princeton psychology phd acceptance rate

Admission Statistics

Statistics for enrolled class of 2027.

(as of Aug. 21, 2023)

Class Overview

(first-time, first-year)

• Total enrolled: 1,366
• 51% of students in the class are female and 49% are male.
• 17% of students in the class are the first in their families to go to college.
• 66% of students in the class qualify for financial aid.
• 22% of students in the class are eligible for need-based Federal Pell Grants.

Middle 50% SAT Scores

• Math 780-800
• Evidenced-based Reading and Writing: 760-780

Middle 50% ACT Scores

• Composite score: 34-35

Secondary School Type

Enrollment by U.S. States & Territories

Citizenship

The Princeton Class of 2027 includes international students who are citizens of the following 64 countries:

Department of Psychology

Program timeline.

Overview of the Department of Psychology Graduate Program

There are many steps that must be completed in a timely manner in order to complete the program and University requirements.

The process is detailed in the Psychology Graduate Program Timeline (see Related Documents to the right).

Ph.D. Program

Graduate students take courses mostly during the 1st year, but other courses are required. Details about the Department's course requirements for graduate students are found in the Course Requirements tab.

Teaching experience is an important and meaningful part of graduate education in the  department. Each student must teach a minimum of 9 teaching (AI) hours, which usually corresponds to 3 semesters of teaching (and is equivalent to approximately 10 hours of work per week). Students often teach more than 9 teaching  hours over the course of five years  of regular enrollment, and students are required to teach during any semester when they do  not have fellowship or advisor grant support.

• The General Exam takes place in late September or early October of the 3rd year. The Research Paper and Theoretical Paper are due to the committee at least two weeks ahead of the scheduled exam date.
• The dissertation proposal meeting(s) take place in the fall or winter of the 4th year. The dissertation proposal (which is open format, in consultation with the advisors) is due at least two weeks ahead of the scheduled date.
• A draft of the dissertation is due on March 1 of the 5th year. The final dissertation is due on April 1.
• The Final Public Oral Exam takes place at the end of the 5th year.

General Exam Committee and Dissertation Proposal Committee: Advisor + 2 faculty members; 1 faculty member must be out-of-area.

Dissertation Reading Committee: Advisor + 2 faculty members; 1 faculty member must be out-of-area.

Final Public Oral Exam Committee: Advisor + 2 faculty members who are not on the Dissertation Reading Committee; 1 faculty member must be out-of-area.

Out-of-area is broadly defined as someone who broadens the scope of expertise in the committee.

Additional Information

• Graduate students should attend an annual meeting with the Director of Graduate Studies.
• Graduate students must complete a yearly reenrollment process so that advisors, the Director of Graduate Studies, and the Graduate School can evaluate academic progress.
• All graduate students are asked to be available for the department's Visiting Day activities, which typically take place at the end of January.
• We host multiple talks each week in our department, and these are an important part of graduate education. We also encourage graduate students to attend talks in related departments and programs (e.g., Neuroscience, Cognitive Science, Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, Computer Science, and Philosophy).
• There are many lab meetings and joint lab meetings throughout the building each week, and we encourage graduate students to attend meetings of interest. These can be thought of as useful intellectual experiences, akin to courses, that play a sizable role in students’ education.
• Every graduate student must serve for one year on the Psychology Graduate Student Committee; this ensures that service work does not fall on the same individuals over time. Each member joins one of three subcommittees focused on social well-being, professional development, and our yearly visiting day for prospective students.
• We have a highly active Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee that meets regularly and enacts many initiatives every year.
• We host many professional development events each year, featuring speakers from many types of careers, from academia to industry. This is part of a departmental culture that acknowledges the many diverse professional goals of our graduate students.
• The living stipend for graduate students at Princeton is generous compared to most institutions. Additionally, the department offers money for conference travel and $500 to support graduate students’ moving expenses. The University Safety-Net Fund can support graduate students who are facing unexpected financial hardship.
• Postdoctoral researchers are a crucial part of our departmental fabric. Graduate students should always keep in mind that postdocs are valuable resources for their learning, and turn to them for training and advice.
• We have a wonderful graduate program and there is always room for improvement. We count on every graduate student to be mindful of this coexistence.
• Our department traces its history back to 1893, when the ‘Psychology Laboratory’ was built in Nassau Hall.
• Princeton is located in central New Jersey, a beautiful area that defies media stereotypes of the state. For those who enjoy cities, we are approximately one hour from both New York City and Philadelphia, and 15 minutes from Trenton. For those who enjoy cute towns, they are located everywhere (e.g., Hopewell, Lawrenceville, Lambertville, New Hope). The Jersey Shore is one hour away, and the Pocono Mountains and Catskill Mountains are two hours away.

Related documents

• Graduate Program Timeline 2023-2024

You seem to be using an unsupported browser

To get the best user experience please use a supported browser. Here are a few we recommend:

• Department of Psychology

Princeton, NJ

Department of Psychology / Department of Psychology is located in Princeton, NJ.

Degrees & Awards

Degrees offered.

Earning Your Degree

Degree Requirements

Application Deadlines

Entrance Requirements

Tuition & Fees

Financial support.

Location & Contact

• Grad Schools
• Search Results
• Princeton University
• Graduate School

Highlighting Some of Our Most Frequently Asked Questions. . .

Hello, everyone! Now that the Princeton University Graduate Application Portal has gone live, our office has received a new round of questions about our application process. Many of these questions are often repeated by applicants who consider joining our community. Our team has compiled a list of these common questions to help you with the application process. Here are some of the most frequent:

Does SPIA require specific undergraduate coursework or have preferred undergraduate majors for applicants?

Our School does not have prescribed undergraduate majors or require specific academic coursework for admission into SPIA. We do look for some type of quantitative baseline, and many successful candidates come with exposure to or familiarity with economics, statistics, or college level math. As with policy development and analysis, quantitative coursework is featured throughout our core curriculum. Having quantitative coursework in your background will serve to further enhance your preparation for our policy degrees.

Will pursuing additional coursework help to supplement my application? If so, where should I take them?

If you feel there are gaps in your academic preparation, you can consider taking additional coursework. Some applicants will pursue coursework at a local community college or another accredited institution. Although not required, this additional academic preparation can help strengthen your application. If you plan to pursue additional coursework, check out the Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs to find an accredited institution. Share any current or anticipated coursework when submitting your application.

Does SPIA still require the GRE, in spite of the challenges presented by COVID-19?

After careful consideration across our community, we made a few amendments to our GRE requirements for the 2020 application cycle. In brief:

• The GRE is required for MPA applicants, as the exam may provide evidence of quantitative ability that may not be evident in other aspects of an applicant’s file.
• GRE scores are optional for MPP applicants because there is no core curriculum. Our MPP admissions process emphasizes leadership, work experience, and professional trajectory.
• Applicants into our PhD program are not required to provide GRE scores. The PhD application review centers on academic coursework, scholarly research and professional work experience, as well as fit with our faculty’s research expertise.
• The GRE is but one aspect of a file. It is neither determinative in granting admission nor discounting in our process.

Considering the limited opportunities to schedule a GRE exam due to shuttered testing facilities, can I submit my application without GRE scores?

You can submit your application without GRE scores, but it will remain incomplete until all components are received. Our admissions committee will not review an application until all required components are received. If you have to submit your application without GRE scores, please include an explanation detailing the delay and your anticipated test date.

