Best institutions to study Experimental Psychology
A program that focuses on the scientific study of behavior under experimental conditions and the analysis of controlled behavioral responses.
74 U.S. institutions graduated 4,599 Experimental Psychology students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 42.2704, a specialization of Research and Experimental Psychology (CIP 42.27), and leads most directly to the Psychologists, All Other occupation (BLS SOC 19-3039).
About Experimental Psychology programs
A program that focuses on the scientific study of behavior under experimental conditions and the analysis of controlled behavioral responses. Includes instruction in learning theory, research design and experimental methods, psychological measurement, statistical design and methods, analysis of cognitive and behavioral variables, and the conduct of specialized and large-scale studies.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Experimental Psychology program, part of the broader Research and Experimental Psychology field, focuses on the scientific study of behavior under experimental conditions. This program is designed for students interested in understanding the complexities of human behavior through controlled research methods and analysis. It is ideal for those who are passionate about psychology and wish to explore behavioral responses in a systematic way.
Students in this program will gain expertise in learning theory, research design, experimental methods, and psychological measurement. Coursework typically includes statistical design and methods, as well as the analysis of cognitive and behavioral variables, preparing graduates for various research roles in psychology.
Credentials awarded
What Experimental Psychology graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Bachelor's degree3,966 graduates / yr · 34 institutions86%
- Master's degree369 graduates / yr · 42 institutions8.0%
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship230 graduates / yr · 36 institutions5.0%
- Postbaccalaureate certificate22 graduates / yr · 2 institutions0.5%
- Award of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year11 graduates / yr · 2 institutions0.2%
- Post-master's certificate1 graduates / yr · 1 institution0.0%
Graduates over time
Experimental Psychology completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 976 |
| 2013 | 1,030 |
| 2014 | 1,177 |
| 2015 | 1,776 |
| 2016 | 1,863 |
| 2017 | 2,085 |
| 2018 | 2,415 |
| 2019 | 2,671 |
| 2020 | 2,847 |
| 2021 | 2,869 |
| 2022 | 3,786 |
| 2023 | 3,929 |
| 2024 | 4,058 |
| 2025 | 4,599 |
Top 50 institutions for Experimental Psychology, ranked by graduates
Graduates (IPEDS completions), 2024–25. Award levels show which credentials each institution confers in this specialization.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Field earnings* (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ohio State University - Main Campus Columbus, OHPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 641 | 88% | — | — |
| 2 | University of California - Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CAPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 557 | 83% | — | $34,431 |
| 3 | University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MIPublicBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 466 | 93% | — | $31,568 |
| 4 | University of South Carolina - Columbia Columbia, SCPublicBachelor'sDoctoral | 444 | 79% | — | $29,350 |
| 5 | Purdue University - Main Campus West Lafayette, INPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster'sPost-degree cert. | 402 | 83% | — | $31,172 |
| 6 | The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TXPublicBachelor'sMaster's | 171 | 89% | — | — |
| 7 | University of Wyoming Laramie, WYPublicBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 164 | 59% | — | — |
| 8 | University of Arizona Tucson, AZPublicBachelor's | 135 | 68% | — | $28,494 |
| 9 | Washington University in St Louis St. Louis, MOPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 127 | 94% | $14,126 | $37,377 |
| 10 | Harvard University Cambridge, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 124 | 98% | $15,013 | $41,501 |
| 11 | Tufts University Medford, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 99 | 94% | $23,570 | $56,504 |
| 12 | Yale University New Haven, CTPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 98 | 96% | $27,025 | $47,874 |
| 13 | Brandeis University Waltham, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 86 | 86% | $25,074 | $37,494 |
| 14 | Purdue University Fort Wayne Fort Wayne, INPublicBachelor'sAward of at least 12 weeks but less than 1 academic year | 75 | 36% | — | $32,031 |
| 15 | University of Chicago Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sDoctoralMaster's | 72 | 96% | $13,333 | $31,986 |
| 16 | University of Rochester Rochester, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 65 | 85% | $25,874 | $39,732 |
| 17 | Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MDPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral | 63 | 94% | $11,888 | $49,035 |
| 18 | Skidmore College Saratoga Springs, NYPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 58 | 83% | $25,238 | — |
| 19 | Dartmouth College Hanover, NHPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 56 | 96% | $14,689 | $42,947 |
| 20 | Gettysburg College Gettysburg, PAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 54 | 83% | $24,453 | $41,599 |
| 21 | Princeton University Princeton, NJPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 50 | 98% | $13,729 | $47,050 |
| 22 | Brown University Providence, RIPrivate not-for-profitBachelor'sDoctoral | 44 | 96% | $14,644 | $39,493 |
| 23 | Williams College Williamstown, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 39 | 94% | $10,747 | — |
| 24 | Reed College Portland, ORPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 37 | 71% | $28,272 | — |
| 25 | Texas A&M University - College Station College Station, TXPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 37 | 84% | — | — |
| 26 | Gordon College Wenham, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 35 | 69% | $23,077 | — |
| 27 | Mount Holyoke College South Hadley, MAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 31 | 84% | $26,083 | $32,439 |
| 28 | University of California - San Diego La Jolla, CAPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 29 | 86% | — | $23,420 |
| 29 | New York University New York, NYPrivate not-for-profitDoctoralMaster's | 25 | 88% | $29,023 | $37,512 |
| 30 | Claremont McKenna College Claremont, CAPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 21 | 91% | $22,678 | — |
| 31 | Centenary University Hackettstown, NJPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 18 | 56% | $17,490 | $27,933 |
