Minnesota Psychology Doctorate Programs
Americans are becoming increasingly open to the need for regular mental healthcare visits, and that’s a big reason why degree programs in psychology are among the most popular in the country.
Here in Minnesota, licensed psychologists are trained and empowered to help others overcome or manage their emotional and behavioral health issues, but these professionals must first complete a doctoral program in psychology and earn either a Psy.D. (Doctor of Psychology) or Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy).
Let’s take a closer look at the schools, process and requirements here in Minnesota.
What’s On This Page
- Quick Facts
- Minnesota PsyD Programs
- Other Psychology Doctorates
- Minnesota Psychologist Requirements
- Minnesota Doctorate Salary Outlook
Quick Facts
- The University of St. Thomas has more than 50 academic programs for students to pursue.
- The University of Minnesota founded their Psychology Department in 1917 as its own separate entity.
- Saint Mary’s University requires an annual tuition of $43,160 for in-state students.
- The University of Minnesota-Twin Cities has an impressive graduation rate of 91% for first-time, full-time students.
- The University of St. Thomas has a tuition rate of $52,284 per year.
List of PsyD Programs In Minnesota
Three universities in Minnesota offer Psy.D. degrees that are accredited by the APA. Let’s take a look at the educational options for prospective Psy.D. students in Minnesota.
SEE ALSO: 5+ Online PsyD Accredited Degree Programs
University of St. Thomas
The Graduate School of Professional Psychology at the University of St. Thomas earned APA accreditation for its Psy.D. in Counseling Psychology in 2000. A total of 99 students earned their degrees through the program between 2014 and 2024, and 87% of them have earned professional licensure.
- Institution type: Private, not-for-profit
- Campus: Saint Paul
- Annual tuition: $27,550
- Degrees offered: PsyD in Counseling Psychology
- Accreditation: APA
- Visit school: Click here
Saint Mary’s University
The Psy.D. in Counseling Psychology at Saint Mary’s University has been APA-accredited since 2015. A total of 74 students have completed the program since its inception and 2024, and 78% of those earned licensure.
- Institution type: Private, not-for-profit
- Campus: Minneapolis
- Annual tuition: $27,860
- Degrees offered: PsyD in Counseling Psychology
- Accreditation: APA
- Visit school: Click here
Augsburg University
Since relaunching a Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology that replicates the program formerly offered at the now-defunct Minnesota College of Professional Psychology, Augsburg University’s Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology has been fully accredited by the APA since 2021. This full-time, year-round program is designed to be completed within five to six years.
- Institution type: Private, not-for-profit
- Campus: Minneapolis
- Annual tuition: $42,700
- Degrees offered: PsyD in Clinical Psychology
- Accreditation: APA
- Visit school: Click here
How to Become a Psychologist in Minnesota
Those who wish to work as psychologists in Minnesota must first become officially licensed in the state. That means going through a specific set of steps that culminates in applying to the Minnesota Board of Psychology. Let’s take a closer look at what’s involved.
- Complete your bachelor’s degree in psychology. While it may not be necessary to major in psychology as an undergraduate, especially if you later earned a master’s in the subject, most doctoral programs that accept applicants directly out of college will much more strongly consider those with a psychology degree. But depending on the doctoral program’s focus, degrees in social work or biology may also be acceptable.
- Get your Psy.D. or Ph.D. Minnesota requires applicants to provide documentation that they have completed a doctoral program in psychology, ideally from an APA-accredited program. Students with degrees from non-APA-accredited schools may still apply, but their applications will take longer to process, and they’ll have to go through additional layers of documentation.
- Complete the state application. In addition to educational requirements, psychologist hopefuls in Minnesota must complete 1,800 hours of supervised postdoctoral work experience, submit to a criminal background check and take the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology and the state’s professional responsibility exam (PRE).
- Keep your license valid. Psychologist licenses in Minnesota need to be renewed every two years, and professionals must complete 40 credits of continuing education every renewal period.
Minnesota Clinical Psychologist Salary and Job Outlook
The average annual salary for clinical and counseling psychologists in Minnesota is $95,100, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. That’s much higher than the overall average for all jobs in the state: $66,700. These Minnesota counselors at the high-end of the salary range are looking at a top 10% salary that starts at $134,170.
SEE ALSO: Minnesota Clinical Psychologist Salary
Clinical and counseling psychologist jobs should grow 9.9% in Minnesota over the next decade, compared to a growth rate of about 4% expected for all U.S. jobs.
2023 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary figures shown here for Psychologists. Job growth projections are from the US Department of Labor-sponsored resource, CareerOneStop. Figures are based on state data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed December 2024.