by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 1,570 U.S. colleges awarded 150,830 degrees and certificates in General Psychology. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 80% of graduates. College Factual ranks 1,344 schools in its 2027 Best General Psychology Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $33,011 one year after completing, rising to $51,572 after four years.
A major in General Psychology involves the study of Psychology, General. A General Program That Focuses On The Scientific Study Of Individual And Collective Behavior, The Physical And Environmental Bases Of Behavior, And The Analysis And Treatment Of Behavior Problems And Disorders. Includes Instruction In The Principles Of The Various Subfields Of Psychology, Research Methods, And Psychological Assessment And Testing Methods.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, general psychology draws strong interest, with 150,830 degrees awarded annually. 1,570 colleges award general psychology degrees, an average of 96 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 4,942.
By level, the 150,830 awards include 200 certificates, 20,050 associate degrees, 121,170 bachelor’s degrees, 7,604 master’s degrees and 1,796 doctorates.
Women earned 80% of general psychology degrees and certificates in the latest year (120,769 of 150,830). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (69,424) and Hispanic or Latino (38,921), and international students earned 3,561.
College Factual ranks 1,344 schools in its 2027 Best General Psychology Schools ranking, including 243 for associate degrees, 1,090 for bachelor’s degrees, 159 for master’s degrees and 53 for doctorates. It also ranks general psychology schools within 52 states. In all, 1,570 colleges offer general psychology programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value General Psychology Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common general psychology credential is the bachelor’s degree: 121,170 of the 150,830 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to general psychology call most for Reading Comprehension, Active Listening and Speaking, and for knowledge of English Language, Education and Training and Psychology, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Oral Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a general psychology degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 200 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 20,050 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 121,170 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 7,604 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 1,796 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to general psychology, at 32.6%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 32.6% |
| Post-doctoral training | 23.7% |
| Doctoral degree | 17.5% |
| Master’s degree | 11.3% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 4.8% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 3.5% |
| Some college courses | 2.4% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.3% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.6% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
14 occupations are related to General Psychology, with an average median salary of $95,842; the strongest outlook belongs to Clinical and Counseling Psychologists, at 14.7% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Child Development Professor, Abnormal Psychology Teacher, Lecturer and Human Relations Professor.
The occupation related to general psychology with the most projected jobs is Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary, at 513,614.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary | 513,614 | -3.0% |
| Managers, All Other | 468,025 | 6.2% |
| Compliance Managers | 310,203 | 13.0% |
| Loss Prevention Managers | 265,210 | 2.2% |
| Clinical Neuropsychologists | 216,013 | 8.9% |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | 206,415 | 9.9% |
| Neuropsychologists | 186,493 | 6.5% |
| Social Science Research Assistants | 153,535 | 4.7% |
General Psychology graduates earn a median $33,011 one year after completing their program, $51,572 after four years and $50,868 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $33,011 |
| 4 years | $51,572 |
| 5 years | $50,868 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to general psychology is Wind Energy Development Managers, with a median salary of $169,952.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Wind Energy Development Managers | $169,952 |
| Loss Prevention Managers | $165,723 |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | $122,567 |
| Compliance Managers | $117,178 |
| Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers | $99,321 |
| Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary | $98,479 |
| Managers, All Other | $95,684 |
| Neuropsychologists | $83,690 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
