ work and service in the community to reflect these values.
Faculty research interests include: vocational psychology; minority stressors; the efficacy of bibliotherapy; friendship formation and personality; health psychology; behavioral medicine; culturally sensitive mental and physical health care; and community-based interventions for culturally diverse children, adolescents, and families.
- Licensure Percentage: 60%
- EPPP Pass Rate: 100%
- Application Deadline: December 1st
- Mean time to complete program: 5.83 years
University of La Verne
La Verne, CA
Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology
The Psychology Department at University of La Verne offers a Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology. The program accepts around 10-14 students each fall, and is able to offer funding to all first year students with a graduate assistantship that covers tuition. Additionally, a select number of teaching assistantships that cover partial tuition remission are offered on a competitive basis. The program follows a cohort model and works to support students in developing collaborative and supportive relationships with one another. The program emphasizes a commitment to preparing graduates for compassionate and ethical professional clinical practice.
Unique feature: The program emphasizes a commitment to fostering self-awareness in each student as well as an experiential understanding of the psychotherapeutic process. All students are required to complete 20 hours of personal psychotherapy before they begin their pre-doctoral internship.
- Licensure Percentage: 75%
- EPPP Pass Rate: 76.67%
- Application Deadline: December 15th
- Mean time to complete program: 6.10 years
University of Maryland-College Park
College Park, MD
Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology
A Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology is available at the University of Maryland-College Park. The program has been accredited by the APA since 1953, making it one of the longest standing Counseling Psychology programs in the country. The program is able to provide funding to students through graduate assistantships or fellowships which include tuition remission and subsidized health insurance. The Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology is offered through the partnership of the Department of Counseling, Higher Education, and Special Education and the Department of Psychology. The faculty emphasize a commitment to multicultural diversity and strive to train graduates to be prepared to offer culturally sensitive services to diverse populations both through direct service and contributions to the field of research.
Faculty research labs include: culture, race, and health lab; Gender, culture, and health lab; Maryland psychotherapy clinic and research lab; Social justice, intersectionality, and heteronormativity lab; Positive coping, health, and well-being lab; Social cognitive career lab; and Social identity research team.
- Licensure Percentage: 72%
- EPPP Pass Rate: 90%
- Application Deadline: December 1st
- Mean time to complete program: 6.30 years
University of Miami
Coral Gables, FL
Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology
A tuition-free Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology is available at the University of Miami. The Department of Psychology is able to offer funding to students through NIH traineeships, research assistantships, teaching assistantships, and university fellowships. Funding includes tuition waivers and a stipend in the range of approximately $21,000 to $23,000. This APA-accredited program offers tracks of study in: adult clinical; child and family clinical and pediatric health; and health clinical psychology. A focus on science and practice is integrated throughout the program in coursework, research, and practicum training experiences.
Courses include: issues in professional development and research; cognition and emotion; cognitive neuroscience; diversity issues in psychology; developmental psychology; social psychology; adult psychopathology; child and adolescent psychology; introduction to psychological evaluation; introduction to evidence-based psychological treatments; and introduction to psychotherapy, ethics, and professional issues.
- Licensure Percentage: 95%
- EPPP Pass Rate: 100%
- Application Deadline: December 1st
- Mean time to complete program: 5.95 years
University of Miami
Coral Gables, FL
Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology
The School of Education and Human Development at the University of Miami offers a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology. This APA- accredited program is able to offer funding through graduate assistantships that include a stipend and a tuition waiver for required courses. The program emphasizes a commitment to training scientist-practitioners who are multi-culturally competent with the ability to promote health in diverse populations. Students in the program will have the opportunity to engage in research with faculty members, which includes opportunities to present at national conferences and co-author professional papers.
Courses include: professional, legal and ethical issues in counseling; counseling process and practice; lifespan human development; vocational psychology and career development; cultural diversity and mental health; supervision in counseling psychology; cognition and emotion; cognitive neuroscience; adult psychopathology; and the social bases of human activity and flourishing.
