What you’ll learn in this article…
- Mississippi reserves the psychologist title for doctoral-level practitioners, requiring three exams and roughly $1,400 in licensure fees.
- Graduate assistantships and tuition waivers can sharply reduce out-of-pocket costs at schools like Mississippi State and Southern Miss.
- APA accreditation matters most for doctoral clinical and counseling programs, while regional accreditation covers all degree levels.
- National median earnings for clinical and counseling psychologists significantly exceed those for bachelor's-level psychology holders in the state.
Which accredited psychology programs in Mississippi actually deliver strong outcomes without burying you in debt? It is a fair question in a state where in-state tuition at public universities can run under $10,200 a year and median graduate debt across top programs hovers near $20,000 to $22,000.
Mississippi's options are limited in number but well-defined. Schools like Mississippi State University, the University of Mississippi, and William Carey University cover bachelor's through graduate-level tracks in general psychology, applied behavior analysis, and related specializations, with online and hybrid formats expanding access for working adults across the state.
The practical tension is real: Mississippi reserves the psychologist title for doctoral graduates, meaning master's holders must pursue separate credentials like Licensed Professional Counselor. That single policy shapes every program and career decision downstream, and students weighing a masters in counseling in Mississippi should understand how it fits into the state's broader credentialing landscape.
2026 Best Psychology Programs in Mississippi: Rankings
Mississippi offers a small but focused set of accredited psychology and applied behavior analysis programs spanning bachelor's through graduate certificate levels. The three schools below were evaluated on affordability, program accessibility, and institutional outcomes. Program-level earnings data is not yet available for these specific offerings, so the institution-wide figures listed on each card reflect all graduates at that school, not just psychology majors. Keep that distinction in mind as you compare options.
- Tuition and net price
- Online and hybrid availability
- Institutional graduation rate
- Graduate debt levels
- Program specialization depth
- College Scorecard graduate earnings — collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Internal program database
- NCES-IPEDS federal institutional data — nces.ed.gov
- Independent program research
William Carey University
William Carey University, a private institution in Hattiesburg, channels its psychology-adjacent offerings through a General Studies in Education degree with an Applied Behavior Analysis concentration. The program is built for students who want to work with children on the autism spectrum or with developmental disabilities, and it doubles as an alternate-route teaching certification pathway. With a 14:1 student-to-faculty ratio and a fully online format, it can suit working professionals across the state.
- Bachelor's degree delivered 100% online
- 128 total credit hours required for completion
- Prepares graduates to sit for the BCBA credential
- Includes alternate-route teaching certification track
- Covers behavioral therapy techniques and intervention strategies
- Flexible two-concentration structure accommodates working students
General Studies in Education, Applied Behavior Analysis Concentration — Online
Mississippi State University
Mississippi State University provides the broadest psychology and ABA portfolio in the state, stretching from a B.S. in Psychology through a hybrid master's and a fully online graduate certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis. The online psychology bachelor's is available to Mississippi residents at in-state tuition, and the ABA master's can be completed in as few as 1.5 years through eight-week course blocks paired with university and community practicum sites. The institution's median graduate debt of $22,142 sits close to the state average, while its 66.7% graduation rate reflects the university overall, not these programs specifically.
- Fully online B.S. open to Mississippi residents
- Minimum 2.0 GPA required for admission
- Covers abnormal behavior, social psychology, and cognition
- Emphasizes research methods and practical skills
- Prepares students for graduate study or entry-level roles
- Foundation coursework in general education and major core
- 120-credit undergraduate degree using hybrid delivery
- Pathway to Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) certification
- Coursework eligible for BCaBA exam preparation
- Two semesters of supervised learning included
- ABAI Verified Course Sequence
- Scientist-practitioner training model throughout
- Hybrid format with online coursework and on-site practicum
- Can be completed in approximately 1.5 to 2 years
- Eight-week accelerated course blocks
- ABAI Verified Course Sequence aligned with BCBA prep
- Diverse practicum sites across university and community settings
- Graduate assistantships and financial aid options available
- Fully online, 21 credit hours across 7 courses
- In-state tuition rate extended to all students
- Aligned with BACB task list requirements
- Designed for professionals who already hold a master's degree
- Completable within two years
- Leads toward BCBA certification eligibility
Bachelor of Science in Psychology — Online
Bachelor of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis — Hybrid
Master's in Applied Behavior Analysis — Hybrid
Applied Behavior Analysis Graduate Certificate — Hybrid
University of Mississippi
The University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) offers a Master of Education in Special Education with an Applied Behavior Analysis concentration, targeting educators and professionals who want structured training in behavior assessment and intervention. This 30-credit-hour hybrid program blends online coursework with on-campus components and includes 6 hours of practicum plus a capstone research project. Ole Miss carries the highest institution-wide graduation rate in this set at 71.7% and the lowest median graduate debt at $20,000, though those figures represent the school at large rather than this program alone.
