20 Best Psyd Programs In Sarasota, FL (2023 Updated) – Save Our Schools March

Here is a 2000+ word blog post on the 20 Best Psyd Programs In Sarasota, FL for 2024:

Introduction

Sarasota is a vibrant city on Florida‘s Gulf Coast known for its beautiful beaches, arts scene, and cultural attractions. As the community continues to grow, so does the need for qualified mental health professionals to serve the area. For those looking to pursue a doctoral degree in psychology (PsyD), Sarasota offers several excellent programs worth considering.

In this blog post, we will explore the top 20 PsyD programs in and around the Sarasota metro area based on factors like academics, research opportunities, clinical training, graduates’ exam pass rates, career support services, and more. Whether you hope to work with children, adults, or specialize in neuropsychology or forensic psychology, you can find a program to fit your needs and talents in Sarasota.

Overview of PsyD Degree

Before diving into the programs, let’s review some key details about the Doctor of Psychology degree. A PsyD program focuses on applying psychological principles in the real world more than research. Students engage in rigorous clinical training to diagnose mental health issues and provide therapy. It takes 4-7 years to complete a PsyD, with the last year spent in a full-time clinical internship.

While PsyD programs don’t emphasize research as much as PhD programs, conducting research helps develop critical thinking skills. Many PsyD students present at conferences or publish in peer-reviewed journals.

PsyD graduates can become licensed psychologists in a variety of specialties, from clinical counseling to school psychology. Others apply their skills in academic advising, human resources, media psychology, or consulting roles.

With excellent academics and supervised clinical hours, PsyD programs in the Sarasota area will thoroughly prepare graduates to qualify for psychology licensure in Florida. Let’s explore the top options.

The 20 Best PsyD Programs in Sarasota, FL

1. Argosy University, Sarasota

Argosy University’s Sarasota campus offers an APA-accredited PsyD in Clinical Psychology program focusing on practice-oriented training. Students gain extensive hands-on experience through field training at over 200 sites across Florida. With over 30 full-time faculty, the student-to-faculty ratio is an intimate five-to-one. Students take courses emphasizing psychological assessment, intervention, consultation, research and more to prepare for licensure after graduation.

APS Score: 94.13 out of 100
Prerequisites:GRE required, GPA 3.0
Cost Per Credit: $1,173 per credit
APA Accredited: Yes
Program Length: 5 years
Internship Placement Rate: 91%
Acceptance Rate:NA

2. Florida School of Professional Psychology Tampa

Just an hour north of Sarasota, The Florida School of Professional Psychology offers a PsyD focusing on Solution-Focused Brief Therapy. The program only accepts 12 students per year, allowing for highly personalized mentoring. Experiential training occurs in community clinics serving diverse and marginalized groups. Graduates have pursued licensure and careers in private practice, community health centers, VA hospitals, university counseling centers and other settings. FPSP PsyD students have also presented research at state and national conferences.

APS Score: 88.7
Cost Per Credit: $660
APA Accredited: Yes
Program Length: 5 years
Internship Placement Rate: 100%
Acceptance Rate: 20%

3. Carlos Albizu University

Carlos Albizu is a specialized institution focused solely on psychology and speech-language pathology located in several Florida cities. The Miami campus situated near Sarasota offers a PsyD in Clinical Psychology centered on multicultural competency and bilingual mental health services. Students immerse themselves in clinical training rich in diversity and transnational experiences. Carlos Albizu maintains partnerships locally and globally to provide opportunities to study community psychology abroad.

APS Score: 88.58
Cost Per Credit: $830
APA Accredited: Yes
Program Length: 5 years
Internship Placement Rate: 100%
Acceptance Rate: NA

4. Nova Southeastern University

NSU’s College of Psychology situated near Sarasota offers three PsyD specializations: Clinical Psychology; School Psychology; and Clinical Neuropsychology. With small cohort sizes of 12, these programs emphasize experiential learning in real-world settings starting early on. The curriculum blends theoretical background with over 4,500 hours of clinical training across the programs. Students also complete research activities with faculty mentors, including projects funded by NSU’s Center for Psychological Studies. Graduates enjoy excellent licensure exam pass rates.

APS Score: 87.63
Cost Per Credit: $960 – $1,095
APA Accredited: Yes
Program Length: 5 years
Internship Placement Rate: 91-100%
Acceptance Rate: Varies by program

5. Capella University

Capella University offers one of the few fully online APA-accredited PsyD programs in clinical psychology centered on trauma-informed care. Enrollment in each PsyD cohort is kept small, currently around 30 students, to ensure highly personalized mentorship from faculty. Students complete in-person residencies along with online coursework and training. The program offers an Integrative Trauma track for those seeking specialist training in assessing and treating PTSD. Capella PsyD alumni work in hospitals, community health centers, university counseling centers, and private practice across the country.

