Pursuing a master's degree in psychology in the USA would be a great choice if you want a successful career in health and science. A postgraduate degree in psychology will allow you to be on track for a promising career start to work closely with top-level educational institutes and health facilities in the USA. Studying in the US is a dream for many international students. As an international student was investing nearly 62,500 USD in a master's in psychology in the USA, the expectations of a return on investment have raised the bar on the median salaries. Currently, masters in psychology graduates in the USA can earn anywhere between 25,000 USD and 100,000 USD based on the institution they apply for. A master's in psychology in the USA will be the most rewarding career if you choose to become one.
Masters in Psychology in the USA: Course Highlights
There are about 200+ universities and institutions that offer STEM programs like Masters in Psychology in the USA, allowing students the benefit of staying back as a degree or completing them under their doctoral courses with theses. Here are a few course highlights are mentioned below:
Particulars
|
Details
|
Level
|
Postgraduate
|
Course duration
|
2 years
|
Eligibility
|
The candidate should have graduated from a recognized board and scored a minimum of 55%
|
Admission process
|
Entrance or Merit-based
|
Why Pursue Masters In Psychology in the USA?
Today, most master's degrees in psychology offered at
universities in the USA are awarded in various segments, such as clinical, counseling, and industrial or organizational psychology. With being the world's best place to study psychology degrees, there are several other reasons to learn a master's in psychology in the US:
- A well-known fact is that the country, the US, is home to the world's best and most renowned universities and institutions for health science that offer a psychology degree.
- Universities in the USA offer best-in-class and practical approach psychology programs with about 35+ sub-disciplines of psychology.
- There is a steep increase of 22% yearly in demand for psychology postgraduates in the US, resulting in enhanced career opportunities.
- Several pieces of research conclude that there is an excellent projection of about 19% growth in employment of health science graduates, especially psychologists, from 2020 to 2030.
- According to the BLS, the US offers the highest annual pay for psychologists, at USD 84,350 in 2020.
Top Universities in the USA to Study Masters in Psychology in the USA
According to QS, around 150+ top US universities offer postgraduate-level courses in psychology degrees. A Master's in Psychology usually takes roughly 1-2 years and costs 25,000–60,000 USD based on the program choice. Some of the top American universities and institutions offer a terminal degree in a master's in psychology.
University
|
QS Ranking 2022
|
Course Offered
|
Course Duration
|
Tuition Fees in USD
|
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
|
82
|
MS in Psychology
|
2 Years
|
26,560
|
University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin)
|
67
|
MEd Educational Psychology
|
2 Years
|
34,980
|
Pennsylvania State University
|
95
|
MS Educational Psychology
|
1 Year
|
36,780
|
Northwestern University
|
30
|
MS in Counseling
|
1.5 Years
|
55,340
|
University of Wisconsin- Madison (UW-M)
|
74
|
MS in Educational Psychology
|
2 Years
|
26,400
|
University of Chicago
|
10
|
MA Social Sciences- Psychology
|
1 Year
|
49,870
|
Boston University
|
112
|
MA Psychology
|
1 Year
|
30,170
|
Columbia University
|
19
|
MA Psychology in Education
|
2 Years
|
57,320
|
Michigan State University (MSU)
|
154
|
MS in Counseling
|
1.5 Years
|
44,690
|
New York University (NYU)
|
42
|
MA in Industrial and Organizational Psychology
|
2 Years
|
38,410
|
Masters in Psychology in the USA: Course Specializations
On the surface level, psychology is a scientific methodology and study of mind and behavior. Since the field of psychology is vast, the standard for independent research or practice has increased phenomenally. Recently, the number of students who want to study for a terminal master's degree in psychology in the USA has also increased. To match the current demand, universities in the US have a wide range of specializations to offer students who study for master's in psychology. Mentioned are the well-known specializations offered at universities offering Masters in Psychology in the USA:
- Clinical Psychology
- Industrial and Organizational Psychology
- School Psychology
- Addiction Studies
- Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling
- Experimental Psychology
- Cognitive Psychology
- Counseling Psychology
- Sexuality
- Aging and Long-Term Care
- Advanced Biological Psychology
- Arts Therapy
- Family, group, and individual therapy
- Ethics and Multicultural Issues in Psychology
Masters in Psychology USA Eligibility Requirements
All aspiring international students need to fulfil the following admission requirements to be eligible for a master's in psychology in the USA. The following are the minimum requirements for a master's in psychology in the USA from some top universities:
University
|
Academic Requirements
|
Additional Requirements
|
TOEFL Score
|
IELTS Score
|
University of Texas at Austin
|
Relevant degree in UG
|
SOP, LOR, and GRE score
|
78
|
6.5
|
Michigan State University
|
A minimum GPA of 3.2 is must
|
GRE, SOP, additional forms
|
75
|
7
|
Northwestern University
|
UG with a minimum of 80%
|
60% in total GRE Score
|
90
|
6.5
|
University of Chicago
|
Good academic records
|
60% in total GRE Score
|
100
|
7
|
Ohio State University
|
A minimum GPA of 3.8 is a must
|
GRE Score, SOP, LOR, CV
|
78
|
7.5
|
Columbia University
|
UG with high grades
|
SOP
|
100
|
7.5
|
University of Minnesota Twin Cities
|
A minimum GPA of 3.0 is a must
|
SOP, LOR, Additional forms
|
78
|
6.5
|
New York University (NYU)
|
Any relevant UG degree is preferred
|
GRE and SOP are required
|
100
|
7
|
University of Illinois Urbana Champaign
|
Relevant degree in UG
|
SOP, LOR, and GRE score
|
90
|
6.5
|
Admission Process for Masters in Psychology in the USA
Students who look to apply for admission must have a relevant bachelor's degree to pursue a master's in psychology. Most universities in the US prefer candidates to have a good understanding of the emotions, thoughts, and experiences of people and be able to interrogate them. Such experience will be an advantage in entering the psychology branch. Students must submit proof of standardized
English proficiency test scores to study in the USA, including
GRE,
TOEFL,
IELTS, etc. Apart from these, several other requisites need to be fulfilled by an applicant.
