2026 Best Value Applied Psychology Bachelor’s Degree Schools
[Applied Psychology](/majors/psychology/clinical-counseling-applied-psychology/applied-psychology/) is a field worth comparing on the balance of cost and outcomes. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong applied psychology education at a price that pays off.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 113 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for applied psychology students.
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2026 Best Value Applied Psychology Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in applied psychology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Applied Psychology Schools
Leading the list is Farmingdale State College, our #1 best value for applied psychology in the United States. Farmingdale State College is a large public school located in the suburb of Farmingdale. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,626, with out-of-state students paying around $18,536. Applied Psychology graduates carry a median of $20,175 in student loans. Early-career applied psychology graduates make about $28,904. Set against $20,175 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 63% of applicants are accepted.
Students looking for strong value in applied psychology will find it at University Of Illinois At Chicago, which ranked #2. University Of Illinois At Chicago is a very large public school located in the city of Chicago. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $15,949, compared with $32,009 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for applied psychology graduates is $20,115. Soon after graduation, applied psychology degree recipients from University Of Illinois At Chicago generally make around $61,829. Set against $20,115 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Illinois At Chicago admits about 77% of applicants.
Arizona State University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best value applied psychology schools. Arizona State University is a very large public school located in the city of Tempe. Students from in state pay about $12,223 in tuition and fees, compared with $33,139 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $21,842 to complete the applied psychology program here. Soon after graduation, applied psychology degree recipients from Arizona State University generally make around $69,344. Set against $21,842 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Arizona State University admits about 90% of applicants.
Students looking for strong value in applied psychology will find it at University Of Phoenix Arizona, which ranked #4. Located in the city of Phoenix, University Of Phoenix Arizona is a very large private for-profit university. In-state tuition and fees average $9,552. Typical student debt for applied psychology graduates is $40,687. Early-career applied psychology graduates make about $41,118. That is a strong return on a $40,687 median debt.
A rank of #5 makes Suny College At Buffalo one of the best values for applied psychology. Set in the city of Buffalo, Suny College At Buffalo is a moderately-sized public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $8,533, while out-of-state students pay about $19,653. Typical student debt for applied psychology graduates is $25,257. Applied Psychology graduates of Suny College At Buffalo earn a median of $39,412 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 73%.
Suny College Of Technology At Canton landed the #6 spot for applied psychology value this year. Set in the town of Canton, Suny College Of Technology At Canton is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,742 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,769. Applied Psychology graduates carry a median of $26,000 in student loans. Early-career applied psychology graduates make about $36,254. Set against $26,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Roughly 92% of applicants are accepted.
Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global landed the #7 spot for applied psychology value this year. Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global is a large private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Marion. Students from in state pay about $9,648 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $38,759 to complete the applied psychology program here. Applied Psychology graduates of Indiana Wesleyan University National And Global earn a median of $40,706 early in their careers. Set against $38,759 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Suny College Of Agriculture And Technology At Cobleskill came in at #8 for value in applied psychology this year. Located in the town of Cobleskill, Suny College Of Agriculture And Technology At Cobleskill is a mid-sized public university. In-state tuition and fees average $8,768, while out-of-state students pay about $18,678. Typical student debt for applied psychology graduates is $23,490. Soon after graduation, applied psychology degree recipients from Suny College Of Agriculture And Technology At Cobleskill generally make around $31,793. Set against $23,490 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Suny College Of Agriculture And Technology At Cobleskill admits about 84% of applicants.
Morrisville State College ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value applied psychology schools. Set in the rural area of Morrisville, Morrisville State College is a mid-sized public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,825 in tuition and fees, compared with $19,245 for out-of-state students. Applied Psychology graduates carry a median of $28,274 in student loans. Applied Psychology graduates of Morrisville State College earn a median of $31,903 early in their careers. Set against $28,274 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 92%.
Oregon Institute Of Technology earned the #10 position for value in applied psychology this year. Oregon Institute Of Technology is a moderately-sized public school located in the town of Klamath Falls. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $13,260, compared with $37,196 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $38,546 to complete the applied psychology program here. Early-career applied psychology graduates make about $26,591. Set against $38,546 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Oregon Institute Of Technology admits about 95% of applicants.
