What you’ll learn in this article…
- Texas A&M tops the 2026 rankings with the highest ROI ratio among the ten best psychology programs in Texas.
- A master's degree qualifies you for LPC licensure in Texas, while the psychologist title requires a doctorate.
- BLS projects 18% national growth for mental health counselors from 2022 to 2032, well above the average for all occupations.
- Online and on-campus psychology programs in Texas lead to the same degrees and licensure eligibility.
Public universities dominate Texas psychology education, but the differences in cost and format are stark. Our 2026 rankings reward schools that combine genuinely low net prices, as little as $1,300 per year after aid at Texas A&M-Central Texas, with online or hybrid delivery that fits working adults. Eight of the ten programs offer fully online or hybrid tracks, and each holds regional accreditation necessary for state licensure.
The real dividing line for Texas psychology students is not prestige. It is whether a program's debt load aligns with the licensing timeline and salary expectations in a state where LPCs and psychologists face months of supervised practice before full independence.
Best Psychology Programs in Texas: 2027 Rankings
These rankings highlight the psychology programs in Texas that pair strong academics with affordability and online flexibility. We evaluate each school on program cost, institutional graduation and retention data, and post-completion earnings and debt, then factor in the range of psychology degrees each institution offers. School-level graduation figures represent the whole institution rather than one department, so pair them with the program-level details in each profile.
Factors considered
- Affordability and net price
- Online and hybrid options
- Graduation and retention outcomes
- Post-graduation earnings and debt
- Program breadth and specialization
- Federal College Scorecard outcomes data — collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Program-level records maintained in house
- Original research on individual programs
- National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS) covering student-faculty ratios, net price and graduation rates — nces.ed.gov
Texas A&M University-Central Texas
Texas A&M University-Central Texas spans a research-oriented Bachelor of Science in Psychology and an online Master of Science in Applied Psychology with four concentration options: educational psychology with a teaching emphasis, experimental psychology, institutional research, and industrial/organizational psychology. The bachelor's blends synchronous online sessions with independent study and gives undergraduates chances to collaborate with faculty on active research. With its upper-division structure, community college transfer partnerships, and support for military-connected students, it is an accessible choice for adult learners.
- 120 total credit hours
- Fully online with synchronous and asynchronous sessions
- Research opportunities with faculty
- Transfer pathways from community colleges
- Foundation for clinical, counseling, or research careers
- 36 total credit hours; thesis required
- Focus on teaching in higher education and instructional design
- Starts each fall, spring, and summer
- Fully online format
- Concentration in experimental psychology outside the counseling context
- Strong grounding in behavioral statistics and research methods
- Builds data analysis, writing, and presentation skills
- Fully online with required thesis
- Concentration aligned with institutional research careers
- Develops data analysis and critical thinking skills
- Fully online with thesis requirement
- Financial aid available
- Industrial/organizational psychology for workplace settings
- Applied thesis experience required
- Prepares for doctoral programs
- Multiple start dates through the year
B.S. in Psychology, Bachelor's — Hybrid
M.S. in Applied Psychology (Educational Psychology with Teaching Emphasis), Master's — Online
M.S. in Applied Psychology (Experimental Psychology), Master's — Online
M.S. in Applied Psychology (Institutional Research), Master's — Online
M.S. in Applied Psychology (Industrial/Organizational Psychology), Master's — Online
University of Houston-Downtown
University of Houston-Downtown offers a Bachelor of Science in Psychology that can be completed online or in person, making it a flexible, budget-friendly route into the field. The curriculum spans human development, memory, abnormal psychology, and cognition while building research, data analysis, and presentation skills. Students can add minors in biology, criminal justice, or critical race studies and connect with peers through Psi Chi and the Psychology Club.