You can schedule to complete the GRE from your own home. The Educational Testing Service is offering the GRE General Test at Home every day through December 31, 2020.

Does SPIA require a minimum GPA for admission?

SPIA does not have a minimum GPA requirement for admission into our graduate programs. We have small class sizes, so admission is competitive. For an overview of the average academic profiles within our MPA, MPP, and PhD admits, please review our Graduate Admissions Viewbook .

What type of work experience does SPIA value for its MPA, MPP, and Ph.D. programs?

Our MPA and Ph.D. programs do not officially require work experience, but both programs highly value at least two years of full-time work experience, preferably within the public sector. We believe this work experience helps influence your worldview and policy interests. Some students do earn their admission with limited work experience, but most often these students are affiliated with a program that mandates enrollment in the year the award was given, like the Pickering or Rangel fellowships.

SPIA’s MPP program is designed for mid-career professionals who are rising leaders in domestic and international public policy. There is a strict requirement of at least seven years of full-time professional work experience, generally with upward progression, with evidence of commitment to public service and a clear leadership trajectory or a path to one.

For more information, we encourage you to review our Graduate Admissions Viewbook . There you will find that most admitted MPA and Ph.D. students have worked at least three years, while nearly half of MPPs have at least ten years of public sector, full-time work experience.

Does SPIA offer part-time or fully virtual graduate programs?

No. Each of our graduate programs is full-time and residential. However, in compliance with state health regulations during COVID-19 , Princeton University is offering a hybrid model of online and in-person courses.

Does SPIA offer Spring semester matriculation?

No. SPIA does not offer Spring matriculation. All SPIA graduate programs begin with a summer component that predates the fall semester.

Are international students required to assess English proficiency through the TOEFL or IELTS? If so, are there score minimums required for admission?

All applicants whose native language is not English are required to take either the TOEFL or IELTS. In accordance with the Graduate School at Princeton University , “The only exemption for this requirement is if the native language is not English, but the applicant has or will have studied for a minimum of three years towards a bachelor's degree or a Ph.D. in the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, or Anglophone Canada before enrollment.”

Receiving a bachelor’s degree in a country that lists English as an official language such as India, Pakistan, the Philippines, Hong Kong, Nigeria, or Singapore does not exempt an applicant from the English language proficiency requirement. You can find more information about our requirements by visiting the Graduate School’s website.

Princeton requires a minimum score of 100 IBT for the TOEFL and 7.0 for the IELTS.

As a result of COVID-19, my undergraduate course grades have been converted to pass/fail. Will this have a negative impact on my application?

We completely understand the challenges this pandemic has placed upon academia and the grading system. At Princeton, some courses have also offered the pass/fail option. We will not penalize applicants for pass/fail grades earned during the pandemic . We will evaluate your entire transcript to gain a holistic understanding of your academic profile when reviewing your file for admission. Be mindful that your transcript is only one part of our holistic review of applicants. We also take into consideration your exhibited commitment to public service, work experience, GRE scores, letters of recommendation, and leadership trajectory. A GPA is only one portion of your application.

We encourage you to continue reaching out with your questions. Whether through a phone call, email , or during our weekly virtual admissions presentations , please let us know if we can support you throughout the admissions process. From all of us here, thank you for your interest in our community. We wish you good health and peace!

Graduate School

A place to explore . A place to thrive . A place you belong .

Diverse paths of academic inquiry.

Fields of Study >

Deep investment in every student.

Funding Support Model >

Connections that last a lifetime.

Student Experience >

Announcements

When I was a graduate student, the faculty, my fellow students, and the professionals with whom I shared my journey taught me to be bold and ambitious.  Every day, our students bring vision, an innovative spirit, and a sense of accountability to their work, advancing scholarly knowledge within and between disciplines while devising new solutions to the world’s most pressing needs. 

Read more from Dean PriestlEy

Make your mark at Princeton.

The Princeton Graduate School welcomes applicants who are seeking to reimagine what’s possible in their fields. Global in scope, yet intimate enough to foster new, cross-disciplinary connections, we believe that the power to shape what’s next begins with you.

View of Cleveland Tower. Photographed by Jane Doe.

Highly selective Master’s Degree Programs in architecture, engineering, finance, public affairs, and public policy

Doctoral Departments and Programs spanning the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and engineering

Interdisciplinary / interdepartmental doctoral programs

A graduate education that reveals many paths.

Professional Development >

Diverse perspectives that drive innovative research.

Access, Diversity & Inclusion >

Upcoming Events

Spotlights & recognition.

Two graduate students, Jordana Composto and Jinyue (Jerry) Jiang , have been awarded the Maeder Graduate Fellowship in Energy and the Environment. Composto and Jiang received the fellowship for their work, respectively, to understand how individuals and organizations respond to climate change and to analyze the…

• Majors & Careers
• Online Grad School
• Preparing For Grad School
• Student Life

A Complete Guide to Getting Into Princeton

If you have dreams of conquering the Ivy League, you can do no better than Princeton University.

League tables regularly name Princeton the No. 1 college in the U.S., and if you take a look at the school’s lengthy list of superstar alumni, it’s not hard to see why.

Presidents, first ladies, captains of industry, Hollywood actors, iconic inventors, literary giants, famous engineers, and genius scientists all studied and developed their skills at Princeton.

With a reputation like that, you can believe the university has the faculty, programs, and campus to match. But because it’s such an extraordinary Ivy League school, you’ll be unsurprised to find out that getting into Princeton can be incredibly challenging.

This guide explains everything you need to know about Princeton. Read on to learn about what GPA and standardized test scores you need to get into Princeton, the Princeton application process, Princeton’s acceptance rate, and more.

Table of Contents

About Princeton University

Before we break down how to get into Princeton, let’s talk more about the university’s history and offerings.

(Image Source)

Since its inception, the staff and academics at Princeton have accumulated 27 Nobel prizes.

But Princeton isn’t all about academics. The school has 37 varsity intercollegiate sports teams, which have produced 112 Olympians and 206 national championships.

In terms of available degrees, students are able to specialize in an incredibly wide range of subjects.

Princeton organizes all of its majors into four distinct areas: humanities, engineering, natural sciences, and social sciences.

At the undergraduate level, Princeton University offers two different types of bachelor’s degrees: a Bachelor of Arts (BA) and a Bachelor of Science in Engineering (BSE). There are 91 different departments and interdepartmental programs that offer these degrees.

At the graduate level, Princeton offers Master of Arts (MA), Master of Science (MS), and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees across 42 concentrations.

The university also offers pre-professional degrees like a Master in Finance (MFin), a Master of Science in Engineering (MSE), and more.

Upon enrollment, all new students at Princeton are automatically assigned one of six residential colleges. Those colleges are Butler, First, Forbes, Mathey, Rockefeller, and Whitman.

Every freshman and sophomore has to live and dine in their assigned residential college.

At this point, you’ve probably gathered that Princeton is the ‘creme de la creme’ of the Ivy League . So, let’s explore Princeton’s application requirements.

Undergraduate application requirements

Princeton is one of the best schools in the world, so it’s hardly surprising that its admissions department is incredibly selective.

As a result, you’re going to have to fulfill a number of prerequisites and requirements if you’d like to be eligible to gain entry.

In terms of prerequisites for incoming high schoolers, Princeton’s admissions team does acknowledge that not every high school offers certain courses.

