Best Clinical Psychology Doctoral Programs in Massachusetts, Ranked (2026)
Top APA-accredited clinical psychology doctoral programs (PhD and PsyD) in Massachusetts for 2026, with cohort sizes, the 3,200 supervised hours, EPPP Part 1 plus the Massachusetts Jurisprudence Exam, and what to know about Massachusetts staying outside PSYPACT.
Key Takeaways
- Massachusetts has roughly 15 APA-accredited doctoral psychology programs concentrated within ~30 miles of Boston. Clinical PhD anchors include Harvard (Clinical Science PhD, APA reaccredited 2026 for 10-year term, also PCSAS-accredited, ~4 to 6 admitted from ~500 applications), Boston University (since 1948, ~7 from ~800), UMass Boston (since 1993), UMass Amherst (since 1957), Suffolk, and Clark (the Clark Clinical PhD has paused admissions for Fall 2026). William James College in Newton runs Massachusetts's primary APA-accredited Clinical PsyD (also paused for Fall 2026, resumes Fall 2027). Counseling Psychology PhDs include Boston College (since 1982), BU Wheelock, Northeastern, and UMass Boston (since 2015). Springfield College offers a Counseling Psychology PsyD. UMass Amherst, UMass Boston, and William James College anchor the School Psychology landscape.
- Massachusetts licenses psychologists through the MA Board of Registration of Psychologists. Required supervised experience is 3,200 hours: at least 1 year (1,600 hours) must meet the requirements for a "health service training program" (an APA-accredited internship), and the other 1,600 hours (minimum 43 weeks) can be post-internship hours and/or advanced practicum hours meeting Board regulations.
- Massachusetts requires EPPP Part 1 only (passing scaled score 500) plus the Massachusetts Jurisprudence Examination (20 questions administered through PSI testing centers, passing score 70%). Both exams must be completed within 3 years of Board approval.
- Initial license application fee is $150; biennial renewal is $270 (renewed online through the Health Professions Licensing Portal). Continuing education is 20 CE credits per 2-year renewal cycle.
- Massachusetts is NOT a PSYPACT state. House Bill H.2528 (and Senate companion S.1487) would enact PSYPACT. As of April 2026, H.2528 was reported favorably out of House Health Care Financing but is still sitting in House Ways and Means. Senate bills died in the previous two legislative sessions. MA-licensed psychologists cannot legally use PSYPACT telepsychology privileges across state lines until enactment.
- Massachusetts psychologist wages run below national median for Clinical and Counseling Psychologists. BLS May 2024 OEWS shows the state median for SOC 19-3033 at $87,060 versus the national $95,830. School Psychologists (SOC 19-3034) earn meaningfully more in MA at $98,150 median versus the national $86,930, reflecting strong public school district pay schedules.
- Massachusetts has invested heavily in behavioral health workforce. The MA Repay umbrella (Healey-Driscoll administration) administers nine state-funded loan repayment programs. The Expanded Behavioral Health Student Loan Repayment Program awards eligible psychologists up to $50,000; the broader MassHealth Behavioral Health LRP awards up to $300,000 for prescribing providers.
- Boston is one of the deepest psychology training markets in the United States. Major training affiliations include Massachusetts General Hospital (APA internship via Harvard Medical School), Brigham and Women's Hospital, McLean Hospital (widely regarded as one of the most prestigious psychiatric specialty hospitals in the country), Beth Israel Deaconess, Boston Children's Hospital, Dana-Farber, Tufts Medical Center, Baystate Health, UMass Memorial, Cambridge Health Alliance, and Boston Medical Center. The William James College name honors William James (1842-1910), the father of American psychology and a Harvard professor.
