• Best Online Programs
  • Best Campus Programs
  • Behavior Psychology
  • Clinical Psychology
  • Counseling & Mental Health
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Educational Psychology
  • Forensic Psychology
  • General Psychology
  • Health Psychology
  • Industrial/Organizational
  • Marriage Family Therapy
  • Social Psychology
  • Social Work
  • Educational Psychologist
  • Forensic Psychologist
  • Clinical Psychologist
  • Family Psychologists
  • Marriage Family Therapist
  • School Psychologist
  • Social Psychologist
  • School Counselors
  • Neuropsychologist
  • I/O Psychologist
  • Sports Psychologist
  • Addiction Counselor
  • Mental Health Psychologist
  • Counseling Psychologist
  • Occupational Psychologist
  • Child Psychiatrist
  • Connecticut
  • Massachusetts
  • Mississippi
  • New Hampshire
  • North Carolina
  • North Dakota
  • Pennsylvania
  • Rhode Island
  • South Carolina
  • South Dakota
  • West Virginia
  • PsyD vs PhD

Rutgers University Psy.D. Psychology Review

rutgers clinical psychology phd acceptance rate

The Rutgers University Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology is one of the oldest and most well-established centers for the study of human psychology, offering two Psy.D. degrees, one in clinical psychology and the other in school psychology, and serving as a hub of resources for research, instruction and care for individuals with autism and other behavioral disorders.

What do prospective Psy.D. students need to know about this program and whether it’s right for them?

About the Program

Before we dive into the details of the major features and drawbacks of the Rutgers Psy.D. offerings, let’s learn a bit about the school and this particular program, including where the school is located, what types of degrees are offered and how much prospective students can expect to pay.

  • Institution type: Public
  • Main campus: New Brunswick, New Jersey
  • Accreditation: American Psychological Association
  • First year of program: 1974, school psychology and clinical psychology; organizational psychology specialty added in 1988

Tuition and fees

  • Full-time, in-state tuition: $22,416
  • Full-time, out-of-state tuition: $37,368
  • Per credit-hour tuition for part-time students: $934
  • Institution fees: $1,671

Student outcomes

  • Median years to completion: 6
  • Percentage completing in <5 years: 1%
  • Percentage completing in 7+ years: 33%
  • Degrees conferred, 2010-2020: 185
  • Percentage of students obtaining internships (2019-20 school year): 100%
  • Percentage of graduates earning professional licensure: 85%

Degrees & requirements

  • Psy.D. degrees offered: Clinical Psy.D., School Psy.D.
  • Non-Psy.D. degrees offered: Master’s in Applied Psychology, Master’s in Applied Behavioral Analysis, Master’s in Special Education
  • Number of credit hours required: 93 credits for clinical psychology, 131 credits for school psychology; both require practicum, internship and/hour supervision credits and hours
  • Application method: Online
  • Application fee: $70
  • Admission requirements: Undergraduate or graduate transcripts; three letters of recommendation; GRE scores (required for clinical psychology only); TOEFL for foreign applicants whose first language is other than English; resume
  • Admissions office address: 56 Bevier Road ASB Annex I, Piscataway, NJ 08854

Biggest Pros

Let’s explore what facets of Rutgers’ program truly set the institution apart and are most likely to be appealing to Psy.D. students.

A long history

Rutgers has been offering Psy.D. degrees for nearly 50 years, starting with a pair of degrees (clinical psychology and school psychology) that the university began offering in 1974. This makes Rutgers one of the most well-established and long-lived programs in the entire field, and Rutgers was the first professional school to offer the Doctor of Psychology degree among major research universities.

Indeed, the state of clinical and school psychology training in the United States has been heavily influenced by Rutgers’ Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology (GSAPP), and today’s students may well further that influence.

Specialty clinics & visiting faculty

Despite the lengthy history the GSAPP boasts, program leaders are acutely aware that the needs of students are driven largely by needs across society. This understanding includes giving students the chance to learn in specialty clinics where they can benefit from the traditional rigors of the program brought to bear on an emerging field of human behavior.

Similarly, the program welcomes as many as four visiting faculty members each year, and the expertise these active, full-time practitioners bring can inspire, challenge and motivate students by bringing in a nearly real-time professional experience.

Research programs

Rutgers as a whole is a major research institution, and the GSAPP continues along in that tradition, with faculty research regularly published in leading journals and presented at state, national and international conferences.

Psychology clinics & centers

The average student who is interested in earning a Psy.D. degree is likely someone who wants to make a difference in the lives of people as soon as possible. GSAPP staffs two centers — the Douglass Developmental Disability Center and the Rutgers Center for Adult Autism Services — that support members of the community dealing with autism spectrum disorders. The school also staffs the Rutgers Center of Alcohol & Substance Use Studies, an NIH-supported research program focusing on addiction and substance abuse.

