by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 205 U.S. colleges awarded 3,735 degrees and certificates in School Psychology. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 90% of graduates. College Factual ranks 128 schools in its 2027 Best School Psychology Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $55,107 one year after completing, rising to $71,095 after four years.
Studying School Psychology involves the study of School Psychology. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply Clinical And Counseling Psychology Principles To The Diagnosis And Treatment Of Student Behavioral Problems. Includes Instruction In Child And/or Adolescent Development; Learning Theory; Testing, Observation And Other Procedures For Assessing Educational, Personality, Intelligence And Motor Skill Development; Therapeutic Intervention Strategies For Students And Families; Identification And Classification Of Disabilities And Disorders Affecting Learning; School Psychological Services Planning; Supervised Counseling Practice; Ethical Standards; And Applicable Regulations.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, school psychology is a popular field of study, with 3,735 degrees awarded annually. 205 colleges award school psychology degrees, an average of 18 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 108.
By level, the 3,735 awards include 2 bachelor’s degrees, 3,347 master’s degrees and 386 doctorates.
Women earned 88% of school psychology degrees and certificates in the latest year (3,284 of 3,735). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (2,077) and Hispanic or Latino (850), and international students earned 46.
College Factual ranks 128 schools in its 2027 Best School Psychology Schools ranking, including 99 for master’s degrees and 28 for doctorates. It also ranks school psychology schools within 31 states. In all, 205 colleges offer school psychology programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value School Psychology Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common school psychology credential is the master’s degree: 3,347 of the 3,735 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to school psychology call most for Reading Comprehension, Speaking and Active Listening, and for knowledge of English Language, Education and Training and Psychology, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Written Expression.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a school psychology degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 2 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 3,347 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 386 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to school psychology, at 38.8%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 38.8% |
| Master’s degree | 16.5% |
| Doctoral degree | 15.3% |
| Post-doctoral training | 8.4% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 5.6% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 4.9% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 4.0% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.6% |
| Some college courses | 2.0% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.7% |
| First professional degree | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
10 occupations are related to School Psychology, with an average median salary of $114,271; the strongest outlook belongs to Compliance Managers, at 13.0% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Abnormal Psychology Teacher, Professor, Teacher and Psychology Adjunct Instructor.
The occupation related to school psychology with the most projected jobs is Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary, at 513,614.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary | 513,614 | -3.0% |
| Managers, All Other | 468,025 | 6.2% |
| Compliance Managers | 310,203 | 13.0% |
| Loss Prevention Managers | 265,210 | 2.2% |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | 206,415 | 9.9% |
| Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors | 204,799 | 5.9% |
| School Psychologists | 190,660 | 12.0% |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | 128,884 | 5.2% |
School Psychology graduates earn a median $55,107 one year after completing their program, $71,095 after four years and $67,444 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $55,107 |
| 4 years | $71,095 |
| 5 years | $67,444 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to school psychology is Wind Energy Development Managers, with a median salary of $169,952.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Wind Energy Development Managers | $169,952 |
| Loss Prevention Managers | $165,723 |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | $122,567 |
| Compliance Managers | $117,178 |
| School Psychologists | $108,275 |
| Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers | $99,321 |
| Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary | $98,479 |
| Managers, All Other | $95,684 |
School Psychology has 16 similar majors in the Psychology field, which together award 39,452 degrees a year; the largest are Counseling Psychology (12,299), Applied Behavior Analysis (7,220) and Clinical Psychology (6,412). Browse all Psychology majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Counseling Psychology | 12,299 |
| Applied Behavior Analysis | 7,220 |
| Clinical Psychology | 6,412 |
| Industrial and Organizational Psychology | 3,171 |
| Applied Psychology | 3,004 |
| Forensic Psychology | 2,736 |
| Educational Psychology | 1,876 |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology, Other | 711 |
| Family Psychology | 630 |
| Community Psychology | 467 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
