phd in psychology acceptance rate

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Applying to Graduate Programs

• Applicant Qualifications, Admissions Criteria, and Acceptance Rates

What are the characteristics of successful applicants?  Each program has its own set of requirements and standards; some are publicly stated, some are not.  For instance, this department’s graduate program in experimental psychology provides a list of eligibility requirements , plus provides a FAQ with the average GPA and GRE scores of successful applicants .  On this page we provide a general idea of what graduate programs may be seeking, plus admissions statistics by area of specialization in psychology. 

Note: for the most definitive information on the characteristics of successful applicants, we recommend that you directly check with program websites, the programs themselves, and individuals at those programs (such as graduate coordinators, graduate program officers, graduate students, or faculty).

Graduate Programs Are Highly Competitive

Most mid- to top-tier graduate programs, and particularly those programs that provide funding to their graduate students, are highly selective.  For example, this department’s graduate program typically receives around 300-400 applicants annually, of which admission offers are commonly extended to around 20 (around half accept, depending on the year).  Successful applicants not only meet the eligibility requirements; they exceed those requirements in key ways.  These may include research experience, academic achievements, and more. 

Consequently, it is helpful for students to carefully research the characteristics of successful applicants, to work toward achieving similar qualifications at the baccalaureate or post baccalaureate level, and to clearly emphasize their strengths in their applications. 

It is important to emphasize that graduate admissions criteria substantially differ from those used at undergraduate and other levels.  It is not necessarily the case that applicants with the highest GPA and highest test scores have the greatest chance of being accepted.  Instead, more idiosyncratic factors such as “program fit” and compatible research interests may play a greater role.  Thus, students who are accustomed to judging their progress solely on grades need to adjust their thinking; this is a different playing field and the rules are different .

Basic Qualifications of Successful Applicants 

To score an interview – in other words, to be seriously considered – applicants are typically expected to have a record which includes the following characteristics: 1,2

Prerequisite undergraduate coursework completed

The courses that you are expected to have taken vary according to the graduate program you are applying to.  Some may have very specific requirements, others do not.  Some may prefer that the applicant have a well-rounded record including a diversity of rigorous courses both within and outside of psychology. 

The mean of successful applicants to PhD programs in psychology, on the 4.0 scale, is 3.6 overall and 3.7 in psychology courses; for Master’s programs it is 3.4 overall and 3.5 in psychology courses. 1   The GPA should be, at minimum , typically 3.0 or higher.

Good GRE scores

Minimum requirements (also known as “cutoffs”) vary depending on program .  Some programs, such as the one in this department, have dropped minimum scores.  However, GRE scores can be used to choose between two closely matched applicants.  The mean GRE scores of first-year graduate students in psychology, using the scale begun in late 2011, is 158 verbal and 149 quantitative for psychology PhD programs; it is 153 verbal and 146 quantitative for Master’s programs.  For the GRE Psychology subject test, the mean is 633 for PhD programs and 577 for Master’s programs. 1  Please note that some programs, such as the one in this department, do not require the subject test.

Research experience

Research experience is a must.  This can take a variety of different forms, but publications and presentations are typically the most valued evidence of research experience.  For further information about gaining research experience as an undergraduate, please visit our research opportunities page.

Practical or clinical experience

This may be important for those applying to programs with a clinical or public service component.  For example, the number of hours you have volunteered at an outpatient clinic could be valuable for a clinical psychology graduate application.  However, it should be noted that guides to clinical psychology programs typically emphasize research experience as even more important.

Extracurricular activities

Optional and varies; should be relevant to the graduate program.  May include membership in psychological organizations, any leadership activities you have participated in, science communication, or charitable works .

How Applicant Qualifications Are Weighted

Each of the aforementioned qualifications, plus other components of the application materials, can make or break an applicant’s chances of being invited for an interview and ultimately receiving an offer of admission.  There typically are at least two stages of review.  The first involves choosing applicants that will be invited to interview.  At that stage, selection criteria may include (please note that each program may weigh each aspect differently): 1,2

• GPA and GRE scores – many programs only interview those that are above a certain threshold.
• Letters of recommendation – many programs solicit three letters of recommendation. Although letters are subjective, in many programs these are given as much weight as GPA and GRE scores.
• Research experience – there needs to be evidence that the applicant has the potential to succeed in the primary occupation of graduate school, which is conducting research.
• Statement of purpose – this is taken as evidence of the applicant’s writing ability, their own stated research interests, their thoughts about program fit, and more.
• Coursework completed – transcripts are examined to determine whether the applicant has taken the necessary courses to qualify for the program, that they have the relevant background knowledge, and that they can handle academically rigorous coursework. 

After the interviews, the final selection criteria often includes the following (in order of importance). 1,2 It should be noted that the applicant’s interview performance, statement of purpose, and recommendation letters can heavily inform these criteria and ultimately final selection decisions.

• Publications or paper presentations – resulting from the applicant’s existing research activities
• Applicant’s skills and interests match the program – as indicated in the application essays and as revealed in interviews
• Match with faculty member that is interested in working with the applicant – particularly as evidenced by the faculty member’s interview with the applicant and shared research interests; moreover, the faculty member has to be accepting students that year
• Statement of purpose – how clear and focused was the applicant able to write the essay; writing skills as evident in the essay
• Prior research experience – more generally, how much prior research experience the applicant had, and what that experience was, etc.

Other criteria may also be considered depending on the program.  Finally, it should be noted that among the least important criteria for selection typically include: multilingual fluency, contribution to geographic diversity, and whether the applicant is related to another student that was or is in the program .

Admissions Statistics

Acceptance rates at graduate programs in psychology range between 32-78% for Master’s programs and 12-48% for PhD programs (non-clinical); for clinical programs generally, acceptance rates vary from 7-50%. 1  Data on the mean acceptance rates in different areas of psychology, compiled by the APA in 2010, are as follows: 1

Workshops and Downloadable Resources

• For in-person discussion of the process of applying to graduate programs in psychology, neuroscience, and related fields, please consider attending this department’s “Paths to PhDs” workshop and other related events (for dates and times, please check the undergraduate workshops calendar).
• Tips for Applying to Graduate Programs in Psychology (a brief summary) [ PDF ]

Further Resources

How-To Videos     

• Applying to Grad School Videos

Recommended Reading

• American Psychological Association (2007). Getting in: a step-by-step plan for gaining admission to graduate school in psychology .  Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
• Keith-Spiegel, P., & Wiederman, M. W. (2000). The complete guide to graduate school admission: psychology, counseling, and related professions . Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.

APA Videos on Graduate Applications

• Preparing and applying for graduate school in psychology [12-part video series]
• Preparing and applying for graduate school in psychology [video slides in PDF format]
• Avoiding common mistakes that students make when applying from APA Division 2 [PPT]
• Choosing a graduate program from the Association for Psychological Science
• Smart shopping for psychology doctoral programs [PDF]

1  Norcross, J. C., & Hogan, T. P. (2016).  Preparing and applying for graduate school in psychology: 12 modules. American Psychological Association [video workshop].

2  american psychological association (2007).  getting in: a step-by-step plan for gaining admission to graduate school in psychology . , 3  american psychological association (2010).  graduate applications, acceptances, enrollments, and degrees awarded in master’s- and doctoral-level students in the u.s. and canadian graduate departments of psychology: 2008-2009., prepared by s. c. pan for ucsd psychology, graphic adapted with permission under the expat license..

• Finding and Choosing Graduate Programs of Interest
• Timelines for the Graduate Application Process
• Writing Statements of Purpose and Other Application Essays
• Requesting Letters of Recommendation
• Preparing for the Graduate Record Examination
• Graduate Admissions Interviews
• Applying to Clinical Psychology Programs
• Applying to Medical School and Professional Health Programs
• Accepting Graduate Admissions Offers

Applying to Clinical PhD Psychology Programs

How many applications to send.

Posted July 22, 2018

Now is the time that many individuals are going to be thinking about their future career . For many, their career journey includes graduate program in a clinical psychology PhD program. For these individuals, the next few months will involve carefully researching various programs to determine which programs might be best for them. One big question that will hit all of these potential applicants concerns the optimal number of applications to send.

It might seem like someone or some computer program has figured out the number of applications to send, but like most aspects of the application process for PhD clinical psychology programs, determining this number is complex. To begin, it is likely the case that most applicants know that getting accepted to a clinical psychology PhD program is very difficult. To illustrate this in concrete terms, we looked at the acceptance and matriculation rates of PhD programs that are members of the Council of University Directors of Clinical Psychology. These rates are publicly available for these programs website under the link “Student Admissions, Outcomes, and Other Data”. We were able to locate data for 100 programs, and found that the acceptance rate was most often 4%, and the matriculation rate (those who actually enrolled) was most often 2%.

