Chicago School of Professional Psychology Psy.D. Program Review
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With more than a dozen psychology degrees offered across seven campuses located in every region of the United States, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is one of the most well-established Psy.D. hubs in the U.S.
Learn more about what this institution has to offer, including its biggest benefits and if there are any drawbacks for prospective learners.
About the Program
Before we dive into some of the biggest benefits of The Chicago School, let’s cover some basic facts about the school and its array of campuses.
Basics
- Institution type: Private, not-for-profit
- Main campus: Los Angeles
- Accreditation: Mixed — Chicago, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology accredited by APA; New Orleans Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology on contingency APA accreditation
- First year of program: 1982 (Chicago)
Degrees offered
Chicago
- Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology
- Psy.D. in School Psychology
Dallas
- Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology
Irvine
- Psy.D. in Applied Clinical Psychology
- Psy.D. in Clinical Forensic Psychology
- Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology (no longer admitting students)
- Psy.D. in Marital and Family Therapy
Los Angeles
- Psy.D. in Applied Clinical Psychology
- Psy.D. in Clinical Forensic Psychology
- Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology
- Psy.D. in Marital and Family Therapy (post-master’s)
New Orleans (at Xavier University)
- Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology
Washington, D.C.
- Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology
San Diego
- Psy.D. in Applied Clinical Psychology
Tuition and fees
- Full-time, in-state tuition: $52,200 (Chicago); $55,204 (Los Angeles); $46,525 (Washington, D.C.); $44,955 (New Orleans)
- Full-time, out-of-state tuition: $52,200 (Chicago); $55,204 (Los Angeles); $46,525 (Washington, D.C.); $44,955 (New Orleans)
- Per credit-hour tuition for part-time students: $1,492 most campuses; $1,342 New Orleans; $1,492 online
- Institution fees: $2,478 (Chicago); $2,137 (Los Angeles); $1,932 (Washington, D.C.); $1,945 (New Orleans)
Student outcomes
Only APA-accredited programs are required to publish the following information; details about student outcomes may vary depending on campus and degree.
Chicago
- Median years to completion: 5 (2009-2019)
- Percentage completing in <5 years: 20% (2018-19)
- Percentage completing in 7+ years: 0% (2018-19)
- Degrees conferred, 2010-2019: 804
- Percentage of students obtaining internships: 96% (2018-19)
- Percentage of graduates earning professional licensure: 87% (2009-2019)
Los Angeles
- Median years to completion:5 (2009-2019)
- Percentage completing in <5 years: 0% (2018-19)
- Percentage completing in 7+ years: 40% (2018-19)
- Degrees conferred, 2010-2019: 132
- Percentage of students obtaining internships: 92% (2018-19)
- Percentage of graduates earning professional licensure: 66% (2009-2019)
Washington, D.C.
- Median years to completion: 3 (2009-2019)
- Percentage completing in <5 years: 88% (2018-19)
- Percentage completing in 7+ years: 2% (2018-19)
- Degrees conferred, 2010-2019: 75
- Percentage of students obtaining internships: 100% (2018-19)
- Percentage of graduates earning professional licensure: 68% (2009-2019)
Degrees & requirements
- D. degrees offered: 14 total across all campuses; Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology available at all but San Diego
- Non-Psy.D. degrees offered: Many Ph.D. and master’s degrees offered in psychology topics including forensic, counseling, health services, healthcare management, organizational, general and educational.
- Number of credit hours required: 106
Admissions
- Application method: Online
- Application fee: $50
- Admission requirements: Bachelor’s degree and transcripts; minimum GPA of 3.2; three letters of recommendation; interview; two essays; resume; GRE score; TOEFL for students whose native language is not English
Visit The Chicago School of Professional Psychology
Biggest Pros
Each of the Chicago School’s campuses, including the degrees and focus areas offered, are a bit different, so the biggest benefits may vary depending on where in the U.S. a student lives (or if they’d be willing to relocate). But here’s a look at the areas prospective Psy.D. students should find most appealing.
An established track record
Led by the flagship program at its Chicago campus, offered for the better part of the past 40 years, The Chicago School has long been on the forefront of training compassionate professionals in the study of human psychology.
The Psy.D. degree itself isn’t much older, and students at The Chicago School benefit from attending a school with serious bona-fides in this evolving and expanding field.
In-person experience
Students earning their Psy.D. from The Chicago School’s Los Angeles campus don’t have to wait long to begin training in real-life situations. That’s because The Chicago School operates two of southern California’s largest community counseling centers, allowing students to complete the clinical hours required for their degrees in operational mental health centers.
Diverse roster of focus areas
Depending on the campus and the specific degree, students have a range of population groups and focus areas to choose from, including some of the most exciting and rapidly evolving topics in psychology, from forensics to public health.
Biggest Cons
What factors might make students less enthusiastic at the prospect of earning their Psy.D. from The Chicago School?
No fully online option
In some cases, students may be able to complete their degrees part-time or with flexibility of a few online courses. But none of the Psy.D. degrees offered by The Chicago School can be completed entirely online.
Cost
The excellent reputation of The Chicago School comes at a price, with most students needing to spend upwards of $150,000 to earn their Psy.D. degrees. Still, while this is on the high side, it’s not completely out of the realm of reasonable when considering other Psy.D. schools.
The Bottom Line
How can you make the decision about whether a Psy.D. from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is right for you? This chart might help.
| Is the Chicago School of Professional Psychology Psy.D. Program Right For Me? | ||
| Need | Yes | No |
| I need to take my classes online | x | |
| I’m interested in clinical psychology | x | |
| I want to focus on a particular population group | x | |
| I’m interested in applied psychology | x | |
| I’m interested in school psychology | x | |
| I’m interested in industrial-organizational psychology | x | |
| I have a very limited budget for a Psy.D. program | x | |
| A well-established program is important to me | x | |
| I want to work in a real-world mental health clinic | x* | |
| I want to contribute to cutting-edge research projects | x | |
| I don’t want to take the GRE | x | |
| * Most campuses don’t operate community mental health clinics | ||
Conclusion
The number of schools offering a Psy.D. seems to be growing all the time, but The Chicago School was one of the early adopters of a robust education in clinical psychology, which makes it an appealing option for students who seek a proven track record of success before investing in a degree.
SEE ALSO: Editors’ Choice Best Accredited Psy.D. Programs for 2020.
Additional Resources
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