General Psychology: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries

Salaries for General Psychology graduates vary by role and location. Managers, All Other earn a median of $136,550 annually, while Psychologists, All Other earn around $117,580. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in California average $121,440 compared to $72,942 in West Virginia. Approximately 796,560 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.

Currently 1,575 accredited institutions offer General Psychology degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) (4,494 graduates), University of Central Florida (UCF) (1,677 graduates), and Florida International University (FIU) (1,642 graduates).

Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.

Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 113,178 in 2010 to 147,078 in 2023-24. This represents a 30% increase overall from 2010.

The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.

This degree prepares you for roles such as Managers, All Other, Psychologists, All Other, and Industrial-Organizational Psychologists. Related occupations employ approximately 796,560 professionals nationwide.

Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.