Top 10 Universities for Clinical Psychology in 2027
The University of California, Los Angeles is the best university for clinical psychology, ranked #1 on U.S. News’s 2026 Best Clinical Psychology Doctorate Programs list, with the University of California, Berkeley and Yale University tied at #2.
At a glance
| # | Pick | U.S. News 2026 clinical psychology | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA Clinical Psychology) | #1 | The top-ranked clinical psychology doctorate on the U.S. News list |
| 2 | University of California, Berkeley (Berkeley Clinical Science) | #2 (tie) | A clinical science program at a public research university |
| 3 | Yale University (Yale Clinical Psychology) | #2 (tie) | An Ivy League clinical psychology doctoral program |
| 4 | University of Michigan (Michigan Clinical Science) | Listed 4th on the 2026 list | A clinical science Ph.D. in a large public university |
| 5 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC Clinical Psychology) | Listed 5th on the 2026 list | A long-accredited clinical program in the South |
| 6 | University of Pennsylvania (Penn Clinical Psychology) | Listed 6th on the 2026 list | An Ivy League clinical psychology Ph.D. in Philadelphia |
| 7 | Stony Brook University (Stony Brook Clinical Psychology) | Listed 7th on the 2026 list | A long-running clinical science Ph.D. in the New York area |
| 8 | University of Pittsburgh (Pitt Clinical Psychology) | Listed 8th on the 2026 list | A PhD with both APA and PCSAS accreditation |
| 9 | University of Washington (UW Clinical Psychology) | Listed 9th on the 2026 list; the department reports a tie at #6 | A West Coast Ph.D. in clinical psychology |
| 10 | University of Wisconsin–Madison (Wisconsin Clinical Psychological Science) | Listed 10th on the 2026 list | A clinical science PhD at a flagship public university |
Pick by what you want
The ranking
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA Clinical Psychology)
The University of California, Los Angeles, a public land-grant research university in Los Angeles, ranks #1. Its clinical psychology doctoral program is a six-year program that includes a one-year internship.
University of California, Berkeley (Berkeley Clinical Science)
The University of California, Berkeley, founded in 1868, is tied at #2. Its Clinical Science Program has been accredited by PCSAS since 2013.
Yale University (Yale Clinical Psychology)
Yale University in New Haven, a private Ivy League research university founded in 1701, is tied at #2, and its clinical psychology doctoral training program is accredited by the APA Commission on Accreditation and by PCSAS.
University of Michigan (Michigan Clinical Science)
The University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, a public research university founded in 1817, is listed fourth. Its Clinical Science program offers a Ph.D.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC Clinical Psychology)
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, chartered in 1789, is listed fifth. Its clinical psychology doctoral program says it is accredited by APA through 2033.
University of Pennsylvania (Penn Clinical Psychology)
The University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, chartered in 1755, is listed sixth. Its clinical psychology program is Ph.D.-level and states it is accredited by the American Psychological Association.
Stony Brook University (Stony Brook Clinical Psychology)
Stony Brook University on Long Island is listed seventh. Its Ph.D. program in Clinical Psychological Science began in 1966 and is accredited by PCSAS.
University of Pittsburgh (Pitt Clinical Psychology)
The University of Pittsburgh is listed eighth. Its clinical psychology PhD program has been accredited by APA since 1948 and by PCSAS since 2013.
University of Washington (UW Clinical Psychology)
The University of Washington in Seattle, founded in 1861, is listed ninth. Its Ph.D. program is accredited by APA through 2027 and by PCSAS through 2028.
University of Wisconsin–Madison (Wisconsin Clinical Psychological Science)
The University of Wisconsin–Madison, founded in 1848, is listed tenth. Its Clinical Psychological Science PhD has been accredited by APA since 1948 and by PCSAS since 2014.
How we ranked these
Questions people ask
What is the best university for clinical psychology?
The University of California, Los Angeles is #1 on U.S. News’s 2026 Best Clinical Psychology Doctorate Programs list, with the University of California, Berkeley and Yale University tied at #2.
How is this ranking made?
U.S. News says each school’s score is its average rating, from 1 (marginal) to 5 (outstanding), in a survey of academics at peer institutions, and the list covers programs at the Ph.D. and/or Psy.D. level.
Is the U.S. News list paid for by schools?
The ranked list carries no paid label. U.S. News shows a separate advertising block of featured programs and says compensation from schools does not influence its rankings.
Are all of these programs accredited by the APA?
Not all of them are for new students. Several of the programs, including Berkeley, Stony Brook and UCLA, describe a move to PCSAS accreditation, so check each program’s own accreditation page before you apply.
Year each university was founded at a glance
Official sites
- University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA Clinical Psychology) · psych.ucla.edu
- University of California, Berkeley (Berkeley Clinical Science) · psychology.berkeley.edu
- Yale University (Yale Clinical Psychology) · psychology.yale.edu
- University of Michigan (Michigan Clinical Science) · lsa.umich.edu
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC Clinical Psychology) · clinicalpsych.unc.edu
- University of Pennsylvania (Penn Clinical Psychology) · psychology.sas.upenn.edu
- Stony Brook University (Stony Brook Clinical Psychology) · stonybrook.edu
- University of Pittsburgh (Pitt Clinical Psychology) · psychology.pitt.edu
- University of Washington (UW Clinical Psychology) · psych.uw.edu
- University of Wisconsin–Madison (Wisconsin Clinical Psychological Science) · psych.wisc.edu
Sources
- usnews.com
- en.wikipedia.org
- en.wikipedia.org
- en.wikipedia.org
- en.wikipedia.org
- en.wikipedia.org
- en.wikipedia.org
- en.wikipedia.org
- en.wikipedia.org
- en.wikipedia.org
- en.wikipedia.org
Prices, specs and availability change; confirm on the official site before you buy.