Graduate university rooted in Adlerian psychology, preparing leaders to transform health systems and communities.
Adler University offers 25+ accredited master's and doctoral programs focused on psychology, counseling, and art therapy. The Chicago campus Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology is APA-accredited and among the nation's longest-standing advanced psychology degrees. The Vancouver campus began offering Canada's first traditional Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology in 2013. Master's programs include Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CACREP-accredited), Art Therapy, and specialized counseling tracks. All programs integrate Adlerian values emphasizing community health, social interest, and systems-level change through applied learning and community partnerships.
Adler maintains a downtown Chicago flagship campus and a satellite campus in Vancouver, British Columbia (since 2005), with online and hybrid program options. The university emphasizes community engagement through the Community Service Practicum, a required first-year experience exposing students to social justice and social change. Students participate in student organizations, faculty mentorship, and clinical practica with 1,500+ community partners. The university provides career preparation through internships and direct experience in real-world settings.
Adler evaluates applicants on academic performance, written and verbal communication, strength of recommendations, community service interest and experience, prior work experience, and personal integrity and motivation. Applications are submitted through an online portal with real-time status tracking. Transfer credit is available for graduate-level coursework from accredited institutions (up to 12 credits for M.A., 24 for Psy.D./Ph.D., 9 for Art Therapy Ph.D.). Many programs fill quickly, and early submission is recommended. Admitted students must submit a signed acceptance letter and non-refundable deposit within 15 days.
The Chicago campus is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and the American Psychological Association. The Psy.D. program in Clinical Psychology holds APA accreditation (maintained on Chicago campus only). Vancouver programs operate under written consent of the British Columbia Ministry of Advanced Education, though doctoral programs are not accredited by the Canadian Psychological Association. Adler's online master's in psychology ranks among the top 10 for 2026, and its online art therapy master's is recognized by Forbes Advisor.