Last updated: May 28, 2026

Best Clinical Psychology Doctoral Programs in Colorado, Ranked (2026)

Top APA-accredited clinical psychology doctoral programs (PhD and PsyD) in Colorado for 2026, with cohort sizes, the 1,500 post-doctoral hours, EPPP plus the Colorado Mental Health Jurisprudence Examination, and Colorado's status as a PSYPACT founder state since 2020.

Taylor Rupe

Founder & Editor

B.A. in Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle

Key Takeaways

  • Colorado has roughly 9 APA-accredited doctoral psychology programs across 7 institutions. R1 anchors include CU Boulder (Clinical PhD continuously APA-accredited since 1949, one of the oldest in the country), CU Denver (Clinical Health Psychology PhD continuously APA-accredited since 2016 through 2034, named the Exemplar Clinical Health Psychology Program by CUDCP-APA), CSU Fort Collins (Clinical Psychology PhD launched Fall 2024 replacing the discontinued Counseling Psychology PhD), and UCCS Colorado Springs (Clinical PhD since 2007 through 2029 with distinctive Trauma Psychology and Geropsychology tracks). University of Denver runs the founding GSPP PsyD Clinical (APA-accredited since 1979, the third PsyD program of its kind in the country) plus the Morgridge College Counseling Psychology PhD (APA since 1986, through 2028). UNC Greeley runs the Counseling Psychology PhD (APA since 2010, with WICHE in-state tuition rate for 14 participating states) plus the only APA-accredited School Psychology PhD in Colorado. CU Denver also runs the only APA-accredited School Psychology PsyD in Colorado.
  • Colorado licenses psychologists through the Colorado State Board of Psychologist Examiners (under DPO). Required supervised experience is at least 1,500 postdoctoral hours in at least 12 months, with at least 75 hours of direct supervision (50 of which must be individual). Research and teaching may count toward the 1,500 hours but neither may comprise more than 500 hours.
  • Colorado requires the EPPP (passing scaled score 500/800) plus the Colorado Mental Health Jurisprudence Examination ($18 fee, distinctively low). Initial license fee is $175; biennial renewal is $208. Total board/exam costs run roughly $800 to $1,000.
  • Colorado is a PSYPACT founder state. Colorado enacted PSYPACT through HB 1017 on April 12, 2018, effective July 1, 2020. Colorado was part of the original 7+ states whose enactment triggered PSYPACT operational status on July 1, 2020. CO LPs holding the E.Passport plus APIT can practice telepsychology across all 40+ PSYPACT member states.
  • Colorado psychologist wages run roughly at or slightly above national medians. Colorado is reported to rank 2nd nationally for median clinical psychologist salaries, with the 90th percentile earning over $209,000 annually (verify with current BLS tables; May 2024 CO data was delayed to July 2025 due to state UI system issues). National median for SOC 19-3033 is $96,100.
  • The Colorado Health Service Corps (CHSC) awards Licensed Clinical and Counseling Psychologists up to $120,000 for a 3-year service commitment at a practice with a clinician shortage serving low-income, publicly insured, uninsured, or rural Coloradans. The Colorado BHA also administers $20M+ in ARPA-funded behavioral health workforce loan repayment.
  • CSU Fort Collins critical correction: CSU's Counseling Psychology PhD has been replaced by a new Clinical Psychology PhD as of Fall 2024 (clinical scientist model). The first Clinical cohort started Fall 2024. Do not apply to CSU expecting a Counseling Psychology PhD.
  • Argosy University Denver closed March 9, 2019 after parent Dream Center Education Holdings entered federal receivership. APA had accredited 10 psychology doctoral programs across all Argosy campuses; ~800 displaced students transferred largely to The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. No replacement APA-accredited Denver PsyD has emerged besides DU GSPP's existing program.
Accredited Programs
7
Ranked in this guide
Colorado, Ranked Median
CO reportedly ranks 2nd nationally for median Clinical Psychologist salaries (90th percentile over $209,000)
vs national $96,100 (Above national)
Independent License
Licensed Psychologist
Licensed Psychologist
Supervised Hours
1,500
over 1,500 post-doctoral hours over at least 12 months (research and teaching may count but neither over 500 hours) min.

APA-Accredited Clinical Psychology Doctoral Programs in Colorado

All 7 programs ranked in this guide, with tuition, format, and accreditation at a glance.