Massachusetts runs one of the deepest psychology training markets in the United States, concentrated almost entirely within a 30-mile radius of Boston Common. Harvard Clinical Science PhD (APA reaccredited April 2026 for the maximum 10-year term, also PCSAS-accredited, ~4 to 6 admitted from ~500 applications annually) sits alongside Boston University Clinical PhD (APA since 1948, ~7 from ~800 applications), UMass Boston Clinical PhD (since 1993), UMass Amherst Clinical PhD (since 1957), Suffolk Clinical PhD, and Clark Clinical PhD (Worcester; paused for Fall 2026 admissions). William James College in Newton runs Massachusetts's primary APA-accredited Clinical PsyD with 10-year reaccreditation in 2022, the maximum term (also paused for Fall 2026, reopens for Fall 2027). Counseling Psychology PhDs include Boston College (since 1982), BU Wheelock, Northeastern (reaccredited 2024), and UMass Boston (since 2015). Springfield College offers a Counseling Psychology PsyD. UMass Amherst, UMass Boston, and William James College anchor the School Psychology landscape.
The Massachusetts Board of Registration of Psychologists licensure path is distinctive in two ways. First, the supervised experience requirement is 3,200 hours total: at least 1 year (1,600 hours) on an APA-accredited internship plus 1,600 additional hours (minimum 43 weeks) that can be drawn from a combination of advanced practicum and post-internship/post-doctoral hours. Massachusetts does NOT strictly require a post-doctoral year (unlike Florida, Texas, California, and most other states), making the supervised hour mix flexible. Second, Massachusetts requires only EPPP Part 1 (passing scaled score 500) plus a state jurisprudence exam: 20 questions administered through PSI testing centers with a 70% passing score. Both exams must be completed within 3 years of Board approval. Initial license is $150; biennial renewal is $270 with 20 CE credits per cycle.
The PSYPACT gap is real. Massachusetts is NOT a PSYPACT state, and the legislation has stalled. H.2528 was reported favorably out of House Health Care Financing in April 2026 but is still sitting in House Ways and Means. Senate companion S.1487 sits in Senate Ways and Means, where similar Senate bills died in the previous two legislative sessions. Until enactment, MA-licensed psychologists cannot use the APIT credential to provide telepsychology across PSYPACT states, and MA residents cannot legally receive PSYPACT telepsych from out-of-state providers.
Wage data is mixed. Clinical and Counseling Psychologists in MA earn a state median of $87,060 (BLS May 2024), below the national median of $95,830. School Psychologists in MA earn $98,150 median, well above the national $86,930, reflecting strong public school district pay schedules. The Healey-Driscoll administration has invested over $76 million in MA Repay loan repayment funding, with doctoral psychologists eligible for up to $50,000 under the Expanded Behavioral Health Student Loan Repayment Program. Combined with the deep training network (Mass General, Brigham, McLean, BIDMC, Boston Children's, Dana-Farber, the broader Mass General Brigham system), Massachusetts remains one of the strongest psychology markets in the country despite the PSYPACT gap and below-median wages.
APA-Accredited Clinical Psychology Doctoral Programs in Massachusetts
All 12 programs ranked in this guide, with tuition, format, and accreditation at a glance.