- Online or in-person completion options
- Covers human growth and development, memory, and abnormal psychology
- Builds research, data analysis, and presentation skills
- Minors in biology, criminal justice, or critical race studies
- Active Psi Chi and Psychology Club chapters
- Paths to counseling, HR, education, and business roles
B.S. in Psychology, Bachelor's — Online
University of Houston
The University of Houston earns its place in this ranking with the applied behavior analysis emphasis inside its Master of Education in Special Populations, a direct pathway to the Board Certified Behavior Analyst credential. Coursework covers ABA theory, data collection, evidence-based intervention design, and supervision of behavior technicians. The program waives the GRE, can be completed in one to two years of full-time study, and responds to demand for behavior analysts in schools, clinics, and community settings.
- Prepares graduates to sit for the BCBA exam
- Covers ABA theory, data collection, and intervention design
- Includes supervising behavior technicians
- Online or hybrid format
- No GRE required
- Can be completed in one to two years
M.Ed. in Special Populations (Applied Behavior Analysis), Master's — Hybrid
University of Houston-Clear Lake
University of Houston-Clear Lake offers a STEM-designated Master of Arts in Industrial/Organizational Psychology that follows the scientist-practitioner model. Students study change management, employee selection, training, leadership, and organizational development in small cohorts of 15 to 20, with a schedule designed for working professionals and some electives available online. The Center for Workplace Consulting provides hands-on project experience, and no GRE is required.
- STEM-designated scientist-practitioner curriculum
- Classes meet one day per week for working professionals
- Small cohorts of 15 to 20 students
- Applied projects through Center for Workplace Consulting
- No GRE required
- Fall admission with February 15 deadline
M.A. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology, Master's — Hybrid
University of Houston-Victoria
The University of Houston-Victoria offers a Master of Arts in Forensic Psychology with professional counselor and psychological associate tracks, each built around online coursework, a supervised practicum, and Texas licensure goals. Students progress in a fall-start cohort model with personalized advising and can choose prerequisite waivers by exam. The school also offers an online M.Ed. in Special Education with an applied behavior analysis emphasis for those pursuing the BCBA credential.
- 66 credit hours including supervised practicum
- Designed for Texas LPC licensure pathway
- Online coursework with fall start
- GRE and faculty interview required
- Psychological associate pathway toward Texas LPA licensure
- 66 credit hours with practicum in forensic settings
- Prerequisites can be waived by exam
- Admissions index of 980 expected
- 39 credit hours, fully online
- Prepares for BCBA exam
- Faculty include practicing BCBAs
- Minimum 2.8 GPA and essay required
M.A. in Forensic Psychology (Professional Counselor Track), Master's — Hybrid
M.A. in Forensic Psychology (Psychological Associate Track), Master's — Hybrid
M.Ed. in Special Education (Applied Behavior Analysis), Master's — Online
The University of Texas at Tyler
The University of Texas at Tyler offers an online Master of Arts in School Counseling aligned with Texas certification requirements and ASCA guidelines. The program reports a 99 percent TExES pass rate, and its 48-hour curriculum can be completed in about 24 months with a summer start. It is especially well suited to educators already working in Texas schools.
- 48-hour program leading to Texas school counselor certification
- 99% TExES pass rate
- Aligned with ASCA guidelines
- Synchronous and asynchronous online sessions
- Summer cohort start with 24-month path
- Scholarships for eligible Texas teachers
M.A. in School Counseling, Master's — Online
East Texas A&M University
East Texas A&M University, formerly Texas A&M University-Commerce, offers a fully online Master of Science in Psychology with a general psychology concentration and a choice of thesis or non-thesis tracks. The 36-hour curriculum spans experimental, cognitive, social, and educational psychology and requires no foreign language credits. Low in-state tuition plus Quick Start Grant and graduate assistantship options make this one of the more affordable graduate psychology routes in Texas.
