20 Best PsyD Programs in Long Beach, CA – 2026

Long Beach is a vibrant coastal city in Southern California known for its beautiful beaches, diverse communities, and thriving economy. As the seventh largest city in California, Long Beach offers a high quality of life along with exciting opportunities for education, career growth, and lifestyle. This makes it an appealing destination for prospective students looking to pursue a doctoral degree in psychology.

In Long Beach, students can find several highly-ranked PsyD (Doctor of Psychology) programs that provide rigorous training in psychological theory and practice. PsyD programs emphasize practical clinical experience and prepare graduates for licensure as clinical psychologists. With its close proximity to Los Angeles and wealth of experiential training opportunities, Long Beach is an ideal location for aspiring psychologists to earn their PsyD degree.

This guide profiles the 20 best PsyD programs in and around Long Beach, highlighting each program‘s distinctive features, clinical opportunities, and successful student outcomes.

1. Alliant International University (Irvine)

Alliant International University is a private institution with a robust PsyD in Clinical Psychology program at their Irvine campus, located just over 20 miles from Long Beach. With a focus on multicultural competence and evidence-based practice, the program provides in-depth training in assessment, intervention, consultation, and supervision.

Key Features

• 5-6 year program for full-time students
• Emphasis on cultural diversity, social responsibility, and international understanding
• Extensive experiential training through placements at the program‘s Center for Applied Research and Counseling Services

The doctoral project allows students to create their own research study under faculty supervision. Graduates report high internship match rates at prestigious sites and EPPP exam pass rates surpassing state and national averages.

Website: alliant.edu

2. Chapman University (Orange)

Chapman University‘s PsyD program takes a practitioner-scholar training approach, located about 20 miles north of Long Beach in the city of Orange. Students develop clinical competency through training clinics and community placements while engaging in research and scholarship.

Key Features

• 5-7 year program for full-time students
• Emphasis on ethics, diversity, and primary health care psychology
• Optional concentrations in health psychology, neuropsychology, forensic psychology

The program instills the value of lifelong learning to equip students as highly skilled clinician-scientists. Chapman PsyD students have successfully matched to APPIC internships at a rate of 90% over the past decade.

Website: chapman.edu

3. Fuller Theological Seminary (Pasadena)

Located in Pasadena, about 30 miles northwest from Long Beach, Fuller Theological Seminary offers a PsyD degree integrating Christian faith perspectives into the study of psychology. Students develop competency in research, clinical practice, and teaching.

Key Features

• 5-7 year program for full-time students
• Integration of psychology, theology, and ethics
• Optional emphasis in Family Psychology or Trauma Psychology

Fuller PsyD students provide low-cost services to over 1,000 local community members each year through placement sites. Graduates serve in varied roles including clinical practice, research, teaching, forensics, and consultation.

Website: fuller.edu

4. Pepperdine University (Los Angeles)

The Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology in Los Angeles offers a PsyD degree emphasizing multicultural competency and evidence-based practice. Students gain clinical experience through the university counseling clinics and diverse community placements.

Key Features

• 5-year full-time program
• optional clinical concentrations in International Psychology, consulting psychology, executive coaching
• commitment to faith-based training and service

Pepperdine PsyD students benefit from the university‘s vast mental health community outreach programs. Graduates pursue successful careers in healthcare organizations, private practice, government agencies, schools and universities.

Website: pepperdine.edu

5. Biola University (La Mirada)

Located in La Mirada just 15 miles from downtown Long Beach, Biola University offers a PsyD program integrating Christian values with clinical science training. The program emphasizes professional ethics along with cultural and individual diversity.

Key Features

• 5-7 year program for full-time students
• focus on integration of faith and clinical practice
• optional concentrations in Health Psychology, Child/Adolescent Psychology

Biola PsyD students provide low-cost quality services to the community through the university‘s counseling centers. They benefit from the university‘s strong national reputation and extensive alumni professional network.

Website: biola.edu

6. Rosemead School of Psychology (La Mirada)

The Rosemead School of Psychology, located in La Mirada just over 10 miles north of Long Beach, offers PsyD training from a Christian perspective. The program integrates theology and psychology to equip students for clinical service, research, teaching, and relational ministry.

Key Features

• 5-7 year program for full-time students
• focus on spiritual integration in assessment and treatment
• optional concentrations in health psychology, multi-ethnic community psychology

Rosemead PsyD students provide clinical services to economically disadvantaged community members through the school clinics. Graduates work in diverse settings from hospitals, to private practice, universities, churches, and missions.