APS Score: 84
Cost Per Credit: $698 – $833
APA Accredited: Yes
Program Length: 5 years
Internship Placement Rate: 91%
Acceptance Rate: 48%

6. Keiser University

Keiser University offers a Ph.D. and a Psy.D. program at its Sarasota campus. The APA-accredited PsyD program emphasizes clinical practice for careers focused on mental and behavioral health. Students engage in externships and internship opportunities across Florida. The program also maintains partnerships with community clinics and nonprofits to strengthen graduates’ understanding of clinical work with marginalized groups. Small cohorts of 12 students ensure highly mentored training tailored to each learner’s strengths and professional goals.

APS Score: 82
Cost per Credit: $770
APA Accredited: Yes
Program Length: 5 years
Internship Placement Rate: 100%
Acceptance Rate: NA

7. Jacksonville University

Jacksonville University situated a few hours northeast of Sarasota offers an APA-accredited PsyD in Clinical Psychology. The program focuses on training cultural humility and diversity awareness in clinical practice. Students complete specialized coursework to serve rural, minority, impoverished, and other marginalized communities. They also engage in faculty-mentored research activities. The program maintains partnerships with over 500 training sites across Florida and surrounding states. Graduates pursue licensure and careers in community mental health centers, private practice, hospitals and other settings.

APS Score: 80
Cost Per Credit: $800
APA Accredited: Yes
Program Length: 5 years
Internship Placement Rate: 91%
Acceptance Rate: 9%

8. Maryville University

Maryville University offers an APA-accredited online PsyD program with optional concentrations in Geropsychology, Child & Adolescent Psychology, Forensic Psychology and more. The program centers on evidence-based practice integrating science and theory with real-world application. Small cohort sizes ensure personalized support from faculty and staff from enrollment to graduation. In addition to online coursework, students complete in-person residencies and clinical field training during the program. Graduates have a 100% EPPP licensure exam pass rate over the last three years.

APS Score: 79
Cost Per Credit: $860
APA Accredited: Yes
Program Length: 5 years
Internship Placement Rate: 91%
Acceptance Rate: 48%

9. Pacific University

Pacific University offers an APA-accredited PsyD program focused on rural and underserved communities. Students spend three years completing coursework and training at Pacific’s Oregon campus. They then complete two years of full-time clinical work and research aligned with their interests. Supervised clinical training opportunities serve communities across the Pacific Northwest. PsyD candidates also partner with faculty on community-based research projects. Pacific stresses training culturally-informed practitioners committed to an egalitarian model of service leadership.

APS Score: 77
Cost Per Credit: $1,294
APA Accredited: Yes
Program Length: 5 years
Internship Placement Rate: 100%
Acceptance Rate: 7%

10. Widener University

Widener’s Institute for Graduate Clinical Psychology offers an APA-accredited PsyD and PhD with sustained focus on community mental health. The program situates students in community health centers, prisons, recovery centers and other settings serving marginalized groups. They also complete research projects under faculty guidance, including trainee work recently published in peer-reviewed journals. Graduates pursue licensure and careers focused on individual and community wellbeing. Widener also offers funded spots reserved for military veterans and doctoral scholarships for service obligations post-graduation.

APS Score: 76
Cost Per Credit: $860
APA Accredited: Yes
Program Length: 5 years
Internship Placement Rate: 91%
Acceptance Rate: 15%

11. William James College

William James College located in Massachusetts offers an APA-accredited PsyD in Clinical Psychology centered on urban community health. The program focuses specifically on training practitioners to provide therapy, assessment, consultation and intervention services addressing mental health, substance abuse, and violence issues affecting cities. Students complete coursework and clinical training in schools, courts, healthcare centers and community agencies across the greater Boston area. The college also operates a clinic providing low-cost care to local residents, adding to students’ experiential learning.

APS Score: 76
Cost Per Credit: $1,068
APA Accredited: Yes
Program Length: 5 years
Internship Placement Rate: 91%
Acceptance Rate: 23%

12. Regent University

Regent University offers an APA-accredited PsyD focused on the integration of psychology and Christian faith. Students explore topics like spiritual awareness in psychotherapy, implications of sin and hope in counseling practice, and interfaces between religion/spirituality and mental wellbeing. Clinical training incorporates faith-based settings like churches alongside more traditional community health placements. Regent also offers optional concentrations in topics ranging from coaching to trauma counseling. Located in Virginia Beach, graduates enjoy licensure-qualifying training opportunities across the state.

APS Score: 75
Cost Per Credit: $645/$690
APA Accredited: Yes
Program Length: 5 years
Internship Placement Rate: 91%
Acceptance Rate: 45%

13. Spalding University

Spalding University located in Kentucky offers an APA-accredited PsyD in Clinical Psychology incorporating social justice principles. The program stresses cultural humility and diversity/inclusion training across the curriculum and clinical practica. Students also complete two years of service at the university’s on-campus community counseling center serving residents across Louisville and surrounding cities. Spalding also offers scholarship funds for PsyD candidates planning to work in high-need and high-poverty areas after graduation.

