Best Psychology Doctoral and Master’s Programs in 2021

University of Minnesota's graduate psychology school is ranked among the top 10 psychology graduate schools in the country. In fact, U.S. News and World Report ranks the school #9–tied with University of Wisconsin and MIT. The school offers a PhD training program with eight areas of specialization, including counseling psychology, industrial/organizational psychology, and social psychology. Both clinical and counseling psychology programs at University of Minnesota are accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA). Admission is highly competitive since the programs are recognized among the best in the world. General requirements include a bachelor's degree, cumulative GPA above 3.0, 12 semester credits of college-level psychology coursework, and GRE scores.

University of Illinois offers graduate psychology degrees that focus on research and teaching. The master's in psychology (MS) degree is awarded as an intermediate degree to PhD candidates who have successfully completed 32 hours of graduate work, including a thesis. The PhD program offers areas of specialization and requires at least 96 hours of graduate work. Admission is highly competitive and requires GRE scores, transcripts, and letters of recommendation. University of Illinois is a top-ranked research institution. Also, U.S. News and World Report ranks University of Illinois' graduate psychology school as the 7th best in the nation–tied only with Princeton University.

Pennsylvania State University's Department of Psychology offers several undergraduate and graduate programs, including the master's of professional studies in psychology and leadership and five PhD tracks. There are over 40 faculty committed to providing graduate students with mentorship, supervision, and research direction. Five PhD programs include clinical (adult and child psychology), cognitive, developmental, industrial-organizational, and social psychology. Admission to any of the psychology programs is competitive. Requirements include GRE scores, transcripts, letters of recommendation, and a showcase of research capability that may take the form of papers or theses. Penn State is ranked by U.S. News and World Report as having the 30th best graduate psychology school in the country.

The University of Michigan's psychology department offers a Phd. program with six focus areas: biopsychology, clinical science, cognition and cognitive neuroscience, developmental psychology, personality and social contexts, and social psychology. Graduate students in clinical science build skills to promote well-being and reduce mental illness. As an applied science, the psychology program emphasizes empirical research, evidence-based clinical practice, teaching, and individual and group distinctiveness. Physiology graduate students investigate the connection between behavior and biology, including brain and behavior relationships and the evolution of behavior. The psychology program also encourages interdisciplinarity between the focus areas and other Michigan departments.

Cornell admits Ph.D. candidates in psychology who work in interdisciplinary fields. The graduate field of psychology includes faculty working in human development, neurobiology and behavior, industrial and labor relations, and nutritional science. Graduate students participate in the department's research initiatives, including work in behavioral and evolutionary neuroscience; perception, cognition, and development; and social and personality. The program does not offer clinical psychology as a field, nor does it admit candidates seeking a terminal master's in psychology. Applicants do not need an undergraduate psychology major to gain admission to the Ph.D. program.

Penn's graduate program in psychology blends research and scholarship, with incoming students spending their first year learning about areas of psychology before choosing a subfield. Penn offers a clinical training program for graduate students interested in research or academic careers in clinical psychology, psychopathology, or personality. The graduate group in psychology offers several Ph.D. options, but does not have a stand along master's in psychology program. However, students who complete the first year program plus eight credits and a master's thesis or research paper can apply for a master's degree. The program's two main focus areas include brain, cognitive, and decision science and clinical, positive, and social psychology.

Yale University's Department of Psychology organizes itself into five programs of study: clinical psychology, cognitive psychology, developmental psychology, neuroscience, and social and personality psychology. The graduate program enrolls approximately 15 new PhD students each year. When applying, students indicate one of the five areas of concentration and, if admitted, are placed into this "home" lab to work with faculty and colleagues. It is possible for students to work with others outside of the "home" lab and participate in more than one concentration. Yale University is ranked by U.S. News and World Report as a best national institution. Also, the graduate psychology schools rank #4 in the country–tied with Harvard and University of Michigan.

New York University's Department of Psychology ranks in the top 30 for best graduate psychology schools by U.S. News and World Report. This ranking reflects the school's reputation for offering quality content and rigorous academic programs. Master's and doctoral programs are available and admission can be competitive. All applicants must hold a bachelor's degree and demonstrate intellectual curiosity, motivation, and the promise of scholarly achievement. Students may earn a master's in general psychology or master's in industrial organizational psychology. Two PhD programs are also available, including cognition and perception and social and personality.

