by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 128 U.S. colleges awarded 3,171 degrees and certificates in Industrial & Organizational Psychology. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 73% of graduates. College Factual ranks 75 schools in its 2027 Best Industrial & Organizational 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 Industrial & Organizational Psychology involves the study of Industrial And Organizational Psychology. A Program That Focuses On The Scientific Study Of Individual And Group Behavior In Institutional Settings, Applications To Related Problems Of Organization And Industry, And That May Prepare Individuals To Apply Such Principles In Industrial And Organizational Settings. Includes Instruction In Group Behavior Theory, Organizational Theory, Reward/punishment Structures, Human-Machine And Human-Computer Interactions, Motivation Dynamics, Human Stress Studies, Environmental And Organizational Influences On Behavior, Alienation And Satisfaction, And Job Testing And Assessment.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, industrial & organizational psychology draws strong interest, with 3,171 degrees awarded annually. 128 colleges award industrial & organizational psychology degrees, an average of 25 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 687.
By level, the 3,171 awards include 594 bachelor’s degrees, 2,302 master’s degrees and 275 doctorates.
Women earned 74% of industrial & organizational psychology degrees and certificates in the latest year (2,341 of 3,171). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (1,213) and Black or African American (572), and international students earned 207.
College Factual ranks 75 schools in its 2027 Best Industrial & Organizational Psychology Schools ranking, including 8 for bachelor’s degrees, 68 for master’s degrees and 16 for doctorates. It also ranks industrial & organizational psychology schools within 26 states. In all, 128 colleges offer industrial & organizational psychology programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Industrial & Organizational Psychology Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common industrial & organizational psychology credential is the master’s degree: 2,302 of the 3,171 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to industrial & organizational psychology call most for Speaking, Reading Comprehension and Active Listening, and for knowledge of English Language, Education and Training and Administration and Management, 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 industrial & organizational psychology degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 594 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 2,302 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 275 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to industrial & organizational psychology, at 56.0%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 56.0% |
| Master’s degree | 12.9% |
| Doctoral degree | 8.2% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 4.8% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 4.6% |
| Post-doctoral training | 4.3% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 3.8% |
| Some college courses | 3.3% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.0% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.1% |
Source: O*NET Online.
14 occupations are related to Industrial & Organizational Psychology, with an average median salary of $104,105; the strongest outlook belongs to Compliance Managers, at 13.0% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Development Coordinator, Development Associate, Training Supervisor and HR Trainer (Human Resources Trainer).
The occupation related to industrial & organizational psychology with the most projected jobs is Training and Development Specialists, at 622,945.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Training and Development Specialists | 622,945 | 11.3% |
| Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary | 513,614 | -3.0% |
| Management Analysts | 484,759 | 12.6% |
| Managers, All Other | 468,025 | 6.2% |
| Human Resources Specialists | 405,890 | 11.8% |
| Human Resources Managers | 404,262 | -3.6% |
| Training and Development Managers | 394,938 | -0.4% |
| Compliance Managers | 310,203 | 13.0% |
Industrial & Organizational 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 industrial & organizational 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 |
| Training and Development Managers | $139,524 |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | $122,567 |
| Compliance Managers | $117,178 |
| Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers | $99,321 |
| Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary | $98,479 |
| Human Resources Managers | $95,702 |
Industrial & Organizational Psychology has 16 similar majors in the Psychology field, which together award 40,016 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 |
| Applied Psychology | 3,004 |
| 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.
