Psychology graduate programs that don’t require the GRE may come as a relief to candidates who are interested in furthering their educational goals without having to take a costly, difficult test.
We’ve found schools with psychology grad programs that look beyond test scores, making the GRE either optional or not part of the application at all. Whether you’re hoping to earn a master’s degree, a PhD, or a PsyD no GRE, these ten schools are worth checking out.
These ten sponsored graduate schools below offer master’s and/or doctorate programs in psychology, with no GRE required.* Click to learn more about the programs that interest you, or fill out our form to get matched!
*GRE requirements subject to change
written by Shannon Fandler
Sacred Heart University is a private, Catholic university founded in 1963. They serve over 8,500 students across over 80 academic programs. Sacred Heart offers both traditional programs on campus in Fairfield, Connecticut, and online programs that may be ideal for working adults.
SHU is home to an online Master of Science in Applied Psychology program that does not require the GRE. However, students who wish to strengthen their application are encouraged to submit GRE scores. Students also don’t need to have earned their bachelor’s degree in psychology, but they must complete prerequisites in order to embark on their graduate studies.
Northcentral University is a completely online, regionally accredited university that offers both undergraduate and graduate programs in areas like Psychology, Health Sciences, Business, and more. They serve students from around the world.
NCU is home to several master’s and doctorate programs designed to help students pursue new goals in psychology. For instance, the 60-credit PhD in Psychology features eight specializations, including gender diversity, gerontology, addictions, and health psychology. None of the psychology graduate programs at NCU require the GRE.
Vanguard University is a private, Christian university dedicated to liberal arts and professional studies. The university is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). They are based in Costa Mesa, California.
Vanguard offers Master of Science degrees in Clinical Psychology and Organizational Psychology. Each differs slightly when it comes to goals and application requirements. However, neither program accepts GRE scores for consideration in the admissions process.
Grand Canyon University is a private, Christian university with over 65 years of serving students. GCU is based in Phoenix and has locations in Arizona and New Mexico, in addition to online learning. They offer career-focused learning in areas like STEM, business, healthcare, and more.
GCU is home to several graduate programs in psychology and counseling. These include a Ph.D. in General Psychology program with your choice of emphasis, and a Master of Science (M.S.) in General Psychology program designed to help students explore contemporary and ethical issues in psychology, human development, research methods, and more. The GRE is not required.
California Southern University is a private, online university offering undergraduate, master’s and doctoral degree programs. Their mission is to help make higher education more accessible for busy, working adults. CalSouthern is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).
CalSouthern is home to several graduate psychology programs, including a 66-credit PsyD program designed to help students pursue licensure in the state of California. Each program requires an enrollment application, official transcripts, a personal statement, and an application fee. Submitting GRE scores is not necessary.
Psychology Graduate Programs at Walden
Walden University has been specifically designed to serve the unique needs of adult learners, and has been doing so for the past 45 years. Walden serves students from all 50 states and more than 150 countries. This diverse student population pursues degrees that reflect current market trends and promote positive social change.
When it comes to psychology offerings Walden has you covered. The school offers four master’s programs and five doctoral options, and some have concentrations available. Currently, none of these programs require the GRE.
Saybrook University is an institution of higher education that takes a humanistic approach to education. They focus on psychology and other social sciences, as well as integrative medicine and health sciences. Saybrook is based in Oakland, California.
Saybrook is home to Humanistic and Clinical Psychology programs that focus on the whole person. Choose from integrative concentrations such as Creativity Studies and Existential, Humanistic, and Transpersonal Psychology. No GRE scores are needed.
The Chicago School of Professional Psychology has been educating students in psychology and related behavioral science programs since 1979. They have campuses around the country, including Chicago, New Orleans, Dallas, Southern California, and Washington, D.C., plus online learning.
While some of the programs at The Chicago School do require GRE scores (see above), others make test scores optional. Check out the 60-credit M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program, which features courses in Couples & Family Counseling, Diversity & Multiculturalism, Addictions, and more.
Lynn University is a private university founded in 1962. They serve over 3,000 undergraduate and graduate students across six schools and 37 majors. The university is based in Boca Raton, Florida, convenient to Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade counties. They also offer online programs.
Lynn offers an MS in Psychology program that may be earned entirely online. The curriculum focuses on psychological research and human behavior, with an emphasis on scientific writing and information literacy. Choose from two tracks: general or industrial/organizational psychology.
Argosy University was formed in 2001, when several respected institutions of higher education merged together. Today, Argosy has 27 campus locations across the U.S. and serves a large and diverse population of students across eight colleges. The university also offers online learning.
Argosy offers degree programs in both Clinical Psychology and Counseling Psychology. GRE scores are generally not needed, but they’re optional for the Clinical Psychology (Doctor of Psychology) program. Check out the requirements for your program of interest to learn more!
DID YOU KNOW?
According to ONET 27% of Counseling Psychologists said they needed to earn a master’s degree for their current role. 25% needed to earn a doctoral degree, and 40% needed to pursue post-doctoral training.
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If you’re applying to a GRE-free graduate program in psychology, you may not have to worry about test scores. But while skipping the GRE means one less thing to prepare for when it comes to that lengthy grad school application process, there is still plenty more you’ll need to do to ensure you’re as competitive as you can be.
The GRE is all about evaluating students for their potential success as graduate students. But, there are other ways to prove your potential. As you apply to Psychology graduate programs that don’t require the GRE, you may want to:
Most psychology graduate programs require letters of recommendation. Saybrook University – which offers tracks like clinical psychology PhD programs, no GRE – requires one letter of recommendation. However, many programs ask for two or more. It’s wise to put some time into finding recommenders who know your work and can speak to your strengths.
A personal statement is a chance to explain why you wish to pursue graduate work in psychology, the contributions you hope to make to your field, etc. This may be a great chance to wow admissions, so be sure to pay attention to requirements on the length and topic of your statement. California Southern University – which offers potential paths such as online PsyD programs, no GRE – asks for one to two pages about your background, education, work experience, and motivation for grad school.
Not all programs may require work experience, but most programs will be interested in any relevant professional or volunteer experience you have. For instance, the Chicago School of Professional Psychology states that they value professional experience and accomplishments as part of a holistic admissions process.
Some psychology graduate programs require an interview, which may be the ideal chance to let your passion and personality shine. Argosy University, which is home to several psychology programs – such as the PsyD, no GRE – is one such school that interviews applicants. Get comfortable in advance by doing practice interviews and preparing to answer questions about your background, interests, strengths, and professional goals.
Many psychology graduate programs require candidates to have completed prerequisite courses – like Human Development of Theories of Personality – before they can move on to graduate studies. Learn about your prospective school’s prerequisites to make sure you meet the requirements, and find out if you can take additional courses to make up subjects you missed.
Check out partner institutions in the table below.
| Sample Psychology Programs That Don't Require Applicants to Take GRE | |
|---|---|
| 1. Sacred Heart University | MS in Applied Psychology - Community, I/O Psychology |
| 2. Northcentral University | PhD in Psychology, MS in Psychology |
| 3. Vanguard University | MS Clinical Psychology, MS Organizational Psychology |
| 4. Grand Canyon University | MS in Psychology, PhD in Performance Psychology, MS in Professional Counseling |
| 5. California Southern University | PhD in Psychology, MA in Psychology |
| 6. Walden University | MS in Social Psychology, PhD in Development Psychology |
| 7. Saybrook University | PhD in Psychology, Clinical Specialization |
| 8. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology | PhD Applied Behavior Analysis, MA International Psychology |
| 9. Lynn University | MS Psychology |
| 10. Argosy University | Clinical Psychology - PsyD |
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