Best School Psychology Programs in Michigan Rankings for 2026
NASP-approved EdS and specialist programs in Michigan, with the MDE School Psychologist Certificate pathway, the Preliminary-to-full certificate route, internship requirements, and school psychologist salary data for 2026.
Key Takeaways
- Michigan school psychologists earn a median of $83,960, which is about 12.5% below the $95,990 national median (BLS, May 2025). That is the honest headline. The upside shows at the top end, where the 90th percentile clears $118,560, and the state employs roughly 1,480 school psychologists.
- You practice in Michigan public schools with the School Psychologist Certificate from the Michigan Department of Education. Michigan does it in two stages: a Preliminary School Psychologist Certificate after your practicum, then the full certificate once you finish your specialist degree, your 1,200-hour internship, and a supervised year on the job.
- For a private practice outside schools you need a separate Licensed Psychologist credential from Michigan LARA, which requires a doctorate, the EPPP, and 2,000 postdoctoral supervised hours. Two different agencies, two very different bars.
- Michigan has a tight cluster of NASP-approved specialist programs: Michigan State, Central Michigan, Grand Valley State, University of Detroit Mercy, and Andrews University. Most are three-year degrees of 60 to 66 credits built around a 1,200-hour internship plus a 600-hour practicum.
- There is a documented shortage of school psychologists in Michigan. NASP recommends one school psychologist per 500 students, but MASP reports Michigan sits near 1 per 1,400, roughly three times the recommended load. That keeps demand, and job security, high across the state.
Michigan is a steady, mid-pack market for school psychologists, and it is honest to say so up front. The state employs about 1,480 school psychologists and pays a median of $83,960 a year, according to May 2025 BLS data. That is roughly 12.5% under the $95,990 national median, so Michigan will not top the salary charts the way California or New York do. The flip side is real: the 90th percentile reaches $118,560, which tells you established school psychologists in well-funded districts do well, and your pay rises on a predictable step-and-column schedule once you are in a district.
Here is the part of Michigan that confuses people. The state runs school psychology certification in two stages. You first earn a Preliminary School Psychologist Certificate from the Michigan Department of Education after you finish your graduate coursework and a 600-hour practicum, which lets you work as a school psychologist while you complete your internship. Once you finish your specialist degree, your 1,200-hour internship, and a supervised year on the job, you upgrade to the full School Psychologist Certificate. If you instead want to open a private practice and see clients outside schools, that is a different credential entirely, the Licensed Psychologist license from Michigan LARA, and it requires a doctorate. Almost everyone working in Michigan schools holds the MDE certificate, not the LARA license.
The training path runs through a handful of universities. Michigan State, Central Michigan, Grand Valley State, the University of Detroit Mercy, and Andrews University all hold NASP approval at the specialist level, and Michigan State and Andrews also run doctoral programs. Below you will find the NASP-approved school psychology programs in Michigan, what the MDE certificate actually requires, real salary numbers, and how to pick the program that fits where you want to work.
Best School Psychology Programs in Michigan Rankings (NASP-Approved EdS & Specialist)
All 7 programs ranked in this guide, with tuition, format, and accreditation at a glance.
| # | School | In-State Tuition | Format | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michigan State University: EdS in School Psychology | Public university (per-credit graduate tuition; see program) | On-campus | |
| 2 | Central Michigan University: Specialist in School Psychology (SPsyS) | Public university (per-credit graduate tuition; see program) | On-campus | |
| 3 | Grand Valley State University: MS & PsyS in School Psychology | Public university (per-credit graduate tuition; see program) | On-campus | |
| 4 | University of Detroit Mercy: Specialist in School Psychology (SSP) | Private university (~$978/credit; see program) | On-campus | |
| 5 | Andrews University: EdS in School Psychology | Private university (per-credit tuition; see program) | On-campus | |
| 6 | Michigan State University: PhD in School Psychology | PhD: funded students receive tuition support + assistantship stipend | On-campus | |
| 7 | Andrews University: PhD in Educational Psychology (School Psychology Emphasis) | Private university (per-credit tuition; see program) | On-campus |
Michigan State University: EdS in School Psychology
In-State
Public university (per-credit graduate tuition; see program)
Out-of-State
Nonresident per-credit graduate tuition (see program)
Length
3 years (60 credits)
Field Hours
600-hour practicum (year 2) + 1,200-hour internship (year 3)
Concentrations
- NASP-approved at the specialist level (granted Conditional accreditation, under review for full status)
- Approved by the Michigan Department of Education, so graduates are eligible for state certification
- Clean three-year sequence: 2 years of coursework, a 600-hour school practicum, then the full internship year
- Sits at a major research university, with a doctoral program in the same department if you want to go further
Central Michigan University: Specialist in School Psychology (SPsyS)
In-State
Public university (per-credit graduate tuition; see program)
Out-of-State
Nonresident per-credit graduate tuition (see program)
Length
3 years (64 credits)
Field Hours
600-hour practicum + full-time third-year internship
Concentrations
- Awards both an MA in Psychology and the Specialist in Psychological Services degree
- Built specifically to meet NASP and CAEP accreditation standards
- Third-year internship plus a 600-hour practicum that puts you in public schools two days a week
- Graduates are eligible for Michigan certification and NASP national certification (NCSP)
Grand Valley State University: MS & PsyS in School Psychology
In-State
Public university (per-credit graduate tuition; see program)
Out-of-State
Nonresident per-credit graduate tuition (see program)
Length
3 years (63 credits)
Field Hours
600+ practicum hours + 1,200-hour internship (year 3)
Concentrations
- You earn two degrees: the MS after the first three semesters, then the PsyS after the internship year
- NASP-accredited with conditions, and approved by the MDE for the K-12 School Psychologist Certificate
- Practicum starts early, with classroom hours in year one and 600 school-based hours in year two
- Trains for West Michigan and Grand Rapids-area districts, a region that competes hard for graduates
University of Detroit Mercy: Specialist in School Psychology (SSP)
In-State
Private university (~$978/credit; see program)
Out-of-State
Private university (~$978/credit; see program)
Length
3 years (66 credits)
Field Hours
600-hour practicum (year 2) + 1,200-hour internship (year 3)
Concentrations
- Fully NASP-approved through 2029, the longest-locked NASP standing of the Michigan specialist programs
- Awards an MA in school psychology after 30 credits, then the SSP on completion
- Built around the NASP 10-domain practice model with a discounted per-credit tuition rate
- Located in Detroit, the densest school psychology job market in the state
Andrews University: EdS in School Psychology
In-State
Private university (per-credit tuition; see program)
Out-of-State
Private university (per-credit tuition; see program)
Length
3 years (65 credits)
Field Hours
600-hour practicum + 1,200-hour internship (year 3)
Concentrations
- NASP-approved EdS, with the program prepared to recommend you for Preliminary Michigan certification after the 600-hour practicum
- Trains school psychologists as data-based problem solvers within a cognitive-behavioral framework
- Two years of coursework and practica, then a full year of 1,200 internship hours
- Graduates are eligible for the NASP national certification (NCSP), which helps if you move out of state
Michigan State University: PhD in School Psychology
In-State
PhD: funded students receive tuition support + assistantship stipend
Out-of-State
PhD: funded students receive tuition support + assistantship stipend
Length
5 to 6 years (doctoral)
Field Hours
Multi-year practica + a full predoctoral internship
Concentrations
- Accredited by the APA Commission on Accreditation and approved by NASP
- Graduates are eligible for state and national school psychology certification at graduation
- Opens the path to the Licensed Psychologist credential after postdoctoral hours, plus research and academic roles
- Doctoral students are typically supported with assistantships, which offsets the longer timeline
Andrews University: PhD in Educational Psychology (School Psychology Emphasis)
In-State
Private university (per-credit tuition; see program)
Out-of-State
Private university (per-credit tuition; see program)
Length
4 to 6 years (doctoral)
Field Hours
Builds on the EdS practicum and 1,200-hour internship
Concentrations
- Doctoral emphasis built on Andrews' NASP-approved EdS in school psychology
- A route to advanced research, supervision, and faculty roles in school psychology
- Sits in the same Berrien Springs department as the specialist program, so faculty and coursework carry over
- A fit if you already plan a specialist degree and want to continue straight into doctoral work
Michigan School Psychologist Certificate Requirements (MDE and LARA)
The licensing board, exam pathway, and supervised hours you'll need to practice independently.
