Best Colleges and Universities for Psychology Degrees 2025
Key Takeaways
- It is important that the college you choose for your psychology degree is accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA).
- A bachelor’s degree in psychology remains one of the most popular college degree in the United States.
- There are a wide range of specialty fields for psychology graduates, further enhancing their career opportunities.
Best Colleges and Universities for Psychology Degrees in 2025
2025 Ranking Update
Our Influence Ranking Engine™ leverages machine learning to track the real-world influence of colleges and universities over time. Below you’ll see which schools gained or lost ground for the 2025 school year.
In 2025, the top ten colleges and universities for psychology degrees saw some movement. The University of Arizona saw the greatest shift, gaining five ranking positions. The University of Arizona’s psychology department has expanded its research facilities, including new labs for cognitive neuroscience and behavioral research. The university has also introduced interdisciplinary courses that link psychology with data science, health sciences, and artificial intelligence, allowing students to explore emerging fields like neuropsychology and mental health technology. Additionally, new internship opportunities have been created through partnerships with local hospitals, mental health organizations, and community service programs, providing psychology students with practical, hands-on experience in their field.
Featured Programs
The Best Colleges and Universities for Psychology Degrees
- #1 America's 15 Most Technologically Advanced Colleges #1 50 Best Colleges and Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2025 #1 Online Colleges with the Most Generous Financial Aid in 2025 #1 Top Schools that Offer Free Master's Degrees Online
Tuition + fees
$57K
Acceptance
3%
Graduation
98%
Student body
39K
Median SAT/ACT
1535/35
Career Outlook for Psychology degree at Harvard University
Cost of Degree: $59,076Expenses: $27,629Starting Salary: $89,390Salary after 4 years: $121,612Cost Recoup Time: 13 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Harvard University known for?
Harvard University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni
- #2 America's 15 Most Technologically Advanced Colleges #2 50 Best Private Colleges and Universities for Undergrads 2025 #2 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2025 #3 50 Best Colleges and Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2025
Tuition + fees
$66K
Acceptance
4%
Graduation
95%
Student body
37K
Median SAT/ACT
1535/34
Career Outlook for Psychology degree at Columbia University
Cost of Degree: $68,171Expenses: $20,542Starting Salary: $74,288Salary after 4 years: $101,067Cost Recoup Time: 15 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Columbia University known for?
Columbia University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni
- #3 America's 15 Most Technologically Advanced Colleges #3 50 Best Private Colleges and Universities for Undergrads 2025 #3 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2025 #4 50 Best Colleges and Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2025
Tuition + fees
$58K
Acceptance
4%
Graduation
95%
Student body
20K
Median SAT/ACT
1540/34
Career Outlook for Psychology degree at Stanford University
Cost of Degree: $62,484Expenses: $25,349Starting Salary: $90,804Salary after 4 years: $123,536Cost Recoup Time: 13 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Stanford University known for?
Stanford University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni
- #5 50 Best Private Colleges and Universities for Undergrads 2025 #5 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2025 #6 50 Best Colleges and Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2025 #6 Best Universities in the US Ranked for Prospective Students in 2025
Tuition + fees
$62K
Acceptance
5%
Graduation
98%
Student body
16K
Median SAT/ACT
1540/34
Career Outlook for Psychology degree at Yale University
Cost of Degree: $64,700Expenses: $23,600Starting Salary: $79,943Salary after 4 years: $108,760Cost Recoup Time: 14 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Yale University known for?
Yale University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni
- #5 Top Schools that Offer Free Master's Degrees Online #10 50 Best Private Colleges and Universities for Undergrads 2025 #10 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2025 #10 50 Best Research Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2024
Tuition + fees
$63K
Acceptance
7%
Graduation
96%
Student body
33K
Median SAT/ACT
1535/34
Career Outlook for Psychology degree at University of Pennsylvania
Cost of Degree: $66,104Expenses: $22,924Starting Salary: $84,570Salary after 4 years: $115,055Cost Recoup Time: 14 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is University of Pennsylvania known for?
University of Pennsylvania’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni
- #3 15 Best Online Colleges for Veterans to Start Their Careers 2025 #18 Most Affordable Colleges and Universities in the U.S. 2025 #20 50 Best Public Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2025 #20 50 Best Public Grad Schools 2025
Tuition + fees
$13K
Acceptance
87%
Graduation
68%
Student body
54K
Median SAT/ACT
1255/25
Career Outlook for Psychology degree at University of Arizona
Cost of Degree: $13,277Expenses: $19,500Starting Salary: $36,266Salary after 4 years: $48,264Cost Recoup Time: 13 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is University of Arizona known for?