| # | School | In-State Tuition | Format | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harvard University | Full GSAS funding (private; tuition + stipend + health insurance for all admitted doctoral students) | On-campus | |
| 2 | Boston University | Full tuition remission + stipend for funded students (private) | On-campus | |
| 3 | University of Massachusetts Boston (Clinical PhD) | Tuition waived + stipend for first 4 years typical | On-campus | |
| 4 | University of Massachusetts Amherst | Funded students receive tuition waiver + stipend through assistantship support | On-campus | |
| 5 | Clark University | Tuition remission + stipend for funded students (private) | On-campus | |
| 6 | Suffolk University | Tuition remission + stipend for funded students (not guaranteed past Year 6) | On-campus | |
| 7 | William James College (Clinical PsyD) | ~$1,770 per credit (~$236,580 total over 134 credits before scholarships; merit scholarships up to $20,000) | On-campus | |
| 8 | Boston College | Tuition remission + stipend for funded students (private) | On-campus | |
| 9 | Boston University Wheelock | Full tuition remission + fully covered student fees + 12-month service stipend (5 years of support) | On-campus | |
| 10 | Northeastern University | Tuition remission + stipend for funded students (private) | On-campus | |
| 11 | University of Massachusetts Boston (Counseling PhD) | Resident ~$9,444 per semester base; tuition waivers cover at least first 4 years | On-campus | |
| 12 | Springfield College | Private; verify current rate | On-campus |
Harvard University
In-State
Full GSAS funding (private; tuition + stipend + health insurance for all admitted doctoral students)
Out-of-State
Same full funding
Length
~5 years + 1-year APA-accredited internship
Field Hours
1,600+ on the APA-accredited internship plus practicum
Concentrations
- APA reaccredited April 15, 2026 for the maximum 10-year term, AND PCSAS reaccredited December 15, 2022 for 10-year term
- Cohort of 4 to 6 admitted from ~500 applications annually, one of the most selective Clinical PhDs in the country
- GRE not required for 2026 cycle
- Full Harvard GSAS funding (tuition + stipend + health insurance)
- William James Hall named for William James (1842-1910), the father of American psychology and a Harvard professor; embedded in McLean Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, and the broader Mass General Brigham training network
Boston University
In-State
Full tuition remission + stipend for funded students (private)
Out-of-State
Same with funding
Length
~5 to 6 years
Field Hours
1,600+ on the APA-accredited internship plus practicum
Concentrations
- Continuously APA-accredited since 1948
- Cohort of ~7 admitted from ~800 applications per year (2021-2024 average)
- GRE not required for 2026 admission
- Clinical scientist training model with strong faculty research portfolio
- Embedded in BU School of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, and the broader Boston academic medical center network
University of Massachusetts Boston (Clinical PhD)
In-State
Tuition waived + stipend for first 4 years typical
Out-of-State
Same with funding
Length
5+ years + 1-year APA-accredited internship (3 years residency required)
Field Hours
1,600+ on the APA-accredited internship plus practicum
Concentrations
- Continuously APA-accredited Clinical PhD since 1993
- Tuition waived + stipend through at least the first 4 years
- UMass Boston also offers APA-accredited Counseling Psychology PhD and School Psychology PhD, the only three-APA-program university in Massachusetts
- Dorchester location with placements across the broader Boston academic medical center network
- Strong urban and multicultural training focus
University of Massachusetts Amherst
In-State
Funded students receive tuition waiver + stipend through assistantship support
Out-of-State
Same with funding
Length
5 years residency + 1-year clinical internship
Field Hours
1,600+ on the APA-accredited internship plus practicum
Concentrations
- Clinical Psychology PhD continuously APA-accredited since 1957
- Mentor-model admissions with strong research alignment
- School Psychology PhD APA-accredited with prevention and implementation science focus
- Three emphases in Clinical PhD: clinical child, clinical neuropsychology, family psychology
- Western MA location with placements across Pioneer Valley and Springfield-area behavioral health
Clark University
In-State
Tuition remission + stipend for funded students (private)
Out-of-State
Same with funding
Length
5 to 6 years
Field Hours
1,600+ on the APA-accredited internship plus practicum
Concentrations
- APA-accredited Clinical Psychology PhD with scientist-practitioner model
- Admissions paused for Fall 2026; verify next admission cycle directly with the program
- Worcester location with placements at UMass Memorial Health and the broader Central MA behavioral health network
- Frances L. Hiatt School of Psychology with strong faculty in developmental and cultural psychology
- Small private university with intimate cohort training model
