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2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k

287 Ranked Colleges
5,985 Degrees Awarded
$32,600 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master's For Those Making $0-$30k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. College Factual has developed its “Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

In 2019-2020, 134,326 general psychology students received their degree, making the major the 4th most popular in the country. In 2017-2018, general psychology graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $28,999 and had an average of $26,247 in loans still to pay off.

At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 5,985 general psychology graduates with average earnings and debt of $56,398 and $43,194 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 287 colleges that offer a degree in general psychology. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent general psychology programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the general psychology program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we’ve developed a number of rankings, including this “Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k” list, to help you choose the best school for you.

In addition to College Factual’s rankings, you may want to take a look at College Combat, our unique tool that lets you pit your favorite schools head-to-head and compare how they rate on factors that most interest you. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for General Psychology (Income $0-$30k)

#1

Duke University

Durham, North Carolina
#3 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Duke University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Duke is a private not-for-profit institution located in Durham, North Carolina. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 16 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Duke did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #3 on our “Best General Psychology Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Duke University are $59,140, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Duke University General Psychology Report

#2

Harvard University

Cambridge, Massachusetts
#1 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Harvard University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k. Cambridge, Massachusetts is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s psychology degrees to 43 students in 2019-2020.

Harvard did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best General Psychology Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Harvard University are $50,654.

Read full report on General Psychology at Harvard

#3

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend University of Pennsylvania. The school came in at #3 for the Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k. University of Pennsylvania is a large private not-for-profit school situated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It awarded 48 masters’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.

UPenn also made our “Best General Psychology Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #2. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Pennsylvania are $41,760, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full UPenn General Psychology Report

#4

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
#4 in overall quality

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Northwestern University. The school came in at #4 for the Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k. Northwestern is located in Evanston, Illinois and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 12 masters’s psychology degrees to qualified students.

Northwestern not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best General Psychology Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northwestern are $56,567, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about General Psychology at Northwestern University

#5

University of Florida

Gainesville, Florida
Top 10% in overall quality

Out of the 287 schools in the Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Florida landed the #5 spot on the list. This large school is located in Gainesville, Florida, and it awarded 19 masters’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.

On top of its placing in this ranking, UF also did well on our “Best General Psychology Master’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools in this category. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UF are $30,130.

Read more about General Psychology at University of Florida

#6

Rice University

Houston, Texas
#12 in overall quality

Rice University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #6. Rice University is a medium-sized school located in Houston, Texas that handed out 8 masters’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.

Rice not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #12 on our “Best General Psychology Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Rice University are $47,913, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about General Psychology at Rice University

#13 in overall quality

University of Wisconsin - Madison ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Wisconsin - Madison is a public institution located in Madison, Wisconsin. The school has a large population, and it awarded 18 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UW - Madison not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #13 on our “Best General Psychology Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Madison are $25,523.

Full University of Wisconsin - Madison General Psychology Report

#8

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, North Carolina
#25 in overall quality

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UNC Chapel Hill is a large public school situated in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. It awarded 13 masters’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.

UNC Chapel Hill also made our “Best General Psychology Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #25. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are $30,248, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about General Psychology at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

#9

Queens College

Queens, New York

Queens College ranked #9 on this year’s Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in Queens, New York, this fairly large public school awarded 11 degrees to qualified masters’s psychology students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at QC are $21,042, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about General Psychology at QC

#10

Florida State University

Tallahassee, Florida

With a ranking of #10, Florida State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Tallahassee, Florida is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s psychology degrees to 46 students in 2019-2020.

Florida State also made our “Best General Psychology Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #22. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Florida State are $26,707.

Read full report on General Psychology at Florida State University

#11

The City College of New York

New York, New York

The City College of New York did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #11. Located in New York, New York, this fairly large public school awarded 13 diplomas to qualified masters’s psychology students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at CCNY are $20,832, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on General Psychology at The City College of New York

#12

University of Maryland - College Park

College Park, Maryland
#18 in overall quality

University of Maryland - College Park landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. University of Maryland - College Park is a public institution located in College Park, Maryland. The school has a large population, and it awarded 10 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

UMCP did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #18 on our “Best General Psychology Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Maryland - College Park are $30,885.