University of Arizona’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Anthropology
- Physics
- Earth Sciences
- Communications
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Criminal Justice
- Philosophy
- Chemistry
- Business
Most Influential Alumni
University of Arizona’s Online Degrees
BA in Africana Studies
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BAS in Administration of Justice
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Care, Health and Society
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Emergency Medical Services
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Accounting
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BAS in Cyber Operations
Degree Concentrations
- Engineering
- Defense & Forensics
- and Cyber Law & Policy
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Communication
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BAS in Early Childhood
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
Bachelor of General Studies in Economy and Industry
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Environmental Science
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
Bachelor of General Studies, in Arts, Media and Entertainment
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
Bachelor of General Studies in Global and Intercultural Understanding
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Global Media
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Government and Public Service
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Human Rights Practice
- Required Credits: None Reported
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BAS in Human Services
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Required Credits: 128
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Business Administration
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Geographic Information Systems Technology (GIST)
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Literacy, Learning and Leadership
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Information Science and ESociety
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BAS in Organizational Leadership
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Psychology
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Law
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Political Science
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BAS in Regional Commerce
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BAS in Intelligence and Information Operations
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in History
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Philosophy: Ethics
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Biology
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Nutritional Sciences
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Spanish
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
Bachelor of General Studies in Sports and Society
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Public Health
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Sustainable Built Environments
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
Bachelor of General Studies in Social Behavior and Human Understanding
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #1 50 Best Liberal Arts Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students #2 50 Best Small Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2025 #1 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Connecticut 2025 #1 Best Small Colleges in Connecticut 2025
Tuition + fees
$64K
Acceptance
14%
Graduation
93%
Student body
4K
Median SAT/ACT
1415/32
Career Outlook for Psychology degree at Wesleyan University
Cost of Degree: $67,016Expenses: $21,704Starting Salary: $40,743Salary after 4 years: $55,429Cost Recoup Time: 21 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Wesleyan University known for?
Wesleyan University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Philosophy
- Literature
- Psychology
- History
- Economics
- Political Science
- Sociology
- Physics
- Education
- Religious Studies
Most Influential Alumni
- #3 50 Best Small Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2025 #3 50 Best Liberal Arts Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students #5 15 Colleges with the Happiest Freshmen #1 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Massachusetts 2025
Tuition + fees
$64K
Acceptance
7%
Graduation
92%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1485/33
Career Outlook for Psychology degree at Amherst College
Cost of Degree: $67,280Expenses: $20,360Starting Salary: $53,531Salary after 4 years: $72,828Cost Recoup Time: 18 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Amherst College known for?
Amherst College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Economics
- Literature
- Law
- Political Science
- Education
- Sociology
- Chemistry
- History
- Religious Studies
- Mathematics
Most Influential Alumni
- #4 50 Best Small Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2025 #4 50 Best Liberal Arts Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students #1 Best Small Colleges in Pennsylvania 2024 #1 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Pennsylvania 2024
Tuition + fees
$59K
Acceptance
7%
Graduation
94%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1500/33
Career Outlook for Psychology degree at Swarthmore College
Cost of Degree: $62,412Expenses: $21,691Starting Salary: $44,984Salary after 4 years: $61,200Cost Recoup Time: 19 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Swarthmore College known for?
Swarthmore College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Economics
- Philosophy
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Political Science
- Physics
- Mathematics
- Computer Science
- Communications
- Literature
Most Influential Alumni
- #1 Most Affordable Colleges in Missouri 2024 #1 Best Public Colleges in Missouri 2025 #2 Best Grad Schools in Missouri 2025 #2 The Most Influential Universities and Colleges Ranked by State 2024
Tuition + fees
$12K
Acceptance
79%
Graduation
75%
Student body
34K
Median SAT/ACT
1240/26
Career Outlook for Psychology degree at University of Missouri
Cost of Degree: $14,130Expenses: $18,142Starting Salary: $36,655Salary after 4 years: $48,781Cost Recoup Time: 12 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is University of Missouri known for?
