2026 Best Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology Schools in California
Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
College Factual analyzed 73 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best clinical, counseling & applied psychology schools.
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Best Schools for Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology in California
If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the clinical, counseling & applied psychology degrees they offer, see the list below.
Top Schools in Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology
University Of Southern California is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in clinical, counseling & applied psychology. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Los Angeles. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 113 clinical, counseling & applied psychology degrees were awarded at University Of Southern California in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, clinical, counseling & applied psychology degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $71,497. Typical student debt for the program is $15,625.
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California State University Long Beach is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in clinical, counseling & applied psychology, ranking #2. Set in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. About 54 clinical, counseling & applied psychology degrees were awarded at California State University Long Beach in the most recent year. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates of California State University Long Beach earn a median of $81,000 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,671.
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Santa Clara University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best clinical, counseling & applied psychology schools. Santa Clara University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Santa Clara. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 122 clinical, counseling & applied psychology students who graduated with this degree at Santa Clara University in the most recent data year. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates of Santa Clara University earn a median of $65,541 early in their careers. Santa Clara University graduates carry a median of $20,144 in student loans.
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San Jose State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in clinical, counseling & applied psychology, ranking #4. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. San Jose State University awarded about 15 clinical, counseling & applied psychology degrees in the most recent data year.
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Students looking for a strong clinical, counseling & applied psychology program will find one at University Of San Francisco, which ranked #5. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of San Francisco. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 204 clinical, counseling & applied psychology students who graduated with this degree at University Of San Francisco in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, clinical, counseling & applied psychology degree recipients from University Of San Francisco generally make around $65,358. University Of San Francisco graduates carry a median of $23,935 in student loans.
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Chapman University earned the #6 position for clinical, counseling & applied psychology this year. Chapman University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Orange. About 82% of students finish within six years. About 27 clinical, counseling & applied psychology degrees were awarded at Chapman University in the most recent year. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates of Chapman University earn a median of $90,639 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,657 to complete this degree.
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Loyola Marymount University landed the #7 spot for clinical, counseling & applied psychology this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Los Angeles. Loyola Marymount University graduates 79% of students within six years. About 63 clinical, counseling & applied psychology degrees were awarded at Loyola Marymount University in the most recent year. Graduates of the clinical, counseling & applied psychology program make about $84,853 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,248.
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San Diego State University earned the #8 position for clinical, counseling & applied psychology this year. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. There were roughly 35 clinical, counseling & applied psychology students who graduated with this degree at San Diego State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, clinical, counseling & applied psychology degree recipients from San Diego State University generally make around $84,055. Students borrow a median of $16,417 to complete this degree.
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University Of California San Diego came in at #9 for clinical, counseling & applied psychology this year. Set in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public institution. University Of California San Diego graduates 86% of students within six years. There were roughly 202 clinical, counseling & applied psychology students who graduated with this degree at University Of California San Diego in the most recent data year. Students who receive their clinical, counseling & applied psychology degree from University Of California San Diego earn around $26,953 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete this degree.
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California State University Sacramento came in at #10 for clinical, counseling & applied psychology this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Sacramento. About 56% of students finish within six years. California State University Sacramento awarded about 30 clinical, counseling & applied psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the clinical, counseling & applied psychology program make about $49,907 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,492 to complete this degree.
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University Of Redlands ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best clinical, counseling & applied psychology schools. University Of Redlands is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Redlands. University Of Redlands graduates 67% of students within six years. About 14 clinical, counseling & applied psychology degrees were awarded at University Of Redlands in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, clinical, counseling & applied psychology degree recipients from University Of Redlands generally make around $57,218. Students borrow a median of $27,175 to complete this degree.
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Point Loma Nazarene University landed the #12 spot for clinical, counseling & applied psychology this year. Point Loma Nazarene University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Diego. About 77% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 53 clinical, counseling & applied psychology students who graduated with this degree at Point Loma Nazarene University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their clinical, counseling & applied psychology degree from Point Loma Nazarene University earn around $56,660 in the first couple years of their career. Point Loma Nazarene University graduates carry a median of $22,542 in student loans.
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Saint Marys College Of California landed the #13 spot for clinical, counseling & applied psychology this year. Located in the suburb of Moraga, Saint Marys College Of California is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. Saint Marys College Of California awarded about 64 clinical, counseling & applied psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, clinical, counseling & applied psychology degree recipients from Saint Marys College Of California generally make around $59,760. Typical student debt for the program is $25,041.
