The influence of psychology can be found in every area of our lives, whether it’s in the workplace, in the home with friends and family, or in the way we deal with members of our community. When you enroll in an online bachelor’s degree in psychology, you get the opportunity to learn about psychology from early childhood development to late adulthood and everything in between.
Whether you’re interested in pursuing a career where you treat people with serious problems, like addiction and other mental health issues, or use your psychological knowledge to advise organizations on the best hiring strategies, an online bachelor’s degree in psychology can lay the groundwork for a rewarding career.
To help you find an online psychology bachelor’s degree program that gives you the training you need to achieve your aspirations, we have compiled the following college rankings. Schools were chosen based on the factors prospective students care about most, including flexible scheduling, ample support for online students, and affordability. Review the rankings below, and then continue reading to find other key details about these degree programs.
Best Online Bachelor’s Degrees in Psychology for 2024
We have ranked the top schools below. Our Rankings Data comes from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES.) Click the About the Ranking link below for more information about our methodology.
- Create List of Eligible Schools and Programs
- Institutional accreditation from an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
- At least one program in the subject area offered partially or fully online.
- Assign Weightings
- Number of online programs in subject area reported by school to the U.S. Department of Education. Because exact numbers change often and can be difficult to verify, we use a range-based scoring system: 0-5 online programs = 1 star; 6-10 = 2 stars; 11-15 = 3 stars; 16-20 = 4 stars; 21+ = 5 stars. In our design, laptop icons = stars.
- For degree-specific pages, ex: Psychology degrees, we list the current number of online programs available at that school for that degree type, as self-reported by the schools.
- Cost – Relative cost of attendance compared to peer schools on the list. Based on tuition and fees per academic year.
- Students w/ Institutional Aid – Percentage of students who receive financial aid from the school itself.
- Academic Counseling – Existence of this service on campus or online.
- Career Placement – Existence of this service on campus or online.
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Montgomery, ALPrivate not-for-profit $$$$$
Students interested in a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Faulkner University have a plethora of options to choose from. These include Bachelor of Science degrees in counseling psychology, forensic psychology, general/clinical psychology, health and rehabilitation psychology, and sports psychology. These are all available online, offering students the ability to continue with work and family obligations while still earning a college degree. The flexible learning options continue by allowing students to take up to 30 credits in electives, making it easier to customize their education. Even though the bulk of the classwork can be completed remotely, there are still some in-person learning requirements, such as an internship.
Program Highlights:
BS in Counseling Psychology
- Credits: 121
- Length: About four years
- Cost: $755.00/credit
- Mode: Partially online
- Accreditation: SACSCOC
BS in Forensic Psychology
- Credits: 121
- Length: About four years
- Cost: $755.00/credit
- Mode: Partially online
- Accreditation: SACSCOC
BS in Sports Psychology
- Credits: 121
- Length: About four years
- Cost: $755.00/credit
- Mode: Partially online
- Accreditation: SACSCOC
Online Programs
5
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
13/1
-
Mississippi State, MSPublic $$
The online Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Mississippi State University is specially designed for students seeking an education that will prepare them for immediate work in a variety of fields, such as social work, government, human resources, and marketing research. But the curriculum also prepares students for more advanced training, such as pursing a graduate degree in clinical counseling, law, social work, marketing, or criminology. No matter what patch a student is interested in following, they’ll be able to earn their degree as conveniently as possible, thanks to the primarily online curriculum that’s delivered through Canvas. Students may also transfer up to 62 college credits from a community college, making it possible to graduate in as little as two years.
Program Highlights:
BS in Psychology
- Credits: 124
- Length: Varies
- Cost: $410.50/credit
- Mode: Partially online
- Accreditation: SACSCOC
Online Programs
2
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
16/1
-
Saint Louis, MOPrivate not-for-profit $$$$$
Maryville University of Saint Louis offers two bachelor’s degree options for those interested in psychology. These include the Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and the Bachelor of Arts in Forensic Psychology. One of the unique features of these programs is the curriculum flexibility. For example, in the BA in Psychology program, 50 of the required 128 credits are general electives. Another unique feature is that both programs offer Early Access, which means psychology students can take classes that apply to their undergraduate and graduate degree. This is perfect for students who plan to directly enter graduate school after earning their bachelor degrees. Most of the courses are available online, except for an in-person internship that students must complete for the forensic psychology program track.
