Top 12 Accredited Online Schools for Psychology

A degree in psychology is important for establishing a career in the public or private healthcare, social work, or education sector.

Data shows that a psychology graduate can make $79,820 to $105,780 every year, depending on factors such as the job position, work experience, location, and industry.

You can enroll in an online school to study psychology.

However, make sure that you apply to a college that’s fully accredited, which is necessary to earn a degree that’s accepted by employers and graduate schools, too.

Also, make sure that the psychology school on the web has low tuition and fees and high retention and graduation rates, as well as flexible class schedules.

Planning on earning a degree in psychology but can’t decide as to which online school to attend?

Let me give you 12 of the best online schools offering a bachelor’s degree in psychology — compare them with one another and see which ones are able to meet your specific educational needs and preferences.

1. Florida International University

Being a public institution, the tuition at Florida International University is cheaper for in-state students — even for those who are earning an online Psychology degree from it.

If you are a resident of the Sunshine State, your tuition will be $3,432, bringing the total cost of attending Florida International University online for one semester to $7,853.

On the other hand, if you reside elsewhere, your tuition will amount to $5,188, bringing the sticker price to $9,609 per semester.

What’s really nice about the institution’s online Psychology degree is that it’s fully online. This means that you can complete it without stepping foot on the campus.

In addition, its online Psychology degree’s quality is the same as its traditional counterpart. In order to fulfill this, according to Florida International University itself, online students taking BA in Psychology will study with its qualified faculty and obtain one-on-one guidance from one’s personal success coach.

• Location: Miami, Florida
• Acceptance rate: 58%
• Graduation rate: 56%
• Average annual earnings after graduation: $38,500
• US News ranking: #162 in National Universities
• Niche ranking: #2 in Best Online Colleges in America
• College Simply ranking: #165 in Best Public Colleges in the US

2. University of Central Florida

The online BS in Psychology the University of Central Florida offers is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

The accreditor, which is recognized by both the US Department of Education (DE) and Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), grants regional accreditation.

Because of this, the degree in Psychology that you can earn from the school via the internet can prepare you for either a career in the medical field or graduate school.

Attending the University of Central Florida to complete its online Psychology degree will cost you $179.19 per credit hour if you are an in-state student.

So, in other words, you will have to shell out $2,687.85 per semester or $5,375.70 per academic year. The total cost of the school’s online BS in Psychology is $21,502.80.

If you are an out-of-state student, getting your hands on a degree in Psychology from the University of Central Florida online will cost $10,737 per semester or $21,474 per academic year.

• Location: Orlando, Florida
• Acceptance rate: 44%
• Graduation rate: 70%
• Average annual earnings after graduation: $37,600
• US News ranking: #148 in National Universities
• Niche ranking: #45 in Top Public Universities in America
• College Simply ranking: #100 in Best Public Colleges in the US

3. University of Florida

Not all online Psychology degrees are cut from the same cloth. Some of them are simply better than the rest, which is why those who earn them tend to enjoy a better job market value after graduation.

If you are on the hunt for a high-ranking Psychology degree you can earn online, look no further than what the University of Florida offers.

That’s because it is #2 in Bachelor’s in Psychology Programs by US News. Its online Psychology degree shares the spot with the same degree coming from three online schools.

Helping to prepare online students for an assortment of related careers and graduate school, too, is the fact that the school’s online Psychology program requires students to complete coursework in four important areas.

They are psychology, biology, statistics and mathematics.

The total cost per credit hour for Florida residents who would like to take the online Psychology degree from the public institution is $129.18.

For out-of-state students, the amount climbs up to $552.62.

• Location: Gainesville, Florida
• Acceptance rate: 37%
• Graduation rate: 87%
• Average annual earnings after graduation: $47,000
• US News ranking: #28 in National Universities
• Niche ranking: #7 in Top Public Universities in America
• College Simply ranking: #8 in Best Public Colleges in the US

4. Liberty University

If you are too busy for hybrid classes, then opting for the online Psychology degree Liberty University offers is a smart move. That’s because the program is 100% online from start to finish.

Like a traditional Psychology degree, the BS in Psychology from the private Evangelical school has a total of 120 credits.

If you can go online religiously, you will be able to complete the degree in just three and a half years. If you will enroll as a full-time online student, you will have to pay $390 per credit.

You will need to have a high school GPA of at least 2.0 in order to gain admission into Liberty University and complete its online Psychology degree.

The GPA requirement is lower than what a lot of colleges and universities will accept, although a 2.0 GPA is enough for many less competitive institutions for higher education in the US.

However, it doesn’t mean that Liberty University is a bad school.

As a matter of fact, it is #5 in Best Online Colleges in America by Niche, which is one of the most popular and respected college rankers.

• Location: Lynchburg, Virginia
• Acceptance rate: 100%
• Graduation rate: 49%
• Average annual earnings after graduation: $33,700
• US News ranking: #299 to #391 in National Universities
• Niche ranking: #5 in Best Online Colleges in America
• College Simply ranking: #13 in Best Private Colleges in Virginia

Related Article: Is Liberty University Respected by Employers?