These extremely low values reflect the high standards of all clinical psychology PhD programs, the high number of applicants that apply to each program, and the low number of open slots at each program for an incoming class. One other point should be kept in mind related to the above points: The applicants to PhD programs are at the “highest level.” This means that if you are applying to a PhD program in clinical psychology, you really need to be a strong candidate. There is no hard and fast rule on what constitutes a strong candidate, but rest assured it is a combination of very high GRE scores (on all three components of the exam), a very high GPA in rigorous courses (forget those gym courses and basket-weaving courses!), research experience (remember that a PhD is a research degree), excellent letters of recommendation, and a great fit with a potential mentor.

Besides showing that it is really difficult to be accepted into a particular PhD program, the acceptance and matriculation (enrollment) rates raise other interesting issues that are important to the question of how many programs you should apply to. First, acceptance rates are higher than matriculation rates. This is because not every person who gets accepted to a clinical psychology PhD program ends up attending. For example, an applicant may realize that that being a clinician is not for them. This applicant’s slot is then open for another applicant. Second, applicants to clinical psychology PhD programs almost always apply to multiple programs. This leads to a lot of movement with regard to who gets accepted. Let’s take the example of a fictitious applicant Susan who applies to 15 clinical psychology PhD programs. She receives acceptances from five programs—Michigan State, UKentucky, UDenver, Alabama, and UTexas. Of course, she can only matriculate at one program—she picks UKentucky (not for the basketball!). Her matriculation decision means that the four other slots that were originally reserved for Susan must go unused or go to other applicants in the applicant pool, who may or may not enroll at each of the remaining four programs.

Given the above information, we can now focus on how many programs you should consider applying to. Right up front we should note that there does not appear to be any publicly accessible data that shows the number of applications per clinical psychology PhD applicant. This is different than other types of post-graduate applicants, where data is available on the number of applications per applicant for medical program (16 applications) and law program (6 applications).

Nonetheless, there is some guidance from the Internet on determining how many programs an applicant should apply to:

1) Although neither the American Psychological Association (APA) nor one of the most widely cited websites about applying to clinical psychology graduate program (“Mitch’s Guide”) recommends a specific number, these resources (and others) discuss applications in terms of “fit”. That is, an applicant should apply to programs where there is a fit between a student’s credentials and the characteristics of a particular program, including location, training emphasis, and potential mentor(s).

2) Some sites offer more specific recommendations. These sites discuss applying to different levels of programs. These types are typically defined based on the GPA and GRE data listed in a program’s link to Student Admissions, Outcomes, and Other Data. At the top level are “Dream” or “Reach” programs (programs where your credentials are lower than the data), “Match” programs (programs where your credentials match the data for that program), and “Safety” or “Back-up” programs (programs where your credentials exceed the data). Sites recommending that you apply based on level of program will typically argue that an applicant should apply to perhaps two or three at each level.

3) Some Internet sites offer recommendations on how many programs to apply without mentioning level of program. These sites recommend varying numbers, often as high as 10-20 programs.

The lack of clarity on the number of applications to clinical psychology PhD programs means you may have to adjust your thinking as you move forward with your plans to apply to clinical psychology PhD programs. You will have to decide whether applying to different levels makes sense for you. While some students may need to use the levels approach because of specific gaps in their credentials, others may have a record so strong that the levels approach does not really apply to them—these students are competitive at all programs.

In addition, if you are a highly competitive applicant, it is probably worth you increasing your number of applications. Figuring out additional programs to apply to will involve more work, and it might involve considering multiple research areas you are willing to pursue, but it will likely increase your overall chances to be accepted to a program. You must always keep in mind that your chances of being accepted anywhere is still a function of your credentials, the competition (always an unknown), and what programs are considering. Moreover, each application has an application fee, and takes time and effort to complete. Therefore, you should probably only apply to those programs that you feel you would be willing to attend. With all of the above in mind, good luck as you move forward with your applications!

Please note that the comments of Dr. Golding and the others who post on this blog express their own opinion and not that of the University of Kentucky.

Check out career possibilities for psychology majors at scoutiescareersinpsychology.org

Learn tips to succeed in college at beginnersguidetocollegesuccess.com

Jonathan Golding, Ph.D. , is a professor of psychology at the University of Kentucky. Anne Lippert, Ph.D. , is a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Kentucky.

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Psychology Graduate Program

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• FAQ for Applicants

Please check out our  PRO-TiP  (PhD Resources and Online Tips Page)!  PRO-TiP provides easy and open access to resources that help demystify the process of applying to graduate programs in Psychology.

What kind of program does Harvard offer?

The Harvard Psychology Department offers a research-oriented Ph.D. program in four areas: Experimental Psychopathology & Clinical Science, Developmental, Social, and Cognition, Brain, and Behavior (CBB). The Department does not offer a terminal master’s degree in psychology, though students admitted to the Ph.D. program can earn a master’s along the way. Some graduates of the program seek positions as research psychologists in an academic setting. Other graduates get positions in government, consulting firms, tech startups or larger tech companies, hospitals or social service agencies, and other network or private clinical settings.  The Department offers two tracks, Clinical Science and a Common Curriculum. The common curriculum is composed of three sub-fields: Social Psychology, Developmental Psychology, and Cognition, Brain, and Behavior (CBB). The Common Curriculum, described in the program section of the graduate program website ,   is taken by all students except those in Clinical Science. Though these area boundaries exist, collaboration is an important aspect of our academic community. As such, faculty and students collaborate within and across these area boundaries.

How do I get information about Harvard doctoral program admissions?

The Harvard Griffin GSAS Admissions website includes information about how to apply, required application materials, test score requirements, deadlines, and FAQs.  The application process is online .  This link connects you to the Psychology Program of Study page on the GSAS Admissions website. You can refer to our PRO-TiP page to find faculty answers to frequently asked questions.

Prospective applicants will want to read carefully about departmental faculty research interests   to decide whether this department is a good match. "Fit" of interests is an important criterion when the Department makes admissions decisions.

This list of theses and dissertations completed by current and previous students in the doctoral program may be useful in figuring out if this department would provide a good fit for your research goals.   

Do I need an undergraduate degree in Psychology to be eligible for the PhD program?

A psychology major is not required, but it is recommended that applicants take some basic psychology courses and obtain research experience. Admitted applicants have excellent grades, test scores, letters of recommendation, research experience and are a good match in terms of research interests with one or more members of the faculty, who serve as advisors.

Do I need to submit GRE scores, and how do I submit them?

*The submission of GRE scores is optional for Fall 2024 admission.*  GRE scores are valid for five years from the test date. If you have personal score reports available from tests taken within the last five years, you can upload them to your online application for consideration by the admissions committee. However, you will still need to ensure that  Educational Testing Service  (ETS) sends an official score report. Be sure to register for the tests well before administration dates and request that your scores be sent to Harvard University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences using code 3451 (department code is not required).

Does the Psychology Department offer a master's degree?

No, we do not offer a terminal master’s degree in psychology, though students admitted to the PhD program can earn a master’s along the way.   

How long does the program take?

Some students find four years is sufficient to complete the program, although most take five and a few take six years. Financial aid is generally offered for up to six years. 

Who may act as a PhD advisor?

Only tenure-track faculty members in the Department of Psychology may serve as primary advisors to PhD students in Psychology. Affiliated faculty cannot serve as primary mentors for PhD students. Students are welcome to form collaborations with affiliated faculty, but these individuals do not participate in our PhD program admissions.

Can I get training in clinical psychology at Harvard?

The Department offers a research-oriented program in Clinical Science. Our program was designed and is perhaps best suited for individuals who aspire toward careers in clinical scientific research and teaching. As compared with some more clinically oriented programs, we place relatively more emphasis on research training and experience in our program admissions and our training program for admitted graduate students. That said, the clinical training opportunities afforded by the program provide excellent training in clinical intervention and assessment as well. The Clinical Program is accredited by the American Psychological Association and by the Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System (PCSAS).

Is there a part-time or distance learning option?

This is a full-time, in-person program. In unusual circumstances, the Department may grant permission for an enrolled student to temporarily register for a part-time schedule. It is required that students be in residence for at least two years in the program, and almost all students are in residence for the entire program. It is possible to receive permission to be a "traveling scholar" and do research or writing away from Cambridge, but this is most typical for students at an advanced stage of the program who have finished data collection. There is no online or distance-learning program.

Can I apply if I already have a master's degree?

