Top Online Clinical Psychology Doctorates: Schools, Careers & More
Learn about the academic and career benefits of earning your psychology doctorate through one of today’s best online clinical psychology PhD programs.
Want to secure your path toward a future as a clinical psychology researcher or professor? Then a PhD in Clinical Psychology is likely in your future. And that future is bright, as the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 13% increase in demand for clinical psychologists by 2033. But with diverse program options to choose from, how do you know which one is right for you? Let’s start here: Use this guide to explore a quality online clinical psychology PhD program.
Below, you’ll learn about standout online clinical psychology doctoral programs — what they offer academically, how they deliver their content, what they cost (along with the financial aid resources available to help pay for them), the career options awaiting you when you graduate, and a whole lot more.
Read on to pave your way to academic success through one of the today’s top online clinical psychology PhD programs.
Diving into Three Top Clinical Psychology PhD Programs
Below, we’ve spotlighted three online clinical psychology PhD programs. Each program offers a quality, fully accredited education while applying unique academic philosophies, curricula, blends of online and campus-based program components, and student support services. Let these spotlights help you to determine which of today’s online clinical psychology doctoral programs best meets your academic needs and career goals.
Fielding Graduate University
Located in Santa Barbara, California, the private and nonprofit Fielding Graduate University offers a PhD in Clinical Psychology for bachelor’s-degree holders. The curriculum entails three years of coursework (including a practicum experience with a minimum of 150 residency hours) and dissertation work followed by two to three years consisting of 600 residency hours, an internship, and a dissertation. You’ll earn your PhD in five to six years, plus you’ll earn a master’s degree upon completion of the first two years of the model curriculum sequence.
You’ll take coursework primarily online in combination with in-person seminars, regional meetings with faculty and fellow students, weeklong campus-based residential sessions, and in-person clinical training and research experiences. The program offers a generalist PhD in clinical psychology, or you can specialize in one of four areas: Forensic Psychology, Health Psychology, Neuropsychology, or Social Justice and Diversity.
Fielding Graduate University is institutionally accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), and its PhD in Clinical Psychology is programmatically accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA).
Saybrook University
Specialized study and curriculum flexibility are major features of the Online PhD in Clinical Psychology offered by Saybrook University in Pasadena, California. The hybrid program features didactic coursework delivered 100% online, with in-person residential orientations, residential learning experiences, clinical practicums, and internships. Although not required, students can complete one of seven specializations: Advanced Psychological Assessment, Applied Psychophysiology, Complex Trauma and the Healing Process, Consciousness Spirituality Integrative Health, Creativity Studies, Existential and Humanistic Psychology, and Jungian Studies.
The curriculum culminates with the writing and defense of an academic dissertation. The entire program can be completed with five years of full-time study, or students can attend part time.
The program is open to applicants with either a bachelor’s or master’s degree. A degree in psychology or a related discipline is preferred, but non-psychology degree holders will also be considered. Applicants with an MA or MS in in Psychology may be eligible to transfer in up to 15 credits towards elective requirements.
Saybrook University is a private, non-profit institution accredited by the WSCUC, and its online PhD in Clinical Psychology is programmatically accredited by the APA.
Walden University
Private, accredited Walden University offers over 100 online degree and certificate programs, including this blended-format PhD in Clinical Psychology. Curriculum components include required and elective coursework, clinical practicum, blended academic year of residence, internship, and the writing and defense of an academic dissertation.
Didactic coursework is delivered entirely online. However, students are required to attend four-day residencies in terms 2, 5, 8, and 15, as well as four seven-day sessions during the academic year of residence on Walden’s campus in Minneapolis. Program length is five to nine years depending on the student’s study pace.
No formal specializations are available, but students can tailor their studies to focus on a specific area in clinical psychology through their choice of elective courses. The program is designed to prepare graduates to sit for licensure in some states, but students are advised to confirm licensure eligibility in their state prior to enrollment.
Admission requirements include a master’s or bachelor’s degree earned with a 3.0 or higher GPA and submission of a current CV. Three years of academic/professional experience in the psychology field is preferred.
Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) vs. PhD in Clinical Psychology: What’s the Difference?
