by our College Data Analytics TeamAre you interested in helping individuals with psychological or mental health disorders? Getting your degree in Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology will teach you about the professional practice of psychology. This involves the diagnosis and treatment of individuals with disorders and behavioral pathologies.
Some of the things you will learn and discuss in your classes are growth and development, nature vs. nurture, reactions towards a specific environment, health problems and family issues. You should be deeply interested in people and comfortable working with diverse populations. Some of the courses you will take are chemistry, biology, abnormal psychology, statistics, child development, and clinical methods. This branch of psychology is focused around practical application.
You may be able to choose a concentration or specialization in this major. Some of the more common ones available are Community Psychology; Counseling Psychology; Industrial and Organizational Psychology; School Psychology; Educational Psychology; Clinical Child Psychology; Environmental Psychology; Geropsychology; Health/Medical Psychology; Family Psychology; Forensic Psychology; and Applied Psychology.
A major in Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology covers Clinical, Counseling And Applied Psychology. Continue reading for the important information every clinical, counseling & applied psychology major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering clinical, counseling & applied psychology programs.
Across the country, clinical, counseling & applied psychology is a popular field of study, with 40,952 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology Schools ranking analyzes these 732 schools to determine the best overall colleges for clinical, counseling & applied psychology students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of clinical, counseling & applied psychology programs later in this article.
Coursework for Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations clinical, counseling & applied psychology graduates commonly enter.
The study of psychology involves time spent in lecture halls, labs and libraries. Students will perform experiments and write lab reports, conduct research and prepare papers and presentations, and participate in class discussions. This requires a balanced individual who is comfortable working with numbers and science as well as interacting with people.
Your major will most likely include an internship or work study program where you will gain some real-world experience. It is important to be able to listen and respond appropriately in potentially emotional situations. Environmental awareness and attention to detail will help you understand the reactions and behavior of people.
The skill set emphasized by a clinical, counseling & applied psychology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a clinical, counseling & applied psychology major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several clinical, counseling & applied psychology degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 24 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 70 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 4,726 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 31,519 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 4,564 |
People currently working in careers related to clinical, counseling & applied psychology tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 33.8% |
| Post-doctoral training | 21.5% |
| Doctoral degree | 17.8% |
| Master’s degree | 10.4% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 5.2% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 4.2% |
| Some college courses | 2.3% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.3% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.7% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.8% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in clinical, counseling & applied psychology careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A major in Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology prepares you for work in several different fields as a clinical psychologist, counselor or social worker. Most of these occupations do require an advanced degree in the field of psychology. If graduates decide not to obtain an advanced degree, their college education also prepares them for work in social work, public service, marketing, sales or any other career working with people.
Majoring in clinical, counseling & applied psychology prepares you for numerous career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to clinical, counseling & applied psychology.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to clinical, counseling & applied psychology.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Teaching Assistants, Special Education | 656,798 | 9.5% |
| Training and Development Specialists | 622,945 | 11.3% |
| Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary | 513,614 | -3.0% |
| Management Analysts | 484,759 | 12.6% |
| Managers, All Other | 468,025 | 6.2% |
| Human Resources Specialists | 405,890 | 11.8% |
| Human Resources Managers | 404,262 | -3.6% |
| Training and Development Managers | 394,938 | -0.4% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of clinical, counseling & applied psychology graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $54,756 |
| 4 years | $59,892 |
| 5 years | $67,036 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for clinical, counseling & applied psychology graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers clinical, counseling & applied psychology grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Wind Energy Development Managers | $169,952 |
| Loss Prevention Managers | $165,723 |
| Training and Development Managers | $139,524 |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | $122,567 |
| Compliance Managers | $117,178 |
| School Psychologists | $108,275 |
| Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers | $99,321 |
| Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary | $98,479 |
With 732 different clinical, counseling & applied psychology programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased clinical, counseling & applied psychology school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in clinical, counseling & applied psychology, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Counseling Psychology | 11,691 |
| Applied Behavior Analysis | 6,914 |
| Clinical Psychology | 6,059 |
| School Psychology | 3,685 |
| Applied Psychology | 2,998 |
| Industrial and Organizational Psychology | 2,898 |
| Forensic Psychology | 2,667 |
| Educational Psychology | 1,979 |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology, Other | 577 |
| Community Psychology | 520 |
| Health/Medical Psychology | 447 |
| Performance and Sport Psychology | 270 |
| Clinical Child Psychology | 106 |
| Family Psychology | 101 |
| Transpersonal/Spiritual Psychology | 26 |
| Environmental Psychology | 11 |
| Geropsychology | 3 |
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Psychology, General | 147,078 |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | 22,813 |
| Psychology, Other | 2,825 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
