Psychology: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Psychology is the scientific study of the mind, behavior, and the complex interplay between internal mental processes and external environmental influences. This interdisciplinary field explores how individuals think, feel, act, and interact across diverse contexts, with applications spanning mental health, education, organizational dynamics, and social systems.
- Cognitive Psychology: Investigates how people perceive, process, remember, and use information, including attention, problem-solving, and decision-making mechanisms.
- Developmental Psychology: Examines psychological growth and change across the lifespan, from infancy through old age, focusing on emotional, social, and cognitive development.
- Abnormal Psychology: Studies patterns of behavior, emotions, and thoughts that deviate from societal norms, with an emphasis on understanding, diagnosing, and treating mental health disorders.
- Biological Psychology: Explores the physiological and neurological underpinnings of behavior, including brain function, neurotransmitters, and genetic influences on mental processes.
- Social Psychology: Analyzes how individuals are shaped by social environments, including topics like group dynamics, attitudes, persuasion, and interpersonal relationships.
- Personality Psychology: Focuses on enduring patterns of thought, emotion, and behavior that define individual differences, including theories of personality structure and development.
- Research Methods & Statistics: Equips students with rigorous tools for designing experiments, collecting data, and interpreting results using quantitative and qualitative approaches.
Psychology Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Psychology Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with 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 |
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 Psychology by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 68 institutions offering 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 Psychology is found at Grand Canyon University (GCU) (834 graduates), University of Phoenix (UOPX), Arizona (468 graduates), Azusa Pacific University (APU) (227 graduates), University of California (UCSD), San Diego (160 graduates), and Sofia University (ITP) (150 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 2,825 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Canyon University (GCU) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
834 | Phoenix, Arizona | Private | gcu.edu |
| University of Phoenix (UOPX) |
Master's
|
468 | Phoenix, Arizona | Private | phoenix.edu |
| Azusa Pacific University (APU) |
Master's
Doctorate (Professional)
|
227 | Azusa, California | Private | apu.edu |
| University of California (UCSD) |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (Research)
|
160 | La Jolla, California | Public | ucsd.edu |
| Sofia University (ITP) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
150 | Palo Alto, California | Private | sofia.edu |
| Russell Sage College |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
111 | Troy, New York | Private | sage.edu |
| Centenary University |
Master's
|
87 | Hackettstown, New Jersey | Private | centenaryuniversity.edu |
| Marist College |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
68 | Poughkeepsie, New York | Private | marist.edu |
| Pacifica Graduate Institute |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
61 | Carpinteria, California | Private | pacifica.edu |
| Tiffin University (TU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
54 | Tiffin, Ohio | Private | tiffin.edu |
| University of Denver (DU) |
Master's
|
45 | Denver, Colorado | Private | du.edu |
| University of Puerto Rico (UPR Cayey) |
Bachelor's
|
42 | Cayey, Puerto Rico | Public | cayey.upr.edu |
| The Chicago School (TCSPP) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
41 | Los Angeles, California | Private | thechicagoschool.edu |
| Pennsylvania State University |
Master's
|
40 | University Park, Pennsylvania | Public | worldcampus.psu.edu |
| University of Utah (U of U) |
Other Award
|
35 | Salt Lake City, Utah | Public | utah.edu |
| University of Holy Cross (UHC) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
28 | New Orleans, Louisiana | Private | uhcno.edu |
| Los Angeles Harbor College (LAHC) |
Associate's
|
25 | Wilmington, California | Public | lahc.edu |
| University of California (UCSB) |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
23 | Santa Barbara, California | Public | ucsb.edu |
| University of Missouri-St Louis (UMSL) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
|
20 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Public | umsl.edu |
| Florida National University (FNU) |
Master's
|
18 | Hialeah, Florida | Private | fnu.edu |
| University of Wisconsin |
Other Award
|
16 | Kenosha, Wisconsin | Public | uwp.edu |
| Seminole State College |
Associate's
|
15 | Seminole, Oklahoma | Public | sscok.edu |
| East Central University (ECU) |
Master's
|
14 | Ada, Oklahoma | Public | ecok.edu |
| Salve Regina University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Post-Master's
|
14 | Newport, Rhode Island | Private | salve.edu |
| Concordia University Texas (CTX) |
Bachelor's
|
14 | Austin, Texas | Private | concordia.edu |
| Naropa University |
Master's
|
12 | Boulder, Colorado | Private | naropa.edu |
| Hood College |
Postbac Cert.
