Experimental Psychology: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Experimental Psychology is a rigorous academic discipline dedicated to understanding the mechanisms of human and animal behavior through controlled, empirical research. This program emphasizes the design, execution, and interpretation of experiments to uncover fundamental principles of perception, cognition, learning, and decision-making.
- Learning Theory: Explores how individuals acquire, retain, and modify behaviors through conditioning, reinforcement, and environmental interaction.
- Research Design and Experimental Methods: Focuses on the systematic planning and implementation of studies to test psychological hypotheses with precision and validity.
- Psychological Measurement: Involves the development and application of tools and techniques to quantify mental processes and behavioral patterns reliably.
- Statistical Design and Methods: Covers advanced quantitative approaches for analyzing experimental data, including hypothesis testing, modeling, and error control.
- Analysis of Cognitive and Behavioral Variables: Examines how mental processes such as attention, memory, and problem-solving influence observable behavior.
- Specialized and Large-Scale Studies: Prepares students to manage complex research projects, from pilot trials to extensive longitudinal investigations across diverse populations.
Experimental Psychology Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Experimental Psychology Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Experimental Psychology degrees, including Managers, All Other, Psychologists, All Other and Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 690,380 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Managers, All Other 11-9199 | $136,550 | $68,860 - $227,590 | 630,980 | $65.65 |
| Psychologists, All Other 19-3039 | $117,580 | $51,410 - $163,570 | 17,790 | $56.53 |
| Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1066 | $80,330 | $47,870 - $158,900 | 41,610 | N/A |
Experimental Psychology Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $80,513 in West Virginia to $141,620 in California—a 76% difference. The highest-paying states include California, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 690,380 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Experimental Psychology by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 73 institutions offering Experimental Psychology programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Experimental Psychology is found at Ohio State University, Main Campus (762 graduates), University of California (UCSB), Santa Barbara (518 graduates), University of Michigan (U‑M), Ann Arbor (423 graduates), Purdue University (PU), Main Campus (401 graduates), and University of South Carolina (USC), Columbia (394 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 4,439 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
762 | Columbus, Ohio | Public | osu.edu |
| University of California (UCSB) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
518 | Santa Barbara, California | Public | ucsb.edu |
| University of Michigan (U‑M) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
423 | Ann Arbor, Michigan | Public | umich.edu |
| Purdue University (PU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
401 | West Lafayette, Indiana | Public | purdue.edu |
| University of South Carolina (USC) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
394 | Columbia, South Carolina | Public | sc.edu |
| Washington University in St Louis (WashU) |
Bachelor's
|
148 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | wustl.edu |
| University of Chicago (UChicago) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
130 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | uchicago.edu |
| University of Arizona |
Bachelor's
|
116 | Tucson, Arizona | Public | arizona.edu |
| Brandeis University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
105 | Waltham, Massachusetts | Private | brandeis.edu |
| Tufts University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
100 | Medford, Massachusetts | Private | tufts.edu |
| Yale University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
94 | New Haven, Connecticut | Private | yale.edu |
| Harvard University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
94 | Cambridge, Massachusetts | Private | harvard.edu |
| Skidmore College |
Bachelor's
|
94 | Saratoga Springs, New York | Private | skidmore.edu |
| Johns Hopkins University (JHU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
81 | Baltimore, Maryland | Private | jhu.edu |
| University of Rochester |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
74 | Rochester, New York | Private | rochester.edu |
| Mount Holyoke College (MHC) |
Bachelor's
|
71 | South Hadley, Massachusetts | Private | mtholyoke.edu |
| Purdue University Fort Wayne (PFW) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
69 | Fort Wayne, Indiana | Public | pfw.edu |
| Dartmouth College |
Bachelor's
|
60 | Hanover, New Hampshire | Private | dartmouth.edu |
| Gettysburg College |
Bachelor's
|
56 | Gettysburg, Pennsylvania | Private | gettysburg.edu |
| Brown University |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (Research)
|
52 | Providence, Rhode Island | Private | brown.edu |
| Williams College |
Bachelor's
|
51 | Williamstown, Massachusetts | Private | williams.edu |
| Gordon College |
Bachelor's
|
38 | Wenham, Massachusetts | Private | gordon.edu |
| Princeton University |
Bachelor's
|
38 | Princeton, New Jersey | Private | princeton.edu |
| Texas A & M University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
38 | College Station, Texas | Public | tamu.edu |
| Claremont McKenna College (CMC) |
Bachelor's
|
32 | Claremont, California | Private | cmc.edu |
| Reed College |
Bachelor's
|
24 | Portland, Oregon | Private | reed.edu |
| Centenary University |
Bachelor's
|
21 | Hackettstown, New Jersey | Private | centenaryuniversity.edu |
| Missouri State University |
Postbac Cert.
