General Psychology degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 248 schools to find the best for general psychology students.
Best Schools for General Psychology in the Far Western Region
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 general psychology degrees they offer, see the list below.
Leading the list is University Of California Davis, our #1 school for general psychology. University Of California Davis is a very large public school located in the suburb of Davis. University Of California Davis graduates 86% of students within six years. University Of California Davis awarded about 26 general psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general psychology program make about $53,749 in their early career. University Of California Davis graduates carry a median of $14,404 in student loans.
Read more about the general psychology program at University Of California Davis
Students looking for a strong general psychology program will find one at San Jose State University, which ranked #2. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. San Jose State University awarded about 449 general psychology degrees in the most recent data year.
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Santa Clara University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best general psychology schools. Located in the city of Santa Clara, Santa Clara University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 98 general psychology degrees were awarded at Santa Clara University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general psychology degree recipients from Santa Clara University generally make around $38,587. Santa Clara University graduates carry a median of $17,667 in student loans.
See the full general psychology program report for Santa Clara University
California State University East Bay came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best general psychology schools. Set in the suburb of Hayward, California State University East Bay is a large public institution. Roughly 48% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 368 general psychology degrees were awarded at California State University East Bay in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general psychology degree recipients from California State University East Bay generally make around $37,702. California State University East Bay graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans.
Read more about the general psychology program at California State University East Bay
University Of Southern California is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general psychology, ranking #5. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Southern California awarded about 232 general psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general psychology degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $34,139. University Of Southern California graduates carry a median of $14,000 in student loans.
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University Of San Diego came in at #6 for general psychology this year. Located in the city of San Diego, University Of San Diego is a large private not-for-profit university. About 84% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 99 general psychology students who graduated with this degree at University Of San Diego in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general psychology program make about $35,595 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $24,293.
See the full general psychology program report for University Of San Diego
University Of California Los Angeles earned the #7 position for general psychology this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Los Angeles. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 765 general psychology degrees were awarded at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent year. Graduates of the general psychology program make about $46,534 in their early career. University Of California Los Angeles graduates carry a median of $14,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in general psychology from University Of California Los Angeles
University Of San Francisco ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best general psychology schools. University Of San Francisco is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Francisco. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. There were roughly 124 general psychology students who graduated with this degree at University Of San Francisco in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general psychology degree recipients from University Of San Francisco generally make around $36,734. Typical student debt for the program is $24,315.
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University Of California San Diego ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best general psychology schools. This very large public university is located in the city of La Jolla. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 351 general psychology students who graduated with this degree at University Of California San Diego in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general psychology degree from University Of California San Diego earn around $29,144 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $16,124.
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Western Washington University earned the #10 position for general psychology this year. Located in the city of Bellingham, Western Washington University is a large public university. About 65% of students finish within six years. Western Washington University awarded about 234 general psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general psychology program make about $32,306 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,449.
Read more about the general psychology program at Western Washington University
California State University Long Beach placed #11 among the best general psychology schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Long Beach. California State University Long Beach graduates 69% of students within six years. There were roughly 744 general psychology students who graduated with this degree at California State University Long Beach in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general psychology degree recipients from California State University Long Beach generally make around $27,511. Typical student debt for the program is $12,000.
Read more about the general psychology program at California State University Long Beach
California State University Sacramento ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best general psychology schools. California State University Sacramento is a very large public school located in the city of Sacramento. California State University Sacramento graduates 56% of students within six years. There were roughly 647 general psychology students who graduated with this degree at California State University Sacramento in the most recent data year. General Psychology graduates of California State University Sacramento earn a median of $45,601 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,500.
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San Francisco State University ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the best general psychology schools. This very large public university is located in the city of San Francisco. San Francisco State University graduates 50% of students within six years. About 465 general psychology degrees were awarded at San Francisco State University in the most recent year. Students who receive their general psychology degree from San Francisco State University earn around $34,803 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete this degree.
See the full general psychology program report for San Francisco State University
University Of California Santa Cruz earned the #14 position for general psychology this year. Set in the city of Santa Cruz, University Of California Santa Cruz is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. There were roughly 465 general psychology students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Santa Cruz in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general psychology program make about $30,730 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,902.
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California State University Fullerton ranked #15 on our 2026 list of the best general psychology schools. Set in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. About 1,092 general psychology degrees were awarded at California State University Fullerton in the most recent year. Students who receive their general psychology degree from California State University Fullerton earn around $27,965 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,998.
See the full general psychology program report for California State University Fullerton
Cuesta College landed the #16 spot for general psychology this year. This large public university is located in the rural area of San Luis Obispo. About 134 general psychology degrees were awarded at Cuesta College in the most recent year. Graduates of the general psychology program make about $64,492 in their early career. Cuesta College graduates carry a median of $18,958 in student loans.
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Pepperdine University placed #17 among the best general psychology schools. Located in the suburb of Malibu, Pepperdine University is a large private not-for-profit university. Pepperdine University graduates 83% of students within six years. Pepperdine University awarded about 290 general psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general psychology degree recipients from Pepperdine University generally make around $35,285. Students borrow a median of $22,580 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in general psychology from Pepperdine University
Loyola Marymount University came in at #18 for general psychology this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Los Angeles. Loyola Marymount University graduates 79% of students within six years. Loyola Marymount University awarded about 125 general psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general psychology degree from Loyola Marymount University earn around $30,848 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500.
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Chapman University came in at #19 for general psychology this year. Chapman University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Orange. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 151 general psychology students who graduated with this degree at Chapman University in the most recent data year. General Psychology graduates of Chapman University earn a median of $28,661 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete this degree.
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California State University Chico came in at #20 for general psychology this year. This large public university is located in the city of Chico. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. California State University Chico awarded about 284 general psychology degrees in the most recent data year. General Psychology graduates of California State University Chico earn a median of $40,027 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,000.
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University Of Washington Tacoma Campus landed the #21 spot for general psychology this year. Set in the city of Tacoma, University Of Washington Tacoma Campus is a moderately-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. There were roughly 154 general psychology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Washington Tacoma Campus in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general psychology degree from University Of Washington Tacoma Campus earn around $34,660 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Washington Tacoma Campus graduates carry a median of $17,426 in student loans.
See the full general psychology program report for University Of Washington Tacoma Campus
University Of California Irvine came in at #22 for general psychology this year. Located in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public university. Roughly 87% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 486 general psychology students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Irvine in the most recent data year. General Psychology graduates of University Of California Irvine earn a median of $27,115 early in their careers. University Of California Irvine graduates carry a median of $14,883 in student loans.
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Sonoma State University landed the #23 spot for general psychology this year. Located in the suburb of Rohnert Park, Sonoma State University is a moderately-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. Sonoma State University awarded about 229 general psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general psychology degree recipients from Sonoma State University generally make around $33,006. Typical student debt for the program is $16,500.
See the full general psychology program report for Sonoma State University
San Diego State University earned the #24 position for general psychology this year. This very large public university is located in the city of San Diego. The six-year graduation rate is 76%. San Diego State University awarded about 695 general psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general psychology degree from San Diego State University earn around $46,005 in the first couple years of their career. San Diego State University graduates carry a median of $14,301 in student loans.
See the full general psychology program report for San Diego State University
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo earned the #25 position for general psychology this year. Set in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. About 164 general psychology degrees were awarded at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo in the most recent year. Graduates of the general psychology program make about $36,403 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,000.
See the full general psychology program report for California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
Rest of the Top 50 General Psychology Schools
These schools also placed among the best for general psychology this year:
This list is compiled 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 · 248 schools evaluated.
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).
