2027 Best Psychology Associate’s Degree Schools
Psychology programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
For its 2027 ranking, College Factual looked at 245 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for psychology students pursuing a degree.
What’s on this page:
Best Schools for Psychology in the United States
Below are the best psychology schools at the associate’s degree level, ranked by the quality of the education they deliver.
Top Schools in Psychology
No school ranked higher than Diablo Valley College this year for psychology. Diablo Valley College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Pleasant Hill. About 184 psychology degrees were awarded at Diablo Valley College in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, psychology degree recipients from Diablo Valley College generally make around $27,813. Diablo Valley College graduates carry a median of $7,110 in student loans.
See the full psychology program report for Diablo Valley College
Foothill College is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in psychology, landing the #2 spot this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Los Altos Hills. There were roughly 89 psychology students who graduated with this degree at Foothill College in the most recent data year. Psychology graduates of Foothill College earn a median of $94,152 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $5,500.
Read more about the psychology program at Foothill College
A rank of #3 makes Cuesta College one of the top schools for psychology. This large public university is located in the rural area of San Luis Obispo. Cuesta College awarded about 97 psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, psychology degree recipients from Cuesta College generally make around $64,492. Cuesta College graduates carry a median of $18,958 in student loans.
Read more about the psychology program at Cuesta College
College Of The Canyons came in at #4 on our 2027 list of the best psychology schools. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Santa Clarita. College Of The Canyons awarded about 224 psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the psychology program make about $51,913 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $7,177.
Get the full psychology details for College Of The Canyons
Students looking for a strong psychology program will find one at Santa Barbara City College, which ranked #5. This large public university is located in the city of Santa Barbara. There were roughly 100 psychology students who graduated with this degree at Santa Barbara City College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the psychology program make about $68,184 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,090 to complete this degree.
Read more about the psychology program at Santa Barbara City College
Cypress College earned the #6 position for psychology this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Cypress. There were roughly 140 psychology students who graduated with this degree at Cypress College in the most recent data year.
See the full psychology program report for Cypress College
Saddleback College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best psychology schools. