Best Clinical Psychology Schools by Graduate Salary & ROI (2026)

59 schools ranked by DegreeOutlook Score · Updated 2026

These are the top schools offering Clinical Psychology, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score. The score combines graduate earnings, AI automation resilience, job market demand, and return on tuition investment. The average Clinical Psychology graduate earns $33,816/yr across 59 schools.

What do Clinical Psychology graduates do? See career paths and salaries →

Why a CUNY School in NYC Is #1

CUNY Bernard M. Baruch College tops the list by combining elite outcomes with a public-school price. Its Manhattan location provides direct access to corporate headquarters, creating a powerful pipeline into high-paying HR and management analyst roles—reflected in its chart-topping $57,204/yr average earnings. Unlike pricey private schools, Baruch's low tuition results in a massive 17.5x ROI, making it the highest-value path to a lucrative corporate psychology career.

The For-Profit Surprise: Why Phoenix Ranks in the Top 10

Seeing the University of Phoenix-Arizona at #10 might seem odd, but it reflects a specific strength. For-profit schools are built for working adults, with flexible programs focused on immediate career application. While lacking the prestige of traditional universities, Phoenix delivers a respectable $41,118/yr in graduate earnings. This ranking isn't about reputation; it's a data-driven acknowledgment that for a non-traditional student, the program provides a quantifiable and competitive financial return.

Public Schools Offer the Clearest Path to High ROI

The data reveals a stark divide in value: public schools dominate. Programs like CUNY Baruch (#1, 17.5x ROI), CSU-San Bernardino (#7, 12.1x ROI), and Clayton State (#19, 21.4x ROI) offer exceptional returns by pairing solid earnings with low tuition. In contrast, many private schools present a riskier bet. For example, Embry-Riddle (#2) graduates earn a strong salary but face a 3.8x ROI due to a $168,816 tuition bill, demonstrating that a high price tag doesn't guarantee a better financial outcome.

AI Won't Take Your Job—It Will Change It

The 48% AI task exposure for this field isn't a threat; it’s a re-focusing of your skills. AI is poised to automate the grunt work—screening resumes, running basic data analysis, and scheduling. This frees you to concentrate on the high-value, uniquely human work that algorithms can't touch: mediating complex employee disputes, coaching executives, and using your psychological insight to shape company culture. Your career will depend less on administrative tasks and more on strategic human judgment.

Programs Ranked
59
Avg Earnings
$33,816/yr
Avg DW Score
44/100
AI Risk
High
48% task exposure

All Clinical Psychology Programs Ranked

Click any row for full AI scenario analysis, earnings projections, and career path breakdown.

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

Scores calculated using College Scorecard, BLS, and AI task-exposure data. See full methodology →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for Clinical Psychology?
Based on our DegreeOutlook Score, CUNY Bernard M Baruch College ranks #1 for Clinical Psychology with a score of 71/100 and graduate earnings of $57,204/yr.
How much do Clinical Psychology graduates earn?
Across 59 schools, Clinical Psychology graduates earn an average of $33,816/yr in their first year. The highest-earning program reports $57,204/yr.
Is Clinical Psychology a good major for AI resistance?
Clinical Psychology has an average AI task exposure of 48%, rated "High". This field has moderate AI exposure — some career paths are more resilient than others.

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