by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 96 U.S. colleges awarded 3,004 degrees and certificates in Applied Psychology. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 55% of graduates. College Factual ranks 51 schools in its 2027 Best Applied Psychology Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $55,107 one year after completing, rising to $71,095 after four years.
Studying Applied Psychology involves the study of Applied Psychology. A Program That Focuses On The Application Of Psychological Theories And Methods To Real-World Settings And Problems, Such As Business And Industry, Government, Education, Military, And Community Settings. Includes Instruction In Applications Of Psychology, Industrial/organizational Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Social Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, Counseling, Human Factors, Research Methods And Statistics, And Program Evaluation.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, applied psychology is a popular field of study, with 3,004 degrees awarded annually. 96 colleges award applied psychology degrees, an average of 31 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 397.
By level, the 3,004 awards include 45 associate degrees, 1,667 bachelor’s degrees, 1,234 master’s degrees and 58 doctorates.
Women earned 79% of applied psychology degrees and certificates in the latest year (2,363 of 3,004). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (1,260) and Hispanic or Latino (517), and international students earned 83.
College Factual ranks 51 schools in its 2027 Best Applied Psychology Schools ranking, including 1 for associate degrees, 29 for bachelor’s degrees, 36 for master’s degrees and 14 for doctorates. It also ranks applied psychology schools within 16 states. In all, 96 colleges offer applied psychology programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Applied Psychology Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common applied psychology credential is the bachelor’s degree: 1,667 of the 3,004 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to applied 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:
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How long an applied psychology degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 45 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1,667 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,234 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 58 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to applied 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 Applied 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 Child Development Teacher, Clinical Psychology Professor, Adjunct Instructor and College Faculty Member.
The occupation related to applied 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% |
Applied Psychology graduates earn a median $55,107 one year after completing their program, $71,095 after four years and $67,444 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $55,107 |
| 4 years | $71,095 |
| 5 years | $67,444 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to applied 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 |
Applied Psychology has 16 similar majors in the Psychology field, which together award 40,183 degrees a year; the largest are Counseling Psychology (12,299), Applied Behavior Analysis (7,220) and Clinical Psychology (6,412). Browse all Psychology majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Counseling Psychology | 12,299 |
| Applied Behavior Analysis | 7,220 |
| Clinical Psychology | 6,412 |
| School Psychology | 3,735 |
| Industrial and Organizational Psychology | 3,171 |
| Forensic Psychology | 2,736 |
| Educational Psychology | 1,876 |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology, Other | 711 |
| Family Psychology | 630 |
| Community Psychology | 467 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
