Best Accredited Online PsyD Programs in California 2025

California students wanting to become professional psychologists can find accredited Doctor of Psychology programs in person and even online in their state.

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) degrees are professional degrees that prepare students to work as professional psychologists. While these are usually in-person degrees, there are some accredited online PsyD programs.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), demand for psychologists is expected to rise 7% in the next 10 years. That could be even higher in California, as it's one of the states with the highest employment for psychologists. Keep reading to discover in-person and online PsyD programs in California.

Featured Online PsyD Programs in California

There are a few schools that offer an online PsyD degree in California. We've highlighted these schools below.

1. The Chicago School

The Chicago School is a private, nonprofit school based in Chicago but with additional campuses in Anaheim and Los Angeles, CA. It primarily focuses on psychology programs and offers a PsyD in applied clinical psychology online.

The clinical psychology program trains students to become informed and critical practitioners with a broad knowledge of psychology principles. Students are required to attend four in-person, mandatory residencies. This program meets the degree requirements for licensure in California, Texas, and West Virginia.

Tuition cost: $1,737 per credit
Program length: three years
Concentrations: none
Accreditation: Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) and American Psychological Association (APA)

2. Touro University Worldwide

At Touro University, students can earn an online PsyD in human and organizational psychology. This program is designed to give students a greater understanding of behavioral psychology in workforce applications.

Touro University, a private Jewish institution, is headquartered in New York City, but its worldwide, online campus is based in Los Alamitos, CA. Its online PsyD program requires 66 credit hours, and most students finish in about three years. Note that this human and organizational psychology PsyD degree does not lead to any form of licensure or certification.

Tuition cost: $700 per credit hour
Program length: two and a half to three and a half years
Concentrations: none
Accreditation: WASCUC

Other APA-Accredited PsyD Programs in California

Because of the nature of PsyD programs, they're typically offered in-person rather than online. Below, we've featured some top PsyD programs in California that are accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA).

1. Pepperdine University

Through Pepperdine University, graduate students can earn a PsyD in clinical psychology. This program prepares students for careers as licensed psychologists.

Pepperdine University, a private Christian institution, is located in Los Angeles. Its rigorous PsyD program intertwines academics, clinical training, and research, and upon graduation, students are eligible to be examined for licensure.

Tuition cost: $1,970 per credit
Program length: four years
Concentrations: none
Accreditation: WASCUC and APA

2. The Wright Institute

The Wright Institute offers a clinical psychology PsyD that immerses students in the broad body of psychological science and asks them to think critically while using evidence-based sources in their clinical work. The private graduate school is focused specifically on psychology and is based in Berkeley, CA.

The program takes three years to complete, and students are engaged in clinical practice during all three years. Faculty members for this program have special strengths in the areas of contemporary psychoanalytic, cognitive behavioral, family systems, social justice, brief treatment, and relational approaches.

Tuition cost: $42,350 per year
Program length: three years
Concentrations: none
Accreditation: WASCUC and APA

3. Palo Alto University

The PsyD program at Palo Alto University is offered through a consortium partnership with the Stanford University School of Medicine's Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. The program emphasizes evidence-based practice and is intended for those seeking careers as clinical psychologists.

Palo Alto University, located in Palo Alto, is a private institution focused on behavioral health disciplines. It provides extensive practicum experience for doctoral students in diverse clinical settings throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.

Tuition cost: $67,239 per year
Program length: five years
Concentrations: none
Accreditation: WASCUC and APA

4. National University

National University is a private nonprofit institution in San Diego. It offers a PsyD in clinical psychology that prepares students to make an impact in the lives of those in need.

This degree is offered on the university's Pleasant Hill campus. It runs on a quarter system and includes courses on research methods, psychological assessment, psychotherapy, and more.

Tuition cost: $23,922 per year
Program length: five years
Concentrations: trauma psychology, neuropsychology, integrated healthcare, and correctional and forensic psychology
Accreditation: WASCUC and APA

5. Azusa Pacific University

Students at Azusa Pacific University can earn a PsyD in clinical psychology. The program allows them to develop the knowledge and skills to serve a wide range of clients in a variety of diverse settings.

APU, a Christian research institution, is located in Azusa, CA. The program includes four years of clinical training, through which students gain experience in a variety of clinical settings, including inpatient/residential, child, outpatient, brief/managed care, and settings utilizing psychological assessment.

Tuition cost: $1,160 per credit
Program length: five to six years
Concentrations: family psychology, diversity and justice, and integration of faith/spirituality in practice
Accreditation: WASCUC and APA

6. California Baptist University

California Baptist University offers a clinical psychology PsyD program that trains students for professional practice with diverse populations. Cal Baptist is a private Christian school in Riverside, CA.

This program includes coursework on topics like behavioral neuroscience and mental health interventions. Students participate in three years of hands-on practicum placement as well as a full-time internship.