Licensing Board
Michigan Department of Education (MDE): School Psychologist Certificate
(517) 241-5000
Michigan handles school psychology certification in two stages, and knowing both saves a lot of confusion. The first is the Preliminary School Psychologist Certificate from the Michigan Department of Education. You qualify for it after you complete at least 45 graduate credits in an MDE-approved school psychology program plus a 600-hour supervised practicum, with at least 300 of those hours in a school. The Preliminary certificate lets you work as a school psychologist, under local supervision, while you finish your degree and your internship. It is good for three years and can be renewed once.
The second stage is the full School Psychologist Certificate. To upgrade, you finish a state-approved specialist-level degree of at least 60 semester credits, complete a 1,200-hour internship from an approved Educator Preparation Institution, and put in one year of satisfactory supervised work as a school psychologist under a fully certified colleague. Plan to take the Praxis School Psychologist exam (#5403), with the standard qualifying score of 155, since it is the cleanest route to certification and to the Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP) credential. Michigan accepts the NCSP as a route to the school-based credential and for renewal, which makes it worth earning even though the state runs its own certificate.
If you want to practice privately outside schools, that is a different credential entirely. The Licensed Psychologist credential comes from Michigan LARA, not the MDE, and it requires a doctorate, the EPPP exam (passing score 500), and 2,000 hours of postdoctoral supervised experience. Most Michigan school psychologists never pursue it. You only go that route if you want a private practice, and you would need a doctoral program like Michigan State's to get there.
Preliminary School Psychologist Certificate (MDE)
Work as a school psychologist in Michigan public schools, under local supervision, while completing the degree and internship
Hours
600
Duration
valid 3 years, renewable once
Exam: No exam required for the Preliminary certificate; program-based eligibility plus local supervision
School Psychologist Certificate (MDE)
Full authorization to practice as a school psychologist in Michigan public K-12 schools
Hours
1,200
Duration
typically a 3-year program + 1 supervised year
Exam: Praxis School Psychologist (#5403, passing 155) is the standard route; Michigan accepts the NCSP as well
Licensed Psychologist (private practice, LARA)
Independent practice of psychology outside schools: assessment, therapy, and consultation
Hours
2,000
Duration
Associate
Exam: EPPP (passing 500) plus a state jurisprudence exam; requires 2,000 postdoctoral supervised hours
Michigan does not grant automatic reciprocity, but the path in from another state is workable. You apply to the MDE for the Michigan School Psychologist Certificate, and the Department reviews your out-of-state preparation against Michigan standards. Holding a valid out-of-state school psychologist certificate or the NCSP national certification smooths that review, because the NCSP signals your program met NASP standards and Michigan accepts it as a route to the school-based credential. Expect to document your graduate coursework and your 1,200-hour internship, and budget time for the paperwork before your first Michigan school year starts.
School Psychologist Salary in Michigan
BLS state median wages by counseling specialty, with national comparison and top-paying metros.
Michigan pays school psychologists below the national median, and it is fair to be straight about that. The BLS May 2025 data puts the Michigan median at $83,960, against a national median of $95,990. That is roughly 12.5% under the national figure. The bottom 10% of Michigan school psychologists earn about $57,480, and the top 10% reach $118,560. So the entry rung is modest, but the ceiling is solid, especially in established districts where pay climbs on a step-and-column schedule tied to years of service and graduate credits.
One honest caveat cuts the other way: Michigan has a lower cost of living than the coastal states that post bigger headline numbers, so $83,960 here stretches further than the same salary would in California or New York. Among Michigan metros, Jackson tops the list at a $88,330 median, above the statewide figure. Michigan also taxes income at a flat state rate, so unlike the no-income-tax states, you will see a state deduction on your paycheck. If you are choosing a program by where you want to live and work, the metro pay map matters as much as the statewide median.
School Psychologists (BLS 19-3034)
National median: $95,990
Top metro: $88,330 (Jackson, MI)
Michigan School Psychology Job Market and Shortage
Major employers, mental health shortage context, and loan repayment programs that erase debt for service.
