Best Psychology Teacher, Postsecondary programs in California, ranked by enrollment
Teach courses in psychology, such as child, clinical, and developmental psychology, and psychological counseling.
213 schools in California run programs that feed this job, graduating 44,048 people a year. The job pays a median of $107,340 in California across about 4,410 jobs (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Fields of study in California that lead to this job
Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level. Numbers are graduates per year in this state.
23 programs in California that lead to this job
Ranked by graduates per year in California (IPEDS completions). Graduate earnings and debt are national College Scorecard figures reported at the 4-digit CIP level, so specializations within one field share a figure. Each program also links to its own California page.
| # | Program | Graduates / yr | Share of pipeline | Schools | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CIP 42.0101In California → | 27,882 | 63.3% | 186 | $31,426 | $25,250 |
| 2 | CIP 42.2799In California → | 3,235 | 7.3% | 22 | $34,454 | $21,878 |
| 3 | CIP 42.2801In California → | 2,568 | 5.8% | 32 | $33,805 | $27,000 |
| 4 | CIP 42.2803In California → | 2,119 | 4.8% | 26 | $33,805 | $27,000 |
| 5 | CIP 51.1505In California → | 1,932 | 4.4% | 26 | $37,335 | $22,861 |
| 6 | CIP 42.2814In California → | 1,218 | 2.8% | 14 | $33,805 | $27,000 |
| 7 | CIP 30.1701In California → | 817 | 1.9% | 16 | $36,206 | $29,240 |
| 8 | CIP 42.2805In California → | 735 | 1.7% | 18 | $33,805 | $27,000 |
| 9 | CIP 42.2704In California → | 607 | 1.4% | 3 | $34,454 | $21,878 |
| 10 | CIP 42.2706In California → | 567 | 1.3% | 3 | $34,454 | $21,878 |
| 11 | CIP 42.9999In California → | 521 | 1.2% | 10 | $36,890 | $18,200 |
| 12 | CIP 42.2813In California → | 456 | 1.0% | 10 | $33,805 | $27,000 |
| 13 | CIP 42.2812In California → | 360 | 0.8% | 9 | $33,805 | $27,000 |
| 14 | CIP 42.2804In California → | 260 | 0.6% | 14 | $33,805 | $27,000 |
| 15 | CIP 42.2899In California → | 142 | 0.3% | 6 | $33,805 | $27,000 |
| 16 | CIP 42.2806In California → | 126 | 0.3% | 7 | $33,805 | $27,000 |
| 17 | CIP 42.2703In California → | 122 | 0.3% | 4 | $34,454 | $21,878 |
| 18 | CIP 42.2701In California → | 113 | 0.3% | 4 | $34,454 | $21,878 |
| 19 | CIP 42.2815In California → | 113 | 0.3% | 5 | $33,805 | $27,000 |
| 20 | CIP 42.2810In California → | 72 | 0.2% | 2 | $33,805 | $27,000 |
| 21 | CIP 42.2707In California → | 40 | 0.1% | 3 | $34,454 | $21,878 |
| 22 | CIP 42.2817In California → | 40 | 0.1% | 1 | $33,805 | $27,000 |
| 23 | CIP 42.2802In California → | 3 | 0.0% | 1 | $33,805 | $27,000 |
Top 25 schools in California
Ranked by graduates per year into this job. Graduate earnings are reported for 55 of the 213 schools in this state.