Website: rosemead.edu

7. Life Pacific University (San Dimas)

Life Pacific University‘s PsyD program integrates Christian faith with psychology training to prepare graduates for clinical roles focused on relational health. Located in San Dimas, the university is a short 15 minute drive from Long Beach.

Key Features

• Emphasis on spiritual integration and direct client contact through first year
• Optional concentration in health psychology
• Applied dissertation focused on practice improvement

Life Pacific PsyD students start gaining client contact through practicum during their first year. They receive training tailored to foster careers in clinical settings focused on whole person care.

Website: lifepacific.edu

8. Azusa Pacific University (Azusa)

Azusa Pacific University offers an APA-accredited PsyD program about 30 miles from Long Beach focused on developing scholar practitioners. The program integrates faith, theory, research and clinical practice throughout the curriculum.

Key Features

• 5-6 year program for full-time students
• Optional specializations in Consultation or Global Psycho-educational Assessment
• Year-round enrollment model with three entry points

Azusa Pacific PsyD students provide low-cost quality services to over 1,000 community clients each year. The program boasts one of the highest internship match rates in California.

Website: apu.edu

9. California School of Professional Psychology (Los Angeles)

Alliant International University‘s California School of Professional Psychology provides PsyD training grounded in multicultural competence at their Los Angeles campus. Students engage in research and clinical work focused on underserved communities.

Key Features

• Emphasis on bilingual (Spanish-English) clinical practice
• Optional concentration in Clinical Health Psychology
• Year-round child trauma clinic providing low-cost assessment services

Alliant CSPP PsyD graduates report high rates of licensure, as well as noteworthy diversity in types of work settings and populations served compared to other programs nationwide.

Website: alliant.edu

10. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology (Irvine)

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology offers a PsyD in Clinical Psychology program tailored to working professionals at their Irvine campus, under 30 miles from Long Beach. Students receive individualized mentoring focused on applying coursework concepts directly to fieldwork.

Key Features

• Classes held during evenings and weekends
• Emphasis on training in intervention and assessment with diverse populations
• Optional concentration in Health Psychology

The program‘s practitioner-scholar model focuses on real-world application translated through research. Chicago School PsyD graduates report strong preparation for clinical and leadership roles in various psychology practice settings.

Website: tcsedsystem.edu

11. California Lutheran University (Thousand Oaks)

California Lutheran University offers a PsyD degree emphasizing evidence-based practice and primary health care psychology. Located in Thousand Oaks, about 60 miles from Long Beach, the program integrates faith, ethics, and multicultural diversity throughout the curriculum.

Key Features

• 5-7 year program for full-time students
• Optional emphasis in Health Psychology, Forensic Psychology, or Neuropsychology
• Year-round community training clinics providing affordable assessment services

The program focuses on training highly skilled "reflective practitioners" through clinical skills development combined with self-reflection. California Lutheran PsyD graduates report 100% EPPP exam pass rates.

Website: callutheran.edu

12. Loma Linda University (Loma Linda)

Loma Linda University, located about 60 miles from Long Beach in Loma Linda, California, offers a research-focused PsyD degree integrating Christian beliefs with scientific principles. Students receive clinical training across the lifespan in healthcare settings.

Key Features

• Emphasis on integration of faith and health service psychology training
• Physical healthcare minor required covering topics like anatomy, physiology and psychopharmacology
• Extensive research opportunities through the university‘s hospitals and clinics

The program aims to develop leadership psychologists prepared for interdisciplinary integrated health practice and research career paths. Graduates serve in varied settings like hospitals, clinics, private practice, and academic institutions.

Website: llu.edu

13. Hope International University (Fullerton)

Located in Fullerton just over 10 miles north of downtown Long Beach, Hope International University offers a PsyD degree focused on the integration of Christian faith and clinical practice. Students gain applied clinical experience starting their first year.

Key Features

• 5-6 year full-time program
• Early applied training through community mental health partnerships
• Development of Christian clinicians prepared for church and missions roles

Hope International PsyD students receive training to develop professional skills applicable in both religious and secular mental health settings. They benefit from the program‘s associations with human service agencies providing networking access.

Website: hiu.edu

14. Wheaton College (Wheaton, Illinois)

Wheaton College located in Wheaton, Illinois offers an APA-accredited PsyD with optional concentrations in child and adolescent development or clinical health psychology. Students develop competency in research, assessment, intervention, consultation, and supervision with a foundation in Christian worldview integration.

Key Features

• 4-6 year full-time on-campus program
• Seamless transition from MA to PsyD program
• Highlights faith integration and ethical practice

Wheaton PsyD students provide services to underserved clients at the Wheaton College Psychological and Counseling Services clinic. They report strong preparation for future psychology careers in varied work settings.