Yes. Students that have completed prior graduate work can petition, after a semester of satisfactory work in the Department, to receive credit for up to eight relevant half-courses, the equivalent of a year's worth of work. However, many students in the program don't bother to apply for this credit since it is rare for a student to be exempted from any courses required by the department. In addition, the bulk of time in the doctoral program is spent on research projects, and the department very rarely exempts students from these. Even students coming in with a master's degree take between 4-6 years to complete the program, though an incoming student with more education may naturally be more focused at an earlier point in their program. By the time a student has finished all requirements for the doctorate, including research requirements, they will have many more than the required minimum number of credits.

Is there financial aid available?

Funding is in the form of grants in the early years and teaching or research fellowships in later years. Typically all admitted students are offered a funding package consisting of up to six years of full tuition, three years of living stipend, and two years of guaranteed teaching fellowships (which would provide a similar level of living support). Additional teaching is usually available in the fifth year. Both international and U.S. applicants are eligible for this financial package. Because funds are limited, applicants are urged to apply for any outside fellowships they may be eligible for.  NSF graduate fellowships  and those from the  Department of Defense  are examples of national fellowship competitions open to U.S. citizens. There are also the  Ford Foundation Fellowships , available specifically for URM scholars.  Receiving an outside fellowship may allow you to have a higher stipend, to decrease your teaching commitment or to have an additional year to complete your degree. Receiving an outside fellowship is also a professional honor that will help you in applying for jobs after graduate school.

How can I maximize my chances of being admitted?

We use a holistic approach in evaluating applicants and admitting graduate students to the program. Among the factors considered are grades from undergraduate coursework, GRE scores, letters of recommendation, application essays, prior research experience, and focused research interests, with an emphasis on those that are compatible with those of faculty members. The department is also actively committing to building an inclusive field. Part of that commitment is prioritizing diversity and support for diverse individuals within our own department.

While we do not require an undergraduate concentration in psychology, some social science coursework is recommended. Because the program is heavily quantitatively oriented, college-level math and statistics are also advised. Research experience is extremely helpful: successful applicants have often worked for professors, done research projects as part of college courses, written an undergraduate thesis, or volunteered in a psychology research lab.

Candidates’ research interests and compatibility with the program are determined in large part by the candidate's application essay, the Statement of Purpose. Here is some advice from a professor for writing a good application essay:

Over the past 12 years, I have been reading graduate school admissions’ essays. These include essays from students applying to work with me as well as those from my own students who are preparing to apply to other graduate programs. When my own students apply to graduate school, I give them very specific advice about the nature of the essay, what I think most candidate schools and advisors are looking for. I have always had a particular view about what makes for a good read , of course from a personal perspective. I have been struck by the fact that many of the incoming essays lack the kind of content that I am looking for, having the appearance of an undergraduate application essay. This seems unfortunate because I often use the essay more than almost anything else to get a sense of the applicant’s intellectual potential and passion. Many students that apply have stellar GPAs and GREs, but only a few present carefully reasoned essays that really motivate the reasons for going to graduate school. In essence, essays that capture my attention are ones that develop ideas, propose experiments, point to holes in the literature, and do these things with passion and excitement. These very general comments, which will certainly not capture every advisor’s perspective, or even the majority, can be distilled to a few essential ingredients, presented below as questions:

• Why continue on with your education? Why do you need to learn more? What skills, theories, and knowledge do you lack?
• What are the kinds of discoveries and theories that sparked your interest in the chosen discipline?
• In graduate school, what kinds of questions do you hope to address? Why do you think that these questions are important? Given the set of questions that you will focus on, what kinds of methods do you hope to apply? What skills do you bring forward as you enter graduate school and which skills do you hope to acquire?
• What holes do you see in the current discipline [big picture stuff]? In what ways do you think that they can be addressed during your graduate career?
• What kind of graduate environment are you looking for? Are you particularly keen on working with one faculty advisor, and if so, why this particular person? If you are leaning more toward a cluster of advisors, as well as the department more generally, why? Hint: faculty are engaged by students who have read some of their work, have thought critically about it, and wish to develop some of the issues addressed. Further, it helps with admissions to have one or more faculty championing your case.

Essays that have the above ingredients are truly informative. They tell each faculty member why the candidate wants to go to graduate school, what problems they hope to tackle, what skills they bring, and which skills they hope to acquire. Following this format is, of course, not a ticket of admission, but it will certainly make your application more interesting and informative.

More information from faculty in this program can be found on our PRO-TiP page .

Can I take courses without being admitted to the degree program?

The only way to take Harvard FAS courses, unless you are enrolled in another Harvard graduate program or MIT, is to be admitted as a  Special Student , which allows you to take between one and four courses a semester. Foreign national students  have  to take a full-time load in order to get a student visa. Students are issued a transcript, but no degree or certificate, for their work in the Special Student program.

Admitted Special Student applicants should be aware that the Department does not have the resources to provide the same support, academic and otherwise, to Special Students as it does to PhD students. Special Students are not assigned advisors, office space, research space, research funds, financial aid, library keys, or computer lab accounts. They are restricted from taking the Department's proseminar (PSY 2010), and other courses at the discretion of the instructor. 

Many Special Students hope eventually to enroll in a psychology graduate program; some plan to apply to Harvard's Ph.D. program. However, applicants should consider the Special Student year an opportunity to take courses, rather than a way to get an early start on the PhD program. While Special Students are certainly eligible to apply, potential applicants should be aware that admission as a Special Student does not guarantee admission to the PhD program. Special Students who are later admitted to the doctoral program receive credit for appropriate graduate-level courses taken during the Special Student term(s).

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General Information

When is the application due and how do i apply .

NOW CLOSED- The application is due on  November 30, 2023  at 11:59 PM Pacific Time. 

Apply using the  application portal .

How long does it take to get a PhD in Psychology at Stanford?

The PhD program is designed to be completed in five years of full-time study. Actual time will depend on students' prior background, progress, and research requirements. The minimum residency requirement for the PhD degree is 135 units of completed coursework and research units.

What are the requirements for the PhD degree in Psychology?

Please consult the  PhD Requirements page .

What are the different subfields within the graduate program in Psychology?

• Affective Science
• Cognitive Psychology
• Developmental Psychology
• Neuroscience
• Social Psychology

What is the Department's teaching requirement?

PhD students must complete at least five quarters of teaching assistantship (TA) under the supervision of a faculty member. Students are required to attend a TA training workshop in their second year. In addition, students are encouraged to take advantage of department and university teacher training programs. Students for whom English is a second language are expected to acquire sufficient fluency in English. All international students must be approved by  Stanford’s EFS department . 

How many students apply to the Stanford Psychology PhD? How many are admitted? What are the demographics?

Stanford provides public reports with summary data about graduate programs and graduate admissions. Please consult the public dashboards published by Stanford's office of Institutional Research & Decision Support on  doctoral admissions ,  doctoral enrollment and demographics , and  doctoral completion and time-to-degree . 

Is there a standalone Master of Arts program in Psychology?

The Department of Psychology does not offer a terminal Master’s degree program. Current doctoral students within the Department or in another Stanford graduate program may apply to be awarded a Master of Arts in Psychology during the course of their PhD program.

Does your department have a program in Clinical Psychology? Are you accredited by the APA?

No. Our department does not have a program in Clinical Psychology. As such, we are not accredited by the APA.

Do you have any advice about getting into grad school?

The Stanford School of Humanities and Sciences offers an online resource for prospective graduate school applicants:  Guide on Getting Into Grad School . We encourage applicants to take advantage of this resource.

Financial Support

What is the annual cost of attending your program.

All students admitted to the Psychology PhD program receive five years of 12-month funding. Financial support is provided through a combination of fellowship stipend and salary, and assistantship salary and tuition allowance. Information about the cost of attendance and funding options are available from the  Financial Aid Office .

What type of financial support do you offer?

All students admitted to the Psychology PhD program receive five years of 12-month funding. Financial support is provided through a combination of fellowship stipend and salary, and assistantship salary and tuition allowance. Funding is contingent upon satisfactory academic progress. Students are encouraged to pursue fellowships offered by the University and by national organizations, such as the National Science Foundation.

Stanford University also offers the  Knight-Hennessy Scholars  program, designed to build a multidisciplinary community of Stanford graduate students dedicated to finding creative solutions to the world's greatest challenges. The program awards up to 100 high-achieving students every year with full funding to pursue graduate education at Stanford, including the PhD in Psychology. To be considered, you must apply to Knight-Hennessy Scholars and separately apply to the Psychology Department. Note that the Knight-Hennessy Scholars program application deadline is in the spring  before  the autumn application cycle.

Do you offer support for the summer months?

Yes, funding is offered for 12 months a year for 5 full years, including 5 summers.