| # | School | Graduates / yr | Top feeder program | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Grad rate | Net price | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | National University San Diego, CA Private not-for-profit · 7 feeder programs | 1,605 | Applied Behavior Analysis | — | 43% | $31,817 | — |
| 2 | Pepperdine University Malibu, CA Private not-for-profit · 4 feeder programs | 1,163 | Clinical Psychology | — | 83% | $41,986 | 63% |
| 3 | University of California - Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA Public · 2 feeder programs | 1,139 | Psychology, General | $30,614 | 93% | — | 9% |
| 4 | California State University - Northridge Northridge, CA Public · 5 feeder programs | 1,098 | Psychology, General | $28,603 | 57% | — | 93% |
| 5 | University of California - Irvine Irvine, CA Public · 5 feeder programs | 1,084 | Research and Experimental Psychology, Other | $29,830 | 87% | — | 29% |
| 6 | California State University - Fullerton Fullerton, CA Public · 1 feeder programs | 1,015 | Psychology, General | $27,965 | 70% | — | 91% |
| 7 | University of California - San Diego La Jolla, CA Public · 9 feeder programs | 936 | Psychology, General | $29,144 | 86% | — | 27% |
| 8 | University of California - Davis Davis, CA Public · 2 feeder programs | 924 | Research and Experimental Psychology, Other | $32,301 | 86% | — | 42% |
| 9 | San Diego State University San Diego, CA Public · 6 feeder programs | 861 | Psychology, General | $29,346 | 76% | — | 36% |
| 10 | University of California - Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA Public · 4 feeder programs | 813 | Experimental Psychology | $34,431 | 83% | — | 33% |
| 11 | California State University - Long Beach Long Beach, CA Public · 3 feeder programs | 784 | Psychology, General | $27,511 | 69% | — | 46% |
| 12 | The Chicago School at Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA Private not-for-profit · 9 feeder programs | 728 | Applied Behavior Analysis | — | 0% | — | 46% |
| 13 | Northcentral University San Diego, CA Private not-for-profit · 9 feeder programs | 681 | Marriage and Family Therapy/Counseling | — | — | — | — |
| 14 | Alliant International University - San Diego San Diego, CA Private for-profit · 7 feeder programs | 674 | Marriage and Family Therapy/Counseling | — | — | — | 0% |
| 15 | California State University - Sacramento Sacramento, CA Public · 4 feeder programs | 634 | Psychology, General | $32,603 | 56% | — | 94% |
| 16 | California State University - Fresno Fresno, CA Public · 3 feeder programs | 622 | Psychology, General | $27,557 | 57% | — | 95% |
| 17 | San Jose State University San Jose, CA Public · 3 feeder programs | 599 | Psychology, General | — | 69% | — | 85% |
| 18 | Touro University Worldwide Los Alamitos, CA Private not-for-profit · 6 feeder programs | 574 | Marriage and Family Therapy/Counseling | — | 29% | $17,026 | — |
| 19 | University of California - Riverside Riverside, CA Public · 1 feeder programs | 562 | Research and Experimental Psychology, Other | $25,654 | 76% | — | 76% |
| 20 | California Baptist University Riverside, CA Private not-for-profit · 9 feeder programs | 548 | Counseling Psychology | — | 62% | $26,940 | 85% |
| 21 | California State University - Dominguez Hills Carson, CA Public · 3 feeder programs | 541 | Psychology, General | $29,727 | 43% | — | 93% |
| 22 | California State University - San Bernardino San Bernardino, CA Public · 5 feeder programs | 483 | Psychology, General | $28,189 | 55% | — | 94% |
| 23 | University of California - Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, CA Public · 2 feeder programs | 479 | Behavioral Sciences | $28,709 | 75% | — | 66% |
| 24 | California Institute of Integral Studies San Francisco, CA Private not-for-profit · 6 feeder programs | 466 | Applied Psychology | — | — | — | — |
| 25 | San Francisco State University San Francisco, CA Public · 4 feeder programs | 466 | Psychology, General | $34,803 | 50% | — | 96% |
All 213 schools in California
Every school in California with a program that feeds this job, ordered by graduates per year. Earnings are shown for the ranked schools above; open a school profile for the rest.
| School | City | Control | Graduates / yr | Feeder programs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| National University | San Diego | Private not-for-profit | 1,605 | 7 |
| Pepperdine University | Malibu | Private not-for-profit | 1,163 | 4 |
| University of California - Los Angeles | Los Angeles | Public | 1,139 | 2 |
| California State University - Northridge | Northridge | Public | 1,098 | 5 |
| University of California - Irvine | Irvine | Public | 1,084 | 5 |
| California State University - Fullerton | Fullerton | Public | 1,015 | 1 |
| University of California - San Diego | La Jolla | Public | 936 | 9 |
| University of California - Davis | Davis | Public | 924 | 2 |
| San Diego State University | San Diego | Public | 861 | 6 |
| University of California - Santa Barbara | Santa Barbara | Public | 813 | 4 |
| California State University - Long Beach | Long Beach | Public | 784 | 3 |
| The Chicago School at Los Angeles | Los Angeles | Private not-for-profit | 728 | 9 |
| Northcentral University | San Diego | Private not-for-profit | 681 | 9 |
| Alliant International University - San Diego | San Diego | Private for-profit | 674 | 7 |
| California State University - Sacramento | Sacramento | Public | 634 | 4 |
What psychology teachers, postsecondary earn in California
What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.