- ABAI-accredited hybrid program
- 30 credit hours completed over approximately two years
- 21 hours of dedicated ABA coursework
- 6 hours of supervised practicum experience
- Capstone research project required for graduation
- Admission requires 3.0 GPA on last 60 undergraduate hours
- Teaching license or qualifying test scores needed for entry
Master of Education in Special Education, Applied Behavior Analysis Concentration — Hybrid
What Makes These Programs Stand Out: Earnings and Debt at a Glance
Before exploring costs and specializations in detail, this snapshot compares median graduate debt against long-term earnings for Mississippi's top-ranked psychology programs. Program-level earnings shortly after completion are not yet available for these schools, so the figures below reflect institution-wide median earnings ten years after enrollment and median debt at graduation.
Most Affordable Psychology Programs in Mississippi
Tuition sticker prices tell only part of the affordability story. For psychology graduate students in Mississippi, the real question is what a program costs after funding is factored in. Assistantships, stipends, and tuition waivers can reduce or even eliminate out-of-pocket costs at public institutions, making programs that look expensive on paper surprisingly accessible.
Start With the Department's Own Funding Page
Before comparing programs side by side, go directly to the psychology department websites at schools like the University of Southern Mississippi and Mississippi State University. Most graduate programs maintain a dedicated "Funding" or "Financial Aid" section that lists graduate assistantships, research fellowships, and teaching positions. These pages describe typical award structures, eligibility requirements, and application deadlines. Because funding pools shift from year to year based on faculty grants and university budgets, treat this information as a starting point rather than a final answer.
Talk to the Graduate Program Coordinator
No website stays perfectly current. A five-minute conversation with a graduate program coordinator can reveal funding opportunities that have not made it into the official materials yet. Ask specifically about first-year funding guarantees, multi-year assistantship packages, and whether the department has any fellowships reserved for incoming students. Coordinators field these questions regularly and are generally forthcoming with honest answers about what to expect.
Use Salary Data to Weigh the Value of an Offer
A funding package only makes sense when you can compare it against likely career earnings. The Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes national wage data for psychologists and related occupations, giving you a reliable baseline for evaluating whether a stipend or tuition waiver represents a sound financial trade-off. Keep in mind that BLS national figures represent averages across all states and are not a direct proxy for Mississippi-specific salaries, which tend to run below the national median for most psychology roles. Exploring applied psychology careers can help you identify which specializations carry the strongest earning potential relative to program cost.
Tap Professional Association Resources
Scholarships and fellowships aimed specifically at psychology graduate students are available through two key organizations. The American Psychological Association offers several funding opportunities for graduate members, including diversity fellowships and research grants. The Mississippi Psychological Association is a useful state-level resource for locating awards geared toward students who plan to practice or conduct research within the state. Checking both organizations at the start of each academic year ensures you do not miss rolling deadlines.
Online vs. Campus Psychology Programs in Mississippi
Mississippi's psychology programs span fully online, hybrid, and traditional campus formats, each with distinct cost structures and practical trade-offs. Working professionals often gravitate toward online options for scheduling flexibility, while students who need hands-on clinical training may benefit from campus or hybrid arrangements. Below is a side-by-side look at the three ranked programs and how their delivery formats compare.