# School In-State Tuition Format
1 University of Colorado Boulder ~$11,826 per year (resident); admitted Clinical students receive TA or RA award paying tuition remission + monthly stipend ~$3,000 during academic year + ~90% of Student Gold Health Insurance Plan On-campus
2 University of Colorado Denver Tuition and fees support for all enrolled students through program curriculum (verify current rate) On-campus
3 Colorado State University (Fort Collins) ~$11,826 per year (in-state) with assistantship support; "virtually every student in the program who has requested financial support has received funding" On-campus
4 University of Denver (GSPP PsyD) ~$43,164 per year (private) On-campus
5 University of Denver (Morgridge College Counseling PhD) Private; verify current rate (DU graduate programs typically run private tuition) On-campus
6 University of Northern Colorado (UNC Greeley) In-state UNC graduate rates; WICHE benefit allows students from 14 participating states to attend at resident tuition rates On-campus
7 University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) Department funds each PhD student around $22,000 per year (covers tuition, fees, living expenses) On-campus
1

University of Colorado Boulder

Boulder, CO On-campus APA-accredited Clinical Psychology PhD

In-State

~$11,826 per year (resident); admitted Clinical students receive TA or RA award paying tuition remission + monthly stipend ~$3,000 during academic year + ~90% of Student Gold Health Insurance Plan

Out-of-State

~$31,284 per year (non-resident)

Length

5 years + 1-year internship typical

Field Hours

1,500+ on the APA-accredited internship plus practicum at the Raimy Clinic

Concentrations

Clinical Psychology PhD (mentor-based
  • Continuously APA-accredited since 1949, one of the oldest Clinical PhDs in the country
  • 3 to 5% acceptance rate, typically admitting 6 to 8 students from 200+ applications
  • GRE optional for Clinical Psychology PhD for 2026 cycle
  • Embedded Raimy Clinic for in-house practicum training
  • Mentor-based research focus with broad theoretical orientation menu
GRE: Not required | Min GPA: 3.5
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2

University of Colorado Denver

Denver, CO On-campus APA-accredited Clinical Health Psychology PhD

In-State

Tuition and fees support for all enrolled students through program curriculum (verify current rate)

Out-of-State

Same with funding

Length

~5 years (possible to complete in five years)

Field Hours

1,500+ on the APA-accredited internship plus practicum at the CU Denver Psychology Clinic

Concentrations

Clinical Health Psychology PhD (Core Courses + Electives, Master's Thesis, Clinical Practica, CCCE, Doctoral Dissertation, Pre-Doctoral Internship)School Psychology PsyD (also APA-accredited
  • Continuously APA-accredited since 2016 with full accreditation through 2034
  • Named the Exemplar Clinical Health Psychology Program by CUDCP-APA (an award that occurs once every 7 years)
  • Average of 6 students admitted per year
  • Preferred minimum GPA 3.5
  • CU Denver also runs an APA-accredited School Psychology PsyD with optional bilingual Spanish-English concentration (100% job placement; the only APA-accredited School Psych PsyD in Colorado)
GRE: Not required | Min GPA: 3.5
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3

Colorado State University (Fort Collins)

Fort Collins, CO On-campus APA-accredited Clinical Psychology PhD

In-State

~$11,826 per year (in-state) with assistantship support; "virtually every student in the program who has requested financial support has received funding"

Out-of-State

~$31,284 per year (out-of-state)

Length

~4 to 5 years (full-time year of internship final year per legacy structure)

Field Hours

1,500+ on the APA-accredited internship plus practicum

Concentrations

Clinical Psychology PhD (clinical scientist model, reciprocal integration of research and clinical practice)
  • Critical: Counseling Psychology PhD was replaced by a Clinical Psychology PhD as of Fall 2024. Only one cohort has been admitted (Fall 2024) under the new Clinical track
  • Clinical scientist training model with reciprocal integration of research and clinical practice
  • Assistantships provide monthly stipend + tuition waiver; nearly all funded students receive support
  • CSU Department of Psychology also offers Cognitive, Cognitive Neuroscience, Health, and Industrial/Organizational PhD programs
  • Fort Collins location with placements at UCHealth Northern Colorado and the broader Northern CO behavioral health network
GRE: Not required | Min GPA: 3.3
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4

University of Denver (GSPP PsyD)

Denver, CO On-campus APA-accredited PsyD in Clinical Psychology

In-State

~$43,164 per year (private)

Out-of-State

~$43,164 per year

Length

~4 years + 1-year internship

Field Hours

1,500+ on the APA-accredited internship plus practicum

Concentrations

Clinical Psychology PsyD (practitioner-scholar
  • APA-accredited since 1979 with accreditation through 2029
  • One of the founding PsyD programs in the country: GSPP became one of the first schools in the country to offer a PsyD in Clinical Psychology in 1976, the third PsyD program of its kind in the country (co-founded September 1976 by Drs. Nelson Jones, Evelyn Paley, and Joe Dodds)
  • Small cohort sizes typically 15 to 20 students admitted annually
  • Affiliated with the GSPP Internship Consortium plus Colorado Mental Health Hospital at Fort Logan (APA-accredited internship since 1966)
  • Total expected loan burden ~$396,476 over 4 years for fully loan-funded students
GRE: Not required | Min GPA: 3.3
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5

University of Denver (Morgridge College Counseling PhD)

Denver, CO On-campus APA-accredited Counseling Psychology PhD

In-State

Private; verify current rate (DU graduate programs typically run private tuition)

