If you are a veteran or active duty military member who is passionate about putting your experience in the armed forces toward helping others, you may find that a career in psychology is the one for you. The work of supporting others through times of need can be deeply rewarding, especially for those who have hard-won insights to offer from their own personal experiences.
Every veteran has wisdom to share that can be a source of invaluable fortification and connection for other veterans and active duty service members who are struggling.
For this reason, many veterans choose to pursue psychology careers, maintaining their ties to their military comrades and turning the challenges they’ve been through into strength. For those thinking in the long-term, this can also be a lucrative and stable career option, making it an attractive choice for years to come.
Find the Psychology Education You’re Looking For Without Relocating
If you’re a California-based veteran or active duty service member, good news: there are numerous excellent educational opportunities in the state of California for you to pursue a Master of Psychology degree, meeting state requirements to become a licensed psychologist.
There are excellent Master of Psychology programs near military bases across the state of California, meaning those who have stayed close to their bases (or for active duty members still living on them) can access high-quality educational experiences without moving.
This guide provides a list of some of the best educational options for veterans and active-duty service members who are looking to take the first steps in their psychology careers today.
How veterans in the psychology field can make a difference in helping the homeless
There are many issues that veterans experience uniquely. This means they can bring powerful insights into their practices as psychotherapists, providing a crucial lifeline to other vets or active duty military members who are struggling.
One cause in which veterans working as therapists can be enormously beneficial is in homelessness prevention and rehabilitation.
Tragically, many individuals living on the streets are veterans, and a wealth of supportive services are needed to help those who can’t sustain housing get back on their feet.
According to a 2020 report by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, California has the most homeless veterans of any state in the country, with the number of veterans among California’s homeless amounting to more than 11,000. In fact, 31% of the veteran population experiencing homelessness in the U.S. is located in California, making for a huge amount of this demographic nationwide.
This means California is an excellent place for veterans to launch careers as therapists and counselors, helping other veterans who have fallen on hard times overcome serious struggles to get the most out of their lives.
Making the Most of Your Education Benefits
If you are a veteran or active duty service member considering the next steps in your education, make sure to educate yourself about the California veterans’ education benefits (or active duty education benefits) that can help you pursue your career goals at a minimum of cost, with a maximum of additional support.
Indeed, there are a host of resources for veterans and active duty service members in California that all students who have served should take advantage of. These include federal programs as well as university-specific education grants for active duty military and vets. As you apply to school, do diligent research on available funding opportunities available to you – these can make all the difference in making your educational dreams a reality.
Yellow Ribbon Schools
Veterans and active duty service members who are pursuing higher education are urged to seek out schools participating in the Yellow Ribbon program, which can help students pay the cost of graduate school tuition that the Post-9/11 GI Bill doesn’t cover. Not all schools participate in this program, so it’s imperative to look into it early to be sure you are making a plan that will be sustainable for you.
An Index of California’s Top Psychology Programs for Veterans and Active Duty Military Members
Below is a list of the best schools for veterans in California who are looking to start psychology careers. Please note that not every school offers the same degree types, meaning it’s worth thinking carefully about the career path you most want as you consider your academic options. Adding to the convenience, many of these programs are offered in an online or hybrid model, with numerous programs offering primarily remote courses with occasional on-campus intensives.
All of the schools on this list are Yellow Ribbon Schools, meaning they are prepared to help veteran students cover the cost of their education beyond what is provided by the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
Note: The guide below identifies military bases in the proximity of each school. In this case “in proximity” means universities that are within 45 minutes (driving) from each military base.
Alliant University
MA in Clinical Counseling
MS in Clinical Psychopharmacology
MA in Marital and Family Therapy
MA in Organizational Psychology
Program format(s): On-campus, online
Estimated cost of tuition (per year, in-state): $18,704
Location: Fresno, Irvine, Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco
Nearby military bases: Vary by program – include Joint Forces Training Base Los Alamitos, Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach (Irvine campus); Los Angeles Air Force Base (Los Angeles campus; Imperial Beach, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Naval Base Coronado, Naval Base Point Loma, Naval Base San Diego, Silver Strand Training Complex (San Diego Campus)
Azusa Pacific University
MA in Clinical Psychology: Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT)
MS in Child Life
MS in Counseling Psychology with Specialization in Children and Adolescents
MS in Organizational Psychology
MS in Research Psychology and Data Analysis
Program format(s): On-campus, online (vary by program)
Estimated cost of tuition (per year, in-state): $17,180
Location(s): Vary by program – include Azusa, Inland Empire, Orange County, San Diego
Nearby military bases: Vary by program – include Joint Forces Training Base Los Alamitos, Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach (Orange County campus); Imperial Beach, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Naval Base Coronado, Naval Base Point Loma, Naval Base San Diego, Silver Strand Training Complex (San Diego Campus)
*Note: Not all psychology degree pathways are offered on every APU campus.
