Best institutions to study Personality Psychology
A program that focuses on the unique organization of fairly permanent characteristics that set the individual apart from other individuals and, at the same time, determine how others respond to that individual.
2 U.S. institutions graduated 23 Personality Psychology students in 2024–25 (IPEDS). It is CIP 42.2705, 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 Personality Psychology programs
A program that focuses on the unique organization of fairly permanent characteristics that set the individual apart from other individuals and, at the same time, determine how others respond to that individual. Includes instruction in Freudian, Skinnerian, Rogerian, and Ellisonian psychology; neo-Freudian psychology; psychological systems, neurophysiology, and psychopharmacology.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP 2020).
The Personality Psychology program, a subset of Research and Experimental Psychology, delves into the unique characteristics that distinguish individuals and influence their interactions with others. This program is ideal for students interested in understanding the complexities of human behavior and personality traits through various psychological frameworks.
Students in this program will explore foundational theories in psychology, including Freudian, Skinnerian, and Rogerian approaches. Coursework typically covers psychological systems, neurophysiology, and psychopharmacology, providing a comprehensive understanding of personality development and assessment.
Credentials awarded
What Personality Psychology graduates earned in 2024–25, by award level (IPEDS completions).
- Doctor's degree - research/scholarship9 graduates / yr · 1 institution39%
- Bachelor's degree8 graduates / yr · 1 institution35%
- Master's degree6 graduates / yr · 1 institution26%
Graduates over time
Personality Psychology completions reported to IPEDS each year, all award levels combined.
| Year | Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 29 |
| 2013 | 22 |
| 2014 | 32 |
| 2015 | 34 |
| 2016 | 18 |
| 2017 | 33 |
| 2018 | 26 |
| 2019 | 22 |
| 2020 | 27 |
| 2021 | 18 |
| 2022 | 32 |
| 2023 | 21 |
| 2024 | 17 |
| 2025 | 23 |
Top 2 institutions for Personality 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Connecticut Storrs, CTPublicDoctoralMaster's | 15 | 83% | — |
| 2 | Brigham Young University Provo, UTPrivate not-for-profitBachelor's | 8 | 81% | $13,712 |
Offered in 2 states
Where Personality Psychology graduates come from. Each state links to all Research and Experimental Psychology programs offered there.
| State | Institutions | Graduates / yr | Top institution by graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | 1 | 15 | University of Connecticut15 / yr |
| Utah | 1 | 8 | Brigham Young University8 / yr |
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 19-3039, Psychologists, All Other, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Personality Psychology program often pursue careers as psychologists or educators in the field. With an expected job growth rate of 4.3% and approximately 3,900 annual openings, professionals can anticipate a median wage of $117,580, typically requiring a master's degree for advanced positions.
Top-paying metros
Career pathways for CIP 42.2705
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
- Experimental PsychologyCIP 42.27044,599 graduates / yr74 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
- 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 Personality Psychology.
What careers can I pursue with this degree?+
Graduates can work as psychologists, managers, or psychology teachers.
How many colleges offer this program?+
Currently, there are 2 colleges offering this program in the U.S.
What is the job outlook for this field?+
The job outlook is about as fast as average, with a growth rate of 4.3%.
What is the CIP code for Personality Psychology?+
Personality Psychology is CIP 42.2705 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 unique organization of fairly permanent characteristics that set the individual apart from other individuals and, at the same time, determine how others respond to that individual. Includes instruction in Freudian, Skinnerian, Rogerian, and Ellisonian psychology; neo-Freudian psychology; psychological systems, neurophysiology, and psychopharmacology.
How many institutions offer Personality Psychology programs?+
2 U.S. institutions reported Personality Psychology graduates in IPEDS 2024–25, across 2 states, awarding 23 credentials in the year. That is 0.1% of all Research and Experimental Psychology graduates.
How much do Personality Psychology graduates earn?+
Earnings are not published at the 6-digit CIP level by any federal source. The Psychologists, All Other occupation, which Personality Psychology most directly leads to, pays a median of $110,840 a year nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
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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