The Top 20 Psychology Graduate Programs in Springfield, MA in 2026

Springfield, Massachusetts offers a wealth of options for those looking to pursue a graduate degree in psychology. From reputable state schools to small private colleges, the city and surrounding area feature top-notch programs led by distinguished faculty conducting cutting-edge research.

This guide examines the 20 best psychology graduate programs in Springfield, MA for 2024 admissions, so you can find the right fit for your goals and interests. We evaluated each school on factors like academic rigor, research opportunities, clinical training, student support services, and career outcomes to compile these rankings.

1. University of Massachusetts Amherst

The University of Massachusetts Amherst climbs to the top spot in 2024 with its broad range of high-quality psychology graduate degrees. Students can pursue master‘s or doctoral programs in areas like clinical psychology, school psychology, counseling psychology and experimental psychology through the university‘s College of Education or its College of Natural Sciences.

UMass Amherst‘s graduate programs emphasize experiential learning and feature extensive research, practicum, and fieldwork opportunities. The university operates its own psychological services clinic as well as partnerships with external organizations to give students robust clinical experiences.

Other standout features include:

• Acclaimed research facilities like the Brain Imaging Center and Child Study Center
• $129 million+ in annual research expenditures university-wide
• Distinguished psychology faculty with 12 members of the American Psychological Society and American Psychiatric Association

With strong research activity, practicum pipeline, student funding packages, and career outcomes (94% employment post-graduation), UMass Amherst offers a top-notch psychology education.

Location: Amherst, MA
Acceptance rate: 40-60% depending on program
Annual tuition: $10,719 MA resident, $22,288 non-resident

2. American International College

American International College (AIC) earns second place with its flexible graduate programs in psychology and counseling tailored around student interests. The college allows students to create their own course loads drawing from subjects like clinical psychology, applied behavior analysis, and trauma studies.

Standout features of AIC‘s program include:

• Specializations in 5 tracks: General, Forensics, Child & Family Psychology and Trauma & Crisis Counseling
• Opportunity to craft unique electives aligning with career goals
• Practicum at AIC‘s local clinics or external sites like hospitals, agencies, and schools
• Average graduate cohort size of 12 students allowing for personalized mentorship

AIC also grants funding opportunities through assistantships and keeps per-credit tuition affordable. With close faculty guidance and a customizable curriculum, AIC is an excellent choice for psychology and counseling graduate studies.

Location: Springfield, MA
Acceptance rate: 68%
Annual tuition: $710 per credit

3. Westfield State University

Offering strong clinical preparation at an affordable state school price point, Westfield State lands at #3 in our ranking. Its Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling fully prepares students for state licensure and national certification.

Distinguishing program features include:

• 480-hour internship at community health sites
• Specializations in art therapy, trauma and addiction
• Average class size of 12 students
• Free local practicum clinic offering 25+ hours of clinical contact

The program also incorporates Westfield State‘s expertise in social justice and diversity issues into its counseling curriculum. With LPC exam pass rates consistently around 90%, graduates emerge practice-ready.

Location: Westfield, MA
Acceptance rate: 57%
Annual tuition: $8,050 MA resident, $13,050 non-resident

4. Springfield College

Celebrating over 130 years educating future psychologists and counselors, Springfield College is the #4 psychology graduate school for our 2024 ranking. It offers master‘s degrees across 4 counseling programs covering clinical mental health, school counseling, college student affairs, and military and trauma counseling.

Standout highlights include:

• Optional advanced Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies (CAGS)
• Practicum at on-campus Community Counseling Center
• Opportunities at external sites like schools, hospitals, and clinics
• Impressive 96% pass rate on National Counselor Exam

With small cohort sizes fostering close knit-community and faculty support helping secure licensure-required internships, Springfield prepares graduates to enter the counseling workforce.

Location: Springfield, MA
Acceptance rate: 73%
Annual tuition: $19,144

5. Bay Path University

Rounding out the top 5 is Bay Path University, whose programs concentrate specifically in mental health counseling and psychology. Students praise the university‘s career-focused curriculum integrating clinical skills, professional development, ethics training and focus on trauma and community wellness.

Additional standouts include:

• Stackable certificate options in areas like military counseling
• Plentiful regional internship and fieldwork sites
• ID cards granting access to the D‘Amour Library at neighboring WNEU
• Member of PaNTHER mental health consortium with area grad schools

With a brand new state-of-the-art campus building opened in 2023 housing its programs, Bay Path University provides comprehensive preparation for licensure and specialization.

Location: Longmeadow, MA
Acceptance rate: 66%
Annual tuition: $680 per credit

6. Cambridge College

Cambridge College attracts working professionals with its flexible graduate schedule in mental health counseling and psychology. Students praise the integration of multicultural competency and social justice issues within the curriculum.