That being said, they generally expect applicants to have completed four years of English, four years of math, four years of a foreign language, at least two years of lab science, and at least two years of history.

( Image Source )

Most of the applicants who get accepted also have classes in visual or performing arts and Advanced Placement (AP) courses on their transcripts.

From there, the school will look at your GPA, standardized test scores, and extracurriculars before they decide on your application.

What is Princeton’s acceptance rate?

Universities like Princeton calculate their acceptance rates by dividing the number of accepted students that enrolled by the total number that applied.

Princeton’s 2020 admissions figures for the “Class of 2024” show that 32,835 students applied to Princeton in 2020.

Of that applicant pool, just 1,848 students were admitted — and only 1,155 of the accepted applicants ultimately enrolled. That equates to an admission rate of 5.6% for 2020.

It’s also worth delving into the figures a bit more to look at the types of students that ultimately got into Princeton.

Of all the students accepted in 2020, 11.3% were the children of Princeton alumni. 16% of those admitted into the class of 2024 were the first people in their families to attend college.

In terms of financial aid and background, it’s also important to note that 19.3% of those admitted in 2020 qualified for a Pell Grant.

Considering Princeton’s acceptance rate, it’s an incredibly competitive application process. That’s why you should do everything you can to ensure that your application shines.

What GPA do you need to get into Princeton?

Your grade point average (GPA) is a number that tells admissions officers how well you did in your previous schoolwork on average.

As far as the GPA requirement for admissions is concerned, Princeton is very competitive — but it’s important to note that there’s no formal GPA requirement.

The school expects students to have outstanding academic and GPA scores. The average high school GPA of the applicants who get into Princeton is 3.9.

Translation: while Princeton doesn’t have an official GPA requirement, it’s plain to see that the school is very competitive. As a result, it’s important that you try to earn the highest GPA you can.

That’s not to say you shouldn’t apply if you have a low GPA. But, you’ll definitely need to compensate for that low GPA in other areas (like standardized testing). So, let’s talk about test score requirements.

What SAT score is needed for Princeton?

If you want to get into Princeton as an undergraduate student, you’ll need to take at least one standardized test. The most commonly accepted options students choose from are the SAT or the ACT.

According to Princeton’s 2020 admissions data from the class of 2024, the average SAT scores were between 740–800 for math and between 710–800 for evidence-based reading and writing.

Princeton doesn’t require that you take SAT subject tests, but it’s highly recommended that you do.

Princeton hasn’t required students to submit SAT or ACT scores for the 2021–22 academic year because of the global COVID-19 pandemic. But after that, you’ll be required to submit proof of standardized testing just like you would in any other normal year.

What ACT score is needed for Princeton?

If you choose to take the ACT rather than the SAT (or opt for both), the same guidance applies in terms of your required score. Princeton doesn’t publish a cutoff score that you must achieve in order to have your application considered.

But according to Princeton’s 2020 admissions data, the average ACT composite score for Princeton’s most recently accepted cohort was between 32–36.

Again, Princeton chose not to require ACT scores for the 2021–22 academic year due to a lack of testing sites. But in future years, you should plan on submitting ACT or SAT scores.

How do you apply to Princeton’s undergraduate programs?

Once you’ve had a good look at Princeton’s offerings and put in the work to gain entry, it’s time to apply. It’s critical that you make sure you have a firm grasp of the application deadlines before you get started, as well as the process.

If you’re applying to Princeton as an undergraduate, the school accepts both the Coalition Application and the Common Application. Princeton treats both applications equally, so it doesn’t matter which application type you use.

You can submit either application online — but no matter which one you choose, you also need to include the “Princeton Supplement.” The Princeton Supplement is a set of questions and short essays unique to Princeton that you’ll need to answer.

Once you’ve completed everything in the application of your choice and the Princeton Supplement, you can submit your application.

You’ll need to include your completed application, the supplement, and a graded written paper. The paper you include can be literally any piece of non-creative writing you’ve done in the last three years of high school that’s been marked by a teacher.

As part of your application, you also need to submit your high school transcript, school report, one letter from a school counselor, and two written teacher recommendations.

In terms of reporting your composite scores for standardized tests, you’ll also have submission deadlines to consider.

Princeton advises that you take the SAT or ACT by its December date — and you can save time and have your scores sent directly to Princeton. When registering for the SAT, include code 2672. For the ACT, enter code 2588.

Again, Princeton doesn’t require SAT subject tests. But if you want to submit your scores anyway, it’s encouraged.

Is English not your first language? If this is the case, you’ll need to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), International English Language Testing System Academic (IELTS Academic), or the Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic).

You don’t have to take any of these tests if English is your native tongue or if you’re spent three years at a secondary school where classes are taught in English. Just like the SAT and ACT, scores should be sent directly to Princeton by entering code 2672 upon registration.

When do you apply to Princeton?

If you’re applying as a “Single-Choice Early Action” student, you need to send in your application by November 1. If you go this route, your financial aid application will then be due on November 9.

If you’re applying as a regular decision applicant, you must apply by January 1. Financial aid applications are then due on February 1.

Graduate application requirements

We’ve covered how to get into Princeton as an aspiring undergraduate student. But if you want to join the Princeton University Graduate School as a master’s or Ph.D. student, there is an entirely different application process.

We’ll quickly break down the graduate application process, as well as the different schools within Princeton that students attend to gain their degrees.

How do you apply to Princeton’s graduate programs?

If you want to apply to Princeton as a graduate student, this can all be done online.

To apply, you’ll need to send in Princeton University’s online application form, a statement of academic purpose, your resume (or CV), and transcripts from all of the other colleges or universities you’ve attended.

In addition, you must submit three letters of recommendation, the fall semester grades at the university you went to most recently, and a statement of financial resources.

Some departments also require a writing sample, but this varies based on the program.

Finally, you need to submit your Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) test results .

GRE requirements vary by department. But if you’re applying to Princeton’s Department of Finance, you’ll be required to take the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT).

If English is not your first language, you’ll need to submit either TOEFL or IELTS results as part of your application.

At Princeton, you can choose from 37 different concentrations across four areas: Humanities, Engineering, Natural Sciences, and Social Sciences. Many of these courses are considered interdisciplinary or sit within certain departments.

That being said, there are three large schools within Princeton that attract a huge amount of students.

The School of Architecture

The Princeton School of Architecture (SoA) is the university’s center for architectural design, theory, and history . It offers a number of degrees at the undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral levels.

In terms of its graduate cohort, the School of Architecture enrolls around 80 graduate students every year. It admits about the same number of undergraduates.

Both graduate and undergraduate programs within the school share teachers, courses, and facilities.

In terms of applying, prospective Princeton students don’t apply to a particular school or department. They must directly apply to the grad school — but the SoA does have its own additional requirements applicants must fulfill. For example, MArch students must submit a portfolio alongside the application materials we’ve already covered.

You should make sure you contact Princeton to double-check the precise application requirements for the program you’re interested in before applying.

The School of Engineering and Applied Science

Princeton’s School of Engineering is an internationally recognized institution that is home to six departments and four research centers.

At the graduate level, the School of Engineering and Applied Science offers two different types of master’s programs. You can choose from a Master of Science in Engineering (MSE) or a Master of Engineering (MEng).

The MSE is available across all departments apart from electrical engineering. The MEng is available across all departments apart from computer science, operations research, and financial engineering.

Just like the SoA, all engineering applications need to be sent to the Princeton University Graduate School rather than the School of Engineering and Applied Science itself.

