Key takeaways
- Top 3 psychology programs
- Stanford University
- Harvard University
- Princeton University
- Most affordable in-state:
- University of Maryland Global Campus (Maryland): $1,320 per year
- Most affordable out-of-state:
- University of Maryland Global Campus (Maryland): $1,996 per year
- Most expensive in-state:
- University of Southern California (California): $73,260 per year
- Most affordable out-of-state:
- University of Michigan (Michigan): $63,962 per academic year
- Top psych majors scholarships
- Sharon Stephens Brehm Undergraduate Psychology Scholarship
- Psi Chi Undergraduate Scholarships
- Centennial Mental Health Scholarship
Numerous psychology colleges and universities around the US offeting great bachelor’s programs. However, choosing the right one for yourself can be overwhelming if you don’t have a starting point for your search. In this complete guide, we offer a comprehensive list of colleges by state offering psychology bachelor’s degrees. Whether you are looking for in-state options or out-of-state, there are tons of options to select from. Check out the top psychology colleges by state!
Overview of undergraduate psychology colleges by state
|
Degree level |
Bachelor’s degree — undergraduate level for entry and mid-level jobs |
| Core courses |
|
| Common specializations |
|
| Credit hours | 120 to 130 credit hours |
| Average duration | 3 to 4 years |
Top 3 psychology colleges
Here are the top 3 psychology college programs in the US:
|
Rank |
College |
In-state tuition per academic year |
Out-of-state tuition per academic year |
| 1 | Stanford University | $45,154 | $45,154 |
| 3 | Harvard University | $59,320 | $59,320 |
| 2 | Princeton University | $65,210 | $65,210 |
Related: Best Accredited Online Psychology Programs
Top psychology Colleges by state — Undergrad degrees
Here is a comprehensive list of top psychology colleges by state — 3 best colleges for each state. We have also added the in-state and out-of-state tuition for each college.
Psychology scholarships
A report by Credible suggests that getting any bachelor’s degree in the United States can cost anywhere between $11,950 to $45,000, depending on your state residency status. This can be a financial toll for many students. However, there are hundreds of outstanding scholarship programs for psychology colleges and degrees that you can explore.
Here is an overview of the top psychology majors’ scholarships you can explore:
| Sharon Stephens Brehm Undergraduate Psychology Scholarship |
|
| Psi Chi Undergraduate Scholarships |
|
| Centennial Mental Health Scholarship |
|
Popular psychology concentration tracks and specializations
All bachelor’s programs in psychology offer specialization areas or concentration tracks. The most popular and ideal concentration tracks are:
Clinical psychology
Clinical psychology is one of the most in-demand psychology specializations. Firstly, this specialization focuses on in-depth assessment and diagnosis of various kinds of disorders. It covers many disorders such as mental, emotional, and behavioral. If you wish to pursue an advanced career in ABA as a behavior therapist, you can pick this specialization.
Moreover, the specialization also focuses on using scientifically supported methods for behavior improvement. In this specialization, students primarily study psychopathology, psychological assessment, psychotherapy techniques, and ethics in clinical practice.
In addition to this, this track typically prepares graduates for roles in hospitals, mental health clinics, rehabilitation centers, and private practice. You can also work in schools or special education centers with this degree.
However, there are certain licensure requirements varying by state that need to be considered first. Many students also pursue doctoral programs (PhD or PsyD) to become licensed clinical psychologists.
Forensic psychology
Forensic psychology is the ultimate bridge between psychology and the legal system. A specialized degree in forensic psychology focuses on teaching students the application of psychological principles to criminal investigations and legal decision-making. Within this specialization, the coursework often includes criminal behavior, psychological evaluation, risk assessment, eyewitness testimony, and legal ethics.
Moreover, professionals in this field may conduct competency evaluations, assess criminal responsibility, consult with attorneys, or provide expert testimony in court. In addition to this, there are versatile career paths in forensic psychology that you can explore with this specialization.
Some common paths include work in courts, correctional facilities, law enforcement agencies, and forensic hospitals, with advanced education required for independent practice.
Counseling
Counseling psychology is a meaningful field of work that focuses on helping individuals manage everyday life challenges such as emotional stress, relationship issues, and personal growth. While it closely collaborates with clinical psychology, it is much more focused on mental wellness, prevention, and coping strategies rather than severe mental illness.
In addition to this, in this concentration track, students gain training in counseling theories, assessment techniques, multicultural counseling, and ethical practice. As graduates, you may work in schools, universities, community mental health centers, or private practice, typically requiring a master’s degree and state or national licensure to practice professionally.
Read more: Social work vs counseling vs psychology – which degree is better?