- 36 credit hours with thesis or non-thesis route
- Fully online delivery
- Covers experimental, cognitive, social, and educational psychology
- No foreign language requirement
- Quick Start Grant and graduate assistantships available
- Minimum 3.0 GPA with three reference letters
M.S. in Psychology (General Psychology), Master's — Hybrid
The University of Texas Permian Basin
The University of Texas Permian Basin offers a fully online Bachelor of Arts in Psychology designed for working adults and transfer students. Eight-week accelerated courses keep learners moving, and the curriculum offers four career-aligned focus areas: clinical, developmental, forensic, and health psychology. With up to 90 transferable credits and test-optional admissions, the degree serves as a practical bridge to employment or graduate study.
- 120 credit hours fully online
- Eight-week accelerated courses
- Four focus areas: clinical, developmental, forensic, health
- Transfer up to 90 prior credits
- SAT and ACT test optional
- Capstone seminar included
B.A. in Psychology, Bachelor's — Online
University of North Texas
The University of North Texas offers a fully online Graduate Academic Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis for professionals who already hold or are pursuing a master's degree. The 24-credit, eight-course sequence meets the coursework requirement for the Behavior Analysis Certification Board exam, with students able to take one to three courses per semester. New starts open each fall, spring, and summer.
- 24 credit hours across eight courses
- Meets BACB coursework requirements for BCBA exam
- Fully online with one to three courses per term
- Fall, spring, and summer start options
- For professionals with or pursuing a master's degree
Graduate Academic Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis — Online
Texas A & M University-Kingsville
Texas A&M University-Kingsville takes a specialty approach, embedding a Performance Psychology concentration within its M.S. in Kinesiology. Graduate students choose from a course-only plan, a research project or internship route, or a thesis option, with training in sport, exercise, and performance psychology. Curricular content maps to the Certified Mental Performance Consultant exam, and some required coursework is delivered face to face.
- Specialized training in sport, exercise, and performance psychology
- Course-only, research project, or internship options
- 30-hour thesis option also available
- Prepares for Certified Mental Performance Consultant exam
- Some courses delivered face to face
M.S. in Kinesiology (Performance Psychology), Master's — Hybrid
How We Ranked Texas Psychology Programs
Transparency in college rankings is still the exception rather than the rule. A quick scan of competing "best psychology programs in Texas" lists reveals that most provide little or no detail about the criteria behind their selections. We take a different approach.
Data Sources We Rely On
Our rankings draw from two primary federal datasets: the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (both institution-level and program-level outcomes where available) and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) for tuition and enrollment figures. These are the same datasets colleges themselves report to, which makes them consistent and auditable. One important caveat: graduation rates pulled from these sources reflect the institution as a whole, not the psychology department specifically. Program-level completion data simply is not published at that granularity for most schools.
What Carries the Most Weight
Because this list focuses on affordable and accessible options, financial metrics sit at the center of the ranking formula.
- Net price after aid: We use the average net price students actually pay once grants and scholarships are factored in, not the published sticker price. This figure varies by income bracket and individual aid packages, so your personal cost may differ.
- Financial aid availability: The share of students receiving institutional or federal aid signals how aggressively a school works to lower the barrier to entry.
- Online or hybrid delivery: To qualify for consideration, a program must offer at least some coursework online or in a hybrid format, reflecting the reality that many Texas psychology students balance school with work or family obligations.
What "Affordable" Actually Means
When we label a program affordable, we are referring to the average net price after all aid is applied. This is a useful benchmark, but it is not a guarantee. Students with higher family incomes, those enrolling part-time, or out-of-state learners may see different totals. Always request a personalized net price estimate directly from the school's financial aid office before committing.
Why This Matters
Methodology transparency is a cornerstone of trustworthy guidance. By showing you exactly what we measured and where the data came from, we make it possible for you to weigh our conclusions against your own priorities, whether that is rock-bottom tuition, program reputation, or something else entirely. Students exploring a bachelor's degree in psychology can use these same principles to evaluate any ranking list they encounter.