Princeton School of Public and International Affairs

Founded in 1930, the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs brings together a huge range of subjects. This includes everything from economics and politics to sociology, psychology, history, and more.

The school has a pretty impressive list of alumni, too. Graduates include a secretary of state, secretary of the treasury, senators, governors, a chair of the Federal Reserve Board, ambassadors, U.S. representatives, and loads of other policymakers and industry leaders.

The school was named the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs until 2020.

The school’s name changed because the Princeton University Board of Trustees ruled that Wilson’s “racist thinking and policies make him an inappropriate namesake for a school or college whose scholars, students, and alumni must stand firmly against racism in all its forms.”

Just like Princeton’s School of Architecture and the School of Engineering and Applied Science, graduate students don’t apply directly to the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs. You apply directly to the Graduate School instead.

At the end of the day, we shouldn’t have to sell Princeton. The New Jersey-based university is one of the oldest schools in the U.S. and one of the best colleges in the Ivy League — not to mention the entire world.

But because it’s such an extraordinary Ivy League school, it goes without saying that getting into Princeton isn’t easy. You have to work incredibly hard to get into Princeton at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

That includes nailing your standardized tests, working hard to attain superior marks in high school or college, getting some gleaming recommendations, and more.

Just don’t let all of that put you off. If you put in the work, it is possible to get into Princeton — and a degree from Princeton University will open up a whole lot of doors.

Want to learn more about getting into Princeton? You’ve come to the right place.

Check out The GradCafe for real acceptance results from applications as well as Princeton application tips, tricks, and more.

The GradCafe Editor

• The GradCafe Editor https://blog.thegradcafe.com/author/admin/ The Sassy Digital Assistant Revolutionizing Student Budgeting
• The GradCafe Editor https://blog.thegradcafe.com/author/admin/ Cracking the Code: Expert Digital Interviewing Tips
• The GradCafe Editor https://blog.thegradcafe.com/author/admin/ TheGradCafe and Jobbio join forces to connect top talent with great companies
• The GradCafe Editor https://blog.thegradcafe.com/author/admin/ How To Get Into Harvard Medical School

Does GPA Matter in Grad School?

How to get into columbia university [2024 guide], related posts.

• When to Apply for Grad School: Easy Monthly Timeline [2026-2027]

Computer Science Graduate Admission Trends: Annual Results

Breaking Records: Yale Sees Most Selective Grad Admissions Season Yet

Harvard GPA Requirements: What GPA Do You Need to Get In?

How To Apply to Grad School: Ultimate 2024 Guide

How to Write a Standout Letter Of Intent For Graduate School

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Recent Posts

• 30+ Best Dorm Room Essentials for Guys in 2024
• Best Laptop for Programming Students in 2024
• The Sassy Digital Assistant Revolutionizing Student Budgeting
• How New Grads Research Companies to Find Jobs

© 2024 TheGradCafe.com All rights reserved

• Partner With Us
• Results Search
• Submit Your Results
• Write For Us

Datapoint: What are the acceptance rates for graduate psychology programs?

News from APA's Center for Workforce Studies.

February 2016, Vol 47, No. 2

Print version: page 16

In the 2013–14 academic year, potential students submitted more than 110,000 applications 1 to U.S. and Canadian graduate psychology programs, according to an annual APA survey of psychology departments. 2 About 26,000 of the applications were accepted, resulting in an overall acceptance rate of 24 percent. But acceptance rates varied widely by subfield and degree level.

A total of 979 doctoral programs 3 participated in the survey. They reported acceptance rates between 6 percent and 31 percent across subfields, with an overall acceptance rate of 13 percent. Acceptance rates were higher for school psychology and other applied psychology programs 4 , and lower for social and clinical psychology.

Acceptance rates for the 574 participating master's programs 3 were substantially higher for all subfields compared with doctoral programs. School psychology master's programs had the most applications and acceptances, resulting in an acceptance rate of 60 percent.

To read more about admissions, applications and acceptances for graduate psychology study, go to APA Education .

— Karen Stamm, PhD, Daniel Michalski, PhD5, Caroline Cope, MA5, Garth Fowler, PhD5, Peggy Christidis, PhD and Luona Lin, MPP

For more information, contact APA's Center for Workforce Studies .

1 Numbers were self-reported by departments providing graduate-level training in psychology or related fields and represent minimum value approximations.

2 APA surveys graduate departments of psychology to collect information for the annual publication of Graduate Study in Psychology — a print and online resource for prospective applicants to graduate psychology programs. For more information, visit APA Books.

3 Participation in Graduate Study in Psychology is voluntary; numbers do not represent the entire population of graduate programs in psychology.

4 This category includes applied behavior analysis, educational, community, forensic, sport, quantitative and behavioral psychology programs.

5 Author is a staff member of APA's Office on Graduate and Postgraduate Education and Training.

Letters to the Editor

• Send us a letter

Grad School Acceptance Rates – Chances of admission

Although many eager undergraduates apply to graduate school (both masters and PhD) only a fraction will be admitted. There are a variety of factors that determine the acceptance rates of grad school. These include your academic transcript, the competitiveness of a particular course, the prestige of a school and much more.

Grad school acceptance rates vary wildly. Prestigious graduate schools have acceptance rates as low as 5% whilst others are in the range of 11 to 27% acceptance. Ensuring that you have a high GPA will help you secure a position – but there is much more that can help.

In 1998, it was shown that approximately 65% of college freshmen indicated an interest in pursuing some form of further education. Although many will pursue graduate study only a small percentage will be admitted.

In the 2003-2004 academic year it was shown that only 27.4% of doctoral candidates and 57.4% of Masters candidates were admitted.

Despite some grad schools being incredibly prestigious with high ranking research profiles, increasing your success at becoming admitted to the degree will rely on a few simple actions and tips.

This article will go through everything you need to know about grad school acceptance rates and what your chances of admission are likely going to be.

What Are the Current Graduate School Acceptance Rates?

The current graduate school acceptance rates are determined by a variety of factors, such as the university, the field of study, and the methodology used by schools to evaluate applicants.

Some schools want very high GRE schools and evidence of work or outputs in a particular field. Finding the right grad school for you will also involve applying to multiple graduate programs in various schools until you find a spot.

In order to ascertain the exact acceptance rate for a given school or program, it is important to consider multiple sources such as their official website and published reports.

Here are some example admission rates for various US colleges and programs.

You will notice that more prestigious universities such as Princeton and Stanford have very low acceptance rates compared to other schools. These are very competitive schools because they have a high level of applications.

For example, over 7300 people applied to Stanford in 2020. However, it only has a class size of 436 students, so there are very low acceptance rates.

Increasing your GPA to at least 3.64 PhD’s and 3.54 for a masters will help you increase your chances of getting admitted – but is not the only thing that matters.

These documents can provide insight into how competitive admissions are, as well as any special requirements or criteria that must be met in order to be accepted into a particular graduate school program.

Understanding what goes into these decisions can help prospective students make informed decisions about which grad schools they apply to and increase their chances of getting accepted.

If you want to know more about the acceptance rates of getting into a university check out my other article – What is the easiest grad school to get into? Easy admission requirements.

Graduate School Acceptance: What Are the Odds of getting in?

The odds of getting accepted into a graduate school program depend largely on the applicant’s GPA and GRE score.

Getting the highest GPA possible will help you stand out from the crowd. However, it is not the only thing that dictates your ability to be admitted to any graduate program.

Not only is it important for applicants to have competitive gpas, but they must also have a high enough GRE score to be considered.

Grad schools typically have an acceptance rate of around 15%, so there is a chance that even with impressive qualifications, an applicant will still get rejected.

You can significantly increase the rate of your acceptance by building up a professional relationship with a professor at an institute that you want to attend. Doing this can create a person on the inside of the college that can act as a reference for you.

The importance of a statement of purpose

Therefore, the statement of purpose is important too; it helps demonstrate why the applicant would be a great choice for the program they are applying to.

Here are some tips from my YouTube channel that will help you craft the perfect personal statement and statement of purpose for your graduate school application:

Ensuring that the three wise are answered in detail is probably one of the most under-utilised components of a statement of purpose.

• Why you – they need to know exactly why you fit into their graduate program.
• Why them – they need to understand that you know why doing your graduate program at their university is so important. Do they have particular skills or instruments?
• Why now – you need to get across an understanding of why your research needs to be done right now.

Follow the tips in my YouTube video and you’ll be sure to have a much stronger application. Make sure that you address everything that is important to the school and that the program is looking for.

What Makes It Easier to Get into One Grad School Over Another?

Getting accepted into a grad school can be a difficult process, but there are certain factors that can make it easier to get accepted into one grad school compared to another.

The acceptance rate of the grad school is one of these factors; schools with lower acceptance rates are often more competitive and can be harder to get accepted into than those with higher acceptance rates. For example, Stanford has an acceptance rates of only 6.7% whilst other less competitive universities can have acceptance rates of up to 34.5%.

The reputation of the college or university offering the grad program can also have an impact on your chances of getting accepted.

Degree type

The type of degree that you are applying for also has a huge impact on the acceptance rates. Some universities have a load of open positions (known as a seats) for certain programs, whilst others have very limited intake numbers to ensure quality of their program.

The number of open seats in the particular grad program you are applying for. Obviously, schools with fewer open seats may be more difficult to get accepted into than schools with more open seats.

Finally, funding can significantly increase the competitiveness of a position.

If a grad school is offering funding for a scholarship alongside a position – you can expect that these can be highly and hotly contested.

If you want to know more about the acceptance rates of getting into a university check out my other article – Is a 3.5 GPA for grad school good enough?

Wrapping up

This article has been through everything you need to know about grad school acceptance rates.

The grad school acceptance rates vary significantly depending on the school, course, funding, and perceived prestige of a university or research institution.

Give yourself the best opportunity by focusing on preparing the best application possible.

Dr Andrew Stapleton has a Masters and PhD in Chemistry from the UK and Australia. He has many years of research experience and has worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow and Associate at a number of Universities. Although having secured funding for his own research, he left academia to help others with his YouTube channel all about the inner workings of academia and how to make it work for you.

Thank you for visiting Academia Insider.

We are here to help you navigate Academia as painlessly as possible. We are supported by our readers and by visiting you are helping us earn a small amount through ads and affiliate revenue - Thank you!

2024 © Academia Insider

Department of Psychology

Finding a faculty advisor, what role do faculty play in graduate admissions.

In our program individual faculty play a huge role in determining which students are accepted into the Ph.D. program. Students are essentially accepted into the lab of a specific faculty member, and the faculty are looking for students who have the knowledge, skills, and interests to succeed in their labs. Always check the lab website for information regarding the program of research. Sometimes labs will also have information regarding whether they are accepting students and policies regarding contact prior to reviewing applications. In the event that websites do not have the information you are looking for, you may wish to consider emailing faculty directly.

Why should I email faculty?

There are several reasons to do this.

First: You can find out whether they are actually planning to take new students. You don't want to spend money and time applying to a given program only to find out that the one faculty member of interest isn't taking students this year (or is about to move to another university, take a job in industry, etc.). Information about this may be on the program's website or the faculty member's website, but websites are sometimes out of date, so it's worth double-checking with an email.

Second: This e-mail will get you "on the radar" of the faculty. Most Ph.D. programs get hundreds of applicants, and faculty are much more likely to take a close look at your application if you've contacted them in advance.

Third: You also might get other useful information. For example, a professor might write back saying something like "I'm not taking any new students, but we've just hired a new faculty member in the same area, and you might consider working with her." Or, the professor might say something like "When you apply, make sure that you check the XXX box, which will make you eligible for a fellowship that is specifically for people from your background." Or, if the professor accepts students through multiple programs (e.g., Psychology and Neuroscience), you might get information about which specific program you should apply to.

Fourth: You might learn the most current direction of a professor's research. While professors usually have multiple interests, they might have a current priority area.

What should my email look like?

We recommend a subject heading such as "Inquiry from potential graduate applicant." For the main body of the email, your goals are to (a) introduce yourself, (b) inquire about whether they are taking students, (c) make it clear why you are interested in that particular faculty member, and (d) get any advice they might offer. Here's an example:

Dear Dr. XXX,

I'm in my final year as a Psychology major at XXXX, where I have been working in the lab of Dr. XXX XXX. My research has focused on episodic memory distortion and I've used psychophysical and behavioral methods (see attached CV). I'm planning to apply to Ph.D. programs this Fall, and I'm very interested in the possibility of working in your lab at Princeton. I read your recent paper on XXX, and I found your approach to be very exciting.

I was hoping you might tell me whether you are planning to take new students in your lab in Fall 2020. I'd also be interested in any other information or advice you have. [Possibly add a few more lines here about your background and interests.]

Sincerely, XXX XXXX

Should I discuss my identity?

If you're a member of an underrepresented/disadvantaged group, you can make this clear in your email or CV if you are comfortable doing so. We recognize that this can sometimes be a sensitive issue, but there are often special funding opportunities for students with particular underrepresented identities, and most faculty are especially eager to recruit students from underrepresented/disadvantaged groups. Usually, this information can be provided indirectly (e.g., by listing scholarships you've received or programs that you've participated in), but it can be helpful if you make this information explicit to your prospective faculty mentor and program.

Who can I ask for advice?

No matter what your situation, we recommend having your faculty mentor(s) take a look at a draft of the email and your CV before you send them. Grad students and postdocs can also be helpful, but they may not really know what is appropriate given that they haven't been on the receiving end of these emails.

Most importantly, don't be afraid to send the email. The worst thing that will happen is that you don't get a reply. The best thing that can happen is that the e-mail leads to a conversation that helps you get accepted into the program of your dreams.

What response should I expect?

You may get a brief response that says something like "Yes, I'm taking students, and I encourage you to apply" or "I'm always looking for qualified students." This indicates that the faculty member will likely look at applications, and you don't need to follow up.

If you're lucky, you may get a more detailed response that will lead to a series of email exchanges and perhaps an invitation to chat (usually on Skype or something similar). This will be more likely if you say something about what you've done and why you are interested in this lab.

You may get a response like "I'm not taking new students this year" or "I probably won't take new students this year". Or you might get something like "Given your background and interests, I don't think you'd be a good fit for my lab." In these cases, it is probably not worth putting your resources into applying if you have that specific advisor in mind.

Finally, you simply may not get a reply. In that case, no information is no information. There are many reasons why faculty may not respond, and it is not worth trying to figure out why this might be. If you don't get a response and you really want to work with the person, you may still want to apply.

You really don't have much to lose by emailing faculty, and you have a lot to gain.

