Maryland Psychology Doctorate Programs
Like the rest of the U.S., increasing rates of mental illness and behavioral health disorders are a major concern here in Maryland. That’s one big reason why psychology degrees are among the most sought-after today.
Fortunately for Maryland students, there are several degree programs in the state that can help them set the foundation for professional psychologist licensure here in Maryland. Let’s learn more about the programs and what students need to know.
What’s On This Page
- Quick Facts
- Maryland PsyD Programs
- Other Psychology Doctorates
- Maryland Psychologist Requirements
- Maryland Doctorate Salary Outlook
Quick Facts
- In the state of Maryland, 11 schools offer advanced degrees in the field of psychology.
- Out of all the universities in Maryland, John’s Hopkins University has the highest graduation rate at 92%.
- Both St. Mary’s College of Maryland and the University of Maryland-College Park both were ranked in Princeton Review ‘s Great Schools for Psychology in 2018.
- The university with the highest tuition rate is Loyola University Maryland with an average tuition cost of $34,152.
- U.S News and World Report ranked Loyola University Maryland as the 5th best university in the north.
List of PsyD Degree Programs in Maryland
Both types of psychology doctorates, Psy.D. (Doctor of Psychology) and Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy), that are required to successfully apply for licensure in Maryland are offered here in the state. What do students need to know about these programs, which, fortunately for students in Maryland, are each accredited by the American Psychology Association (APA)?
SEE ALSO: 5+ Online Accredited PsyD Programs
Loyola University
Loyola University’s Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology first earned APA accreditation in 2000, making it the first of its kind in the state. The program remains the only Psy.D. that’s approved by the APA in Maryland. More than 140 students have earned their Psy.D. through the program since 2010, and 97% have earned professional licensure.
- Institution type: Private, not-for-profit
- Campus: Baltimore
- Annual tuition: $31,500
- Degrees offered: PsyD in Clinical Psychology
- Accreditation: APA
- Visit school: Click here
Other Psychology Doctorates in Maryland
University of Maryland
The University of Maryland system offers a variety of Ph.D. degrees in psychology fields at two campuses, College Park and Baltimore County. At the main campus in College Park, students can choose three APA-accredited programs, a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology that was first accredited in 1953, a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology that’s been accredited since 1963 and a School Psychology Ph.D. accredited since 1984. The Clinical Psychology Ph.D. at Baltimore County has been accredited since 1990.
- Institution type: Public
- Campus: College Park, Baltimore County
- Annual tuition: Admitted students will generally receive free tuition and annual stipends
- Degrees offered: PhD in Clinical Psychology (both campuses), PhD in Counseling Psychology (College Park), PhD in School Psychology (College Park)
- Accreditation: APA
- Visit school: Click here
Uniformed Services University
Uniformed Services University, a federal government-established medical and health services college for the armed forces, has had an APA-accredited Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology since 1997. Students can choose from a military or civilian track, depending on their interest areas and individual life goals. A total of 60 students have completed the program over the past 10 academic years, and the licensure rate is 100%.
- Institution type: Public, military
- Campus: Bethesda
- Annual tuition: All students must be members of the uniformed services and receive free tuition in exchange for serving after graduation
- Degrees offered: PhD in Clinical Psychology
- Accreditation: APA
- Visit school: Click here
How to Become a Psychologist in Maryland
The foundation of any successful career in psychology begins with a rigorous education in the subject. But for those who want to practice in the state of Maryland, there are several steps they must take to do so legally.
- Get a bachelor’s degree in psychology or a closely related field. The best bet is to major in psychology as an undergraduate, but some candidates may be able to pursue the next steps with a degree in another field, provided it’s a closely related one and they have psychology classes they can show on their transcript. Without that, doctoral programs may require students to get a master’s degree in psychology, and some schools require that anyway.
- Get your doctorate. Licensure candidates will be considered if they have completed a doctorate in psychology, which includes a Psy.D. as well as a Ph.D. Academic programs should be accredited by the APA; if not, students will need to provide additional academic documentation of curriculum.
- Meet state requirements. In addition to a doctoral degree in psychology, candidates must have participated in clinical, counseling or school psychology programs that included at least 3,250 hours of supervised professional experience. At least 1,750 hours must come from an internship that took no more than two years to complete. Applicants must also submit to a criminal background check, as well as scoring at least 500 on the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology and at least 75% on the Maryland jurisprudence exam.
- Remain licensed, and keep up with requirements. Maryland psychologist licensed must be renewed every two years.
Maryland Clinical Psychologist Salary and Job Outlook
The average clinical, counseling or school psychologist in Maryland makes just under $80,000 per year, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is considerably higher than the overall annual rate of $60,230 for all workers in the state.
SEE ALSO: Maryland Psychologist Salary- Clinical, Counseling, and School
Psychologist jobs also are on the move in Maryland. Openings are projected to increase by 15.2% through the next decade, much higher than the growth rate of 5% expected for all jobs in the U.S.