Preparing for Admission

Am i eligible to apply if my undergraduate major is not in psychology.

An undergraduate major in Psychology is not required; applicants from other backgrounds can apply and be admitted. All applicants should have sufficient foundational knowledge and research experience prior to the program to allow them to go straight into graduate-level coursework and conduct research.

My undergraduate degree was completed outside the United States. Is my degree eligible? 

Please refer to the Stanford Graduate Admission Office's table of  minimum level requirements for international academic credentials . These credential requirements are set by the University and nonnegotiable.

If I have prior graduate work, can it be transferred to the PhD program?

No, the Department of Psychology does not allow the transfer of unit credits from your previous program.

How competitive is admission to the PhD program?

Admission to our program is highly competitive. About 10-15 admits enter the program each year and are chosen from a pool of over 600 applicants. These students are selected on the basis of a strong academic background as demonstrated by previous coursework, research experience, and letters of recommendation. Please be assured that the Department reviews each application very carefully and makes decisions on an individual basis.

The Application Process

How do i apply.

Please visit the  PhD Admissions page  for instructions on how to apply to the Psychology PhD Program, graduate application requirements, and the link to the online application. 

Is there an application fee? If so, can I apply for a fee waiver?

The fee to apply for graduate study at Stanford is $125, see  Application Fee . Fee waivers are available for some applicants. Please visit Graduate Admissions for information on applying for an  Application Fee Waiver .

Can I submit another application to a different department within the University?

You may only apply to one degree program per academic year. However, you may apply concurrently to one departmental program and to a professional school program (law, medicine, or business).

I'm interested in the joint JD/PhD in Law and Psychology - how does it work?

Students interested in the JD/Ph.D. joint degree must apply and gain entrance separately to the School of Law and the Psychology Ph.D. program. Additionally, students must secure permission from each degree program to pursue the joint degree. Interest in both degrees should be noted on the student’s admissions applications and may be considered by the admissions committee of each program. Alternatively, an enrolled student in either the Law School or the Psychology department may apply to add the other degree and undertake the joint degree program, preferably during their first year of study. Students participating in the JD/Ph.D. joint degree program are not eligible to transfer and receive credit for a masters, or other degree, towards the Psychology Ph.D.

Students interested in the MPP/Ph.D. joint degree must apply and gain entrance to the Public Policy program’s MPP degree and the Psychology Ph.D. program. Students should note their interest in both degrees on their graduate admissions applications. Additionally, students must secure permission from each degree program to pursue the joint degree

Which faculty are accepting new students this year?

All active faculty are potentially accepting new students each year. In your application, we ask you to list the top 3 faculty you are most interested in working with. Multiple readers will review your application in full regardless of who you list. 

My institution does not report GPAs on a 4.0 grading scale. How should I report my GPA on the application?

Please do not convert your GPA to a 4.0 grading scale. You should enter “0.00” for the GPA and use the “Unconverted GPA” and “Unconverted GPA System” fields instead. A link to detailed instructions for reporting GPA is located near these fields on the application.

I attended multiple undergraduate institutions. In what order should I list them on the application?

The institution where you earned or expect to earn your Bachelor's degree should be listed as "Post-Secondary Institution 1." The remaining institutions don’t have to follow a particular order. List all institutions that were attended for at least one full academic year. Please note that you must submit a transcript for all courses taken towards your undergraduate degree, including those from your nonprimary institutions.

When should I submit my transcripts if my degree will still be in progress at the time of the application deadline?

The most current version of your unofficial transcript must be submitted as part of your electronic application, even if the grades from your fall term are not available. The absence of these grades will have no impact on the review of your application. If you are admitted and enrolled, we will ask you to submit your final transcript showing all grades and proof of degree conferral.

Should I submit official transcripts?

At the time of your initial application, please only submit your unofficial transcripts. Submit the unofficial transcripts as part of your electronic application, per the instructions in the application portal. A short list of applicants who move forward to the next stage of the review process will be contacted with instructions for submitting official transcripts at a later stage. 

It may be helpful to understand the difference.  Unofficial transcripts  are transcripts issued by your college or university directly to you, the student, which you then submit to Stanford for review. Official transcripts  are transcripts issued by your college or university directly to Stanford University, usually by secure electronic transfer and sometimes in hard copy in signed and sealed envelopes. The key difference is that an  official transcript  has never been directly handled by the applicant.

Do you have a minimum GPA score?

We do not require applicants to have a minimum GPA for consideration, and we do not release information about the average GPAs of accepted students. As a guideline, successful applicants typically earn undergraduate cumulative GPAs among the top of their class. However, please keep in mind that admission to our graduate program depends on a combination of factors, and all areas of a student’s application are weighed similarly when applications are reviewed. If our research areas meet your educational goals, we encourage you to submit an application. 

May I contact the faculty directly during the application process?

Applicants are not prohibited from reaching out to faculty directly during the application cycle. However, please understand that our faculty are extremely busy, and it is quite possible that you will receive either a very short response or no response at all. This does not mean the faculty are not interested in your application. All applications will be read and reviewed in full during the formal review process. Note that per Department policy, all faculty are potentially accepting graduate students in any given cycle, so you do not need to contact faculty in advance to see if that specific mentor is accepting students for the coming year.

Can I meet with Department staff either by phone or email before I apply to discuss my application materials or ask general questions about the program?

No, the Department staff do not have meetings with or provide individualized advising for prospective applicants. Please understand that this is a matter of bandwidth and equity. We do not have the ability to offer personalized service to all interested applicants, so we do not offer them at all. By Department policy, our staff do not provide any evaluative feedback on prospective applicants' materials, so please do not contact us with CVs, academic histories, etc to request feedback or ask about odds for acceptance. For support in crafting your application, we recommend that you turn to your existing network of mentors (e.g., your letter writers) and/or the resources offered by your current or prior academic institution(s).

TOEFL and GRE

Is the general gre required is the subject gre required.

No, the Stanford Psychology PhD program does not require the general GRE or the subject GRE. We will not be collecting any information related to GRE exam scores on the application. Please do not submit GRE scores to Stanford for our program.

What is the TOEFL exam, and am I required to take it?

The TOEFL is a standardized test of English language proficiency. Per University policy, the TOEFL exam is required for international, non-native English speakers who apply to any Stanford graduate program. 

The TOEFL score requirements are waived for international non-native English speakers who have received a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree from an institution in the United States or another English-speaking country. Therefore, applicants with these degrees from the U.S., Australia, Canada (except Quebec), New Zealand, Singapore, Ireland, and the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales) are exempt from taking the TOEFL and do not need to submit the TOEFL waiver request form.

When should I take the TOEFL?

The TOEFL must be taken by the published application deadline. 

What is the minimum TOEFL score required for admission?

Please visit the website of  Stanford's Office of Graduate Admissions  for more information on the University’s minimum requirements.

If my TOEFL score falls below the University’s minimum, am I still eligible to apply?

Yes, you may still apply. If your TOEFL scores fall below the University's minimum requirements and you are admitted, Stanford may require you to take an English placement exam and/or English classes.

May I submit the IELTS instead of the TOEFL to demonstrate English proficiency?

The IELTS is not accepted at Stanford University; only the TOEFL is accepted to provide proof of proficiency in English.

How do I request a TOEFL exemption or waiver?

For all questions related to TOEFL exemptions or waivers please refer to the website of  Stanford’s Office of Graduate Admissions . Please note that the central office makes all final decisions regarding TOEFL waivers; the Department of Psychology is not involved in the approval of TOEFL waivers.

How do I check the status of my TOEFL scores?

Log in to your application account. It may take up to two weeks after submitting your application or sending the scores (whichever occurs later) for your official scores to show as received. Processing may be delayed or halted if the name or birthdate on the score report does not exactly match the information on your application.

Why does my TOEFL status show as “Not Applicable” even though I submitted a TOEFL score?

This may be because you listed English as your first language in the application. Please note that “first language” refers to your native language.

Is there a department code for ETS to use in order to send in my scores?

No, there are no individual department code. Use the Stanford University score recipient code  4704  to send your TOEFL scores.

Statements of Purpose

How long should my statement of purpose be.

We strongly recommend that your statement of purpose be around two pages in length.

What should I include in my statement of purpose?

Please consult the Stanford Graduate Admissions  FAQ page  for more information on the Statement of Purpose.

Letters of Recommendation

When are the letters of recommendation due.

The letters of recommendation have the same deadline as the rest of the application. This year, the deadline is  November 30, 2023.

How many recommendations do I need, and who should I ask to be my recommenders?