Other specialty clinics include:

  • ADHD Clinic
  • Anxiety Disorders Clinic
  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy Program
  • Foster Care Counseling Project (FCCP)
  • Group Psychotherapy Services
  • NJ Couples Clinic
  • The LifeSPAN ASD Lab
  • The Tourette Syndrome Clinic
  • Women Helping Women
  • Youth Anxiety and Depression Clinic

Biggest Cons

Of course, not every school is right for everyone. So what are some of the less-attractive aspects to pursuing your Psy.D. degree at Rutgers?

Top of mind for almost any student is how much a program will cost. While Rutgers is a top-notch and incredibly well-regarded center for the study of clinical and school psychology, there’s no doubt that students will pay a pretty penny for it.

With a per-credit cost for part-timers of more than $900 and a 93-credit requirement for the clinical Psy.D. (and even more for the school Psy.D.), the typical student will spend between $85,000 and upwards of $120,000, depending on how long they spend in the program.

Limited online options

Rutgers isn’t alone in this, but the program offers very few options for online education. Neither of the Psy.D. degrees offered at the GSAPP can be completed online, though working professionals who need to earn continuing education degrees may be able to complete some of that work online.

SEE ALSO: 5+ Accredited Online PsyD Programs

Narrow research scope

If your interests lie outside a few areas — primarily applied behavior analysis, autism spectrum disorders and addiction — you might find other programs to be more up your alley, particularly those with a more diverse set of Psy.D. and other psychology degrees.

The Bottom Line

So what does this mean for you? Every person’s needs and educational journey are different, but here’s a quick breakdown to help you decide if the Rutgers Psy.D. program is right for you.

For students who want the prestige of earning their Psy.D. from one of the oldest and most established institutions in the field of psychology, Rutgers’ Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology is perhaps the most logical choice.

SEE MORE: 5+ New Jersey Psychology Doctorate Programs

Additional Resources

  • Online Application Hub
  • Admissions Requirements
  • Student Outcomes and Other Data
  • Clinical Psy.D.
  • School Psy.D.
  • Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology Home

IMAGES

  1. Rutgers University: Acceptance Rate, SAT/ACT Scores, GPA

    rutgers clinical psychology phd acceptance rate

  2. Rutgers Psychology PhD Acceptance Rate: Exploring the Odds

    rutgers clinical psychology phd acceptance rate

  3. Graduate Study in Psychology summary report: Admissions, applications

    rutgers clinical psychology phd acceptance rate

  4. Rutgers University Acceptance Rate 2023

    rutgers clinical psychology phd acceptance rate

  5. Rutgers University-Newark: Acceptance Rate, SAT/ACT Scores, GPA

    rutgers clinical psychology phd acceptance rate

  6. Rutgers MBS Acceptance Rate

    rutgers clinical psychology phd acceptance rate

VIDEO

  1. 1 November 2023 Information Session about Applying to the PhD Program

  2. Clinical Reasoning & the Art of Deliberate Practice in Infectious Diseases

  3. R.E.S.E.T: Emotional Coping With and After Anal Cancer

  4. High Acceptance High Scholarship Computer Science Universities in USA #studyinusa

  5. another PhD decisions reaction video

  6. Postdoctoral Fellow, Multiple Vacancies, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ

COMMENTS

  1. Clinical Psychology

    Additional Clinical Ph.D. Admissions Information. The Clinical Psychology Ph.D. program provides the highest level of training for students wishing to conduct psychological research and/or provide clinical services as a practicing health-service psychologist. Upon graduation with a Ph.D., those completing the program go onto positions in ...

  2. Clinical Psychology

    Dr. Connie Hoyos-Nervi. Practicum Coordinator, Assistant Teaching Professor, Assistant Director for Clinical Training, Department of Clinical Psychology. Phone 848-445-7793. Email [email protected].

  3. PDF Updated August 24th, 2021

    A total of 6 Research in Psychology credits are needed by the time students defend their master's thesis. A total of 24 Research in Psychology credits are needed by the time students plan to leave for internship. A minimum of 9 credits (including e-credits) are needed to maintain full-time student status each semester.

  4. Clinical Psy. D. Overview

    GSAPP's Doctoral program in Clinical Psychology (PsyD) educates psychologists for direct practice in clinical and applied professional settings by providing a solid foundation in clinical practice, grounded in the evolving scientific understanding of mind and behavior. Didactic training in broad and general psychological principles are coupled with practical, graduated instruction in a range ...

  5. Home

    Welcome Applicants to the Rutgers University Clinical Psychology PhD Program! Meet Our Clinical Faculty Watch videos of core faculty present on their research! Meet Our Graduate Students. Learn about Grad Life and Program Fun! Learn about Rutgers and the Psych Department

  6. Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology

    GSAPP offers two convenient, fully online learning paths: an 18-credit certificate program and a 30-credit master's degree in applied psychology focused exclusively on MTSS in school settings. These programs have been designed for current or future professionals in education who are looking to become change agents in their schools or districts.