Texas Psychology Degree Costs and ROI
The ROI ratio, calculated as ten-year median earnings divided by median graduate debt, is one of the clearest ways to gauge whether a psychology program's price tag pays off. Among the top-ranked Texas programs, Texas A&M leads with an ROI ratio above 4.0, meaning graduates earn roughly four dollars for every dollar of debt they carry. Program-level earnings by year after completion are not yet available for these schools, so the chart below uses institution-wide median earnings ten years after enrollment alongside median debt. For context, monthly payments on a standard ten-year repayment plan range from roughly $128 (Parker University, $12,288 median debt) to about $190 (University of Houston, $18,194 median debt).
What Psychology Graduates Earn Vs. What They Owe
The gap between what you pay and what you earn after graduation varies dramatically across Texas psychology programs. The table below uses institution-level data from the College Scorecard and IPEDS, sorted by median earnings ten years after enrollment. Program-specific early-career earnings are not yet available for most of these schools, so we rely on the institution-wide figures to approximate return on investment. For broader career context, BLS data shows that clinical and counseling psychologists earn a national median of $96,100 per year (with a Texas mean of roughly $82,420), while industrial-organizational psychologists command a national median of $117,580. These occupation-level benchmarks suggest that graduate-degree holders in specialized psychology tracks can expect earnings well above the institutional medians shown here, which reflect all graduates across every major.
| School | Net Price | Median Graduate Debt | Median Earnings (10 yr) | ROI Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas A&M University, College Station | $21,315 | $17,804 | $72,097 | 4.05 |
| Texas Tech University | $19,070 | $21,500 | $62,454 | 2.90 |
| University of Houston | $14,276 | $18,194 | $62,377 | 3.43 |
| University of Houston, Clear Lake | $15,563 | $17,831 | $59,004 | 3.31 |
| Saint Edward's University | $25,578 | $24,803 | $58,826 | 2.37 |
| LeTourneau University | $28,185 | $26,000 | $57,103 | 2.20 |
| UT Tyler | $13,323 | $17,137 | $57,053 | 3.33 |
| University of North Texas | $15,649 | $19,250 | $57,010 | 2.96 |
| Texas State University | $16,805 | $21,000 | $56,906 | 2.71 |
| Dallas Baptist University | $28,516 | $21,591 | $56,807 | 2.63 |
Texas by City
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Online Vs. On-Campus Psychology Programs in Texas
Texas is a large state, and where you live can shape which program format makes the most sense. Both online and on-campus psychology programs can lead to the same degrees and licensure eligibility, but each format comes with distinct trade-offs. Several ranked programs on this list offer a hybrid or "both" format, blending online coursework with periodic on-campus intensives, which can serve as a practical middle ground.
- Online programs offer scheduling flexibility that lets working professionals in Texas complete coursework around existing jobs and family obligations.
- Tuition and total cost tend to be lower for online students, who avoid commuting, relocation, and many campus fees.
- Students in rural parts of Texas, far from metro university campuses, can access accredited programs without uprooting their lives.
- Hybrid formats at several ranked schools combine online lecture content with structured in-person residencies for clinical skill building.
- On-campus students benefit from direct, face-to-face faculty mentorship and spontaneous collaboration that can deepen learning.
- In-person programs in Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, and Austin integrate practicum and internship placements within local clinical networks.
- Campus-based cohorts build peer relationships in shared Texas metro settings, creating professional networks that often last an entire career.
- Online students pursuing licensure tracks such as LPC or LMFT must still complete supervised clinical hours at a local site, which requires arranging practicum placements independently.
- Fully online learners may have fewer organic networking opportunities with classmates and local clinical supervisors compared to on-campus peers.
- On-campus programs typically carry higher total costs once you factor in housing, transportation, and campus-specific fees.
- Rigid class schedules in on-campus formats can be difficult to manage for students who work full time or live outside major metro areas.
- Hybrid programs require occasional travel to campus, which may be costly or inconvenient for students in West Texas or the Panhandle region.
Questions to Ask Yourself
Do you need a fully online format, or can you attend weekend or evening campus intensives?
Which licensure are you targeting, and does the program meet Texas requirements?
Can you secure a local practicum site if you enroll in an online program?
