Best Psychology Teacher, Postsecondary programs in Washington, ranked by enrollment
Teach courses in psychology, such as child, clinical, and developmental psychology, and psychological counseling.
26 schools in Washington run programs that feed this job, graduating 3,109 people a year. The job pays a median of $78,330 in Washington across about 840 jobs (BLS OEWS May 2025).
Fields of study in Washington that lead to this job
Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level. Numbers are graduates per year in this state.
20 programs in Washington that lead to this job
Ranked by graduates per year in Washington (IPEDS completions). Graduate earnings and debt are national College Scorecard figures reported at the 4-digit CIP level, so specializations within one field share a figure. Each program also links to its own Washington page.
| # | Program | Graduates / yr | Share of pipeline | Schools | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CIP 42.0101In Washington → | 1,731 | 55.7% | 18 | $31,426 | $25,250 |
| 2 | CIP 42.2799In Washington → | 509 | 16.4% | 3 | $34,454 | $21,878 |
| 3 | CIP 51.1505In Washington → | 263 | 8.5% | 8 | $37,335 | $22,861 |
| 4 | CIP 42.2803In Washington → | 156 | 5.0% | 6 | $33,805 | $27,000 |
| 5 | CIP 30.1701In Washington → | 94 | 3.0% | 3 | $36,206 | $29,240 |
| 6 | CIP 42.2805In Washington → | 88 | 2.8% | 5 | $33,805 | $27,000 |
| 7 | CIP 42.2810In Washington → | 60 | 1.9% | 1 | $33,805 | $27,000 |
| 8 | CIP 42.2801In Washington → | 42 | 1.4% | 4 | $33,805 | $27,000 |
| 9 | CIP 42.2703In Washington → | 34 | 1.1% | 2 | $34,454 | $21,878 |
| 10 | CIP 42.2707In Washington → | 31 | 1.0% | 1 | $34,454 | $21,878 |
| 11 | CIP 42.2804In Washington → | 26 | 0.8% | 2 | $33,805 | $27,000 |
| 12 | CIP 42.2807In Washington → | 25 | 0.8% | 1 | $33,805 | $27,000 |
| 13 | CIP 42.2806In Washington → | 13 | 0.4% | 1 | $33,805 | $27,000 |
| 14 | CIP 42.2813In Washington → | 10 | 0.3% | 2 | $33,805 | $27,000 |
| 15 | CIP 42.2802In Washington → | 9 | 0.3% | 1 | $33,805 | $27,000 |
| 16 | CIP 42.2812In Washington → | 8 | 0.3% | 2 | $33,805 | $27,000 |
| 17 | CIP 42.2702In Washington → | 7 | 0.2% | 1 | $34,454 | $21,878 |
| 18 | CIP 42.2704In Washington → | 1 | 0.0% | 1 | $34,454 | $21,878 |
| 19 | CIP 42.2808In Washington → | 1 | 0.0% | 1 | $33,805 | $27,000 |
| 20 | CIP 42.9999In Washington → | 1 | 0.0% | 1 | $36,890 | $18,200 |
Top 25 schools in Washington
Ranked by graduates per year into this job. Graduate earnings are reported for 13 of the 26 schools in this state.