This resource was originally authored by Steve Luck and Lisa Oakes and is courtesy of Tufts University

This site uses various technologies, as described in our Privacy Policy, for personalization, measuring website use/performance, and targeted advertising, which may include storing and sharing information about your site visit with third parties. By continuing to use this website you consent to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use .

   COVID-19 Update: To help students through this crisis, The Princeton Review will continue our "Enroll with Confidence" refund policies. For full details, please click here.

We are experiencing sporadically slow performance in our online tools, which you may notice when working in your dashboard. Our team is fully engaged and actively working to improve your online experience. If you are experiencing a connectivity issue, we recommend you try again in 10-15 minutes. We will update this space when the issue is resolved.

• Find a Grad School

Grad School Advice

• Grad Study Abroad

Find your dream Grad School

or browse by location or program

Best Business Schools

Get the inside track on the best professors, campus environment, and starting salaries at these top MBA programs.

Top Online MBA Programs

Gearing up for a career change? Check out our Top 50 Online MBA ranking based on thousands of student ratings.

Best Online Doctor of Education Programs

With an Ed.D., you will be able to influence and lead change in education systems that will support K-12 students. Many programs can be completed in only 3 years.

Find Grad Schools Matched to Your Interests

Explore our featured graduate schools & programs to find those that both match your interests and are looking for students like you.

Top Schools for Entrepreneurship

Ready to build your own business from the ground up? Launch your startup at one of these top 50 graduate programs.

Top Schools for Game Design

Ready to code the next big MMO game? Launch your gaming career at one of these top 25 graduate programs for game design.

Best Law Schools

Read what current law students say about career prospects, quality of life, and more at these top 168 law schools.

Med School Advice

From perfecting your application to success once you get to school, we know it all.

Suggested Schools

Annville, PA

Rochester, NY

Writing the Statement of Purpose

Here's all the tips you need to write a great statement of purpose for your grad school application.

Grad School Application Timeline

Applying to grad school? Here is everything you need to stay on top of deadlines and complete an application that will impress any admissions committee.

Choosing a Grad School

Thinking about going back to school? Here are the tools you need to find the best school and program for you.

The Differences Between the GMAT and the GRE

Exactly what you need to know about each test and which one best suits you and your educational goals.

Digital Arts Newsletter

Download our free 6-page Digital Arts newsletter to learn more

Enrollment Advisor

1-800-2REVIEW (800-273-8439) ext. 1

1-877-LEARN-30

Mon-Fri 9AM-10PM ET

Sat-Sun 9AM-8PM ET

Student Support

1-800-2REVIEW (800-273-8439) ext. 2

Mon-Fri 9AM-9PM ET

Sat-Sun 8:30AM-5PM ET

Partnerships

• Teach or Tutor for Us

College Readiness

International

Advertising

Affiliate/Other

• Enrollment Terms & Conditions
• Accessibility
• Cigna Medical Transparency in Coverage

Register Book

Local Offices: Mon-Fri 9AM-6PM

• SAT Subject Tests

Academic Subjects

• Social Studies

Find the Right College

• College Rankings
• College Advice
• Applying to College
• Financial Aid

School & District Partnerships

• Professional Development
• Advice Articles
• Private Tutoring
• Mobile Apps
• International Offices
• Work for Us
• Affiliate Program
• Partner with Us
• Advertise with Us
• International Partnerships
• Our Guarantees
• Accessibility – Canada

Privacy Policy | CA Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information | Your Opt-Out Rights | Terms of Use | Site Map

©2024 TPR Education IP Holdings, LLC. All Rights Reserved. The Princeton Review is not affiliated with Princeton University

TPR Education, LLC (doing business as “The Princeton Review”) is controlled by Primavera Holdings Limited, a firm owned by Chinese nationals with a principal place of business in Hong Kong, China.

Undergraduate Announcement 2024 - 2025

Cognitive science, general information, program offerings:, program offerings.

Cognitive Science is the interdisciplinary study of the mind, brain and intelligent systems, drawing predominantly on research from psychology, philosophy, computer science, linguistics, neuroscience and anthropology. The interdisciplinary character of cognitive science is reflected in its reliance on many levels of analysis and its employment of a variety of methodologies appropriate to each level. The goal of cognitive science is to integrate the insights from multiple disciplines and modes of research into a unified scientific account of minds — be they human or non-human, natural or artificial — and their place in nature and society.

Research in cognitive science includes, but is not limited to, work on perception, learning, reasoning, concepts, language, development, memory, consciousness and decision-making, all through an interdisciplinary lens. For instance, drawing upon psychology, philosophy, computer science and neuroscience, one ambition of cognitive science is to understand just how mental computations are realized in the brain, and how such neural realizations can ground the conscious, deliberate activity of thought and decision-making. Another interdisciplinary ambition is to investigate just how far mental processes of reasoning and language can be duplicated in complex computational structures that could be instantiated in machines. These are two examples among many — the field of cognitive science is dynamic and expanding, making it an ideal home for inquisitive minds that want to understand themselves and the other cognitive systems around them, be they human, non-human animal, or machine. The minor is open to undergraduates concentrating in any department.  

Goals for Student Learning

Students who complete the program are expected to achieve the following learning goals: develop an ability to recognize and apply cognitive science concepts and methodologies across diverse kinds of minds and across levels of analysis; develop an ability to evaluate evidence and arguments regarding claims about diverse kinds of minds, including minds in social, cultural and technological contexts.

Admission to the Program

The program is open to undergraduates majoring in any department. Students should meet with the director or program manager, usually during sophomore year, to apply to the program and plan a course of study. Applicants will be accepted based on interest and a coherent, tentative academic plan.

Program of Study

Students are required to take five courses in cognitive science, at least three of which must be at the 300 level or above. At least one of the five courses must be from the following list of required CogSci Minor Courses (students should consult the Program in Cognitive Science website for the most up-to-date list):

PHI 207 Introduction to Philosophy of Cognitive Science (also CGS 207) 

PHI 322 Philosophy of the Cognitive Sciences (also CGS 322)

PSY 254 Developmental Psychology (also CGS 254) 

PSY 255 Cognitive Psychology (also CGS 255)

PSY 306 Memory and Cognition (also NEU 306) 

PSY 309 Psychology of Language (also LIN 309) 

PSY 315 Cognitive Science of Human Values

PSY 333 Unlocking the Science of Human Nature (also CHV 300)

PSY 360 Computational Models of Cognition (also COS 360) 

PSY 454 Probabilistic Model of Cognition

MUS 248 Music Cognition (also PSY 248)

The other four courses may be drawn from the list of required minor courses or from other academic units, provided that they meet the following requirements:

• Courses must be taken in at least three different academic units (this refers to a course's primary course listing, not to additional cross-listings);
• At most, students may count one course with the same primary course listing as their major, and at most two courses may be counted toward the minor that are also counted toward the student's major. 

The Program in Cognitive Science sponsors a lunchtime talk series with speakers from the Princeton cognitive science community, as well as from outside Princeton. Students are strongly encouraged to attend these talks. The program also offers funding opportunities to support students interested in pursuing research in cognitive science. Information about these opportunities is available on the website for the Program in Cognitive Science.