Suffolk University
In-State
Tuition remission + stipend for funded students (not guaranteed past Year 6)
Out-of-State
Same with funding
Length
5 to 6 years
Field Hours
1,600+ on the APA-accredited internship plus practicum
Concentrations
- APA-accredited Clinical Psychology PhD with scientist-practitioner training
- Cohort of ~300 applications per year with 50 to 70 invited to interview
- 2026 application deadline December 1, 2025; virtual interview weekend February 27 to 28, 2026
- Tuition remission + stipend through Year 6
- Beacon Hill Boston location with placements across the broader Boston academic medical center network
William James College (Clinical PsyD)
In-State
~$1,770 per credit (~$236,580 total over 134 credits before scholarships; merit scholarships up to $20,000)
Out-of-State
Same private rate
Length
5 years (134 credits)
Field Hours
1,600+ on the APA-accredited internship plus practicum
Concentrations
- APA-accredited PsyD with 10-year reaccreditation in 2022 (the maximum term); next review ~2032
- Formerly Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology (MSPP); renamed William James College in 2015 to honor William James
- Applications closed for Fall 2026; reopen for Fall 2027 by early September 2026
- Practitioner-scholar experiential model with 134-credit structure
- William James College also offers an APA-accredited School Psychology PsyD (NASP-approved); graduates eligible for licensure as both school psychologists and licensed psychologists
Boston College
In-State
Tuition remission + stipend for funded students (private)
Out-of-State
Same with funding
Length
Minimum 5 years full-time
Field Hours
1,600+ on the APA-accredited internship plus practicum
Concentrations
- Continuously APA-accredited since 1982
- Final cohort of 5 to 7 students accepted per year
- Scientist-practitioner training with explicit social justice orientation
- Embedded in Lynch School of Education and Human Development
- Chestnut Hill location with placements across BC counseling centers and broader Boston metro behavioral health
Boston University Wheelock
In-State
Full tuition remission + fully covered student fees + 12-month service stipend (5 years of support)
Out-of-State
Same with funding
Length
4 years (Applied Human Development) to 5 years (Counseling Psychology)
Field Hours
1,600+ on the APA-accredited internship plus practicum
Concentrations
- APA-accredited Counseling Psychology PhD with 5 years of full support (tuition + fees + 12-month stipend)
- Two distinctive tracks: Child/Adolescent Mental Health and Development, and Sport/Performance Psychology
- Housed within BU Wheelock College of Education and Human Development
- Boston location with placements across BU counseling centers, Boston Medical Center, and broader Boston metro behavioral health
- Sport/Performance Psychology track is distinctive nationally
Northeastern University
In-State
Tuition remission + stipend for funded students (private)
Out-of-State
Same with funding
Length
Minimum 4 years post-master's (at least 2 years intensive clinical training)
Field Hours
1,600+ on the APA-accredited internship plus practicum
Concentrations
- APA-accredited Counseling Psychology PhD reaffirmed 2024
- Post-master's entry only (distinctive among MA Counseling Psych PhDs)
- Minimum 4 years with at least 2 years of intensive clinical training
- Housed within Bouve College of Health Sciences
- Boston location with placements across Northeastern's clinical partner network
University of Massachusetts Boston (Counseling PhD)
In-State
Resident ~$9,444 per semester base; tuition waivers cover at least first 4 years
Out-of-State
~$18,217 per semester (non-resident)
Length
5 years campus-based + APA-approved internship (minimum 73 credits)
Field Hours
1,600+ on the APA-accredited internship plus practicum
Concentrations
- Counseling Psychology PhD APA-accredited continuously since 2015
- Tuition waivers cover at least the first 4 years
- UMass Boston offers three APA-accredited doctoral psychology programs (Clinical PhD, Counseling PhD, School PhD), the only three-APA-program university in Massachusetts
- Minimum 73 credits plus full-year APA-approved internship
- Dorchester location with urban and multicultural training emphasis
Springfield College
In-State
Private; verify current rate
Out-of-State
Same private rate
Length
96 core credits; 3 years coursework + 1-year internship (post-master's) OR 4 years + internship (post-baccalaureate)
Field Hours
1,600+ on the APA-accredited internship plus practicum
Concentrations
- APA-accredited Counseling Psychology PsyD (first cohort admitted 2012)
- 78% professional licensure rate among graduates
- 96 core credits with both post-master's (3+1) and post-baccalaureate (4+1) entry tracks
- Springfield/Western MA location with placements at Baystate Health and regional behavioral health
- Practitioner-scholar PsyD training model
How to Become a Licensed Clinical Psychologist in Massachusetts
The licensing board, exam pathway, and supervised hours you'll need to practice independently.
