Best institutions to study Psychology
Compare 1,567 U.S. colleges offering Psychology by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 54 states.
Psychology programs report a median of $31,353 one year after graduation (College Scorecard, 2024), and map to CIP 42.01 and the Clinical and Counseling Psychologists occupation (BLS SOC).
About Psychology programs
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 real-world situations, whether in therapy, counseling, or research settings. It provides a comprehensive foundation for those looking to pursue advanced studies or careers in various psychology-related fields.
Students in the Psychology program will develop essential skills such as critical thinking, active listening, and effective communication. Coursework typically covers topics like therapy and counseling, psychological assessment, and the application of psychological principles in various contexts, preparing graduates for diverse roles in the field.
Top 50 institutions, ranked by graduate earnings
Earnings = median 1 year after graduation (College Scorecard, predominant credential).
| # | Institution | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Completions | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bentley University Waltham, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $62,218 | 1 | 87% | $31,677 | $25,494 |
| 2 | Georgetown University Washington, DC Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $51,959 | 73 | 95% | $22,242 | $17,500 |
| 3 | Bucknell University Lewisburg, PA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $51,645 | 74 | 86% | $30,675 | $27,000 |
| 4 | Trinity College Hartford, CT Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $48,406 | 1 | 84% | $25,245 | $22,944 |
| 5 | CUNY Graduate School and University Center New York, NY Public · Bachelor's degree | $48,299 | 198 | — | — | $19,462 |
| 6 | The University of Texas Permian Basin Odessa, TX Public · Bachelor's degree | $46,009 | 121 | 40% | — | $21,731 |
| 7 | Charter Oak State College New Britain, CT Public · Bachelor's degree | $45,428 | 42 | 67% | — | $22,779 |
| 8 | Marian University Fond Du Lac, WI Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $45,416 | 20 | 44% | $22,627 | $28,468 |
| 9 | Boston College Chestnut Hill, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $44,760 | 171 | 91% | $21,126 | $18,000 |
| 10 | Virginia Military Institute Lexington, VA Public · Bachelor's degree | $44,163 | 41 | 76% | — | $19,250 |
| 11 | Northwestern University Evanston, IL Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $44,088 | 142 | 95% | $14,799 | $14,500 |
| 12 | Endicott College Beverly, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $43,646 | 53 | 76% | $34,195 | $27,000 |
| 13 | Excelsior University Albany, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $43,574 | 196 | — | — | $28,914 |
| 14 | New England College Henniker, NH Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $42,656 | 19 | 35% | $30,086 | $38,285 |
| 15 | Lakeland University Plymouth, WI Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $42,355 | 20 | 42% | $20,767 | $38,866 |
| 16 | Upper Iowa University Fayette, IA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $42,183 | 105 | 34% | $22,697 | $41,478 |
| 17 | University of Maryland Global Campus Adelphi, MD Public · Bachelor's degree | $42,056 | 917 | 33% | — | $23,465 |
| 18 | Rice University Houston, TX Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $41,299 | 74 | 95% | $13,264 | $12,505 |
| 19 | Waldorf University Forest City, IA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $41,193 | 80 | 21% | $22,328 | $29,136 |
| 20 | Norwich University Northfield, VT Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $41,164 | 26 | 60% | $23,982 | $26,938 |
| 21 | College of the Holy Cross Worcester, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $41,099 | 92 | 87% | $24,533 | $27,000 |
| 22 | College of Saint Benedict Saint Joseph, MN Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $41,029 | 37 | 77% | $22,583 | $27,000 |
| 23 | Metropolitan State University Saint Paul, MN Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,958 | 111 | 44% | — | $30,155 |
| 24 | Lehigh University Bethlehem, PA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $40,942 | 88 | 88% | $26,912 | $21,160 |
| 25 | Colby College Waterville, ME Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $40,842 | 47 | 89% | $15,696 | — |
| 26 | University of Massachusetts Global Aliso Viejo, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,726 | 83 | 43% | — | $26,703 |
| 27 | American International College Springfield, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $40,467 | 29 | 46% | $23,595 | $27,000 |
| 28 | Seattle Pacific University Seattle, WA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $40,264 | 60 | 62% | $24,653 | $26,000 |
| 29 | Spalding University Louisville, KY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $40,262 | 19 | 52% | $23,661 | $31,750 |
| 30 | Rivier University Nashua, NH Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $40,242 | 17 | 52% | $25,065 | $27,000 |
| 31 | Nevada State University Henderson, NV Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,183 | 81 | 34% | — | $29,000 |
| 32 | Connecticut College New London, CT Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $40,141 | 49 | 82% | $27,183 | $24,197 |
| 33 | University of Massachusetts - Lowell Lowell, MA Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,054 | 273 | 65% | — | $25,925 |
