Best Clinical Psychology Doctoral Programs in Maryland, Ranked (2026)
Top APA-accredited clinical psychology doctoral programs (PhD and PsyD) in Maryland for 2026, with cohort sizes, the 3,250 supervised hours (1,750 internship + 1,500 additional), EPPP plus the Maryland Jurisprudence Examination, and Maryland's PSYPACT membership since May 2021.
Key Takeaways
- Maryland has roughly 6 APA-accredited doctoral psychology programs across 5 institutions. R1 anchors include University of Maryland College Park (Clinical Psychology PhD APA since 1963 plus PCSAS since 2017, Counseling Psychology PhD continuously since 1953, School Psychology PhD with next review 2028) and University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) Human Services Psychology PhD Clinical track (since 1990). Loyola University Maryland in Baltimore runs Maryland's ONLY APA-accredited Clinical PsyD (since 2000, 15-student cohorts with consistent 100% APA-accredited internship match). Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) in Bethesda runs an APA-accredited Clinical Psychology PhD with Military and Civilian tracks (since 1997, reaccredited 2025 for 10 years through 2035, tuition waived for all students).
- Maryland licenses psychologists through the Maryland Board of Examiners of Psychologists. Required supervised experience is 3,250 hours: minimum 1,750 hours through an APA-accredited internship completed within 24 months plus 1,500 hours from pre-internship, post-internship, pre-doctoral, and post-doctoral experiences. At least 75% of hours (2,438+) must involve on-site, face-to-face supervision by a licensed psychologist.
- Exam sequence is the EPPP (passing scaled score 500) plus the Maryland Jurisprudence Examination (minimum 75% score). Initial application fee is $300 (nonrefundable); biennial license renewal is $400 plus a $26 MHCC user fee.
- Maryland is a PSYPACT state. Maryland enacted PSYPACT through HB 970, signed by Governor Larry Hogan and effective May 18, 2021. MD LPs holding the E.Passport plus APIT can practice telepsychology across all 40+ PSYPACT member states.
- Maryland pays among the highest psychologist wages in the country. BLS May 2024 Maryland OEWS shows Clinical and Counseling Psychologists (SOC 19-3033) at a state mean of $110,690 (17% above the national median of $94,310). School Psychologists earn $88,520 mean; Psychologists All Other earn $100,010 mean.
- DC metro proximity creates the densest concentration of federal psychology employers in the United States: NIH intramural research, NIMH, NIDA, NIAAA, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Uniformed Services University, and VA Central Office are all in or adjacent to Bethesda. USU's tuition-waived Clinical Psychology PhD feeds directly into this federal workforce.
- Maryland has unique loan repayment depth. The MD Behavioral Health Workforce SLRP includes health service psychologists as explicitly eligible alongside physicians, NPs, PAs, CNMs, LCSWs, LMFTs, and LPCs. The Janet L. Hoffman LARP explicitly names school psychologists, resource psychologists, and psychologist coordinators in public schools.
- Important note on Johns Hopkins: Johns Hopkins University does NOT offer an APA-accredited Clinical Psychology PhD. The Hopkins PhD in Psychological and Brain Sciences is research-only (perception, memory, decision-making). Hopkins hosts an APA-accredited Doctoral Internship at the Counseling Center (training site for external students). Towson University also does NOT offer an APA-accredited PsyD (master's only). Catholic University of America's APA-accredited Clinical PhD is in Washington DC, not Maryland.
Maryland's clinical psychology doctoral landscape is small but concentrated in distinctive institutions. University of Maryland College Park anchors the state with three APA-accredited PhDs: Clinical Psychology PhD (APA since 1963, PCSAS since 2017, accepts 2 to 7 from ~275 applications annually with full 5-year funding), Counseling Psychology PhD (continuously APA-accredited since 1953), and School Psychology PhD (next review 2028, also NASP-accredited). UMBC Catonsville runs the Human Services Psychology PhD with the Clinical track APA-accredited since 1990 (note: UMBC HSP is NOT recruiting for the 2026-2027 cycle). Loyola University Maryland in Baltimore runs the state's ONLY APA-accredited Clinical PsyD (since 2000, 15-student cohorts with consistent 100% APA-accredited internship match), with deep practicum affiliations at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Sheppard Pratt, and Kennedy Krieger Institute. Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) in Bethesda runs an APA-accredited Clinical Psychology PhD with Military and Civilian tracks (since 1997, reaccredited 2025 for the maximum 10-year term through 2035) with tuition waived for all students.