- Licensure Percentage: 83%
- EPPP Pass Rate: 100%
- Application Deadline: December 1st
- Mean time to complete program: 6.03 years
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, MN
Ph.D. in School Psychology
The Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Minnesota offers a fully-funded, APA-accredited Ph.D. in School Psychology. All students working towards their doctoral degree in school psychology receive funding through research assistantships or graduate fellowships which include a stipend, full tuition, and health insurance. The program reports a high commitment to, and funding for, research and graduate training grants, with 85-100% of students presenting and publishing research each year. The coursework, research opportunities, and diverse practicum experiences prepare graduates to pursue careers in settings including: public and private schools; state departments of education; universities; research centers; and private practice.
Faculty interests include: prevention and intervention of academic problems; data-based instructional decision making; implementation of evidence-based practices in schools; school mental health; emotional and behavioral disorders; whole child assessment and intervention; educational and health disparities affecting individuals with and at-risk for special needs; and characteristics and outcomes of children and adolescents with disabilities.
- Licensure Percentage: 8%
- Application Deadline: November 15th
- Mean time to complete program: 6.04 years
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, MN
Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology
The University of Minnesota offers a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology. The program is able to guarantee 100% paid tuition for all students during the first five years of their graduate program. All students are expected to be enrolled full time and remain in good standing. Graduate stipends vary depending on the source of funds with mean stipend for incoming 2017-2018 students being $21,667. An emphasis is placed on recruiting and retaining diverse students and faculty to the program with the goal of attending to multicultural issues at the local, national, and global level.
Courses include: psychological measurement-theory and methods; counseling psychology-history and theories; interviewing and intervention; vocational and occupational health psychology; assessment in counseling psychology; multicultural issues in counseling psychology; counseling psychology process and outcome research; developmental psychology- individual and cultural influences; directed research with advisor; ethics in psychology; vocational and occupational health psychology research; and counseling psychology supervision.
- Licensure Percentage: 77%
- EPPP Pass Rate: 83.33%
- Application Deadline: December 1st
- Mean time to complete program: 6.50 years
University of Missouri Kansas City
Kansas City, MO
Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology
The University of Missouri, Kansas City offers a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology. Funding is available through graduate assistantships, with first year doctoral students having priority on these assistantships that offer a tuition waiver and a stipend. While funding is only guaranteed to first year students, counseling psychology graduate students at the University of Missouri-Kansas City have a high level of success in securing funding opportunities on campus through assistantships, fellowships, and scholarships. The program emphasizes a commitment to multicultural and individual diversity. Graduates of the APA-accredited program have gone on to pursue careers in: two and four-year colleges and universities; university counseling centers; veteran affairs facilities; hospitals; community mental health centers; private practice; consulting; and writing.
Courses include: development and evaluation of assessment tools; cognitive psychology; survey of research in counseling psychology; social psychology; qualitative research theory; assessment practicum; gaining cultural and community competence through immersion; biopsychology; career; focus on college teaching; cognitive psychology; social psychology; and prevention and consultation.
- Licensure Percentage: 91%
- EPPP Pass Rate: 78.57%
- Application Deadline: December 1st
- Mean time to complete program: 6.60 years
University of Missouri, St. Louis
St. Louis, MO
Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology
A fully-funded Phd. in Clinical Psychology is available at the University of Missouri, St. Louis. Students accepted into the program are typically assigned a graduate assistantship that matches their experience and area of interest for their first two years in the program which will include tuition and a stipend of at least $14,000. In the third year (and beyond) students will have a professional position that will include tuition and a stipend ranging from $15,000-$20,000. Students have access to comprehensive clinical training at the programs training clinic and at two specialty clinics: the Center for Trauma Recovery and the Children’s Advocacy Center. The program reports that their graduates have a history of doing very well on the national licensing exam (consistently in the top 15% when compared with other students from other programs).
Faculty research interests include: developmental psychopathology; family processes; sexual decision making; sexual coercion; women’s sexual health and functioning; depression; coping with chronic illness; behavioral medicine; minority mental health; multicultural psychology; multiracial identity development; minority substance use/misuse; complex trauma; co-occurring grief and trauma exposure; prevention and treatment of anxiety pathology; the relationship between anxiety pathology and physical health; and investigation of new methods of assessing and treating anxiety and panic in medical settings.
