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Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology Degree

59 schools compared · Average earnings $33,816/yr

Students study psychological assessment, therapeutic techniques, counseling methods, and the application of psychological science to treat mental health disorders and improve wellbeing. Graduates typically pursue careers in counseling centers, mental health clinics, rehabilitation facilities, school psychology, and substance abuse treatment, typically after completing a master's or doctoral degree. The growing demand for mental health services is driving strong career prospects for clinical and counseling psychologists.

What Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology Graduates Do

You'll find that understanding human motivation is a powerful asset far beyond a therapist's office. Many graduates launch careers in corporate settings, initially as human resources specialists mediating employee conflicts or as training specialists designing leadership workshops. From there, you might become a management analyst, interviewing teams and analyzing data to help companies solve complex operational problems. The path often leads to senior roles like HR manager, guiding organizational strategy and overseeing entire departments.

While roles in training and specialized counseling are seeing rapid growth, be prepared for technology to reshape your workday. AI will increasingly handle routine tasks like screening resumes or initial data analysis. This shifts your focus toward the complex human element: coaching executives, navigating sensitive workplace issues, and making strategic judgment calls that algorithms can’t. Your success will hinge less on administrative skill and more on your ability to adapt and apply psychological insight in a tech-assisted world.

Schools Offering

Avg Grad Earnings

$33,816/yr

Avg DegreeOutlook Score

44/100

AI Automation Risk

High

48% task exposure

Common Career Paths

Where Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology graduates typically work, ranked by salary. Salary ranges show 25th–75th percentile spread. This field has roughly 449,300 combined openings per year.

Career Path	Salary Range	Openings/yr	Growth	AI Risk
Human resources managers	$140,030 $106K$190K	17,900	+5.0%	48%
Managers, all other	$136,550 $100K$179K	106,700	+4.5%	47%
Training and development managers	$127,090 $96K$169K	3,800	+5.8%	50%
Psychologists, all other	$117,580 $74K$145K	3,900	+4.3%	44%
Industrial-organizational psychologists	$109,840 $81K$198K	400	+6.3%	49%
Management analysts	$101,190 $77K$133K	98,100	+8.8%	40%
Clinical and counseling psychologists	$95,830 $67K$132K	4,800	+11.2%	37%
School psychologists	$86,930 $73K$108K	3,800	+0.7%	39%
Psychology teachers, postsecondary	$80,330 $62K$107K	4,000	+3.6%	48%
Human resources specialists	$72,910 $56K$97K	81,800	+6.2%	64%
Training and development specialists	$65,850 $49K$92K	43,900	+10.8%	55%
Educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors	$65,140 $52K$83K	31,000	+3.5%	29%
Counselors, all other	$49,830 $43K$67K	7,400	+12.6%	0%
Coaches and scouts	$45,920 $34K$62K	41,800	+6.4%	30%

Human resources managers

$140,030

$106K $190K

17,900 openings/yr +5.0% growth 48% AI risk

Managers, all other

$136,550

$100K $179K

106,700 openings/yr +4.5% growth 47% AI risk

Training and development managers

$127,090

$96K $169K

3,800 openings/yr +5.8% growth 50% AI risk

Psychologists, all other

$117,580

$74K $145K

3,900 openings/yr +4.3% growth 44% AI risk

Industrial-organizational psychologists

$109,840

$81K $198K

400 openings/yr +6.3% growth 49% AI risk

Management analysts

$101,190

$77K $133K

98,100 openings/yr +8.8% growth 40% AI risk

Clinical and counseling psychologists

$95,830

$67K $132K

4,800 openings/yr +11.2% growth 37% AI risk

School psychologists

$86,930

$73K $108K

3,800 openings/yr +0.7% growth 39% AI risk

Psychology teachers, postsecondary

$80,330

$62K $107K

4,000 openings/yr +3.6% growth 48% AI risk

Human resources specialists

$72,910

$56K $97K

81,800 openings/yr +6.2% growth 64% AI risk

Training and development specialists

$65,850

$49K $92K

43,900 openings/yr +10.8% growth 55% AI risk

Educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors

$65,140

$52K $83K

31,000 openings/yr +3.5% growth 29% AI risk

Counselors, all other

$49,830

$43K $67K

7,400 openings/yr +12.6% growth 0% AI risk

Coaches and scouts

$45,920

$34K $62K

41,800 openings/yr +6.4% growth 30% AI risk

Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. Salary range shows 25th–median–75th percentile (national).