| 32 | Texas State University San Marcos, TXPublicMaster's | 18 | 55% | — | — |
| 33 | Ohio State University - Newark Campus Newark, OHPublicBachelor's | 16 | 29% | — | — |
| 34 | The University of Texas at Dallas Richardson, TXPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 14 | 76% | — | $35,982 |
| 35 | Texas Tech University Lubbock, TXPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 14 | 69% | — | — |
| 36 | CUNY Graduate School and University Center New York, NYPublicMaster's | 13 | — | — | — |
| 37 | Texas Christian University Fort Worth, TXPrivate not-for-profitDoctoralMaster's | 13 | 86% | $25,823 | — |
| 38 | Kent State University at Kent Kent, OHPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 12 | 64% | — | — |
| 39 | Missouri State University - Springfield Springfield, MOPublicPost-degree cert. | 11 | 58% | — | — |
| 40 | Wabash College Crawfordsville, INPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 10 | 77% | $19,021 | — |
| 41 | University of Kentucky Lexington, KYPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 10 | 71% | — | — |
| 42 | University of Louisville Louisville, KYPublicDoctoralMaster's | 10 | 61% | — | — |
| 43 | Nova Southeastern University Fort Lauderdale, FLPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 9 | 63% | $31,672 | — |
| 44 | The University of Texas Permian Basin Odessa, TXPublicMaster's | 9 | 40% | — | — |
| 45 | New Mexico State University - Main Campus Las Cruces, NMPublicMaster'sDoctoral | 8 | 55% | — | — |
| 46 | Texas Woman's University Denton, TXPublicMaster's | 7 | 49% | — | — |
| 47 | George Washington University Washington, DCPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 6 | 84% | $29,789 | $37,906 |
| 48 | Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton, FLPublicDoctoral | 6 | 63% | — | $23,981 |
| 49 | DePaul University Chicago, ILPrivate not-for-profitMaster'sDoctoral | 6 | 68% | $28,141 | — |
| 50 | Rochester Institute of Technology Rochester, NYPrivate not-for-profitMaster's | 6 | 70% | $28,133 | — |
* Median earnings 1 year after graduation for the broader Research and Experimental Psychology field (CIP 42.27) at these institutions; College Scorecard does not publish earnings at the 6-digit level.
Offered in 30 states
Where Experimental Psychology graduates come from. Each state links to all Research and Experimental Psychology programs offered there.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-3039, Psychologists, All Other, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Experimental Psychology program can pursue careers as psychologists, managers, or psychology teachers. The job outlook for this field is about as fast as average, with an expected growth rate of 4.3% and approximately 3,900 annual openings. The median wage for these professionals is $117,580, with a typical education requirement of a master's degree.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 42.2704
The occupations the NCES crosswalk maps this 6-digit code to, with BLS pay and 10-year outlook.
| Occupation | US median pay | Growth | Openings / yr | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Psychologists, All Otherprimary SOC 19-3039 | $110,840 | +4.3% About as fast as average | ~3,900 | Master's degree |
Managers, All Other SOC 11-9199 | $141,900 | +4.5% About as fast as average | ~106,700 | Bachelor's degree |
Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1066 | $80,340 | +3.6% About as fast as average | ~4,000 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Related careers
Other Research and Experimental Psychology specializations
The 10 other 6-digit CIP codes under Research and Experimental Psychology (CIP 42.27).
- Research and Experimental PsychologyCIP 42.279914,082 graduates / yr152 institutions
- Developmental and Child PsychologyCIP 42.27031,771 graduates / yr63 institutions
- Behavioral NeuroscienceCIP 42.27061,391 graduates / yr32 institutions
- Social PsychologyCIP 42.2707455 graduates / yr33 institutions
- Cognitive Psychology and PsycholinguisticsCIP 42.2701382 graduates / yr22 institutions
- Psychometrics and Quantitative PsychologyCIP 42.2708210 graduates / yr16 institutions
- PsychopharmacologyCIP 42.2709partial data74 graduates / yr5 institutions
- Personality PsychologyCIP 42.2705limited data23 graduates / yr2 institutions
- Comparative PsychologyCIP 42.2702limited data16 graduates / yr2 institutions
Show 1 more CIP codes with no U.S. programs reported+
- Developmental and Adolescent Psychology42.2710
No institution reported completions for these codes in the latest IPEDS year, so they have no page.
Common questions
What degrees can I earn in this program?+
You can earn a Bachelor's, Master's, or Doctor's degree in Experimental Psychology.
How many colleges offer this program in the U.S.?+
There are 74 colleges offering the Experimental Psychology program in the U.S.
What is the average number of graduates per year?+
Approximately 4,599 students graduate from this program each year.
What careers can I pursue with this degree?+
You can work as a psychologist, manager, or psychology teacher after completing this program.
What is the CIP code for Experimental Psychology?+
Experimental Psychology is CIP 42.2704 in the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020), a 6-digit specialization within Research and Experimental Psychology (CIP 42.27). NCES defines it as: A program that focuses on the scientific study of behavior under experimental conditions and the analysis of controlled behavioral responses. Includes instruction in learning theory, research design and experimental methods, psychological measurement, statistical design and methods, analysis of cognitive and behavioral variables, and the conduct of specialized and large-scale studies.
How many institutions offer Experimental Psychology programs?+
74 U.S. institutions reported Experimental Psychology graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 30 states, awarding 4,599 credentials in the year. That is 20.0% of all Research and Experimental Psychology graduates.
How much do Experimental Psychology graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Psychologists, All Other occupation, which Experimental Psychology most directly leads to, pays a median of $110,840 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025), and graduates of the broader Research and Experimental Psychology field report median earnings of $37,377 one year after graduation (College Scorecard).
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.
Program definitions are from the NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020). Skills, knowledge, abilities, work activities, tools, and job zones are from the O*NET database by the U.S. Department of Labor, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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