Applicants need three recommendations from faculty or others qualified to evaluate your potential for graduate study. At least one evaluation and letter should be from a faculty member at the last school you attended as a full-time student (unless you have been out of school for more than five years). Substitutions for faculty recommendations may include work associates or others who can comment on your academic potential for graduate work.

My recommender will not be able to submit his/her letter by the application deadline. Will my application still be considered?

Letters of recommendation must be submitted by the application deadline. As such, we strongly encourage you to contact your recommenders directly to remind them of our deadline. If your recommender misses the deadline, please contact  psych-admissions [at] stanford.edu (psych-admissions[at]stanford[dot]edu) . Depending on the circumstances, Department staff may collect the letter via email and forward it to the faculty to add to your file. That said, the program expects applicants to do everything possible to ensure that letters are submitted on time via the secure online system.

Can my recommenders submit their letters via email, fax, or postal service?

No. Recommenders must submit their letters via Stanford’s online recommender system.

My recommenders are having technical difficulties with the online letters of recommendation process. Who should they contact?

Should any of your recommenders experience technical difficulties with the online letters of recommendation process, please refer them to our application database provider's letters of recommendation help page or have them submit a Help Request Form directly to our application database provider.

Additional Materials and Updates

I realized i made a mistake on my application and/or uploaded the wrong version of my documents. what do i do.

Depending on the timing and the nature of the error, our staff may be able to correct your application. Please send an email to  psych-admissions [at] stanford.edu (psych-admissions[at]stanford[dot]edu) . Include your full name, a complete description of the error, and attach the correct version of the file (if applicable). The Department reserves the right to decline to update your application after the deadline has passed. Requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

If you need to change your recommenders, please use the Activity Status Page. Note: The order of recommenders cannot be changed.

May I submit a resume/CV, list of publications, etc. as part of my application?

Applicants are permitted to upload one additional document to the online application, under the “Document Uploads” section.

Is there an interview process? 

Yes, our faculty interview prospective students before making final admission decisions. 

When are the interviews?

The interviews for the current admissions cycle are likely to be in February 2021. We anticipate that all interviews will take place virtually.

When can I expect to find out the decision on my application?

The Department of Psychology aims to issue all offers of admission to PhD degree applicants by the end of March.

I applied in a prior cycle and was not admitted. Can I apply again?

Applicants who applied in prior cycles and were previously not admitted are welcome to reapply if they can demonstrate significant progress made since they last applied. We encourage you to use your Statement of Purpose to explain this progress.

All documents must be resubmitted with a new application. We do not keep records from past applications.

I still have questions!

If you have questions that are not answered on this page or the Stanford Graduate Admissions  FAQ page , please email  psych-admissions [at] stanford.edu (psych-admissions[at]stanford[dot]edu) . If your questions are already covered on this page, your email may not receive a response.

Note that our Department staff are experts on the logistics and administration of the application, but do not answer questions related to research topics or faculty fit. Per Department policy, Department staff will not offer any evaluative feedback on application materials or applicants' academic background. Unfortunately, due to the extremely high volume of inquiries, we cannot provide individual status updates for applicants at any point in the process.

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Application Deadline:  Now closed, was November 15, 2023 (Next application deadline likely 11.15.24)

2024 Interview Dates:  Face to face February 1-2, Face to face February 8-9, Remote February 15-16

Questions about the online application:   [email protected]

Questions about CHP admissions :   [email protected]

Student Admissions, Outcomes, & Other Data  has statistics on students that entered the program in the past and their progress. 

The Clinical Health Psychology PhD program offers a doctoral degree (PhD) in clinical psychology that has been continuously accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) since 2016 (APA, Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation, 750 1st St. NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242; 202.336.5979). Our next site visit is schedule for Winter/Spring 2024.

Admission to CU Denver's Clinical Health Psychology PhD Program is competitive with an average of 6 students admitted each year. Students in the program receive high quality training and mentoring as well as financial assistance. When considering the quality of the program, it may be useful to know that we do not participate in the US News and World Report assessment and ranking process, in line with the Council of University Directors of Clinical Psychology ( CUDCP ), who passed a resolution in 1995 encouraging programs not to participate in the survey due to concerns about its methodology.

Our program has endorsed the Council of University Directors of Clinical Psychology statement on Preferred Pre-doctoral Competencies for Clinical Psychology ( CUDCP preferred competencies ). The Pre-doctoral Competencies outlined in this document represent many of the qualities that our program prefers applicants to have acquired prior to applying to our program.

Requirements for admission include coursework (or standardized assessment) in Introductory Psychology, Statistics, Research Methods, Abnormal Psychology, and History of Psychology. This must be in the last 10 years, currently being fulfilled (the Fall semester of your application year), or planned to be fulfilled (the Spring semester of your application year). Offers of admission are conditional upon completion of requirements. These requirements can be met in the following ways:

• Introductory Psychology: B- or greater from an accredited university in Intro Psyc, or a 3 in Psychology AP Exam. If you have taken the class but have a lower grade/score or the class is beyond the 10 year timeline, you could achieve the requirement with at least a 50 th percentile in a valid Psychology GRE Subject Test
• Statistics: B- or greater from an accredited university in Statistics or a 3 in Statistics AP Exam
• Research Methods: B- or greater from an accredited university in Research Methods (social sciences or psychology specific). If you have taken the class but have a lower score or the class is beyond the 10 year timeline, you could achieve the requirement with at least a 50 th percentile in a valid Measurement/Methodology subtest of the Psychology GRE Subject Test
• Abnormal Psychology: B- or greater from an accredited university in Abnormal Psychology (e.g., Abnormal Psychology, Psychopathology). If you have taken the class but have a lower score or the class is beyond the 10 year timeline, you could achieve the requirement with at least a 50 th percentile in a valid Clinical subtest of the Psychology GRE Subject Test
• History of Psychology: B- from an accredited university in History of Psychology (must be named as a separate course; a history component of Intro Psyc is not sufficient). Because some undergraduate institutions do not offer a course in History of Psychology, we will consider plans for students conditionally accepted to the program to take this course in the Summer prior to matriculation or during the program prior to Internship. The program does not pay for this course.

We also require a BA or BS from an accredited undergraduate institution with a preferred minimum GPA of 3.5. Finally, we require a fully completed application.  See Application Information for details regarding what must be included in this application. As a program, we do not require the GRE.  In addition to our standard application materials and interview process, individual potential mentors may ask for additional materials or information at any stage, such as a writing sample, test scores, or a phone call.

We strongly value diversity and encourage applications from prospective students with a variety of life backgrounds and experiences. The admissions committee looks favorably on courses in the biological and physical sciences, demonstrated interest and/or experience in health psychology research and clinical work, interest in a scientist-practitioner model of training and career, and interpersonal skills and abilities that are suitable for teaching, research, and clinical work in psychology.

Applicants are asked to identify one to three core faculty members (see “Core Faculty” list below) within the Clinical Health Psychology Program as a potential research mentor. Incoming students have one primary research mentor although opportunities for collaboration exist across mentors and their research labs. Because we use this method of training, the degree of compatibility between your interests and those of the identified core faculty mentor(s) is a very important consideration with regard to admission.

Each year many applicants who exceed the minimum requirements are not selected for admission. Whereas the admissions committee considers all applicants with excellent academic credentials, research potential, and clinical interest or experience, successful applicants are those who also best demonstrate an excellent fit with our program and faculty in their applications and interviews.

Core Faculty

​Elizabeth Allen, Ph.D.  Professor of Psychology.  Expertise: Couples Functioning & Mental Health, Military Marriage, Relationship Education, Infidelity.  

Jeffrey A. Rings, Ph.D.   Not currently accepting new students. Dr. Rings is the Clinic Director/Coordinator of Clinical Training. Expertise: Clinical supervision, grief and loss, crisis intervention, suicide risk assessment and prevention, multiculturalism, and veteran mental health.

Kevin Everhart, Ph.D.  Clinical Associate Professor of Psychology.  Expertise: Clinical Psychology, Psychological Assessment, Clinical Child and Pediatric Psychology, Infant Mental Health. 

Jim Grigsby, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology.  Expertise: Neuropsychology, Cognitive Neuroscience. 

Kristin Kilbourn, Ph.D., M.P.H.  Associate Professor of Psychology.  Expertise: Psychosocial Oncology, Palliative Care, Caregiver Stress. 

Krista W. Ranby, Ph.D.  Associate Professor of Psychology.  Expertise: Relationship Partners and Health Behavior, Smoking, Physical Activity, Social Psychology, Quantitative Methods. 

Kevin Masters, Ph.D.  Professor of Psychology.  Expertise: Spirituality & Health, Cardiovascular Disorders, Exercise.  

