Top 25 Doctoral Programs in Psychology in 2021

If size is what you're after, the University of California at San Diego is worth considering. Since the late 1960s, the Department of Psychology has awarded nearly 370 PhDs and currently hosts more than 60 graduate students in the discipline. The university itself is rather young, but it has quickly grown into a "very high activity" research institution that draws some of the brightest minds – students and faculty alike. In fact, three psychology professors at UCSD make Reuter's list of the "highly cited"; Hagop Akiskal, Kristin Cadenhead, and Murray Stein (these professors are all officially part of the university's Department of Psychiatry, but depending on your specialty you might still enjoy research opportunities with them!).

The University of California Santa Barbara, or UCSB, is unquestionably one of the best PhD programs in psychology. The "very high research activity" institution has a top-ranked psychology department that features four primary specializations: Social Psychology; Developmental and Evolutionary Psychology; Neuroscience and Behavior; and Cognition, Perception, and Cognitive Neuroscience. The program finds an equitable balance between size and stature; the large department supports a full range of classes, seminars, and research options, but the 70 or so graduate students who are admitted have access to nearly 30 experienced faculty members – ensuring a close-knit community of supportive peers and a not-so-overwhelming academic experience.

More than simply offering various concentrations in psychology, the University of Central Florida offers three distinct doctoral programs in psychology accredited by the APA. Degrees in Clinical Psychology, Applied Experimental/Human Factors Psychology, and Industrial/Organizational Psychology take a hands-on, practical approach to the study of human behavior. Graduates are attracted to UCF for the opportunity to apply theory to the goals of improving the workplace, designing better products, and enhancing consumers' everyday experiences. Graduate-level research supports these topics and more, and on-campus clinics such as the Psychophysiology of Mental Illness Laboratory, the Understanding Children and Family Laboratory, and the Substance Use Research Group.

Even before making this list, the University of Connecticut had plenty to brag about when it comes to psychology. The school is one of the top public universities in the nation and its Department of Psychology typically places in the top 10 for U.S. grant funding. What's more, its doctorate in psychology is ranked in the top 30 nationwide out of all public schools, according to the National Research Council. This "very high research activity" university maintains its reputable status by tempting students with a wide range of emphasis options, including Neuroscience; Language and Cognition; Behavioral Neuroscience; Industrial and Organizational Psychology; and Developmental, Clinical, Social, and even Ecological Psychology.

The Department of Psychology at the University of Florida is composed of numerous moving parts – to the benefit of graduate students. The first step is to choose between tracks in Counseling Psychology or General Psychology, the latter of which includes specializations in Neurobehavioral and Cognitive Sciences, Behavioral Analysis, Developmental Psychology, and Social Psychology. And as far as affordability goes, UF does plenty to lift up its students; first-years generally receive full tuition waivers and stipends, and most students receive additional funding for five years of study! It's also worth mentioning that Counseling Psychology students follow an accredited program that can help them earn licensure in the state.

This APA-accredited program invites graduate-level learners to study under some of the best minds in psychology (including James Gold and Robert Buchanan, both highly cited professors in psychiatry). Specialty areas include Cognitive and Neural Systems; Counseling; Clinical and Developmental Psychology; and Social, Decision, and Organizational Science. The latter option, which is a less common among the typical selection of psychological specialties, invites students to explore how individuals make decisions, process information about themselves and others, and manage relationships in a variety of contexts. A very high level research university, UMD supports on-campus clinics in both Clinical and Counseling subspecialties, where students can conduct research and offer low-cost counseling to local adults in need.

Doctoral students at the University of Memphis have their choice between psychology programs in Clinical, Experimental, and School Psychology. Within these programs, graduate-level learners at U of M can pursue research specialties in Psychotherapy Research, Child and Family Studies, Clinical Health or Cognitive Psychology, or Behavioral Neuroscience. Speaking of research, the university also promotes several interdisciplinary opportunities on campus, and students can seek collaborations with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Methodist/Le Bonheur Healthcare, or the local public schools. Graduate students also enjoy four years of assistantship funding, designated office space, travel funds for visits to conferences, and access to more than 30 full-time, experienced faculty members.