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University Of The Pacific ranked #14 on our 2026 list of the best clinical, counseling & applied psychology schools. University Of The Pacific is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Stockton. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. University Of The Pacific awarded about 54 clinical, counseling & applied psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates of University Of The Pacific earn a median of $79,628 early in their careers. University Of The Pacific graduates carry a median of $23,514 in student loans.
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Pepperdine University ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best clinical, counseling & applied psychology schools. Pepperdine University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Malibu. About 83% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 885 clinical, counseling & applied psychology students who graduated with this degree at Pepperdine University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their clinical, counseling & applied psychology degree from Pepperdine University earn around $67,205 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $23,645.
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California Lutheran University came in at #16 for clinical, counseling & applied psychology this year. Set in the city of Thousand Oaks, California Lutheran University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. California Lutheran University awarded about 24 clinical, counseling & applied psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the clinical, counseling & applied psychology program make about $72,291 in their early career. California Lutheran University graduates carry a median of $22,727 in student loans.
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California State University Monterey Bay earned the #17 position for clinical, counseling & applied psychology this year. Located in the suburb of Seaside, California State University Monterey Bay is a moderately-sized public university. California State University Monterey Bay graduates 59% of students within six years. There were roughly 15 clinical, counseling & applied psychology students who graduated with this degree at California State University Monterey Bay in the most recent data year. Graduates of the clinical, counseling & applied psychology program make about $84,012 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $14,622 to complete this degree.
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California State University San Bernardino came in at #18 for clinical, counseling & applied psychology this year. California State University San Bernardino is a very large public school located in the city of San Bernardino. About 55% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 41 clinical, counseling & applied psychology students who graduated with this degree at California State University San Bernardino in the most recent data year. Graduates of the clinical, counseling & applied psychology program make about $47,204 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,958.
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Azusa Pacific University placed #19 among the best clinical, counseling & applied psychology schools. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Azusa. Azusa Pacific University graduates 62% of students within six years. There were roughly 66 clinical, counseling & applied psychology students who graduated with this degree at Azusa Pacific University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, clinical, counseling & applied psychology degree recipients from Azusa Pacific University generally make around $58,302. Students borrow a median of $23,709 to complete this degree.
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California State University Fresno came in at #20 for clinical, counseling & applied psychology this year. Located in the city of Fresno, California State University Fresno is a very large public university. About 57% of students finish within six years. About 97 clinical, counseling & applied psychology degrees were awarded at California State University Fresno in the most recent year. Graduates of the clinical, counseling & applied psychology program make about $49,502 in their early career. California State University Fresno graduates carry a median of $15,598 in student loans.
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National University ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best clinical, counseling & applied psychology schools. National University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Diego. National University graduates 50% of students within six years. About 1,111 clinical, counseling & applied psychology degrees were awarded at National University in the most recent year. Graduates of the clinical, counseling & applied psychology program make about $57,834 in their early career. National University graduates carry a median of $30,426 in student loans.
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California State University Northridge came in at #22 for clinical, counseling & applied psychology this year. Located in the city of Northridge, California State University Northridge is a very large public university. About 57% of students finish within six years. California State University Northridge awarded about 22 clinical, counseling & applied psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the clinical, counseling & applied psychology program make about $81,871 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,202 to complete this degree.
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Alliant International University ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best clinical, counseling & applied psychology schools. Set in the city of San Diego, Alliant International University is a moderately-sized private for-profit institution. There were roughly 377 clinical, counseling & applied psychology students who graduated with this degree at Alliant International University in the most recent data year. Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology graduates of Alliant International University earn a median of $72,803 early in their careers. Alliant International University graduates carry a median of $21,234 in student loans.
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University Of La Verne earned the #24 position for clinical, counseling & applied psychology this year. University Of La Verne is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of La Verne. About 63% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 39 clinical, counseling & applied psychology students who graduated with this degree at University Of La Verne in the most recent data year. Students who receive their clinical, counseling & applied psychology degree from University Of La Verne earn around $35,364 in the first couple years of their career. University Of La Verne graduates carry a median of $26,314 in student loans.
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Fresno Pacific University placed #25 among the best clinical, counseling & applied psychology schools. Fresno Pacific University is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Fresno. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. Fresno Pacific University awarded about 65 clinical, counseling & applied psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their clinical, counseling & applied psychology degree from Fresno Pacific University earn around $60,890 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,596 to complete this degree.
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Rest of the Top 50 Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology Schools
These schools also placed among the best for clinical, counseling & applied psychology this year:
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Notes and References
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 73 schools evaluated.
- 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.