Pennsylvania · Research and Experimental Psychology

Best colleges for Research and Experimental Psychology in Pennsylvania

Ranked by graduate earnings

University of Pennsylvania, Gettysburg College and Villanova University are the top bachelor's Research and Experimental Psychology programs in Pennsylvania by graduate earnings. University of Pennsylvania leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $44,542, College Scorecard. University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus, University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University award the most Research and Experimental Psychology degrees in Pennsylvania: 569, 171 and 124 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 19 Pennsylvania colleges offer Research and Experimental Psychology and award 1,324 degrees and certificates a year in all.

The Research and Experimental Psychology program focuses on applying experimental methods to study various psychological processes. Students engage in in-depth exploration of topics such as sensation, perception, memory, cognition, and…

Related programs you can study
Institutions
19
offering CIP 42.27
States offered
50
with a program page
Degrees / yr
1,324
IPEDS completions 2024–25
Median starting salary
$34,375
1 yr after graduation, College Scorecard
With earnings data
6
College Scorecard
Median net price
$22,055
IPEDS 2024–25
Avg graduation rate
72%
IPEDS 2024–25
State pay · Clinical and Counseling Psychologists
$108,710
BLS OEWS May 2025

Top 5 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.

Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionStarting salary (1 yr)Graduates / yrGrad rateNet priceMedian debt
1University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$44,54217197%$22,055$18,125
2Gettysburg College
Gettysburg Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$41,5995483%$24,453$27,000
3Villanova University
Villanova Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree
$39,2182092%$33,774$26,250
4Pennsylvania State University
University Park Public · Bachelor's degree
$34,3753286%—$27,000
5Pennsylvania Western University
California Public · Bachelor's degree
$33,33010752%——

Colleges awarding the most Research and Experimental 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.

Graduates / yr: degrees and certificates awarded in a year, IPEDS completions. Starting salary (1 yr): median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
#InstitutionGraduates / yrStarting salary (1 yr)
1University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus
Pittsburgh Public
569Not reported
2University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia Private not-for-profit
171$44,542
3Drexel University
Philadelphia Private not-for-profit
124Not reported
4Pennsylvania Western University
California Public
107$33,330
5Lafayette College
Easton Private not-for-profit
62Not reported
6Gettysburg College
Gettysburg Private not-for-profit
54$41,599
7Lehigh University
Bethlehem Private not-for-profit
35Not reported
8Pennsylvania State University
University Park Public
32$34,375
9Haverford College
Haverford Private not-for-profit
21Not reported
10Villanova University
Villanova Private not-for-profit
20$39,218
Show the other 9 Pennsylvania colleges offering Research and Experimental Psychology
InstitutionCityControlGraduates / yr
Pennsylvania State University - Penn State AbingtonAbingtonPublic50
Thomas Jefferson UniversityPhiladelphiaPrivate not-for-profit19
Temple UniversityPhiladelphiaPublic18
Duquesne UniversityPittsburghPrivate not-for-profit17
Swarthmore CollegeSwarthmorePrivate not-for-profit17
Wilson CollegeChambersburgPrivate not-for-profit3
Albright CollegeReadingPrivate not-for-profit2
Pennsylvania State University - World Campus (Online)University ParkPublic2
Gannon UniversityEriePrivate not-for-profit1

Career outlook

What this program leads to: Clinical and Counseling Psychologists (SOC 19-3033).

Projected growth (2024–2034)
+11.2%
Much faster than average
Openings / yr (US)
~4,800
BLS Employment Projections
US median wage
$95,830
typically Doctoral or professional degree

Top skills

Reading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingActive ListeningWritingSpeakingActive Learning

What Clinical and Counseling Psychologists earn in Pennsylvania

Jobs in Pennsylvania
3,140
BLS OEWS May 2025
State average pay
$108,710
median $91,870
Best-paying metro
$125,550
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD

Related careers

Child, Family, and School Social Workers
$55,330 avg · 16,200 jobs
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists
$108,710 avg · 3,140 jobs
Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary
$81,800 avg · 2,120 jobs

Common questions

Answers for students comparing Research and Experimental Psychology programs in Pennsylvania.

Which Pennsylvania colleges award the most Research and Experimental Psychology degrees?+

University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus (569 graduates a year), University of Pennsylvania (171 graduates a year) and Drexel University (124 graduates a year) award the most Research and Experimental Psychology degrees in Pennsylvania, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 19 Pennsylvania colleges offer Research and Experimental Psychology.

What is the best college for Research and Experimental Psychology in Pennsylvania?+

By graduate earnings, University of Pennsylvania leads among bachelor's Research and Experimental Psychology programs in Pennsylvania, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $44,542, College Scorecard. Gettysburg College and Villanova University follow. By degrees awarded, University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus is the largest, with 569 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).

Which Research and Experimental Psychology program in Pennsylvania has the highest-earning graduates?+

By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Pennsylvania tops the list at $44,542. 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 Research and Experimental Psychology program?+

The Research and Experimental Psychology program focuses on applying experimental methods to study various psychological processes. Students engage in in-depth exploration of topics such as sensation, perception, memory, cognition, and…

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).

Research and Experimental Psychology in other statesMarylandConnecticutMaineNew JerseyNew HampshireColoradoNew YorkUtah
Related programs in PennsylvaniaPsychologyClinicalPsychology

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.

IPEDSFall 2025–26 release, published July 28, 2026
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
PSEO graduate earnings2019–21 graduation cohorts (release V4.13.0)
Earnings and employment outcomes of graduates by institution, degree level, and field of study, measured from state wage records.
BLS wages & outlookOEWS May 2025 release
Occupational employment and wage estimates plus 10-year job outlook, used to connect programs to real-world earnings.
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.

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