University of Missouri’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Earth Sciences
- Communications
- Education
- History
- Psychology
- Business
- Biology
- Literature
- Political Science
- Mathematics
Most Influential Alumni
University of Missouri’s Online Degrees
BS in Business Administration
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Information Technology
- Required Credits: 126
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Early Childhood Education In A Mobile Society
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BES in Educational Studies
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Sociology
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Communication
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in English
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BGS in General Studies
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Interdisciplinary Studies
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BSN in Nursing: RN to BSN
- Required Credits: 30
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BHS in Radiography
- Required Credits: 30
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BHS in Respiratory Therapy
- Required Credits: 30
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BHS in Public Health
- Required Credits: 60
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BHS in Health Science
- Required Credits: 64
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Fitness Programming And Management
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #9 50 Best Small Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2025 #9 50 Best Liberal Arts Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students #4 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Massachusetts 2025 #4 Best Small Colleges in Massachusetts 2025
Tuition + fees
$62K
Acceptance
14%
Graduation
90%
Student body
3K
Median SAT/ACT
1490/34
Career Outlook for Psychology degree at Wellesley College
Cost of Degree: $64,320Expenses: $21,970Starting Salary: $46,141Salary after 4 years: $62,773Cost Recoup Time: 19 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salary - #1 The Best Catholic Colleges and Universities Ranked for 2024 #5 Best Online Christian Colleges and Universities for Doctoral Degrees 2025 #11 50 Best Christian Colleges and Universities 2024 #1 Best Christian Colleges in Illinois 2025
Tuition + fees
$49K
Acceptance
79%
Graduation
71%
Student body
20K
Median SAT/ACT
1275/29
Career Outlook for Psychology degree at Loyola University Chicago
Cost of Degree: $51,716Expenses: $19,694Starting Salary: $40,807Salary after 4 years: $55,517Cost Recoup Time: 19 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Loyola University Chicago known for?
Loyola University Chicago’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni
Loyola University Chicago’s Online Degrees
BA in Management
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Information Technology
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Web Technologies
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Paralegal Studies
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Applied Studies
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Strategic Digital Communication
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BSN in Nursing
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #20 50 Best Liberal Arts Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students #21 50 Best Small Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2025 #2 Best Small Colleges in California 2025 #2 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in California 2025
Tuition + fees
$59K
Acceptance
7%
Graduation
95%
Student body
2K
Median SAT/ACT
1520/34
Career Outlook for Psychology degree at Pomona College
Cost of Degree: $62,326Expenses: $22,974Starting Salary: $49,675Salary after 4 years: $67,582Cost Recoup Time: 18 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Pomona College known for?
Pomona College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Literature
- Religious Studies
- Biology
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Mathematics
- Communications
- Sociology
- Anthropology
- Philosophy
Most Influential Alumni
- #1 Best Public Colleges in Nevada 2024 #1 Most Affordable Colleges in Nevada 2024 #1 Best Grad Schools in Nevada 2024 #1 Best Research Universities in Nevada 2024
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
85%
Graduation
47%
Student body
35K
Median SAT/ACT
1110/21
Career Outlook for Psychology degree at University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Cost of Degree: $9,142Expenses: $17,362Starting Salary: $32,122Salary after 4 years: $42,748Cost Recoup Time: 12 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is University of Nevada, Las Vegas known for?
University of Nevada, Las Vegas’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni
University of Nevada, Las Vegas’s Online Degrees
BA in Anthropology
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BA in Multidisciplinary Studies
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
BS in Urban Studies
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #1 Best Liberal Arts Colleges in Nebraska 2024 #3 Most Affordable Colleges in Nebraska 2025 #3 Best Public Colleges in Nebraska 2024 #4 Best Colleges in Nebraska 2024
Tuition + fees
$8K
Acceptance
86%
Graduation
54%
Student body
8K
Median SAT/ACT
1100/22
Career Outlook for Psychology degree at University of Nebraska at Kearney
Cost of Degree: $8,270Expenses: $17,784Starting Salary: $29,661Salary after 4 years: $39,473Cost Recoup Time: 12 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is University of Nebraska at Kearney known for?