5. Arizona State University

There are literally hundreds of online degrees and certificates available from Arizona State University Online.

The choices are from an assortment of fields or disciplines, ranging from engineering, business to digital media.

Needless to say, one of the offerings of the Tempe, Arizona-based institution is a BS in Psychology.

According to the school itself, your diploma will not indicate that your Psychology degree was earned via the internet. That’s because online and traditional students learn from the same faculty and receive the same course content.

So, in other words, there is no need to feel that you will be disadvantaged when applying for a job.

The tuition for Arizona residents taking an online BS in Psychology degree amounts to $5,355. This brings the cost of attendance for one academic year to $11,778.

Meanwhile, the out-of-state tuition at the online institution costs $6,492.

If you do not reside in Arizona, you will have to pay $14,052 per academic year.

• Location: Tempe, Arizona
• Acceptance rate: 87%
• Graduation rate: 64%
• Average annual earnings after graduation: $40,300
• US News ranking: #117 in National Universities
• Niche ranking: #47 in Top Public Universities in America
• College Simply ranking: #90 in Best Public Colleges in the US

Related Article: University of Arizona vs. Arizona State University: Pros and Cons

6. Fort Hays State University

Besides an online bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Fort Hays State University also offers various master’s degrees in Psychology, all of which can be completed online, too.

They are Experimental Psychology, Clinical Psychology and School Psychology. The school also offers various online minor and certificate programs.

The cost of earning an online Psychology degree from the institution amounts to $218.67 per credit. Doing the math, completing the program, which is equivalent to 120 credits, costs $26,240.40.

Like a traditional Psychology program, you can complete it online from Fort Hays State University in about four years if you take 15 credits per semester.

You can complete it in just three and a half years if you take 18 credits per semester.

It’s possible to earn yours in a shorter amount of time if you take summer courses and go online more.

After completing your Psychology program via the internet, you can either start applying for a job or attend graduate school to enjoy better career opportunities.

• Location: Hays, Kansas
• Acceptance rate: 91%
• Graduation rate: 43%
• Average annual earnings after graduation: $34,900
• US News ranking: #108 in Regional Universities Midwest
• Niche ranking: #60 in Best Online Colleges in America
• College Simply ranking: N/A

7. Oregon State University

Earlier, we mentioned that the University of Florida is the #2 in Bachelor’s in Psychology Programs by US News.

We also stated the fact that it shares the spot with other online schools. Well, one of them is Oregon State University, a public land-grant research university in Corvallis, Oregon, with an online campus that it calls Ecampus.

The school is on a quarter-term system. So, in other words, you will have to attend four quarters each academic year should you enroll in its online BA or BS in Psychology program.

When choosing which online degree in Psychology from Oregon State University you should opt for, consider the career path you plan to take.

A BA in Psychology is for you if your goal is to be in the business, journalism, law or criminal justice field.

Meanwhile, a BS in Psychology is for you if you want to opt for a more research-based, clinical profession.

At Oregon State University, a Psychology degree available online costs $331 per credit. This means that earning a BA or BS in Psychology from the online school will cost you $39,720.

• Location: Corvallis, Oregon
• Acceptance rate: 82%
• Graduation rate: 64%
• Average annual earnings after graduation: $40,000
• US News ranking: #162 in National Universities
• Niche ranking: #3 in Best Online Colleges in America
• College Simply ranking: #105 in Best Public Colleges in the US

8. University of North Dakota

What’s so wonderful about an online degree in Psychology from the University of North Dakota is that you can earn it in a couple of ways, thus allowing you to choose one according to your schedule and lifestyle.

At the University of North Dakota, you can start taking courses in its Psychology program at any given time. It’s what the school calls enroll-anytime courses.

It also allows you to complete the courses at your own pace, although you will have to complete them within three to nine months. Alas, enroll-anytime courses are not eligible for financial aid.

Then there are also semester-based online Psychology degree courses.

As the name suggests, it allows you to take online classes that follow the standard semester schedule. It has virtual classes, too, that enable you to interact with instructors and classmates.

Unlike enroll-anytime courses, semester-based courses allow you to apply for financial aid.

Although a public school, the University of North Dakota has the same tuition for in-state and out-of-state online students. Per credit, the cost of an online Psychology degree from the institution amounts to $370.08.

• Location: Grand Forks, North Dakota
• Acceptance rate: 81%
• Graduation rate: 55%
• Average annual earnings after graduation: $43,900
• US News ranking: #249 in National Universities
• Niche ranking: #133 in Top Public Universities in America
• College Simply ranking: #122 in Best Public Colleges in the US

9. Washington State University

Another online school with a high-ranking online Psychology program is Washington State University.

As a matter of fact, the public institution, which is located in Pullman, Washington, is #8 in Bachelor’s in Psychology Programs by US News, a spot it shares with Utah State University and the University of Arizona.

Despite taking classes via the internet, online Psychology students still have access to an array of resources and networking opportunities, which will come in handy when it’s time to apply for a job.

Some of them include the Online Psychology Student’s Resource Room, the Global Campus Chapter of Washington State University’s Psychology Club, and the Psychology National Honor Society referred to as Psi Chi.