Two critical corrections shape Maryland program planning. First, Johns Hopkins University does NOT offer an APA-accredited Clinical Psychology PhD. The Hopkins PhD in Psychological and Brain Sciences is research-only (perception, memory, decision-making) and is not clinical training. Hopkins hosts an APA-accredited Doctoral Internship at the Counseling Center (training site for external doctoral students, not a degree program). Second, Towson University does NOT offer an APA-accredited PsyD (only an MA in Psychology Clinical concentration with MPCAC accreditation, plus an APA-accredited Doctoral Internship as a training site). Catholic University of America's APA-accredited Clinical PhD (continuously since 1948) is in Washington DC, not Maryland.
The Maryland Board of Examiners of Psychologists licensure path under COMAR 10.36.06 requires a doctorate from an APA-accredited program plus 3,250 supervised hours with at least 1,750 hours from a 24-month APA-accredited internship plus 1,500 additional hours from pre-internship, post-internship, pre-doctoral, or post-doctoral experience. At least 75% of hours (2,438+) must involve on-site face-to-face supervision by a licensed psychologist. Exam sequence is the EPPP (passing scaled score 500) plus the Maryland Jurisprudence Examination (75% passing). Initial application fee is $300; biennial renewal is $400 plus $26 MHCC user fee.
Maryland is a PSYPACT state effective May 18, 2021 via HB 970 (signed by Governor Larry Hogan). MD LPs can practice telepsychology across all 40+ PSYPACT member states under E.Passport plus APIT. Combined with Maryland's national #1 employer concentration of federal psychology jobs (NIH intramural research, NIMH, NIDA, NIAAA, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, USU itself), top-quartile psychologist wages (state mean $110,690, 17% above national), and the unique Kennedy Krieger Institute neurodevelopmental specialty employer, Maryland offers one of the strongest psychology markets on the East Coast despite the small program count.
APA-Accredited Clinical Psychology Doctoral Programs in Maryland
All 6 programs ranked in this guide, with tuition, format, and accreditation at a glance.
| # | School | In-State Tuition | Format | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Maryland, College Park (Clinical PhD) | Full funding 5 years: fellowship or assistantship + stipend + tuition remission up to 10 credits/semester + full 12-month funding for clinical students | On-campus | |
| 2 | University of Maryland, College Park (Counseling PhD) | Funded students typically receive assistantship + tuition remission | On-campus | |
| 3 | University of Maryland, College Park (School PhD) | Funded students receive assistantship + tuition remission | On-campus | |
| 4 | University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) | ~$24,454 9-month stipend for first-year HSP/ADP PhD students (2024-2025 academic year) | On-campus | |
| 5 | Loyola University Maryland | ~$36,000 per year (private) | On-campus | |
| 6 | Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) | <strong>Tuition and fees waived for all students</strong> | On-campus |
University of Maryland, College Park (Clinical PhD)
In-State
Full funding 5 years: fellowship or assistantship + stipend + tuition remission up to 10 credits/semester + full 12-month funding for clinical students
Out-of-State
Same with full funding
Length
5 to 6 years + 1-year APA-accredited internship
Field Hours
1,750+ on the APA-accredited internship plus practicum
Concentrations
- APA-accredited since 1963 AND PCSAS-accredited since 2017 (dual accreditation)
- Accepts 2 to 7 students per year from ~275 applications (selective)
- GRE NOT accepted for Fall 2026 admission cycle; scores will not be considered if submitted
- Full 5-year funding: fellowship or assistantship + stipend + tuition remission + full 12-month support for clinical students
- College Park location with placements across DC metro federal employers, UMMC, and the broader Mid-Atlantic behavioral health network
University of Maryland, College Park (Counseling PhD)
In-State
Funded students typically receive assistantship + tuition remission
Out-of-State
Same with funding
Length
5 to 6 years + 1-year APA-accredited internship
Field Hours
1,750+ on the APA-accredited internship plus practicum
Concentrations
- Continuously APA-accredited since 1953, one of the longest-running Counseling Psychology PhDs in the country