University of Nebraska at Kearney’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni
University of Nebraska at Kearney’s Online Degrees
BS in History
Degree Concentrations
- Social Science Comprehensive
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- Developmental Psychology
- Cognitive Psychology
- Ethics in Psychology
- Theories of Behaviorism
- Abnormal Psychology
- Forensics Psychology
- Research Methodologies in Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Statistics
- Clinical Psychology
- Community Psychology
- Counseling Psychology
- School Psychology
- Educational Psychology
- Environmental Psychology
- Family Psychology
- Applied Psychology
- Forensic Psychology
- Psychopharmacology
- clinical psychologists,
- counseling psychologists,
- developmental psychologists,
- forensic psychologists,
- industrial-organizational psychologists
- rehabilitation psychologists, and
- school psychologists.
- Psychologists
- Psychiatrists
- Clinical, Counseling and School Psychologists
- Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary
- Marriage and Family Therapists
- Psychiatric Technicians and Aides
- Mental Health Counselors
- Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors
- Location: The U.S. (Private Schools)
- Avg. Starting Salary*: $31,232
- Avg. Salary after 4 Years*: $41,564
- * denotes ‘annually’
Go to The Best Psychology Online Colleges
The best psychology degree programs are those with rich histories of influence, proven through the work produced by the program’s faculty and alumni. Beyond demonstrating scholarly impact in the field, the best psychology degree programs maximize your opportunities to interact with outstanding psychology faculty.
Back to TopPsychology Degrees are Popular and Versatile
Psychology bachelor’s degrees are the 4th most popular undergraduate degree across all student demographics. Only liberal studies, business, and nursing rank ahead of it. Psychology degrees are three times more common among women than men, and rank among the top 5 bachelor’s degrees for both Black people and Hispanics (according to degree-earner numbers reported by the National Center for Educational Statistics).
While psychology is obviously a sensible major if you’re planning on becoming a clinical psychologist, majoring in psychology is also a great starting point for a career as a school counselor, special educator, addiction specialist, criminologist, forensics expert and countless other professions. Some psychology majors will complete a double major, or a minor, in a complimentary area such as education or law enforcement. Beyond that, psychology degrees can be useful in many areas of business like marketing, human resources, conflict resolution, and business management. Our top reason to choose a psychology degree is that you learn to think about how people think, and thus the versatility of a psychology degree is practically limitless.
As a psychology major, you’ll study human development, cognition, and behavior. You’ll learn skills like counseling, behavioral therapy, and clinical treatment for mental health disorders. Students who plan to ultimately become practicing clinical psychologists will be required to earn their doctoral degree in psychology from a program that is accredited by The APA Commission on Accreditation, and subsequently qualify for and pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP). However, majoring in psychology as an undergraduate can provide a starting point for a wide range of careers in school counseling, substance abuse treatment, special education, and much more. The best schools for psychology are those which are regionally accredited, which offer a full array of psychology concentrations, and which give you the chance to work with the best and most influential professors and classmates.
Find out which psychology degree is right for you.
Frequently Asked Questions About Psychology Bachelor’s Degrees
While psychology is obviously a sensible major if you’re planning on becoming a clinical psychologist, majoring in psychology is also a great starting point for a career as a school counselor, special educator, addiction specialist, criminologist, forensics expert and countless other professions. Some psychology majors will complete a double major, or a minor, in a complimentary area such as education or law enforcement.
And if you wish to continue into a doctoral program and ultimately become a practicing psychologist or psychiatrist, this is a natural starting point. Today, top influencers in psychology are breaking new ground in Positive Psychology, the psychology of decision making, the computational theory of mind, and much more.
Popular culture studies is one of the best emerging new college majors. Graduates with a degree in psychology are eligible for a career in popular culture studies. Find out more about the courses and career information about this popular field.
Back to TopThis four-year undergraduate degree is extremely popular, not just among those who will go on to earn an advanced degree, but for those who will apply the concepts of psychology to a wide range of fields including education, marketing, law enforcement, child welfare, and much more. Organizations of every kind seek mental health professionals, human resource specialists, and organizational leaders with a strong understanding of motivation, behavior, and relationships. Your bachelor’s degree could qualify you to fill one of these needs.
And for those who earn a terminal degree and ascend to the top of the field, earnings are well above the average for all professions. For instance, the Bureau of Labor of Statistics (BLS) indicates that the 2019 median pay for psychologists was $80,370; for postsecondary psychology teachers, $76,620; and for Industrial-Organizational Psychologists, $97,260. These salaries far exceed a national average median for all jobs that falls just under $40,000 per year.
