Best Online Doctorate of Educational Psychology (PhDs) 2025

Badge for BEST ONLINE DOCTORATE IN EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY

Published: May 4, 2023
Updated: Sep 26, 2024

Which colleges have the best online PhD degrees in educational psychology in the US? We rank the top schools for doctorates for educational psychologists.

Key Takeaways

An online doctorate in educational psychology is a good option for busy professionals who need a flexible path to a PhD.

Graduates of PhD degree programs in educational psychology pursue positions in research, teaching, leadership or administrative roles within a school system.

Educational psychologists are trained in instructional design and program development, as well as the implementation and assessment of those designs or programs.

Table of Contents

Best Online PhD in Educational Psychology Degree Programs in 2025

University of Georgia
University of Tennessee
+3
Texas Tech University
+6
Liberty University
+3
Wichita State University
+5
Regent University
–4
Walden University
–3
Capella University
–2
California Coast University
–1
The Chicago School
–7

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 schools for online doctorates in educational psychology saw a fair amount of movement. Texas Tech University was able to gain six ranking positions as the university expanded its research facilities focused on cognitive development and learning technologies, giving students access to advanced tools for studying educational outcomes. The university has also launched new interdisciplinary courses that integrate psychology with neuroscience and data analytics, helping students better understand learning processes through cutting-edge methodologies. Additionally, Texas Tech has strengthened its partnerships with local school districts and educational organizations, offering doctoral students more opportunities for fieldwork, internships, and collaborative research projects in real-world educational settings. These updates provide valuable hands-on experience and access to the latest research in the field.

Featured Programs

Best Doctorate in Educational Psychology Programs

Career Outlook for Students with Educational Psychology Degree

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Educational Psychology

Degree Level: Doctorate

Location: The U.S. (Private Schools)
Avg. Cost of Degree*: $12,326
Avg. Expenses*: $18,600
Avg. Starting Salary*: $73,744
Avg. Salary after 4 Years*: $76,212
Avg. Cost Recoup Time**: 9 years
Job Growth: 5.46%
Number of Jobs: 1,455,700
* denotes ‘annually’
** denotes ‘at 15% of annual salary’

Career Salaries

Career	Job Growth	Avg. Salary
Industrial-Organizational Psychologists	5.81%	$147,420
Human Resources Managers	6.51%	$136,350
Managers, All Other	5.75%	$133,560
Training and Development Managers	7.41%	$125,040
Psychologists, All Other	4.95%	$117,750
Management Analysts	10.60%	$99,410
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists	13.28%	$96,100
School Psychologists	0.76%	$84,940
Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary	4.89%	$82,140
Human Resources Specialists	7.95%	$67,650

Top Industries

Industry	Avg. Salary
Industrial-Organizational Psychologists	$147,420
Human Resources Managers	$136,350
Managers, All Other	$133,560
Training and Development Managers	$125,040
Psychologists, All Other	$117,750
Management Analysts	$99,410
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists	$96,100
School Psychologists	$84,940
Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary	$82,140
Human Resources Specialists	$67,650

Data from The Bureau of Labor Statistics, The Department of Education College Scorecard, The Department of Education NCES, and The Council for Community and Economic Research.

All About Ph.D. in Educational Psychology

Educational psychologists are highly relevant in today’s ever-evolving world. Those pursuing this profession may consider earning a Ph.D. in educational psychology. Advanced educational psychology programs emphasize the practical applications of learning and development theories concerning human behavior.

Students can expect to find an interdisciplinary program of study that will equip them with relevant knowledge and skills to help them perform scholarly research and evaluation studies integral to solving developmental and educational problems. Students will acquire essential skills in this educational psychology program including critical thinking, problem-solving and analysis, ethical decision-making, and an understanding of the use of technology.

Our guide to an online educational psychology doctorate covers tuition rates, common courses, and career paths.

