Admissions
Founded in 1975 as the Pacific Graduate School of Psychology, Palo Alto University (PAU) is a non-profit and accredited institution dedicated to improving lives through education and research anchored in psychology, clinical training and practice in a diversity of cultures, and service to communities around the world.
Palo Alto University (PAU) offers a high-quality, tailored, competitive education with world-renowned faculty and instructors, at the bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels. At PAU, students experience the following:
- Faculty with rich, research-based backgrounds, and excellent teaching methods.
- Clinical training with licensure options.
- High internship placement rate including a 99% APA-accredited match rate for 2020-21 for the Ph.D. program,100% APA-accredited internship match rate for the PGSP-Stanford PsyD Consortium program (in 2013 and 2014; see APA Data), and 98% practicum placement rate for the M.A. Counseling Program.
- Tuition stabilization, guaranteeing no tuition increases for the duration of a student's program.
- Regional accreditation by the WASC Senior Colleges and Universities Commission (WSCUC) for all degrees. American Psychological Association (APA) accreditation for the PhD and PsyD programs.
PAU Academic Programs
Undergraduate Programs
|
Program |
Entry Requirements |
Program Length |
Locations |
Tuition and Fees per Unit: 20-21 |
Estimated Total Program Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
84 quarter units of transferable coursework from a regionally accredited university or community college. |
2 years |
Hybrid and Online |
$479 |
$40,960 for 92 units |
|
|
84 quarter units of transferable coursework from a regionally accredited university or community college. |
2 Years |
On-Campus or Online |
$479 |
$40,960 for 92 units |
Master's Degree Programs
|
Program |
Required Degree |
Program Length |
Locations |
Tuition and Fees per Unit: 20-21 |
Estimated Total Program Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Bachelor's Degree |
9 quarters |
Palo Alto |
$580 |
$53,940 |
|
| MA in Counseling Online | Bachelor's Degree | 9 quarters or 11 quarters | Online with two on-campus, 1-week residencies | $580 | $53,940 |
|
Bachelor's Degree |
7 quarters |
Online and a 1-week, on-campus residency |
$941 |
$44,697.50 |
|
| MS in Psychology - Generalist Track | Bachelor's Degree | 6 quarters | $941 | $34,817 | |
| MS in Psychology - Forensic Psychology Track | Bachelor's Degree | 6 quarters | $941 | $34,817 |
Doctoral Programs
|
Program |
Required Degree |
Average Program Length |
Locations |
Flat Rate per Quarter: 20-21 |
Estimated Total Program Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's Degree |
5 years Includes culmination of both degrees, pre-doctoral internship and dissertation; does not include clinical licensure. |
Palo Alto | $19,362 | $215,125 | |
| PGSP-Stanford PsyD Consortium | Bachelor's Degree | 5 years
Includes culmination of both degrees, pre-doctoral internship and dissertation; does not include clinical licensure. |
Palo Alto and Stanford | $19,362 | $238,187 |
Additional costs per year include books and supplies, computer and headset, possible travel or student membership dues, transportation, health insurance, and local living expenses for residential students. These expenses vary for residential versus online and graduate versus undergraduate. The financial aid office assists in outlining these expenses. PAU offers several funding options from federal, state, and local sources.