If you’ve been seriously considering going after your doctoral degree in clinical psychology, then you know that there are two basic clinical psychology doctorate types: the PhD in Clinical Psychology and the Doctor of Psychology (PsyD). Don’t let the similarity of the two titles fool you: While both degree types provide students with highly advanced coursework, there are important differences between the two concerning their general purposes and academic content, as described in the chart below.
| Online PsyD | Online PhD in Clinical Psych | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Prepares graduates for advanced practice and leadership positions in a range of clinical settings | Prepares graduates for positions in advanced research and academia |
| Student Type | Applied practice/career-focused | Academic/research focused |
| Career Goal | Providing counseling services directly to patients; leadership and management positions in consulting and/or healthcare services | Academic research and/or teaching at the postsecondary level |
| Funding | Scholarships, fellowships, loans, etc. | Scholarships, fellowships, and loans; potential for full tuition waivers through a research or teaching assistantship |
| Prerequisites | Master’s or bachelor’s degree in psychology or related discipline; non-psychology majors considered by some programs | Master’s or bachelor’s degree in psychology or related discipline; non-psychology majors considered by some programs |
| Length | 3 to 5 years full-time | 5 to 6 years (or more) full-time |
| Capstone | Clinical project or dissertation | Academic dissertation |
Benefits of Earning a PhD in Clinical Psych
Before diving into any degree program — especially a doctoral program requiring such a major commitment of time and money — it’s important to have a clear understanding of what you can expect to get out of it. That will require you to take a detailed look at your unique personal and financial needs, current professional obligations, and career goals. Once you’ve done that, you can effectively weigh those factors against the benefits of earning a clinical psychology PhD online. Here’s a look at three of the biggest benefits:
Career Advancement
Earning your clinical psychology PhD opens the door to a wide range of career opportunities that are unavailable to psychology professionals without a doctorate. This is due primarily to the fact that a psychology PhD is a foundational requirement for most top-tier positions in advanced research and postsecondary teaching (i.e., professorships). A clinical psychology doctorate is also a non-negotiable requirement for obtaining psychologist licensure in all but one U.S. state.
Higher Pay
Commensurate with your advanced position is higher pay. And if you’re like most online clinical psychology PhD grads, you’ll be enjoying a substantial boost to your bottom line. According to an August 2024 earnings query on Payscale.com, for example, the average annual base salary for clinical psychology PhD holders in the U.S. is $92,000, which is a nearly 44% pay bump over the $64,000 for those who only hold a master’s degree.
Convenience
Earning an online clinical psychology PhD directly translates to study flexibility and convenience. Just consider the time you’ll save by not having to travel daily to and from campus to attend classes, advisor meetings, and other required activities. And those savings increase substantially the greater the distance from your home to your campus.
Accreditation & Online PhDs in Clinical Psychology
Postsecondary accreditation is the process through which colleges and universities — and their degree programs — are determined to meet given standards of academic quality. It’s the way students can be assured that the degree they pursue is worth their time, effort, and hard-earned money. There are two basic forms of postsecondary accreditation to look for during your online clinical psychology PhD program search.
The first is institutional accreditation, which concerns the vetting of the college or university overall. Institutional accreditation of U.S. colleges and universities is administered by a number of national and regional accrediting agencies recognized by the Department of Education.
The second accreditation form, programmatic accreditation, concerns the academic quality of individual degree programs. Programmatic accreditation of doctoral programs in psychology in the U.S., including online programs, is administered by the American Psychological Association. You can check both institutional and programmatic accreditation by using the DOE Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs.
Common Components of Clinical Psych PhD Programs
Below is an overview of the major academic components common to most online clinical psychology doctoral programs. This overview will give you a good idea of what you can expect in terms of the form, process, and progression of your degree studies.
Coursework
The online clinical psychology PhD curriculum begins with foundational and elective coursework aligned with APA standards. Included are courses in core areas of psychology (lifespan developmental psychology, psychopathology, assessment and intervention, and the biological, social, and cognitive/affective aspects of behavior), and research methodology. Coursework in the student’s chosen concentration or specialization (if there is one) is included.
Practicum
The purpose of the clinical practicum is to give the student the opportunity to develop practical competencies in the subjects learned in their foundational coursework. Practicum experiences begin in the second year of studies and are completed under the supervision of doctoral-level clinical psychologists at program-affiliated practice sites most often in the school’s or student’s local community.