- Joint program between College of Education and Department of Psychology
- Funded students receive assistantship + tuition remission
- College Park location with placements across DC metro counseling centers and federal employers
- Strong scientist-practitioner training model
University of Maryland, College Park (School PhD)
In-State
Funded students receive assistantship + tuition remission
Out-of-State
Same with funding
Length
5 to 6 years
Field Hours
1,750+ on the APA-accredited internship plus practicum
Concentrations
- APA-accredited (next site visit 2028) AND NASP-accredited (next review 2030)
- Scientist-practitioner training model
- Embedded in UMD College of Education
- Placements across Montgomery County Public Schools (largest in MD), Prince George's County, and DC metro school districts
- College Park location with strong DC metro school psychology employer pipeline
University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC)
In-State
~$24,454 9-month stipend for first-year HSP/ADP PhD students (2024-2025 academic year)
Out-of-State
Same with funding
Length
~6 years median including internship (APA-accredited Clinical track)
Field Hours
1,750+ on the APA-accredited internship plus practicum at Kennedy Krieger Institute and other partner sites
Concentrations
- APA-accredited Clinical Psychology track since 1990 (within the broader Human Services Psychology PhD)
- NOT recruiting students for the 2026-2027 cycle; both HSP and ADP doctoral programs paused for that cohort
- 9-month stipend ~$24,454 for first-year students
- Median time to degree completion 6 years for the APA-accredited Clinical track
- ABA master's track in collaboration with Kennedy Krieger Institute Department of Behavioral Psychology
Loyola University Maryland
In-State
~$36,000 per year (private)
Out-of-State
~$36,000 per year
Length
5 years full-time (125 credit hours + 1,500+ supervised field experience hours)
Field Hours
1,500+ on supervised field placements plus APA-accredited internship
Concentrations
- Maryland's ONLY APA-accredited PsyD program (continuously APA-accredited for over two decades)
- Cohort of 15 students with consistent 100% APA-accredited internship placement rate
- 125-credit, 5-year structure with Year 3 specialization electives (27 credits)
- Practicum affiliations include Johns Hopkins Hospital System (pediatric neuropsychology), Sheppard Pratt Health System, and Kennedy Krieger Institute (developmental disabilities/pediatric rehab); 100+ externship sites across the Baltimore-DC corridor
- Fall 2026 entry: applications open September 1, 2025 with priority deadline December 1, 2025
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU)
In-State
<strong>Tuition and fees waived for all students</strong>
Out-of-State
Same with waiver
Length
Military track: 5 years (4 at USU + 1 yr clinical practicum) with 7-year service obligation after practicum; Civilian track: 6 to 7 years
Field Hours
1,750+ on the APA-accredited internship plus practicum
Concentrations
- Continuously APA-accredited since 1997; reaccredited 2025 for the maximum 10-year term through 2035
- Tuition and fees waived for all students
- Two tracks: Military (5 years total + 7-year service obligation; commissioning as military officer) and Civilian (6 to 7 years total)
- Federal/military health psychology and clinical research training for government and academic medical careers
- Bethesda location embedded in NIH, NIMH, NIDA, NIAAA, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, and the broader DC metro federal psychology employer network
How to Become a Licensed Clinical Psychologist in Maryland
The licensing board, exam pathway, and supervised hours you'll need to practice independently.
Licensing Board
Maryland Board of Examiners of Psychologists, Department of Health
(410) 764-4787
Maryland regulates psychologists through the Maryland Board of Examiners of Psychologists under the Department of Health, governed by COMAR 10.36.06.
Education requirement is a doctoral degree (PhD or PsyD) from an APA-accredited program.
Required supervised experience is 3,250 hours total: minimum 1,750 hours completed within a 24-month period through an APA-accredited internship plus 1,500 additional hours that can be completed through pre-internship, post-internship, pre-doctoral, and post-doctoral experiences. At least 75% of hours (2,438 or more) must involve on-site, face-to-face supervision by a licensed psychologist.