Best Schools for Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology

Top 20 of 59 schools ranked by DegreeOutlook Score. Click any row for full AI scenario analysis and earnings projections.

#	School	DW Score	Earnings	ROI
1	CUNY Bernard M Baruch College New York, NY	71 67–71	$57,204/yr	17.5x
2	Saint Cloud State University Saint Cloud, MN	58 55–58	$42,406/yr	11.3x
3	Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott Prescott, AZ	58 55–58	$41,456/yr	3.8x
4	Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach Daytona Beach, FL	58 55–58	$41,456/yr	3.8x
5	CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice New York, NY	58 59–59	$35,656/yr	17.5x
6	Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro, TN	58 59–59	$35,159/yr	15.0x
7	California State University-San Bernardino San Bernardino, CA	56 54–56	$40,316/yr	12.1x
8	Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global Marion, IN	55 54–56	$40,706/yr	11.4x
9	Franklin University Columbus, OH	55 54–56	$39,387/yr	11.7x
10	University of Phoenix-Arizona Phoenix, AZ	54 52–55	$41,118/yr	9.8x
11	Albright College Reading, PA	53 49–53	$48,838/yr	3.5x
12	Los Angeles Pacific University San Dimas, CA	53 51–53	$41,803/yr	7.7x
13	SUNY College of Technology at Canton Canton, NY	52 52–53	$36,254/yr	12.4x
14	University of North Texas Denton, TX	51 53–52	$32,553/yr	11.6x
15	University of Phoenix-Texas Dallas, TX	50 48–51	$41,118/yr	—
16	University of Washington-Seattle Campus Seattle, WA	49 50–50	$33,192/yr	9.7x
17	University of Washington-Bothell Campus Bothell, WA	49 50–50	$33,192/yr	9.8x
18	California State University-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA	49 51–50	$29,457/yr	16.9x
19	Clayton State University Morrow, GA	48 50–49	$27,532/yr	21.4x
20	Emmanuel College Boston, MA	47 45–47	$41,522/yr	2.2x
21	Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion Marion, IN	47 45–48	$40,706/yr	2.3x
22	Pace University New York, NY	47 46–48	$40,671/yr	2.2x
23	Purdue University Global West Lafayette, IN	47 47–47	$35,086/yr	7.7x
24	Wayne State College Wayne, NE	47 47–48	$35,028/yr	11.2x
25	Florida Institute of Technology-Online Melbourne, FL	47 48–48	$34,506/yr	9.0x
26	Farmingdale State College Farmingdale, NY	47 49–48	$28,904/yr	13.6x
27	Boston College Chestnut Hill, MA	46 44–47	$42,384/yr	1.5x
28	University of California-San Diego La Jolla, CA	46 48–47	$26,953/yr	9.4x
29	Tiffin University Tiffin, OH	45 44–46	$38,989/yr	2.0x
30	Thomas Jefferson University Philadelphia, PA	44 42–45	$43,964/yr	1.7x
31	University of Chicago Chicago, IL	44 43–45	$39,808/yr	0.5x
32	Christian Brothers University Memphis, TN	44 43–45	$38,554/yr	1.6x
33	SUNY Morrisville Morrisville, NY	44 45–44	$31,903/yr	8.1x
34	Lesley University Cambridge, MA	43 42–44	$38,404/yr	2.8x
35	University of Michigan-Flint Flint, MI	42 44–43	$28,348/yr	8.3x
36	Western Michigan University Kalamazoo, MI	42 44–43	$28,007/yr	7.8x
37	Thomas College Waterville, ME	41 41–42	$35,065/yr	1.8x
38	Oregon Institute of Technology Klamath Falls, OR	41 42–42	$26,591/yr	8.9x
39	Champlain College Burlington, VT	40 39–41	$39,258/yr	1.5x
40	Tufts University Medford, MA	40 40–41	$35,806/yr	0.3x
41	University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Belton, TX	38 39–39	$33,805/yr	2.8x
42	Gardner-Webb University Boiling Springs, NC	37 37–37	$34,491/yr	2.2x
43	The College of Saint Rose Albany, NY	37 38–37	$32,008/yr	2.5x
44	University at Albany Albany, NY	37 39–38	$26,245/yr	5.3x
45	Florida Institute of Technology Melbourne, FL	36 37–37	$34,506/yr	1.7x
46	Augsburg University Minneapolis, MN	36 37–37	$31,211/yr	0.8x
47	Clarks Summit University Clarks Summit, PA	36 38–37	$30,956/yr	1.4x
48	Mississippi State University Mississippi State, MS	36 38–37	$27,841/yr	8.2x
49	Oklahoma Baptist University Shawnee, OK	35 37–36	$29,879/yr	1.2x
50	University of Maine Orono, ME	35 36–36	$23,828/yr	3.7x
51	Delaware Valley University Doylestown, PA	34 36–35	$29,383/yr	0.7x
52	Belhaven University Jackson, MS	34 36–35	$28,316/yr	1.4x
53	University of Puerto Rico at Ponce Ponce, PR	34 32–34	$12,349/yr	9.8x
54	Faulkner University Montgomery, AL	33 35–34	$26,988/yr	1.8x
55	University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo Arecibo, PR	33 31–33	$6,023/yr	8.7x
56	Keystone College La Plume, PA	32 34–33	$25,974/yr	4.4x
57	Johnson & Wales University-Providence Providence, RI	31 33–32	$29,314/yr	2.0x
58	Mount Saint Mary's University Los Angeles, CA	31 31–31	$21,473/yr	2.1x
59	Toccoa Falls College Toccoa Falls, GA	29 29–30	$21,319/yr	3.0x