Psychology Licensure Requirements in Texas
A master's degree opens the door to counseling and therapy licensure in Texas, while a doctorate is required to use the title "psychologist." That single distinction shapes which programs from the rankings above match your goals, since the degree you choose locks in the licensure tracks available to you.
The Two Regulators You'll Deal With
Texas splits oversight between two bodies. The Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists (TSBEP) regulates the Licensed Psychologist (LP) and Licensed Psychological Associate (LPA) credentials.1 The Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council (BHEC) administers the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) licenses through its member boards. Application materials, fees, and rule updates for the counseling tracks flow through BHEC; doctoral and master's-in-psychology applicants apply to TSBEP.
Master's-Level Tracks: LPA, LPC, and LMFT
The LPA requires a master's in psychology with at least 60 semester hours, including 6 semester hours of practicum (capped at 12 within the degree). After graduation, candidates complete 3,000 hours of supervised experience and pass both the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) and the Texas Jurisprudence Examination.
LPC and LMFT applicants pursue counseling degrees, then complete supervised post-degree hours under a BHEC-approved supervisor before sitting for their respective national exams (the National Counselor Examination or National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination for LPCs, and the AMFTRB exam for LMFTs). Texas rules require coursework in ethics, and certain tracks expect content in psychopharmacology, assessment, and cultural competence, so verify your program's curriculum against current BHEC rules before enrolling. For a broader look at counseling licensure requirements across the country, comparing state-by-state standards can help you plan for mobility after graduation.
Doctoral Track: Licensed Psychologist
The LP requires a doctoral degree (PhD or PsyD) from an APA-accredited or equivalent program, a 1,750-hour predoctoral internship, and 1,750 hours of postdoctoral supervised experience. Candidates pass the EPPP and the Texas Jurisprudence Examination. Holders of the Certificate of Professional Qualification (CPQ) are exempt from all requirements except the jurisprudence exam, and out-of-state psychologists with five years of practice or 3,000 documented supervised hours can have the supervised-experience requirement waived. Students exploring the full range of careers in psychology should note that doctoral licensure unlocks independent practice, forensic work, and academic positions that master's-level credentials do not.
Why Accreditation Matters
For licensure eligibility, the accreditor on your transcript matters as much as the degree itself. APA accreditation is the expected standard for doctoral psychology programs heading toward LP licensure. For counseling master's programs, CACREP accreditation streamlines the LPC pathway, and COAMFTE accreditation does the same for LMFT candidates. Choosing an unaccredited program can mean extra coursework, delayed eligibility, or a denied application.
Path to Psychology Licensure in Texas
Texas offers two primary licensure tracks for psychology professionals. The Licensed Psychologist (LP) path requires a doctoral degree and passing the EPPP, while the Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) path requires a master's degree and passing the NCE. Both routes follow the same general credentialing ladder outlined below.
Psychology Specializations Available in Texas
Choosing a Texas psychology program is less about picking the "best" school and more about matching a specialization to the career you actually want, because the wrong concentration can add years of unlicensed coursework or lock you out of the credential you need. The ranked programs in this guide cluster around five practical tracks, and each one carries different licensure consequences in Texas.
Clinical vs. Counseling Psychology
The distinction matters more than the names suggest. Clinical-track programs lean toward psychopathology, assessment, and diagnosis, often preparing graduates to work with more acute presentations. Counseling-track programs emphasize wellness, prevention, and developmental adjustment, with a strong vocational and identity-formation lens. In Texas, both routes commonly funnel master's degree in psychology graduates toward LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor) eligibility when the program is CACREP-aligned; the doctoral psychologist license is a separate, longer path.
Clinical mental health counseling tracks appear at the University of North Texas at Dallas (CACREP-accredited, 60 credit hours), Lamar University (online, 60 credits, LPC-prep), Midwestern State University (CACREP, with in-person intensives starting Fall 2026), Lubbock Christian University, and Sul Ross State University. Counseling psychology framing shows up at Lamar and Midwestern as well. Students weighing the counseling route specifically may also want to compare counseling programs in Texas for a broader view of CACREP-aligned options.