- Licensure Percentage: 100%
- EPPP Pass Rate: 100%
- Application Deadline: December 1st
- Mean time to complete program: 5.91 years
University of Oregon
Eugene, OR
Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology
The University of Oregon offers an APA accredited Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology. The program works hard to support graduate students in securing funding. A number of funding opportunities are available for doctoral students in the counseling psychology program through graduate employment appointments (teaching, research, counseling, or community/university service), as well as through scholarships and grants. The program provides training opportunities in several areas including: child, adult, and family interventions; prevention; multicultural issues and equity; social justice; and evidence-based prevention and intervention. A unique specialization is offered in Spanish language service provision. Through the scientist-practitioner model of training students learn through coursework, research, and clinical practicum experiences to integrate science and practice.
Unique feature: a unique feature of the Counseling Psychology Program at the University of Oregon is the Spanish Language Psychological Service and Research Specialization (SLPSR). This program works to train students to provide mental health services, and complete research, with Spanish speaking populations.
- Licensure Percentage: 93%
- EPPP Pass Rate: 88.24%
- Application Deadline: December 1st
- Mean time to complete program: 6.30 years
University of South Florida
Tampa, FL
Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology
The University of South Florida offers an APA-accredited Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. The department is able to guarantee funding through tuition waivers for five years. The program reports that they have a 20 year history of being able to provide funded employment during the academic year to all their students. Students in the program will work closely with a faculty advisor in a research apprentice training model. When admitted to the program, students are matched with their advisor based on similar research interests. Most graduates of the program leave with the experience of having co-authored publications and presented research at national conferences.
Faculty research interests include: psychopathy; substance use; antisocial behavior; personality disorders; health psychology; addictive behaviors; neuropsychology; prevention and health promotion in children and adolescents; behavioral and psychosocial aspects of cancer; clinical child psychology; child, adolescent, and family functioning; major depressive disorder; the link between depression and health; individual differences in alcohol and drug use behavior; body image; eating disorders; and obesity.
- Licensure Percentage: 86%
- EPPP Pass Rate: 100%
- Application Deadline: December 1st
- Mean time to complete program: 6.90 years
University of Southern Mississippi
Hattiesburg, MS
Ph.D. in School Psychology
The University of Southern Mississippi offers an APA-accredited Ph.D. in School Psychology. Funding through an assistantship provides a full tuition waiver, a stipend, and 50% of the health insurance premium. Students entering the program with a bachelor’s degree will complete a master’s degree as they work towards their doctoral degree. Students will collaborate with department faculty to select and continuously evaluate their course of study to meet their professional goals. The program is designed to be completed within five years, with four years of coursework on campus and a one year internship. Graduates of the program have a 100% pass rate (over the last 7 years) for the Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) exam.
Faculty research interests include: peer-mediated behavior interventions; integrating technology into school psychology; school-based behavioral consultation; prevention of emotional and/or behavioral disturbance in young children experiencing health disparities; treatment integrity in applied settings; functional behavior assessment; teaching matching and discrimination skills to children with autism; behaviors maintained by negative reinforcement; parent training in behavior analysis; home and school-based interventions for children who are at-risk, appropriate practices in school psychology; interventions for individuals with autism spectrum disorders; social skills training; applied behavior analysis; and compliance training and behavioral interventions.
- Licensure Percentage: 67%
- Application Deadline: December 1st
- Mean time to complete program: 5.40 years
University of Southern Mississippi
Hattiesburg, MS
Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology
The University of Southern Mississippi offers a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology. Students in the program are provided a funding package that includes a full tuition waiver, a stipend for a 20-hour graduate assistantship, and coverage of 50% of the health insurance premium. The program focuses on providing a comprehensive training in counseling psychology through the scientist practitioner model to prepare graduates for careers as professional counseling psychologists. Students have opportunities to engage in research and in teaching courses in addition to the clinical training provided through practicum experiences. All of these experiences contribute to supporting graduates in leaving the program with a depth of experience to support their transition into their professional careers.
Courses include: introduction to counseling psychology; introduction to counseling theory; vocational counseling; assessment and diagnosis; ethics; multicultural counseling; behavioral neuroscience; group therapy; social psychology; cognitive processes; and history and systems.
