Best Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology Degrees in the US by ROI
Top colleges ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment across all active states. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Programs Analyzed
50
Colleges with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
-$236,217
Across all programs
Average Annual Cost
$38,186
Cost of attendance
| # | College | State | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Palo Alto University | CA | +$626,040 | $73,302 | N/A | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach
Grad rate: 65.5% |
FL | +$75,235 | $59,418 | $59,972 | $24,620 | Full ROI → |
| 3 |
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott
Grad rate: 70.2% |
AZ | +$74,491 | $59,418 | $60,158 | $24,620 | Full ROI → |
| 4 |
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College
Grad rate: 72.8% |
NY | +$34,196 | $46,414 | $13,521 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 5 |
Bryant University
Grad rate: 81.5% |
RI | +$14,841 | $57,986 | $67,926 | $24,574 | Full ROI → |
| 6 |
Farmingdale State College
Grad rate: 55.6% |
NY | -$43,720 | $44,605 | $17,146 | $20,175 | Full ROI → |
| 7 |
University of Central Florida
Grad rate: 75.4% |
FL | -$56,636 | $43,732 | $22,819 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 8 | Walden University | MN | -$61,305 | $42,681 | N/A | $55,500 | Full ROI → |
| 9 |
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus
Grad rate: 84.0% |
PA | -$68,038 | $47,627 | $36,707 | $25,000 | Full ROI → |
| 10 |
Middle Tennessee State University
Grad rate: 54.3% |
TN | -$87,272 | $43,765 | $22,754 | $23,375 | Full ROI → |
| 11 |
The College of Saint Rose
Grad rate: 53.1% |
NY | -$89,847 | $49,446 | $52,773 | $20,500 | Full ROI → |
| 12 |
CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice
Grad rate: 54.6% |
NY | -$91,966 | $41,050 | $13,712 | $13,421 | Full ROI → |
| 13 |
Mount Saint Mary's University
Grad rate: 56.7% |
CA | -$140,418 | $49,729 | $64,637 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 14 |
Pace University
Grad rate: 61.4% |
NY | -$140,508 | $50,348 | $68,092 | $26,000 | Full ROI → |
| 15 |
Saint Cloud State University
Grad rate: 45.5% |
MN | -$146,155 | $40,654 | $21,389 | $24,948 | Full ROI → |
| 16 |
University of Washington-Bothell Campus
Grad rate: 68.5% |
WA | -$187,617 | $38,474 | $24,462 | $14,259 | Full ROI → |
| 17 |
Boston College
Grad rate: 91.0% |
MA | -$187,929 | $50,512 | $83,683 | $17,361 | Full ROI → |
| 18 |
University of Washington-Seattle Campus
Grad rate: 84.0% |
WA | -$210,897 | $38,474 | $30,282 | $14,259 | Full ROI → |
| 19 |
Emmanuel College
Grad rate: 65.9% |
MA | -$220,226 | $45,584 | $63,864 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 20 |
Chowan University
Grad rate: 27.0% |
NC | -$220,648 | $38,535 | $37,837 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 21 |
SUNY College of Technology at Canton
Grad rate: 42.6% |
NY | -$230,116 | $36,883 | $23,169 | $26,000 | Full ROI → |
| 22 |
California State University-Los Angeles
Grad rate: 52.0% |
CA | -$232,527 | $34,648 | $17,153 | $12,500 | Full ROI → |
| 23 |
Albright College
Grad rate: 45.6% |
PA | -$237,962 | $41,662 | $44,381 | $39,762 | Full ROI → |
| 24 |
Thomas Jefferson University
Grad rate: 67.9% |
PA | -$244,267 | $45,447 | $62,110 | $47,976 | Full ROI → |
| 25 |
University of California-San Diego
Grad rate: 87.7% |