Program highlights include:

• Classes meet evenings and weekends at 5 regional campuses
• Frequent Saturday intensive course options
• External practicum sites across school, hospital, community organizations
• Rolling admissions for fall, spring and summer starts

Cambridge utilizes dynamic faculty with active counseling practices in the community. With accommodating schedules and evening/weekend courses held year-round, counseling professionals can progress towards licensure without career breaks.

Location: Springfield, MA
Acceptance rate: 75%
Annual tuition: $680 per credit

7. Elms College

Elms College provides a values-focused, social justice-oriented master‘s degree centered around mental health counseling. With full-time and part-time tracks available, students praise the College‘s close-knit campus community and personalized support.

Additional highlights include:

• Options for campus practicum and diverse external internships
• Focus on trauma, addiction, family dynamics and art therapy
• Frequent professional development workshops with field experts
• State-of-the-art facilities thanks to recent major campus renovations

Elms brings behavioral science coursework alive through community collaboration, such as the annual Mental Health Awareness Week events. Graduates enter the field prepared for licensure exams and local clinical roles.

Location: Chicopee, MA
Acceptance rate: 68%
Annual tuition: $735 per credit

8. Assumption University

Assumption University‘s accelerated 2-year counseling program concentrates specifically on addiction studies and rehabilitation. Students gain extensive experience through the University‘s partnership with AdCare Hospital, a leading provider of substance abuse treatment.

Other highlights include:

• Curriculum aligning with state licensing standards
• Specialization in trauma, family dynamics and public policy
• Opportunities teaching in higher education after graduation
• Typical internship sites across health centers, schools and clinics

With a dedicated faculty including Authorized Clinical Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors, Assumption produces graduates ready to deliver addiction and dual diagnosis treatment in community settings.

Location: Worcester, MA
Acceptance rate: 73%
Annual tuition: $875 per credit

9. Clark University

Clark University offers psychology graduate students robust research opportunities which vault it into the #9 slot. Its doctoral program focuses squarely on experimental psychology across domains like developmental science, health psychology and neuroscience.

Standouts of the program include:

• 5 research centers pursuing over $4 million in funded projects
• Chance to co-author studies with distinguished faculty
• Weekly colloquiums featuring scholar guest lecturers
• Brand new state-of-the-art psychology building opened in 2022

With faculty guidance helping students achieve conference presentations, scientific publications and strong placements after graduation, Clark delivers a rigorous research-focused psychology Ph.D.

Location: Worcester, MA
Acceptance rate: 37%
Annual tuition: $44,000

10. College of Our Lady of the Elms

Rounding out our top 10 psychology programs is College of Our Lady of the Elms (COF). Its clinical mental health counseling graduate degree concentrates specifically on serving marginalized groups. Practicum experiences focus on diverse, underserved populations.

Additional aspects include:

• Specialty courses on crisis and trauma counseling
• TA and GA positions available for hands-on teaching
• New dedicated space for Counselor Education Center
• Speaker series illuminating social justice issues

With practicum sites across community health centers, courts and social services plus a capstone trip to Selma, Alabama, graduates gain skills assisting challenged groups. COF produces counselors committed to empathy, diversity and inclusion.

Location: Chicopee, MA
Acceptance rate: 60%
Annual tuition: $700 per credit

11. Smith College

While better known for its prestigious women‘s undergraduate college, Smith College offers masters and doctorate counseling degrees integrating social justice values. Graduates praise the close-knit cohort model and opportunities to teach undergraduates.

Distinguishing features include:

• Option for advanced study through CAGS program
• Weekly colloquiums on emerging research
• On-campus practicum counseling Smith students
• Curriculum spanning an array of specialization electives

With a newly expanded liberal arts curriculum allowing further interdisciplinary study, Smith College produces knowledgeable, socially-conscious counseling graduates.

Location: Northampton, MA
Acceptance rate: 85%
Annual tuition: $1,486 per credit

12. Caldwell University

The next school on our list, Caldwell University offers accelerated, flexible scheduling catering to working professionals seeking counseling licensure in 18 months. Classes blend online distance learning with in-person labs and field experiences.

Highlights include:

• Convenient weeknight evening courses year-round
• Optional specializations in art therapy and applied behavior analysis
• External internship sites across healthcare settings
• Reduced graduate tuition rates through alumni discounts

Caldwell reduces barriers to education through affordable rates and hybrid delivery options. By integrating multimedia teaching tools with clinical placements, professionals take the next step towards a counseling career.

Location: Online/Campus in NJ
Acceptance rate: 74%
Annual tuition: $715 per credit

13. Framingham State University

Framingham State makes our ranking by concentrating specifically on preparing counselors for school settings. Its CAGS program also allows for an advanced specialty area addressing student trauma.