Program Highlights:
BA in Psychology
- Credits: 128
- Length: About four years
- Cost: $500.00/credit
- Mode: Fully online
- Accreditation: HLC
BA in Forensic Psychology
- Credits: 128
- Length: About four years
- Cost: $500.00/credit
- Mode: Partially online
- Accreditation: HLC
Online Programs
4
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
13/1
-
Tucson, AZPublic $$$
The University of Arizona offers a plethora of online bachelor and graduate degree programs, but one of its most popular is its Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. Not only do many students have a genuine interest in the topics covered, but it can serve as a solid foundation for any entry-level profession and graduate degree pursuit. To make it as convenient as possible to complete this program, the bulk of courses are offered online. To complement the psychology curriculum, students are required to complete a second major or choose a minor. To facilitate this requirement, there are generous elective opportunities This program is also ideal for transfer students, as the University of Arizona has special agreements with other Arizona community colleges and universities where students can seamlessly continue their education after earning college credits elsewhere.
Program Highlights:
BA in Psychology
- Credits: 120
- Length: About four years
- Cost: $525.00/credit
- Mode: Partially online
- Accreditation: HLC
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
15/1
-
Stillwater, OKPublic $$
Oklahoma State University’s online Bachelor of Science in Psychology is the perfect program for working professionals who want to earn a bachelor’s degree in a field where they can better understand human behavior. To accommodate these busy students, the curriculum is largely offered online through Oklahoma State University’s online learning management system, Canvas. Students can use Canvas to take classes from anywhere they have a broadband internet connection. One advantage of the psychology degree program is that it allows great curriculum customization, which can facilitate the earning of a second major or minor without having to take additional credits to graduate.
Program Highlights:
BS in Psychology
- Credits: 120
- Length: About four years
- Cost: $421.40/credit (in-state); $938.75/credit (out-of-state)
- Mode: Partially online
- Accreditation: HLC
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
18/1
-
University Park, PAPublic $$$$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
15/1
-
Lakewood, COPrivate not-for-profit $$$$$
Online Programs
3
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
15/1
-
Columbia, MOPublic $$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
18/1
-
Moscow, IDPublic $$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
16/1
-
Logan, UTPublic $$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
19/1
-
Salt Lake City, UTPublic $$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
17/1
-
Odessa, TXPublic $
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
17/1
-
Fort Collins, COPublic $$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
16/1
-
Winston-Salem, NCPrivate not-for-profit $$$
Online Programs
2
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
10/1
-
Lawrence, KSPublic $$$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
17/1
-
Marion, ALPrivate not-for-profit $$$$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
5/1
-
Springfield, ILPublic $$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
12/1
-
Machias, MEPublic $$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
13/1
-
Dayton, TNPrivate not-for-profit $$$$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
12/1
-
Pocatello, IDPublic $$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
13/1
-
Greeley, COPublic $$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
16/1
-
Durham, NCPublic $
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
16/1
-
Maryville, MOPublic $$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
19/1
-
Frankfort, KYPublic $$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
14/1
-
Kearney, NEPublic $$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
13/1
-
Fayetteville, NCPublic $
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
17/1
-
Birmingham, ALPublic $$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
20/1
-
Nashville, TNPublic $$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
12/1
-
Westfield, MAPublic $
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
15/1
-
Flagstaff, AZPublic $$$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
22/1
-
Johnson, VTPublic $$$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
11/1
-
Washington, DCPrivate not-for-profit $$$$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
6/1
-
Chadron, NEPublic $$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
17/1
-
Cape Girardeau, MOPublic $$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
19/1
-
Silver City, NMPublic $
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
12/1
-
Memphis, TNPublic $$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
16/1
-
Highland Heights, KYPublic $$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
18/1
-
Fairbanks, AKPublic $$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
11/1
-
Monroe, LAPublic $$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
18/1
-
Macon, GAPrivate not-for-profit $$$$$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
8/1
-
Gainesville, FLPublic $
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
17/1
-
Springfield, MOPublic $$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
20/1
-
Louisville, KYPublic $$$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
19/1
-
Norfolk, VAPublic $$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
16/1
-
Athens, OHPublic $$$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
16/1
-
Norfolk, VAPublic $$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
18/1
-
Grand Forks, NDPublic $$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
17/1
-
La Grande, ORPublic $$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
15/1
-
Bismarck, NDPrivate not-for-profit $$$$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
11/1
-
Owosso, MIPrivate not-for-profit $$
Online Programs
1
Academic Counseling
Yes
Career Placement
Yes
Student/Faculty Ratio
8/1
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Base Methodology for OnlineColleges.me’s 2024 Online College Rankings
To be eligible for this ranking, schools were required to meet the following criteria based on government data provided by The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).