CA | -$250,950 | $37,730 | $36,325 | $15,000 | Full ROI → |
| 26 |
Oregon Institute of Technology
Grad rate: 58.1% |
OR | -$256,657 | $37,104 | $26,675 | $38,546 | Full ROI → |
| 27 |
Saint Xavier University
Grad rate: 55.8% |
IL | -$258,368 | $37,529 | $42,237 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 28 |
Western Michigan University
Grad rate: 56.5% |
MI | -$264,070 | $36,350 | $28,655 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 29 |
Johnson & Wales University-Providence
Grad rate: 56.9% |
RI | -$273,530 | $41,812 | $58,330 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 30 |
Hodges University
Grad rate: 20.5% |
FL | -$286,894 | $36,417 | $28,157 | $46,375 | Full ROI → |
| 31 |
Franklin University
Grad rate: 37.4% |
OH | -$289,037 | $35,831 | $29,433 | $35,500 | Full ROI → |
| 32 |
University of Michigan-Flint
Grad rate: 45.5% |
MI | -$302,031 | $33,488 | $23,329 | $28,500 | Full ROI → |
| 33 |
University of North Texas
Grad rate: 59.2% |
TX | -$318,157 | $32,508 | $25,470 | $19,583 | Full ROI → |
| 34 |
Wayne State College
Grad rate: 53.5% |
NE | -$318,159 | $31,951 | $21,310 | $23,659 | Full ROI → |
| 35 |
Clayton State University
Grad rate: 35.0% |
GA | -$318,594 | $32,051 | $17,940 | $35,448 | Full ROI → |
| 36 | Florida Institute of Technology-Online | FL | -$331,360 | $33,335 | $28,715 | $32,000 | Full ROI → |
| 37 |
Boston University
Grad rate: 89.5% |
MA | -$355,546 | $42,584 | $82,694 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 38 |
Lesley University
Grad rate: 61.6% |
MA | -$362,444 | $35,478 | $49,226 | $26,000 | Full ROI → |
| 39 |
Mid-America Christian University
Grad rate: 37.1% |
OK | -$367,848 | $29,730 | $30,612 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 40 |
Toccoa Falls College
Grad rate: 46.2% |
GA | -$370,641 | $32,238 | $35,666 | $24,250 | Full ROI → |
| 41 |
University of Puerto Rico-Carolina
Grad rate: 39.0% |
PR | -$391,248 | $26,652 | $21,072 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 42 |
Mississippi State University
Grad rate: 63.0% |
MS | -$419,208 | $28,179 | $26,922 | $26,000 | Full ROI → |
| 43 |
Champlain College
Grad rate: 63.8% |
VT | -$419,213 | $35,210 | $63,000 | $23,269 | Full ROI → |
| 44 |
Grace College and Theological Seminary
Grad rate: 68.0% |
IN | -$420,801 | $30,384 | $40,539 | $19,500 | Full ROI → |
| 45 |
Keystone College
Grad rate: 42.1% |
PA | -$442,038 | $28,069 | $31,742 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 46 |
Florida Institute of Technology
Grad rate: 66.3% |
FL | -$458,048 | $33,335 | $60,387 | $32,000 | Full ROI → |
| 47 |
Gardner-Webb University
Grad rate: 56.7% |
NC | -$479,586 | $29,752 | $48,813 | $29,166 | Full ROI → |
| 48 |
University of Puerto Rico-Arecibo
Grad rate: 49.6% |
PR | -$526,815 | $19,627 | $18,320 | $4,500 | Full ROI → |
| 49 |
Point University
Grad rate: 33.0% |
GA | -$560,197 | $23,540 | $34,418 | $39,500 | Full ROI → |
| 50 |
University of Puerto Rico at Ponce
Grad rate: 46.8% |
PR | -$696,186 | $10,408 | $14,399 | $5,000 | Full ROI → |
How ROI is calculated
20-Year Net ROI = Gross Earnings (salary × 20) − Total Degree Cost − Debt Payoff (×1.35) − Baseline Opportunity Cost ($42,000 × 20). Data from the U.S. College Scorecard.
Find Best Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology Degrees by State
Browse Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology programs ranked by 20-year ROI in every state that offers this degree.