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2022 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Clinical Psychology in California

18 Ranked Colleges
707 Degrees Awarded
$23,500 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Clinical Psychology Schools for a Doctorate in California

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Clinical Psychology Schools for a Doctorate in California” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

Clinical Psychology is the 140th most popular major in the country with 5,082 degrees awarded in 2019-2020.

Across California, there were 1,677 clinical psychology graduates with average earnings and debt of $0 and $0 respectively. At the doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 707 clinical psychology graduates with average earnings and debt of $71,544 and $133,402 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Clinical Psychology Schools for a Doctorate in California” ranking analyzed 18 colleges that offered a degree in clinical psychology. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent clinical psychology programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the clinical psychology program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

More Ways to Rank Clinical Psychology Schools

When choosing the right school for you, it’s important to arm yourself with all the facts you can. To that end, we’ve created a number of major-specific rankings, including this “Best Value Clinical Psychology Schools for a Doctorate in California” list to help you make the college decision.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you. Test it out by comparing your favorite schools against others you are considering, or bookmark the tool so you can experiment with it later.

Best Value Clinical Psychology Schools for a Doctorate in California

The colleges and universities below are the best for california doctor’s degree clinical psychology students.

Top 20 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Clinical Psychology in California

#1

Fielding Graduate University

Santa Barbara, California
#2 in overall quality

Out of the 18 schools in the Best Value Clinical Psychology Schools for a Doctorate in California that were part of this year’s ranking, Fielding Graduate University landed the #1 spot on the list. Located in Santa Barbara, California, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 37 diplomas to qualified doctorate’s clinical psychology students in 2019-2020.

Fielding did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #2 on our “Best Clinical Psychology Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Fielding Graduate University are $17,296, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Clinical Psychology at Fielding

#2

Biola University

La Mirada, California
#10 in overall quality

Out of the 18 schools in the Best Value Clinical Psychology Schools for a Doctorate in California that were part of this year’s ranking, Biola University landed the #2 spot on the list. Biola is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in La Mirada, California. It awarded 17 doctorate’s clinical psychology degrees in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Biola, the school also landed the #10 spot in our “Best Clinical Psychology Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Biola University are $11,772, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Clinical Psychology at Biola

#7 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of California - San Diego. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Clinical Psychology Schools for a Doctorate in California. UCSD is a large school located in La Jolla, California that handed out 12 doctorate’s clinical psychology degrees in 2019-2020.

UCSD did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #7 on our “Best Clinical Psychology Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UCSD are $28,631, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full UCSD Clinical Psychology Report

#4

San Diego State University

San Diego, California
#13 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend San Diego State University. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Clinical Psychology Schools for a Doctorate in California list. SDSU is a public institution located in San Diego, California. The school has a large population, and it awarded 12 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.

SDSU also took the #13 spot in our “Best Clinical Psychology Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at San Diego State University are $18,658, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about Clinical Psychology at SDSU

#5

California Institute of Integral Studies

San Francisco, California
#9 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend California Institute of Integral Studies. The school came in at #5 for the Best Value Clinical Psychology Schools for a Doctorate in California. California Institute of Integral Studies is a private not-for-profit institution located in San Francisco, California. The school has a small population, and it awarded 12 doctorate’s degrees in 2019-2020.

CIIS did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #9 on our “Best Clinical Psychology Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at California Institute of Integral Studies are $22,188, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full California Institute of Integral Studies Clinical Psychology Report

#8 in overall quality

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Irvine ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Clinical Psychology Schools for a Doctorate in California list. Irvine, California is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate’s clinical psychology degrees to 41 students in 2019-2020.

The Chicago School Irvine Campus not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #8 on our “Best Clinical Psychology Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at The Chicago School Irvine Campus are $23,576, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Clinical Psychology at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Irvine

#8

University of La Verne

La Verne, California
#17 in overall quality

University of La Verne ranked #8 on this year’s Best Value Clinical Psychology Schools for a Doctorate in California list. La Verne, California is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate’s clinical psychology degrees to 2 students in 2019-2020.

ULV also made our “Best Clinical Psychology Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” list, coming in at #17. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of La Verne are $14,526, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Clinical Psychology at ULV

#8

Palo Alto University

Palo Alto, California
#1 in overall quality

Palo Alto University landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Clinical Psychology Schools for a Doctorate in California ranking. Pacific Graduate School of Psychology is a small school located in Palo Alto, California that handed out 107 doctorate’s clinical psychology degrees in 2019-2020.