School Psychology and the LSSP Path
If you want to work in Texas public schools, you need the Licensed Specialist in School Psychology (LSSP) credential, which is a master's or Ed.S.-level path, not a doctorate. Texas Tech's Educational Psychology M.Ed. with a School Psychology concentration leads directly to LSSP licensure. Stephen F. Austin offers a 63-hour NASP-recognized master's in School Psychology, and Tarleton State runs a Specialist in School Psychology program focused on rural and underserved communities with dual LSSP and NCSP credentialing. UT Tyler's online M.A. in School Counseling Psychology is a related option for school-based work.
I/O, Forensic, and Applied Behavior Analysis
Industrial-organizational psychology is the non-licensure path with the strongest corporate ROI. The University of Houston-Clear Lake offers a STEM-designated I/O Psychology M.A. with evening classes built for working professionals heading into HR, talent analytics, and consulting roles. Those exploring shorter credentials in the field can look into an industrial organizational psychology certificate as a lower-commitment entry point.
Forensic psychology is available through UH-Victoria's 66-credit M.A. in Forensic Psychology. Applied Behavior Analysis, which leads to BCBA certification rather than psychologist licensure, is offered at the University of Houston, UNT, Texas A&M College Station, and Saint Edward's University. Sports and performance psychology rounds out the list at Texas A&M-Kingsville and Parker University.
How to Choose a Psychology Program in Texas
What separates a Texas psychology program that will launch your career from one that will leave you scrambling for clinical hours? Mostly: the depth of training partnerships, the flexibility of the curriculum, and whether the credential lines up with Texas licensure rules. Here's how to investigate each program before you commit.
Dig Into Clinical Training Partnerships
Practicum and internship placements are where you actually become a psychologist, so treat them as a primary selection criterion, not an afterthought. Visit each program's official website and look for pages titled "clinical training," "field placements," or "externship sites." These pages usually name the affiliated hospitals, community clinics, and school districts where students have rotated.
If the website is vague, go to the source. Email or call the graduate coordinator or director of clinical training and ask directly: Which sites are currently active? How many students placed at MD Anderson, Texas Children's, the Michael E. DeBakey VA, or large districts like Houston ISD and Austin ISD last year? Coordinators field these questions constantly and can tell you which partnerships are robust versus which appear on a list but rarely host trainees.
Look for Accelerated and Dual-Degree Options
If you want to compress the timeline, search the university's catalog and psychology department site for phrases like "accelerated master's," "combined bachelor's/master's," "4+1," or "5-year program." These pathways are usually buried under "academic programs," "special opportunities," or "undergraduate research." Not every Texas school offers one, and eligibility often requires applying during the junior year with a minimum GPA, so confirm the rules early.
Verify Accreditation and Licensure Alignment
For doctoral training, only an APA-accredited program will keep all licensure doors open. This is especially true for online clinical psychology programs, where accreditation status varies widely. The APA maintains a public list of accredited clinical, counseling, and school psychology programs at apa.org. Cross-check anything you're considering against that list before paying an application fee.
For licensure logistics, the Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists publishes the supervised experience hours, exam sequence, and jurisprudence requirements you'll need to satisfy after graduation. Reading those rules now, while you're still choosing a program, helps you spot whether a degree's coursework and practicum hours will actually qualify you to sit for the EPPP in Texas without backfilling credits later.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors to grow 18% nationally from 2022 to 2032, far faster than the average for all occupations. Texas, with its large and expanding population, is expected to be a major driver of that demand.
Frequently Asked Questions About Texas Psychology Programs
Choosing the right psychology program means sorting through tuition costs, licensure rules, and format options. Below are answers to the questions prospective students ask most often about pursuing a psychology degree in Texas.
- What are the best colleges for psychology in Texas?
