Best colleges for Psychology in Virginia
Ranked by graduate earnings
Virginia Military Institute, William & Mary and George Mason University are the top bachelor's Psychology programs in Virginia by graduate earnings. Virginia Military Institute leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $44,163, College Scorecard. Liberty University, Virginia Commonwealth University and George Mason University award the most Psychology degrees in Virginia: 1,752, 530 and 481 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 40 Virginia colleges offer Psychology and award 5,451 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 | Virginia Military Institute Lexington Public · Bachelor's degree | $44,163 | 41 | 76% | — | $19,250 |
| 2 | William & Mary Williamsburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,818 | 184 | 89% | — | $19,379 |
| 3 | George Mason University Fairfax Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,326 | 481 | 68% | — | $21,000 |
| 4 | University of Virginia Charlottesville Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,121 | 187 | 96% | — | $19,500 |
| 5 | Randolph-Macon College Ashland Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $35,967 | 26 | 70% | $26,498 | $27,000 |
| 6 | Christopher Newport University Newport News Public · Bachelor's degree | $35,028 | 128 | 72% | — | $23,500 |
| 7 | Old Dominion University Norfolk Public · Bachelor's degree | $34,303 | 317 | 46% | — | $26,000 |
| 8 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg Public · Bachelor's degree | $33,733 | 218 | 86% | — | $22,151 |
| 9 | Radford University Radford Public · Bachelor's degree | $32,751 | 109 | 49% | — | $25,233 |
| 10 | Liberty University Lynchburg Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $32,679 | 1,752 | 65% | $28,911 | $32,916 |
Colleges awarding the most Psychology degrees in Virginia
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 | Liberty University Lynchburg Private not-for-profit | 1,752 | $32,679 |
| 2 | Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond Public | 530 | $29,462 |
| 3 | George Mason University Fairfax Public | 481 | $36,326 |
| 4 | James Madison University Harrisonburg Public | 327 | $31,734 |
| 5 | Old Dominion University Norfolk Public | 317 | $34,303 |
| 6 | Northern Virginia Community College Annandale Public | 230 | Not reported |
| 7 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg Public | 218 | $33,733 |
| 8 | University of Virginia Charlottesville Public | 187 | $36,121 |
| 9 | William & Mary Williamsburg Public | 184 | $36,818 |
| 10 | Regent University Virginia Beach Private not-for-profit | 168 | $30,307 |
ShowHide the other 30 Virginia colleges offering Psychology
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christopher Newport University | Newport News | Public | 128 |
| Radford University | Radford | Public | 109 |
| Norfolk State University | Norfolk | Public | 97 |
| University of Mary Washington | Fredericksburg | Public | 68 |
| Virginia State University | Petersburg | Public | 68 |
| Hampton University | Hampton | Private not-for-profit | 53 |
| Brightpoint Community College | Chester | Public | 50 |
| Roanoke College | Salem | Private not-for-profit | 41 |
| Virginia Military Institute | Lexington | Public | 41 |
| Divine Mercy University (Graduate only) | Sterling | Private not-for-profit | 39 |
| Virginia Wesleyan University | Virginia Beach | Private not-for-profit | 35 |
| Longwood University | Farmville | Public | 34 |
| Averett University | Danville | Private not-for-profit | 27 |
| Mary Baldwin University | Staunton | Private not-for-profit | 27 |
| Southern Virginia University | Buena Vista | Private not-for-profit | 27 |
| Randolph-Macon College | Ashland | Private not-for-profit | 26 |
| University of Lynchburg | Lynchburg | Private not-for-profit | 24 |
| Bridgewater College | Bridgewater | Private not-for-profit | 22 |
| Emory & Henry University | Emory | Private not-for-profit | 19 |
| Marymount University | Arlington | Private not-for-profit | 19 |
| Shenandoah University | Winchester | Private not-for-profit | 19 |
| Hollins University | Roanoke | Private not-for-profit | 18 |
| Eastern Mennonite University | Harrisonburg | Private not-for-profit | 15 |
| Virginia Union University | Richmond | Private not-for-profit | 15 |
| Ferrum College | Ferrum | Private not-for-profit | 14 |
| Randolph College | Lynchburg | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Sweet Briar College | Sweet Briar | Private not-for-profit | 7 |
| Hampden-Sydney College | Hampden-Sydney | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| South University - Richmond | Glen Allen | Private for-profit | 3 |
| South University - Virginia Beach | Virginia Beach | Private for-profit | 2 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Clinical and Counseling Psychologists (SOC 19-3033).
Top skills
What Clinical and Counseling Psychologists earn in Virginia
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Psychology programs in Virginia.
Which Virginia colleges award the most Psychology degrees?+
Liberty University (1,752 graduates a year), Virginia Commonwealth University (530 graduates a year) and George Mason University (481 graduates a year) award the most Psychology degrees in Virginia, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 40 Virginia colleges offer Psychology.
What is the best college for Psychology in Virginia?+
By graduate earnings, Virginia Military Institute leads among bachelor's Psychology programs in Virginia, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $44,163, College Scorecard. William & Mary and George Mason University follow. By degrees awarded, Liberty University is the largest, with 1,752 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Psychology program in Virginia has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Virginia Military Institute tops the list at $44,163. 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 Virginia?+
The average annual wage for Clinical and Counseling Psychologists in Virginia is $98,460 (median $86,520), across about 2,140 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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