Being a public institution, as expected, the cost of earning an online Psychology from Washington State University is a lot cheaper for in-state students.

The estimated tuition and fees for residents of Washington cost $12,170. The amount more than doubles for out-of-state students: $27,113.

• Location: Pullman, Washington
• Acceptance rate: 76%
• Graduation rate: 66%
• Average annual earnings after graduation: $42,400
• US News ranking: #179 in National Universities
• Niche ranking: #53 in Top Public Universities in America
• College Simply ranking: #87 in Best Public Colleges in the US

10. University of Massachusetts – Lowell

By the looks of it, the University of Massachusetts – Lowell wants its online students to earn a degree in Psychology without spending much time in school and without spending a lot of money.

Transferees, for instance, can transfer up to 90 credits earned from other institutions, physical or online.

And due to this, you may be able to complete your online BA in Psychology in as little as one to three years!

What’s more, the diploma and degree that you will earn are the same diplomas and degrees that on-campus students earn for themselves.

Online courses are taught by the school’s full-time and part-time faculty members. And to give you a personalized online learning experience, courses often enroll fewer than 20 students at a time.

Whether you reside in Massachusetts or elsewhere in the US or planet, you will have to pay $380.00 per credit.

To help bring down the cost, there are various financial aid and scholarships available.

To be automatically considered for financial assistance, you will have to fill out and submit the FAFSA form.

• Location: Lowell, Massachusetts
• Acceptance rate: 73%
• Graduation rate: 55%
• Average annual earnings after graduation: $43,400
• US News ranking: #179 in National Universities
• Niche ranking: #13 in Best Online Colleges in America
• College Simply ranking: #116 in Best Public Colleges in the US

11. Central Washington University

Not a lot of online schools offering Psychology degrees allow students to choose between two types of majors.

Well, you can if you choose to enroll at Central Washington University. The one you should go for will have to be based on your long-term career plan after earning your online degree in Psychology.

First, there’s the small plan major. It consists of 45 credits, and requires students to complete either a second major or a minor.

The small plan major is ideal for those who are interested in combining a psychology background with fields like social work, family studies, business, law and justice, etc.

Second, there’s the large plan major. As the name suggests, it consists of more credits — 60, to be specific.

It lets students earn a bachelor’s degree in Psychology without a second major or a minor. It’s a good idea for you to go this route if your plan is to go to graduate school afterward.

The tuition and fees at Central Washington University Online amount to $8,444 for in-state students and $24,520 for out-of-state students.

• Location: Ellensburg, Washington
• Acceptance rate: 85%
• Graduation rate: 53%
• Average annual earnings after graduation: $37,100
• US News ranking: #46 in Regional Universities West
• Niche ranking: #315 in Top Public Universities in America
• College Simply ranking: #214 in Best Public Colleges in the US

12. Old Dominion University

Originally established as the Norfolk Division of the College of William & Mary, Old Dominion University is currently one of the largest institutions in the state of Virginia.

Its campus is home to a total of 24,286 undergraduate and graduate students.

Besides traditional degrees, the public research university also offers a number of online degrees.

As a matter of fact, its online Psychology degree is one of the best, according to US News — the school’s offering is #25 in Bachelor’s in Psychology Programs. If you are an in-state student, you will have to pay $360 per credit. Meanwhile, if you are a non-Virginia resident, you will have to shell out $407 per credit.

Whether you are fresh from high school or already a college student, you can give Old Dominion University’s online degree in Psychology a go.

As a transferee, however, you will have to complete at least 30 credits from the institution. And with most classes not having a scheduled meeting time, completing the program can be so convenient.

• Location: Norfolk, Virginia
• Acceptance rate: 89%
• Graduation rate: 52%
• Average annual earnings after graduation: $36,600
• US News ranking: #263 in National Universities
• Niche ranking: #62 in Best Online Colleges in America
• College Simply ranking: #224 in Best Public Colleges in the US

A dozen best online schools for Psychology not enough for you to be able to come up with a balanced college list?

Then check out these 20 more colleges and universities also offering top-notch online Psychology degrees:

• Bryan College
• Central Michigan University
• Colorado State University
• Columbia College
• CUNY School of Professional Studies
• Drexel University
• Florida Institute of Technology
• Indiana University – East
• Loyola University Chicago
• Northeastern University
• Northern Arizona University
• Northwestern State University of Louisiana
• Pennsylvania State University – World Campus
• Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College
• University of Alabama – Birmingham
• University of Illinois – Springfield
• University of Louisiana – Monroe
• University of Mary
• University of Utah
• Utah State University

Best Online Psychology Programs: Conclusion

Refrain from assuming that you can have a wonderful college experience and future career, too, by going for the very first online school offering a Psychology program via the internet.

The selection process is just like choosing from the many different degree-granting institutions in the US when attending college in the traditional fashion.

Above, we talked about a total of 12 of the best online schools for Psychology. We also mentioned almost two more dozen in case you want to have more options.

Take your time when choosing which school you should earn your online degree in Psychology.

Read Next: How Long Does It Take to Get a Bachelor’s Degree Online