Pacific Graduate School of Psychology did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Clinical Psychology Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Pacific Graduate School of Psychology are $32,341, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Clinical Psychology at Palo Alto University

#9

Alliant International University

San Diego, California
#4 in overall quality

Alliant International University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Clinical Psychology Schools for a Doctorate in California ranking. This small school is located in San Diego, California, and it awarded 207 doctorate’s clinical psychology degrees in 2019-2020.

Alliant also took the #4 spot in our “Best Clinical Psychology Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Alliant are $24,615.

Full Alliant Clinical Psychology Report

#3 in overall quality

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Los Angeles landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Clinical Psychology Schools for a Doctorate in California ranking. This small school is located in Los Angeles, California, and it awarded 34 doctorate’s clinical psychology degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california doctor’s degree clinical psychology students list, The Chicago School Los Angeles Campus has also earned the #3 rank in our “Best Clinical Psychology Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Los Angeles are $23,576.

Read more about Clinical Psychology at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Los Angeles

#12

California Lutheran University

Thousand Oaks, California
#15 in overall quality

California Lutheran University landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Clinical Psychology Schools for a Doctorate in California ranking. CLU is a small school located in Thousand Oaks, California that handed out 12 doctorate’s clinical psychology degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california doctor’s degree clinical psychology students list, CLU has also earned the #15 rank in our “Best Clinical Psychology Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at CLU are $20,600.

Read full report on Clinical Psychology at California Lutheran University

#13

Loma Linda University

Loma Linda, California
#12 in overall quality

Loma Linda University ranked #13 on this year’s Best Value Clinical Psychology Schools for a Doctorate in California list. Loma Linda University is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Loma Linda, California. It awarded 10 doctorate’s clinical psychology degrees in 2019-2020.

Loma Linda University also took the #12 spot in our “Best Clinical Psychology Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Loma Linda University are $30,640, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Loma Linda University Clinical Psychology Report

#14

Antioch University - Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California
#17 in overall quality

Antioch University - Santa Barbara came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Clinical Psychology Schools for a Doctorate in California ranking. Antioch University - Santa Barbara is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Santa Barbara, California. It awarded 7 doctorate’s clinical psychology degrees in 2019-2020.

Antioch University - Santa Barbara also took the #17 spot in our “Best Clinical Psychology Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Antioch University - Santa Barbara are $19,303, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Clinical Psychology at Antioch University - Santa Barbara

#15

University of San Francisco

San Francisco, California
#11 in overall quality

University of San Francisco did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Clinical Psychology Schools for a Doctorate in California ranking, coming in at #15. San Francisco, California is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out doctorate’s clinical psychology degrees to 8 students in 2019-2020.

USFCA not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #11 on our “Best Clinical Psychology Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of San Francisco are $26,710.

Full USFCA Clinical Psychology Report

#16

Pacifica Graduate Institute

Carpinteria, California
#16 in overall quality

Pacifica Graduate Institute did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Clinical Psychology Schools for a Doctorate in California ranking, coming in at #16. Pacifica Graduate Institute is a small school located in Carpinteria, California that handed out 23 doctorate’s clinical psychology degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california doctor’s degree clinical psychology students list, Pacifica Graduate Institute has also earned the #16 rank in our “Best Clinical Psychology Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Pacifica Graduate Institute are $26,950, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Clinical Psychology at Pacifica Graduate Institute

#17

The Wright Institute

Berkeley, California
#5 in overall quality

The Wright Institute came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Clinical Psychology Schools for a Doctorate in California ranking. The Wright Institute is a small school located in Berkeley, California that handed out 63 doctorate’s clinical psychology degrees in 2019-2020.

The Wright Institute did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #5 on our “Best Clinical Psychology Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at The Wright Institute are $37,650.

Read full report on Clinical Psychology at The Wright Institute

#18

Pepperdine University

Malibu, California
#6 in overall quality

Pepperdine University landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Clinical Psychology Schools for a Doctorate in California ranking. Pepperdine University is a medium-sized school located in Malibu, California that handed out 29 doctorate’s clinical psychology degrees in 2019-2020.

Pepperdine not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #6 on our “Best Clinical Psychology Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Pepperdine University are $36,320, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Pepperdine Clinical Psychology Report

#20

Saybrook University

Oakland, California
#20 in overall quality

Saybrook University came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Clinical Psychology Schools for a Doctorate in California ranking. This small school is located in Oakland, California, and it awarded 2 doctorate’s clinical psychology degrees in 2019-2020.

Saybrook University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #20 on our “Best Clinical Psychology Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Saybrook University are $25,206, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Saybrook University Clinical Psychology Report

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Notes and References

References

  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

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