- Licensure Percentage: 97%
- EPPP Pass Rate: 90%
- Application Deadline: December 1st
- Mean time to complete program: 5.87 years
University of Tennessee – Knoxville
Knoxville, TN
Ph.D. in School Psychology
The Educational Psychology and Counseling Department at the University of Tennessee Knoxville offers an APA accredited Ph.D. in School Psychology. The program is committed to providing funding for all graduate students through assistantships that include tuition and a stipend. Students in this program have the opportunity to work collaboratively with peers and faculty throughout their time in the program. Students in the program will learn through the Data-Based Problem-Solving training model. Students have the opportunity to work with faculty on research projects which can lead to publications and presentations.
Courses include: seminar in school psychology; psychoeducational assessment; introduction to professional practice in school psychology; psychopathology in school and mental health settings; formal measurement in education and counseling; theory and practice of counseling; cross-cultural counseling- theory and research; psychological theories of human development applied to education; ethical, legal, and professional issues in psychology; history and systems of psychology; methods of teaching students with autism spectrum disorders; and methods of teaching students with emotional and behavioral disorders.
- Licensure Percentage: 54%
- are offered on a competitive basis Deadline: December 1st
- Mean time to complete program: 4.96 years
University of Tennessee – Knoxville
Knoxville, TN
Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology
A Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology is available at the University of Tennessee- Knoxville. The program guarantees funding for all first year students and the department has been able to provide funding to all counseling psychology students who have sought funding through year five. Funding is offered through assistantships that provide a tuition waiver, a stipend, and health insurance. Fellowships are also available on a competitive basis. The program works hard to attract a diverse cohort of students each year, and over the last handful of years 30% have been ethnic minority students. A unique model of training, the scientist-practitioner-advocate model is endorsed with attention to social justice and multiculturalism.
Courses include: professional orientation; multicultural competencies and human diversity; social justice advocacy and interventions; vocational psychology; counseling psychology interventions; research design; history and systems of psychology; cognitive-affective bases of behavior; and developmental bases of behavior.
- Licensure Percentage: 75%
- EPPP Pass Rate: 100%
- Application Deadline: February 1st
- Mean time to complete program: 5.00 years
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, UT
Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology
The University of Utah offers a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. Funding is available to all clinical psychology students through various opportunities including teaching and research positions. The department is thoughtful about funding opportunities and only accepts students into the program with funding available for the first four years. This program emphasizes a commitment to research and will be a good fit for students that are interested in focusing their career on research. Unique opportunities are offered for students to design an individualized course of study focused on their professional interests. The program provides core training in adult psychopathology, and also offers clinical speciality tracks in: Clinical Child and Family; Clinical Health/Behavioral Medicine; and Clinical Neuropsychology. An interest group is also offered in Human Sexuality.
Courses include: neuropsychology; brain, cognition, and behavior; advanced human cognition; cognitive and affective development across the lifespan; advanced social psychology; individual psychopathology; history and systems of psychology; and advanced research methods in clinical psychology.
- Licensure Percentage: 88%
- EPPP Pass Rate: 100%
- Application Deadline: December 1st
- Mean time to complete program: 6.50 years
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, UT
Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology
The University of Utah offers a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology. A tuition benefit program has been available to cover tuition costs for students in the first year cohort. The program has been continuously accredited by the APA since 1957. The five year program training plan includes: coursework in behavioral sciences, research and statistics, counseling and psychotherapy, and an area of specialty; a one year intensive practicum at the University Counseling Center; two years of advanced field practicum; presenting at a regional/national conference; submission to a peer-reviewed journal; completion of the Doctoral Qualifying Examination; and completion of a Ph.D. Dissertation Research project. Graduates of the program will be prepared to pursue professional licensure and careers in a variety of settings.
Courses include: counseling theories; counseling skills; foundations of counseling psychology; multicultural counseling; psychometric theory; ethics; lifespan development; cognitive assessment; neuropsychology; internship in counseling psychology; and dissertation.
- Licensure Percentage: 93%
- EPPP Pass Rate: 90%
- Application Deadline: December 15th
- Mean time to complete program: 6.90 years
University of Vermont
Burlington, VT
Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology
The University of Vermont is able to provide a tuition-free Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. The Clinical Psychology Program is strongly committed to providing funding through traineeships for graduate students in the department and has been successful in doing so since 1969! Each student receives funding for every year that they are on campus. Additionally, attention is paid to making sure that funded placements support students in gaining relevant and critical experience in areas including teaching, research, and/or clinical work. The program strives to provide an integrated learning experience with students simultaneously engaged in coursework, research, and clinical practice. Professional development is emphasized throughout the program in order to successfully prepare graduates to pursue the career of their choice in their area of interest.
