Best Psychology Programs in California for 2025

Why We Chose This School: 

UCI's Ph.D. program in psychological science offers five concentration areas, all with the goal of preparing students for the job market. Learners can pursue concentrations in affective science, social and personality psychology, developmental psychology, health psychology, and clinical psychology. We like how the program also contains an optional speciality in psychology and law which can make future job candidates even more appealing to employers.

Learners benefit from a favorable student-to-teacher ratio. UCI has 36 full-time psychology faculty members to serve and mentor a doctoral student base of about 80 enrollees. The program also encourages student-faculty research collaborations, which expose learners to a wider range of UCI psychology experts.

Highlights:

• Guaranteed five-year funding packages
• One-year full-time clinical internship included
• No formal coursework prerequisites

Considerations:

• Pending accreditation from the American Psychological Association
• Affective science concentration not currently admitting new students
• Different admission requirements apply to clinical psychology track

Why We Chose This School: 

USCS's Ph.D. psychology program offers three coursework concentrations: cognitive, developmental, and social psychology.

The cognitive psychology track covers established and emerging trends in perception, language, and memory. Developmental psychology coursework focuses on cultural, individual, and interpersonal influences on lifelong growth and change. The social psychology track draws on the Kurt Lewin full-cycle model in exploring the intersection of psychology and social justice. 

We like how USCS supports equity and inclusion by giving equal weight to every aspect of an applicant's profile when making admissions decisions.

Highlights:

• Cross-disciplinary research orientation
• Multiple full-time faculty members specialize in each concentration area
• Option to earn master's degree while completing Ph.D.

Considerations:

• Does not lead to psychologist licensure
• 13% admission rate over the past five years
• No specialized accreditation

Why We Chose This School: 

SDSU's master's in psychology features both MA and MS tracks. We like how each degree option prepares students for specific post-graduation goals. 

The MA track is for students working toward careers in research or academia. Learners complete research and coursework in one of five concentrations: behavioral and cognitive neuroscience, cognitive psychology, physical and/or mental health, developmental psychology, or social psychology.

The MS program takes an applied focus on practical, career-focused fields. MS students can pursue specializations in industrial-organizational psychology or quantitative methods.

Highlights:

• Strong mentorship and research opportunities
• Assistantships often offered to students
• Independent research thesis in both tracks

Considerations:

• Full-time study only
• Low admission rate
• 300-hour internship in MS track

Why We Chose This School: 

Cal State LA's MA in psychology provides comprehensive training in the field's qualitative and quantitative aspects. We like the program's focus on preparing students for doctoral studies by building advanced research literacy skills and deep conceptual knowledge.

All incoming students get matched with a mentor who assists with academic planning and success. Learners also work closely with a dedicated faculty advisor who serves as a research consultant and collaborator.

The program builds to a master's thesis where students execute a research project.

Highlights:

• Extensive mentorship opportunities
• Emphasis on advanced coursework
• Strong research orientation

Considerations:

• Conditional admissions for nonpsychology majors
• Face-to-face program
• Required minimum 2.75 undergraduate GPA

Why We Chose This School: 

Stanislaus State's MA in psychology program takes a holistic view, grounding students in a balanced mix of theory, research, and applied concepts. Students also have the opportunity to pursue personalized learning in various areas, including developmental, educational, and social psychology.

The program's structure uses an apprenticeship model, which matches enrollees and faculty members based on shared research interests. Covering 30 credits, the curriculum equips learners with the conceptual knowledge and research skills required for doctoral programs.

Highlights:

• Option to pursue generalized or specialized learning
• Transfer up to nine graduate credits from other institutions
• Built-in fieldwork experiences

Considerations:

• Does not lead to certification or licensure
• Undergraduate psychology degree required
• Students must maintain an overall GPA of at least 3.0

Why We Chose This School: 

Sacramento State's MS in psychological research has been recently redesigned, with the new curriculum debuting in fall 2024 to replace the school's outgoing MA program in general psychology.