Criminal psychology
Another very popular and successful field of study is criminal psychology. This specialization is also closely linked to forensic psychology, as it primarily focuses on the mental processes, motivations, and behavioral patterns of criminals and offenders. Moreover, this study trains students to not only understand criminal behavior but also develop interventions to reduce the likelihood of criminal activities.
Some of the common areas of focus in this specialization include behavioral profiling, offender assessment, interrogation psychology, and crime prevention strategies. Graduates often work in research, policy development, law enforcement support roles, or continue their education in forensic or clinical psychology.
Industrial organization
Industrial–organizational psychology applies psychological science to improve workplace efficiency, employee well-being, and organizational effectiveness. This is a closely related field to business, and therefore has numerous work opportunities and career paths.
Moreover, IO psychology is one of the most interesting and data-driven fields. It is packed with business insights, research, and corporate management. Furthermore, students get to study really intriguing courses and subjects such as employee motivation, leadership, recruitment and selection, performance evaluation, and organizational culture.
Read more: Industrial Organization Psychology – Business Focused Track, Courses, and Careers
Core courses taught in undergrad psychology colleges
While there are so many different colleges offering a range of programs in the psychology field, most of them have similar coursework and program outlines. Here is a list of the core courses that are taught in psychology undergraduate programs.
- Research Methods
- Psychology Statics
- Psychology Labs
- Social Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Psychology And Crime
- Personality Psychology
- Physiological Psychology
- Ethics In Psychology
Next steps: Test-optional grad schools for psychology
You should plan your future steps as well, for when you have graduated with a bachelor’s degree. This can help you manage your performance during the undergraduate program and be an early-bird for grad schools.
So, the following is a list of test-optional graduate schools for psychology where applying and getting accepted is easier than the rest. Have a look!
|
College |
In-state tuition cost |
| Vanguard University | |
| Walden University |
|
| Saybrook University | $1,446 per credit |
| The Chicago School | $1,458 per credit hour |
| Capella University |
|
| California Southern University | $645 per credit hour |
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
How should I choose the best psychology college?
To choose the best psychology college, make sure you have clearly defined career goals and vision. Firstly, make sure you know what specialization or concentration track you want to choose, depending on whether or not you plan on pursuing higher education such as a grad psychology degree.
Secondly, when you are searching for the top psychology bachelor programs, go through the program or college accreditations to make sure you make the right choice. Finally, don’t forget to choose practical factors such as housing allowance, living facilities, tuition costs, financial aid, and state residency.
You can get expert degree advice from AllBachelorDegrees, or use an AI college recommendation tool to explore personalized recommendations.
What do you study in a psychology degree?
In psychology bachelors degrees, students study a range of courses and subjects that are concerned with human behavior and mental processes. While the coursework depends on your chosen concentration track, there are some foundational or core courses that are found in all undergraduate psychology majors. These courses:
- General psychology
- Developmental psychology
- Cognitive psychology
- Abnormal psychology
- Research methods
- Psychology statistics
As students advance into the degree, they may explore more specific or specialized courses.
Why are in-state tuition lower than out-of-state?
In-state tuition costs for undergraduate programs are typically lower than out-of-state. This is because state residents help fund public universities through taxes, so they get a benefit when enrolling in the school systems. On the other hand, out-of-state students do not typically contribute towards state funding, and therefore, pay a higher fee.
Is psychology a hard degree?
Unlike other liberal arts degrees, a psychology college degree is typically a challenging field. It is a complex field with multi-layered subjects and insights that need to be explored. However, it is not typically referred to as unmanageable degrees, and many students graduate with flying colors. One of the many challenges most students face is with statistics, mathematics, research, and technical terminology (specially in clinical psychology).
This is a STEM major, so some challenges are expected. Yet, it continues to be a growing choice amongst many young adults, primarily because it is a rewarding field. According to DATA USA, the number of degrees awarded is growing by 3.25%.
Which state has the fewest psychology colleges?
While most states have private and small-scale institutions offering psychology bachelor’s degrees, it is important to note that accredited colleges are still limited in states, especially Alaska. In particular, three accredited colleges in Alaska offer psychology majors, including the University of Alaska Anchorage, the University of Alaska Global Campus, and the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
Which state has the best psychology colleges?
States like California and Massachusetts have the best colleges offering a bachelor’s degree in psychology. California has top-of-the-line colleges such as Stanford University and UCLA. While Massachusetts has Harvard University, which is a global symbol of high-quality education.
Conclusion
In summary, there are top psychology colleges such as Stanford University, Harvard University, and Princeton University. However, their admission requirements may be tougher than other options. Therefore, you can look for more practical options and explore colleges by state. While there are limited opinions for accredited colleges in Alaska, Hawaii, and some other states, you can find excellent options in Massachusetts, California, and Connecticut.