California Lutheran University
Websites: Clinical Psychology | Counseling Psychology
MS in Clinical Psychology
MS in Counseling Psychology
Program format(s): On-campus
Estimated cost of tuition (per year, in-state): $22,198
Location: Thousand Oaks
Nearby military bases: Naval Base Ventura County, Point Mugu
Chapman University
MA in Marriage and Family Therapy
Program format(s): On-campus
Estimated cost of tuition (per year, in-state): $38,604
Location: Orange
Nearby military bases: Joint Forces Training Base Los Alamitos, Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach
Hope International University
MA in Marriage and Family Therapy
MS in Counseling with Emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy
Program format(s): On-campus (MA), online (MS)
Estimated cost of tuition (per year, in-state): $16,815
Location: Fullerton
Nearby military bases: Joint Forces Training Base Los Alamitos
La Sierra University
MA in Counseling (General)
MA in Counseling – MFT/LPCC
MA in Counseling & EDS, with PPS
MA in Counseling – PPS/School Counseling
MA in Counseling – Forensic Mental Health
MA in Sports & Exercise Psychology
Program format(s): On-campus
Estimated cost of tuition (per year, in-state): $15,067
Location: Riverside
Nearby military bases: March Air Reserve Base
Loyola Marymount University
MA in Counseling
MA in School Counseling with PPS Credential
MA in Guidance Counseling
Program format(s): Hybrid
Estimated cost of tuition (per year, in-state): $21,558
Location: Westchester
Nearby military bases: Los Angeles Air Force Base, Joint Forces Training Base Los Alamitos, Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach
Menlo College
MA of Sport and Performance Psychology
Program format(s): Hybrid
Estimated cost of tuition (per year, in-state): $21,000
Location: Atherton
Nearby military bases: Moffett Federal Air Field, Defense Innovation Unit
Mount St. Mary’s University
MS in General Counseling Psychology
MS in Marriage and Family Therapy
MS in Marriage and Family Therapy: ¡Enlaces!
Program format(s): On-campus
Estimated cost of tuition (per year, in-state): $13,692
Location: Los Angeles
Nearby military bases: Los Angeles Air Force Base
National University
MA in Counseling Psychology
MA in Human Behavior
MA in Marriage and Family Therapy
MA in Sports and Performance Psychology
MA in Psychology, Consciousness, and Transformation
MS in Applied Behavioral Analysis
MS in Child and Adolescent Psychology
MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
MS in Educational Counseling – Community College Counseling
MS in Forensic Psychology
MS in Health Psychology
MS in Industrial-Organizational Psychology
MS in School Psychology with PPS Certification
Program format(s): Hybrid, online
Estimated cost of tuition (per year, in-state): $21,632
Location: San Diego
Nearby military bases: Imperial Beach, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Naval Base Point Loma, Naval Base San Diego, Silver Strand Training Complex
Pepperdine University
MA in Psychology (On-campus option; online option)
MA in Clinical Psychology – MFT Emphasis (On-campus option; online option)
MA in Clinical Psychology – MFT Emphasis – LatinX Communities (On-campus)
MS in Applied Behavior Analysis (On-campus option; online option)
Program format(s): Vary by program (see below)
Estimated cost of tuition (per year, in-state): $41,400
Location: Malibu, West Los Angeles, Irvine, Calabasas
Nearby military bases: Naval Base Ventura County, Point Mugu
St. Mary’s College
MA in Counseling
Double MA in Counseling and Forensic Psychology
MA in Counseling – MFT/LPCC
MA in Counseling – General Counseling Specialization
MA in Forensic Psychology
MA in School Counseling – PPS
Program format(s): In-person
Estimated cost of tuition (per year, in-state): $33,900
Location: Moraga
Nearby military bases: Parks Reserve Forces Training Area
Santa Clara University
MA in Applied Psychology (In person or online)
MA in Counseling (In person or online)
MA in Counseling Psychology (MFT/LPCC) (In person or hybrid)
Program format(s): Vary by program (see below)
Estimated cost of tuition (per year, in-state): $25,873
Location: Santa Clara
Nearby military bases: Moffett Federal Air Field, Defense Innovation Unit
University of Redlands
MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
MA in Counseling and Psychotherapy (Chinese language) (Hybrid program)
MA in Education: School Counseling
MA in Education: School Counseling (College Focus)
MA in Education: School Counseling (K-12 Focus)
Program format(s): On campus
Estimated cost of tuition (per year, in-state): $24,900
Location: Redlands
Nearby military bases: March Air Reserve Base
University of San Diego
Websites: MFT Counseling | Clinical Mental Health Counseling | School Counseling
MA in Counseling – Marital and Family Therapy
MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
MA in Counseling – School Counseling
Program format(s): On campus
Estimated cost of tuition (per year, in-state): $28,854
Location: San Diego
Nearby military bases (San Diego campus): Imperial Beach, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Naval Base Coronado, Naval Base Point Loma, Naval Base San Diego, Silver Strand Training Complex
FAQs
What is the Yellow Ribbon Program, and how might it help me?
The Yellow Ribbon Program is an initiative designed to help veterans pursue educational opportunities beyond the coverage of other federal programs like the Post 9/11 GI Bill. It extends to educational programs such as graduate school, which is a necessary step for those who wish to pursue careers in psychology.
If you’re a veteran pursuing graduate school, it’s highly recommended that you seek out schools participating in the Yellow Ribbon program. All the programs listed in the guide above are participants.
Are there opportunities to complete practicum hours at VA organizations while in school?
In many cases, yes! This can be a great opportunity to start refining your skills and building expertise before entering the field as a therapist or counselor working with other veterans.
Do I need a Master of Psychology degree in order to provide counseling services to other veterans?
Yes. In the state of California, it is required to hold a Master of Psychology with the relevant concentration in order to receive your licensure. While there may be other entry-level positions in VA organizations, you will not be eligible to provide counseling without your master’s degree.
Will any Master of Psychology degree qualify me for state licensure?
Not necessarily. Within the field of psychology, different concentration pathways are designed to prepare students for different licensure exams (the two primary types are ). Some Master’s in Psychology programs, meanwhile, are geared primarily toward those pursuing PhD. degrees, and are not designed to help students pass licensure exams. For this reason, it’s crucial to do your research to be sure your chosen schools will help you meet your long-term career goals.