Internship
Following successful completion of foundational coursework and practicum, students typically complete a one-year, full-time clinical internship with a psychology services agency approved by the program, APA, or Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers. Most programs require students to pass their preliminary examination and submit their dissertation proposal prior to applying for their internship.
Dissertation/Research
The culminating activity of all online clinical psychology PhD programs is the research, writing, and defense of a doctoral dissertation. While the dissertation process typically begins unofficially at the beginning of the PhD program, it becomes the student’s entire focus once they’ve completed all other program components.
Clinical Psych PhD Online Curriculum
The primary focus of the first two years or so of your clinical psychology PhD studies will be on completing all or most of your required didactic coursework. Below are descriptions of five common courses similar to ones you’ll encounter in your online clinical psychology doctoral program.
Ethical and Legal Standards of Professional Psychological Practice
This course will introduce you to state and federal laws, board of psychology rules, standards of conduct, and professional ethics related to the practice, teaching, and research of clinical psychology. You’ll begin this course with an in-depth study of the ethical decision-making process with an emphasis on practical application. Other common topics include confidentiality, duty to warn, informed consent, competency limitations, dual relationships, record keeping, and mandated reporting.
History and Systems of Psychology
You’ll gain an overview of the history and systems of psychology in this course, beginning with its earliest roots in antiquity and continuing through modern psychological thought and methodology. This is accomplished primarily through an examination of the ideas, developments, and prominent figures that have shaped psychology as an academic discipline. This is often presented as a program capstone course.
Psychopathology
This course offers an in-depth examination of the major categories of psychopathology as presented by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), with particular attention given to the historical perspectives shaping modern psychopathological thought. Students are provided with the knowledge and skills needed to identify and comprehend the biological, cognitive-behavioral, cultural, existential, psychodynamic, and systemic perspectives of mental disorders and their etiologies.
Research Methods
This practical class provides an intensive review of classical and modern psychological research methodology and the implementation of strategies for proposing research, collecting and analyzing data, and the writing of scholarly articles. Topics include, among others: current research objectives and designs; the design of psychotherapy efficacy studies; experimental design validity; experimental and statistical methods of control; identification of clinically significant client changes; norms and standard scores; psychometric validity; scales of measurement; and threats to valid clinical research inferences.
Social Psychology
Coursework covers the study of the social and cognitive processes underlying an individual’s interactions, perceptions of, and influence over others. You’ll critically examine the major theories, methods, and research findings that have shaped the development of the social psychology discipline. Special emphasis is given to the application of theoretical concepts and empirical work to real world social issues and challenges.
Paying for Your Clinical Psychology PhD Program
As the estimated program costs listed in the table below clearly indicate, pursuing your online clinical psychology PhD requires a major financial investment, particularly if you’re entering your program with only a psychology bachelor’s degree. It’s important, therefore, to have a detailed and realistic plan in place for paying for your education (including some or all of the funding resources you’ll need) before you enroll.
The good news is that you’ll have many financial aid resources available, including scholarships and grants, fellowships, employer tuition reimbursement programs, and more. A great place to start your funding search is with the financial aid offices at the schools you’re considering. And be sure to check out Saybrook University, Walden University, and Fielding Graduate University for information on available school-sponsored scholarships and other in-house funding opportunities.
Potential Costs of an Online Clinical Psych PhD
| School | Program | No. of Credits | Est. Tuition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fielding Graduate University | PhD in Clinical Psychology | 179 | $152,700 – $183,240 |
| Saybrook University | Online PhD in Clinical Psychology | 100-109 | $148,700 – $162,083 |
| Walden University | PhD in Clinical Psychology | 163-243 | $102,875 – $147,675 |
Clinical Psych Career Paths
If your psychology career goal is to work as a therapist, counselor, or teacher (at least on a non-postsecondary level), then obtaining a doctoral degree in clinical psychology may not be necessary, and a master’s in psychology may suffice. However, there are many careers that prefer or require a clinical psychology doctorate.
