The Chicago School
The Chicago School (formerly Chicago School Of Professional Psychology, now part of a broader university system) is the nation's oldest and largest graduate university focused exclusively on psychology and related behavioral sciences. Founded in Chicago, Illinois in 1979 As a professional school, the focus is not strictly on research and theory, but on preparing students to become outstanding practitioners, providing direct service to help individuals and organizations thrive.
As a professional school, the focus is not strictly on research and theory, but on preparing students to become outstanding practitioners, providing direct service to help individuals and organizations thrive.
The Chicago School emphasizes professional psychology training rather than purely theoretical research. It has grown to serve about 6,000 students across multiple campuses (Chicago, Los Angeles, Dallas, Anaheim, Washington D.C., and others) and online programs.
The GRE is only required for admission in Doctorate degrees. There is no on-campus housing. Transfer credits are allowed from accredited Universities that are equivalent in curriculum.
History Of The Chicago School
The Chicago School was established by practicing psychologists committed to providing high-quality professional psychology training in a not-for-profit setting. Initial plans for the school were made in 1977 and realized in January 1979 by the nonprofit Midwestern Psychology Development Foundation.
Right from the beginning, the Chicago School of Psychology earned a reputation as a leader in diversity and multicultural training.
According to Grokipedia, "At its core, the founding philosophy adopted the practitioner-scholar model, which integrates theoretical knowledge, empirical research, and hands-on clinical practice to equip graduates for effective mental health intervention. This model prioritized urban immersion and community engagement, distinguishing the school from traditional research-focused programs and aiming to produce versatile professionals capable of addressing diverse societal needs in psychology".
The Chicago School Institutional Goals
Their primary goals are:
- Scholarship: Using scientific research and theory to inform their practices and contribute to the body of work extending the reach of their specialties in professional psychology;
- Diversity: Applying theoretical and practical knowledge about ethnic, racial, gender, sexual, cultural and religious, age, and disability differences in their professional work;
- Professional Behavior: Functioning in a professional and ethical manner in classroom, off-site training, and workplace settings;
- Professional Practice: Conducting assessments, develop appropriate interventions, and implement interventions in their specialty area of professional psychology.
Another core element of the Chicago School of Psychology--one that makes it different from most other psychology schools is the focus on "student focused learning". What this means is that the school is constantly monitoring, assessing, and improving the curriculum and overall student experience to make it the highest quality possible.
The Chicago School takes a systematic approach to monitoring learning and gathering data about learning. After analyzing the data, the school analyzes the results to determine what's working well, what changes need to be made, and how best to increase the quality of the educational experience. As a result, the Chicago School of Psychology gets better and better all the time.
Chicago School Of Professional Psychology Statistics
There are a range of psychology programs on offer with undergraduate, master's, and doctoral levels. Key areas include:
- Undergraduate: B.A. in Psychology (with a new 90-credit "Focused Path" option that can be completed in as little as three years online, designed to accelerate entry into graduate study).
- Graduate: M.A. programs in Applied Psychology, Counseling Psychology, Forensic Psychology, International Psychology, and more.
- Doctoral: Prominent Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology (APA-accredited at several campuses), Psy.D. in School Psychology, and others in areas like Clinical Forensic Psychology, Educational Psychology and Technology, and Clinical Psychopharmacology.
Programs often include hands-on practicum, internships, and community service, with concentrations in child/adolescent psychology, forensic psychology, neuropsychology, health psychology, and international applications. Many allow students to begin graduate-level coursework during their bachelor's degree.
Enrollment and Graduation at Chicago School
The institution is graduate-heavy. For example, the Chicago campus has roughly 1,200 - 1,300 total students (mostly graduate), while the Los Angeles campus reports over 3,000 (with hundreds of undergraduates). System-wide psychology-related degrees number in the hundreds annually (e.g., ~320 psychology degrees at the Chicago location in one recent year). See Chicago School Data USA
The B.A. Psychology program is explicitly structured as a pipeline to master's and doctoral programs, with articulation agreements and dual-credit options that let qualified students reduce time and cost for advanced degrees. Many undergraduates are encouraged or able to transition seamlessly into the school's own graduate offerings.
Interesting Facts About The Chigago School
The school pioneered practitioner-focused doctoral training (Psy.D.) and maintains APA accreditation for several Clinical Psychology programs.
It features strong international and community-engagement components, including global service-learning opportunities. In 2026, it earned the Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement.
It has expanded into related fields like business, nursing, and osteopathic medicine.
Overall, The Chicago School stands out for its career-oriented, flexible psychology education aimed at producing licensed practitioners and applied professionals who address real-world mental health needs.
If you're looking for a great professional psychology school, the Chicago School of Psychology is a terrific choice.