Highest Earning Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology Programs

Schools where Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology graduates earn the most in their first year after graduation.

School	1-Year Earnings	DW Score
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College	$57,204/yr	71
Albright College	$48,838/yr	53
Thomas Jefferson University	$43,964/yr	44
Saint Cloud State University	$42,406/yr	58
Boston College	$42,384/yr	46
Los Angeles Pacific University	$41,803/yr	53
Emmanuel College	$41,522/yr	47
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott	$41,456/yr	58
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach	$41,456/yr	58
University of Phoenix-Arizona	$41,118/yr	54

Best ROI for Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology

Schools with the highest earnings-to-tuition ratio for Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology.

School	ROI Multiple	Earnings	DW Score
Clayton State University	21.4x	$27,532/yr	48
CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice	17.5x	$35,656/yr	58
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College	17.5x	$57,204/yr	71
California State University-Los Angeles	16.9x	$29,457/yr	49
Middle Tennessee State University	15.0x	$35,159/yr	58
Farmingdale State College	13.6x	$28,904/yr	47
SUNY College of Technology at Canton	12.4x	$36,254/yr	52
California State University-San Bernardino	12.1x	$40,316/yr	56
Franklin University	11.7x	$39,387/yr	55
University of North Texas	11.6x	$32,553/yr	51

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Consider the Trade Route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology graduates earn?

Across 59 schools, Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology graduates earn an average of $33,816 per year in their first year after graduation. Earnings range from $6,023 to $57,204 depending on the school.

What is the AI automation risk for Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology?

Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology is rated "High" for AI automation risk, with an average of 48% of job tasks exposed to large language models and AI tools. This means some career tasks in this field could be augmented or replaced by AI over the next decade.

Which school has the best Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology program?

Based on our DegreeOutlook Score (combining earnings, AI resilience, job market size, and ROI), CUNY Bernard M Baruch College ranks #1 for Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology with a score of 71/100 and graduate earnings of $57,204/yr.

What's the outlook for a Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology degree?

On average, Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology graduates earn 6.5x their in-state tuition over 10 years. This is a moderate return — school choice matters significantly.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →