Psychology Programs in Minnesota
Minnesota is home to a number of prominent schools offering psychology degrees at all levels. This page features some of these programs. It also provides information about how to become a psychologist and career opportunities in the field.
Minnesota Psychology Spotlight Programs
The following schools offer psychology programs at the undergraduate, master’s, and/or doctoral levels. Each stands out for its coursework, reputation, or unique offerings such as undergraduate internships or study abroad options.
Augsburg College (Minneapolis)
Ranked #6 (tie) as most innovative college in the Regional Midwest, Augsburg College offers some interesting psychology programs, including psychology and the law at the bachelor’s level and music therapy at the graduate level. Bachelor’s students can also choose concentrations in clinical psychology and social psychology. All undergrad programs require students to complete an internship. In addition to music therapy, grad students can earn a master’s of social work degree. The school has a hybrid online option, called the Adult Undergraduate program, for those who need more flexibility. Undergraduate tuition for full-time students is $40,376 per year. Graduate tuition is $715 per credit for a social work master’s and $902 per credit for a music therapy master’s. Those who enroll in the Adult Undergraduate program will pay $426 per credit.
Minnesota State University (Mankato)
You can find programs for all degree levels at Minnesota State University. The school offers a B.S. in psychology, an M.A. in either clinical psychology or industrial-organizational psychology, and a Psy.D. in school psychology. Undergraduate tuition is $3,696.90 per semester for Minnesota, Manitoba, and Wisconsin residents. There are several other reduced-price tiers for neighboring states, including Midwest Compact states. Non-residents pay $7,843.25. Graduate tuition is $5,129.40 per semester and the doctoral program is $7,446.60.
University of Minnesota—Twin Cities (Minneapolis)
The University of Minnesota-Twin Cities campus is split by the Mississippi River, and you can see students hurrying across a long covered bridge to get from one bank to the other. The psychology department, located on the east bank, provides many degree options to choose from. Undergraduates can earn either a B.A. or a B.S. in psychology or minor in either psychology or health psychology. The psychology Ph.D. program has eight different areas of specialization, including biological psychopathology; personality, individual differences, and genetics; social psychology; and a clinical science and psychopathology research program. Undergraduate tuition is $6,659 per semester for residents and $15,808 for non-residents. For graduate students, it’s $8,790 and $13,602, respectively.
University of Minnesota—Duluth (Duluth)
UMD is home to seven research labs that experimental psychology graduate students can take advantage of. Areas of focus include biopsychology, evolutionary psychology, and psycho-linguistics. The university also offers graduate programs in clinical-counseling psychology and industrial-organizational psychology, as well as a general psychology bachelor’s. Undergraduate students have the option of taking online courses. Undergraduate tuition is $6,097 per semester for residents and $8,967 for non-residents. For graduate students, it’s $8,790 for residents and $13,602 for nonresidents.
Saint Cloud State University (Saint Cloud)
Saint Cloud is also located on the banks of the Mississippi River, although it is an hour northwest of the Twin Cities. Undergraduate students at Saint Cloud State University can earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology or community psychology. Select classes for both majors are available online. The school also offers an M.S. in industrial-organizational psychology. Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Manitoba (reciprocity) residents pay $8,656 per academic year for undergraduate tuition, but students from several other states get varied reduced rates. Non-residents pay $16,948. Graduate tuition is $8,570 for Minnesota and reciprocity state residents and $12,444 for non-residents. Tuition figures are yearly and include university fees.
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota (Winona)
The 43-credit B.A. in psychology program at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota is distinctive in that students must either participate in an undergraduate internship or research and write a thesis. The internship program entails 350 hours and can take place in a variety of settings, including psychological clinics, nursing homes, hospitals, and chemical dependency centers. At the graduate level the university offers master’s degrees in counseling and psychological services; marriage and family therapy; and social work (an online degree) as well as a doctorate in counseling psychology. Undergraduate tuition is $36,050 per year. A master’s in counseling is $540 per credit, a master’s in marriage and family therapy is $555, and an online master’s in social work is $800. A doctorate is $885 per credit.
University of Saint Thomas (Saint Paul)
The psychology department at the University of Saint Thomas integrates several unique features: sustainability (“green psych”), interdisciplinary study, active research, and psychology abroad programs. You can either major or minor in psychology at the undergraduate level. Graduate offerings include an M.A. in counseling psychology, and those who choose can take the M.A. with a concentration in either family psychology or co-occurring disorders. There’s also an M.A. with direct admission to the school’s doctoral program, which is a Psy.D. in counseling psychology. Undergraduate tuition is $22,390 per semester. Graduate tuition is $790 per credit for an M.A. and $1,048 for a doctorate.
Macalester College (Saint Paul)
If you go to this college, you won’t have to worry about how to pay for it—Macalester pledges to meet the full need of every student by guaranteeing financial assistance to all. Undergrads can major in psychology at Macalester, and psych is also offered as a minor. You can major in neuroscience, which is classified separately from psychology in its own department. The neuroscience program culminates in a capstone project offered either as a course, a multi-draft paper, or a research or internship experience. There are no graduate programs. Tuition is $56,062 per year.
Carleton College (Northfield)
Ranked #7 (tie) in national liberal arts colleges, Carleton College is a small college in the historic river town of Northfield. The psychology major covers three general areas: social behavior, development, personality, and clinical psychology; cognitive studies; and biological and behavioral processes. Carleton also has two study abroad programs: the Carleton Cross-Cultural Psychology in Prague Programs and the Danish Institute for Psychology Abroad Psychology Program. Â Tuition is $56,778 per year.
How to Become a Psychologist in Minnesota
To become a psychologist in Minnesota, you have to complete the educational requirements and also satisfy the standards of the state board. Only then will you be licensed and qualified to work as a psychologist.
Education
A doctorate is required to earn the title of “psychologist,” but there are other careers in the field of psychology that you can enter with lower-level degrees. In many cases, you can begin a doctoral program right out of undergraduate school, although some doctoral programs will only consider applicants with a master’s degree.
Even if it’s not required, however, a master’s can be useful as a graduate-level transition between undergraduate school and the weighty academic demands of Ph.D. or Psy.D. programs.
Earning a master’s also serves another purpose: It can help you decide on a specialty as you advance to the upper-level graduate work of a doctoral program. The American Psychological Association (APA) recognizes roughly 20 specialties within the field of psychology, including school psychology, clinical psychology, and counseling psychology. Programs for these specialties are commonly offered by Minnesota’s colleges and universities.
Minnesota Psychology Licensing and Exams
Even after you earn your doctorate, you won’t be qualified to work in the state of Minnesota until you’re awarded a professional license. The Minnesota Board of Psychology is the body that issues licenses. To satisfy the board’s requirements, you’ll have to document your educational background, pass two tests, prove that you’ve completed the set amount of supervised experience hours, pass a background check, and pay the fees.
Minnesota grants several different types of licenses, including guest licenses, volunteer licenses, and temporary licenses. Most people, however, will apply for the credential of Licensed Psychologist (LP). To become an LP in Minnesota, you must complete a doctoral program with a major in psychology. The state stands out by accepting any doctorate earned from a regionally accredited institution as long as it meets the board’s standards. If the program is APA-accredited, those standards are automatically met.
Minnesota is also unique in that it doesn’t have concrete conditions regarding the doctoral program’s internship experience. Most states require a specific number of internship hours. They also have strict rules about how long the internship took to complete, what percentage was spent face to face with clients, and others.
You will, however, have to complete at least one full year, or the part-time equivalent, of postdoctoral supervised professional experience that runs at least 1,800 hours. You also have to receive endorsements from two qualified professionals and pass two exams. The Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) is the national exam and the Professional Responsibility Exam (PRE) is the state test. Once you pass your tests and earn your license, you have to get it renewed every two years. Renewal entails completing at least 40 hours of continuing education.
There are several fees associated with the process. The LP application fee is $500. The EEEP and PRE exams cost $150 each. Renewing your license costs $500 every two years.
Psychology Specializations in Minnesota That Do Not Require a Doctorate
A number of occupations in the field of psychology don’t require you to earn a doctorate or be a psychologist. In Minnesota some of these areas have their own governing bodies, all of which fall under the jurisdiction of the Minnesota Health Licensing Boards. As with licensed psychologists, these specialists must meet their boards’ educational requirements, pass background checks and exams, complete supervised experiences (in some cases), pay fees, and renew their licenses periodically through continuing education.
Some of the more common licensed specialties within the field of psychology in Minnesota are:
Job Growth and Psychologist Salary in Minnesota
Your choice of specialty will impact the compensation you receive. This table outlines typical salaries and projected job growth in some of the top psychology career fields.
JOB GROWTH AND SALARIES FOR PSYCHOLOGY JOBS IN MINNESOTA
Career | Median Annual Salary (May 2018) |
Median Salary Per Hour | Expected Job Growth (2016-26) |
Psychologist Careers | |||
Clinical, Counseling, and School Psychologists | $84,630 | $40.69 | 12% |
Psychologists—All Other | $102,640 | $49.35 | 8% |
Other Specialties in Psychology | |||
Educational, Guidance, School, and Vocational Counselors | $55,330 | $26.60 | 7% |
Licensed Clinical Social Workers | $65,310 | $31.40 | 10% |
Marriage and Family Therapists | $52,200 | $25.10 | 20% |
Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorders Counselors | $47,250 | $22.71 | no available data |
All data from CareerOneStop
Minnesota Psychology Scholarships
You might be able to offset the cost of your education with scholarships, which are financial awards that differ from financial aid or student loans. Sometimes scholarships are based on need or merit. Other times they’re open only to specific student demographics, such as Native Americans or first-generation college students. You can visit our general scholarship page to learn about awards from a variety of states and for many types of learners. For scholarships specific to Minnesota, read on.
In many cases, schools themselves offer scholarships to students attending their college or university. Here are a few that Minnesota psych students can consider.
Other Minnesota organizations not affiliated with colleges and universities also offer scholarships.
Minnesota Internships and Fellowships
Fellowships and internships are placements or positions that are usually reserved only for graduate students. In many cases, internships are required and necessary to fill state licensure obligations. Fellowships, on the other hand, are solely for doctoral students. Some fellowships and internships come with stipends, salaries, or other financial incentives beyond just the crucial supervised experience they provide.
Just as with scholarships, many individual schools offer their students fellowships and internships directly.
Many organizations in Minnesota besides colleges and universities offer fellowships and internships to psychology students, including:
You should also check with resources like Chegg Internships, LinkedIn, Indeed, and other job sites to keep up to date on other opportunities in Minnesota.
Minnesota Psychology Resources
No matter where you are in your educational journey or career, you can seek help and guidance from resources like the ones profiled below. Some are membership organizations that use member dues for action like political advocacy. Others are open to the public at no charge. All, however, contain helpful resources and information that you can browse and use whether you’re a member or not.
- Diploma in Adlerian Psychotherapy
- Master of Arts in Adlerian Counseling & Psychotherapy - Art Therapy
- Master of Arts in Adlerian Counseling & Psychotherapy - Career Development
- Master of Arts in Adlerian Counseling & Psychotherapy - Clinical Mental Health Counseling
- Master of Arts in Adlerian Counseling & Psychotherapy - Marriage and Family Therapy
- Master of Arts in Adlerian Counseling & Psychotherapy - Non-Clinical Adlerian Studies(online)
- Master of Arts in Adlerian Counseling & Psychotherapy - School Counseling
- Major in Psychology - Psychology and Law
- Major in Psychology - Social Psychology
- Bachelor of Science in Psychology
- Bachelors of Arts in Psychology
- Master of Science in Counseling Psychology
- Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
- Bachelor of Arts in Psychology - Counseling
- Bachelor of Arts in Psychology - General
- Bachelor of Arts in Psychology - Industrial/Organizational
- Certificate in Cross-cultural Counseling
- Certificate in Individual, Group and Family Counseling
- Major in Psychology
- Master of Science in Psychology
- Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
