Best Colleges for Psychology in 2025–26

30 colleges with strong psychology programs, ranked by size and selectivity.

Grand Canyon University

Phoenix, AZ

78.9% acceptance$17,850 in-state

University of California, Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA

8.6% acceptance$14,312 in-state

University of Maryland

College Park, MD

44% acceptance$11,564 in-state

University of South Florida

Tampa, FL

43.2% acceptance$6,410 in-state

University of California-San Diego

La Jolla, CA

26.7% acceptance$16,758 in-state

University of California-Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA

9% acceptance$15,203 in-state

University of California-Irvine

Irvine, CA

28.6% acceptance$15,722 in-state

Georgia Southern University

Statesboro, GA

87.9% acceptance$6,022 in-state

The University of Texas at Dallas

Richardson, TX

65.1% acceptance$14,644 in-state

James Madison University

Harrisonburg, VA

71.5% acceptance$14,250 in-state

Illinois State University

Normal, IL

88.2% acceptance$16,144 in-state

Montclair State University

Montclair, NJ

87.9% acceptance$15,912 in-state

CUNY Hunter College

New York, NY

53.8% acceptance$7,382 in-state

Towson University

Towson, MD

82% acceptance$11,728 in-state

California State University-San Bernardino

San Bernardino, CA

93.7% acceptance$8,093 in-state

University of North Carolina Wilmington

Wilmington, NC

64.2% acceptance$7,277 in-state

California State University-San Marcos

San Marcos, CA

95.1% acceptance$8,082 in-state

Binghamton University

Vestal, NY

38.6% acceptance$10,567 in-state

Post University

Waterbury, CT

$16,327 in-state

University of North Florida

Jacksonville, FL

53.2% acceptance$6,389 in-state

University at Albany

Albany, NY

69.1% acceptance$10,866 in-state

CUNY Queens College

Queens, NY

64.4% acceptance$7,538 in-state

Loyola University Chicago

Chicago, IL

81.6% acceptance$53,710 in-state

University of Massachusetts-Boston

Boston, MA

83.8% acceptance$15,908 in-state

Kean University

Union, NJ

75.9% acceptance$14,299 in-state

Georgia Gwinnett College

Lawrenceville, GA

95.5% acceptance$4,532 in-state

National University

San Diego, CA

$13,284 in-state

University of Maryland-Baltimore County

Baltimore, MD

72.4% acceptance$13,256 in-state

CUNY Brooklyn College

Brooklyn, NY

58.4% acceptance$7,452 in-state

Fordham University

Bronx, NY

59.3% acceptance$64,915 in-state

About psychology as a major

Psychology is consistently one of the top 5 most-popular undergraduate majors in the US, but it's also one of the most-misunderstood. A bachelor's in psychology alone does not qualify you to be a therapist or psychologist — those require a master's or doctoral degree. What an undergraduate psych degree does give you is a strong foundation in research methods, statistics, and human behavior that's broadly applicable: HR, UX research, marketing, social work, education, public policy, and increasingly tech (where 'user research' and 'behavioral insights' roles have become common). If your goal is clinical practice, plan for graduate school from day one. If your goal is industry, look for programs strong in research methods and statistics rather than just clinical theory.

Salary range

$50,000 starting with BA; $80,000-$110,000 for clinical psychologists (after PhD); $120,000+ for UX research at tech companies

Study path

4-year BA or BS in Psychology. Core: intro psych → research methods → statistics → biological/cognitive/social/developmental psychology → senior thesis or capstone research. Most career paths require a master's or doctorate beyond.

How to choose a psychology program

If you plan to become a licensed psychologist, you'll need a doctoral degree (PhD or PsyD) — choose an undergraduate program with strong research opportunities and faculty mentorship. Look for programs with lab access and opportunities to co-author research papers (admission to clinical psychology PhD programs is more competitive than to medical school in many years, and publication record matters). For non-clinical paths, look for programs that emphasize research methods, statistics, and applied behavioral science. Concentrations in cognitive science, behavioral economics, or industrial-organizational psychology often have stronger industry pipelines than general clinical psychology. Honors programs and capstone research projects are especially valuable in psychology.

Common career paths for psychology graduates

Clinical Psychologist (with PhD/PsyD), School Counselor, UX Researcher, Human Resources Specialist, Market Research Analyst, Behavioral Health Technician, Public Policy Analyst, Behavioral Economist, Social Worker, Therapist (with MSW/MFT)

Real careers, real salaries

UX / UI Designer$99K

School Counselor$62K

Clinical Psychologist$93K

Social Worker$58K

Scholarships for psychology students

There are scholarships specifically for students studying psychology. Search our database to find awards you qualify for.

Find psychology scholarships →

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Last updated: November 2025. Live acceptance rates and tuition pulled from each college's most recent reporting.

KidToCollege is free to use and editorially independent. Data sourced from public records including IPEDS, Common Data Sets, College Board and FAFSA.gov. Always verify deadlines and requirements directly with institutions. Not a guarantee of admission or financial aid.