After creating the list of eligible schools, OnlineColleges.me data scientists assigned weights and ranked schools based on a mix of affordability, support services, and online program availability metrics. Online program availability and overall affordability metrics received the heaviest weightings.
Online Program Availability
Affordability
Support Services
About Our Data
OnlineColleges.me’s rankings use the latest official data available from The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Most recent data pull: January of 2024
Primary Learning Outcomes of Online Psychology Bachelor’s Degrees
When you earn a psychology bachelor’s degree online, you should expect to develop the skills and knowledge that demonstrate your understanding of psychological principles. One of the important factors in ensuring your goals are met is the accreditation of the school and program you attend. For schools to become accredited, they need to demonstrate that their curriculum leads to certain outcomes that prepare graduates for the workforce.
The following are examples of some of the goals that schools offering online bachelor’s degrees in psychology set for students. Individual schools promise different outcomes, so before applying to any program, be sure to review its learning outcomes to ensure they match up with your career goals.
Research Skills
As you earn your online bachelor’s degree in psychology, you will be exposed continuously to different types of research that has helped shape the field over the years. To gain an understanding of how this research is conducted and how researchers come to their conclusions, you will learn about studies from beginning to end, including the methods researchers use to create a hypothesis, craft and conduct a study, and report on the results.
Writing Skills
Whether you need to update a client file to track their progress or draft a paper that will appear in a psychological journal, you need strong writing skills to accomplish these tasks. As you work through the curriculum of an online bachelor’s degree in psychology, you’ll be given numerous opportunities to strengthen your writing skills and learn how to write in the style that is expected of psychology professionals.
Ethical Skills
People working in the psychology field at all levels deal with personal and serious situations, especially if they’re providing treatment to people, so it’s imperative that they achieve and maintain the highest professional ethical standards. As you earn your psychology bachelor’s degree online, you’ll gain an understanding of the ethical skills needed to work in the field, along with the legal and regulatory standards you’ll need to adhere to as a psychology professional.
Critical Thinking Skills
Psychology principles can be complicated and nuanced, especially when professionals need to apply them to the real-world situations that arise when they are helping other people. When you enroll in a psychology bachelor’s degree online, you learn how to analyze information in different situations that arise in the workplace and determine how they relate to the theoretical frameworks that the profession was built on.
Common Courses in an Online Bachelor’s in Psychology Degree Program
Just as with learning objectives and goals, each school offering psychology bachelor’s degrees online has its own specific curriculum that helps prepare students for their career. Still, there are some common topics covered in psychology programs. The following course list will give you an idea of the classes you may take when you enroll. Be sure to review the curriculum of any school you’re interested in attending to ensure it aligns with what you want to accomplish in your career.
Cognitive Psychology
In this course, you’ll develop your critical thinking skills by learning the theories of the human mind and studying how people develop cognitive abilities. Your research skills will be developed and sharpened as you learn about studies conducted to determine the relationship between cognition and behavior. Specific topics covered may include problem solving, reasoning, perception, decision-making, and language.
Personality
This course provides a deep dive into how personalities are developed and the factors that contribute to that development. You will be able to hone your critical thinking skills as you learn theories of personality, such as existential, humanist, biological, and psychodynamic personality theories. To provide an understanding of personality, your class may cover specific personality traits, how personality influences behavior, and the ways people can change parts of their personality depending on the situation they’re in.
Psychological Assessments
Assessments allow professionals to find out more about individuals, so when you enroll in this course, you learn how to use critical thinking skills to determine what the results of an assessment mean and how it should guide decision-making. Also, ethical skills are developed as you learn how to conduct assessments based on high standards. This class covers the different types of assessments professionals use, including tests that measure cognition, personality, interests, and values.
Organizational Psychology
The workplace takes up a huge amount of our time, so understanding why people behave the way they do at work is important. In this class, you’ll be able to develop research and writing skills as you learn how workplace-related research is conducted and how the findings of organizational psychology studies are written for publication. The course looks at numerous areas of the workplace, including employee screening, training, and assessment; conflict resolution; workplace leadership; and organizational structure.