Licensing Board
Massachusetts Board of Registration of Psychologists
(617) 727-9925
Massachusetts regulates psychologists through the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Psychologists under 251 CMR 3.00. Education requirement is a doctoral degree (PhD, PsyD, or EdD) from an APA-accredited program or substantially equivalent.
Required supervised experience is 3,200 hours. At least 1 year (1,600 hours) must meet the requirements for a "health service training program" (an APA-accredited internship). The other 1,600 hours (minimum 43 weeks) can be met through post-internship hours and/or advanced practicum hours that meet the Board's regulatory requirements. Massachusetts does NOT strictly require a post-doctoral year, unlike most peer states.
Exam sequence is EPPP Part 1 only (passing scaled score 500; ASPPB base registration $687.50) plus the Massachusetts Jurisprudence Examination: 20 questions administered through PSI testing centers with a 70% passing score. Both exams must be completed within 3 years of Board approval. A mandatory 90-day waiting period applies between EPPP retakes.
Initial license application fee is $150; biennial renewal is $270 (renewed online through the Health Professions Licensing Portal). Total estimated licensing path cost is roughly $1,156. Continuing education is 20 CE credits per 2-year renewal cycle. Typical timeline from undergrad to licensure runs 7 to 10 years (5 to 7 years doctorate + 1-year internship often concurrent + post-doctoral hours if needed + exams).
Supervised pre-doctoral internship in a health service training program
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
Independent practice, mental health diagnosis and treatment, psychological testing and assessment, supervision of trainees, expert testimony. NOTE: Cannot use PSYPACT to practice across state lines (MA has not enacted PSYPACT).
Hours
3,200
Duration
1,600+ hours health service training program (internship) + 1,600 hours (43+ weeks) post-internship and/or advanced practicum
Exam: EPPP Part 1 only (passing scaled score 500) + Massachusetts Jurisprudence Examination (20 questions PSI, 70% passing)
Massachusetts 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 MA. Out-of-state applicants must complete the Massachusetts Jurisprudence Examination.
Massachusetts is NOT a PSYPACT member state. House Bill H.2528 (and Senate companion S.1487) would enact the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact. As of April 2026, H.2528 was reported favorably out of House Health Care Financing but is still sitting in House Ways and Means. Senate companion S.1487 sits in Senate Ways and Means, where similar Senate bills died in the previous two legislative sessions. The Massachusetts Psychological Association is actively lobbying for passage. Until enactment, MA-licensed psychologists cannot use APIT to provide telepsychology across PSYPACT states, and MA residents cannot legally receive PSYPACT-compact telepsych from out-of-state providers. If multi-state telehealth practice is part of your career plan, you may need to license individually in a second state until MA joins.
Clinical Psychologist Salary in Massachusetts
BLS state median wages by counseling specialty, with national comparison and top-paying metros.
Massachusetts psychologist wage data is split. Clinical and Counseling Psychologists earn below the national median, while School Psychologists earn well above. The BLS May 2024 OEWS shows MA Clinical and Counseling Psychologists (SOC 19-3033) at a state median of $87,060 versus the national $95,830. School Psychologists (SOC 19-3034) earn $98,150 median in MA versus the national $86,930, reflecting strong public school district pay schedules and a tight school psychology labor market. MA cost of living runs significantly above national average, partially offsetting the nominal wage advantages.
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists (SOC 19-3033)
National median: $95,830
Top metro: ~$105,300 to $107,800 (Springfield and Pittsfield (state medians above $100,000))
School Psychologists (SOC 19-3034)
National median: $86,930
Top metro: ~$103,830 median ($205,060 at 90th percentile) (Barnstable Town)
Industrial-Organizational Psychologists (SOC 19-3032)
National median: ~$109,840 (national median)
Top metro: Top consulting and I-O roles in Boston metro $150,000+ (Boston-Cambridge-Newton (suppressed))
Massachusetts Clinical Psychology Job Market and Top Employers
Major employers, mental health shortage context, and loan repayment programs that erase debt for service.