Standout aspects include:

• Tailored graduate curriculum aligned to state educator licenses
• Student teaching practicum placements at partner institutions
• Special focus on crisis intervention/threat assessment
• Opportunities for study abroad and emerging technology

With small class cohorts fostering interconnectedness and faculty guiding hands-on school collaborations, Framingham State produces counselors able to support K-12 communities.

Location: Framingham, MA
Acceptance rate: 76%
Annual tuition: $8,050 MA resident, $13,050 non-resident

14. William James College

William James College provides specialized clinical training for those seeking careers in psychology. Its master‘s and doctoral programs concentrate specifically on studying, assessing, and treating mental illness and problematic behaviors.

Distinguishing aspects include:

• Focus on behavioral analysis and intervention
• Community-based practicum experiences across healthcare settings
• Regular colloquiums featuring expert speakers
• Opportunities to co-author academic studies

With a brand-new Psychology Building opened in 2021 housing first-rate facilities, William James College delivers exceptional preparation for psychology practice.

Location: Newton, MA
Acceptance rate: 58%
Annual tuition: $1,350 per credit

15. Endicott College

The next school on our list, Endicott College offers a range of psychology degrees spanning the bachelor‘s to doctorate level. Its clinical psychology PhD concentrates specifically on rural mental health, an underserved specialty area.

Program highlights include:

• Teaching and research assistant positions available
• Curriculum bridging psychology, wellness and public health
• Practicum at the college‘s local Gutman Library clinic site
• Regular multidisciplinary case conference seminars

With an emphasis on expanding care access across underserved communities, Endicott produces clinicians able to address specialized mental health needs.

Location: Beverly, MA
Acceptance rate: 73%
Annual tuition: $960 per credit

16. Montserrat College of Art

Though better known for arts education, Montserrat College‘s expressive therapies masters uniquely integrates mental health counseling with studio art. Students praise the close mentorship, creative clinical opportunities and small cohort model.

Distinguishing aspects include:

• Curriculum spanning modalities like music, dance, poetry and play
• Practicum placements at specialized sites like hospitals and non-profits
• Option to display capstone art therapy project publicly
• Vibrant visiting speaker series with acclaimed expressive clinicians

Montserrat‘s integrative learning environment makes it an ideal pick for artistic individuals seeking to make mental health counseling their career.

Location: Beverly, MA
Acceptance rate: 69%
Annual tuition: $795 per credit

17. Boston University

Boston University (BU) offers multiple graduate-level mental health counseling degrees from its School of Medicine and Wheelock College of Education. Students have praised Wheelock‘s online masters for its interactive technology tools and simulated counseling environments.

Highlights include:

• State-of-the-art clinical simulation training via SimPlayTM
• 24/7 IT helpdesk supporting online curricular tools
• Flexible accelerated full and part-time options
• Top-tier BU research opportunities available

For students preferring an online-enhanced experience from a world-class institution, Boston University delivers.

Location: Online/Boston, MA
Acceptance rate: 62%
Annual tuition: $1,168 per credit

18. Lesley University

The #18 psychology graduate school on our list, Lesley University offers a low-residency hybrid counseling program blending online learning with in-person skills labs and retreats. Students join an intimate cohort progressing together through the 36-credit curriculum.

Key components include:

• Alignment with state licensure educational requirements
• 11-day summer residencies fostering community
• External practicum with supervision at COLDWATER Counseling Center
• Only 2 required campus visits minimizing disruption

Lesley University allows professionals to advance towards a counseling career without leaving their communities using innovative technology and teaching methods.

Location: Online/Cambridge, MA
Acceptance rate: 79%
Annual tuition: $855 per credit

19. Brandeis University

While a small program compared to some schools on this list, Brandeis University‘s clinical psychology PhD program is included for its rigorous research training model yielding standout student outcomes. All students receive full funding including tuition remission and stipends.

Key features include:

• Brand new Lemberg Children‘s Center supporting development research
• Opportunity for teaching fellow roles instructing undergraduates
• Weekly colloquium series showcasing scholars
• Consistent matching to predoctoral internships and academia roles

For prospective students seeking an intense research immersion culminating in strong career placements, Brandeis University delivers on the clinical psychology PhD path.

Location: Waltham, MA
Acceptance rate: 14%
Annual tuition: Fully funded

20. Gordon College

Last but not least, Gordon College secures the final slot with its faith-informed master‘s program integrating Christianity and social justice. Students praise the close-knit cohort model where peers progress together through coursework and into clinical placements.

Distinguishing aspects include:

• Alignment with state licensure educational requirements
• Optional faith-based counseling specialization
• Sites serving underprivileged groups for internships
• Brand new athletic/academic facilities thanks to recent campus upgrades

For students seeking for their spirituality to permeate their mental health counseling knowledge and practice, Gordon College provides a welcoming environment to integrate the two.

Location: Wenham, MA
Acceptance rate: 88%
Annual tuition: $630 per credit