🧠

Best Psychology Programs 2026

Best psychology programs ranked by graduate earnings. Find which schools give psych majors the best career outcomes.

22 programs ranked
$32,416 avg salary
13 public schools
View as table
RankProgramSchoolStateMedian SalaryAnnual CostValue ScoreBreak-Even
1Psychology, GeneralGeorgetown UniversityDC$45,936$40,815/yr51/10010.6 yr
2Clinical, Counseling and Applied PsychologyBoston CollegeMA$41,046$41,704/yr37/10015.7 yr
3Research and Experimental PsychologyUniversity of ChicagoIL$40,175$18,967/yr75/1008 yr
4Psychology, GeneralUniversity of California-BerkeleyCA$39,365$13,481/yr77/1006.3 yr
5Psychology, GeneralBoston CollegeMA$37,262$41,704/yr27/10023.9 yr
6Psychology, GeneralGeorge Washington UniversityDC$37,208$37,454/yr29/10021.8 yr
7Clinical, Counseling and Applied PsychologyUniversity of ChicagoIL$35,220$18,967/yr59/10015.6 yr
8Psychology, GeneralUniversity of Southern CaliforniaCA$34,924$31,927/yr32/10027.3 yr
9Psychology, GeneralIowa State UniversityIA$33,251$18,165/yr48/10024.9 yr
10Psychology, GeneralTulane University of LouisianaLA$32,229$43,939/yr21/10082.2 yr
11Psychology, GeneralUniversity of ArizonaAZ$30,835$15,960/yr48/10085 yr
12Psychology, GeneralIndiana University-BloomingtonIN$30,617$15,342/yr52/100111 yr
13Research and Experimental PsychologyUniversity of California-BerkeleyCA$30,168$13,481/yr54/100349.2 yr
14Psychology, GeneralUniversity of California-Los AngelesCA$30,127$12,548/yr54/100435.4 yr
15Psychology, GeneralEmory UniversityGA$29,174$23,911/yr33/100N/A
16Research and Experimental PsychologyUniversity of California-Santa BarbaraCA$28,978$13,825/yr53/100N/A
17Research and Experimental PsychologyUniversity of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignIL$28,388$15,201/yr49/100N/A
18Psychology, GeneralThe University of AlabamaAL$27,760$22,150/yr31/100N/A
19Psychology, GeneralFlorida State UniversityFL$26,859$10,997/yr52/100N/A
20Psychology, GeneralUniversity of GeorgiaGA$26,130$13,816/yr50/100N/A
21Research and Experimental PsychologyUniversity of California-Los AngelesCA$24,474$12,548/yr53/100N/A
22Psychology, GeneralUniversity of FloridaFL$23,033$6,351/yr54/100N/A
1

Psychology, General

51/100

Georgetown University · Washington, DC

$45,936 median salary$40,815/yr net cost10.6 yr break-even+53% vs. HS diploma
2

Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology

37/100

Boston College · Chestnut Hill, MA

$41,046 median salary$41,704/yr net cost15.7 yr break-even+37% vs. HS diploma
3

Research and Experimental Psychology

75/100

University of Chicago · Chicago, IL

$40,175 median salary$18,967/yr net cost8 yr break-even+34% vs. HS diploma
4

Psychology, General

77/100Public

University of California-Berkeley · Berkeley, CA

$39,365 median salary$13,481/yr net cost6.3 yr break-even+31% vs. HS diploma
5

Psychology, General

27/100

Boston College · Chestnut Hill, MA

$37,262 median salary$41,704/yr net cost23.9 yr break-even+24% vs. HS diploma
6

Psychology, General

29/100

George Washington University · Washington, DC

$37,208 median salary$37,454/yr net cost21.8 yr break-even+24% vs. HS diploma
7

Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology

59/100

University of Chicago · Chicago, IL

$35,220 median salary$18,967/yr net cost15.6 yr break-even+17% vs. HS diploma
8

Psychology, General

32/100

University of Southern California · Los Angeles, CA

$34,924 median salary$31,927/yr net cost27.3 yr break-even+16% vs. HS diploma
9

Psychology, General

48/100Public

Iowa State University · Ames, IA

$33,251 median salary$18,165/yr net cost24.9 yr break-even+11% vs. HS diploma
10

Psychology, General

21/100

Tulane University of Louisiana · New Orleans, LA

$32,229 median salary$43,939/yr net cost82.2 yr break-even+7% vs. HS diploma
11

Psychology, General

48/100Public

University of Arizona · Tucson, AZ

$30,835 median salary$15,960/yr net cost85 yr break-even+3% vs. HS diploma
12

Psychology, General

52/100Public

Indiana University-Bloomington · Bloomington, IN

$30,617 median salary$15,342/yr net cost111 yr break-even+2% vs. HS diploma
13

Research and Experimental Psychology

54/100Public

University of California-Berkeley · Berkeley, CA

$30,168 median salary$13,481/yr net cost349.2 yr break-even+1% vs. HS diploma
14

Psychology, General

54/100Public

University of California-Los Angeles · Los Angeles, CA

$30,127 median salary$12,548/yr net cost435.4 yr break-even+0% vs. HS diploma
15

Psychology, General

33/100

Emory University · Atlanta, GA

$29,174 median salary$23,911/yr net cost+-3% vs. HS diploma
16

Research and Experimental Psychology

53/100Public

University of California-Santa Barbara · Santa Barbara, CA

$28,978 median salary$13,825/yr net cost+-3% vs. HS diploma
17

Research and Experimental Psychology

49/100Public

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign · Champaign, IL

$28,388 median salary$15,201/yr net cost+-5% vs. HS diploma
18

Psychology, General

31/100Public

The University of Alabama · Tuscaloosa, AL

$27,760 median salary$22,150/yr net cost+-7% vs. HS diploma
19

Psychology, General

52/100Public

Florida State University · Tallahassee, FL

$26,859 median salary$10,997/yr net cost+-10% vs. HS diploma
20

Psychology, General

50/100Public

University of Georgia · Athens, GA

$26,130 median salary$13,816/yr net cost+-13% vs. HS diploma
21

Research and Experimental Psychology

53/100Public

University of California-Los Angeles · Los Angeles, CA

$24,474 median salary$12,548/yr net cost+-18% vs. HS diploma
22

Psychology, General

54/100Public

University of Florida · Gainesville, FL

$23,033 median salary$6,351/yr net cost+-23% vs. HS diploma

Compare Schools Side by Side

See how different psychology programs stack up on cost, salary, and graduation rates.

Rankings are based on data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Programs are ranked by median earnings 1 year after completion. Data reflects bachelor's degree programs only.