Exam sequence is the EPPP (minimum passing scaled score 500) plus the Maryland Jurisprudence Examination (minimum 75% passing score).
Initial application fee is $300 nonrefundable. Biennial license renewal is $400 (psychologist) or $300 (psychology associate), plus a $26 MHCC user fee collected on behalf of the Maryland Health Care Commission. Renewal cycle is every 2 years. Total timeline from start of bachelor's through full licensure typically runs 7 to 9 years.
Supervised pre-doctoral internship (APA-accredited)
Supervised practice during the doctoral program under faculty and site supervision; not a separate Board credential
Hours
N/A
Duration
Associate
Exam: Not applicable
Psychology Associate (supervised pre-license practice)
Supervised practice under a Licensed Psychologist while accumulating post-internship hours toward full licensure. Biennial renewal $300.
Hours
N/A
Duration
Associate
Exam: Not required to hold the Psychology Associate credential
Licensed Psychologist
Independent practice, mental health diagnosis and treatment, psychological testing and assessment, supervision of trainees, expert testimony, telepsychology under PSYPACT for MD LPs holding APIT
Hours
3,250
Duration
1,750 hours via 24-month APA-accredited internship + 1,500 hours from pre-internship, post-internship, pre-doctoral, or post-doctoral experiences; at least 75% face-to-face supervision by licensed psychologist
Exam: EPPP (passing scaled score 500) + Maryland Jurisprudence Examination (75% passing)
Maryland does not offer automatic reciprocity but allows licensure by endorsement for out-of-state psychologists who hold a current valid license earned through requirements substantially equivalent to Maryland. Out-of-state applicants must complete the Maryland Jurisprudence Examination.
Maryland is a PSYPACT member state. Maryland enacted PSYPACT through HB 970, signed by Governor Larry Hogan and effective May 18, 2021. MD LPs holding the E.Passport and APIT (Authority to Practice Interjurisdictional Telepsychology) through the PSYPACT Commission can practice telepsychology with clients in any of the 40+ PSYPACT member states. The MD Board PSYPACT page details the application process.
Clinical Psychologist Salary in Maryland
BLS state median wages by counseling specialty, with national comparison and top-paying metros.
Maryland pays among the highest psychologist wages in the country, driven by the DC metro federal employer concentration, Johns Hopkins and University of Maryland Medical System academic medical center presence, and Kennedy Krieger Institute neurodevelopmental specialty employment. The BLS May 2024 Maryland OEWS shows Clinical and Counseling Psychologists (SOC 19-3033) at a state mean annual wage of $110,690, approximately 17% above the national median of $94,310. School Psychologists earn $88,520 mean (above national $86,930); Psychologists, All Other earn $100,010 mean.
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists (SOC 19-3033)
National median: $96,100
Top metro: ~$115,000+ (Washington-Arlington-Alexandria DC-VA-MD-WV and Baltimore-Columbia-Towson)
School Psychologists (SOC 19-3034)
National median: $86,930
Top metro: Montgomery County Public Schools senior steps reach ~$110,000+ (Washington-Arlington-Alexandria DC-VA-MD-WV)
Psychologists, All Other (SOC 19-3039)
National median: National mean ~$120,000
Top metro: NIH intramural and federal consulting psychologists top $150,000+ (Bethesda (federal research employment))
Maryland Clinical Psychology Job Market and Top Employers
Major employers, mental health shortage context, and loan repayment programs that erase debt for service.
Maryland has one of the deepest psychology employment markets in the United States, with the densest concentration of federal psychology employers in the country (Bethesda/DC metro), elite academic medical centers (Johns Hopkins, University of Maryland), and the unique Kennedy Krieger Institute. Major employers fall into five buckets.