| Feature | William Carey University (Online) | Mississippi State University (Online) | University of Mississippi (Hybrid) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Program Format | Fully online bachelor's (Applied Behavior Analysis) | Fully online bachelor's (General Psychology) | Hybrid master's (Applied Behavior Analysis, M.Ed. in Special Education) |
| Published In-State Tuition | $15,480 (same for all students) | $10,202 in-state; $27,637 out-of-state | $9,772 in-state; $28,600 out-of-state |
| Average Net Price | $14,258 | $17,595 | $13,314 |
| Median Graduate Debt | $20,832 | $22,142 | $20,000 |
| Graduation Rate | 59.8% | 66.7% | 71.7% |
| Student-to-Faculty Ratio | 14:1 | 16:1 | 18:1 |
| Practicum or Field Component | Designed to prepare Board Certified Behavior Analysts; fieldwork expectations vary | Research and practical skills embedded in coursework; no required clinical practicum at the bachelor's level | Includes 6 credit hours of practicum placement, blending on-site clinical work with online coursework |
| Best Fit | Working professionals seeking a flat tuition rate regardless of residency | Mississippi residents looking for a lower in-state price point with full online flexibility | Students who want graduate-level ABA training and can attend periodic on-campus sessions |
Questions to Ask Yourself
Psychology Specializations Available in Mississippi
Mississippi universities offer a range of specialized psychology tracks at both the master's and doctoral levels, each designed to prepare graduates for distinct career paths and licensure eligibility. Understanding which specializations are available and how they align with your professional goals is essential when choosing a program.
Clinical Psychology
The University of Southern Mississippi operates an APA-accredited Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, training students to diagnose and treat mental health disorders through evidence-based practice.1 This doctoral track prepares graduates for licensure as psychologists in Mississippi and other states, meeting the educational requirements for independent clinical practice. Clinical psychology programs typically require four to six years of full-time study, including supervised practica, internships, and a dissertation.
Counseling Psychology
Southern Miss offers both master's and doctoral pathways in counseling psychology. The M.S. in Counseling Psychology is a terminal master's degree accredited by the Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC), designed for students pursuing licensure as Licensed Professional Counselors (LPCs) rather than psychologists.2 The Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology holds APA accreditation and prepares graduates for psychologist licensure, emphasizing developmental perspectives and wellness-oriented approaches.3 This dual-level structure gives students flexibility: those seeking counselor licensure can complete a master's degree in psychology in two years, while those aiming for psychologist credentials continue to the doctoral level.
School Psychology
The APA-accredited Ph.D. in School Psychology at Southern Miss trains specialists to work in educational settings, conducting assessments, developing interventions, and supporting student mental health.2 School psychologists typically work in K-12 systems, and Mississippi requires either a specialist-level degree (Ed.S.) or doctorate for full licensure. Southern Miss is the only university in the country with APA-accredited doctoral programs in clinical, counseling, and school psychology simultaneously, offering unparalleled depth for students interested in applied psychology.2
Experimental and Research Tracks
For students drawn to research careers rather than clinical practice, Southern Miss offers a Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology with concentrations in cognitive, social, and quantitative psychology. This program admits approximately six students annually, with 100 percent receiving funding, and typically requires 48 months to complete.4 Experimental tracks do not lead to licensure as psychologists or counselors; instead, graduates pursue academic positions, research roles in government or industry, or data science careers.
Applied Behavior Analysis
Southern Miss also offers an M.S. in Psychology with an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis, a terminal master's degree that trains entry-level practitioners to work with individuals with autism and developmental disabilities.2 This specialization aligns with Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) certification rather than psychology or counseling licensure, representing a distinct career path within the broader psychology field.
When evaluating specializations, clarify whether your goal is psychologist licensure (requiring a doctoral degree), LPC licensure (typically a master's in counseling), or a research career (favoring experimental tracks). Mississippi's programs offer clear pathways for each.
Accreditation Guide for Mississippi Psychology Programs
Three separate accreditation layers determine whether a Mississippi psychology degree will count toward licensure, transfer cleanly, and qualify you for federal aid. Knowing which layer applies to which credential prevents costly mistakes.
The Three Layers That Matter
- Regional (institutional): Mississippi's public and most private universities are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). This is the baseline. The Mississippi Board of Psychology requires degrees from regionally accredited institutions, and federal financial aid is tied to this status as well.
- Programmatic (doctoral psychology): The American Psychological Association (APA) accredits doctoral programs in clinical, counseling, and school psychology. APA accreditation is the gold standard for anyone pursuing licensure as a psychologist, and most internship sites and postdoctoral positions require it.