At the University of Miami, psychology students organize them into three primary areas of interest, based on their interests and the population with which they most wish to work: Adult, Children, and Health. Within each of these tracks, students can choose between the clinical or non-clinical track, opting for sub-emphases in areas like Developmental Psychology or Behavioral Neuroscience (non-clinical) or Child/Family or Pediatric Health (clinical). The University of Miami is also unique in its unparalleled support of students; 80% are women and 30% are minorities, and all receive assistance in the

The University of Michigan is a top school in myriad disciplines, and it has one of the best PhD programs in psychology in the region. If you can brave the cold winters of Ann Arbor, U of M is deserving of a closer look! It might be one of the more expensive schools in this selection, but the department does plenty to justify this extra cost. Six focused areas of in the field – Biopsychology, Social Psychology, Clinical Science, Developmental Psychology, Cognition and Cognitive Neuroscience, and Personality and Social Contexts – form the basis of Michigan's degree plan. Top researchers and professors (including Patricia Berglund, a "highly cited" research associate who focuses on data analysis) are on hand to help graduate students get the most of their time on campus.

Travel to the Twin Cities (Minneapolis and St. Paul) for a chance to study with some of the most passionate psychology students in the country. Minnesota's program is intentionally broad and looks to couple big picture knowledge with advanced training in targeted disciplines. As such, students can choose between concentrations that range from Biological Psychopathology to Quantitative/Psychometric Methods. The school also offers a program in Educational Psychology, which is available through the College of Education & Human Development. Eager students also jump at two training opportunities in clinical and counseling psychology (both required) and complete a yearlong internship at an accredited site in the city. Those who make it through this accredited PhD program in psychology reap the rewards by earning licensure status as either a clinical or counseling psychologist.

The University of New Mexico's graduate program in psychology is both diverse and comprehensive, offering students a wide range of specialties and research interests. Graduate students can concentrate in Evolution, Health, Clinical, Developmental, or Cognitive Psychology and choose between emphases in Health and Quantitative Psychology (optional). As far as research goes, eminent professors are active in fields such as cross-cultural and community psychology, psychotherapy, and neuropathology, and are available to guide students on their way to an impactful dissertation. UNM has a "very high research activity" classification from Carnegie and is home to the "highly cited" professor Mauricio Tohen. Dr. Tohen holds MBA, MPH, and MD degrees, and PhDs in Epidemiology and Psychology!

It can be easy to see research as a passive field, full of "thinkers" more than "doers," but UNC encourages its psychology students to be "active contributors" to the areas they love most. Students can specialize in Social Psychology, Behavioral Neuroscience, or Cognitive, Clinical, Developmental, or Quantitative Psychology. The program is selective, to say the least; applicants must have at least a 3.0 undergraduate GPA and demonstrate substantial talent to qualify for acceptance to the University of North Carolina. Once admitted to this doctorate in psychology program, students can dive right into course offerings that explore cognitive neuroscience, social development, the human memory, and more.

Courses in Clinical Psychopharmacology, Functional Neuroanatomy, Learning and Memory, and Behavioral Neuroendicronology from the basis of the PhD program in Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin. UT Austin stands apart for the wealth of "areas of study" on offer, which include eight different specializations: Perception, Brain, and Behavior; Cognitive Science; Developmental Psychology; Clinical Psychology; Behavioral Neuroscience; Social and Personality Psychology; Cognitive Neuroscience; and Individual Differences and Evolutionary Psychology. What's more, the university provides a fascinating track in Neuroimaging, which focuses on the cutting-edge methods of brain imaging and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) that make many psychological studies possible.

The University of Virginia offers not four, not five, but seven different areas of specialization for curious psychology students: Social, Clinical, Community, Cognitive, Developmental, and Quantitative Psychology, as well as Sensory and Systems Neuroscience. Although students must officially apply to one of the seven concentrations, UVA offers significant flexibility for members of the graduate program to explore multiple areas of interest and even combine specialties. Applicants to top psychology PhD programs often consider the faculty with whom they will be working, and at UVA Brian Nosek is a top draw. A "highly cited" researcher in psychology, Dr. Nosek is an expert in social cognition and behavior – and he gets impressively high ratings as an instructor as well!

As an institution, Yale University stands out for its rigorous academics and impressive commitment to quality teachings. Its accredited doctoral program in psychology upholds these traditional standards by offering top-notch learning opportunities to graduate learners in five essential areas – Neuroscience or Social/Personality, Cognitive, Developmental, or Clinical Psychology. The "very high activity" research institution challenges students to secure both a broad and deep understanding of their specialty and to "shop around" to find the perfect advisor for their interests. Currently, one of the most active researchers on campus is Dr. Tyrone Cannon, a professor who specializes in "disturbances of perception, belief, motivation, and emotional processing in people with mental illness."