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2026 Best Applied Psychology Schools in California

5 Colleges in the United States
509 Applied Psychology Degrees Awarded
$61,668 Avg Early-Career Salary

Applied Psychology is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. The schools below stand out for the quality of their applied psychology programs.

College Factual analyzed 11 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best applied psychology schools.

What’s on this page:

Best Schools for Applied Psychology in California

If you are not interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the applied psychology degrees they offer, see the list below.

Top Schools in Applied Psychology

1

Our analysis ranked University Of Southern California the best school in the country for a degree in applied psychology. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. University Of Southern California awarded about 100 applied psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the applied psychology program make about $71,497 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,625 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in applied psychology from University Of Southern California

2
Touro University Worldwide crest
Touro University Worldwide
Los Alamitos, CA

Students looking for a strong applied psychology program will find one at Touro University Worldwide, which ranked #2. Set in the suburb of Los Alamitos, Touro University Worldwide is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 29% of students finish within six years. About 32 applied psychology degrees were awarded at Touro University Worldwide in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, applied psychology degree recipients from Touro University Worldwide generally make around $61,331. Touro University Worldwide graduates carry a median of $32,289 in student loans. More information about a degree in applied psychology from Touro University Worldwide

3
Biola University crest
Biola University
La Mirada, CA

Students looking for a strong applied psychology program will find one at Biola University, which ranked #3. Set in the suburb of La Mirada, Biola University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Biola University graduates 68% of students within six years. About 16 applied psychology degrees were awarded at Biola University in the most recent year. Graduates of the applied psychology program make about $83,525 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $27,568. Read more about the applied psychology program at Biola University

4

Students looking for a strong applied psychology program will find one at California Institute Of Integral Studies, which ranked #4. Set in the city of San Francisco, California Institute Of Integral Studies is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. California Institute Of Integral Studies awarded about 291 applied psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the applied psychology program make about $44,236 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,177. Get the full applied psychology details for California Institute Of Integral Studies

5

Students looking for a strong applied psychology program will find one at Fielding Graduate University, which ranked #5. Fielding Graduate University is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of Santa Barbara. There were roughly 30 applied psychology students who graduated with this degree at Fielding Graduate University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their applied psychology degree from Fielding Graduate University earn around $59,510 in the first couple years of their career. Get the full applied psychology details for Fielding Graduate University

6

Azusa Pacific University College earned the #6 position for applied psychology this year. Set in the suburb of San Dimas, Azusa Pacific University College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 17% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 40 applied psychology degrees were awarded at Azusa Pacific University College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, applied psychology degree recipients from Azusa Pacific University College generally make around $49,910. Typical student debt for the program is $46,561. Read more about the applied psychology program at Azusa Pacific University College

View All Applied Psychology Rankings >

Notes and References

The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).

Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 11 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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