The number of graduates earning master’s and doctorate degrees in psychology increased from 2014 to 2023, with notable growth in master’s degrees in health service psychology subfields. In 2014, U.S. colleges and universities awarded 28,500 master’s degrees in psychology and 6,815 doctorate degrees. By 2023, these numbers rose to 38,033 master’s degrees and 7,194 doctorate degrees.
From 2014 to 2023, the total number of psychology master’s degrees awarded increased by 33%. While master’s degrees in research subfields grew by 26%, master’s degrees in health service psychology subfields grew by 39%. Over this same period, the total number of psychology doctorate degrees awarded increased by only 6%. Psychology doctorates in health service psychology grew by 2% and doctorates in research subfields grew by 10%. Interest in master’s degrees in health service psychology could be driven by workforce transformation and expansion of practice pathways in psychology.
