10 Best Online Colleges for Psychology
The field of psychology has changed beyond recognition in the past few decades. In the early 1900s, psychologists held a rather staid and conservative view of their craft. Today, they consider themselves among the leading scientists in the social sciences, gathering information about people and how they think. However, even though psychology is a highly regarded and popular academic discipline, it still has a long way to go toward becoming more widely recognized. Fortunately, there are many excellent colleges that offer accredited psychology programs that can help you get ahead in your career or further your studies towards a degree of your choice. It’s important to find an institution that will meet your needs while also inspiring you to explore new avenues for a life outside of your day job. To help you sort through the options available, we’ve put together this list of the best online colleges for psychology .
1. University of California – Los Angeles
The University of California – Los Angeles is arguably the flagship school of the UC system. While UCLA definitely has its place in the college rankings, it’s the school that comes to mind when you hear the words “best online colleges for psychology.” The main reason? UCLA’s psychology program is one of the best in the country, with high rankings in both the QS and U.S. News & World Report categories. In addition, the program has a strong emphasis on hands-on experience, which means you can expect to spend a large portion of your degree in an actual lab.
2. Pennsylvania State University
Pennsylvania State University’s psychology program is also one of the top programs in the country, and it’s largely due to its incredible location. The Philadelphia area has some of the best research and development facilities in the country, making it easy to conduct cutting-edge studies in the field of psychology. While your studies at Penn State won’t allow you to truly immerse yourself in the field and explore the complex relationship between people and their surroundings, it’s still an incredibly solid option.
3. Rutgers University Camden
New Jersey’s Rutgers University is perhaps best known for its football team, but that doesn’t mean it’s off the mark with its academic program. The university is home to a number of excellent programs, but the state’s flagship campus is where you want to be if you’re interested in psychology. The main reason? Rutgers’ psychology program is one of the best in the country – with a high ranking in U.S. News & World Report and a QS World University Rankings. The program is also very selective, with a minimal acceptance rate.
4. Emory University
You’d be hard-pressed to find a more historically black college or university than Emory in Atlanta, Georgia. That said, the school’s psychology program is one of the top in the country, and it’s largely due to its low acceptance rate. The program has a particularly strong international perspective, with a heavy emphasis on psychology research into cultural and linguistic differences around the world. Emory also has one of the best programs in the country for international students, who often score high on departmental application surveys.
5. Florida State University College of Medicine at Atlanta
For a school that’s only about an hour from Tallahassee, Florida, it’s easy to understand why Florida State University is such a strong option for students interested in psychology. The main reason? The university is focused on providing students with an excellent education, whether in the classroom or the lab. As a result, Florida State offers a wide variety of opportunities – both on and off campus – to get involved in cutting-edge research.
6. Northeastern University School of Psychology, Boston Campus
New England’s Northeastern University is another school that’s well-known for its academic program. As such, we were particularly excited to include the school on this list. Although we were initially disappointed to learn that the Northeastern University School of Psychology is not an accredited college of psychology, we can understand why that would be the case. After all, the school is well-known for its highly regarded and popular undergraduate program in psychology. The main reason? The program has done incredibly well in the QS World University Rankings, earning the school a spot in the top 10% of all universities in the world.
7. Boston College Department of Psychology, Boston Campus
Located in Boston, Massachusetts, the Boston College Department of Psychology is another top-notch option for students interested in psychology. The school also happens to be one of the top schools in the country, with a QS World University Rankings second only to UCLA. The main reason? The program does an excellent job of integrating the classroom with the lab in order to give a balanced educational experience for students.
8. University of Washington – Seattle campus
For a school that’s not as well-known for its academic program as it is for its football team, it’s easy to understand why Washington State University in Seattle is such a solid choice for students interested in psychology. The main reason? The program has done incredibly well in the QS World University Rankings, earning the school a spot in the top 10% of all universities in the world.
9. Virginia Tech Carilion School of Psychology and Neuroscience
For a school that’s not as well-known for its academic program as it is for its football team, it’s easy to understand why Virginia Tech Carilion School of Psychology and Neuroscience in Roanoke, Virginia, is such a solid choice for students interested in psychology. The main reason? The school does an excellent job of integrating the classroom with the lab to give a balanced educational experience for students.
10. Virginia Commonwealth University School of Psychology
Last but not least, we have Virginia Commonwealth University, which is perhaps best known for its large science and engineering school and employer. The university’s psychology program is also very good, and it’s largely due to its great location. The main reason? The school is home to the largest psychology department in the South, which means there’s a compelling opportunity for students to get hands-on experience in the field.
Conclusion
It’s no secret that the job market in psychology is tough, and that jobs in this field often require a bachelor’s or master’s degree. That said, there are lots of opportunities for people who want to get into psychology. These are the best online colleges for psychology, and you can choose from among them. If you’re looking for a school that offers a well-rounded education that will help prepare you for a career in psychology, you can’t go wrong with any of these options. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a school with a more specialized program that will better prepare you for a specific career, select the one you’d like to attend based on your interests and future plans.
