What Is a PhD in Psychology Degree?
For many professionals, reaching the pinnacle of education in psychology means earning a PhD in Psychology. This doctoral-level degree signifies that a person has completed a rigorous course of study in various aspects of human psychology and is qualified to work in many high-level roles within psychology, whether in academia or clinical settings.
A PhD in Psychology represents the highest possible academic achievement in the field, whether the individual focuses on neuroscience, behavior or other areas of psychology, and a PhD in Psychology differs from another popular psychology doctorate, a PsyD degree, in a few critical ways.
What are the key components of a PhD in Psychology, how does the degree differ from a PsyD, what types of jobs are available for those with a psychology doctorate, and what are some program options for interested learners?
Psychology Doctorate Options
Regardless of the doctoral path a person chooses, most programs require doctorate-seekers to have earned a master’s degree in an applicable field, though some programs may offer joint-degree paths.
Both a Ph.D. in Psychology and a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) enable people to work in the highest degree levels of psychology, the degree types have some key differences. For instance, a PhD in Psychology tends to be a more academically rigorous program, including aggressive training in research, while a PsyD tends to have a stronger clinical focus.
Here are a few of the other main distinctions:
| PhD in Psychology | PsyD |
| Multiple career options, including teaching and clinical psychology work. | Direct work with patients or clients is primary career option. |
| Highly competitive and rigorous admissions process. | Generally requires less time to complete and may be easier to get into. |
| More commonly offered degree, so students have more school options. | Though growing in popularity, PsyD is often considered an alternative degree. |
In short, if your ultimate career goal is to work directly with clients and you have little to no interest in furthering the study of psychology or publishing peer-reviewed work in the field, a PsyD may be the better option. But a PhD is still considered in many quarters to be a more prestigious degree.
SEE ALSO: PhD vs PsyD in Psychology
A Ph.D. does not relegate you to the research lab, though. Individuals with a Ph.D. in Psychology in most states can practice as clinical psychologists, school psychologists or in other specialties within psychology in addition to being qualified to teach undergraduate and graduate students alike. In other words, the degree may provide broader career options than its PsyD counterpart.
Costs & Program Length
While each university’s Ph.D. in Psychology program is unique, most programs will require about six years, and many of them must be taken full-time. But given the rigorousness of Ph.D. programs, that should come as no surprise. Remember that the degree is designed to provide an in-depth understanding of psychology and the research that’s been done in the field to date, so this is not a quick degree option.
SEE ALSO: 8 Most Affordable Online Psychology Ph.D. Programs 2019
Your individual interests and the particular school you choose will also play a part in determining how long it’ll take to complete your degree. Many universities offer several different Ph.D. in Psychology degrees that have variable timetables, even though they’re offered by the same institution.
Typical Ph.D. in Psychology students will be able to complete their doctoral work in about six years, but it’s important to remember that many colleges and universities set maximum time limits as well, with some schools terminating enrollment if students haven’t finished their degrees in a set amount of time. This practice varies by school, as does the max limit, with some schools setting a seven-year limit and others extending beyond that.
The cost of a Ph.D. in Psychology degree, like the overall length of programs, varies by institution and specialty being pursued. According to an analysis by the American Psychological Association, median in-state doctoral tuition was nearly $11,000 per year, with median out-of-state doctoral tuition coming in at $24,000 per year. Private institutions, as you would expect, are even more expensive, with median annual doctoral tuition rising to about $34,000.
However, Ph.D. students are much more likely than lower-level students to secure teaching assistantships and have at least part of their tuition covered, with about 8 in 10 of advanced doctoral students at public institutions receiving a full tuition waiver. Research assistantships also are widely available for doctoral students, with about two-thirds of private doctoral students having their tuition fully covered.
PhD in Psychology Jobs
With a Ph.D. in Psychology, an individual is prepared for a huge range of jobs in psychology, throughout the public and private sectors and in a range of work settings, from academia to the military and everything in between.