Mount Olive College came in at #11 for value in applied psychology this year. Located in the rural area of Mount Olive, Mount Olive College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $27,366. Typical student debt for applied psychology graduates is $30,798. Soon after graduation, applied psychology degree recipients from Mount Olive College generally make around $45,131. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Mount Olive College admits about 76% of applicants.
Capella University came in at #12 for value in applied psychology this year. Set in the city of Minneapolis, Capella University is a very large private for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $14,400. Students borrow a median of $35,998 to complete the applied psychology program here. Applied Psychology graduates of Capella University earn a median of $72,053 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Saint Marys University Of Minnesota landed the #13 spot for applied psychology value this year. Set in the town of Winona, Saint Marys University Of Minnesota is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $45,080 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $27,081 to complete the applied psychology program here. Early-career applied psychology graduates make about $67,111. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Saint Marys University Of Minnesota admits about 93% of applicants.
Azusa Pacific University College earned the #14 position for value in applied psychology this year. Set in the suburb of San Dimas, Azusa Pacific University College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,360. Typical student debt for applied psychology graduates is $46,561. Early-career applied psychology graduates make about $41,803.
Albright College ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best value applied psychology schools. Albright College is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Reading. Students from in state pay about $29,082 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for applied psychology graduates is $39,762. Soon after graduation, applied psychology degree recipients from Albright College generally make around $48,838. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 76% of applicants are accepted.
Regis University ranked #16 on our 2026 list of the best value applied psychology schools. Regis University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Denver. In-state tuition and fees average $28,140. Applied Psychology graduates carry a median of $31,773 in student loans. Soon after graduation, applied psychology degree recipients from Regis University generally make around $49,365. Set against $31,773 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 86%.
Keystone College ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best value applied psychology schools. Located in the suburb of La Plume, Keystone College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $18,300. Applied Psychology graduates carry a median of $27,000 in student loans. Early-career applied psychology graduates make about $25,974. That is a strong return on a $27,000 median debt. The acceptance rate is 85%.
Belhaven University placed #18 among the best values for applied psychology. Set in the city of Jackson, Belhaven University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $30,250. Students borrow a median of $41,825 to complete the applied psychology program here. Early-career applied psychology graduates make about $28,316. That is a strong return on a $41,825 median debt. The acceptance rate is 50%.
Florida Institute Of Technology Online earned the #19 position for value in applied psychology this year. Florida Institute Of Technology Online is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Melbourne. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,780. Applied Psychology graduates carry a median of $32,000 in student loans. Applied Psychology graduates of Florida Institute Of Technology Online earn a median of $34,506 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Florida Institute Of Technology Online admits about 40% of applicants.
Colorado Christian University ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best value applied psychology schools. Colorado Christian University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Lakewood. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $28,846. Applied Psychology graduates carry a median of $36,092 in student loans. Early-career applied psychology graduates make about $44,948. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Ottawa University Ottawa placed #21 among the best values for applied psychology. Located in the town of Ottawa, Ottawa University Ottawa is a small private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $35,880. Applied Psychology graduates carry a median of $30,416 in student loans. Early-career applied psychology graduates make about $52,174. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 83%.
Biola University came in at #22 for value in applied psychology this year. Set in the suburb of La Mirada, Biola University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $48,984. Applied Psychology graduates carry a median of $27,568 in student loans. Soon after graduation, applied psychology degree recipients from Biola University generally make around $83,525. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 74%.
Bellevue University came in at #23 for value in applied psychology this year. Set in the suburb of Bellevue, Bellevue University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $12,873 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for applied psychology graduates is $24,846. Early-career applied psychology graduates make about $61,548. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best value applied psychology schools. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Pittsburgh. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $21,926, with out-of-state students paying around $41,430. Applied Psychology graduates carry a median of $25,000 in student loans. Applied Psychology graduates of University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earn a median of $43,495 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus admits about 58% of applicants.
Pace University New York earned the #25 position for value in applied psychology this year. Set in the city of New York, Pace University New York is a large private not-for-profit institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $53,510. Typical student debt for applied psychology graduates is $26,000. Applied Psychology graduates of Pace University New York earn a median of $40,671 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Pace University New York admits about 76% of applicants.
Rest of the Top 30 Best Value Applied Psychology Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for applied psychology this year:
Other Applied Psychology Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Applied Psychology rankings across degree levels:
View All Applied Psychology Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 113 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 22 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
