Best Online Bachelor’s Degrees in Psychology
An online bachelor’s in psychology can open doors to a wide range of careers and educational paths both inside and outside of the field. Learn what earning the degree entails and which schools offer this foundational credential today.
When you begin your search for an online bachelor’s degree in psychology, you have a number of school options from which to choose. It can be tough to compare all the differences when it comes to flexibility, affordability, and accreditation. To help, we’ve profiled three of today’s best online psychology programs at the bachelor’s level, which includes detailed information on the information you need to make a decision: courses offered, costs encountered, and career prospects once you graduate. See which schools are making a difference in 2025.
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo, Michigan
Public
The Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Private
Bay Path University
Longmeadow, Massachusetts
Private
Regent University
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Private
Mississippi State University
Mississippi State, Mississippi
Public
University of Nevada-Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Public
Colorado Christian University
Lakewood, Colorado
Private
Indiana Wesleyan University
Marion, Indiana
Private
University of North Dakota
Grand Forks, North Dakota
Public
Park University
Parkville, Missouri
Private
Rutgers University-New Brunswick
New Brunswick, New Jersey
Public
Wheeling University
Wheeling, West Virginia
Private
Carolina University
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Private
George Mason University
Fairfax, Virginia
Public
University of Illinois Springfield
Springfield, Illinois
Public
Mid-America Christian University
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Private
University of Providence
Great Falls, Montana
Private
University of Missouri-Columbia
Columbia, Missouri
Public
Columbia College
Columbia, South Carolina
Private
Norfolk State University
Norfolk, Virginia
Public
Liberty University
Lynchburg, Virginia
Private
Purdue University Global
West Lafayette, Indiana
Public
Maryville University of Saint Louis
Saint Louis, Missouri
Private
McNeese State University
Lake Charles, Louisiana
Public
Fayetteville State University
Fayetteville, North Carolina
Public
Missouri State University-Springfield
Springfield, Missouri
Public
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida
Public
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah
Public
Ohio University
Athens, Ohio
Public
Faulkner University
Montgomery, Alabama
Private
Rosemont College
Rosemont, Pennsylvania
Private
South Florida Bible College and Theological Seminary
Deerfield Beach, Florida
Private
Arizona State University Digital Immersion
Scottsdale, Arizona
Public
Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Private
Alabama State University
Montgomery, Alabama
Public
The Pennsylvania State University
University Park, Pennsylvania
Public
Indiana University-East
Richmond, Indiana
Public
University of Massachusetts Global
Irvine, California
Private
University of Southern Maine
Portland, Maine
Public
Southern New Hampshire University
Manchester, New Hampshire
Private
Oklahoma State University
Stillwater, Oklahoma
Public
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama
Public
Napa Valley College
Napa, California
Public
Santa Rosa Junior College
Santa Rosa, California
Public
Bunker Hill Community College
Boston, Massachusetts
Public
San Bernardino Valley College
San Bernardino, California
Public
Community College of Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Public
College of San Mateo
San Mateo, California
Public
Lansing Community College
Lansing, Michigan
Public
Merced College
Merced, California
Public
Pasadena City College
Pasadena, California
Public
Butte College
Oroville, California
Public
San Joaquin Delta College
Stockton, California
Public
Redlands Community College
El Reno, Oklahoma
Public
Bucks County Community College
Newtown, Pennsylvania
Public
Monroe Community College
Rochester, New York
Public
Cerritos College
Norwalk, California
Public
Houston Community College
Houston, Texas
Public
Cerro Coso Community College
Ridgecrest, California
Public
Barton County Community College
Great Bend, Kansas
Public
Central New Mexico Community College
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Public
East Mississippi Community College
Scooba, Mississippi
Public
Marshalltown Community College
Marshalltown, Iowa
Public
Copiah-Lincoln Community College
Wesson, Mississippi
Public
Montgomery County Community College
Blue Bell, Pennsylvania
Public
Casper College
Casper, Wyoming
Public
Holmes Community College
Goodman, Mississippi
Public
Butler Community College
El Dorado, Kansas
Public
Cape Cod Community College
West Barnstable, Massachusetts
Public
Southeastern Community College
West Burlington, Iowa
Public
Northeast Community College
Norfolk, Nebraska
Public
Iowa Lakes Community College
Estherville, Iowa
Public
Compton College
Compton, California
Public
Amarillo College
Amarillo, Texas
Public
Palo Alto College
San Antonio, Texas
Public
El Paso Community College
El Paso, Texas
Public
Mesa Community College
Mesa, Arizona
Public