| 34 | Fort Hays State University Hays, KS Public · Bachelor's degree | $40,009 | 136 | 48% | — | $29,000 |
| 35 | Trinity International University - Illinois Deerfield, IL Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $39,980 | 12 | 46% | $20,539 | $24,562 |
| 36 | Fairfield University Fairfield, CT Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $39,890 | 94 | 84% | $36,845 | $26,000 |
| 37 | Concordia University - Nebraska Seward, NE Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $39,883 | 14 | 65% | $22,390 | $27,000 |
| 38 | Wisconsin Lutheran College Milwaukee, WI Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $39,874 | 9 | 64% | $19,138 | $27,000 |
| 39 | CUNY Medgar Evers College Brooklyn, NY Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,868 | 93 | 20% | — | $11,700 |
| 40 | King's College Wilkes-Barre, PA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $39,818 | 14 | 60% | $22,131 | $27,000 |
| 41 | Capella University Minneapolis, MN Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $39,764 | 1,265 | 20% | $19,369 | $40,816 |
| 42 | University of New Hampshire College of Professional Studies Online Manchester, NH Public · Bachelor's degree | $39,681 | 27 | 30% | — | $28,863 |
| 43 | American Public University System Charles Town, WV Private for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $39,655 | 125 | 57% | $10,199 | $31,973 |
| 44 | The Chicago School at Chicago Chicago, IL Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $39,596 | 4 | — | — | $40,645 |
| 45 | Ottawa University - Kansas City Overland Park, KS Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $39,596 | 13 | — | — | $27,562 |
| 46 | Ottawa University - Milwaukee Brookfield, WI Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $39,596 | 2 | — | — | $27,562 |
| 47 | Ottawa University - Online Overland Park, KS Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $39,596 | 12 | 43% | — | $27,562 |
| 48 | The Chicago School at Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $39,596 | 166 | 0% | — | $40,645 |
| 49 | Ottawa University - Surprise Surprise, AZ Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $39,596 | 20 | 18% | $34,373 | $27,562 |
| 50 | Lesley University Cambridge, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $39,211 | 35 | 58% | $30,837 | $23,848 |
Offered across 54 states & territories
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-3033, Clinical and Counseling Psychologists, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Psychology program can expect a favorable job outlook, with an estimated growth rate of 11.2% and approximately 4,800 annual openings in the field. Most positions require a doctoral or professional degree, and the median wage for psychology professionals is around $95,830, reflecting the program's potential for a rewarding career.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Psychology
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 42.01.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 42.01 (Psychology, General) maps to 6 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 11-9199 | Managers, All Other |
| 19-3032 | Industrial-Organizational Psychologists |
| 19-3033 | Clinical and Counseling Psychologistsprimary |
| 19-3039 | Psychologists, All Other |
| 19-4061 | Social Science Research Assistants |
| 25-1066 | Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Psychology programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
What graduates do on the job
- Conduct assessments of patients' risk for harm to self or others.
- Document patient information including session notes, progress notes, recommendations, and treatment plans.
- Identify psychological, emotional, or behavioral issues and diagnose disorders, using information obtained from interviews, tests, records, or reference materials.
- Write reports on clients and maintain required paperwork.
- Counsel individuals, groups, or families to help them understand problems, deal with crisis situations, define goals, and develop realistic action plans.
- Interact with clients to assist them in gaining insight, defining goals, and planning action to achieve effective personal, social, educational, or vocational development and adjustment.
Concentrations within Psychology
Specializations under this field (NCES CIP 2020).
- Psychology, GeneralCIP 42.0101
A general program that focuses on the scientific study of individual and collective behavior, the physical and environmental bases of behavior, and the analysis and treatment of behavior problems and
Common questions
What can I do with a degree in psychology?+
A degree in psychology can lead to careers in counseling, therapy, research, and various roles in healthcare and education.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, active listening, writing, and understanding psychological principles.
What is the job outlook for psychology graduates?+
The job outlook is much faster than average, with a growth rate of 11.2% and 4,800 annual openings.
What level of education is typically required?+
Most careers in psychology require a doctoral or professional degree.
How much do Psychology graduates earn?+
Psychology graduates report median earnings of $31,353 one year after graduation, per College Scorecard (2024); the Clinical and Counseling Psychologists occupation pays about $112,750 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Psychology?+
Psychology maps to CIP 42.01 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.
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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