- Specialty (counseling master's): The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) accredits master's-level counseling programs. The Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC) is a parallel option for some master's psychology and counseling tracks.
APA Is Doctoral-Only
A common point of confusion: APA does not accredit master's degrees in psychology. If you are pursuing a master's, the meaningful programmatic stamp is CACREP or MPCAC, depending on the track. Students exploring counseling psychology masters programs should pay close attention to which accreditor covers their specific curriculum. The University of Southern Mississippi and Mississippi State University both hold CACREP accreditation for counseling programs, and USM carries APA accreditation across its doctoral programs in clinical1, counseling (reaccredited in 2023 through 2033)2, and school psychology.3 Mississippi State's combined clinical-counseling-school PsyD is currently under review for initial APA accreditation4, and Jackson State has pursued APA accreditation as well.5
Verify Before You Enroll
Accreditation status changes. Programs gain it, lose it, or sit under review, and our internal program data does not track these shifts in real time. Before committing tuition dollars, confirm current status directly with the program's admissions office and cross-check on the APA, CACREP, or MPCAC public directories. Understanding the different types of psychology degrees available can also help you identify which accreditation layer applies to your intended path. For Mississippi licensure specifically, contact the Mississippi Board of Psychology to verify that your intended degree path will satisfy state requirements at the level you plan to practice.
How to Become a Licensed Psychologist in Mississippi
Mississippi requires a doctoral degree for full psychologist licensure, with no master's-level psychologist license available. The path demands rigorous supervised training and three separate examinations before you can practice independently. Budget roughly $1,300 to $1,400 in total fees across the application, exams, and background check.
Mississippi reserves the title "psychologist" exclusively for doctoral-level practitioners. If you hold a master's degree, your licensure path leads to credentials such as Licensed Professional Counselor or Licensed Psychological Examiner, not the psychologist title. This distinction matters when choosing a program: if your goal is to practice as a licensed psychologist in the state, you need to plan for a doctoral program from the start.
Career Outcomes and Earnings for Mississippi Psychology Graduates
The real question after graduation is whether a Mississippi psychology degree pays back the time and money you put in. The honest answer depends on which credential you finish with and which corner of the field you enter. Here is what the available data shows, and where it falls silent.
Program-Level Earnings Data
The College Scorecard tracks median earnings at 1, 2, 4, and 5 years after completion for psychology programs nationally, but those year-by-year figures are not currently published for the specific psychology programs at Mississippi State University, the University of Mississippi, or William Carey University. What is reported is a 10-year post-enrollment median earnings figure for graduates across each institution:
- Mississippi State University: roughly $51,500 in median earnings ten years after enrollment, with median graduate debt around $22,140.
- University of Mississippi: about $50,990 in median earnings at the same checkpoint, with median graduate debt near $20,000.
- William Carey University: around $43,090 in median earnings ten years out, with median graduate debt of roughly $20,830.
Program-specific job placement rates one year after completion are not reported for these psychology programs, so we cannot quote a precise share of graduates working and not enrolled. That gap is worth noting when you ask admissions offices for outcomes data. Push for it directly.
How Graduates Compare to the Broader Profession
Mississippi-specific wage data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025 OEWS) is available for clinical and counseling psychologists, school psychologists, and the "psychologists, all other" category, each reported with 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th percentile wages.1 The Mississippi Department of Employment Security (April 2025) adds entry, average, and experienced wage estimates for psychologists statewide, though without percentile breakdowns.2 A combined statewide figure across all psychologist subcategories is not directly published.
What This Means for ROI
With median debt at all three ranked programs sitting between roughly $20,000 and $22,200, and 10-year median earnings between $43,000 and $51,500, the debt-to-earnings ratio looks manageable, especially for graduates who pursue licensure and move into clinical, counseling, or school psychology roles where Mississippi BLS wages climb meaningfully at the 75th and 90th percentiles. The catch: those higher percentile wages typically require a doctoral degree and licensure, not just a bachelor's. Graduates interested in clinical counseling at the master's level may also want to explore licensed professional clinical counselor degree options as a parallel credential pathway. Plan accordingly.
Frequently Asked Questions About Psychology Programs in Mississippi
These are some of the most common questions prospective students ask when researching psychology programs in Mississippi. Each answer draws on 2026 program data, accreditation records, and state licensure requirements covered throughout this guide.
