Top 25 Most Affordable, Accredited Graduate Degrees in Psychology and Counseling in the Northeast

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Updated November 22, 2022

Explore our ranking of the Most Affordable, Accredited Graduate Degrees in Psychology and Counseling in the Northeast.

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Ranking Methodology:

This list of the most affordable graduate programs in the Northeast offering a masters and/or a doctorate degree in psychology and/or counseling was created considering the following points.

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Top 10 Most Affordable, Accredited Graduate Degrees in Psychology and Counseling in the Northeast

  1. Pace University
    Location

    New York City, NY

    The most affordable graduate degree in the Northeast is from Pace University. Dyson College of Arts and Sciences offers a Psy.D. in School-Clinical Psychology accredited by the APA. The program highlights a practitioner-scholar training model. A competitive program with an acceptance rate of approximately 20%, the program requires the completion of 110 credits and on average takes six years to complete.

  2. Central Connecticut State University
    Location

    New Britain, CT

    Central Connecticut State University has a cheap CACREP accredited Master of Science in Counselor Education with Specialization in School Counseling. This program, requiring 51-54 credits, prepares graduates for professional careers as counselors in elementary, middle, and high schools. Central Connecticut State University also offers a Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy accredited by the COAMFTE. A unique feature of this program is that they offer two cohort track options: an Evening Cohort (Fall and Spring admission) and a Weekend Cohort (Summer admission), with 20 students being accepted per cohort for each of the three admission periods. Depending on if the student decides to complete a final thesis project, 51-63 credits are required for graduation.

  3. Southern Connecticut State University
    Location

    New Haven, CT

    Southern Connecticut State University's Marriage and Family Therapy Program (66-72 credit hours) became accredited in 1983, and is one of the oldest COAMFTE accredited MFT programs in the world. The School Counseling (52 credit hours) and Clinical Mental Health Counseling (60 credit hours) Programs are both accredited by the CACREP. All three programs offered by Southern Connecticut State University emphasize practicum and internship experience as a key component of their programs.

  4. University of Massachusetts Boston
    Location

    Boston, MA

    The University of Massachusetts Boston offers a Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy accredited by the COAMFTE and a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology accredited by the APA. The Family Therapy program requires 60-63 credits of coursework and internship experience and is designed for completion in no less than three years. The Clinical Psychology program balances research and clinical practice training and involves five to six years of full time study.

  5. University of Massachusetts Amherst
    Location

    Amherst, MA

    The Clinical Psychology Program at University of Massachusetts Amherst is highly competitive; a class of four students is chosen from over 200 applications annually. The program matches each student with a faculty member with similar research interests. This program is accredited by the APA and requires five years of work in residence and then an additional 6th year in a clinical internship.

  6. Immaculata University
    Location

    Immaculata, PA

    The Psy.D. program in Clinical Psychology is accredited by the APA. Students can first work towards their M.A. and then go on to complete their Psy.D. Class sizes vary from 8-20 students depending on subject.

  7. Evangelical Theological Seminary
    Location

    Myerstown, PA

    This COAMFTE accredited Marriage and Family Therapy program is for students interested in integrating biblical principles and Christian faith with marriage and family theories. Students will work in the cohort model to complete 65 credits. Full and part time options of study are available.

  8. Lehigh University
    Location

    Bethlehem, PA

    Lehigh University's College of Education offers a Ph.D. in both Counseling Psychology and School Psychology, both programs are accredited by the APA. The Counseling Psychology program encourages students and faculty to present their research findings at national and international conferences. Many students also publish with faculty members in numerous journals. Doctoral students in the School Psychology program can choose between two areas of study; School-Based Prevention and Pediatric School Psychology.

  9. Messiah College
    Location

    Mechanicsburg, PA

    Messiah College offers a CACREP accredited Master of Arts in Counseling in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (60 credits) and School Counseling (51 credits). A unique feature of Messiah College is that many, but not all, of the courses are offered online. Students report appreciating this feature in order to continue with commitments outside of school. Messiah College is a faith-based program.

  10. Waynesburg University
    Location

    Waynesburg, PA

    The Master of Arts in Counseling with a specialization in Clinical Mental Health Counseling is accredited by the CACREP. Classes are offered two nights a week (one class is online) for five semesters. The program focuses on preparing mental health clinicians to work as clinicians in community agencies and private practice and requires the completion of 60 credits.

Additional Resource:  6 Tips for Evaluating the Overall Cost of Your Graduate Degree.

For other articles in this series see Top 25 Most Affordable, Accredited, Graduate Degree Programs in Psychology and Counseling in the West 2014. Top 25 Most Affordable, Accredited Graduate Degrees in Psychology and Counseling in the South 2014, and Top 25 Most Affordable, Accredited, Graduate Degree Programs in Psychology and Counseling in the Midwest 2014.

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