Tuition cost: $1,100 per credit
Program length: five years
Concentrations: forensic psychology, organizational psychology, and sports and performance psychology
Accreditation: WASCUC and APA

7. Mount Saint Mary's University

The PsyD at Mount Saint Mary's University is designed to meet the needs of an inclusive, multicultural environment with a strong focus on serving those most in need. MSMU is a private Catholic school in Los Angeles.

The school's practitioner-scholar model prepares students to contribute meaningfully to the practice and field of clinical psychology. It offers two emphases that prepare students to offer professional psychology services to a variety of populations, including Spanish-speaking clients.

Tuition cost: $1,210 per credit
Program length: five years
Concentrations: Latinx mental health and diverse population
Accreditation: WASCUC and APA

8. Loma Linda University

Loma Linda University is a Christian health sciences university in Loma Linda, CA. It offers a PsyD in clinical psychology, which uses a practitioner-scholar model that places an emphasis on clinical training.

PsyD students train alongside those earning their PhD in psychology. This allows them to receive rigorous, evidence-based training in addition to their clinical practice experiences.

Tuition cost: varies by year, average of $46,508 for most years
Program length: five years
Concentrations: child and adolescent clinical psychology, clinical neuropsychology, and health psychology and integrated care
Accreditation: WASCUC and APA

How We Rank Schools

To choose the in-person and online PsyD programs in California, we focused on:

Location: We focused specifically on programs offered in California.
Accreditation: Every school on this list is accredited by the WASCUC, and all clinical psychology degrees are through APA-accredited programs.
Program reputation: All clinical psychology programs listed are known for producing professionals in their field.
Student outcomes: Every clinical psychology program on this list leads to professional licensure through the state of California.

What Can I Expect From an Online Doctor of Psychology Degree Program?

In an online PsyD program, you can expect to take many of your courses online, but if you're training for licensure, you will still need to attend your practicums and internships in person.

Online courses may be offered in a synchronous or asynchronous format. Synchronous means that you need to log on at a set time, and often includes live video lectures and discussions. Asynchronous means that you have the flexibility to complete your coursework on your own time.

Types of PsyD Programs and Specializations

The most common type of PsyD program is a PsyD in clinical psychology. These programs prepare students to work as professional clinical psychologists in a variety of settings.

As you may have noticed above, some schools offer specializations within PsyD programs. Some popular specializations include:

family psychology
forensic psychology
health psychology
pediatric psychology

You can also find PsyD degrees in industrial and organizational psychology, although master's degrees are more common. These programs study the psychology of employees and businesses. Industrial/organizational psychologists do not usually need licenses, as they do not participate in clinical practice.

How Long Is an Online PsyD Program in California?

A few of the schools above offer in-person or online PsyD degrees in California that can be completed in as little as three years of full-time study. However, five years is the most common. Some programs offer part-time programs that reduce your courseload each semester but take closer to six or seven years to complete.

How Fast Can I Complete a PsyD Program?

As we mentioned, a few of the schools above offer 3-year PsyD programs online or in person. This is typically the fastest you can complete a PsyD program.

Note that the fastest PsyD programs allow you to complete your program quicker, they still need to meet APA and California state requirements. As a result, these programs are usually more condensed and highly rigorous.

How Much Does an Online PsyD Program Cost in California?

The cost of an online PsyD program in California ranges from $700 per credit at Touro University Worldwide to $1,737 per credit at The Chicago School.

In-person programs can range significantly as well, but you can generally expect to pay at least $1,000 per credit hour. However, many schools offer financial aid programs to help PsyD students pay for their degrees.

What Is the Cheapest Online PsyD Program?

The cheapest online PsyD program in California is through Touro University Worldwide. It's just $700 per credit hour. However, this program is an industrial/organizational psychology program and is not accredited by the APA, nor does it lead to licensure.

Financial Aid for Online PsyD Degrees

As we mentioned above, financial aid is available for in-person and online PsyD degree programs. All students should start by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Your school will likely require this before you can receive aid.

Common types of aid available to students include:

Grants: Grants are usually (but not always) need-based aid. It's typically offered by the government but can also be offered by private organizations or your school.
Scholarships: Scholarships are funds awarded based either on merit or financial need. You can find these through your school or from individual organizations.
Fellowships and work-study programs: These are programs that pay some or all of your tuition in exchange for you working for the school or the psychology department. This type of aid is provided through the school.

PsyD Program Admissions Requirements

Admissions requirements can vary slightly between schools. However, common requirements include:

a bachelor's degree, and some may require a master's degree
minimum GPA
GRE scores
letters of recommendation
personal essays
interviews

Some schools may require all of these things, while others only require a few. You can usually find more information about admissions requirements on the program or department website.

Explore Online Psychology Doctoral Programs

Find the perfect PsyD program by exploring the options featured on Learn.org. Reach out to individual schools for more information on admissions, enrollment, and financial aid.