Out-of-State

Same private rate

Length

5 to 6 years

Field Hours

1,500+ on the APA-accredited internship plus practicum

Concentrations

Counseling Psychology PhD (curriculum prepares students for research, teaching, and clinical practice)
  • APA-accredited Counseling Psychology PhD since 1986
  • Reaccredited in 2018 for the maximum 10-year term through 2028
  • Equips students for various career paths: research, teaching, clinical practice
  • Housed within Morgridge College of Education at the University of Denver
  • Strong faculty research portfolio in counseling psychology and applied research methods
GRE: Not required | Min GPA: 3.3
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6

University of Northern Colorado (UNC Greeley)

Greeley, CO On-campus APA-accredited Counseling Psychology PhD

In-State

In-state UNC graduate rates; WICHE benefit allows students from 14 participating states to attend at resident tuition rates

Out-of-State

Out-of-state UNC graduate rates (or WICHE in-state rate for participating states)

Length

5 to 6 years

Field Hours

1,500+ on the APA-accredited internship plus practicum

Concentrations

Counseling Psychology PhD with live supervision practica in individual, group, supervision, and assessmentSchool Psychology PhD (also includes en-route M.A. in Foundations of Professional Psychology for direct-from-baccalaureate students)
  • Counseling Psychology PhD APA-accredited since January 15, 2010
  • School Psychology PhD is the ONLY APA-accredited School Psychology PhD in Colorado
  • Small cohorts with only 6 to 8 Counseling students per class
  • WICHE benefit: students from 14 participating states attend at the in-state resident tuition rate, a major affordability advantage for Mountain West applicants
  • Practica include individual, group, supervision, and assessment with live supervision
GRE: Not required | Min GPA: 3.3
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7

University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS)

Colorado Springs, CO On-campus APA-accredited Clinical Psychology PhD

In-State

Department funds each PhD student around $22,000 per year (covers tuition, fees, living expenses)

Out-of-State

Same with funding

Length

5 years on campus + 6th year internship

Field Hours

1,500+ on the APA-accredited internship plus practicum

Concentrations

Trauma Psychology specialization (curricular focus approved 2014Geropsychology specialization (APA-accredited
  • APA-accredited Clinical PhD since 2007; full accreditation through 2029
  • Boulder Scientist/Practitioner Model
  • Two distinctive specialization tracks: Trauma Psychology (affiliated with Lyda Hill Institute for Human Resilience) AND Geropsychology (meets Pikes Peak Model competencies)
  • Geropsychology cohort: 3 to 5 students; Trauma cohort: 2 to 4 students
  • Colorado Springs location with placement opportunities at Fort Carson, USAFA, and Peterson Space Force Base military behavioral health
GRE: Not required | Min GPA: 3.3
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How to Become a Licensed Clinical Psychologist in Colorado

The licensing board, exam pathway, and supervised hours you'll need to practice independently.

Licensing Board

Colorado State Board of Psychologist Examiners, under Division of Professions and Occupations (DPO)

(303) 894-7800

Doctoral Student/Intern

Supervised pre-doctoral internship

Supervised practice during the doctoral program under faculty and site supervision; not a separate Board credential

Hours

N/A

Duration

Associate

Exam: Not applicable

Licensed Psychologist

Licensed Psychologist

Independent practice, mental health diagnosis and treatment, psychological testing and assessment, supervision of trainees, expert testimony, telepsychology under PSYPACT for CO LPs holding APIT

Hours

1,500

Duration

1,500 post-doctoral hours over at least 12 months (research and teaching may count but neither over 500 hours)

Exam: EPPP (passing scaled score 500) + Colorado Mental Health Jurisprudence Examination ($18)

Clinical Psychologist Salary in Colorado

BLS state median wages by counseling specialty, with national comparison and top-paying metros.

Clinical and Counseling Psychologists (SOC 19-3033)

CO reportedly ranks 2nd nationally for median Clinical Psychologist salaries (90th percentile over $209,000) Above national
State
U.S.

National median: $96,100

Top metro: ~$100,000+ median (Denver-Aurora-Centennial)

School Psychologists (SOC 19-3034)

CO district schedules vary; Denver-area districts lead Varies; above national in Front Range districts
State
U.S.

National median: $86,930

Top metro: Senior steps reach ~$95,000+ (Denver, Jeffco, Cherry Creek)

Psychologists, All Other (SOC 19-3039)

I-O and consulting concentrated in Denver metro Above national in Denver
State
U.S.

National median: National mean ~$120,000

Top metro: Top consulting and I-O roles top $140,000+ (Denver-Aurora-Centennial)

Colorado Clinical Psychology Job Market and Top Employers

Major employers, mental health shortage context, and loan repayment programs that erase debt for service.

Loan Repayment & Scholarship Programs

How to Choose a Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program in Colorado

Decision factors that actually matter, not generic checklist filler.

Related Pages

Frequently Asked Questions