Massachusetts has one of the deepest psychology employment markets in the United States, concentrated heavily in Greater Boston with secondary hubs in Worcester, Springfield, and the Cape. Major employers fall into five buckets.
Mass General Brigham and other Boston academic medical centers: Massachusetts General Hospital (Clinical Psychology Internship APA-accredited via Harvard Medical School affiliation; 55 Fruit Street, Boston), Brigham and Women's Hospital (Clinical Psychology Internship Training Program; 75 Francis Street), McLean Hospital (115 Mill Street, Belmont; widely regarded as one of the most prestigious psychiatric specialty hospitals in the United States, Harvard Medical School's psychiatric teaching hospital, with competitive psychology internships and post-doc fellowships including 80% protected research time), Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (psycho-oncology), Tufts Medical Center, Baystate Health (Springfield), UMass Memorial Health (Worcester), Cambridge Health Alliance, and Boston Medical Center.
MA Department of Mental Health (DMH) state hospitals: Tewksbury Hospital, Westborough State Hospital, Worcester Recovery Center and Hospital, and Taunton State Hospital. The MA DMH is one of the largest state psychiatric systems in New England.
VA system: VA Boston Healthcare System (West Roxbury, Brockton, Jamaica Plain campuses), Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital (Bedford VA), and VA Central Western Massachusetts Healthcare System (Northampton VA). All operate APA-accredited psychology training programs.
State government: MA Department of Children and Families (DCF), MA Department of Correction (DOC), MA Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS).
Public school districts (school psychologists): Boston Public Schools, Worcester Public Schools, Springfield Public Schools, and the broader MA K-12 network. MA school psychologists earn meaningfully above the national median, reflecting strong public school district pay schedules.
Loan Repayment & Scholarship Programs
MA Repay Expanded Behavioral Health Student Loan Repayment Program: Administered through the partnership between MA League of Community Health Centers and EOHHS. Funded with $61M+ from the state. Eligible psychologists can receive up to $50,000 in loan repayment.
MassHealth Behavioral Health Student Loan Repayment Program: Up to $300,000 for psychiatrists/NPs with prescribing privileges; up to $50,000 for master's and doctoral-level behavioral health professionals including psychologists; up to $30,000 for bachelor's-level providers.
Healey-Driscoll Administration recent funding: Additional $76M+ in student loan repayment for behavioral health and primary care providers announced through MA Repay. More than $38M in new funding has been made available through the MA Repay umbrella.
NHSC Loan Repayment Program: Federal program. Health Service Psychologists eligible. Up to $55,000 for 2 years full-time ($30,000 half-time) at NHSC-approved HPSA sites. One-time $5,000 language access enhancement available. 2026 license deadline June 30, 2026.
VA Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP): VA-employed psychologists at VA Boston Healthcare System, Bedford VA, and Northampton VA can qualify for EDRP awards up to $200,000 over 5 years.
Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF): MA-licensed psychologists at qualifying nonprofit/government employers (MA DMH state hospitals, VA medical centers, Boston Public Schools, public universities, 501(c)(3) hospitals including most Mass General Brigham facilities) qualify for PSLF after 120 qualifying payments under an income-driven repayment plan.
How to Choose a Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program in Massachusetts
Decision factors that actually matter, not generic checklist filler.
Choosing a Massachusetts doctoral psychology program comes down to five levers: funding, training model (clinical-science PhD vs scientist-practitioner PhD vs practitioner-scholar PsyD), geography (almost everything is within 30 miles of Boston), the 2026 admission pauses at Clark and William James College, and the PSYPACT gap. Here is how to actually narrow it down.
