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.

Find Your Online Degree

  1. Take our quiz
  2. Match with schools
  3. Connect with favorites
I want my
In

last updated

Four women are engaged in a serious conversation while sitting in a semicircle on chairs in a bright room with white curtains in the background.

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.

1

Western Michigan University

Kalamazoo, Michigan

IconIconIconIconIcon

Public

3

Bay Path University

Longmeadow, Massachusetts

IconIconIconIconIcon

Private

4

Regent University

Virginia Beach, Virginia

IconIconIconIcon

Private

5

Mississippi State University

Mississippi State, Mississippi

IconIconIconIconIcon

Public

6

University of Nevada-Las Vegas

Las Vegas, Nevada

IconIconIconIcon

Public

7

Colorado Christian University

Lakewood, Colorado

IconIconIconIcon

Private

8

Indiana Wesleyan University

Marion, Indiana

IconIconIconIcon

Private

9

University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, North Dakota

IconIconIconIcon

Public

10

Park University

Parkville, Missouri

IconIconIconIcon

Private

11

Rutgers University-New Brunswick

New Brunswick, New Jersey

IconIconIcon

Public

12

Wheeling University

Wheeling, West Virginia

IconIconIcon

Private

13

Carolina University

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

IconIconIconIcon

Private

14

George Mason University

Fairfax, Virginia

IconIconIconIcon

Public

15

University of Illinois Springfield

Springfield, Illinois

IconIconIcon

Public

16

Mid-America Christian University

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

IconIconIconIcon

Private

17

University of Providence

Great Falls, Montana

IconIconIconIcon

Private

18

University of Missouri-Columbia

Columbia, Missouri

IconIconIconIcon

Public

19

Columbia College

Columbia, South Carolina

IconIconIconIcon

Private

20

Norfolk State University

Norfolk, Virginia

IconIconIcon

Public

21

Liberty University

Lynchburg, Virginia

IconIconIconIcon

Private

22

Purdue University Global

West Lafayette, Indiana

IconIconIconIcon

Public

23

Maryville University of Saint Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri

IconIconIconIcon

Private

24

McNeese State University

Lake Charles, Louisiana

IconIconIconIcon

Public

25

Fayetteville State University

Fayetteville, North Carolina

IconIconIconIcon

Public

26

IconIconIconIcon

Public

27

University of Florida

Gainesville, Florida

IconIconIcon

Public

28

University of Utah

Salt Lake City, Utah

IconIconIcon

Public

29

Ohio University

Athens, Ohio

IconIconIcon

Public

30

Faulkner University

Montgomery, Alabama

IconIconIconIcon

Private

31

Rosemont College

Rosemont, Pennsylvania

IconIconIcon

Private

IconIconIconIcon

Private

IconIconIconIcon

Public

34

Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

IconIconIconIcon

Private

35

Alabama State University

Montgomery, Alabama

IconIconIcon

Public

36

The Pennsylvania State University

University Park, Pennsylvania

IconIconIconIcon

Public

37

Indiana University-East

Richmond, Indiana

IconIconIcon

Public

38

IconIconIconIcon

Private

39

IconIconIconIcon

Public

40

Southern New Hampshire University

Manchester, New Hampshire

IconIconIconIcon

Private

41

Oklahoma State University

Stillwater, Oklahoma

IconIconIconIcon

Public

42

IconIconIcon

Public

1

Napa Valley College

Napa, California

IconIconIcon

Public

2

Santa Rosa Junior College

Santa Rosa, California

IconIconIcon

Public

3

Bunker Hill Community College

Boston, Massachusetts

IconIconIcon

Public

4

San Bernardino Valley College

San Bernardino, California

IconIconIcon

Public

5

Community College of Philadelphia

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

IconIconIcon

Public

6

College of San Mateo

San Mateo, California

IconIconIcon

Public

7

Lansing Community College

Lansing, Michigan

IconIconIcon

Public

8

Merced College

Merced, California

IconIconIcon

Public

9

Pasadena City College

Pasadena, California

IconIconIcon

Public

10

Butte College

Oroville, California

IconIconIcon

Public

11

San Joaquin Delta College

Stockton, California

IconIconIcon

Public

12

Redlands Community College

El Reno, Oklahoma

IconIconIcon

Public

13

Bucks County Community College

Newtown, Pennsylvania

IconIconIcon

Public

14

Monroe Community College

Rochester, New York

IconIconIcon

Public

15

Cerritos College

Norwalk, California

IconIconIcon

Public

16

Houston Community College

Houston, Texas

IconIconIcon

Public

17

Cerro Coso Community College

Ridgecrest, California

IconIconIcon

Public

18

Barton County Community College

Great Bend, Kansas

IconIconIcon

Public

19

Central New Mexico Community College

Albuquerque, New Mexico

IconIconIcon

Public

20

IconIconIconIcon

Public

21

Marshalltown Community College

Marshalltown, Iowa

IconIconIcon

Public

22

Copiah-Lincoln Community College

Wesson, Mississippi

IconIconIcon

Public

23

Montgomery County Community College

Blue Bell, Pennsylvania

IconIconIcon

Public

24

Casper College

Casper, Wyoming

IconIconIcon

Public

25

Holmes Community College

Goodman, Mississippi

IconIconIcon

Public

26

Butler Community College

El Dorado, Kansas

IconIconIcon

Public

27

Cape Cod Community College

West Barnstable, Massachusetts

IconIconIcon

Public

28

Southeastern Community College

West Burlington, Iowa

IconIconIcon

Public

29

Northeast Community College

Norfolk, Nebraska

IconIconIcon

Public

30

Iowa Lakes Community College

Estherville, Iowa

IconIconIcon

Public

31

Compton College

Compton, California

IconIconIcon

Public

32

Amarillo College

Amarillo, Texas

IconIconIcon

Public

33

Palo Alto College

San Antonio, Texas

IconIconIcon

Public

34

El Paso Community College

El Paso, Texas

IconIconIcon

Public

35

Mesa Community College

Mesa, Arizona

IconIconIcon

Public

36

Temple College

Temple, Texas

IconIconIcon

Public

37

Navarro College

Corsicana, Texas

IconIconIcon

Public

38

Northwest Vista College

San Antonio, Texas

IconIconIcon

Public

39

Finger Lakes Community College

Canandaigua, New York

IconIconIcon

Public

40

IconIconIcon

Public

41

Hawkeye Community College

Waterloo, Iowa

IconIconIcon

Public

42

Mt Hood Community College

Gresham, Oregon

IconIconIcon

Public

43

San Antonio College

San Antonio, Texas

IconIconIcon

Public

44

IconIconIcon

Public

45

Reading Area Community College

Reading, Pennsylvania

IconIconIcon

Public

46

IconIconIcon

Public

47

Ivy Tech Community College

Indianapolis, Indiana

IconIconIcon

Public

48

Oklahoma City Community College

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

IconIconIcon

Public

Find Your Online Degree

  1. Take our quiz
  2. Match with schools
  3. Connect with favorites
I want my
In

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.

Ashworth College

Ashworth
College

Bachelor’s Degree, Psychology

Total Credits: 120

$93/credit

Walden University

Walden
University

BS in Psychology

Total Credits: 181 quarter credit hours

$325/quarter credit hour

University of Missouri

University of
Missouri

Psychology: Online Bachelor’s Degree

Total Credits: 120

$299/credit

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.

bachelor’s in psychology
bachelor-psychology-mobile

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

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

Master’s Degree in Psychology

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.

PhD in Clinical Psychology

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.

Back to top
A smiling woman with long, wavy brown hair wearing glasses and a purple jacket over a plaid shirt. She appears joyful and is looking directly at the camera.

Shannon Lee, BA AUTHOR

Shannon Lee has been a freelance writer, editor, and novelist for over 25 years. Her work has appeared on Fox Business, Forbes, MSN, Bob Vila, Modernize, Nashville Scene, MoneyGeek, MVP Parent, and many other outlets; her writing on home improvement led to an editorial position with The Spruce in 2021. She's written extensively on higher education, relationships, and the intersection of technology, health, and medicine. When she's not freelancing, Shannon also writes fiction novels.

Read More