|
12 | Frederick, Maryland | Private | hood.edu |
| Central Baptist College (CBC) |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Conway, Arkansas | Private | cbc.edu |
| National University (NU) |
Bachelor's
|
11 | San Diego, California | Private | nu.edu |
| Montreat College |
Bachelor's
|
11 | Montreat, North Carolina | Private | montreat.edu |
| Kean University |
Bachelor's
|
10 | Union, New Jersey | Public | kean.edu |
| Indiana Wesleyan University |
Master's
|
10 | Marion, Indiana | Private | indwes.edu |
| Arkansas State University (A-State) |
Other Award
|
9 | Jonesboro, Arkansas | Public | astate.edu |
| Michigan State University (MSU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
9 | East Lansing, Michigan | Public | msu.edu |
| Lesley University |
Doctorate (Research)
|
8 | Cambridge, Massachusetts | Private | lesley.edu |
| Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) |
Postbac Cert.
|
7 | Richmond, Kentucky | Public | eku.edu |
| Husson University |
Master's
|
7 | Bangor, Maine | Private | husson.edu |
| Westfield State University (WSU) |
Master's
|
6 | Westfield, Massachusetts | Public | westfield.ma.edu |
| Webster University |
Bachelor's
|
6 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | webster.edu |
| Southern Arkansas University Tech (SAU Tech) |
Other Award
|
5 | Camden, Arkansas | Public | sautech.edu |
| CUNY Hunter College |
Postbac Cert.
|
5 | New York, New York | Public | hunter.cuny.edu |
| University of Pennsylvania (Penn) |
Bachelor's
|
5 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | upenn.edu |
| University of Puerto Rico (UPR) |
Master's
|
5 | San Juan, Puerto Rico | Public | uprrp.edu |
| The Chicago School |
Doctorate (Research)
|
5 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | thechicagoschool.edu |
| Reiss-Davis Graduate School |
Doctorate (Professional)
|
5 | Los Angeles, California | Private | reissdavis.edu |
| Adams State University |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Alamosa, Colorado | Public | adams.edu |
| Southeastern University (SEU) |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Lakeland, Florida | Private | seu.edu |
| University of Saint Mary (USM) |
Master's
|
4 | Leavenworth, Kansas | Private | stmary.edu |
| University of Baltimore (UBalt) |
Postbac Cert.
|
4 | Baltimore, Maryland | Public | ubalt.edu |
| University of Michigan (U‑M) |
Doctorate (Research)
|
4 | Ann Arbor, Michigan | Public | umich.edu |
| Columbia University in the City of New York |
Post-Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
4 | New York, New York | Private | columbia.edu |
| Youngstown State University (YSU) |
Master's
|
4 | Youngstown, Ohio | Public | ysu.edu |
| Bastyr University |
Bachelor's
|
4 | Kenmore, Washington | Private | bastyr.edu |
| Carlow University |
Master's
|
3 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Private | carlow.edu |
| Pennsylvania State University |
Other Award
|
3 | Erie, Pennsylvania | Public | behrend.psu.edu |
| Clemson University |
Doctorate (Research)
|
3 | Clemson, South Carolina | Public | clemson.edu |
| Grinnell College |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Grinnell, Iowa | Private | grinnell.edu |
| Augsburg University |
Bachelor's
|
2 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Private | augsburg.edu |
| Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) |
Postbac Cert.
|
2 | Rolla, Missouri | Public | mst.edu |
| Saint Mary's College of California |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Moraga, California | Private | stmarys-ca.edu |
| Butler University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Private | butler.edu |
| St Catherine University (St. Kate’s) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Saint Paul, Minnesota | Private | stkate.edu |
| Adelphi University |
Post-Master's
|
1 | Garden City, New York | Private | adelphi.edu |
| University at Albany (UAlbany) |
Post-Master's
|
1 | Albany, New York | Public | albany.edu |
| Shawnee State University (SSU) |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Portsmouth, Ohio | Public | shawnee.edu |
| Swarthmore College |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Swarthmore, Pennsylvania | Private | swarthmore.edu |
| Carson-Newman University |
Bachelor's
|
1 | Jefferson City, Tennessee | Private | cn.edu |
| Inter American University of Puerto Rico (UIPR) |
Post-Master's
|
1 | San German, Puerto Rico | Private | sg.inter.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Psychology programs
How much can I earn with a Psychology degree?
Salaries for 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 Psychology programs?
Currently 68 accredited institutions offer Psychology degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Grand Canyon University (GCU) (834 graduates), University of Phoenix (UOPX), Arizona (468 graduates), and Azusa Pacific University (APU) (227 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 Psychology growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 1,936 in 2010 to 2,825 in 2023-24. This represents a 46% 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 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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