Jonathan Shaffer, Ph.D. M.S.  Assistant Professor of Psychology.  Expertise: Behavioral Cardiology, Geriatric Cardiology, Meta-analysis, Psychometrics.  

Amy Wachholtz, Ph.D., M.Div., M.S. , Associate Professor of Psychology & Clinical Health Psychology Program Director.  Expertise: Pain management, psychopharmacology.  

Affiliated Faculty

Mitchell Handelsman, Ph.D.  Professor of Psychology & CU President's Teaching Scholar.  Expertise: Ethics, Teaching

Peter Kaplan, Ph.D.  Professor & Chair.  Expertise: Postpartum depression and child development

Jennifer Morozink Boylan, Ph.D.  Assistant Professor, Department of Health and Behavioral Sciences.  Expertise: Cardivascular Psychophysiology, Health Disparities, Psychological Well-Being

Jason Watson, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Psychology.  Expertise: Cognitive psychology, attentional control, working memory, potential cognitive benefits of naturalistic settings

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Clinical Psychology, Ph.D.

Fall admissions deadline: december 1st.

The CCNY Clinical Psychology PhD program emphasizes the mutual and reciprocal influence of scholarship and practice and aims to generate novel and nuanced research, integrative theories, and modes of clinical work. Our program has a strong commitment to psychodynamic thinking and social justice, although a number of evidenced based treatments are represented in our classrooms and clinical training. Embedded within the Program is The Psychological Center, a community based mental health clinic. The Psychological Center ( www.thepsychologicalcenter.org ) provides psychological services to more than 300 individuals across the lifespan each year and concurrently provides our students with a seamless link between scholarship and practice.

Application Process     Apply Today

Discover how who we have been will affect who we will become: only here at ccny

Intensive mentorship that allows developmental growth of students as they move through the program

Students receive a minimum of 4 years intensive clinical training at The Psychological Center

Student therapists work with children, adolescents and adults in individual and group therapy settings

3% acceptance rate into the PhD Program and clinical work begins in Year One

Student Info

Our student body is diverse in terms of race, ethnicity, gender identities, ages, sexual orientation, religious/spiritual affiliations and geographic home of origin. They have undergraduate degrees in a wide range of majors including psychology, religion, anthropology, philosophy, music, theater, biology, and journalism. Similarly, prior to starting the program many of our students have had professional experiences as teachers, research lab assistants, journalists, musicians, and more.

Faculty Info

Our faculty members represent a range of identities; 25% of whom come from historically minoritized backgrounds. Our faculty generate scholarly work that spans a broad spectrum of psychopathology and developmental processes. Their work as licensed psychologists further informs their teaching and scholarly work; more than 50% of the faculty serve as clinical supervisors for students. As evidence for a lifetime commitment to the program, a third of our faculty are graduates of the program!

Curricular Innovation

Students train from years 1-4 in The Psychological Center, receiving a depth to their training. Students train in child and adult individual and group psychotherapy and neuropsychological assessment and receive training in couples work and a number of evidenced based treatments, including Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Emotion Focused Psychotherapy, Alliance Focused Psychotherapy, Transference Focused Psychotherapy, Cognitive Behavior Therapy. In addition to our generalized training, students can choose to receive specialized training in our Sports Psychology Program, Spanish Language Consultation Group, and Asylum Justice Program.

Admissions Facts

1. Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended.

We require transcripts from ALL post-secondary institutions attended, whether or not they include psychology courses. Unofficial versions are sufficient at the time of application. Upon acceptance, official versions are required.

2. Resume/CV

3. Personal Statement

In your applicant statement, please discuss your past education and experience, academic and professional plans, and reasons for wishing to undertake graduate work. Include some details about intended specialization in your field, your preparation for that specialization, and anything else you consider important for an assessment of your abilities. Please also be sure to convey who you are as a person, not just your academic qualifications. Since we are not a mentorship model program, it’s not essential to specify which faculty members you would like to work with. If you do decide to mention a faculty advisor of interest, please note that your primary advisor must be a core faculty member at CCNY Clinical Psychology doctoral program.

4. Supplemental essay

Please describe how your personal and/or professional characteristics, experiences, and interests have shaped who you are and why you seek to join this field (Length: 500 words, maximum)

5. Two Recommendation Letters (at minimum).

Who should write my letters of recommendation? We require at least two letters of recommendation. We have no requirements as far as who writes your recommendation letters; in general, it is a good idea to include at least one from a professor (to vouch for your academic work and ability) and one from an employer or supervisor - someone who can speak to your research and clinical work and ability. It is important to ask people who can speak of you with real knowledge of your abilities and personal qualities (rather than "he/she was one of 200 undergraduates in my lecture course. He/she did very well with a grade of A in the course...) You can include more than two letters. 

6. Writing Sample (Optional). 

Note: A change in our admission requirements beginning 2021 Effective with the 2021-2022 academic year, the faculty of the doctoral program in clinical psychology has decided, after careful deliberation and a review of the empirical literature, that neither the general or subject GRE test will be part of our admissions requirements. We have found no useful purpose to the exams as they do not predict academic success in our Program, nor do they maximize our attempts at ensuring diversity and inclusion. Applicants are thus instructed not to submit such scores as part of their application.

Application fee is set at $75. A fee waiver is only offered to US veterans with proof of active service.

For more information, visit program's website:  https://www.ccny.cuny.edu/psychology/admissions

Program Advisor/Directors:

Professor Steven Tuber,  [email protected]

Professor Sasha Rudenstine,  [email protected]  

Admissions Contact:  [email protected]

Ready to take the next step?

Contact information.

Wille Administration Building Room 101 160 Convent Avenue New York, NY 10031 212.650.6977 [email protected]

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Last Updated: 12/14/2023 13:55

/images/cornell/logo35pt_cornell_white.svg" alt="phd in psychology acceptance rate"> Cornell University --> Graduate School

Doctoral program statistics.

Use this page to explore summary statistics for research doctoral programs administered by the Graduate School. While the most common doctoral degree is the Ph.D., the D.M.A. in Music and the J.S.D. in Law are also included here. Methodology and definitions are provided at the bottom of the page.   

For additional graduate statistics, survey results, and career outcomes data, see program metrics .

Methodology and Definitions

Admissions counts.

Applied, admitted and matriculated counts are reported for new, external applications only. Current students who transfer into a different graduate program at Cornell without submitting a new application are not counted here.

Individuals may defer enrollment and/or be admitted to a program that differs from the one to which they originally applied. This can cause admitted and matriculated counts to be higher than application counts in some fields. 

Admission cycles start in the summer and continue through the following spring. For example, the 2020-21 admissions year includes data from summer 2020 through spring 2021. Because these dashboards are updated annually in the fall, the most recent year will not include data from the spring.

Average Admit Rate

Admit rate is the percentage of applicants who were admitted. Highly selective programs tend to have low admit rates. The five year average provides a good indicator of typical admit rates.

Enrollment numbers are derived from the student enrollment snapshot that is captured the sixth week of each fall term. Only students who are enrolled on the census date are counted. Students on an approved leave of absence are not included.

Average Completion Rate

Completion rate is the percentage of entering doctoral students who successfully completed the degree. Completion rates are reported by entering cohort, which is defined by the first term in which a student is enrolled in their doctoral program, regardless of any prior enrollment in a master’s program. The cohorts included here entered their programs seven to twelve years ago, and thus have had adequate time to finish a doctoral degree.

Status of Students in Each Recent Entering Cohort

This graph shows the current status of students who began the doctoral program in each of the last ten academic years. Students listed as completed have received the doctoral degree. Students are considered current in their program if they are still actively pursuing the doctoral degree or are on an approved temporary leave of absence. Students listed as discontinued have either left the university without a degree or switched to a different type of degree program (in many cases a master’s degree).

Time to Degree (TTD)

Time-to-degree degree measures the time in years from the first day of a student’s initial enrollment in their doctoral program to the day of their degree conferral. Time-to-degree measures elapsed time only, not enrolled time. It does not stop and start if a student takes a leave of absence. For Master’s/PhD students, time-to-degree starts when they begin the PhD phase of their studies. If a student was enrolled in a master’s program prior to matriculating in the doctoral program, the separate time in the master’s program is not included. Because of this, time-to-degree may appear shorter in some doctoral programs where it is common to complete a master’s prior to matriculation in the doctoral program.

The median time to degree can be thought of as the “mid-point”, where half of the students completed in a time period that is less than or equal to this value. The median is not affected by extreme values or outliers. 

2023-2024 Academic Catalog

Psychology, ph.d..

