by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 34 U.S. colleges awarded 458 degrees and certificates in Social Psychology. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 49% of graduates. College Factual ranks 11 schools in its 2027 Best Social Psychology Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $34,806 one year after completing, rising to $58,844 after four years.
Studying Social Psychology explores Social Psychology. A Program That Focuses On The Scientific Study Of Individual Behavior In Group Contexts, Group Behavior, And Associated Phenomena. Includes Instruction In Social Learning Theory, Group Theory And Dynamics, Sex Roles, Social Cognition And Inference, Attribution Theory, Attitude Formation, Criminal Behavior And Other Social Pathologies, Altruistic Behavior, Social Development, And Social Ecology.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, social psychology draws strong interest, with 458 degrees awarded annually. 34 colleges award social psychology degrees, an average of 13 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 85.
By level, the 458 awards include 13 certificates, 39 associate degrees, 225 bachelor’s degrees, 110 master’s degrees and 40 doctorates.
Women earned 80% of social psychology degrees and certificates in the latest year (365 of 458). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (249) and Hispanic or Latino (74), and international students earned 15.
College Factual ranks 11 schools in its 2027 Best Social Psychology Schools ranking, including 2 for associate degrees, 6 for bachelor’s degrees, 2 for master’s degrees and 1 for doctorates. It also ranks social psychology schools within 4 states. In all, 34 colleges offer social psychology programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Social Psychology Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common social psychology credential is the bachelor’s degree: 225 of the 458 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to social 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 social psychology degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 13 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 39 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 225 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 110 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 40 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to social psychology, at 33.1%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 33.1% |
| Post-doctoral training | 25.2% |
| Doctoral degree | 17.5% |
| Master’s degree | 8.4% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 5.4% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 4.0% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.6% |
| Some college courses | 2.0% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.7% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.3% |
Source: O*NET Online.
11 occupations are related to Social Psychology, with an average median salary of $105,599; the strongest outlook belongs to Compliance Managers, at 13.0% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Instructor, Child Development Teacher, College Faculty Member and Child Psychology Teacher.
The occupation related to social 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% |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | 128,884 | 5.2% |
Social Psychology graduates earn a median $34,806 one year after completing their program, $58,844 after four years and $59,483 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $34,806 |
| 4 years | $58,844 |
| 5 years | $59,483 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to social 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 |
Social Psychology has 9 similar majors in the Psychology field, which together award 24,045 degrees a year; the largest are Research and Experimental Psychology, Other (14,964), Experimental Psychology (5,021) and Developmental and Child Psychology (1,864). Browse all Psychology majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Research and Experimental Psychology, Other | 14,964 |
| Experimental Psychology | 5,021 |
| Developmental and Child Psychology | 1,864 |
| Behavioral Neuroscience | 1,447 |
| Cognitive Psychology and Psycholinguistics | 425 |
| Psychometrics and Quantitative Psychology | 211 |
| Psychopharmacology | 74 |
| Personality Psychology | 23 |
| Comparative Psychology | 16 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