| # | School | Graduates / yr | Top feeder program | Grad earnings (1 yr) | Grad rate | Net price | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Washington - Seattle Campus Seattle, WA Public · 4 feeder programs | 565 | Research and Experimental Psychology, Other | $34,715 | 85% | — | 39% |
| 2 | Washington State University Pullman, WA Public · 1 feeder programs | 458 | Psychology, General | $36,216 | 60% | — | 87% |
| 3 | Eastern Washington University Cheney, WA Public · 8 feeder programs | 275 | Psychology, General | $34,594 | 43% | — | 91% |
| 4 | Western Washington University Bellingham, WA Public · 3 feeder programs | 242 | Psychology, General | $32,306 | 65% | — | 93% |
| 5 | Central Washington University Ellensburg, WA Public · 4 feeder programs | 236 | Psychology, General | $36,964 | 54% | — | 91% |
| 6 | University of Washington - Tacoma Campus Tacoma, WA Public · 2 feeder programs | 174 | Psychology, General | $34,660 | 63% | — | 83% |
| 7 | Seattle University Seattle, WA Private not-for-profit · 4 feeder programs | 164 | Psychology, General | $37,452 | 76% | $31,900 | 77% |
| 8 | Seattle Pacific University Seattle, WA Private not-for-profit · 5 feeder programs | 147 | Psychology, General | $40,264 | 62% | $24,653 | 83% |
| 9 | Antioch University - Seattle Seattle, WA Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 137 | Marriage and Family Therapy/Counseling | — | — | — | — |
| 10 | Gonzaga University Spokane, WA Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 125 | Psychology, General | $33,554 | 86% | $30,006 | 82% |
| 11 | University of Washington - Bothell Campus Bothell, WA Public · 2 feeder programs | 90 | Psychology, General | — | 65% | — | 91% |
| 12 | The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology Seattle, WA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 73 | Counseling Psychology | — | — | — | — |
| 13 | Whitworth University Spokane, WA Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 64 | Psychology, General | $29,005 | 71% | $23,510 | 90% |
| 14 | Pacific Lutheran University Tacoma, WA Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 54 | Psychology, General | $30,757 | 69% | $19,944 | 78% |
| 15 | Saint Martin's University Lacey, WA Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 45 | Marriage and Family Therapy/Counseling | — | 52% | $22,131 | 90% |
| 16 | Bastyr University Kenmore, WA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 38 | Counseling Psychology | — | — | — | — |
| 17 | Whitman College Walla Walla, WA Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs | 34 | Research and Experimental Psychology, Other | — | 81% | $28,508 | 38% |
| 18 | The Evergreen State College Olympia, WA Public · 2 feeder programs | 33 | Social Psychology | — | 41% | — | 96% |
| 19 | Heritage University Toppenish, WA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 31 | Psychology, General | — | 54% | $13,380 | — |
| 20 | Northwest University Kirkland, WA Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 29 | Counseling Psychology | — | 71% | $21,433 | 83% |
| 21 | Northwest University - Center for Online and Extended Education Kirkland, WA Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 24 | Psychology, General | $30,547 | 50% | $26,831 | — |
| 22 | University of Puget Sound Tacoma, WA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 24 | Psychology, General | $25,596 | 68% | $35,057 | 72% |
| 23 | City University of Seattle Seattle, WA Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 23 | Marriage and Family Therapy/Counseling | — | — | $35,049 | — |
| 24 | Walla Walla University College Place, WA Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs | 13 | Psychology, General | — | 60% | $22,260 | — |
| 25 | Faith International University Tacoma, WA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs | 8 | Counseling Psychology | — | 25% | $18,744 | — |
All 26 schools in Washington
Every school in Washington with a program that feeds this job, ordered by graduates per year. Earnings are shown for the ranked schools above; open a school profile for the rest.
| School | City | Control | Graduates / yr | Feeder programs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Washington - Seattle Campus | Seattle | Public | 565 | 4 |
| Washington State University | Pullman | Public | 458 | 1 |
| Eastern Washington University | Cheney | Public | 275 | 8 |
| Western Washington University | Bellingham | Public | 242 | 3 |
| Central Washington University | Ellensburg | Public | 236 | 4 |
| University of Washington - Tacoma Campus | Tacoma | Public | 174 | 2 |
| Seattle University | Seattle | Private not-for-profit | 164 | 4 |
| Seattle Pacific University | Seattle | Private not-for-profit | 147 | 5 |
| Antioch University - Seattle | Seattle | Private not-for-profit | 137 | 3 |
| Gonzaga University | Spokane | Private not-for-profit | 125 | 3 |
| University of Washington - Bothell Campus | Bothell | Public | 90 | 2 |
| The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology | Seattle | Private not-for-profit | 73 | 1 |
| Whitworth University | Spokane | Private not-for-profit | 64 | 2 |
| Pacific Lutheran University | Tacoma | Private not-for-profit | 54 | 2 |
| Saint Martin's University | Lacey | Private not-for-profit | 45 | 2 |
What psychology teachers, postsecondary earn in Washington
What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.
