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Psychologist, private practice education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a psychologist, private practice. Psychologists, private practice usually study psychology, clinical psychology, or social work. 38% of psychologists, private practice hold a bachelor's degree, and 31% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 857 real psychologist, private practice resumes to see exactly what psychologist, private practice education sections show.

The most common colleges for psychologists, private practice are the Boston University and the Boston University.

There are also many online psychologist, private practice courses to help get the education required to be a psychologist, private practice.

What education do you need to become a psychologist, private practice?

What degree do you need to be a psychologist, private practice?

The most common degree for psychologists, private practice is bachelor's degree, with 38% of psychologists, private practice earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 31% and master's degree degree at 23%.
  • Bachelor's, 38%
  • Master's, 31%
  • Doctorate, 23%
  • Associate, 4%
  • Other Degrees, 4%

What should I major in to become a psychologist, private practice?

You should major in psychology to become a psychologist, private practice. 22% of psychologists, private practice major in psychology. Other common majors for a psychologist, private practice include clinical psychology and social work.

Most common colleges for psychologists, private practice

Psychologists, private practice often get their degrees at Boston University, New York University, and University of California, Santa Barbara. Here are the most common colleges for psychologists, private practice in the US based on their resumes.
Psychologist, private practice common collegePercentages
Boston University6.25%
New York University6.25%
University of California, Santa Barbara6.25%
University of Utah6.25%
University of Illinois at Chicago5.21%

Best majors for psychologists, private practice

RankMajorPercentages
1Psychology21.9%
2Clinical Psychology12.0%
3Social Work11.1%
4Counseling Psychology8.3%
5Medicine7.8%

Best colleges for psychologists, private practice

The best colleges for psychologists, private practice are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and Columbia University in the City of New York.

A psychologist, private practice with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for psychologists, private practice. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become psychologists, private practice.

1. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

2. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$8,987

Enrollment

18,946

3. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$53,948

Enrollment

17,238

4. New York University

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$51,828

Enrollment

26,339

5. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

6. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$59,430

Enrollment

8,216

7. Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, MO • Private

In-state tuition

$53,399

Enrollment

7,356

8. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$56,225

Enrollment

19,548

9. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Enrollment

31,503

10. Pennsylvania State University

University Park, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$18,454

Enrollment

40,108

20 best online courses for psychologists, private practice

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Top 10 most affordable universities for psychologists, private practice

The most affordable schools for psychologists, private practice are Hunter College of the City University of New York, baruch college of the city university of new york, and university of florida.

If the best universities for psychologists, private practice are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for psychologists, private practice.

1. Hunter College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,182

Cost of attendance

13,998

2. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,262

Cost of attendance

14,046

3. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

4. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

5. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,656

Cost of attendance

21,623

6. Florida International University

Miami, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,556

Cost of attendance

19,434

7. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

8. California State University - Fullerton

Fullerton, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,886

Cost of attendance

17,645

9. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,942

Cost of attendance

14,469

10. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$8,987

Cost of attendance

25,527

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for psychologists, private practice

The hardest universities for psychologists, private practice to get into are Northwestern University, University of Pennsylvania, and Columbia University in the City of New York.

Some great schools for psychologists, private practice are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for psychologists, private practice based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

2. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

3. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

6%

SAT average

1,512

4. Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, MO • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,506

5. Boston College

Chestnut Hill, MA • Private

Admissions rate

28%

SAT average

1,429

6. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

7. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

20%

SAT average

1,419

8. University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

13%

SAT average

1,445

9. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,420

10. Northeastern University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

19%

SAT average

1,466

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for psychologists, private practice

The easiest schools for psychologists, private practice to get into are Barry University, notre dame de namur university, and mount saint mary's university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a psychologist, private practice without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for psychologists, private practice.

1. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,006

2. Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, CA • Private

Admissions rate

82%

SAT average

983

3. Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,031

4. Kean University

Union, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

86%

SAT average

991

5. Nyack College

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

999

6. University of North Texas at Dallas

Dallas, TX • Private

Admissions rate

83%

SAT average

992

7. Life University

Marietta, GA • Private

Admissions rate

94%

SAT average

979

8. Texas Woman's University

Denton, TX • Private

Admissions rate

87%

SAT average

1,059

9. College of New Rochelle, The

New Rochelle, NY • Private

Admissions rate

83%

SAT average

982

10. Ottawa University

Ottawa, KS • Private

Admissions rate

78%

SAT average

1,024

Average psychologist, private practice salary by education level

According to our data, psychologists, private practice with a Doctorate degree earn the highest average salary, at $89,337 annually. Psychologists, private practice with a Master's degree earn an average annual salary of $84,225.
Psychologist, private practice education levelPsychologist, private practice salary
Master's Degree$84,225
Doctorate Degree$89,337

Psychologist, private practice education FAQs

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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