  7. Admissions

    Deadlines for Applied Psychology Programs (MAP, MABA, Organizational Psychology PsyD) are displayed below: For Admission. Application Deadline. Spring 2024. November 30, 2023. Fall 2023. July 30, 2023. " Looking at GSAPP, once I watched their faculty videos, Rutgers jumped to the top of my list of schools.

  8. Clinical Psychology

    GSAPP's doctoral program in Clinical Psychology aims to educate psychologists for practice in clinical and other applied professional settings. ... 2022 for admissions entering Fall 2023. All application materials should be submitted on or before the December 1st deadline. ... With Francine Conway, Ph.D, Chancellor-Provost of Rutgers University ...

  9. Program Detail

    Please submit a personal statement describing your experiences related to, and your commitment to, pursuing a career in clinical psychology with a doctor of psychology degree (Psy.D.) degree. Page length: 1.5-2 pages approximately 750 - 1000 words. *Please note that personal statements more than 2 pages may not be reviewed.*

  10. Department

    Rutgers Psychology Department (New Brunswick) includes four areas:Please click each to learn more and visit our main department site for more information: https://psych.rutgers.edu/. The Psychology Department is housed on two campuses (located 5 minutes apart): Busch Campus and Livingston Campus. Classes and clinical work often happen on Busch ...

  11. Demystifying One's Chances of Acceptance into Clinical PhD Psychology

    Given the data on clinical doctoral degrees from the Michalski et al.'s (2017) report on PhD and PsyD programs combined, the researchers aimed to locate additional data from APA regarding acceptance to only PhD in clinical psychology graduate programs. In fact, such data exist in the form of another APA report, titled the "5-Year Summary Report, 2011-2015" authored by APA's ...

  12. Applying to Graduate School

    These experiences are particularly important for students entering the most competitive areas of psychology - clinical and research PhD programs; Personal Statement. Going to graduate school is a major decision, and the admissions committees want to be sure that you have a genuine interest in their program and a commitment to see it to ...

  13. Psychology

    At Rutgers, we study psychology from different perspectives, including behavioral and systems neuroscience, clinical, cognitive, and social psychology. ... Admission Deadlines For best consideration apply by these dates Application Type ... Rutgers School of Graduate Studies 25 Bishop Place New Brunswick, NJ 08901-1178. Phone 848-932-7034. Fax

  14. Faculty of Clinical Department

    Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology Enter a Search Term. Search Rutgers . Search this site ... Department of Clinical Psychology & Director, Youth Anxiety and Depression Clinic. Phone848-445-5903. [email protected]. ... Rutgers University-New Brunswick, Center of Alcohol & Substance Use Studies Director, Helen E ...

  15. Search Programs

    Explore the many graduate degree and professional programs by selecting a field of study, degree, or campus location and clicking the Search button. Then click on "Requirements and Deadlines" to get the details for your program. If you don't find what you are looking for, please contact us . Quick Search:

  16. For students interested in Clinical or Counseling Psychology

    Acceptance Rates: 13% of the students who applied to doctoral programs in clinical psychology were accepted in 2019. See the report by the American Psychological Association. (2019). Graduate Study in Psychology Summary Report. Admissions, Applications, and Acceptances.

  17. PDF Graduate Study in Psychology Summary Report: Admissions, Applications

    other psychology, which had higher medians. Figure 5 plots the interquartile master's-level acceptance rates (the ratio of acceptances to applications). Median acceptance rates for most subfields at the master's level hovered between 35% and 65%, with social psychology showing the lowest median acceptance rate at 33%.

  18. Clinical and Counseling Psychology

    Psy.D. General Purpose. Research and Academia or Clinical and Counseling. Primarily clinically or counseling based, with little emphasis on research. Program Length. About 7 years with internship. About 5 years with internship. Cost. $17,300- $40,000.

  19. Graduate Study in Psychology summary report: Admissions, applications

    Acceptance rates were lowest for social psychology and clinical psychology at 27 percent and 31 percent, respectively. At the doctoral level, the highest number of programs, applications, and acceptances were found in clinical psychology, but with an overall acceptance rate of 12 percent.

  20. M.D./Ph.D. Program

    The MD/PhD program uses the same admissions requirements and secondary application as Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Students are evaluated by the medical school and MD/PhD program independently; admission to the MD/PhD program requires an acceptance by both. Applicants are expected to have past clinical and research experiences that ...

  21. Clinical PsyD Program Once Again Achieves 100% Match Rate on ...

    Clinical PsyD Program Once Again Achieves 100% Match Rate on Match Day. Date. March 1, 2022. ... Mt. Sinai Services/ Elmhurt Hospital - Child & Adolescent Psychology Track: Maddie Bono: Children's Hospital Los Angeles - Child & Adolescent Medicine ... Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology. 152 Frelinghuysen Road Piscataway, NJ ...

  22. Rutgers University Psy.D. Psychology Review

    With a per-credit cost for part-timers of more than $900 and a 93-credit requirement for the clinical Psy.D. (and even more for the school Psy.D.), the typical student will spend between $85,000 and upwards of $120,000, depending on how long they spend in the program. Limited online options.