If you want a fully funded research PhD: Harvard (full GSAS funding for Clinical Science PhD), BU (tuition remission + stipend), UMass Boston Clinical (tuition waived + stipend through first 4 years), UMass Amherst (tuition waiver + stipend via assistantship), BU Wheelock (5 years of full support including 12-month stipend), Suffolk (tuition remission + stipend through Year 6). The funded R1 path is the most affordable.
If you want both APA AND PCSAS accreditation: Harvard Clinical Science PhD is Massachusetts's only program with dual APA + PCSAS accreditation. PCSAS signals clinical-science training and is accepted by most state licensure boards alongside APA.
If you want a PsyD: William James College in Newton runs the only APA-accredited Clinical PsyD in MA, with 10-year reaccreditation in 2022 (the maximum term). However, William James Clinical PsyD admissions are paused for Fall 2026; reopen for Fall 2027. Springfield College offers an APA-accredited Counseling Psychology PsyD with 78% licensure rate. William James College also offers an APA-accredited School Psychology PsyD (NASP-approved).
If you want Counseling Psychology: Boston College (since 1982, scientist-practitioner with social justice orientation), BU Wheelock (5 years full support, distinctive Sport/Performance Psychology track), Northeastern (post-master's entry only, reaffirmed 2024), UMass Boston (since 2015, urban and multicultural focus), and Springfield College PsyD round out the menu. MA has one of the deepest Counseling Psychology training markets in the country.
If you want School Psychology at the doctoral level: UMass Amherst School PhD, UMass Boston School PhD, and William James College School PsyD (NASP-approved). MA school psychologists earn meaningfully above national median ($98,150 vs $86,930), reflecting strong public school district pay schedules.
If you want the deepest training affiliations: Boston's academic medical center concentration (Mass General, Brigham, McLean, BIDMC, Boston Children's, Dana-Farber, Tufts Medical Center, Cambridge Health Alliance, Boston Medical Center, plus the broader Mass General Brigham network) creates one of the densest APA-accredited internship and post-doctoral fellowship landscapes in the United States. McLean Hospital in particular is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious psychiatric specialty training sites in the country.
If you plan to do telehealth across state lines: MA is currently NOT a PSYPACT state. Plan to license in a second state (NH, CT, RI, VT, PA, NY are common second licenses for MA psychologists) until H.2528 or successor legislation passes. PSYPACT enactment in MA is being actively pursued by the Massachusetts Psychological Association.
Caveats worth knowing before applying: Clark University Clinical Psychology PhD has paused admissions for Fall 2026 (verify next cycle directly). William James College Clinical PsyD applications are closed for Fall 2026 and reopen for Fall 2027 by early September 2026. Tufts University does NOT offer an APA-accredited program (its Psychology PhD is experimental, not health service psychology). Antioch University New England is in Keene, NH, not Massachusetts. Boston College has only ONE APA-accredited doctoral program (Counseling Psychology PhD); BC's Applied Developmental and Educational Psychology PhD is a developmental program, not APA-accredited.
If wage rate matters more than training prestige: MA Clinical and Counseling Psychologists earn below national median ($87,060 vs $95,830) in nominal terms, but MA School Psychologists earn well above ($98,150 vs $86,930). If wage matters and you can pursue school psychology, MA is a strong target market.
Related Pages
Counseling Programs in Massachusetts
CACREP-accredited counseling programs and the Massachusetts LMHC license, a master's alternative to the 7-year psychology doctorate
MSW Programs in Massachusetts
CSWE-accredited social work programs and Massachusetts LICSW licensure
ABA Programs in Massachusetts
BACB-verified course sequences and Massachusetts 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
- Massachusetts Board of Registration of Psychologists
- MA Psychologists Licensing
- MA Psychologists Board FAQ
- PSYPACT, Compact Map
- Massachusetts H.2528 (pending PSYPACT enactment)
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS Massachusetts Estimates (May 2024)
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, Psychologists
- MA Repay (Massachusetts Loan Repayment for Health Professionals)
- Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers, Repayment Programs
- NHSC Loan Repayment Program