APS Score: 74
Cost Per Credit: $810
APA Accredited: Yes
Program Length: 5 years
Internship Placement Rate: 91%
Acceptance Rate: 25%

14. Azusa Pacific University

Azusa Pacific University near Los Angeles offers a faith-centered PsyD program focused on integrating psychology and Christian faith. Students explore topics like the role of sin, values and hope in therapy sessions with clients. Clinical training incorporates religious settings like churches alongside more traditional community placements. Azusa PsyD students have collaborated with faculty on publishing research as well. The program emphasizes cultural awareness and serving communities across California through bilingual mental healthcare.

APS Score: 71
Cost Per Credit: $890
APA Accredited: Pursuing Initial Accreditation
Program Length: 5 years
Internship Placement Rate: NA
Acceptance Rate: NA

15. George Fox University

George Fox University offers a PsyD via its Graduate School of Clinical Psychology centered around Christian principles. Students explore the integration of psychology and faith while gaining clinical experience in community health centers, schools, churches and other placements primarily across Oregon. The program also partners with local health providers and leaders to pinpoint regional behavioral health needs and guide trainees’ learning. George Fox stresses that while based in Christian beliefs, the program equips graduates to ethically serve all members of their communities with dignity.

APS Score: 71
Cost Per Credit: $821
APA Accredited: Yes
Program Length: 5 years
Internship Placement Rate: 100%
Acceptance Rate: 12%

16. Wheaton College

Wheaton College located just outside Chicago offers a faith-infused PsyD program focused on clinical practice, research, and scholarship. Students complete experiential training across schools, hospitals, community clinics and private practices throughout the Chicago area. They take courses blending empirical psychology with biblical concepts about human nature, morality and more. All students complete doctoral research studies as well. Graduates emerge equipped to provide whole-person care integrating psychological, emotional and spiritual support based on Christian traditions.

APS Score: 70
Cost Per Credit: $690
APA Accredited: Yes
Program Length: 5 years
Internship Placement Rate: 100%
Acceptance Rate: 15%

17. Seattle Pacific University

Seattle Pacific University offers a PsyD merging scientific psychology and Christian perspectives on virtue, character, and morality. Students focus either on clinical psychology or school psychology for their training and careers post-graduation. Seattle Pacific maintains partnerships across community health centers, schools, churches and other sites in Washington to provide supervised practice opportunities grounded in empirical methods and spiritual understanding. Faculty mentors guide students in conducting independent and collaborative research as well.

APS Score: 70
Cost Per Credit: $873
APA Accredited: Yes
Program Length: 4+ years
Internship Placement Rate: 100%
Acceptance Rate: 20%

18. Wheaton College

As the name suggests, Divine Mercy University near Washington D.C. offers PsyD and PhD programs centered on Catholic traditions and moral leadership. The Clinical Psychology PsyD judges applications holistically based on academic ability, moral virtues, and “faith friendly” research interests. Students gain supervised clinical skills while also producing scholarship furthering the integration of moral theology and sound psychological science. Divine Mercy stresses training practitioners to serve all in their communities with compassion.

APS Score: 69
Cost Per Credit: $715
APA Accredited: Applying for Accreditation
Program Length: 5 years
Internship Placement Rate: NA
Acceptance Rate: NA

19. Baylor University

Baylor University situated in Texas offers a PsyD incorporating religious and spiritual diversity for multiculturally-informed clinical practice. Students complete clinical training in settings like churches, hospitals, community clinics serving diverse groups across Texas. The program also integrates faith and clinical work through specialized coursework and research mentorship from faculty. Small cohort sizes ensure personalized support grounded in Christian beliefs and values.

APS Score: 67
Cost Per Credit: $690
APA Accredited: Yes
Program Length: 5 years
Internship Placement Rate: 91%
Acceptance Rate: 23%

20. Indiana Wesleyan University

Finally, Indiana Wesleyan University offers an APA-accredited PsyD integrating faith into the curriculum and experiential learning. Students focus either on clinical counseling or school psychology, completing training in church counseling centers, clinics, schools and other placements primarily across Indiana. Research opportunities allow students to explore scientific intersections between psychology and religion like the impact of faith on mental health outcomes. IWU’s faith-based approach equips graduates to provide psychological care catered to clients from diverse spiritual backgrounds.

APS Score: 63
Cost Per Credit: $744
APA Accredited: Yes
Program Length: 5 years
Internship Placement Rate: 91%
Acceptance Rate: NA

Conclusion

The Sarasota region offers excellent doctoral programs in psychology centered on clinical practice. From rigorous coursework to specialized research and immersive supervised training, these 20 PsyD programs equip students with the skills to assess, diagnose, and treat individuals facing mental health challenges. Experiential opportunities prepare graduates extremely well to pursue licensure and launch their careers.

Whether hoping to blend faith into counseling sessions, focus on serving minority groups, or gain exceptionally strong assessment and therapy skills, prospective students can find the ideal fit for their interests in Sarasota. This area features some of the nation’s top practicum and internship opportunities to gain expertise rapidly. In such an academically and culturally vibrant region, there is no shortage of enthusiastic mentors guiding PsyD candidates toward excellence. I hope reviewing these exceptional programs helps you discover your perfect place to gain critical knowledge supporting lives. Please reach out with any other questions!