Widespread agreement exists that Stanford University in the California Bay Area ranks best in the nation. U.S. News and World Report's 2009 rankings placed the private, Ivy League school at #1. College Crunch and the Social Psychology Network also gave the school a top ranking. Of course, while Stanford offers the best instruction and research, it also charges high tuition which can be a factor if becoming Ph.D level clinical psychologist is your goal.
Stanford University
Department of Psychology
Jordan Hall, Building 420
Stanford, CA 94305-2130
650-725-2400
stanford.edu/dept/psychology/
The University of California at Berkeley, the U.C. system's flagship school, earned U.S. News and World Report's 2009 ranking of #2 psychology program and came close behind with Social Psychology Network and College Crunch. You can usually find it in the top 10 list on any given year. If being in the heart of the San Francisco Bay area at a large school with temperate weather and a history of social activism appeals to you, you'll find a much more manageable tuition bill as top colleges go.
University of California--Berkeley
Department of Psychology
3210 Tolman Hall #1650
Berkeley, CA 94720-1650
510-642-1382
psychology.berkeley.edu/graduate/index.html
Nipping at the heels of its sister school Berkeley, the University of California at Los Angeles ranked tied for #3 in U.S. News and World Report's 2009 rankings after being #1 in 2008. But considering it year after year ranks in the top 10 with all sorts of evaluators, there's no shame in getting a psychology degree from UCLA. Located in snugly between Bel Air and Westwood, UCLA sits in a safe and upscale part of town. To be accepted to UCLA, you must have high test scores and GPA because the competition for admission is fierce.
University of California--Los Angeles
Department of Psychology
1285 Franz Hall
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1563
310-825-2961
psych.ucla.edu/graduate