A career in psychology can be an incredible path for veterans, who can draw from their experiences in the military to provide particularly empathetic care to fellow military members who are seeking support. However, for some veterans, the high cost of pursuing a graduate degree can feel too burdensome to take on.
If you are a veteran or active duty service member, there are opportunities for you to pursue a career as a psychologist at little to no cost thanks to the number of excellent affordable programs in California as well as federal and state assistance.
These can be nothing short of game-changing for those who are eager to get the next chapter of their lives started. This guide will provide listings of universities offering MA or MS of Psychology degrees in the vicinity of military bases, as well as information about how to use California’s military benefits to make your education as affordable as possible.
The Unique Impact of Veterans as Mental Health Counselors
Those who have served in the military experience circumstances that can be tremendously difficult for civilians to understand. Anyone with military experience would confirm this to be true. Veterans can also therefore understand how powerful the understanding of a fellow veteran can be during difficult times, providing insights that others simply wouldn’t possess.
Veterans who become mental health counselors or therapists can play an incredibly useful role in the lives of those in need, as well as contributing to positive change in society at large.
One such example is homelessness. California has the most homeless veterans of any state in the U.S., many of whom struggle with mental health challenges that are directly related to their experiences in the military. This means that veterans working as counselors in the state have the opportunity to help unhoused veterans address their emotional needs so that they can pick themselves back up, living fulfilling and rewarding lives.
This is just one example of the ways that veterans can positively impact their communities by becoming counselors. Veterans who are interested in becoming psychologists have a huge number of opportunities to make a difference.
Veterans’ Benefits Can Open Up New Educational Possibilities for You
The guide below provides a list of affordable academic institutions offering Psychology programs in the state of California. As a veteran or active duty service member, you should recognize that your admissions process will work differently from other students, and that you have numerous resources at your disposal to help relieve or even altogether eliminate the cost of graduate school.
As a prospective student, it’s imperative that you look into California veterans’ benefits as you apply to your psychology master’s program. The same goes for active duty education benefits for those who are still serving in the military.
From federal programs supporting veterans to state education grants for active duty military, there’s no shortage of ways to put your psychology education in your own hands.
CalVet Benefits at CSU Schools for Veterans and Their Families
As you’ll see in the index below, there are many Cal State schools offering excellent Master of Psychology degree programs, and many of them are located in the vicinity of military bases, making them an excellent choice for veterans or active duty service members looking to pursue next steps in their education. If you’re interested in enrolling in one of these programs, good news: the CalVet program offers targeted resources to CSU students to make their education as affordable as possible. This is a state-funded program that can supplement or complement your federal benefits.
Veterans must apply for CalVet benefits; eligible students can receive as much as full tuition coverage. Applicants will apply directly through CalVet (not through the specific CSU school of their choice). This is the California state approving agency for veterans’ education. It’s worth noting that CalVet also offers the College Fee Waiver program for dependents and spouses of disabled veterans, which can eliminate 100% of tuition costs at CSU schools.
Veterans’ Benefits at CalPoly Schools
Students attending CalPoly schools can also make use of a variety of benefits for veterans and their families. These can include CalVet benefits or other federal VA benefits. Take a look at CalPoly’s Center for Military-Connected Students to get started determining which funding path will go the furthest for you.
Index: The Most Affordable Military-Friendly Psychology Master’s Programs
Below is a guide to the most budget-friendly Master of Psychology programs in California for veterans and active-duty service members. All of these programs offer military benefits to help fund your education (see above and visit program websites for more specific information). Schools that do not offer CalVet benefits are Yellow Ribbon Schools.
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.