SEE ALSO: 50+ Highest Paying Psychology Careers
The job outlook for psychologists is bright, with employment projected to grow by 14% through 2026, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This growth rate is double the rate projected for all occupations in the U.S. economy. As public acceptance of the need for psychological services continues to grow and access to these services expands, the demand for psychologists looks to remain strong into the next decade.
Percentage change in employment by occupation, 2016-2026
| Clinical, counseling and school psychologists | 14% |
| Social scientists and related workers | 11% |
| Psychologists, all others | 11% |
| Industrial-organizational psychologists | 8% |
| All occupations | 7% |
In addition to a healthy outlook in terms of job availability, a PhD in Psychology also is a solid investment from a sheer dollar standpoint, with salaries for psychologists topping six figures.
Annual median wage by occupation
| Psychologists, all others | $100,700 |
| Industrial-organizational psychologists | $97,260 |
| Social scientists and related workers | $78,650 |
| Clinical, counseling and school psychologists | $76,990 |
| All occupations | $38,640 |
Salaries for clinical psychologists are strongest in California, though several other states and the District of Columbia also boast relatively high wages for these roles.
Annual median wage by state, clinical, counseling and school psychologists, top 10
| California | $100,850 |
| Oregon | $89,150 |
| Connecticut | $88,890 |
| New York | $88,710 |
| Rhode Island | $86,370 |
| New Jersey | $85,160 |
| District of Columbia | $84,780 |
| Alaska | $84,740 |
| Minnesota | $84,630 |
| Colorado | $84,410 |
The availability of clinical psychologist jobs is strongest on the East Coast, with five of the top 10 states in either New England or on the East Coast.
SEE ALSO: Average Clinical Psychologist Salary by State
Clinical, school or counseling psychologist employment per 1,000 jobs, top 10 states
| Rhode Island | 1.824 |
| Vermont | 1.477 |
| Montana | 1.244 |
| New York | 1.211 |
| New Mexico | 1.152 |
| Massachusetts | 1.134 |
| Wyoming | 1.127 |
| Minnesota | 1.123 |
| Wisconsin | 1.074 |
| Delaware | 1.062 |
Best PhD in Psychology Programs
Choosing a PhD in Psychology program involves considering dozens of factors, including areas of focus, faculty, cost, program length and many others. But the good news is that in all but one state, there’s at least one PhD in Psychology program that’s accredited by the American Psychological Association, and most states are home to multiple programs the APA accredits. (The two APA-accredited programs in New Hampshire offer only PsyD degrees).
SEE ALSO: Best Online PsyD Degree Programs
Depending on your state’s licensing process for clinical psychologists, it may not be necessary to earn a degree from an APA-accredited program, but that’s one important way to ensure the degree you’re about to invest in meets industry standards and will be seen regardless of where you seek employment as a prestigious degree.
Three of the five highest-rated PhD in Psychology programs, according to U.S. News and World Report, are in California, and the Ivy League boasts three of the top 10.
Highest-rated PhD in Psychology programs in U.S. News and World Report, top 10
| School | State |
| Stanford University | California |
| University of California-Berkeley | California |
| Harvard University | Massachusetts |
| University of California-Los Angeles | California |
| University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | Michigan |
| Yale University | Connecticut |
| University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign | Illinois |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Massachusetts |
| Princeton University | New Jersey |
| University of Minnesota-Twin Cities | Minnesota |
Conclusion
While it’s pretty much an ancient field, the understanding of human psychology seems to evolve by the day. For individuals who have a passion for understanding the reasons why people do what they do, earning a Ph.D. in Psychology means they can contribute to the growing understanding of human behavior as well as make an impact in day-to-day lives.
Additional References
- American Psychological Association, APA-Accredited Programs. (Undated.) Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/ed/accreditation/programs/
- American Psychological Association, Summary Report, Graduate Study in Psychology 2016: Tuition and Financial Aid. (2016.) Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/education/grad/survey-data/2016-tuition-financial-aid
- U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics Query System. (Undated.) Accessed from https://data.bls.gov/oes/#/home
- U.S. News and World Report, Best Psychology Schools. (2017.) Retrieved from https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-humanities-schools/psychology-rankings