U.S. median $80,340. Washington pays below the national figure.
1.00× means the state has its expected share of these jobs.
Metro areas in Washington
Job outlook
Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.
Growth and openings are national. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not publish employment projections at state level, so these figures describe the occupation across the whole U.S., not this state alone.
How to get in
The full skills, tools, and day-to-day breakdown lives on the national Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary page.
How to become a Psychology Teacher, Postsecondary
Job zone 5 of 5 · SVP 8.0 and above- Typical entry education
- Doctoral or professional degree
Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Top skills
The same job in other states
Where else this occupation employs the most people, and what it pays there.
Related careers in Washington
Every major mapped to this job
The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.
All 25 majors mapped to Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary24 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
- 13.1335Psychology Teacher Education
- 30.1001Biopsychology
- 30.1701Behavioral Sciences
- 30.5301Thanatology
- 42.0101Psychology, General
- 42.2701Cognitive Psychology and Psycholinguistics
- 42.2702Comparative Psychology
- 42.2703Developmental and Child Psychology
- 42.2704Experimental Psychology
- 42.2705Personality Psychology
- 42.2706Behavioral Neuroscience
- 42.2707Social Psychology
- 42.2708Psychometrics and Quantitative Psychology
- 42.2710Developmental and Adolescent Psychology(no graduates reported)
- 42.2799Research and Experimental Psychology, Other
- 42.2801Clinical Psychology
- 42.2802Community Psychology
- 42.2803Counseling Psychology
- 42.2804Industrial and Organizational Psychology
- 42.2805School Psychology
- 42.2806Educational Psychology
- 42.2807Clinical Child Psychology
- 42.2808Environmental Psychology
- 42.2809Geropsychology
- 42.2810Health/Medical Psychology
Common questions
Answers for people weighing psychology teachers, postsecondary programs in Washington.
What degree do you need to become a Psychology Teacher, Postsecondary?+
Doctoral or professional degree is the typical entry-level education BLS reports for this occupation. The most common program people actually graduate from is Psychology, General, which awarded 1,731 degrees in Washington in 2024-25, 55.7% of everyone graduating from a program that feeds this career.
Which college majors lead to becoming a Psychology Teacher, Postsecondary?+
The NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 20 programs to this occupation. The largest are Psychology, Research and Experimental Psychology, Clinical, Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions, plus 2 more. Together they graduate about 3,109 people a year in Washington.
How much do psychology teachers, postsecondary earn in Washington?+
The median is $78,330 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). That is 2.5% below the U.S. median of $80,340. This is pay for people already working in the occupation, not the same thing as graduate earnings one year after finishing a degree.
Is demand for psychology teachers, postsecondary growing?+
BLS projects a +3.6% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, about as fast as average, with roughly 4,000 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.
How many schools offer programs for this career in Washington?+
26 institutions in Washington reported graduates from at least one of the 20 programs that feed this occupation in IPEDS 2024-25. Rankings on this page use graduates per year, because the federal data publishes no enrollment count by program.
What other job titles do psychology teachers, postsecondary work under?+
Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Professor, Instructor, Psychology Professor, Psychology Instructor among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 25-1066.
About the data on this page
Rankings use IPEDS completions 2024–25, degrees awarded per year. That is the closest federal measure of how many people a program puts into a career, because no federal dataset publishes enrollment by program. Wages and employment come from BLS OEWS May 2025, growth and openings from BLS Employment Projections 2024-34, and which majors lead to which jobs from the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. Occupation descriptions, tasks, skills and tools are O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor/ETA).
BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics
May 2025Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.
BLS Employment Projections
2024–34Projected growth, annual openings and typical entry-level education.
IPEDS Completions
2024-25 (provisional)Graduates per year by program and institution — the ranking metric.
College Scorecard, Field of Study
2020-21 cohortsMedian graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.
Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes
latest availableGraduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.
NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk
CIP 2020 / SOC 2018Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.
O*NET Database 30.3
30.3Tasks, skills, knowledge, tools, job zone and alternate job titles.
Official source →CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor / ETA
Explore every U.S. college in one conversation
Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card