Temple College
Temple, Texas
Public
Navarro College
Corsicana, Texas
Public
Northwest Vista College
San Antonio, Texas
Public
Finger Lakes Community College
Canandaigua, New York
Public
Niagara County Community College
Sanborn, New York
Public
Hawkeye Community College
Waterloo, Iowa
Public
Mt Hood Community College
Gresham, Oregon
Public
San Antonio College
San Antonio, Texas
Public
Alvin Community College
Alvin, Texas
Public
Reading Area Community College
Reading, Pennsylvania
Public
Iowa Central Community College
Fort Dodge, Iowa
Public
Ivy Tech Community College
Indianapolis, Indiana
Public
Oklahoma City Community College
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Public
Inside the Online Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology
Before diving into a psychology program at the bachelor’s level, you want to understand what you’re getting into. Learning outcomes, common courses, and concentration options can help you determine your direction. Let’s take a look at everything from the starting curriculum to what you can expect to make when you graduate and move into your chosen position in the field.
What you learn in an online psychology program at the bachelor’s level
Though each program is different, many of the topics and courses may be very similar; those who study psychology need a certain base of knowledge and skills to successfully perform their jobs or move into a higher educational level. Here are five core learning outcomes you’ll encounter in many four-year psychology programs.
- A Strong Base of Knowledge and Skills: Students should be familiar with the major concepts of psychology, as well as theory, important research findings, and the historical trends in psychology overall. They should have the ability to look at evidence from an objective point of view, reflect on values that are inherent to psychology as a discipline, and be open to exploring the questions we still have about the brain and human behavior.
- Critical Thinking and Application: Students hone their critical thinking and creative thinking skills, learn the art of skeptical inquiry, learn how the scientific approach can be used to find solutions to problems relating to behavior and mental health, and apply what they’ve learned to personal, social, and organizational issues.
- Communication Skills: Students develop solid communication skills, including the art of writing, public speaking, talking to groups, handling tense situations, and crafting everything from patient reports to public statements. They also demonstrate significant confidence and competence in the use of technology for communication purposes.
- Broader View of Values and Ethics: Students understand and embody the ethical principles of the field, as well as learn to weigh evidence, tolerate ambiguity, uphold legal standards and best practices, and appreciate that not all cultures are the same in their boundaries of ethics and law. They should also be able to look objectively at differences as they examine sociocultural and international diversity.
- An Understanding of Influences: Throughout their degree pursuit, students learn about the various influences on human behavior, including sensation and perception, consciousness, sexuality, gender and diversity, intelligence, memory, stress and health, traumas, disorders, treatments and their outcomes, and social considerations, among others.
Popular Courses in Psychology
Advanced Research Methods in Psychology
Students learn to design research programs, understand research purposes, evaluate the data that comes from that research, and learn about the proper ways to collect that data. They perform data analysis as they master the various formats in which to deliver the results to peers, clients, and the public.
Psychology: Science and Profession
This course look sat psychology from a scientific standpoint, including the history of it, how we came to understand the human mind and behavior as we do now, and how the scientific method fits in with solving problems in counseling. This course also looks at psychology as a profession, including the application of solutions and treatments, and ethical and legal issues in the field.
Industrial/Organizational Psychology
This course dives into the world of business, organizations, government, and more – anywhere that a group of people work together. Students examine the act of selecting, training, supervising, and motivating individuals within an organization, all within the framework of psychological theories and research.
Advanced Statistics
Students perform group and individual work on experimentation, collection of data, analyzing their findings, and understanding the parametric and nonparametric statistical topics that they encounter during their work in the psychology field. They also learn how to convey the statistics for both peers and those who are not in the field.
Abnormal Psychology in Children and Adolescents
This course looks at the abnormal psychology of young people as it develops, including the theoretical perspectives – including psychodynamic, humanistic, physiological, sociocultural, and behavioral. Students learn about the etiology, classification, treatment, and assessment of mental health and disorders in young people.