- Major in Counseling Psychology
- Master of Arts Counseling Psychology
- Major in Psychology
- Major in Psychology - Cognitive Science
- Major in Psychology - Educational Studies
- Major in Psychology - Neuroscience
- Major in Psychology
- Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
- Bachelor of Science in Psychology
- Major in Psychology
- Major in Psychology (Hons) - Psychology(Hons)
- Master of Education in Behavioral Science
- Major in Psychology
- Major in Counseling Psychology
- Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
- Bachelor of Science in Counseling Psychology
- Major in Psychology
- Major in Psychology
- Associate in Science in Applied Psychology/Human Services
- Major in Behaviour Science - Cognitive and Neuroscience Studies
- Major in Psychology - Clinical Psychology
- Major in Psychology - Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience
- Major in Psychology - Counseling
- Major in Psychology - Experimental Psychology
- Major in Psychology - Industrial/Organizational Psychology
- Major in Psychology - Personnel/Human Resources
- Major in Psychology - School Psychology
- Major in Psychology - Social Work
- Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
- Bachelor of Science in Alcohol and Drug Counseling(online)
- Master of Arts in Psychology - Community Psychology
- Master of Arts in Psychology(online)
- Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
- Bachelor of Arts in Psychology - Biological
- Bachelor of Arts in Psychology - Developmental
- Bachelor of Arts in Psychology - Learning and Cognition
- Bachelor of Arts in Psychology - Personality/Social
- Bachelor of Science in Psychology
- Bachelor of Science in Psychology - Biological
- Bachelor of Science in Psychology - Developmental
- Bachelor of Science in Psychology - Learning and Cognition
- Bachelor of Science in Psychology - Personality/Social
- Certificate in Forensic Vocational Rehabilitation
- Certificate in Marriage and Family Counseling
- Doctor of Education in Counselor Education and Supervision
- Doctor of Psychology in School Psychology
- Master of Arts in Cardiac Rehabilitation/Clinical Exercise Physiology
- Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology
- Master of Arts in Industrial/Organizational Psychology
- Master of Arts in Sport and Exercise Psychology
- Master of College Student Affairs
- Master of Professional School Counseling
- Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling
- Master of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling
- Educational Specialist in School Psychology
- MS in Counseling and Student Affairs
- MS in Counseling and Student Affairs - College Counseling
- MS in Counseling and Student Affairs - Community Counseling
- MS in Counseling and Student Affairs - School Counseling (K-12)
- Major in Psychology
- Master of Science in School Psychology
- Bachelor of Arts - Alcohol & Drug Counseling
- Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
- Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
- Bachelor of Arts in Psychology - Health Psychology
- Bachelor of Arts in Psychology - Marriage and Family
- Bachelor of Science in Christian Counseling
- Bachelor of Science in Psychology
- Bachelor of Science in Psychology - Criminal Justice
- Bachelor of Science in Psychology - Health Psychology
- Bachelor of Science in Psychology - Marriage & Family
- Bachelor of Science in Psychology - Marriage and Family
- Certificate in Christian Counseling
- Certificate in Marriage & Family Therapy
- Doctor of Psychology in Counseling Psychology
- Major in Psychology
- Master of Arts in Counseling and Psychological Services
- Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy
- Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
- Bachelor of Arts in Psychology - Applied
- Bachelor of Arts in Psychology - Developmental
- Bachelor of Arts in Psychology - Experimental
- Bachelor of Arts in Psychology - Personality
- Bachelor of Arts in Psychology - Social Psychology
- Bachelor of Applied Science in Psychology & Doctorate in physical therapy - Psychology & Physical Thearpy
- Major in Psychology
- Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
- Certificate in Marriage and Family Therapy
- Certificate in School Counseling
- Master of Arts in Community Counseling - Community Counseling Plan A (Thesis)
- Master of Arts in Community Counseling - Counseling Plan B (Written Comprehensive Examination)
- Master of Science in Counseling Psychology - Rehabilitation Counseling
- Master of Science in Counseling Psychology - School Counseling
- Master of Science in Industrial/Organizational Psychology
- Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy
- Master of Science in Rehabilitation Counseling
