2027 Best Value General Psychology Associate’s Degree Schools
[General Psychology](/majors/psychology/general-psychology/psychology-general/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
To produce this 2027 ranking, College Factual evaluated 243 schools on the balance of cost and outcomes for general psychology students.
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2027 Best Value General Psychology Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general psychology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Psychology Schools
Our analysis ranked College Of The Canyons the best value for a degree in general psychology in the United States. College Of The Canyons is a very large public school located in the suburb of Santa Clarita. Students from in state pay about $1,166 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $10,958. Typical student debt for general psychology graduates is $7,177. Soon after graduation, general psychology degree recipients from College Of The Canyons generally make around $51,913. Set against $7,177 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of San Mateo is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general psychology, landing the #2 spot this year. Set in the city of San Mateo, College Of San Mateo is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,332, while out-of-state students pay about $11,428. Typical student debt for general psychology graduates is $12,831. Median earnings reach $54,172 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Cypress College earned it the #3 place for general psychology. Cypress College is a very large public school located in the city of Cypress. Students from in state pay about $1,150 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,379. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $43,533.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Santa Ana College earned it the #4 place for general psychology. Set in the city of Santa Ana, Santa Ana College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,180 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $10,756. General Psychology graduates carry a median of $11,196 in student loans. Early-career general psychology graduates make about $39,633. That is a strong return on a $11,196 median debt.
Students looking for strong value in general psychology will find it at Saddleback College, which ranked #5. Saddleback College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Mission Viejo. In-state tuition and fees average $1,432, with out-of-state students paying around $14,812. Students borrow a median of $5,707 to complete the general psychology program here. Soon after graduation, general psychology degree recipients from Saddleback College generally make around $15,890. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Skyline College came in at #6 for value in general psychology this year. Set in the suburb of San Bruno, Skyline College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,332 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,956 for out-of-state students. Median earnings reach $55,702 ten years out.
Moorpark College placed #7 among the best values for general psychology. Moorpark College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Moorpark. Students from in state pay about $1,426 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,615. Typical student debt for general psychology graduates is $17,075. Soon after graduation, general psychology degree recipients from Moorpark College generally make around $105,599. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Pasadena City College placed #8 among the best values for general psychology. Pasadena City College is a very large public school located in the city of Pasadena. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,180, with out-of-state students paying around $10,924. Typical student debt for general psychology graduates is $12,000. Early-career general psychology graduates make about $24,894. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
San Joaquin Delta College came in at #9 for value in general psychology this year. San Joaquin Delta College is a very large public school located in the city of Stockton. Students from in state pay about $1,180 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,772 for out-of-state students. General Psychology graduates carry a median of $6,382 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general psychology degree recipients from San Joaquin Delta College generally make around $65,168. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Las Positas College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value general psychology schools. Las Positas College is a large public school located in the city of Livermore. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,168, with out-of-state students paying around $9,808. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $51,088.
Foothill College ranked #11 on our 2027 list of the best value general psychology schools. Located in the suburb of Los Altos Hills, Foothill College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,565, with out-of-state students paying around $12,590. Students borrow a median of $5,500 to complete the general psychology program here. General Psychology graduates of Foothill College earn a median of $94,152 early in their careers. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Diablo Valley College placed #12 among the best values for general psychology. Set in the suburb of Pleasant Hill, Diablo Valley College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,312, while out-of-state students pay about $10,320. Typical student debt for general psychology graduates is $7,110. Early-career general psychology graduates make about $27,813. That is a strong return on a $7,110 median debt.
Shasta College placed #13 among the best values for general psychology. Shasta College is a large public school located in the suburb of Redding. Students from in state pay about $1,197 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $8,853. Typical student debt for general psychology graduates is $12,275. Early-career general psychology graduates make about $50,330. Set against $12,275 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Santiago Canyon College earned the #14 position for value in general psychology this year. Santiago Canyon College is a very large public school located in the city of Orange. Students from in state pay about $1,164 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,612 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general psychology graduates is $5,500. Soon after graduation, general psychology degree recipients from Santiago Canyon College generally make around $34,100. That is a strong return on a $5,500 median debt.
Mission College came in at #15 for value in general psychology this year. Located in the city of Santa Clara, Mission College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,438 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $12,500. Students borrow a median of $17,223 to complete the general psychology program here. Median earnings reach $50,936 ten years out. Set against $17,223 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Modesto Junior College placed #16 among the best values for general psychology. Modesto Junior College is a very large public school located in the city of Modesto. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,282, with out-of-state students paying around $9,264. Typical student debt for general psychology graduates is $6,757. Early-career general psychology graduates make about $25,832. That is a strong return on a $6,757 median debt.
Canada College came in at #17 for value in general psychology this year. Canada College is a large public school located in the suburb of Redwood City. In-state tuition and fees average $1,332, with out-of-state students paying around $11,384. Typical student debt for general psychology graduates is $15,000. General Psychology graduates of Canada College earn a median of $106,691 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
San Diego Miramar College came in at #18 for value in general psychology this year. Set in the city of San Diego, San Diego Miramar College is a very large public institution. Students from in state pay about $1,146 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,002 for out-of-state students. General Psychology graduates carry a median of $8,098 in student loans. Early-career general psychology graduates make about $41,038. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Chaffey College earned the #19 position for value in general psychology this year. Set in the suburb of Rancho Cucamonga, Chaffey College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,184, compared with $11,120 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $6,952 to complete the general psychology program here. Soon after graduation, general psychology degree recipients from Chaffey College generally make around $23,532. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Clovis Community College Fresno landed the #20 spot for general psychology value this year. Located in the city of Fresno, Clovis Community College Fresno is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,378, with out-of-state students paying around $8,638.
El Camino Community College District ranked #21 on our 2027 list of the best value general psychology schools. Set in the suburb of Torrance, El Camino Community College District is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,144, compared with $7,630 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $41,589 ten years after entry.
Victor Valley College landed the #22 spot for general psychology value this year. Victor Valley College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Victorville. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,425, compared with $10,125 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general psychology graduates is $7,995. Early-career general psychology graduates make about $37,755. That is a strong return on a $7,995 median debt.
Solano Community College came in at #23 for value in general psychology this year. Located in the suburb of Fairfield, Solano Community College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,172 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,772 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $10,500 to complete the general psychology program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $44,170 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hartnell College came in at #24 for value in general psychology this year. Located in the city of Salinas, Hartnell College is a large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,404, with out-of-state students paying around $10,398. Students borrow a median of $6,000 to complete the general psychology program here. Soon after graduation, general psychology degree recipients from Hartnell College generally make around $35,080. Set against $6,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Merced College earned the #25 position for value in general psychology this year. Merced College is a large public school located in the city of Merced. In-state tuition and fees average $1,200, while out-of-state students pay about $8,520. Students borrow a median of $6,849 to complete the general psychology program here. General Psychology graduates of Merced College earn a median of $34,441 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $6,849 median debt.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value General Psychology Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in general psychology:
Other General Psychology Degree Levels
Explore the best-value general psychology schools at other degree levels:
View All General Psychology Rankings >
Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 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 · 243 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 243 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.