U.S. median $80,340. California pays above the national figure.
1.00× means the state has its expected share of these jobs.
Metro areas in California
Job outlook
Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.
Growth and openings are national. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not publish employment projections at state level, so these figures describe the occupation across the whole U.S., not this state alone.
How to get in
The full skills, tools, and day-to-day breakdown lives on the national Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary page.
How to become a Psychology Teacher, Postsecondary
Job zone 5 of 5 · SVP 8.0 and above- Typical entry education
- Doctoral or professional degree
Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Top skills
The same job in other states
Where else this occupation employs the most people, and what it pays there.
Related careers in California
Every major mapped to this job
The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.
All 25 majors mapped to Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary24 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
- 13.1335Psychology Teacher Education
- 30.1001Biopsychology
- 30.1701Behavioral Sciences
- 30.5301Thanatology
- 42.0101Psychology, General
- 42.2701Cognitive Psychology and Psycholinguistics
- 42.2702Comparative Psychology
- 42.2703Developmental and Child Psychology
- 42.2704Experimental Psychology
- 42.2705Personality Psychology
- 42.2706Behavioral Neuroscience
- 42.2707Social Psychology
- 42.2708Psychometrics and Quantitative Psychology
- 42.2710Developmental and Adolescent Psychology(no graduates reported)
- 42.2799Research and Experimental Psychology, Other
- 42.2801Clinical Psychology
- 42.2802Community Psychology
- 42.2803Counseling Psychology
- 42.2804Industrial and Organizational Psychology
- 42.2805School Psychology
- 42.2806Educational Psychology
- 42.2807Clinical Child Psychology
- 42.2808Environmental Psychology
- 42.2809Geropsychology
- 42.2810Health/Medical Psychology
Common questions
Answers for people weighing psychology teachers, postsecondary programs in California.
What degree do you need to become a Psychology Teacher, Postsecondary?+
Doctoral or professional degree is the typical entry-level education BLS reports for this occupation. The most common program people actually graduate from is Psychology, General, which awarded 27,882 degrees in California in 2024-25, 63.3% of everyone graduating from a program that feeds this career.
Which college majors lead to becoming a Psychology Teacher, Postsecondary?+
The NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 23 programs to this occupation. The largest are Psychology, Clinical, Research and Experimental Psychology, Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions, plus 2 more. Together they graduate about 44,048 people a year in California.
How much do psychology teachers, postsecondary earn in California?+
The median is $107,340 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). That is 33.6% above the U.S. median of $80,340. This is pay for people already working in the occupation, not the same thing as graduate earnings one year after finishing a degree.
Is demand for psychology teachers, postsecondary growing?+
BLS projects a +3.6% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, about as fast as average, with roughly 4,000 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.
How many schools offer programs for this career in California?+
213 institutions in California reported graduates from at least one of the 23 programs that feed this occupation in IPEDS 2024-25. Rankings on this page use graduates per year, because the federal data publishes no enrollment count by program.
What other job titles do psychology teachers, postsecondary work under?+
Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Professor, Instructor, Psychology Professor, Psychology Instructor among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 25-1066.
About the data on this page
Rankings use IPEDS completions 2024–25, degrees awarded per year. That is the closest federal measure of how many people a program puts into a career, because no federal dataset publishes enrollment by program. Wages and employment come from BLS OEWS May 2025, growth and openings from BLS Employment Projections 2024-34, and which majors lead to which jobs from the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. Occupation descriptions, tasks, skills and tools are O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor/ETA).
BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics
May 2025Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.
BLS Employment Projections
2024–34Projected growth, annual openings and typical entry-level education.
IPEDS Completions
2024-25 (provisional)Graduates per year by program and institution — the ranking metric.
College Scorecard, Field of Study
2020-21 cohortsMedian graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.
Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes
latest availableGraduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.
NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk
CIP 2020 / SOC 2018Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.
O*NET Database 30.3
30.3Tasks, skills, knowledge, tools, job zone and alternate job titles.
Official source →CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor / ETA
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