Cal State University – Dominguez Hills
MS in Counseling
MS in Marriage and Family Therapy
MS in Occupational Therapy
MA in Psychology
Program format(s): On campus
Estimated cost of tuition (per year, in-state): $7,176
Location: Dominguez Hills
Nearby military bases: Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach, Joint Forces Training Base Los Alamitos
Cal State University – Long Beach
MA in Psychological Research
MS in Human Factors
MS in Industrial/Organizational Psychology
Program format(s): On-campus
Estimated cost of tuition (per year, in-state): $7,176
Location: Long Beach
Nearby military bases: Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach, Joint Forces Training Base Los Alamitos
Cal State University – Los Angeles
MA of Psychology
MS of Forensic Psychology
Program format(s): On-campus
Estimated cost of tuition (per year, in-state): $7,176
Location: Los Angeles
Nearby military bases: Los Angeles Air Force Base
Cal State University – Sacramento
MS of Applied Behavioral Analysis
MS of Psychological Research
MA in Industrial-Organizational Psychology
Program format(s): On-campus
Estimated cost of tuition (per year, in-state): $7,176
Location: Sacramento
Nearby military bases: Defense MicroElectronics Activity
Cal State University – San Marcos
MA in Psychological Science
Program format(s): On-campus
Estimated cost of tuition (per year, in-state): $7,176
Location: San Marcos
Nearby military bases: Camp Pendleton
California Polytechnic State University
MS in Psychology
Program format(s): On-campus
Estimated cost of tuition (per year, in-state): $7,176
Location: San Luis Obispo
Nearby military bases: Camp San Luis Obispo, Camp Roberts
Concordia University Irvine
Websites: Clinical Mental Health | School Counseling
MA in Counseling – Clinical Mental Health
MA in Education – School Counseling
MA in Education – School Psychology
Program format(s): On-campus, online
Estimated cost of tuition (per year, in-state): $8,630
Location: Irvine
Nearby military bases: Joint Forces Training Base Los Alamitos, Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach
Point Loma Nazarene University
MA in Clinical Counseling (In-person)
MA in School Counseling (Online)
MS in School Counseling (Online)
Program format(s): Vary by program
Estimated cost of tuition (per year, in-state): $11,880
Location: San Diego
Nearby military bases: Imperial Beach, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Naval Base Coronado, Naval Base Point Loma, Naval Base San Diego, Silver Strand Training Complex
San Diego State University
MA in Counseling (Hybrid)
MS in Marriage and Family Therapy (On-campus)
MS in School Psychology with PPS Credentials (On-campus)
MA in Psychology (On-campus)
MS in Applied Psychology (On-campus)
Program format(s): Vary by program (see below)
Estimated cost of tuition (per year, in-state): $7,176
Location: San Diego
Nearby military bases: Imperial Beach, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Naval Base Coronado, Naval Base Point Loma, Naval Base San Diego, Silver Strand Training Complex
San Jose State University
MA in Research and Experimental Psychology
MS in Clinical Psychology
MS in Industrial-Organizational Psychology
Program format(s): On-campus
Estimated cost of tuition (per year, in-state): $7,176
Location: San Jose
Nearby military bases: Moffett Federal Airfield
UC Irvine
MA in Legal and Forensic Psychology
Program format(s): Online with on-campus in-residence course
Estimated cost of tuition (per year, in-state): $12,264
Location: Irvine
Nearby military bases: Joint Forces Training Base Los Alamitos, Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach
UC Riverside
MA in Educational Psychology
Program format(s): Online with on-campus in-residence course
Estimated cost of tuition (per year, in-state): $12,264
Location: Riverside
Nearby military bases: March Air Reserve Base
UMass Global
MA in Counseling, PPS with CWA Certification
MA in Marriage and Family Therapy
MA in Professional Clinical Counseling
MA in Marriage and Family Therapy and Professional Clinical Counseling
Program format(s): Online
Estimated cost of tuition (per year, in-state): $12,762
Location: Aliso Viejo
Nearby military bases: Fully online program
Vanguard University
Websites: Clinical Psychology | I-O Psychology
MS in Clinical Psychology
MS in Industrial & Organizational Psychology
Program format(s): On-campus, online
Estimated cost of tuition (per year, in-state): $12,618
Location: Costa Mesa
Nearby military bases: Camp Pendleton
William Jessup University
MA in Counseling Psychology
Program format(s): On-campus, online
Estimated cost of tuition (per year, in-state): $12,618
Location: Rocklin
Nearby military bases: Beale Air Force Base
FAQs
Are all CSU schools eligible for CalVet benefits?
Yes. This is a fantastic resource for veterans all across the state of California, who have the many excellent California State University schools at their disposal to pursue the next steps of their careers. The Cal State schools included in the guide above are all located in proximity to military bases, making them especially convenient choices for active duty military members as well as veterans who have remained close to their bases after completing their service.
Can spouses and family members of military members and veterans use military benefits?
In many cases, yes. There are targeted active duty spouse education benefits as well as California disabled veterans education benefits for dependents. These can also provide wonderfully extensive support for families of those in the military, and are worth researching with the same level of diligence and care that veterans use when looking at educational opportunities.
Where are psychologists who work with veterans employed?
There are a wide range of organizations that offer supportive services to veterans. Some are explicitly veterans-focused organizations, such as the VA. Others are involved in causes that are more tangentially related to veterans, such as organizations fighting homelessness. The number of veterans among California’s homeless is over eleven thousand, a staggering number that means that psychologists working for such agencies are likely to work directly with veterans themselves.
What types of psychological services can veterans practice?
Veterans are able to pursue any type of psychology degree and license they wish for. While many if not most veterans who become psychologists wish to work with other veterans, offering their uniquely compassionate perspective, there are no limitations on what type of counseling they can provide. If you are a veteran looking to start your career in psychology, the sky’s the limit on what you can pursue.