Best Online Psychology Bachelor’s Degrees Of 2025

With the highest scores on our list for overall graduation rate, graduation rate for Pell Grant recipients and retention rate, the University of Central Florida (UCF) boasts a strong track record of fostering enrollees’ academic success. And the Orlando-based school delivers these advantages affordably—its average in-state tuition and fees, median student loan debt and percentage of students relying on loan aid are among the lowest in our ranking.

UCF is also the most selective school on our list, making it a good choice for prospective psychology majors seeking a community of high-achieving peers.

With broad applicability to various career fields, psychology is the United States’ fifth most popular undergraduate major. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), over 129,000 members of 2022’s graduating class earned their bachelor’s degrees in psychology.

Psychology majors study human behavior, cognition and emotional processes while gaining an understanding of the field’s research practices, statistical analysis techniques, ethical dimensions and theoretical underpinnings. Through both major coursework and general education requirements, they also build transferable skills such as communication, critical thinking and cultural awareness.

Students can earn either a B.A. or B.S. in psychology, depending on their school and program. B.S. programs often include more math and science courses, while B.A. tracks may allow more free electives or include a foreign language requirement. In either case, these slightly different psychology degrees typically entail a total of 120 credits and take four years for full-time students to complete.

Admission Requirements

Admission criteria for a bachelor’s in psychology are typically the same as for other undergraduate degrees at the same institution. While requirements vary by school, you can expect to submit some or all of the following materials:

• Official transcripts from high school or prior colleges
• ACT or SAT scores
• Personal essay
• Information about your achievements and extracurricular activities
• Letters of recommendation
• Supplemental essays

Some schools set hard GPA and standardized test score requirements, but many assess students’ applications holistically, balancing these quantitative metrics with a qualitative assessment of factors such the applicant’s personal experiences, the rigor of the courses they’ve taken, and information gleaned from essays and recommendations.

Common Courses

Online psychology degrees feature varying curricular structures. However, many programs begin with a core course sequence featuring an introduction to psychology, courses exploring career options in the field and classes covering the discipline’s characteristic research and statistical methods.

Alongside these core courses, students typically select classes within preset content areas such as clinical, social, cognitive and applied psychology, then round out the degree with psychology electives. The balance between required courses and electives varies by program.

While this is one of the most common structures for a psychology major, schools may follow other formats. Regardless of their curricular structures, most psychology bachelor’s programs cover these course topics:

• Introduction to psychology
• Careers in psychology
• Research methods in psychology
• Statistical methods in psychology
• Human development
• Social psychology
• Cognitive psychology
• Biological psychology
• Abnormal psychology
• Theories of personality
• Learning and behavior

Concentrations

While not all online psychology degrees feature concentrations, the following are some of the most common specialization options bachelor’s in psychology students can pursue:

• Experimental psychology
• Clinical psychology
• Human factors psychology
• Industrial-organizational psychology
• Behavioral neuroscience
• Developmental psychology
• Educational psychology
• Forensic psychology
• Health psychology
• Cognitive science
• Pre-counseling

Psychology grads may enter the workforce directly after graduation, often landing roles in fields such as social services, human resources, marketing, or training and development. They can also advance to graduate study, with many going on to earn a master’s in psychology, a Ph.D. in psychology or a Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.). Psych majors can also pursue careers and advanced degrees in business, law, education, healthcare and other disciplines.

A degree in psychology can help prepare you to enter careers that rely on an understanding of human behavior, cognition and motivation. Some psychology majors go on to become psychologists, whether they focus on assessing and treating clients, conducting research or providing consulting services. Others earn master’s degrees in areas such as mental health counseling or marriage and family therapy. However, not all psychology graduates pursue careers in mental health.

The following professionals may start their careers with a bachelor’s in psychology:

• Physicians can draw on a psychology background to understand and empathize with their patients. As long as your study plan covers typical medical school prerequisites, a bachelor’s in psychology provides excellent preparation for aspiring medical doctors aiming to provide compassionate, patient-centered care.
• Lawyers can leverage insight into the human mind to understand clients, witnesses and jurors, while the communication, analytical and research skills a psychology degree develops may help them construct compelling legal arguments. To become a lawyer, you must attend law school after earning your bachelor’s degree.
• Human resource managers oversee personnel-related functions at diverse organizations. You can get started in an entry-level HR position with just a bachelor’s, but pursuing an M.B.A. or a master’s degree in human resources may accelerate your path to becoming an HR manager.
• Psychologists conduct research and treat clients in a variety of settings, including clinics, schools and private practice. Most psychologists need a Ph.D. or Psy.D., but you can practice with just a master’s as a school psychologist or industrial-organizational psychologist.
• Market research analysts rely on an understanding of human behavior, motivation and mental processes, paired with top-notch research and analysis skills, to help companies develop and improve their marketing strategies. An M.B.A. or a master’s degree in marketing may accelerate your career in market research.
• School counselors support students’ academic, social and emotional well-being in K-12 schools. These professionals usually need a master’s degree in school counseling to practice.
• Training and development specialists craft educational programs for workers and conduct workplace training programs. After earning your degree, gaining experience in human resources, education or instructional design can help you break into this field.
• Marriage and family therapists (MFTs) provide psychotherapeutic services to families, couples and individuals. To earn licensure, MFTs need a master’s in marriage and family therapy or a related mental health field.
• Social workers often work for human services agencies, government entities and schools, where they connect individuals and families to support resources. Licensed clinical social workers can also provide psychotherapy services. Some types of social workers only need a bachelor’s degree, but many professionals in this field hold master’s degrees in social work.
• Mental health counselors treat clients experiencing various mental health challenges, relationship issues and life transitions. Becoming a licensed clinical professional counselor requires a master’s in counseling or a related field.