What concentrations are available for a psychology bachelor’s?
At the bachelor’s level, there are numerous paths toward specializations presented to you. These concentrations allow you to better tailor your educational experience to earn the knowledge and skills you need to steer your career in the direction you choose. Here are some of the common ones:
Clinical Psychology
Those who intend to move forward with their education and earn the doctorate in order to become a psychologist should consider this concentration, which focuses on the mental health professions, counseling, client-therapist interactions, assessment and diagnosis, interventions, treatments, and how these can be different for each individual based not only on their personal needs, but on their cultural beliefs as well.
Learn more about online psychology degrees specializing in clinical psychology.
Addiction Counseling
This program prepares students to work with those who have substance and other addictions, various treatment settings that are designed to keep those addictions in check, methods to teach individuals to stay on track with recovery, and a deep understanding of addictive behavior and behavioral training. In some states, this concentration might prepare students to work as addition counselors.
Industrial/Organizational
Students study workplaces, organizations, and businesses, including the individuals who keep those institutions moving. They learn about hiring and firing, training employees, theories on how to keep employees happy, employee motivation, health and well-being, organizational leadership and that leadership’s relationship to the employees, and much more. This is an ideal concentration for those who intend to go into human resources.
Learn more about online degrees in industrial organizational psychology and see if this specialization is right for you.
Human Services
This concentration focuses on working with groups, rather than individuals, and seeing how people interact in those group settings; the give-and-take of interactions, the hierarchy that naturally emerges, and how these things can affect the mental health of a person and the collective health of a group. These students often work in healthcare, criminal justice, community centers, and the like.
Child and Adolescent Psychology
This focuses on the unique ways that behavior emerges and changes during childhood and adolescence, while looking at the wide-ranging ways different experiences, environments, traumas, and the like affect the mental health of children as they age. There might be a special emphasis on special needs children, childhood traumas, terror-related traumas, issues with abandonment and parenting problems, and more.
Learn more about child psychology degree programs available through online or blended study.
School Psychology
Students in this concentration learn about the various behaviors to expect from students in a school setting, including the basis of the issues and solutions that can lead to better mental health, for the student and for the school population as a whole. Even within this concentration, students can drill down further to work with elementary, secondary, or special needs education, or focus on certain points, such as bullying, mental health crisis, peer influence, and the like.
Learn more about online school psychology programs and find top colleges offering them.
How long does it take to earn an online bachelor’s degree in psychology?
Earning the bachelor’s in psychology typically takes four years of full-time study; however, the time can be longer or shorter, depending upon certain factors. Those who choose to study part-time could see the degree pursuit last longer than four years. Those who take an accelerated program, however, could finish within a matter of three years. Those who have already earned an associate degree in psychology or a different field can complete their bachelor’s degree in a year or less, given transfer credits and an accelerated schedule. Check with your potential school to learn what options are available to you.
Can I get into an online psychology bachelor’s program?
Getting into the bachelor’s program in psychology can vary from one school to another, but all will have some admissions criteria that remain the same. What you’ll need depends greatly upon whether you already have an associate degree, and if your college has an articulation agreement with the school you intend to earn your bachelor’s degree from; if that’s the case, then you might be able to simply present a transcript and an application to earn a smooth transition into the bachelor’s program.
If you’re approaching the bachelor’s program without an associate degree under your belt, you’ll need the following:
- Official transcripts from high school and any college courses
- A minimum GPA (usually 2.0)
- Letters of recommendation
- A personal statement or essay (if required)
- Standardized test scores, such as those from the ACT or SAT
- A completed application
Some programs might require other items; check with the school to be sure before you begin the application process.
How much does an online bachelor’s degree in psychology cost?
The costs of a program will vary depending upon a variety of factors. How long the program will take – and how many credits you bring to the table – can make a difference. There’s also the question of where you live, as even online schools can sometimes base their tuition on in-state versus out-of-state. There’s also the question of how much funding you have to cover the costs. Here are a few schools and their tuition costs, to give you an idea of what you’re looking at in terms of that all-important bottom line.