For example, most U.S. states and Canadian provinces require a PsyD or PhD in Clinical Psychology to obtain psychologist licensure (see the FAQs below), which, in turn, is required for private, independent practice. While many online clinical psychology PhD graduates have in mind a career in private practice, a wide variety of other jobs are available for PhD holders, including the five listed in the chart below.
| Job Title | Median Pay | 90th Percentile Pay | Projected Growth (2023-33) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $96,100 | $168,870 | 7% |
| Clinical Neuropsychologist | $117,750 | $157,420 | 7% |
| Industrial-Organizational Psychologist | $147,420 | $219,810 | 7% |
| Psychology Teacher, Postsecondary | $82,140 | $151,890 | 8% |
| School Psychologist | $84,940 | $131,470 | 4% |
Source:O*Net OnLine, 2024; Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024
Clinical Psychology PhD FAQs
Are online Clinical Psychology PhD programs more affordable than in-person programs?
The costs of online doctoral degrees vary substantially from program to program — and for some majors, earning your doctorate online can be surprisingly affordable. When it comes to online clinical psychology doctoral programs today, you’ll likely find that the tuition and fees for those programs are the same or similar to those for campus-based programs.
Generally speaking though, online students typically avoid the expenses related to traveling to and from campus to attend classes. Online students may also avoid the additional substantial costs of relocating to their school’s local community for the duration of their degree studies. However, hybrid students may have to attend on-campus residencies, which can be a significant expense.
How long does it take to earn a Clinical Psychology PhD degree online?
Doctoral degree program lengths also vary substantially between programs depending on factors like academic discipline, credential type (PhD or other doctoral degree), and the student’s chosen study pace (full-time or part-time). You may have even heard that some doctorates can be earned in as little as one year, though that’s not the case with online clinical psychology PhD programs.
What you’ll find is that most students in these programs complete all degree requirements, including their dissertations, in five to six years of full-time study. However, many programs allow up to nine years for completion.
What are some common admission requirements for online Clinical Psychology PhD programs?
Admissions requirements for online clinical psychology programs vary somewhat from program to program, but are still somewhat similar. They include:
- Previously earned bachelor’s or master’s degree: Yes, you can be accepted into a program with only a bachelor’s — at least in most cases. And while a degree in psychology is preferred, most programs will consider applicants with a non-psychology degree on a case-by-case basis.
- Professional experience: This may or may not be required, or may at least be preferred. Check with the program you’re considering for minimum experience requirements.
- GRE scores: GRE scores for admission to many doctoral programs, including clinical psychology PhD programs, are typically no longer required.
- Additional application materials: Other common application submittals include letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose, and current CV. Some applicants will be required to sit for an admissions interview as well.
Whatever the specific requirements for admission, follow them meticulously. They’ll likely be the determining factor in whether you’re accepted into the program you want or not.
Should I opt for a specialization or concentration?
Pursuing a specialization or concentration track in your online clinical psychology doctoral program offers you the opportunity to focus your studies on a specific area within the larger psychology field that you’re particularly passionate about. Just be sure that the subject matter of the specialization coincides with the intended subject of your dissertation and — most importantly — the area of psychology in which you intend to practice.
Resources for Online Clinical Psychology PhD Students
- Academy of Psychological Clinical Science (APCS)
The APCS is a professional alliance of doctoral and internship programs in clinical and health psychology programs in the United States and Canada. Graduate students can access internship and implementation/dissemination training resources, among other helpful offerings. - APA Professional Development Resources
This APA website operates as a landing page for a variety of professional development resources for psychology students and professionals. Included are links to the APA’s catalog of continuing education courses, resources for early career psychologists, and state licensure information. - Psi Chi: The International Honor Society in Psychology
Psi Chi’s mission is to “encourage excellence in scholarship and advance the science of psychology.” Graduate student Psi Chi members have access to a range of useful resources such as a networking events, research and publication opportunities, scholarship and grant opportunities, and more. - Society of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology (SCCAP)
The SCCAP is dedicated to the promotion of training, practice, and public policy for the child and adolescent psychology profession. Visitors to the site can access a wide variety of educational, student, and professional resources. - Society of Clinical Psychology (SCP)
The SCP “promotes the integration of clinical psychological science and practice in education, research, application, advocacy and public policy.” Student member resources include, among many others, networking and mentoring opportunities, free continuing education opportunities, and access to postdoc and job postings via Listserv.