Back to TopPsychology is a valuable major for anyone interested in learning how the human mind works and what makes people tick. A psychology major will give you insights into how people interact socially, what makes them go off the deep end (abnormal psychology), how to test for personality traits, what the brain can tell us about emotions, and much more. A bachelor’s degree in psychology can prepare you for work in fields as diverse as psychological testing, counseling, and special-needs learning. It is also a great springboard to other areas of graduate study, such as law, education, politics, sociology, and social work.
Back to TopPsychology tends to be an easy major. It is classified as a social science rather than as a natural or exact science. As such, you can major in psychology without needing to know many, if any, STEM subjects (STEM = Science-Technology-Engineering-Mathematics). Moreover, by focusing on less technical fields in psychology (such as social psychology or counseling), it’s possible to keep the technical demands of a psychology major to a minimum.
That said, psychology is a field of endless depth and riches, and there will be plenty to keep you challenged if you want to be challenged. Even mathematics and statistics can play a big role in psychology as in psychological assessment/measurement and in mathematical models of cognition (see, for instance, the groundbreaking work of Amos Tversky and Daniel Kahneman). Similarly, psychology in the form of neuroscience requires a lot of biology and can also require computer science.
Some majors have what are called “major killers,” in other words, courses designed to weed out students who don’t measure up (computer science and electrical engineering are notorious for having such courses because there is such a demand for majors in these fields). Psychology typically doesn’t have such “major killer” courses.
Back to TopCourse requirements for a psychology major include an introductory course or two that give an overview of the field, and then specific courses covering a range of areas such as cognition, perception, personality theory, abnormal psychology, social psychology, psychological testing, animal learning and behavior, neuropsychology, and counseling. A research methods and statistics course are also required, though beyond that the mathematics requirement tends to be minimal.
Many of the courses that psychology majors take will either have a laboratory component or a separate lab course. These can have human subjects (as in a cognition course testing memory) or animal subjects (as in a animal learning course training rats in an operant conditioning chamber). Taking such lab courses will be especially encouraged if you are thinking of going on to graduate school in psychology.
Advanced psychology majors may also be expected to engage in original research with a professor/mentor, working at on-campus laboratories or research facilities, as well as in the field. In that case, they will work closely with faculty, laboratory support staff, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows as they explore areas in psychology that interest them.
Many colleges and universities require of their psychology majors a senior capstone project consisting of original research and presented at some meeting or conference via a poster, workshop, or other presentation. Back to TopOnce you’ve declared your major in psychology, you will likely be required to complete a set of core courses in a number of related subject areas. While your concentration will give you a chance to choose from a wide range of highly-specialized psychology electives, there are several common courses that most psychology majors will be required to take, including:
Your “concentration” refers to a specific area of focus within your major. Many undergraduates will decide their concentrations once they get more familiar with the field of study, but in some cases, whether a school has the concentration you want can be a determining factor for chosing a school. A niche field like forensic psychology simply isn’t offered at every college. Therfore, giving some thought to what concentrations excite you the most can help you choose the right college for your psycholgoy degree. According to The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the following are among the most popular psychology concentrations:
Truth be told, simply having a bachelor’s degree in psychology doesn’t offer you a lot of career options as a psychologist. Usually, additional graduate work or certifications are needed. Unlike engineering, where you can call yourself an “engineer” upon getting your bachelor’s degree in engineering, people tend to call themselves psychologists only when they have additional training beyond the bachelor’s level.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists seven types of professional psychologists:
Psychology majors have a lot of career options. You’ll need to earn a doctoral degree in order to practice as a clinical psychologist, as well as a medical degree to become a practicing psychiatrist. A master’s degree can help you hone in on an area of concentration such as education, forensics, or mental health counseling. However, opportunities also abound in a wide range of work settings for undergraduates with an educational background in psychology. Depending on your degree level, a psychology major can lead to a wide range of career opportunities, including these top jobs:
On the last point, applied behavioral analysis (ABA) has become very important with the increase of people on the autism spectrum and their need for special one-on-one training (for which there are not enough psychologists with advanced degrees). Any training and certification in ABA as a psychology major is likely to do you well.
Bottom line: If you are looking to work in the field of psychology with only a bachelor’s degree, you need to have a clear job objective in mind while pursuing your psychology major and you need to acquire the skills (and perhaps certifications) needed to get that job on graduation.