|
20 | Springfield, Missouri | Public | missouristate.edu |
| The University of Texas |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
18 | Richardson, Texas | Public | utdallas.edu |
| CUNY Graduate School and University Center |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
17 | New York, New York | Public | gc.cuny.edu |
| Ohio State University |
Bachelor's
|
17 | Newark, Ohio | Public | newark.osu.edu |
| Texas State University (TXST) |
Master's
|
17 | San Marcos, Texas | Public | txst.edu |
| The University of Texas |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
17 | Austin, Texas | Public | utexas.edu |
| Wabash College |
Bachelor's
|
16 | Crawfordsville, Indiana | Private | wabash.edu |
| Ohio State University |
Bachelor's
|
14 | Lima, Ohio | Public | lima.osu.edu |
| Ohio State University |
Bachelor's
|
14 | Mansfield, Ohio | Public | mansfield.osu.edu |
| Ohio State University |
Bachelor's
|
14 | Marion, Ohio | Public | osumarion.osu.edu |
| University of California (UCSD) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
13 | La Jolla, California | Public | ucsd.edu |
| Texas Tech University (TTU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
13 | Lubbock, Texas | Public | ttu.edu |
| Kent State University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
12 | Kent, Ohio | Public | kent.edu |
| New York University (NYU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
11 | New York, New York | Private | nyu.edu |
| University of Kentucky (UK) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
10 | Lexington, Kentucky | Public | uky.edu |
| Florida Atlantic University (FAU) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
9 | Boca Raton, Florida | Public | fau.edu |
| University of Louisville (UofL) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
8 | Louisville, Kentucky | Public | louisville.edu |
| The University of Texas Permian Basin |
Master's
|
8 | Odessa, Texas | Public | utpb.edu |
| DePaul University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
7 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | depaul.edu |
| Ohio University (OHIO) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
7 | Athens, Ohio | Public | ohio.edu |
| Texas Woman's University (TWU) |
Master's
|
7 | Denton, Texas | Public | twu.edu |
| West Virginia University (WVU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
7 | Morgantown, West Virginia | Public | wvu.edu |
| George Washington University (GW) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
6 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | gwu.edu |
| University of Massachusetts |
Master's
|
6 | North Dartmouth, Massachusetts | Public | umassd.edu |
| University of Connecticut (UConn) |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
5 | Storrs, Connecticut | Public | uconn.edu |
| Idaho State University (ISU) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
5 | Pocatello, Idaho | Public | isu.edu |
| Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) |
Master's
|
5 | Rochester, New York | Private | rit.edu |
| The University of Texas (UTEP) |
Master's
|
5 | El Paso, Texas | Public | utep.edu |
| The University of Texas (UTSA) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
5 | San Antonio, Texas | Public | utsa.edu |
| Central Washington University (CWU) |
Master's
|
5 | Ellensburg, Washington | Public | cwu.edu |
| Central Michigan University (CMU) |
Master's
|
4 | Mount Pleasant, Michigan | Public | cmich.edu |
| Gannon University |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Erie, Pennsylvania | Private | gannon.edu |
| University of North Texas (UNT) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
4 | Denton, Texas | Public | unt.edu |
| Nova Southeastern University (NSU) |
Master's
|
3 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | Private | nova.edu |
| Minnesota State University |
Other Award
|
3 | Mankato, Minnesota | Public | mnsu.edu |
| The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) |
Master's
|
3 | Edinburg, Texas | Public | utrgv.edu |
| Sam Houston State University (SHSU) |
Master's
|
3 | Huntsville, Texas | Public | shsu.edu |
| University of Denver (DU) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
2 | Denver, Colorado | Private | du.edu |
| Murray State University (MSU) |
Master's
|
2 | Murray, Kentucky | Public | murraystate.edu |
| New Mexico State University (NMSU) |
Master's
|
2 | Las Cruces, New Mexico | Public | nmsu.edu |
| CUNY Brooklyn College |
Master's
|
2 | Brooklyn, New York | Public | brooklyn.cuny.edu |
| University of West Alabama (UWA) |
Master's
|
1 | Livingston, Alabama | Public | uwa.edu |
| University of Idaho (U of I) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
1 | Moscow, Idaho | Public | uidaho.edu |
| Saint Louis University (SLU) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
1 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | slu.edu |
| University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) |
Master's
|
1 | Edmond, Oklahoma | Public | uco.edu |
| The University of Texas |
Doctorate (Research)
|
1 | Arlington, Texas | Public | uta.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Experimental Psychology programs
How much can I earn with a Experimental Psychology degree?
Salaries for Experimental 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 $141,620 compared to $80,513 in West Virginia. Approximately 690,380 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Experimental Psychology programs?
Currently 73 accredited institutions offer Experimental Psychology degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Ohio State University, Main Campus (762 graduates), University of California (UCSB), Santa Barbara (518 graduates), and University of Michigan (U‑M), Ann Arbor (423 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Experimental Psychology growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 476 in 2010 to 4,439 in 2023-24. This represents a 833% 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.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Experimental Psychology degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Managers, All Other, Psychologists, All Other, and Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary. Related occupations employ approximately 690,380 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.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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