Academic medical centers and major health systems: Johns Hopkins Medicine / Johns Hopkins Hospital (Baltimore, the major academic medical center with training and faculty appointments across rehabilitation psychology, neuropsychology, child and adolescent psychiatry), University of Maryland Medical System / UMMS (Baltimore and statewide), MedStar Health (operates in MD + DC; multi-hospital system including MedStar Georgetown, MedStar Washington Hospital Center, MedStar Franklin Square), Sinai Hospital of Baltimore (LifeBridge Health), Anne Arundel Medical Center (Luminis Health, Annapolis), Frederick Health, Sheppard Pratt Health System (Towson; the largest private nonprofit provider of mental health services in the US), and Kennedy Krieger Institute (Baltimore) (internationally recognized for treating neurological, rehabilitative, and developmental needs; 2,500+ employees; Forbes Best Employers in Maryland 2025; Psychologist II salary ranges $72K to $135K).
Federal employers (densest US concentration): NIH intramural research (Bethesda), NIMH (National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda), NIDA / NIAAA (also intramural NIH campus), Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (Bethesda), Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (Bethesda, both employer and degree-granting institution), VA Central Office, plus federal contracting and consulting psychology roles. This is the densest US concentration of federal psychology employment.
VA system: VA Maryland Health Care System (Baltimore VA Medical Center, Loch Raven VA Medical Center in Baltimore, and Perry Point VA Medical Center on a 400-acre campus 45 minutes north of Baltimore). VA Maryland sponsors an APA-accredited psychology internship and 3 to 4 one-year APA-accredited Clinical Psychology Fellowships.
MD Department of Health Behavioral Health Administration (5 state psychiatric hospitals): Spring Grove Hospital Center (Catonsville, the third-oldest mental hospital in the US established 1797), Springfield Hospital Center (Sykesville, founded 1896), Eastern Shore Hospital Center (Cambridge), Clifton T. Perkins Hospital Center (Jessup, the state's only maximum-security hospital), and Thomas B. Finan Center (Cumberland).
Public school districts (school psychology employers): Montgomery County Public Schools (the largest district in Maryland with 211 schools and ~159,671 students; employs school psychologists across 5 units including Bilingual Assessment Team, Crisis Response, Mental Health Services, RAP, and School Psychology), Prince George's County Public Schools, Baltimore County Public Schools, Baltimore City Public Schools, and Anne Arundel County Public Schools.
Loan Repayment & Scholarship Programs
Maryland State Loan Repayment Program (SLRP) / Behavioral Health Workforce Investment Fund: Administered through MDH Office of Population Health Improvement. Health service psychologists are explicitly eligible alongside physicians, NPs, PAs, CNMs, LCSWs, LMFTs, LPCs, and psychiatric nurse specialists serving in MD-designated shortage areas or qualifying behavioral health sites.
Janet L. Hoffman Loan Assistance Repayment Program (LARP): Maryland Higher Education Commission program. Eligible categories include school psychologists, resource psychologists, and psychologist coordinators employed in local school systems to provide mental health services. This is one of the most generous state LARPs in the country for school psychology workforce specifically.
Maryland Loan Assistance Repayment Program for Physicians and Physician Assistants (MLARP): Specialties include mental health and psychiatry; 2-year obligation in HPSA / MUA / state-designated shortage areas. Annual application cycle opens March 1. (MLARP-PPA covers physicians and PAs only; psychologists access via SLRP and Hoffman LARP above.)
NHSC Loan Repayment Program: Federal program. Health Service Psychologists eligible. Up to $50,000 for 2-year full-time service at an NHSC-approved site in a designated HPSA; substance use disorder track up to $75,000; tax-exempt.
VA Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP): VA-employed psychologists at VA Maryland Health Care System (Baltimore, Loch Raven, Perry Point) can qualify for EDRP awards up to $200,000 over 5 years.
Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF): Available to MD-licensed psychologists employed full-time by qualifying nonprofit/government employers (VA, MDH, Kennedy Krieger as 501(c)(3), state psychiatric hospitals, MCPS, NIH/NIMH/NIDA/NIAAA as federal, USU/Walter Reed as federal). 120 qualifying payments under an income-driven repayment plan.
How to Choose a Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program in Maryland
Decision factors that actually matter, not generic checklist filler.
