Best colleges for Psychology in Pennsylvania
Ranked by graduate earnings
Bucknell University, Lehigh University and Chatham University are the top bachelor's Psychology programs in Pennsylvania by graduate earnings. Bucknell University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $51,645, College Scorecard. Pennsylvania State University, Temple University and West Chester University of Pennsylvania award the most Psychology degrees in Pennsylvania: 524, 354 and 302 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 111 Pennsylvania colleges offer Psychology and award 4,835 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Psychology program, specifically in General Psychology, explores the complexities of human behavior and mental processes. This program is ideal for students interested in understanding psychological principles and applying them to…
Top 10 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bucknell University Lewisburg Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $51,645 | 74 | 86% | $30,675 | $27,000 |
| 2 | Lehigh University Bethlehem Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $40,942 | 88 | 88% | $26,912 | $21,160 |
| 3 | Chatham University Pittsburgh Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $37,601 | 44 | 63% | $23,700 | $21,853 |
| 4 | Lebanon Valley College Annville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $37,267 | 28 | 65% | $24,925 | $27,000 |
| 5 | Dickinson College Carlisle Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $37,227 | 33 | 80% | $22,831 | $19,000 |
| 6 | Widener University Chester Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $37,224 | 53 | 68% | $29,049 | $27,000 |
| 7 | York College of Pennsylvania York Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $37,203 | 28 | 64% | $18,682 | $27,000 |
| 8 | DeSales University Center Valley Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $36,655 | 30 | 72% | $26,990 | $27,000 |
| 9 | Villanova University Villanova Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $35,462 | 138 | 92% | $33,774 | $21,500 |
| 10 | Allegheny College Meadville Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $35,218 | 29 | 73% | $18,524 | $27,000 |
Top 3 certificate and associate programs
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bucks County Community College Newtown Public · Associate degree | $31,905 | 60 | 32% | — | $8,782 |
| 2 | Community College of Philadelphia Philadelphia Public · Associate degree | $28,034 | 76 | 24% | — | $13,838 |
| 3 | Delaware County Community College Media Public · Associate degree | $17,269 | 46 | 24% | — | $17,500 |
Colleges awarding the most Psychology degrees in Pennsylvania
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pennsylvania State University University Park Public | 524 | $32,408 |
| 2 | Temple University Philadelphia Public | 354 | $30,054 |
| 3 | West Chester University of Pennsylvania West Chester Public | 302 | Not reported |
| 4 | Villanova University Villanova Private not-for-profit | 138 | $35,462 |
| 5 | Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania Bloomsburg Public | 117 | $29,535 |
| 6 | Kutztown University of Pennsylvania Kutztown Public | 112 | $30,558 |
| 7 | Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Slippery Rock Public | 94 | $32,780 |
| 8 | Lehigh University Bethlehem Private not-for-profit | 88 | $40,942 |
| 9 | Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia Philadelphia Private not-for-profit | 87 | Not reported |
| 10 | Millersville University of Pennsylvania Millersville Public | 82 | $33,168 |
ShowHide the other 101 Pennsylvania colleges offering Psychology
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Clinical and Counseling Psychologists (SOC 19-3033).
Top skills
What Clinical and Counseling Psychologists earn in Pennsylvania
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Psychology programs in Pennsylvania.
Which Pennsylvania colleges award the most Psychology degrees?+
Pennsylvania State University (524 graduates a year), Temple University (354 graduates a year) and West Chester University of Pennsylvania (302 graduates a year) award the most Psychology degrees in Pennsylvania, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 111 Pennsylvania colleges offer Psychology.
What is the best college for Psychology in Pennsylvania?+
By graduate earnings, Bucknell University leads among bachelor's Psychology programs in Pennsylvania, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $51,645, College Scorecard. Lehigh University and Chatham University follow. By degrees awarded, Pennsylvania State University is the largest, with 524 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Psychology program in Pennsylvania has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Bucknell University tops the list at $51,645. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
How much do Clinical and Counseling Psychologists earn in Pennsylvania?+
The average annual wage for Clinical and Counseling Psychologists in Pennsylvania is $108,710 (median $91,870), across about 3,140 jobs. Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
What is the focus of the Psychology program?+
The Psychology program, specifically in General Psychology, explores the complexities of human behavior and mental processes. This program is ideal for students interested in understanding psychological principles and applying them to…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop reading comprehension, critical thinking, active listening, writing, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Clinical and Counseling Psychologists?+
The national job outlook is about +11.2% growth with around 4,800 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Doctoral or professional degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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