About The Online PhD in Educational Psychology Program

Like its traditional counterpart, the online Ph.D. in educational psychology program helps future educational psychologists apply their understanding of social, emotional, and cognitive processes to improve student learning. The online learning format affords working professionals and other adult learners the flexibility to juggle their life’s demands while pursuing a doctoral degree. Most online doctoral programs in educational psychology require 60 to 69 credits.

Choosing an Online Doctoral Educational Psychology Program

When choosing among online educational psychology programs, doctoral candidates must consider the university’s reputation and the program’s quality. While it is customary for online programs to provide the same curriculum and faculty as their on-campus counterparts, it is still worth looking into the degree requirements and how they compare with traditional educational psychology programs.

Some doctorate in educational psychology programs are offered partly online, so students may still be required to attend classes on campus at certain times. It is also important to check whether there is a transfer credits policy to help students with prior experience in related coursework to cut the time it takes to earn the degree program.

Accreditation for Online Educational Psychology Degree Programs

One can gauge the quality and credibility of the educational psychology program by looking into its accreditation. Educational psychology programs that have been accredited by the American Psychological Association have high standards.

Another accrediting body to be aware of is the National Association of School Psychologists. This accrediting body ensures the content in these advanced programs are reputable and valuable to the student.

What Students Can Expect From Educational Psychology PhD Programs

It is common to find that doctoral programs in educational psychology will include core courses, research methods, and specialization courses. Some topics covered include human growth and development, educational assessment, behavioral interventions, educational research literature, and more. In some cases, a field practicum is required, allowing students to develop specific professional skills such as educational assessment.

Of course, a dissertation is an important part of most doctoral programs. Students may need to propose, write, and defend their doctoral thesis, often with the help of courses that guide them through the research process. Students may sometimes be allowed to complete a capstone project instead of a dissertation.

Common Courses in an Online Educational Psychology Doctorate Program

Educational psychology programs synthesize concepts in psychology, research methods, current trends in the field, and best practices. As such, educational psychology students are exposed to typical curricula that feature courses on the foundational principles of educational psychology, instructional design, and learning theories.

Courses from psychology also include human development and cognitive development, motivation & learning, emotion & cognition, advanced human learning, and adult learning. Some programs may also include courses on the philosophical and historical foundations of the discipline.

Educational psychologists work with a heavy focus on feature research, particularly a more interdisciplinary research approach, and as such, these programs often typically feature research courses for qualitative and quantitative research, conduct research design, and perform program evaluation.

Educational psychology degree programs also often cover current issues faced in the discipline, legal aspects, and public policy related to education.

Bottom Line: The coursework for online educational psychology doctorate programs focuses on research and implementation of programs in education rather than a traditional counseling course of study.

How Long An Online Educational Psychology Doctorate Takes

Typical educational psychology graduate school programs have completion timelines that span three to eight years. This includes completing coursework, any required field/internship experiences, and crafting and defending the final requirement, often in the form of a dissertation.

Paying for An Educational Psychology Online Doctorate Degree

It depends on the college or university offering the degree, but generally, several options are available to students that help them offset costs aside from the standard federal financial aid. Many universities offer the option to transfer credits, reducing the number of courses that students must take and pay for.

Some universities may offer discounts for special sectors, such as armed forces members. Still, some may offer specific scholarships for eligible online doctorate in educational psychology students. Another good option for some graduate students, though opportunities are just as limited, is to apply for graduate assistantships, which are paid positions that often offer free tuition and a living stipend.

Bottom Line: Applicants to online PhD programs in educational psychology should start their search for financial aid on the Federal Student Aid website to get a good understanding of options available for funding.

Jobs for Graduates of Educational Psychology Degrees

Educational psychology degree programs prepare students for various careers related to education and instructional design. Doctoral students often go on to take up teaching roles themselves, research positions in academia, and leadership/administrative roles in schools.

Graduates may also take up roles in government positions, particularly in agencies that oversee the country’s education system. Another career option for graduates lies in the private sector, such as in testing centers or as private practitioners and consultants.