Back to TopFrequently Asked Questions About Research Universities, Liberal Arts Colleges, Online Colleges
Research universities are schools whose faculty are active in research and publishing. Such institutions offer a wide array of doctoral programs, especially in the sciences. They tend to be big, often with tens of thousands of students.
Is a big high-powered research environment the place for you? In deciding on where to do your psychology major as an undergraduate, ask yourself what sort of environment will best help you to be happy and excel.
Are you good with being a face in a crowd, especially for some of the general introductory psychology classes that you’ll be taking, where you might be one among several hundred students? Are you okay with being a little fish in a big pond?
If you are serious about studying psychology and think you’ll eventually want to get a graduate degree in psychology, then a research university is probably the place for you. If you excel as an undergraduate at a research university, you’ll be able to take graduate courses your junior and senior years, and you may be invited to do research with some of your professors.
A research university can thus be a great springboard if you aspire to be a world-class player in the field of psychology.
Did you know that many psychology graduates also transition into IT careers? Find out how to get into tech with a psychology degree.
Back to TopBut perhaps your interest in psychology isn’t overwhelming. Perhaps you are thinking of psychology more as a stepping stone to other things that interest you, such as a career in law or education. And perhaps you want a more intimate campus.
In that case, a liberal arts college may be just what the doctor ordered. The best liberal arts colleges offer an excellent undergraduate education. In fact, students who do well at a top liberal arts college typically have no problem getting into and thriving at a top research university if upon completing their bachelor’s they decide to go on for further study.
The best liberal arts colleges offer a broad range of subjects for students to study. They typically provide smaller class sizes, more direct engagement with professors, and, most importantly, the opportunity to sample a wide range of subject areas on the way to a bachelor’s degree. Liberal arts colleges stress not only going deep in one’s major but also going broad.
Here’s another reason you might appreciate the breadth of a liberal arts education: about 80 percent of undergraduate students end up changing majors while in college and 60 percent of college grads would change majors if they had to do it again. Liberal arts colleges keep you from getting too narrowly focused.
Back to TopThe verdict is in: other things being equal, a campus-based college experience is preferable to a purely online college experience. Indeed, nothing beats direct personal contact with faculty and fellow students. Body language, facial cues, voice intonation and a host of other factors like this get lost in going from “real reality” to “virtual reality.” These factors enhance the educational process and get lost in online education.
There was a key caveat in the previous paragraph: other things being equal. As it is, other things are rarely equal. You may be a second career student with a family to take care of and no way to juggle these obligations with a commute to a local campus. Online education may then be your only option.
Or it may be that you thrive on independence and solitude, working at your own pace and schedule, viewing video lectures and digital materials at your convenience. Online education gives you unmatched flexibility to pursue your education on your terms.
Life is a matter of tradeoffs. Pursuing a psychology major online will mean missing out on the benefits of campus life. Such benefits include everything from having housing and meals provided on campus to in-person office hours and counseling services. But where a campus-based education is not an option, an online education may be quite doable.
Back to TopCareer Outlook for Students with Psychology Degree
Go to Degree Finder toolPsychology
Degree Level: Bachelor's
Career Salaries
| Career | Job Growth | Avg. Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Industrial-Organizational Psychologists | 5.81% | $147,420 |
| Managers, All Other | 5.75% | $133,560 |
| Psychologists, All Other | 4.95% | $117,750 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | 13.28% | $96,100 |
| Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary | 4.89% | $82,140 |
Top Industries
| Industry | Avg. Salary |
|---|---|
| Industrial-Organizational Psychologists | $147,420 |
| Managers, All Other | $133,560 |
| Psychologists, All Other | $117,750 |
Career Outlook for Students with Psychology Degree
Go to Degree Finder toolPsychology
Degree Level: Bachelor's
- Location: The U.S. (Private Schools)
- Avg. Starting Salary*: $31,232
- Avg. Salary after 4 Years*: $41,564
- * denotes ‘annually’
Career Salaries
| Career | Job Growth | Avg. Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Industrial-Organizational Psychologists | 5.81% | $147,420 |
| Managers, All Other | 5.75% | $133,560 |
| Psychologists, All Other | 4.95% | $117,750 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | 13.28% | $96,100 |
| Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary | 4.89% | $82,140 |
Top Industries
| Industry | Avg. Salary |
|---|---|
| Industrial-Organizational Psychologists | $147,420 |
| Managers, All Other | $133,560 |
| Psychologists, All Other | $117,750 |