• Tania Lombrozo

Executive Committee

• Adam N. Elga, Philosophy
• Adele E. Goldberg, Psychology
• Sarah-Jane Leslie, Philosophy
• Casey Lew-Williams, Psychology
• Tania Lombrozo, Psychology
• Elizabeth H. Margulis, Music
• Karthik Narasimhan, Computer Science
• Kenneth A. Norman, Psychology

Associated Faculty

• Parastoo Abtahi, Computer Science
• Sanjeev Arora, Computer Science
• Lara M. Buchak, Philosophy
• Danqi Chen, Computer Science
• Jonathan D. Cohen, Psychology
• Alin I. Coman, Psychology
• Molly J. Crockett, Psychology
• Nathaniel D. Daw, Princeton Neuroscience Inst
• Benjamin Eysenbach, Computer Science
• Agustin Fuentes, Anthropology
• Elizabeth Gould, Psychology
• Tom Griffiths, Psychology
• Elizabeth Harman, Philosophy
• Uri Hasson, Psychology
• Grace E. Helton, Philosophy
• Mark Johnston, Philosophy
• Sanjeev R. Kulkarni, Dean of the Faculty
• Andrés Monroy-Hernández, Computer Science
• Yael Niv, Psychology
• Kristina R. Olson, Psychology
• Elizabeth L. Paluck, Psychology
• Gideon A. Rosen, Philosophy
• Carolyn M. Rouse, Anthropology
• Olga Russakovsky, Computer Science
• Beth Semel, Anthropology
• Eldar Shafir, Psychology
• Stacey A. Sinclair, Psychology
• Una Stojnic, Philosophy
• Diana I. Tamir, Psychology
• Natalia Vélez, Psychology
• Samuel S. Wang, Princeton Neuroscience Inst

Sits with Committee

• Christiane D. Fellbaum
• Victoria McGeer

For a full list of faculty members and fellows please visit the department or program website.

LIN 201 - Introduction to Language and Linguistics (also CGS 205) Fall/Spring EC

Phi 315 - philosophy of mind (also cgs 315/chv 315) spring ec, phi 322 - philosophy of the cognitive sciences (also cgs 322) not offered this year ec, phi 352 - philosophy of bias: psychology, epistemology, and ethics of stereotypes (also cgs 352) spring ec, psy 254 - developmental psychology (also cgs 254) fall ec, psy 255 - cognitive psychology (also cgs 255) spring sen.

Back to Academics

• Academics Overview
• Explore Programs
• All Programs
• Undergraduate
• Professional Studies
• Online Programs

Colleges & Schools

• Arts & Sciences
• Engineering & Computer Science
• Health & Natural Sciences
• Graduate School
• Honors College

Beyond the Classroom

• JumpstartTU
• Global Engagement
• Integrative and Experiential Learning Opportunities
• Student Research Opportunities

Academic Support

• Academic Advising & Enrollment
• Pathfinders Program
• Tutoring Services

Academic Resources

• Academic Calendar
• Undergraduate Bulletin
• Graduate Bulletin
• Law Bulletin

Study Resources & Centers

• Academic Journals & Publications
• McFarlin Library
• Faculty Directory
• Request Info

Back to Research

• Research Overview
• Research Opportunities

Popular Research Programs

• Research Projects
• Research Colloquium
• Tulsa Undergraduate Research Challenge (TURC)

Funding & Processes

Funding Your Research

• Internal Funding Opportunities

Support & Services

• Office of Research
• Intellectual Property
• Research Compliance & Training
• Research News
• Contact Research Office

Back to About

• Why The University of Tulsa
• Strategic Plan
• Points of Pride
• TU Fast Facts
• History & Traditions

Leadership & Faculty

• Office of the President
• Executive Staff
• Board of Trustees
• Working at TU
• Offices Directory

Back to Student Life

• Student Life Overview

Campus Living

• Living on Campus
• Residence Hall Life
• Apartment Life
• Student Union
• Fitness Center
• More Facilities

Clubs & Organizations

• Student Organization Directory
• Student Government Association
• Student Activities
• Sorority & Fraternity Life
• Esports & Gaming Lounge
• Office for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Wellness & Support

• Counseling Services
• Hurricane Health Center
• Fitness & Recreation
• Student Coaching Groups
• Student Accessibility
• Leaders Incorporated (LINC)
• Campus Security
• Sexual Violence Prevention & Education

Student Success

• Office of Student Engagement
• CaneCareers
• Student Financial Wellness

Resources & Guides

• Student Resource Guides
• Student Policies & Procedures

Back to Tuition & Aid

• Funding Your Education
• Tuition & Costs
• Net Price Calculator

Financial Aid

• Financial Aid Process
• Financial Aid FAQs
• Summer Session Aid
• Study Abroad Aid

Other Funding Options

• Scholarships
• Assistantships & Fellowships
• Student Employment
• Counseling & Support

Back to Admissions

• TU Admissions
• Undergraduate Admission
• Graduate Admission
• Law Admission
• International Admission
• Visit Campus
• Virtual Tour
• Video Tours
• Campus Maps
• Explore the City of Tulsa

Counselors & Support

• Undergraduate Admission Counselors
• Graduate Program Advisers
• Information for Prospective Parents
• Request Information

Back to Alumni

• Alumni Home
• Alumni Giving

Back to Athletics

• Athletics Home

Back to Events

• Events Calendar
• Submit an Event
• Prospective Students
• Current Students
• Parents & Families
• Alumni & Friends
• Faculty & Staff
• Community & Fans
• Research Opportunites

The University of Tulsa acquires Fab Lab Tulsa

The University of Tulsa has announced the acquisition of Fab Lab Tulsa, which provides access to digital fabrication tools and resources throughout the community through membership and programming. The move is part of TU’s ongoing efforts to promote innovation and aligns with the university’s global reputation in engineering, computer science, and the creative arts. “We […]

• Course Bulletin
• Student Orgs
• Student Hub
• Housing Portal

Unique organizational studies program offers expansive opportunities

At roughly 75 majors, organizational studies is one of the largest majors in The University of Tulsa’s Kendall College of Arts & Sciences. From social sciences, media, and arts to business administration, the program provides students a wide range of knowledge and skills, rather than limiting them to a single discipline. But as a so-called […]

• TU Leadership & Faculty
• Resources for Parents & Families
• TU Parent & Family Association
• Get Involved

From field work to the classroom, Grau mentors women in energy

Anne Grau has been involved in geology for three decades – working for energy leaders such as EOG Resources and Total Energies – and definitely knows what it’s like to be the only woman in the room. “Being a woman in the oil and gas industry often meant I was one woman in 200 at […]

• Alumni Benefits
• Request Transcripts
• TU Merchandise & Gifts
• TU Alumni Association
• TU Alumni Events

TU Law celebrates alumna Sara Hill’s historic confirmation to federal bench

The University of Tulsa’s College of Law congratulates alumna Sara Hill (JD ’03) as she becomes the first Native American woman to serve as a federal judge in Oklahoma. This historic appointment marks a significant milestone in the state’s legal landscape. The U.S. Senate on Tuesday voted overwhelmingly to confirm Hill, who fills a vacant […]

• Employee Benefits
• Applications Directory
• Hurricane Hub
• Employment Opportunities

New faculty member brings expertise and INSPIRE lab to Psychology Department

The University of Tulsa Department of Psychology has a wide variety of faculty-led research labs. From the Exposure, Relaxation & Rescripting Therapy for Chronic Nightmares study to the Psychophysiology Laboratory for Affective Neuroscience lab, TU offers students the opportunity to participate in ongoing research and even publish their findings. New to Kendall College of Arts […]

• TU Athletics
• Gilcrease Museum
• Tulsa Mayfest
• Calendar of Events
• Life Long Learning

More than 60 years of James Joyce Quarterly

Legend has it that Thomas Staley, former provost of The University of Tulsa, founded the James Joyce Quarterly, fondly known as JJQ, in his garage. Or was it his kitchen table? That was more than 60 years ago, and since then the journal has become an internationally esteemed publication known for its publishing of critical […]

UTulsa receives 2024 Best Law School honor from Princeton Review

On a scale of 60 to 99, the college was given a ranking score of 96 for professor accessibility and a career ranking score of 88. Career ratings measure the confidence students have in their school’s ability to lead them to fruitful employment opportunities, as well as consider the school’s own reported record.

