Individuals who pursue higher education in the field of psychology have a wealth of job opportunities open to them upon the completion of their degrees. Information from U.S. News and World Report show that a postsecondary education in psychology can ready you for employment in local, state, and federal government, in schools, hospitals, mental health clinics, or private practice. Median salaries for such degree-holders range from $40,000 for postsecondary academic advisers to $74,000 for industrial-organizational psychologists.
If you are interested in furthering your education in psychology, an online degree program can be a great way to earn credits toward your degree while giving you the flexibility to hold down a job, raise kids, and live virtually anywhere in the country. Plus, many of these degrees are very affordable and do not require you to take the GRE like many traditional psychology programs. Keep reading to learn more about the top online graduate degree programs in psychology.
#1 Abilene Christian University
A private university located in Texas with a Christian-centered perspective.
Specialties: General Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Counseling Psychology, School Psychology, Marriage and Family Therapy, Certificate in Conflict Resolution, Certificate in Medical Family Therapy
Degree Types: Certificate, Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s Degree, Specialist Degree
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education
#2 American International College
Co-educational institution offering a variety of online degree programs with low student-teacher ratios.
Specialties: General Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Forensic Psychology, Counseling Psychology, Educational Psychology, Graduate Certificate in General Psychology
Degree Types: Certificate, Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s Degree
Accreditation: New England Association of Schools and Colleges, National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification
#3 Argosy University
Educational system with 28 convenient locations around the United States and flexible online degrees.
Specialties: General Psychology, Counseling Psychology, Forensic Psychology, Marriage & Family Therapy, Sport-Exercise Psychology, Community Counseling, Industrial Organizational Psychology, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Human Services, Clinical Psychology, Pastoral Community Counseling, Counselor Education & Supervision
Degree Types: Associate’s Degree, Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s Degree, Doctorate Degree
Accreditation: Senior College and University Commission of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges
#4 The Chicago School of Professional Psychology
A graduate institution specializing in psychology and offering more 20 degree programs.
Specialties: Applied Behavioral Analysis, Child and Adolescent Psychology, Organizations & Systems Psychology, Trauma Services, Trauma & Group Conflict, Management & Leadership, Environmental Advocacy, International Psychology, Organizational Leadership, Sport & Exercise Psychology, Educational Psychology & Technology, Business Psychology, Behavioral Economics, Public Health, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Forensic Psychology, Industrial & Organizational Psychology
Degree Types: Certificate, Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s Degree, Doctorate Degree,
Accreditation: Western Association of Schools & Colleges Senior College and University Commission
#5 California Southern University
Private American university offering accredited degrees in business, psychology, criminal justice and law.
Specialties: General Psychology, Addiction Studies, Chemical Dependency, Healthcare Services, Industrial Psychology, Pastoral Counseling, Sports Psychology
Degree Types: Certificate, Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s Degree, Doctorate Degree (Psy.D)
Accreditation: Distance Education Accrediting Commission
#6 Capella University
Institution of higher learning with various online degree programs at very affordable rates.
Specialties: General Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Educational Psychology, Child and Adolescent Development, Industrial-Organizational Psychology, Evaluation, Research & Measurement, Sport Psychology, Mental Health Counseling, Leadership Coaching Psychology, Counselor Education and Supervision, Addiction Psychology, Social Work, School Psychology, Applied Behavior Analysis, Counseling Psychology, Marriage & Family Therapy
Degree Types: Certificate, Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s Degree, Doctorate Degree
Accreditation: The Higher Learning Commission
#7 Fort Hays State University
Public, co-educational university offering various virtual programs located in Hays, Kansas
Specialties: General Psychology, School Psychology, Counseling, Educational Psychology
Degree Types: Certificate, Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s Degree, Specialist Degree
Accreditation: The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
#8 Golden Gate University
Located in the financial district of downtown San Francisco, offering a wide range of online degree programs
Specialties: Industrial-Organizational Psychology, Counseling Psychology, Graduate Certificate in Conflict Resolution, Graduate Certificate in Counseling Skills, Marriage and Family Therapy
Degree Types: Certificate, Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s Degree
Accreditation: Western Association of Schools and Colleges
#9 Grand Canyon University
Leading private Christian university located in Phoenix, Arizona.
Specialties: General Psychology, Addiction Counseling, Christian Counseling, Professional Counseling, Industrial-Organizational Psychology
Degree Types: Certificate, Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s Degree, Doctorate Degree
Accreditation: The Higher Learning Commission, National Addiction Studies Accreditation Commission
Kaplan University– Institution of higher learning committed to providing undergraduate and graduate degrees on campus and online.
Specialties: General Psychology, Educational Psychology, Applied Behavior Analysis, Industrial-Organizational Psychology, Addictions, Autism Spectrum Disorder Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
Degree Types: Certificate, Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s Degree, Doctorate Degree
Accreditation: The Higher Learning Commission, Behavior Analyst Certification Board
Liberty University– Features a Christian academic community and more than 450 programs.
Specialties: School Counseling, Human Services Counseling, Marriage & Family Therapy, Pastoral Counseling, Professional Counseling, Counselor Education and Supervision
Degree Types: Certificate, Associate’s Degree, Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s Degree, Doctorate Degree
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education
North Central University- Private, virtual institution of higher learning providing a variety of graduate degree programs.