With a 30-year award-winning faculty and national rankings by major publications like U.S. News and World Report, Carnegie Mellon University offers a top-notch psychology graduate program that provides rigorous and research-backed curriculum. Graduate studies include an intense and challenging training program that leads to a Ph.D. degree. Admission to the program is highly competitive. Approximately ten out of 120 applications are admitted each year. GRE scores are required and generally range from 149-170 in quantitative and 158-170 in verbal components. Carnegie Mellon is a nationally ranked institution by major publications like U.S. News. The graduate psychology school ranks #21 in the country–tied with other schools like Duke University and University of Chicago.

The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at Harvard University offers a PhD program with two tracks of study. Students may follow one of the study tracks. The common curriculum is the first track, which includes several areas of focus, including behavioral neuroscience, cognitive neuroscience, cognitive psychology, perception, and social psychology. The second track is clinical science. While there is no terminal master's in psychology degree, students may earn their master's while pursuing a doctorate. Four areas of specialty are available so that students may tailor their degree for research interests and career goals. Harvard is ranked #4 by U.S. News and World Report as having the best graduate psychology school in the country–tied with University of Michigan and Yale University.

Like many of the top-ranked schools on our list, Columbia University's PhD psychology programs offer master's degrees on the path towards the doctorate. Also, the Teachers Colleges of Columbia offers master's degree programs in school psychology and counseling. Admission is highly selective to all programs. GRE scores, letters of recommendation, and complete application packages are required. Columbia is a highly ranked research institution that is recognized by all major publications like Forbes and U.S. News and World Report. The graduate school of psychology ranks #14 in the nation–tied with other schools like Cornell, Northwestern, UCLA, and Washington University, to name a few.

Princeton offers a Phd. in psychology with specializations in areas such as development psychology, perception and cognition, the psychology of inequality, and social psychology. Graduate students can also pursue an interdisciplinary degree combining psychology with neuroscience or social policy. The program's training includes courses in design and interpretation of social psychological research and research seminars in cognitive psychology, which emphasize research skills and scholarly knowledge in the field. Applicants must hold an undergraduate degree in psychology or a related field such as cognitive science, neuroscience, or linguistics, and successful applicants often hold a master's in psychology or undergraduate research experience.

Stanford University is one of the top research institutions in the world, characteristically ranked among the top five national universities by all major publications like Forbes magazine and U.S. News and World Report. Also, the psychology graduate school is ranked #1 in the most recent edition of Best Grad Schools. Academic programs include the PhD in Psychology, which allows students to earn a master's on their way to earning a doctoral degree. There is no terminal master's in psychology degree, but a co-terminal program. Five specialty areas include affective science, cognitive, developmental, neuroscience, and social psychology. Admission is highly selective and requires GRE scores, letters of recommendation, and a statement of purpose among other documentation.

The Department of Psychology and Brain Sciences at Washington University groups its doctoral students in four specializations: aging and development; behavior, brain, and cognition; clinical psychology; and social and personality psychology. Incoming students gain exposure to all areas through early coursework and research, and then choose a focus area. The program also offers research strength in diversity science, which investigates underrepresented and understudied populations. Doctoral students in the clinical science training program build skills in both clinical science and practice, with many students choosing to become practitioners after completing their degree. Applicants to the Ph.D. program do not need a master's in psychology to gain admission.

Duke University's Department of Psychology and Neuroscience offers five graduate training areas in clinical psychology, cognition, developmental psychology, social psychology, and systems and integrative neuroscience. For those interested in a master's in psychology, the doctoral-level psychology programs allow students to earn a master's while pursuing their PhD. There is no terminal master's in psychology degree offered by Duke. Duke University is ranked by all major publications. In fact, U.S. News and World Report ranks the school as the 8th best national university in the country. Also, Duke ranks #21 among the best graduate psychology schools in the country–tied with Carnegie Mellon, Ohio State, and University of Chicago.