We like this revamped degree because each student can customize their education to match their goals. Courses cover 11 areas, with full-time faculty members working in subfields like counseling psychology, behavioral neuroscience, and cultural psychology.

As the new program name suggests, students participate in hands-on research throughout their studies. Learners can join peers on research teams or perform individual studies under faculty supervision.

Highlights:

• Strong experiential orientation
• Paid teaching assistantships available

Considerations:

• Applicants with undergraduate psychology degrees preferred
• Recommended undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0
• Upper-level undergraduate coursework in statistics and research methods required

Why We Chose This School: 

Are you looking to become a marriage and family therapist (MFT) in California? If so, Cal Poly Pomona's MS in psychology may be the ideal degree for you. This program meets all educational requirements from the California Board of Behavioral Sciences — the organization that issues MFT licenses in the state.

The 60-credit program covers therapeutic practices and culminates in a comprehensive examination. Full-time students can complete the program in two years. Cal Poly Pomona also offers part-time enrollment, though each class only runs once annually.

Cal Poly Pomona is an officially designated Hispanic- and minority-serving institution. We appreciate its institutional commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Highlights:

• Fully aligned with state's marriage and family therapist standards
• Licensure-track program
• Program welcomes applicants with degrees in other fields as long as they have completed at least 24 semester credits in psychology

Considerations:

• Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 required
• Fall admissions only
• Second-year practicum requires 20 hours per week of work

Why We Chose This School: 

UCLA's Ph.D. program in psychology offers specialized training to emerging researchers. This doctoral program supports eight emphasis areas. These concentrations include traditional specializations like clinical, cognitive, developmental, and social psychology, along with behavioral neuroscience, social and affective neuroscience, health psychology, and quantitative methods.

The school's Fernald Child Study Center caters to students interested in developmental psychology and behavioral disorders. UCLA's clinical psychology track holds accreditation from the American Psychological Association, so all graduates meet the requirements for psychologist licensure. 

Highlights:

• Optional minors in diversity science, quantitative psychology, and health psychology
• Paid research and assistantship opportunities available
• Supports cross-specialization research

Considerations:

• Six-year full-time-only program
• Additional academic screening requirements apply to clinical psychology students

Why We Chose This School: 

Cal Poly's MS in psychology program offers professional training to students preparing for MFT licensure. We like how the clinically focused program provides comprehensive instruction in counseling techniques, practices, and ethics. 

Graduates can launch their own private practices or seek employment at mental health centers and nonprofit organizations. According to school statistics, approximately 15% of enrollees proceed into doctoral programs in counseling or clinical psychology.

Students can complete fieldwork experiences at the San Luis Obispo Counseling Service at Cal Poly, a campus-based training clinic. Cal Poly also maintains an extensive network of community partnerships to provide learners with off-campus training experiences.

Highlights:

• Small class sizes
• Extensive individualized student attention
• Graduate in as few as two years

Considerations:

• Required courses offered only once per year
• No specialized accreditation
• Impending switch from quarter to semester system may create scheduling challenges for students admitted in 2025

Why We Chose This School: 

Cal Poly Humboldt's MA psychology programs include three specialized study paths: academic research, counseling, and school psychology. All three tracks lead to an MA degree. 

The academic research concentration offers subspecializations in behavioral analysis, developmental psychology, neuroscience, and social/cognitive psychology. Upon graduation, students in the counseling track meet the educational requirements for MFT licensure in California. The school psychology track similarly leads directly to practice authorization credentials.

We like how Cal Poly Humboldt directly supports all three concentrations with comprehensive resources and training facilities. These include a counseling clinic, a psychology test library, and extensive community-based fieldwork training opportunities. 

Highlights:

• Balances coursework with applied field-based experiences
• Emphasis on traditional training
• School psychology and counseling tracks both hold specialized accreditations

Considerations:

• All three programs run exclusively in face-to-face formats
• Application and admission requirements vary by concentration