Addiction
Professionals who work with those struggling with addiction must understand the psychological, social, and biological factors that contribute to addiction development. This course will help you obtain clinical skills as you learn how professionals work with these patients. In addition, you’ll gain ethical skills because the course teaches challenges that can come up when treating addiction. Specific topics covered may include relapse, prevention, disease models, and behavioral addictions. In addition, you may learn how addiction is treated in both individual and group settings.
Learning Theories
This course explores how people learn and the relationship between learning and behavior. You’ll be able to sharpen your critical thinking skills by developing an understanding of learning theories and how they can be applied to people in the real world. This class covers the history of learning theory, cognition and learning, memory, forgetfulness, and conditioning.
FAQs About Earning Your Psychology Bachelor’s Degree Online
Chances are, once you start researching psychology bachelor’s degrees online programs, you’ll naturally want to find out more information to determine if they’re the right choice for you. To lend you support along the way, we have compiled answers to some of the most common questions prospective students have when researching online bachelor’s degrees in psychology.
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Can I earn my bachelor’s degree in psychology fully online?
Yes, some schools offer bachelor’s degrees in psychology fully online. While you may have the opportunity to attend live class sessions through your computer, you’ll complete all your coursework, even taking exams, online. In addition, you may be able to choose a hybrid option that allows you to take some of your coursework online and the rest on campus, if that is best for your learning style.
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What careers can I pursue with a bachelor’s degree in psychology?
Psychology is a vast field, so you’ll have the opportunity to pursue a wide variety of jobs after you earn your degree. The following are examples of some of the positions you may be able to land with a psychology degree.
- Social and Community Service Manager
- Case Manager
- Human Resource Specialist
- Mental Health Technician
- Occupational Therapy Assistant
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What accreditation should an online bachelor’s psychology degree program have?
Accreditation is important because schools offering online bachelor’s degrees in psychology must go through a rigorous evaluation to ensure that the program is teaching students what they need to know to be successful.
That’s why you should only consider schools that have been accredited by one of the six regional accrediting bodies, which are the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, the Higher Learning Commission, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, the WASC Senior College and University Commission, and the New England Commission of Higher Education.
While the American Psychological Association (APA) accredits psychology doctoral programs, there is no programmatic accreditation you need to be aware of when looking for the right psychology bachelor’s program.
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What are the admissions requirements to get into an online psychology bachelor’s?
Generally, when you apply for admission to an online psychology bachelor’s degree program, you’re expected to have a high school diploma or GED. Also, some schools may require that students have at least a 2.50 GPA and earn a high score on the SAT or ACT. Different schools have different standards, however, so review the admissions websites for every school you want to apply to.
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How much does an online bachelor’s degree in psychology cost?
The cost of online bachelor’s degrees in psychology of course depends on the specific school you enroll in, but you may end up paying less as an online student than you would in a traditional program. A variety of factors affect program cost including in-state vs. out-of-state tuition, whether you choose a private or public school, and what kind of financial aid you receive.
For example, Southern New Hampshire University charges $320 per credit, Ashworth College costs $1,499 per semester, and students attending California Coast University pay $170 per credit.
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How much time does it take to earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology online?
If you enroll on a full-time basis, you can generally expect to complete a psychology bachelor’s degree online within four years. If you enroll as a part-time student, it will generally take about five to six years to finish your degree program.
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What specializations are available for bachelor’s degrees in psychology?
Specializations can help you enhance your education because they give you a chance to take coursework in a subject that interests you to gain expertise in that area. The following are examples of some specializations that may be available in an online bachelor’s degree in psychology.
- Applied Behavior Analysis
- Applied Psychology
- Behavioral Psychology
- Child and Adolescent Development
- Forensic Psychology
- Human Family Development
- Mental Health
Is Getting a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology Worth It?
Depending on the career path you choose, you can expect to earn a healthy salary and enjoy a great deal of job opportunities after graduation from an online bachelor’s degree in psychology program. To give you an idea of what people in different roles earn and the projected job growth in the coming years, we have compiled information from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in the table below.
| Career | Median Annual Earnings (2021) | Job Growth (2021-2031) |
|---|---|---|
| Social and Community Service Managers | $74,000 | 12% |
| Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors | $48,520 | 22% |
| Human Resources Specialists | $62,290 | 8% |
| Rehabilitation Counselors | $38,560 | 11% |
| Occupational Therapy Assistants and Aides | $61,520 | 25% |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