- Top-ranked options span large research universities and smaller teaching-focused institutions. Schools such as the University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University, and the University of Houston consistently earn high marks for faculty research output, accreditation, and graduate outcomes. The best fit depends on your target degree level, preferred specialization, and whether you need an online or on-campus format.
- Can you get a psychology master's degree entirely online in Texas?
- Yes. Several Texas universities offer fully online master's programs in general psychology, counseling psychology, or applied behavior analysis. Programs vary in whether they require occasional on-campus intensives or practicum hours at an approved local site. Always confirm that the program holds appropriate accreditation and meets any licensure prerequisites you may need in the state.
- How much does a psychology master's program cost in Texas?
- Costs vary widely by institution and residency status. Public university tuition for a master's in psychology can range roughly from $15,000 to $40,000 total for in-state students, while private and out-of-state rates may be significantly higher. Online programs sometimes carry a flat per-credit rate regardless of residency. Financial aid, assistantships, and employer tuition benefits can substantially reduce out-of-pocket expenses.
- What is the difference between clinical and counseling psychology programs?
- Clinical psychology programs typically emphasize diagnosing and treating severe mental health disorders and often train students in psychological testing and research methodology. Counseling psychology programs tend to focus on developmental and adjustment challenges, wellness, and strengths-based interventions. Both tracks can lead to licensure as a psychologist in Texas, but coursework, practicum settings, and career trajectories differ.
- What are the requirements to become a licensed psychologist in Texas?
- The Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council requires a doctoral degree from an accredited program, completion of supervised professional experience (typically 3,000 or more hours, including a formal internship), and a passing score on the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP). Applicants must also pass the Texas Jurisprudence Exam, which covers state-specific laws and ethics.
- Which Texas psychology programs have the highest job placement rates?
- Specific placement figures are not uniformly published across all Texas programs, so direct comparisons should be made cautiously. APA-accredited doctoral programs generally report strong placement outcomes, and many counseling master's programs highlight practicum-to-employment pipelines. Contact individual program offices for their most recent placement data, and look for programs that publish transparent outcome statistics on their websites.
- Do Texas psychology programs accept GRE waivers?
- Many do. Nationally, only about 14 to 15 percent of psychology master's programs still require GRE scores, and the trend continues downward. In Texas, the University of Texas at Dallas, for example, offers a GRE waiver for its MS in Psychology for applicants meeting a minimum 3.0 GPA. Policies change frequently, so verify current requirements directly with each program's admissions office before applying.
More Texas Psychology Programs to Consider
Beyond our top 10, Texas offers many other excellent psychology programs worth exploring. Here are additional schools with strong offerings, organized by region.
Greater Houston
- Master of Arts in Psychology
- Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (marriage and couples, families, grief, sexual addiction counseling)
Southeast Texas
- Master of Education in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Austin Area
- Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
- Master of Education in Applied Behavior Analysis
South Texas
- M.S. in Kinesiology (Performance Psychology)
Brazos Valley
- Applied Behavior Analysis Certificate
- Master of Education in Educational Psychology (Developmental Sciences)
- Master of Education in Educational Psychology (School Counseling)
- Applied Behavior Analysis Certificate (Autism Spectrum Disorder)
North Texas
- Clinical Mental Health
DFW Metroplex
- Psychology (General Psychology)
- Master of Arts in Professional Counseling
East Texas
- Bachelor of Science in Psychology
- Master of Arts in Applied Behavior Analysis
- Master of Arts in Counseling - Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program
- Master of Arts in Counseling - Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program (Marriage and Family Therapy)
- Master of Arts in Counseling - Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program (Play Therapy)
- Master of Arts in School Psychology
- School Psychology, M.A.
- Master of Arts in Psychology
West Texas
- Educational Psychology M.Ed. (School Psychology)
- Educational Psychology M.Ed.
- Master of Education in Special Education (Applied Behavior Analysis)
- Graduate Certificate in Autism
- Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
- Bachelor of Science in Psychology
- Applied Psychology M.S.