Faculty research interests include: normal and abnormal development; adolescence and young adult life; behavioral neuroscience of drug addiction and tolerance; drug and food cravings; cross-cultural aspects of eating and drug use disorders; evidence-based treatment of ADHD in children and adolescents; gender differences in children and adolescents’ social development; development of aggressive behavior; sexual function and dysfunction in men and women; infertility and sexual well-being; psychopathology; and treatment of adult mood disorders.
- Licensure Percentage: 87%
- EPPP Pass Rate: 100%
- Application Deadline: December 1st
- Mean time to complete program: 5.80 years
University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
Milwaukee, WI
Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology
A tuition-free Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology is available at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee (UWM). The Psychology department is able to offer funding, which includes tuition remission and a stipend, to Ph.D. students for three years, and often for more than three years. UWM is committed to the scientist-practitioner model of training with the goal of graduating professional psychologists with experience, and a commitment to, integrating research and practice. The Clinical Psychology Program trains students as generalists with the option to focus in one or more areas that align with faculty interests including: neuroscience/neuropsychology; behavior therapy; and pediatric/health psychology.
Faculty research interests include: anxiety; stress; post-traumatic stress disorder; obsessive-compulsive disorder; pediatric psychology; pediatric chronic illness; community violence; child abuse; neurodevelopmental disorders; affective neuroscience; adult psychopathology; neurocognitive consequences of chronic drug use during adolescence and young adulthood; medical psychology; neuropsychology; and social development.
- Licensure Percentage: 93%
- EPPP Pass Rate: 100%
- Application Deadline: December 1st
- Mean time to complete program: 6.21 years
University of Wyoming
Laramie, WY
Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology
The University of Wyoming offers a fully-funded Ph.D.. in Clinical Psychology. All students entering the program are offered a full graduate assistantship that includes full tuition, insurance, and a stipend of $16,785. In the last 10 years, all clinical psychology students (years 1-4) in good standing have received full funding. This program is a good fit for students who hope to pursue postdoctoral research fellowships and careers as faculty at colleges and universities.
Faculty research interests include: couple and family relationships; trauma; emotional dysregulation; ADHD; eating disorders; PTSD; traumatic grief; bereavement; gender and ethnicity differences in child psychopathology; substance use; and stress and mood.
- Licensure Percentage: 90%
- EPPP Pass Rate: 100%
- Application Deadline: December 1st
- Mean time to complete program: 6.30 years
Utah State University
Logan, UT
Ph.D. in Combined Clinical & Counseling Psychology
Utah State University offers a Combined Clinical/Counseling Ph.D. Program. All full-time doctoral students in the program receive assistantships in research, clinical, and/or teaching positions. Assistantships cover tuition for required courses. Additional fellowships and scholarships are also available. Students in this APA accredited program receive training in both clinical and counseling psychology. The program focuses on training clinicians to work professionally in diverse social environments with the ability to conduct research and provide counseling and psychological services. The program offers a Rural/Multicultural area of emphasis. Additionally, the program is a part of the American Indian Support Project (AISP) which works to increase the number of American Indian mental health professionals. Because of the combined program students learn and integrate the philosophies of both clinical psychology and counseling psychology. Students will work with clinical and counseling faculty and complete practicum experiences in clinical and counseling settings.
Courses include: evidence based practice- children and adolescents; diversity issues in treatment and assessment; intellectual assessment; objective assessment of personality and affect; introduction to theories of intervention in psychology; lifespan psychopathology; social psychology; cognition and instruction; advanced developmental psychology; professional ethics and standards; multicultural perspectives on social development; neuroscience of aging and development; integrated practicum with adults, adolescents, and children; and practicum in counseling/clinical psychology.
