St. Thomas campus in downtown Minneapolis

Doctorate in Counseling Psychology (PsyD)

Admissions and Financial Aid

Browse admissions and tuition information for the Doctorate in Counseling Psychology program below. For information regarding the MA with Direct Admission to the PsyD and all other graduate psychology programs, visit the Graduate School of Professional Psychology admissions and financial aid page.

We highly encourage you to begin preparing your application materials in advance and to save your work on your own device along the way. You can find a comprehensive list of application requirements, including essay prompts, below.

Contact

Graduate School of Professional Psychology

gradhealth@stthomas.edu

Phone Number

651-962-6190

Application Timeline

Application open: August 1

Application deadline: December 15

Application Process

Basic Requirements

Supplementary Requirements

Application Materials

Statement of Purpose and Writing Sample Prompts

Interview with Faculty

Deadlines and Timeline

Basic Requirements

A master's degree in counseling psychology, or its equivalent. The degree must have been awarded by a regionally accredited institution of higher education.
Degrees may be considered equivalent if they include:
1. a counseling practicum and
2. courses in the following areas: statistics or quantitative research design, biological bases of behavior (e.g., Psychobiology, Psychophysiology), social psychology or group dynamics, psychological assessment or measurement theory, personality or counseling theory, development (i.e. career, family, or life span), psychopathology, counseling skills and techniques, counseling ethics.

Supplementary Requirements

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) required for any candidate whose primary language is not English.

Application Materials

Completed application form (choose “Doctorate” for degree and “Counseling Psychology” for program)
Official copy of all undergraduate and graduate transcripts. Submit transcripts to gradadmissions@stthomas.edu or to the following address:
Graduate Admissions, University of St. Thomas
TMH 251, 1000 Lasalle Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55403
Two letters of recommendation addressing the candidate's suitability for the program
Candidate's statement of purpose: part of the application form
Writing sample: 2-3 pages of scholarly writing related to the field of psychology

Statement of Purpose and Writing Sample Prompts

Statement of Purpose

Submit a concise, three-page, double-spaced essay addressing your fit with the field of counseling psychology and more specifically the Graduate School of Professional Psychology (GSPP). Please describe your reasons for seeking a doctoral degree and what goals you hope to reach through the acquisition of the degree. Additionally, the field of counseling psychology places high value on personal self-knowledge and self-awareness. Please write about your awareness of your place in a diverse society and how you have come to know this. What do you bring to the work of a counseling psychologist?

Writing Sample

Attach a 2-3 page writing sample (APA format) from a thesis, practice sample, clinical course or other pertinent high quality work.

Interview with Faculty

Upon selection as a finalist, you will be invited to complete an interview with a faculty member as the last component of your application.

Deadlines and Timeline

Application Deadline (this is a strict deadline): December 15

January: Application Reviews
Early February: Selected applicants interview with faculty members in the GSPP
Mid-February: Faculty make final decisions and notify each applicant whether or not they are offered admission into the PsyD Program
April 15: Applicants notify the GSPP of their decision

Basic Requirements

A master's degree in counseling psychology, or its equivalent. The degree must have been awarded by a regionally accredited institution of higher education.
Degrees may be considered equivalent if they include:
1. a counseling practicum and
2. courses in the following areas: statistics or quantitative research design, biological bases of behavior (e.g., Psychobiology, Psychophysiology), social psychology or group dynamics, psychological assessment or measurement theory, personality or counseling theory, development (i.e. career, family, or life span), psychopathology, counseling skills and techniques, counseling ethics.

Supplementary Requirements

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) required for any candidate whose primary language is not English.

Application Materials

Completed application form (choose “Doctorate” for degree and “Counseling Psychology” for program)
Official copy of all undergraduate and graduate transcripts. Submit transcripts to gradadmissions@stthomas.edu or to the following address:
Graduate Admissions, University of St. Thomas
TMH 251, 1000 Lasalle Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55403
Two letters of recommendation addressing the candidate's suitability for the program
Candidate's statement of purpose: part of the application form
Writing sample: 2-3 pages of scholarly writing related to the field of psychology

Statement of Purpose and Writing Sample Prompts

Statement of Purpose

Writing Sample

Attach a 2-3 page writing sample (APA format) from a thesis, practice sample, clinical course or other pertinent high quality work.

Interview with Faculty

Upon selection as a finalist, you will be invited to complete an interview with a faculty member as the last component of your application.

Deadlines and Timeline

Application Deadline (this is a strict deadline): December 15

January: Application Reviews
Early February: Selected applicants interview with faculty members in the GSPP
Mid-February: Faculty make final decisions and notify each applicant whether or not they are offered admission into the PsyD Program
April 15: Applicants notify the GSPP of their decision

Tuition and Fees

Estimated tuition and fees effective for academic year 2025-2026.

On-campus Tuition (per credit): $1,169

Books and materials (estimate per course): $150-250
Support Services fee (per semester/per term): $15
Technology fee, fall/spring/summer (less than 6 credits): $68
Technology fee, J-Term: $41
Technology fee, fall/spring/summer (6 or more credits): $135
Health fee, fall/spring/summer (less than 6 credits): $41
Health fee, J-Term (less than 6 credits): $10
Health fee, J-Term (more than 6 credits): $20
Health fee, fall/spring/summer (6 or more credits): $82
Audit fee: 67% refund
Graduate psychology testing fee (Doctoral CPSY 737, 903): $265
Practicum Fee (Master's, Doctoral): $159

Financial Aid may be available to assist you with your direct costs (i.e. tuition and fees) and other indirect costs (off campus housing, food, books, supplies, course materials, equipment, transportation, personal expenses, etc.).

Find information on the Estimated Financial Aid Cost of Attendance Budget Components for Doctorate in Counseling Psychology.

Scholarships and Grants

The Tommie Alumni Scholarship is equivalent to a 15% discount over the course of the program.

This scholarship is intended for alumni who have received either an undergraduate or graduate degree, from any discipline, from the University of St. Thomas. In order to be considered for this scholarship you must have graduated from St. Thomas prior to your desired start term in our program.

Merit Scholarships are awarded at the time of admission and are included in the admission letter. Merit scholarships typically range from $3,000 to $10,000 per year, divided between Fall and Spring terms.

Please note that most students also enroll in J-term and summer terms too.
MA program awards are typically for two years, and PsyD program awards are typically for three years.

Positions within the Graduate School of Professional Psychology are advertised in August and selected in early September. These positions are typically 5-10 hours per week and have an hourly wage associated with them. We typically hire 5-10 students per year.
Positions across the university are available, although limited in number. We encourage you to apply through Student Job Listings on OneStThomas.

Head to our Graduate Grants and Scholarships page for further details on available grants.

Financial Aid

In addition to the scholarships and grant opportunities above, students are encouraged to seek additional external scholarships and to explore St. Thomas Graduate Financial Aid for opportunities.

Graduate Financial Aid

Attend an Info Session

Do you have questions about admissions or the application process? Attend an upcoming information session or drop by during a coffee hour to get your questions answered.

Upcoming Information Sessions