The doctoral program in Psychology has three training tracks; Behavioral Neuroscience, Social Psychology, and General Experimental Psychology. All Ph.D. students begin by taking a set of general core classes representing the breadth in the discipline of psychology. Differences in the tracks begin with the specialty core which is comprised of course work specific to Behavioral Neuroscience, Social Psychology, or General Experimental Psychology. Upon acceptance to doctoral candidacy, students in each track have a specific set of doctoral and elective classes from which to choose.

The Ph.D. program in psychology prepares students for university teaching/research, and applied positions in universities, hospitals, industry, or government. The program consists of course work, a qualifying examination, research leading to a doctoral dissertation, and a final oral examination. Students are admitted to the program only in the fall semester.

Students in the Ph.D. program in psychology at Baylor University are expected to acquire sufficient knowledge and expertise to permit them to work as independent scholars at the frontier of Psychology upon graduation. The Doctor of Philosophy degree is ultimately awarded to those individuals who have attained a high level of scholarship in a selected field through independent study, research, and creative thought.

Students entering the program with post-baccalaureate work or a post-baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution may apply a maximum of 12 semester hours of graduate course work toward the Ph.D. degree. These transfer hours must be approved by the major adviser and program director.

The program is designed to concentrate course work during the first three years of study, leading to the qualifying examination. Upon successfully passing the qualifying examination, students are admitted to Ph.D. candidacy, where course demands are minimal. This program does not require a foreign language.

Required courses for M.A. (31 hours plus 3 hours of NSC 5V99 Thesis ) for the behavioral neuroscience track Required courses for M.A. (31 hours plus 3 hours of PSY 5V99 Thesis ) for the general and social track

With the consent of the Graduate Program Director, elective courses may be taken in other departments, provided the course has graduate standing.

Policies and operating procedures for each of the above degrees are detailed in a program manual provided to each student upon enrollment.

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PhD in Clinical Psychology Admissions

The PhD in Clinical Psychology program admits students once a year for the fall term, which starts in September. Applications for fall 2024 opened in early September 2023. 

Admissions Requirements

• Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree from a regionally-accredited institution or the international equivalent.
• In addition to the required prerequisites, we strongly recommend applicants have related volunteer or work experience in the mental health field and experience with research.
• GRE scores are not required for admission to PAU doctoral degree programs for the 23-24 admissions cycle.

Application Deadlines

Application review for the fall 2024 cohort begins November 1, 2023.

Applications may be accepted after this date if space is available.

• Online Application via PsyCAS
• Application Fee
• Official Transcripts
• Resume or CV
• Three Letters of Recommendation
• Statement of Purpose

Yes. Although both programs are committed to training clinical psychologists, the programs have different strengths, training missions, structure, and faculty. You do need to write separate statements of purpose for each program. To apply to both programs: 1. Start an application for the PsyD program in PsyCAS 2. In the "Program Materials" section, select "yes" to the question that asks, "Would you also like to have your application considered for admission to PAU's PhD in Clinical Psychology program?" 3. In the "Optional Documents" section, upload your additional personal statement specific to the PhD program.

Frequently Asked Questions: PhD Admissions

Recommended gpa.

• We strongly recommend applicants have at least a 3.0 cumulative grade point average.

Applying to PhD Labs

You are welcome to apply to both the PhD and PsyD concurrently. Your applications will be reviewed separately by the two Admissions Committees, and the processes will generally run independently of each other. There is no penalty for applying to both programs – we do encourage you to be clear about how each program is a good fit for your academic and professional interests.

• You should submit two Statements of Purpose, which address the distinct reasons for applying to each.
• Start an application for the PsyD program in PsyCAS
• In the "Program Materials" section, select "yes" to the question that asks, "Would you also like to have your application considered for admission to PAU's PhD in Clinical Psychology program?"
• In the "Optional Documents" section, upload your additional personal statement specific to the PhD program.
• PAU is atypical in terms of how students apply to research labs. Rather than applying directly to a research lab or faculty member, students apply to the PAU PhD program in general. Students can explore the broad range of labs available during the first year and even volunteer in labs. This allows students to make informed decisions about which labs they wish to apply to. Students apply for labs in the Spring of their first year.
• During the application process, we encourage students to mention a few faculty members with whom they would like to work. However, this is not binding. 

Research and Clinical Experience

• We strongly recommend applicants have related volunteer or work experience in the mental health field and experience with research.
• Feel free to include non-psychology research experience.
• For applicants with no formal research experience, including research conducted within an academic class may be helpful and may be a way to highlight one’s preparation for doctoral-level study.
• Feel free to include papers or projects underway but not complete at the time of application. 

Prerequisite Courses

The following courses are required for entry into the PhD Clinical Psychology program:

• Biopsychology (e.g. Sensation and Perception, Brain and Behavior)
• Abnormal Psychology
• Developmental Psychology

The four mentioned courses will help ensure that all incoming students have a smooth transition into our rigorous doctoral program. They must be passed with a grade of B or better and completed before the start of classes in the PhD program. Prerequisite courses must be completed before an incoming student starts classes but do not need to be completed before applying. Students can mark that prerequisite courses are “in-progress.” Students with courses in progress or planned for a future term will be offered conditional admission, which will not be lifted until the pre-requisite courses are complete. 

• These courses can be completed at either the lower or upper-division level and may be completed at a community college or university extension program to save money. 
• Statistics can be completed in any discipline, not just in Psychology. 
• There is no statute of limitations on when these courses must have been taken, but we do encourage students who have been out of school for some time to consider whether a refresher course might be helpful. 
• Students with questions about whether a class will count toward a prerequisite should contact the Office of Admissions. An Admissions Counselor can review the course and determine its acceptability. 
• Courses graded on a pass/no pass scale are acceptable.

Master’s Degrees

• Students are not required to have a master’s degree, and there is no preference given to students with master’s degrees. There is also no penalty for having a master’s degree. 
• Grades from both the undergraduate and graduate levels are considered in the selection of students. Admissions Committee members do pay attention to trends in grades over time.

Personal Statement Criteria

The purpose of the personal statement is to provide a sample of the applicant’s ability to write in an academic and professional manner, as well as to learn about any qualifications/life events that were not captured in the application.

Formatting: Double space, and limit to 500 words. We recommend that you reflect on the following questions as you develop your essay:

• Why are you pursuing a PhD in clinical psychology?  What led this interest?
• What are your long-term professional goals?
• What are your research interests (including faculty you want to work with, and why)?
• How will a PhD from PAU help you to achieve your goals?

In your essay, you may also wish to include reflections about the following:

Experience with and/or commitment to serving minoritized and marginalized populations Personal qualities that will facilitate success as a graduate student and future psychologist

Areas of Emphasis

• Students indicate their possible area(s) of emphasis on the PsyCAS application; however, this is not a binding choice. 
• For the PhD, each area of emphasis is distinctive and has differing entry requirements.

Admissions Communication

• The primary form of communication in the admissions process is email, and we will use the email address you list on your application. 
• All students will receive a decision, and we will provide updates as often as possible. 
• Offers of admissions are made in late March. You are always welcome to reach out to the Office of Admissions for an update about your application status. 
• PhD and PsyD students have until April 15th to accept an offer of admission. This deadline may be extended due to extenuating circumstances.  
• Work-study awards are part of the financial aid package. Once awarded work-study, students may apply for any work-study job on the PAU campus. While it is technically possible for students to use their work-study award at Stanford, it is rare. 
• International students are generally allowed to work on campus but should check with the International Students Office to ensure an on-campus position is permitted based on visa type. 

Transfer Credit

Students may not receive transfer credit for any additional courses, including electives.

Applying to the PhD and PsyD

• You are welcome to apply to both the PhD and PsyD concurrently. Your applications will be reviewed separately by the two Admissions Committees, and the processes will generally run independently of each other. There is no penalty for applying to both programs – we do encourage you to be clear about how each program is a good fit for your academic and professional interests. 
• You should submit two Statements of Purpose, which address the distinct reasons for applying to each. 

To apply to both programs:

Palo Alto University’s Office of Admissions and Outreach is eager to answer all your admissions questions and connect you with helpful resources as you embark on your application process. Please direct all general inquiries to [email protected] , or you can call 650-417-2039. Due to our remote work, our phone line is not staffed live. Please leave us a message, and we will return your call shortly.

Demographic Summary: Fall 2022 Deposited PhD Students

Self-Reported Race (PAU uses IPEDS rules when reporting race and ethnicity)

Race - Narrative Summary

Other Demographics

Stipends for doctoral students of psychology have not kept pace with cost of living in the U.S., study finds

A n online survey of doctoral students in psychology across the U.S. has shown that their annual stipends are not keeping pace with the rising cost of living. More than 80% of these students reported taking on additional debt to cover their living expenses. The survey also found that students who were more concerned about their financial situation were more likely to postpone getting married or having children and were also more likely to forego medical or mental health care. The paper was published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology .

The cost of higher education in the United States has risen dramatically over the past several decades. Since the 1980s, tuition and fees at both public and private colleges and universities have increased by as much as 250%, which is a rate far exceeding inflation. For the 2021-2022 academic year, the average cost of tuition and fees was $38,185 at private colleges and $10,338 for state residents at public colleges.

This rise in costs has been driven by factors such as increased demand for higher education, reductions in state funding for public institutions, growing administrative expenses, and investments in facilities and technology. The escalating cost of higher education has led to a significant increase in student loan debt, which has become a major financial burden for many Americans.

In 2021, total student loan debt in the U.S. was estimated to be over $1.7 trillion. With around 44 million borrowers, the average debt is around $38,000 per borrower. This rising cost of higher education and the associated debt has sparked an ongoing debate about the value of a university degree and the need to reform the higher education system.

Research focusing on graduate psychology students has revealed that their debt levels have escalated from between $20,000-$60,000 around the turn of the millennium to recent estimates exceeding $122,000 and $231,000 for PhD and PsyD students, respectively. This level of debt is in stark contrast to the median annual salary for clinical psychologists, which stands at $90,000.

Study author Erica Szkody and her colleagues wanted to further explore the financial stress and debt situations of doctoral students in clinical psychology. They were interested in understanding the sources of funding and financial support these students receive, how they manage their finances, and the impact of financial stress on their future plans and mental health. They sought detailed insights through an online survey.

The survey included 912 doctoral students from scientist-practitioner and clinical scientist psychology graduate programs in the U.S., with 82% identifying as female and 73% as White. The participants represented a diverse geographical distribution across the country.

The survey inquired about the students’ incomes, including stipends, part-time employment, savings, and other sources of income, as well as their expenses, such as daily living costs, work and education-related expenditures, and their level of debt. It also explored issues related to financial stress, including delays in achieving life milestones due to financial concerns, living arrangements, and assessments related to financial hardship, depression, anxiety, substance abuse, sleep patterns, and sleep difficulties.

The findings indicated that half of the students received stipends covering all 12 months of the year, while 39% received support for 9 months. Despite variations in funding during the summer, over half of the participants reported some form of support. Savings among students varied significantly, with 50% reporting up to $5,000 in savings and 15% having none. Financial support from friends, family, partners, or child support was crucial for 72% of the students, especially during the summer months.

Despite program restrictions on part-time employment, 28% of students reported having part-time jobs at some point. Only 5% had no undergraduate student loan debt, and 19% had not taken out graduate student loans. The average loan size reported was around $77,000, with some students reporting debts as high as $500,000.

Most students shared housing with roommates, family members, or friends, with 86% renting homes or apartments. The average annual expenditure for students was approximately $17,500, against an average reported income of about $21,500, leaving them with around $4,000 in expendable pre-tax income. However, about 35% reported having no expendable income.

Approximately 43% of participants expressed significant stress about their financial debt, and 16% seriously considered discontinuing their doctoral studies due to financial difficulties. About half of the participants delayed life milestones due to financial concerns, most commonly postponing marriage, starting a family, having children, and participating in social activities.

Further analysis revealed that lower stipends, greater debt, and smaller savings were linked to higher financial stress and more time spent worrying about financial issues. Greater financial concerns were associated with higher levels of depression and anxiety, as well as reduced sleep quality.

“This study illustrates the inadequacy of current financial support for clinical psychology doctoral students,” the study authors concluded. “Most of the sample reported receiving a stipend that required them to take out significant loans during graduate school, which contributed to debt and financial stress.”

“We also now know that financial stress is related to symptoms of depression and anxiety, and poor sleep for clinical psychology doctoral students, as well as avoiding seeking proper health care, which makes financial stress in graduate school a topic of critical importance. University and program leadership are encouraged to advocate for increased financial support, as well as improve financial transparency and access to health care.”

The study sheds light on an important predicament current doctoral students face. However, it should be noted that study participants were exclusively students from clinical psychology programs that were members of the Council of University Directors of Clinical Psychology. Results might be somewhat different on students of other programs.

The paper, “ Financial stress and debt in clinical psychology doctoral students, ” was authored by Erica Szkody, Steven Hobaica, Sarah Owens, Jennifer Boland, Jason J. Washburn, and Debora Bell.

More From Forbes

Harvard accepts 3.59% of applicants, highest rate in 4 years.

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This year's Ivy League acceptance rates continue to reflect today’s competitive landscape of higher education but there are some signs of easing. Harvard University accepted 3.59% of applicants for the Class of 2028, its highest acceptance rate in four years, according to the student-run Harvard Crimson.

This compares with last year’s 3.41% for the Class of 2027 and a 3.19% acceptance rate the year before, which was a record low.

Despite the slight widening of Harvard’s acceptance rate, student interest in highly-ranked universities remained robust. Yale University accepted 3.7% of applicants, its lowest rate ever, according to Yale Daily News.

“There’s never been more demand for the top-50 most recognizable universities, universities where people feel a life-changing education is at hand,” says Hafeez Lakhani, Founder of Lakhani Coaching. “The demand for that is really off the charts.”

The acceptance rates at Harvard University and other Ivy League schools remained low, reflecting ... [+] continued student interest in attending these highly-ranked institutions.

Elsewhere, Brown University reported an acceptance rate of 5.2% for the Class of 2028, its third-lowest acceptance rate, according to the student-run Brown Daily Herald . Columbia University accepted 3.85% of applicants, narrowing slightly from last year’s acceptance rate of 3.9%, according to the Columbia Daily Spectator.

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Additionally, Dartmouth drew a record-high number of applicants and accepted a record-low 5.3% of those applicants, that rate nearly a percentage point lower than the rate last year.

“Students are still very interested in applying to the Ivies as well as other top-20 and top-50 colleges,” says Aaron Andrikopoulos, Co-Founder of AJ Tutoring.

“They still see a lot of value in the name brand of those colleges and the doors that might open in the future, as well as the educational opportunities and the chance to be surrounded by a cohort of similarly motivated students,” he adds.

The University of Pennsylvania said it had received the largest applicant pool in the school’s history but did not immediately share its acceptance rate. Cornell, too, did not immediately share details.

While Ivy League admission rates remain very competitive, experts note that some are wider than they’ve been in recent years. They say a number of factors are likely contributing - for example, this is the first admissions cycle since the end of affirmative action.

In addition, there may be the dampening effect of the so-called “enrollment cliff” that is expected to become increasingly apparent in 2025, when the number of high school graduates declines. This fall stems from a drop in birthrates following the 2008 global recession due to concerns over finances.

Earlier, Brown had reported that a total of 48,881 students applied to its Class of 2028, marking a 5% decline from last year, according to the Brown Daily Herald.

“The population in the high school seniors’ age bracket applying to colleges is going to decline, so that might increase admission rates slightly,” says Connie Livingston, Head of College Counseling at edtech company Empowerly and a former admissions officer at Brown University. However, she adds that “we may see a one or two percent increase, nothing very dramatic. I think the numbers of highly qualified students will remain constant.”

The number of applicants to highly-ranked universities may decline, too, due to some schools reinstating SAT/ACT submission requirements. Among them are Dartmouth College , Brown University and the University of Texas at Austin . Yale University has a new flexible testing policy that requires students to submit scores with their applications, although the university will accept Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate exam scores in lieu of the ACT or SAT.

Some universities cited Opportunity Insights research that found SAT and ACT scores have substantive predictive power for academic success in college.

In making its decision to reinstate test requirements, Brown University referred to a report that cited, “Standardized tests provide an important piece of information about the applicant’s performance in the context of the opportunities that were available to them.” For example, a student with scores below the Brown median but at the top of the range of their own school may be a promising candidate for admission but the lack of test scores “removes a piece of evidence that could make a positive difference in the admissions decision,” the report noted.

Harvard has retained its test-optional policies through to the admitted Class of 2030 .

Despite this year’s low acceptance rates, it’s important to note that these schools are generally outliers, as most colleges admit many of their applicants. In fact, that average acceptance rate among all ranked colleges that report their admissions information to U.S. News & World Report in 2022 was 71.4% and 37 schools said they accepted all applicants.

However, with regards to high school students aiming for the country’s most highly-ranked universities, competition may continue to ease up, at least a little, in the future.

“The demographics are speaking loud and clear,” says Hafeez Lakhani of Lakhani Coaching. “I don’t think we’re going to get to where it’s going to be easy to get into Yale. But I do think we’ve peaked, so to speak, at record low acceptance rates.”

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