Specialties: General Psychology, Addictions, Health Psychology, Industrial-Organizational Psychology, Marriage & Family Therapy, Mental Health Policy & Practice, Trauma & Disaster Relief, Gender Diversity Studies
Degree Types: Certificate, Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s Degree, Doctorate Degree
Accreditation: The Higher Learning Commission, Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education
NOVA Southeastern University– Located in Florida, a co-educational, research university offering a wide range of degree programs.
Specialties: Counseling Psychology, Applied Behavior Analysis, Substance Abuse & Education, Mental Health Counseling
Degree Types: Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s Degree
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, Commission on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association
Sacred Heart University– Connecticut-based Roman Catholic University providing premier undergraduate and graduate degree program.
Specialties: General Applied Psychology, Community Psychology, Industrial-Organizational Psychology
Degree Types: Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s Degree
Accreditation: New England Association of Schools and Colleges
Southern New Hampshire University– Private, non-profit university located in New Hampshire and offering more than 200 degree programs.
Specialties: General Psychology, Child & Adolescent Development, Forensic Psychology, Industrial-Organizational Psychology
Degree Types: Associate’s Degree, Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s Degree
Accreditation: New England Association of Schools and Colleges
University of North Dakota- Situated in Grand Forks, North Dakota, a national public research university with numerous online learning programs.
Specialties: General Psychology, Forensic Psychology, School Counseling, Autism Spectrum Disorders Graduate Certificate
Degree Types: Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s Degree
Accreditation: The Higher Learning Commission
University of Phoenix- Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona with locations throughout the United States providing flexible degree programs.
Specialties: General Psychology, Industrial-Organizational Psychology, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Marriage & Family Therapy, School Counseling, Addictions Studies, Gerontology
Degree Types: Associate’s Degree, Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s Degree
Accreditation: The Higher Learning Commission
University of the Rockies- Features graduate and postgraduate coursework in social and behavioral sciences online and on campus
Specialties: General Psychology, Health & Wellness, Career Management & Counseling, Mediation & Conflict Resolution, Sport & Performance Psychology, Educational Leadership, Business Psychology
Degree Types: Certificate, Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s Degree, Doctorate Degree
Accreditation: The Higher Learning Commission
Walden University– Institution of higher education headquartered in Minnesota that is dedicated to helping psychology students earn a higher degree and reach a higher purpose.
Specialties: Psychology, Forensic Psychology, Industrial-Organizational Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Counselor Education and Supervision, Addiction Counseling, Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Marriage Couple and Family Counseling, School Counseling, Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Organizational Psychology and Development, Post-Master’s Online Teaching in Psychology Certificate, Post-Doctoral Psychology Respecialization Certificate
Degree Types: Certificate, Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s Degree, Doctorate Degree
Accreditation: The Higher Learning Commission, National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education, Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs
William James College– Formerly Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology. Graduate school of psychology located in Boston, Massachusetts.
Specialties: Organizational Psychology, General Psychology
Degree Types: Certificate, Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s Degree
Accreditation: New England Association of Schools and Colleges
Scholarships for Psychology Grad Students
Students pursuing higher education in psychology may be eligible for an array of scholarships to help them pay for their education. The following are 5 scholarships exclusively available to graduate psychology students:
- The Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation sponsors Research Grants to scholars in social sciences like psychology who are conducting research that will lead to greater understanding of the causes, manifestations, and control of violence and aggression. These grants may be used for graduate students conducting ancillary studies as the money cannot be used for research conducted towards the fulfillment of a degree program.
Deadline: August 1st
Amount: $15,000-$40,000
- The Junior Scientist Fellowship sponsored by the American Psychological Association of Graduate Students and Psi Chi is open to first-year or second-year first-semester graduate students. Applicants must be outstanding psychology students who are enrolled in research-based psychology or neuroscience graduate programs.
Deadline: June 30th
Amount: $1,000
- The American Psychological Foundation sponsors a number of general scholarship awards for graduate students in psychology, assisting them with funding their research. Degree programs can be either masters or doctoral-level. Candidates are recommended by the department of psychology at their respective institution.
Deadline: June 30th
Amount: $1,000-$5,000
- The California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists administers several Educational Foundation Scholarship awards to members of the CAMFT who are pursuing graduate studies towards a degree that qualifies them for licensure or planning a research study that advances the field of marriage and family therapy.
Deadline: December 31st
Amount: $4,000
- Graduate students studying pain management and disabilities may be eligible to compete for the Scott and Paul Pearsall Scholarship. The award is open to talented students who are conducting research that enhances exposure and understanding of psychological pain and stigma associated with adults living with cerebral palsy and other physical disabilities.
Deadline: October 1st
Amount: $10,000
Gaining the necessary education you need for a career in psychology can open many doors in your future.
We hope you enjoyed reading about these top 20 graduate programs in psychology. Apply for any scholarships or grants that you may be eligible for today.
Additional Resources
- 7 Best Salary & Jobs with a Masters in Psychology Degree
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- Best & Different Types of Psychology Degrees
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