Psychology majors’ post-graduation salaries are as varied as their job options. In the table below, we list median salaries for 10 careers you can pursue with a bachelor’s in psychology. Note that a graduate degree is required or preferred for many of these roles.

Occupation	Median Annual Salary
Physician	$239,200+
Lawyer	$151,160
Human resources manager	$140,030
Psychologist	$94,310
Market research analyst	$76,950
Training and development specialist	$65,850
School counselor	$65,140
Marriage and family therapist	$63,780
Social worker	$61,330
Mental health counselor	$59,190

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)

See More See Less

Distance learning has become an everyday part of the higher education landscape. The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) reports that in 2023, 53.2% of postsecondary students took at least some classes remotely, and 25.6% studied exclusively online.

Online education can help bring a college degree within reach, particularly for those who may need enhanced schedule flexibility, such as working students, parents, caregivers and individuals with disabilities. However, studying online doesn’t suit every learner. Consider these factors as you evaluate whether an online psychology degree is right for you.

Schedule

Online degree programs often have more accommodating schedules than on-campus programs. Asynchronous programs allow you to complete assignments, engage with discussions and view pre-recorded lectures at your convenience, while those with synchronous (live) coursework often feature evening or weekend class times that fit comfortably around a typical nine-to-five job.

Learning Style

Flexible scheduling is a hallmark benefit of online learning, but it can be a double-edged sword; online programs, especially those with asynchronous classes, may make it easier to maintain your obligations outside of school, but they also require significant self-discipline and strong time management skills. If you perform better with more external structure, a traditional in-person program may suit you better. You might also consider a synchronous online program or a hybrid online/on-campus program to help keep you on track.

Budget

Pursuing your degree online can often reduce or eliminate some typical higher education costs. Online students may save money on room and board by avoiding on-campus housing and meal plan expenses. They also don’t have to shoulder the costs of commuting to and from campus or moving to a new city.

Tuition policies vary by school, but some institutions offer reduced online tuition rates or, in the case of state schools, allow nonresident online students to pay in-state tuition. On the other hand, many schools charge the same for online and on-campus enrollment, and some even charge more for online study.

Choosing an institutionally accredited college or university is critical when it comes to receiving financial aid, transferring credit, applying to graduate school and earning some professional credentials. Institutional accreditation applies to an entire school and all its programs, both online and on campus. The best online colleges with psychology degrees hold accreditation from one of the six major U.S. institutional accreditors (formerly known as regional accreditors):

• Higher Learning Commission
• Middle States Commission on Higher Education
• New England Commission of Higher Education
• Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
• WASC Senior College and University Commission

You can confirm your school’s accreditation status by consulting the searchable directory provided by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation.

Programs or departments within an institutionally accredited school can also earn discipline-specific programmatic accreditation. There is no programmatic accrediting body for undergraduate psychology programs, but if you plan to continue your psychology education beyond the bachelor’s level, make sure to look for accreditation from the American Psychological Association when you start researching master’s or doctoral programs.

To find the right online psychology degree for you, clarify your goals and priorities, set a reasonable budget, then focus on schools that meet your needs at a price that works for you.

Consider Your Future Goals

Each online psychology degree has different strengths and emphases, so it’s important to choose one that aligns with your post-graduation goals. For example, if you’re planning a career as a psychologist, counselor or marriage and family therapist, you might seek out a program with mental health internship or practicum opportunities.

Consider whether a particular psychology subfield, such as forensic psychology, health psychology or child psychology, interests you. If you have a particular niche in mind, prioritize programs with concentrations or electives in that area.

Deciding whether to pursue a B.A. or B.S. is another key consideration. A B.S. program may best suit your goals if you plan on graduate study in psychology, healthcare or an analytical discipline. If you want to use your psychology degree in a non-mental health field, such as business, law or criminal justice, you may prefer the liberal arts-focused B.A. option. Often including more room for electives outside of the major, a B.A. in psychology may allow you more scope to pair your psychology coursework with focused work in your target field.

If graduate school in any discipline is in your sights, look for programs with writing-intensive courses and robust research opportunities.

Understand Your Expenses and Financing Options

For most prospective college students, cost is a weighty factor when choosing a program. According to the NCES, the average annual cost for tuition and fees at four-year institutions in the U.S. stood at $17,709 as of 2023. Fortunately, the average in-state prices at all of the schools on our list of the best online psychology degrees fall below this figure.

To clarify what you can expect to pay at your prospective schools, investigate whether their online pricing differs from the costs on-campus students pay. You can also explore whether schools in your area participate in reciprocity programs such as the Western Undergraduate Exchange, Midwest Student Exchange or New England Regional Student Program. These programs allow students to pay reduced tuition rates at out-of-state colleges and universities in their home regions.

Financial aid can maximize the affordability of your degree. Start by submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as early as possible. The FAFSA establishes your eligibility for federal and state funding, informs scholarship and grant decisions from your school and may factor into the criteria for outside scholarships as well.