Mississippi Psychology Doctorate Programs
Mississippi, like most of the rest of the U.S., is experiencing rising rates of anxiety, depression and mental illness. And like the rest of the country, the supply of behavioral health professionals in our state is likely inadequate to keep up with demand.
In Mississippi, licensed psychologists are empowered to diagnose and treat a host of emotional and mental health problems after they complete a rigorous doctoral program, such as a Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) or a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.). Let’s take a closer look at what that means for students here in Mississippi.
What’s On This Page
- Quick Facts
- Mississippi PsyD Programs
- Other Psychology Doctorates
- Mississippi Psychologist Requirements
- Mississippi Doctorate Salary Outlook
Quick Facts
- The highest graduation rate among colleges with psychology programs is the University of Mississippi, with 68% of its students graduating.
- There are six schools in Mississippi that offer a psychology program that is master’s level or higher.
- You will need to have a criminal background check to become a licensed psychologist in Mississippi, and not all states have that requirement.
- An oral examination is required in this state, and it typically lasts from 45 minutes to an hour for most licensure candidates.
- Licenses are renewed every April, and in odd-numbered years the license renewal must be accompanied by proof that you have completed 20 hours of continuing education credits in the previous two-year period.
List of PsyD Programs in Mississippi
There are currently no PsyD programs in the state of Mississippi.
SEE ALSO: Best Online Accredited PsyD in Degree Programs
Other Psychology Doctorates in Mississippi
So far, none of the colleges and universities in Mississippi offer the Psy.D. degree, which was designed to streamline the process from college to professional psychologist licensure. But students can pursue doctoral psychology training via Ph.D. programs at some of the state’s best institutions.
University of Mississippi
The Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology program at Ole Miss first earned APA accreditation in 1973. The school also hosts a Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology, though that program isn’t accredited by the APA. A total of 66 students earned their Clinical Psych Ph.D. degrees between 2014 and 2024, and 98% have gone on to earn professional licensure.
- Institution type: Public
- Campus: Oxford
- Annual tuition: Students receive full tuition waiver and assistantship stipend
- Degrees offered: PhD in Clinical Psychology (APA-accredited), PhD in Experimental Psychology
- Accreditation: APA
- Visit school: Click here
University of Southern Mississippi
A trio of APA-accredited Ph.D. degrees can be found at Southern Miss, with the school’s counseling and clinical programs earning the badge in 1979, followed by the school psychology program in 1983. Between 2014 and 2024, 42 graduates have completed the clinical program, and 95% of them have earned professional licensure.
- Institution type: Public
- Campus: Hattiesburg
- Annual tuition: Students receive full tuition waiver and annual stipend; Clinical Psychology: $11,224 in/out-of-state; Counseling Psychology: $11,224 in/out-of-state; School Psychology: $11,095 in/out-of-state.
- Degrees offered: PhD in Clinical Psychology, PhD in Counseling Psychology, PhD in School Psychology
- Accreditation: APA
- Visit school: Clinical, Counseling, School
Mississippi State University
Mississippi State’s Ph.D. in School Psychology earned APA accreditation in 1996, and the university’s clinical psychology program became accredited in 2016. Between 2014 and 2024 the school psychology program has seen a total of 25 students earn their degrees since 2009, and 52% have earned licensure, while the clinical program has been completed by a total of 26 students, 81% of whom have become licensed. The Department of Psychology also offers a non-APA-accredited Ph.D. program in Cognitive Science, while the College of Education also offers a non-APA-accredited Ed.S. degree in Education with a concentration in School Psychology.
- Institution type: Public
- Campus: Starkville
- Annual tuition: Clinical: tuition costs are covered by graduate assistantships and waivers; School: $10,202 in-state, $27,637 out-of-state; graduate assistants receive at least 70% tuition remission and waiver of out-of-state tuition costs (if applicable)
- Degrees offered: PhD in School Psychology, PhD in Clinical Psychology
- Accreditation: APA
- Visit school: Clinical, School
Jackson State University
Jackson State University, one of the largest HBCUs in the United States, first offered an APA-accredited Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology in 2001. Between 2014 and 2024 a total of 52 graduates completed the program, with 52% going on to earn professional licensure.
- Institution type: Public
- Campus: Jackson
- Annual tuition: $14,720 in-state, $16,220 out-of-state; most students receive assistantships and other aid
- Degrees offered: PhD in Clinical Psychology
- Accreditation: APA
- Visit school: Click here
How to Become a Psychologist in Mississippi
Becoming a psychologist in Mississippi is a long journey that begins with simply going to college, but let’s take a closer look at this several-step process that will take most people at least 10 years in total.
- Earn your bachelor’s in psychology. This is generally the easiest and best way to begin your educational journey to becoming a licensed psychologist, and many doctoral programs will, in fact, only consider applicants with psychology majors. But some schools may consider well-qualified applicants with degrees in social work or biology, though such individuals may need to complete remedial work down the road.
- Get your doctorate. The two main doctoral degrees that qualify an individual to apply for professional psychology licensure are the Ph.D. and Psy.D., though it may also be possible to become licensed after completing an Ed.D., but this is less common. The state of Mississippi requires applicants to earn their degrees from APA-accredited institutions unless their specialty area falls outside of APA accreditation.
- Meet state requirements. In addition to requiring a doctoral degree in psychology, the state of Mississippi requires applicants to complete at least 2,000 hours of postdoctoral supervised experience, submit to a background check and pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology and state jurisprudence exam.
- Maintain licensure. Psychologist licenses in Mississippi expire annually, and professionals must complete 20 hours of continuing education every two years.
Mississippi Clinical Psychologist Salary and Job Outlook
A typical worker in Mississippi makes $47,570 per year (2023), but clinical and counseling psychologists in the state earn an average of $76,460 (2022), well above average, according to the most recent available data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
SEE ALSO: Mississippi Clinical Psychologist Salary
These Mississippi psychologists at the peak of their career will be glad to know that salaries in the top 10% salary start at $151,370 annually (2022).
Clinical and counseling psychologist jobs are forecast to increase by 16% in Mississippi between 2022 and 2032. That’s more than twice the 6.1% anticipated job growth rate for all jobs in the state over that same time period.
2022 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.