Choosing a Maryland clinical psychology doctoral program comes down to four levers given the small program count: funding, training model (clinical-science PhD vs PsyD vs federal/military track), geography (College Park vs Baltimore vs Bethesda), and the institution-specific niches (UMD's PCSAS dual-accreditation, Loyola's 100% match rate, USU's tuition waiver + federal pipeline). Here is how to actually narrow it down.
If you want a fully funded research PhD: UMD College Park Clinical PhD provides full 5-year funding (fellowship or assistantship + stipend + tuition remission + 12-month support for clinical students). UMD Counseling PhD and School PhD also fund admitted students through assistantships.
If you want APA + PCSAS dual accreditation: UMD College Park Clinical PhD is the only Maryland program with dual APA (since 1963) + PCSAS (since 2017) accreditation.
If you want the only APA-accredited PsyD in Maryland: Loyola University Maryland Clinical PsyD (since 2000) is Maryland's only APA-accredited Clinical PsyD. 15-student cohorts with consistent 100% APA-accredited internship match. Practicum at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Sheppard Pratt, and Kennedy Krieger. Tuition ~$36,000 per year.
If you want tuition waived completely: Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) Clinical Psychology PhD waives tuition and fees for ALL students. Military Track commissions as military officer with 7-year service obligation; Civilian Track is open to all qualified applicants with no service obligation. Both tracks are APA-accredited (reaccredited 2025 for 10 years through 2035).
If you want maximum DC metro federal employer access: USU sits in Bethesda directly adjacent to NIH, NIMH, NIDA, NIAAA, and Walter Reed. UMD College Park is 30 minutes from federal employer concentration. Loyola Baltimore is 45 minutes via I-95.
If you want School Psychology at the doctoral level: UMD College Park School Psychology PhD (APA + NASP-accredited, next reviews 2028 and 2030). Strong placement pipeline through Montgomery County Public Schools (the largest district in MD). The Janet L. Hoffman LARP explicitly includes school psychologists, resource psychologists, and psychologist coordinators.
If you want Kennedy Krieger Institute training: Loyola Maryland PsyD has strong Kennedy Krieger practicum affiliations. UMBC HSP runs an ABA master's track in collaboration with Kennedy Krieger Department of Behavioral Psychology. Kennedy Krieger is Maryland's signature neurodevelopmental specialty employer.
If you want maximum PSYPACT leverage: Maryland has been a PSYPACT state since May 2021. MD LPs with APIT can practice telepsychology across all 40+ PSYPACT member states. Combined with Maryland's top-quartile psychologist wages (state mean $110,690, 17% above national) and the densest federal employer concentration in the country, Maryland is among the strongest base licenses on the East Coast.
Caveats worth knowing before applying: Johns Hopkins University does NOT offer an APA-accredited Clinical Psychology PhD (the Hopkins PhD in Psychological and Brain Sciences is research-only). Towson University does NOT offer an APA-accredited PsyD (only an MA in Psychology with MPCAC accreditation). Catholic University of America's APA-accredited Clinical PhD is in Washington DC, not Maryland. UMBC HSP Clinical track is NOT recruiting students for the 2026-2027 cycle. Verify each program's current admission status directly before applying.
Related Pages
Counseling Programs in Maryland
CACREP-accredited counseling programs and the Maryland LCPC license, a master's alternative to the 7-year clinical psychology doctorate
MSW Programs in Maryland
CSWE-accredited social work programs and Maryland LCSW-C licensure
ABA Programs in Maryland
BACB-verified course sequences and Maryland BCBA practice for students considering applied behavior analysis
Clinical Psychology Doctoral Programs by State
Browse APA-accredited clinical psychology doctoral programs (PhD and PsyD) in every state
Sources
- APA Commission on Accreditation, Accredited Programs Directory
- Maryland Board of Examiners of Psychologists
- COMAR 10.36.06 Fees
- MD PSYPACT Page
- PSYPACT, Compact Map
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS Maryland Estimates (May 2024)
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, Psychologists
- MD Behavioral Health Workforce Development and Expansion (SLRP)
- Janet L. Hoffman Loan Assistance Repayment Program (LARP)
- NHSC Loan Repayment Program
- VA Maryland Health Care System