Full University of Maryland - College Park General Psychology Report

#13

Hunter College

New York, New York

Hunter College came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Hunter College is a public institution located in New York, New York. The school has a large population, and it awarded 19 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Hunter College are $20,828, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Hunter General Psychology Report

#14

William & Mary

Williamsburg, Virginia
Top 15% in overall quality

William & Mary landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Williamsburg, Virginia is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s psychology degrees to 5 students in 2019-2020.

William & Mary excels when it comes to psychology quality. It’s ranked in the top 15% of all schools on our “Best General Psychology Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at William & Mary are $34,800, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on General Psychology at William & Mary

Florida International University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #15. This large school is located in Miami, Florida, and it awarded 61 masters’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at FIU are $24,211, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on General Psychology at Florida International University

#16

Wake Forest University

Winston-Salem, North Carolina
#9 in overall quality

Wake Forest University came in at #16 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Wake Forest University is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It awarded 7 masters’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.

Wake Forest University not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #9 on our “Best General Psychology Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Wake Forest University are $39,216.

Read full report on General Psychology at Wake Forest University

California State University - Fresno did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #17. Fresno, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s psychology degrees to 15 students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Fresno State are $17,581.

Read more about General Psychology at California State University - Fresno

#18

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California
#7 in overall quality

University of California - Los Angeles landed the #18 spot on the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Los Angeles, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s psychology degrees to 35 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at UCLA, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best General Psychology Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UCLA are $28,131.

Full UCLA General Psychology Report

#19

University of Central Florida

Orlando, Florida

With a ranking of #19, University of Central Florida did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Orlando, Florida, and it awarded 5 masters’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Central Florida are $28,657, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about General Psychology at UCF

Top 25% in overall quality

California State University - Long Beach came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Long Beach, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s psychology degrees to 33 students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at CSULB are $17,784.

Full CSULB General Psychology Report

#21

Boston College

Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts

Boston College ranked #21 on this year’s Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s psychology degrees to 1 students in 2019-2020.

Boston College also made our “Best General Psychology Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #0. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Boston College are $31,930.

Read full report on General Psychology at Boston College

#22

University of Georgia

Athens, Georgia
#24 in overall quality

University of Georgia did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #22. Athens, Georgia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s psychology degrees to 11 students in 2019-2020.

UGA not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #24 on our “Best General Psychology Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at UGA are $27,476, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of Georgia General Psychology Report

California State University - Fullerton did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #23. Fullerton, California is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s psychology degrees to 29 students in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at California State University - Fullerton are $17,892.

Read full report on General Psychology at Cal State Fullerton

#24

Emory University

Atlanta, Georgia
#17 in overall quality

Emory University ranked #24 on this year’s Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Atlanta, Georgia is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s psychology degrees to 8 students in 2019-2020.

Emory not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #17 on our “Best General Psychology Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Emory University are $44,676, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on General Psychology at Emory

#25

Michigan State University

East Lansing, Michigan
Top 20% in overall quality

With a ranking of #25, Michigan State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. East Lansing, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s psychology degrees to 18 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Michigan State is also in the top of our “Best General Psychology Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. It’s in the top 20% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. Average graduate tuition and fees at Michigan State are $37,056, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read more about General Psychology at Michigan State University

Rest of the Best 44 in Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k

Not only did these schools make the top 44 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

#26

North Carolina State University

Raleigh, North Carolina
#27

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, Minnesota
#31

University of North Texas

Denton, Texas
#32

The University of West Florida

Pensacola, Florida
#33

Towson University

Towson, Maryland
#36

San Diego State University

San Diego, California
#37

University of Virginia - Main Campus

Charlottesville, Virginia
#38

Texas A&M University - College Station

College Station, Texas
#40

Washington State University

Pullman, Washington
#41

Lehigh University

Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
#42

Appalachian State University

Boone, North Carolina
#43

Citadel Military College of South Carolina

Charleston, South Carolina

Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

Credits

  • Credit for the banner image above goes to BruceBlaus.

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