There are not enough school psychologists in Michigan, and that is the bright spot in the picture. NASP recommends one school psychologist for every 500 students. The Michigan Association of School Psychologists reports the state sits closer to one per 1,400 students, roughly triple the recommended caseload, and MASP describes the gap as a critical shortage. You can track the national and state ratios yourself on the NASP state shortages dashboard, where the national ratio for 2024-25 is about 1,071 to 1.
Demand is driven by work that schools are legally required to do. Every special education eligibility decision rests on a psycho-educational evaluation, and Michigan's push to expand school-based mental health has only added to the caseload. School psychologists work for public school districts, regional service agencies (ISDs and RESAs), and charter schools. The shortage has drawn state attention: in 2025, Michigan awarded $1 million to help universities launch and expand school psychology training, and Western Michigan University is building a new specialist program with that support. For graduates, the upshot is steady demand and real leverage when you negotiate where you want to work.
Loan Repayment & Scholarship Programs
Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). School psychologists employed full-time by a public school district, ISD, or RESA qualify for federal PSLF, which forgives the remaining balance on Direct Loans after 120 qualifying payments. Eligibility is based on your employer, not your job title, so a public-school school psychologist almost always qualifies.
Public-university tuition. Michigan State, Central Michigan, and Grand Valley State charge public graduate tuition, which keeps total borrowing lower than the private options. The cheapest debt is the debt you never take on.
Doctoral assistantships. If you go the PhD route at Michigan State, funded students typically receive tuition support plus an assistantship stipend, so part of your training comes with a paycheck rather than more loans.
State educator loan programs (verify before relying on them). Michigan has run a Student Loan Repayment Program for educators, but its funding has been reallocated in recent budget cycles and it does not specifically guarantee school psychologists. Treat it as a maybe, confirm current eligibility with the MDE, and plan your finances around PSLF, which is the reliable path.
How to Choose the Best School Psychology Program in Michigan
Decision factors that actually matter, not generic checklist filler.
Every NASP-approved Michigan program leads to the same MDE School Psychologist Certificate, so the real decision is about location, cost, and whether you want a doctorate. Here is how the programs sort out.
If you want the most secure NASP standing: University of Detroit Mercy is fully NASP-approved through 2029, the longest-locked status among the Michigan specialist programs, and it sits in the Detroit job market.
If you want a major research university: Michigan State offers both the EdS and an APA-accredited PhD in the same department, so you can start at the specialist level and continue to a doctorate without changing schools.
If you want West Michigan: Grand Valley State trains for Grand Rapids and the surrounding districts, awards both the MS and PsyS, and runs an early practicum that puts you in schools quickly.
If you want a focused, cohort specialist program: Central Michigan's SPsyS is built specifically to NASP and CAEP standards, awards two degrees, and places you in public schools for the third-year internship.
If you want a doctorate and a path toward private practice: Michigan State's PhD is APA-accredited and funded for most students, and it opens the route to the Licensed Psychologist credential after postdoctoral hours.
If you want a cognitive-behavioral training model: Andrews University in Berrien Springs builds its NASP-approved EdS around interventions and educational outcomes, with a doctoral emphasis available if you want to continue.
If cost is your top concern: the public programs (Michigan State, Central Michigan, Grand Valley State) generally cost less than the private options, and paired with PSLF they keep your long-term debt manageable.
Related Pages
School Psychologist Career Guide
What school psychologists actually do day to day
School Psychologist Salary
Salary data by state, experience, and setting
School Psychology Programs by State
Browse school psychology programs in every state
School Psychology Programs in Ohio
NASP-approved school psychology programs in Ohio
School Psychology Programs in Illinois
NASP-approved school psychology programs in Illinois
Sources
- NASP: Approved Programs List (search by state)
- Michigan Department of Education: School Psychologist Certificate
- NASP: Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP) Eligibility
- Michigan LARA: Board of Psychology (Licensed Psychologist)
- Michigan Association of School Psychologists: School Psychologist Shortage
- NASP: State Shortages Data Dashboard
- Bureau of Labor Statistics: School Psychologists (OEWS 19-3034)
- Praxis: School Psychologist (5403) Test Page (ETS)
- Michigan LARA: Find or Verify a Licensed Professional