Becoming an Educational Psychologist

Becoming an educational psychologist represents one of the career peaks within psychology and education. These highly specialized degrees require years of academic preparation at the undergraduate and graduate levels, and every state in the US also requires licensure for educational psychologists to be able to practice.

An educational psychologist requires certain qualities, including a knack for conducting research and a habit of rigorous inquiry. At the very least, practitioners must also be passionate about improving instructional design and methods and be interested in contributing new research to the discipline’s body of knowledge.

Frequently Asked Questions About Becoming an Educational Psychologist:

What do educational psychologists do?

Educational psychologists are a valuable part of the academic system. They are responsible for studying and understanding how people learn and retain knowledge.

They apply the skills and knowledge they learn to improve the learning process and promote academic success for all students. They often focus on identifying learning methods to help them understand individual learning and inform the instructional process.

Psychologists are often interested in pursuing an advanced degree in order to become a practicing psychiatrist. Find out how graduates with a psychology degree can become psychiatrists.

How do you become an educational psychologist?

To become an educational psychologist, one must earn at least a master’s degree in educational psychology. This will give them the eligibility to get a license as a psychologist. A doctorate can further enhance one’s professional credentials.

Students with a Ph.D. can use this degree to pursue a rewarding academic career. These degree programs will qualify graduates for the state license.

How does school psychology differ from educational psychology?

Several key differences exist between the fields of educational psychology and school psychology. Educational psychologists take a more big-picture view of the learning process, while school psychologists tend to take a more focused view on individual cases or students, particularly mental health and academic performance.

Educational psychologists also tend to be skilled in instructional design and program development, as well as their implementation and assessment, while school psychologists, who largely work with individuals, have skillsets in consultation, behavioral modification, and interventions.

How many years should a hopeful educational psychologist spend completing a doctorate degree program?

Educational psychology doctorate programs typically take anywhere from three to eight years to complete. It may take additional time to get licensed by the graduate’s state of residence.

Is a PhD required for educational psychology practice?

As a terminal degree, a PhD is a requirement to practice as an educational psychologist (in addition to licensure requirements that may vary between states), although some universities award equivalent Doctor of Education (EdD) degrees instead of PhD degrees. Although both are doctoral degrees, EdD degrees tend to be practice-focused, while PhD degrees focus on research and academic work.

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Best Online Doctorate of Educational Psychology (PhDs) 2025

Key Takeaways

Best Online PhD in Educational Psychology Degree Programs in 2025

2025 Ranking Update

Featured Programs

Best Doctorate in Educational Psychology Programs

Last Year’s Ranking:

Career Outlook for Educational Psychology degree at University of Georgia

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for Educational Psychology degree at University of Tennessee

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for Educational Psychology degree at Texas Tech University

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for Educational Psychology degree at Liberty University

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for Educational Psychology degree at Wichita State University

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for Educational Psychology degree at Regent University

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for Educational Psychology degree at Walden University

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for Educational Psychology degree at Capella University

Most Influential Alumni

Most Influential Alumni

Most Influential Alumni

Career Outlook for Students with Educational Psychology Degree

Educational Psychology

Degree Level: Doctorate

Career Salaries

Top Industries

All About Ph.D. in Educational Psychology

About The Online PhD in Educational Psychology Program

Choosing an Online Doctoral Educational Psychology Program

Accreditation for Online Educational Psychology Degree Programs

What Students Can Expect From Educational Psychology PhD Programs

Common Courses in an Online Educational Psychology Doctorate Program

How Long An Online Educational Psychology Doctorate Takes

Paying for An Educational Psychology Online Doctorate Degree

Jobs for Graduates of Educational Psychology Degrees

Becoming an Educational Psychologist

Frequently Asked Questions About Becoming an Educational Psychologist:

What do educational psychologists do?

How do you become an educational psychologist?

How does school psychology differ from educational psychology?

How many years should a hopeful educational psychologist spend completing a doctorate degree program?

Is a PhD required for educational psychology practice?