All aspiring international students need to fulfill the following admission requirements to be eligible for a master's in psychology in the USA:- A candidate must have a relevant bachelor's degree or an undergraduate degree.
- A minimum GPA of 3.0–3.5 on a scale of 4.0 is needed.
- A laboratory program and statistics are a few of the prerequisites for admission.
- There is no minimum GRE score required. However, a score of around 310 is considered for admissions.
Want to know about the Application Process? Click Here
Documents Required
To apply for the master's in psychology program that US universities offer, the student must have a relevant undergraduate degree, and the following documents need to be submitted for the application process:
Cost of Studying Masters in Psychology in the USA
Studying for a master's in psychology has different costs for in-state and international students. Generally, the cost of studying includes three types: pre-arrival costs, tuition fees, and cost of living.
Pre-arrival Cost
The pre-arrival cost is a one-time cost-covering major miscellaneous expenses such as application forms, registration fees, student visa costs, airfare, etc. A few of the estimated pre-arrival expenses include:
Expense
|
Cost in USD
|
Program Application Fees
|
150
|
Visa Application Fees
|
160
|
Airfare
|
550
|
IELTS, GRE, TOEFL, GMAT Fees
|
600
|
Tuition Fees
The average cost of studying for a master's degree in psychology in the USA will be around 25,000 to 58,000 USD. The exact amount of the tuition fee differs for each program at different universities in the USA.
Cost of Living
In the US, student accommodation costs make up a considerable part of the cost of living. Apart from the accommodation costs, there are other expenses such as books and supplies, meals, transportation, and miscellaneous personal expenses. The table below shows the breakdown of the estimated cost of living in the USA:
Expense
|
Cost in USD
|
Accommodation
|
1750
|
Food
|
155
|
Books and Supplies
|
400
|
Transportation
|
250
|
Health Insurance
|
600
|
Study Masters in Psychology in the USA with Scholarships
The US is the best choice if you want to get a Master's in Psychology abroad with a scholarship. Many universities and institutions in the US offer scholarships to candidates who aspire to study for a master's in psychology to support students who require financial support for their studies. Thus, these scholarships will minimize the expenses of international students by having a reduction in tuition fees. A few of the scholarships offered are:
Scholarship
|
Award
|
Dr. Michael Horowitz/Dr. Jeannie Gutierrez Immigrant/First Generation Scholarship
|
10,000
|
President's Scholarship
|
7,500
|
QS Leadership Scholarship for Masters
|
10,000
|
Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation
|
10,000
|
Merit Scholarship
|
10,000
|
P.E.O. International Peace scholarship
|
12,500
|
American Psychological Foundation Scott and Paul Pearsall Scholarship
|
10,000
|
Jobs & Salary after Masters in Psychology in the USA
Since there is an absolute demand for psychologists these days, fresher candidates with a master's degree in psychology have a lump sum number of job opportunities in 2023. This demand will keep rising and go sky-high throughout the upcoming decade. The average annual salary for someone with a master's degree in psychology is as high as $132,000 and as low as $75,000. But most the master's psychology salaries range from $41,500 (25th percentile) to $83,500 (75th percentile). Top earners (90th percentile) make $255,500 annually across the US. So, one can never find a better time considering the ten highest-paid jobs after completing a postgraduate in psychology.
Job
|
Annual Salary in USD
|
Psychiatrist
|
$220,000
|
Industrial and Organizational Psychologist
|
$106,000
|
Military Psychologist
|
$120,000
|
Neuropsychologist
|
$91,000
|
School Psychologist
|
$75,000
|
Experimental Psychologist
|
$130,000
|
Clinical Psychologist
|
$110,000
|
Counseling Psychologist
|
$85,000
|
Engineering Psychologist
|
$111,000
|
Educational Psychologist
|
$82,000
|
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FAQs About Masters In Psychology in the USA
Is GRE required for Masters in Psychology in USA?
Most master's programmes in psychology need the GRE, even though some graduate schools no longer do or instead accept alternative credentials and skills in its place. The GRE General Test costs $205, while the GRE Subject Tests cost $150.
How much does it cost to study psychology in USA?
Median annual tuition costs to earn a master's and doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology.
- Private institution master's degree: $30,000.
- Private institution doctorate degree: $34,000.
What are the requirements to study psychology in USA?
A few requirements for admissions include having taken statistics, experimental psychology including a laboratory course, or introductory or general psychology. There are no prerequisite GRE scores. For admissions, though, a score of roughly 310 is taken into account.
What type of job roles can a masters in psychology graduate get in USA?
- Human resource manager.
- Market researcher.
- Project coordinator/manager.
- Family services worker.
- Instructor at a community college.
- Social service manager.