Paying for Your Online Psychology Degree
Before moving into any sort of degree program, it’s important to figure out how you’re going to pay for it. Tuition can be a meaningful expense no matter where you go, but the good news is that financial aid can help you meet that need. Here are some ways to fund your online bachelor’s degree in psychology:
Scholarships & Grants
Scholarships and grants are the most popular among financial aid options, mostly because they don’t have to be paid back. This free money for school can come from a variety of places, from federal and state government to schools to local organizations. To get started finding scholarships and grants for your psychology degree, check out our scholarships and resources guide for psychology students.
Student Loans
Scholarships and grants might not cover the total cost of tuition, fees, and any additional costs. Student loans are a good option to cover the shortfall. In many cases, student loans come along with low interest rates that don’t accrue as long as you’re in school, as well as delayed repayment for up to six months after graduation. To learn more about loan options, visit our student loan guide.
Other Options
There are other options that can help you pay for the bachelor’s in psychology degree. For instance, an employer might offer to pay your tuition in exchange for your agreement to work for their company for a certain period of time. Or you might snag a work study program that allows you to put your paycheck toward tuition. Internships are also a potential option. Check with your school for a few more out-of-the-box ideas.
Learn more about securing financial aid for your bachelor’s in psychology degree
What’s After Your Bachelor’s Degree in Psych?
When you move into the working world, some careers in psychology require a license or certification. The bachelor’s degree opens doors to some of those, so it’s important to understand exactly what you can do with your degree – and which careers might require you to go a bit further with your education.
What can you do with an online bachelor’s in psychology?
An online bachelor’s degree in psychology can open doors to careers in human resources, counseling, corrections, social work, human services, and much more. In fact, a psychology degree can serve as the basis for any number of jobs, as it provides such a broad understanding of human behavior and how to communicate with others. Some of the careers available to those with a psychology degree pay a higher than average wage, and have a higher than average expected job growth; for instance, jobs for substance abuse counselors are expected to grow by 19% between 2023 and 2033, while jobs for community service workers should increase by 12%. Let’s take a look at the variety of jobs and their potential pay.
How much can you earn with an online bachelor’s in psychology?
What you can earn after graduation with an online bachelor’s in psychology depends upon a number of factors, including your geographical location, which career path you choose, the availability of jobs in the profession, and much more. However, it’s important to remember that those who earn their bachelor’s degree historically make more than those who hold an associate degree. Let’s take a look at some of the common career options after the bachelor’s and the pay you might expect from each.
| Career | Median National Annual Salary (2019) | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Training and Development Specialists | $61,210 | $32,680 | $104,200 |
| Addiction and Substance Abuse Counselors | $44,630 | $28,240 | $72,990 |
| Correctional Treatment Specialists | $54,290 | $36,370 | $94,860 |
Continuing Education & Related Degrees
Once you’ve earned the psychology bachelor’s degree, you might be considering moving forward with your education. The bachelor’s is a great start in psychology, but if you want to work as a therapist or a psychologist, most states require you to obtain further education and training. In addition, take a look at related degree programs, such as those in sociology or social work, that might suit your career goals just as well as the bachelor’s degree in psychology. Let’s take a look at the options.
Continuing Education Opportunities
Those with a master’s degree can move into areas that might require a license or certification, such as work as a marriage and family counselor. Supervisory roles could open up as well, in areas like human resources, human services, higher education, market researcher, project coordinator, and the like. It can also prepare students to continue on to earn their PhD while working in the field, as many master’s degrees in psychology are delivered entirely online.
Those who want to become fully licensed and earn the right to be called a “psychologist” must first earn their doctoral degree. The PhD opens up doors to research in private organizations, colleges and universities, government programs, and more. But it can also allow graduates to work directly with clients in clinical settings. This degree often takes between four and seven years to complete if coming into the program with a bachelor’s degree.
Related Degrees to Consider
Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work
This degree offers students a foundation in broad social work practice. The degree pursuit will focus on policies, research, theories, and the hands-on work involved in social work positions with clinics, agencies, private organizations, and more. This degree is great for those who want to get started in social work as they gradually work their way through the master’s program and gain more responsibility.
Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services
The degree in human services contains elements of psychology, sociology, criminal justice, and social work – and opens doors to work in any of those four fields, among others. Those in human services might work as case managers, social workers, assistants to those in counseling services, corrections, and more. This degree can be what drives a person to their dream career, and can also serve as the basis of numerous directions a person can take with a master’s degree.
