California is the most populous state in the USA, as well as the state with the biggest economy. Psychologists’ salaries in California are the second-highest in the country, and there’s predicted to be an 8.6% job growth for psychology professionals in the state from 2020 to 2030.
A master’s degree in psychology in California can allow you to pursue a career in a range of fields, including therapy, counseling, life coaching, human resources, and administration. With this qualification, you’ll be eligible for diverse roles in various settings, such as child and family service organizations, educational institutions, healthcare organizations, law enforcement agencies, and government departments. You’ll also need a master’s if you plan to go on to pursue a doctorate in the field and become a clinical psychologist.
Best Psychology Master’s Programs in California
- Stanford University
- The University of California Los Angeles
- California State University Los Angeles
- California State University Long Beach
- The University of California Davis
- California State University Bakersfield
- The University of Southern California
- California State University Northridge
- California State University Fresno
- Pitzer College
Featured Programs
| University | Program | Acceptance rate |
| Stanford University | Master of Arts in Psychology | 4% |
| The University of California Los Angeles | Graduate Program: Psychology | 11% |
| California State University Los Angeles | Master of Arts in Psychology | 90.5% |
| California State University Long Beach | Graduate Programs – Psychology | 46.9% |
| The University of California Davis | Graduate Program in Psychology | 48.8% |
Stanford University, School of Humanities and Sciences
The Department of Psychology at Stanford University is one of the first of its kind in the country, and is today globally renowned for its groundbreaking theoretical research. This California psychology master’s program is part of a broader PhD degree: you’re awarded a master’s on the way to completing your doctorate.
- Courses include: Cognitive neuroscience, developmental psychology, and mind, culture, and society.
- Credits: 45 units
- Duration: 2 years
- Tuition: Refer to the school’s tuition page
- Financial aid: Fellowships, grants, research and teaching assistantships, stipends, and loans.
- Acceptance rate: 4%
- Location: Stanford, CT
The University of California Los Angeles
UCLA is a world-renowned university with a number of Nobel laureates to its credit that offers a diverse and collaborative atmosphere for study and research. This is another of the many master’s in psychology programs California has on offer for students en route to a doctorate in the discipline.
- Courses include: Developmental psychology, quantitative psychology, and social psychology.
- Credits: 36 units
- Duration: 4 quarters
- Tuition: $18,136 per year
- Financial aid: Scholarships, fellowships, grants, work-study, and loans.
- Acceptance rate: 11%
- Location: Los Angeles, CA
California State University Los Angeles, Department of Psychology
California State University Los Angeles is a prominent public university that has been named first in the nation for upward student mobility. This MA Psychology California degree is designed for students who want to continue to earn a PhD. Each student is assigned a mentor who guides them closely to help them meet their individual research goals.
- Courses include: Advanced experimental methods, multivariate statistics, and advanced statistical methods.
- Credits: 31-32 units
- Tuition: Refer to the school’s tuition page
- Financial aid: Grants, scholarships, federal work-study, and loans.
- Acceptance rate: 90.5%
- Location: Los Angeles, CA
California State University Long Beach, Department of Psychology
Graduate Programs – Psychology
California State University’s psychology department has the second-highest rate of students who go on to complete a doctorate, according to the National Science Foundation. California State University, Long Beach offers three options for a psychology master’s: a Master of Arts in Psychological Research, Master of Science in Human Factors, and Master of Science in Industrial/Organizational Psychology.
- Courses include: Computer applications in psychology, research methods in psychology, and organizational psychology.
- Credits: 30-36 units
- Tuition: Refer to the school’s tuition page
- Financial aid: Scholarships, graduate assistantships, and loans.
- Acceptance rate: 46.9%
- Location: Long Beach, CA
The University of California Davis
Graduate Program in Psychology
The graduate programs of the University of California Davis attract brilliant students from various educational and social backgrounds and have faculty specialized in five areas of Psychology: developmental, biological, perception-cognitive, quantitative, and social-personality. This is also one of the master’s programs in psychology California offers students en route to their doctorate, where they get to work with one or two dedicated mentors.
- Courses include: Advanced inquiry in psychological science, and statistical analysis of psychological experiments.
- Credits: 30-36 units
- Tuition: $11,700 annually
- Financial aid: Scholarships, grants, work-study, and loans.
- Acceptance rate: 48.8%
- Location: Davis, CA
California State University Bakersfield
Besides excellence in academics, California State University Bakersfield is well-known for athletics, with its popular group of intercollegiate teams, the Roadrunners. This California master’s in psychology program’s curriculum is designed to equip students for a range of career paths, including working as a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) or Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT).
- Courses include: Adult & family development, cultural intersectionality in counseling, and psychopharmacology.
- Credits: 60 semester-units
- Duration: 3 years
- Tuition: Refer to the school’s costs page
- Financial aid: Scholarships, grants, federal work-study, athletic grant-in-aid, and loans.
- Acceptance rate: 85.2%
- Location: Bakersfield, CA
The University of Southern California, Dana and David Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences
Master of Science in Applied Psychology
University of Southern California’s Dornsife College caters to over 10,000 students at various levels and plays an integral role in Los Angeles’ intellectual and innovative development. This master’s in psychology California program covers the theory, practice, and research of psychological principles, as well as their application in practical settings to address challenges involving organizations, customers, and employees.
- Courses include: Consumer psychology, organizational psychology, and human behavior: applications.