Website: wheaton.edu

15. Southern California Seminary (El Cajon)

Southern California Seminary offers a PsyD program focused on integrating psychology with Christian theology, located in El Cajon about 125 miles south of Long Beach. Students develop competency in research and clinical practice tailored for ministry settings.

Key Features

• Emphasis on theological foundations and ministry application
• optional concentration in trauma counseling
• Field training at Christian counseling centers

Graduates serve as licensed clinicians prepared to integrate Christian ministry perspectives into counseling practice in settings like churches, hospitals, community mental health, and private practice.

Website: socalsem.edu

16. Pacifica Graduate Institute (Carpinteria)

Pacifica Graduate Institute located in Carpinteria offers a PsyD in depth psychology exploring the inner world of human experience from a Jungian psychoanalytic lens. Students develop skills in quality clinical practice, teaching, public speaking presentations, and scholarly writing.

Key Features

• Emphasis on mythology, dreams, art, and other symbolic forms of expression
• Focus on spirituality and soulful expression
• Small cohort model fostering mentorship

The program provides training applicable to careers not only in clinical practice but also teaching, consulting, writing, and public speaking roles engaging the psyche in fields like healthcare, theology, mythological studies and depth coaching.

Website: pacifica.edu

17. Newport Psychoanalytic Institute (Newport Center)

The Newport Psychoanalytic Institute provides in-depth psychoanalytic training from an object relations perspective. Located in the Newport Center area about 5 miles from downtown Long Beach, students develop strong assessment and treatment skills grounded in psychoanalytic theory and technique.

Key Features

• Focus on intensive long-term psychodynamic psychotherapy
• Emphasis on self-reflection and use of personal analysis for professional development
• Optional adult, child, adolescent psychotherapy tracks

Graduates emerge with refined psychoanalytic clinical skills preparing them for roster membership with the Institute qualifying them for licensure in California. Students benefit from robust faculty supervision, small cohorts, and excellent training clinic facilities.

Website: npi.edu

18. Southern California University SOMA (Los Angeles)

Southern California University SOMA offers a PsyD in Clinical Psychology incorporating Christian values as well as Eastern philosophies like yoga into training. Located in Los Angeles, the program emphasizes personal and professional growth within a collaborative community environment.

Key Features

• Holistic model integrating Western psychology, yoga philosophy and spirituality
• Focus on self-development and relational skills
• Optional concentrations in health psychology, organizational consulting

SOMA PsyD students provide low-cost clinical services to the community through the university‘s counseling training centers. Graduates emerge well-prepared as multifaceted clinician consultants, supervisors, and private practitioners.

Website: socalsomma.org

19. California Southern University (Costa Mesa)

California Southern University offers a PsyD in Clinical Psychology incorporating practitioner-scholar training in cognitive behavioral therapy approaches. Located in Costa Mesa just under 10 miles from downtown Long Beach, the program also covers integrated health psychology and forensic psychology topics within the curriculum.

Key Features

• Emphasis on cognitive-behavioral orientations
• Optional forensic concentration
• flexible completion options from 2-7 years

Students engage in research and clinical work through the university‘s psychology clinics supervised by licensed psychologists. California Southern University PsyD graduates report 100% EPPP exam pass rates.

Website: calsouthern.edu

20. Phillips Graduate University (Encino)

Phillips Graduate University located in Encino offers a PsyD in clinical psychology emphasizing multicultural competence, social responsibility, and personal growth. Students develop strong theoretical and practical skills tailored for community mental health practice.

Key Features

• Practitioner-scholar model focused on serving community mental health needs
• Optional Latino Mental Health track
• Year-round counseling training clinics providing low-cost quality care

The program aims to develop psychologists engaged with communities through clinical practice as well as research and advocacy roles. Phillips PsyD graduates report 100% licensure rates.

Website: pgu.edu

When researching PsyD programs, students should thoroughly review program details to gauge compatibility with their skills, interests, and professional goals. Key aspects to consider include program location and format, clinical training opportunities, curriculum focus areas, research requirements, and career outcomes.

Prospective students are encouraged to explore what specialty tracks or elective courses are available to tailor training to match desired career paths. Factors like faith integration, program culture dynamics with faculty and cohort peers, and access to mentorship can also guide program selection.

Leveraging informational interviews, campus visits, and advice forums can help crystallize the ideal fittings from among the high caliber PsyD options available in Long Beach and the surrounding area. By selecting the right program, students give themselves the strongest foundation from which to launch into successful and meaningful careers as clinical psychologists.