- Master of Science in School Counseling
- Major in Psychology
- Major in Psychology - Clinical Psychologists
- Major in Psychology - Cognitive and Psycholinguistic Psychologists
- Major in Psychology - Community Psychologists Community Psychologists
- Major in Psychology - Counseling Psychologists
- Major in Psychology - Developmental Psychologists
- Major in Psychology - Educational and School Psychologists
- Major in Psychology - Environmental Psychologists
- Major in Psychology - Experimental Psychologists
- Major in Psychology - Geropsychologists
- Major in Psychology - Health Psychologists
- Major in Psychology - Industrial/Organizational Psychology
- Major in Psychology - Neuroscientists, Neuropsychologists and Psychobiologists
- Major in Psychology - Psychometric and Quantitative Psychologists
- Major in Psychology - Social Psychologists
- Master of Clinical psychology - Clinical Psychology
- Master of Counseling Psychology
- Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
- Bachelor of Arts in Psychology - Child Psychology
- Bachelor of Science in Psychology
- Bachelor of Science in Psychology - Biological
- Bachelor of Science in Psychology - Child Psychology
- Bachelor of Science in Psychology - Quantitative/Cognitive
- Certificate in Applied Developmental Psychology
- Doctor of Philosophy in Child Psychology
- Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Psychology - Counseling/Student Personnel
- Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Psychology - Educational Psychology and Research
- Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Psychology - Psychological Foundations
- Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Psychology - Quantitative Methods in Education
- Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Psychology - School Psychology
- Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Psychology - Special Education
- Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology
- Doctor of Philosophy in Rehabilitation Science
- Education Specialist in Educational Psychology - Counseling/Student Personnel
- Education Specialist in Educational Psychology - Educational Psychology and Research
- Education Specialist in Educational Psychology - School Psychology
- Education Specialist in Educational Psychology - Special Education
- Master of Arts in Child Psychology
- Master of Arts in Educational Psychology - Counseling/Student Personnel
- Master of Arts in Educational Psychology - Educational Psychology and Research
- Master of Arts in Educational Psychology - Psychological Foundations
- Master of Arts in Educational Psychology - Quantitative Methods in Education
- Master of Arts in Educational Psychology - School Psychology
- Master of Arts in Educational Psychology - Special Education
- Master of Arts in Psychology
- Master of Science in Rehabilitation Science
- B.S. in Organizational Psychology
- Bachelor of Applied Science - Psychology(online)
- Bachelor of Arts in Psychology(online)
- Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
- Certificate in Family Psychology
- Doctor of Psychology in Counseling Psychology
- Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology
- BA in Psychology - Psychology: Option A
- BA in Psychology - Psychology: Option B
- MS Community Counseling Chemical Dependency Counseling
- MS Professional Development
- MS School Counseling
- Doctor of Social Work (DSW) - Disaster, Crisis, and Intervention(online)
- Doctor of Social Work (DSW) - Policy Practice(online)
- M.S. in Forensic Psychology - Forensic Psychology in the Community(online)
- M.S. in Forensic Psychology - Mental Health Applications(online)
- M.S. in Forensic Psychology - Program Planning and Evaluation in Forensic Settings(online)
- M.S. in Forensic Psychology - Psychology and Legal Systems(online)
- Master of Social Work - Addictions(online)
- Master of Social Work - Children, Families, and Couples(online)
- Master of Social Work - Crisis and Trauma(online)
- Master of Social Work - Forensic Populations and Settings(online)
- Master of Social Work - General Program(online)
- Master of Social Work - Medical Social Work(online)
- Master of Social Work - Military(online)
- Ph.D. in Human Services - Clinical Social Work(online)
- Ph.D. in Human Services - Disaster, Crisis, and Intervention(online)
- Ph.D. in Human Services - Family Studies and Intervention Strategies(online)
- Ph.D. in Psychology - Counseling Psychology(online)
- Ph.D. in Psychology - General Psychology(online)
- Ph.D. in Psychology - General(online)
- Ph.D. in Psychology - Organizational Psychology(online)
- Public Management and Leadership - Doctorate(online)
- Public Management and Leadership-Advanced - Doctorate(online)
- Accelerated Human Services Bachelors Degree-Completion Program(online)