UTulsa also received a remarkable No. 8 ranking for law schools “Most Chosen By Older Students.” This category gauges interest by nontraditional students, such as those looking to resume their education after an extended time away or start a new career. This ranking reflects the university’s deep commitment to providing an enriching educational journey for all students, regardless of age or stage in their academic journey.

“The Princeton Review’s ranking establishes that UTulsa’s College of Law remains one the best places in the country for those looking to obtain an exceptional legal education,” said Dean Oren Griffin . “As the rating reflects, we are an outstanding school for everyone, especially returning students. From small class sizes to dedicated, accomplished faculty that give individualized attention, UTulsa Law is an excellent value with proven outcomes.”

According to an analysis of The Princeton Review list by Paul L. Caron, dean of Pepperdine’s Caruso School of Law, in his popular TaxProf Blog , UTulsa is No. 64 among all law schools in the United States, with an average score of 89.8. Caron also ranked the college No. 41 for Professors (Teaching and Accessibility) with an average score of 95.

Each year, The Princeton Review rates the best law schools in the country, weighing more than 60 data points for every school in making their determinations. Individual ratings for schools are divided into 14 lists, each one naming the top 10 law schools in a particular category.

Learn more about what sets UTulsa Law apart by visiting utulsa.edu/academics/law/about/

Privacy Overview

Christopher Newport Named a 'Best College' by Money Magazine

The ranking builds on a legacy of success firmly anchored in excellence.

by Kelley McGee | August 8, 2024

Christopher Newport University has once again been recognized as one of the nation’s top institutions, earning a spot on Money magazine's 2024 Best Colleges list. The selection reinforces Christopher Newport’s reputation as a top choice for students seeking a high-quality education at an affordable price.

Money magazine’s list focuses on three key areas:

Affordability

Quality of education, outcomes after graduation.

Christopher Newport was recognized for its commitment to making higher education accessible to all students through financial aid, scholarships, and efforts to keep tuition manageable. This means students can achieve their academic goals without excessive debt.

Christopher Newport’s educational quality was acknowledged because of its strong graduation rates, low student-to-faculty ratio, and rigorous academic programs. The dedicated faculty provide personalized attention and mentorship that fosters intellectual and personal growth. Students graduate with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in their chosen fields.

Christopher Newport’s graduates are shown to succeed in their chosen fields, according to Money’s selection process. Hands-on learning, internships, and leadership opportunities prepare students to jump into their careers with confidence. Graduates earn competitive salaries, making the investment in their education well worth it.

The magazine examined data from 2,400 four-year private, nonprofit and public colleges to make its selection. This latest accolade from Money continues Christopher Newport’s trend of being recognized as anchored in excellence. U.S. News & World Report ranked Christopher Newport as third in 2024 among public regional universities in the South and seventh among all regional universities in the South. CNU is the No. 1 regional public university in Virginia.

The university also appears on the following lists:

• Best Value Schools
• Top Performers on Social Mobility
• Best Undergraduate Business Programs
• Best Undergraduate Computer Science Programs
• Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs
• Best Undergraduate Psychology Programs

And Princeton Review ranked Christopher Newport as one of the nation’s best 389 colleges, one of the best in the Southeast and one of the nation’s best values. It is also ranked among the nation’s top 10 universities in these categories:

• Making an Impact, Public (#9)
• Internships, Public (#7)

Moral psychology summer institute hosted at Cornell

Moral psychology

By | Kate Blackwood , A&S Communications

With its lakes, hills and wineries, Ithaca is a great place to spend a summer. It’s also a great place to study moral psychology, with Cornell University’s renowned faculty experts, speaker series and a multi-disciplinary minor offered in the field.

These strengths combined as Cornell hosted the Summer Institute for Moral Psychology June 24 – July 19, funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH).

Directed by College of Arts and Sciences (A&S) faculty in psychology and philosophy, the institute featured presentations from many leading figures in moral psychology, which studies human thought and behavior in ethical contexts.

“The moment for the institute is perfect – urgent, really. We need sharing and expansion of intellectual resources for moral psychologists at all levels of the academy now,” said Laura Niemi , assistant professor of psychology (A&S) and one of the institute’s three directors, along with John Doris , the Peter L. Dyson Professor of Ethics in Organizations and Life in the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business and professor in the Sage School of Philosophy (A&S); and Shaun Nichols , Distinguished Professor of Arts & Sciences in Philosophy (A&S).

Graduate students at more and more institutions are focusing on the field, creating a need for more faculty members prepared to teach at the graduate and undergraduate levels, said Niemi.

The institute’s 21 in-residence participants included graduate students, lecturers and tenured/tenure track faculty members from research universities, liberal arts colleges and community colleges. Their academic backgrounds were widely varied, including philosophy, psychology and criminology.

During the course of the four-week institute, 15 visiting faculty presenters from Harvard University, Princeton University, the University of Pittsburgh and others joined the three Institute directors in leading seminars four mornings each week on a wide range of topics, such as love, poverty, charitable giving and moral judgement, as well as the history of moral psychology.

Students read nearly 700 pages of required text, and most gave presentations of their own work.

“It was especially exciting to delve into students’ unique research projects and theories during their presentations of their own work on Fridays — this was top-rate interdisciplinary workshopping,” Niemi said.

One participant, a faculty member, told Niemi that they learned more in a month than they probably could have learned working on their own for a year.

Cornell was the ideal place for a summer institute on moral psychology, said Doris, because of the university’s broad and collaborative approach to the field and its established program. “In our view, Cornell is currently the best place for moral psychology in the world,” he said.

Housed in the Department of Psychology, the moral psychology program’s minor offers courses through seven of the university’s colleges and schools. The program’s moral psychology speaker series attracts participants from across the university, many of whom do scholarly work focused on moral psychology.

The top goal of the summer institute was to encourage deeper cross-disciplinary engagement, Nichols said: “For moral psychology to thrive in a responsible way, it needs to simultaneously build up its interdisciplinary strengths in philosophy and psychology. By having philosophers and philosophically-minded psychologists working in the field across disciplines — day-after-day, intensively, together — we hoped the Institute would break down barriers and increase the confidence of scholars to engage each other’s work.”

As part of that effort to encourage engagement, institute students and faculty enjoyed social outings to some of Ithaca’s summer best, including weekend hikes, visits to wineries, trips to the Lab of Ornithology, musicals and concerts.  

More News from A&S

Academic boot camp tackles mission: imposter syndrome

Timely responses – even from a car – drive babies’ learning

Augustine was ‘wrong about slavery’: Book reexamines key figure

Advanced chelators offer efficient and eco-friendly rare earth element recovery