- Licensure Percentage: 88%
- EPPP Pass Rate: 100%
- Application Deadline: December 1st
- Mean time to complete program: 6.84 years
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, VA
Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology
Virginia Commonwealth University offers a tuition-free APA accredited Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. All students receive a tuition waiver and an assistantship or fellowship for at least the first four years they are in the program. The majority of students entering the program have a bachelor’s degree with only about 20% of students having a masters degree. The Clinical Psychology program emphasizes a biopsychosocial perspective with concentrations available in behavioral medicine and child/adolescent clinical psychology. A wide selection of clinical opportunities exist including: an anxiety clinic; an assessment clinic; an attention deficit hyperactivity disorder clinic; and a primary care psychology clinic, including pediatric primary care.
Faculty research interests include: health promotion and risk reduction in Latina/o and African American families; the development of problem behaviors during adolescence, particularly aggression and bullying; evidence-based assessment and intervention with at-risk and vulnerable populations; ADHD; quality of mental health care in community settings; sleep; stress and coping with bereavement; depression; women’s care; and emotion.
- Licensure Percentage: 90%
- EPPP Pass Rate: 100%
- Application Deadline: December 1st
- Mean time to complete program: 6.10 years
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, VA
Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology
An APA-accredited Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology is offered at Virginia Commonwealth University. All students accepted into the counseling psychology doctoral program, at Virginia Commonwealth University, will receive an assistantship or fellowship that includes a tuition waiver. This funding is offered to students for the first four years of the program. The program offers a generalist training with a focus on innovative and interdisciplinary approaches in counseling health psychology. A commitment to valuing diversity in the professional and ethical practice of counseling psychology is also central to the program.
Courses include: research in counseling psychology; psychopathology; theories of counseling and personality; intelligence assessment; theories of counseling and interviewing; ethical principles in psychology; personality assessment; biological bases of behavior; personal awareness in multicultural counseling; social psychology; community psychology; career development and occupational health; and health psychology.
- Licensure Percentage: 94%
- EPPP Pass Rate: 100%
- Application Deadline: December 1st
- Mean time to complete program: 5.89 years
West Virginia University
Morgantown, WV
Ph.D. in Psychology-Clinical and Clinical Child Psychology
West Virginia University offers a Ph.D. in Psychology-Clinical and Clinical Child Psychology. The program provides funding to all students accepted into the program by offering a graduate assistantship that provides a tuition waiver, health insurance, and a 9 month stipend of $15,000. This APA-accredited program works to prepare professional psychologists for licensure through a comprehensive training program. The scientist-practitioner training model that the program endorses emphasis attention in several areas including: ethical issues; the use of evidence based practices; the ability to evaluate and utilize research in practice; and professional engagement with community partners.
Faculty research interests include: pediatric psychology; evidence based treatments; child/developmental psychology; parent-child interaction therapy; geropsychology; mental health and aging; clinical health psychology; pain and anxiety; cognitive bias in depression and anxiety; and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
- Licensure Percentage: 88%
- EPPP Pass Rate: 100%
- Application Deadline: December 1st
- Mean time to complete program: 5.20 years
If you are interested in a Doctoral Degree in Counseling, you will also be interested in our lists of The Top 50 Doctoral Programs in School Psychology, as well the Top 50 Ph.D. Programs in Clinical Psychology, Top 50 Doctoral Programs in Counseling Psychology and the Top 50 Psy.D. Programs in Clinical Psychology. We hope you check out these top ranked doctoral programs in counseling and find the program that is the best fit for you.
Methodology: To arrive at the alphabetical list of schools in this article, we first combined the lists of schools in our rankings of the top Doctoral programs linked to in the above paragraph. We then reviewed each program’s Student Admissions, Outcomes and Other Data for their stated tuition information. Schools that listed programs with zero tuition or stated that incoming students would receive full financial assistance through tuition waivers or guaranteed assistantships were retained. Tuition-free means you don’t pay tuition typically in exchange for 20 hours a week of a graduate assistantship. Many schools provide generous financial support packages to their doctoral students. Our final list of 50 programs only includes schools that clearly stated they are able to offer full tuition remission for a year or more.
About the author: Kirsten Hughes is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, with her Masters in Education from the University of Oregon. Kirsten has provided direct services to youth and families, in a variety of roles and a range of settings, for the last 15 years. Kirsten particularly enjoys supporting young people as they navigate the challenges that come with transitioning from high school to college and beyond. Kirsten lives in the Pacific Northwest with her family.
filed under: Tuition-Free Doctoral Programs in Counseling