- Credits: 34
- Duration: 4 semesters
- Tuition: $2,137 per credit
- Financial aid: Scholarships, fellowships, assistantships, federal work-study, and loans.
- Acceptance rate: 12.5%
- Location: Los Angeles, CA
California State University Northridge, College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
CSUN is a public university that takes interdisciplinary and innovative approaches to further education. This master’s in psychology California program adopts the scientist-practitioner model, aiming to either prepare students to jump straight into employment or pursue a PhD or PsyD degree.
- Courses include: Advanced psychopathology, fieldwork in psychological services, and fundamentals of psychotherapy.
- Credits: 36-37 units
- Duration: 2 years
- Tuition: Refer to the school’s tuition page
- Financial aid: Grants, scholarships, work-study, loans
- Acceptance rate: 88.1%
- Location: Northridge, CA
California State University Fresno
California State Fresno is a public institution that is well-known for its emphasis on fostering social mobility and diversity among its students. As part of this psychology graduate program in California, you have the option of a general experimental MA. With this qualification, you’ll be eligible to apply for a doctorate degree, community college teaching, or a range of other roles. The university also offers a special MA in Psychology to meet your individual needs.
- Courses include: Developmental psychology, child development, and social psychology & related areas.
- Credits: 30 units
- Tuition: $3,588 per semester
- Financial aid: Grants, scholarships, loans
- Acceptance rate: 97.3%
- Location: Fresno, CA
Pitzer College
Joint BA/MA Accelerated Degree Program in Psychology
Pitzer College is a private institution with a highly-multicultural campus environment thanks to its many international students and faculty members, as well as a multidisciplinary teaching approach where scientists, sociologists, and artists collaborate to teach courses. This is one of the few BA/MA accelerated graduate programs in psychology in California where you can finish your MA in just one year after graduating from your BA.
- Courses include: Psychological anthropology, social psychology, and developmental cognitive neuroscience.
- Credits: 32 units
- Duration: 1 year
- Tuition: $60,282
- Financial aid: Fellowships, scholarships, grants, work-study, and loans.
- Acceptance rate: 18.3%
- Location: Claremont, CA
Master’s in Psychology Programs in California: Key Facts
California’s master’s in psychology programs offer the choice of various majors, such as:
- General Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Development Psychology
- Occupational/Organizational Psychology
- Social Psychology
The annual tuition for a master’s psychology degree in California can vary among California psychology graduate schools, ranging between around $7,000 up to $60,000. Other educational expenses, such as books, living expenses, and fees could come to anywhere between $18,000 to $45,000 per year.
Admission requirements can vary depending on the university, but most master’s in psychology programs in California ask for:
- A bachelor’s degree in psychology or a related subject
- A minimum GPA of 3.0 for psychology and overall subjects
- Three letters of recommendation
- A statement of purpose
- Interview
Why Get a Psychology Master’s Degree in California?
Earning a psychology master’s qualification in California has a range of benefits, most notably:
- You’ll be eligible for jobs that are out of reach with a bachelor’s degree alone, such as roles related to forensic or health psychology.
- A master’s degree is a basic requirement to be eligible to study a doctorate in the field and become a clinical psychologist or similar.
- You’ll gain in-depth knowledge and experience that will help you to advance your career, in roles such as a therapist or counselor.
- California offers a range of excellent master’s in psychology programs with a diverse choice of majors
How to Choose the Best Psychology Program in California
Choosing the best psychology master’s program for you is a very individual decision that will depend on your interests, passions, and career goals.
However, these general factors can help you to narrow down your choices:
- The reputation of the school, faculty, and the program
- Accreditation
- Curriculum, majors, or specializations offered
- Graduation, placement, and acceptance rates
- Opportunities for internships
- Types of practicals available
- Cost and financial aid options
- Course delivery mode (on-campus, online, or hybrid)
It’s important to look for accredited psychology master’s programs, because accreditation ensures the education you receive meets certain standards. You’ll also need to be enrolled in an accredited program to be eligible for federal student aid. Additionally, employers look for graduates of accredited programs, as do most licensing bodies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which California university has the best psychology program?
It’s difficult to name a single best program, as this choice depends on various individual factors, such as a specific specialization offered. The list above includes the best master’s programs in psychology in California which you can filter based on your own preferences, such as specializations, duration, and budget.
Can you be a therapist with a master’s in psychology in California?
To become a professional therapist in California, in addition to a master’s in psychology, you’ll typically need to acquire 1,500-3,000 hours of supervised experience and pass a relevant licensing exam, such as LMFT (Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist) or LPCC (Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor).
Key Takeaways
Though psychology master’s programs in California can open doors to many jobs in the field, such as therapists, counselors, and clinical managers, many students plan to go on to earn a doctorate in the field and become a clinical psychologist. For this reason, many master’s programs are offered as the first step in a combined master’s and PhD program.
Whether you plan to get a job with your master’s degree, or go on to earn a doctorate, California is one of the best states to study psychology, with many well-known universities offering degrees in the discipline.
For more options to earn a graduate degree in this rewarding field, take a look at these lists of the top master’s in psychology and master’s in industrial organizational psychology programs.
Lisa is a full-time writer specializing in career advice, further education, and personal development. She works from all over the world, and when not writing you'll find her hiking, practicing yoga, or enjoying a glass of Malbec.
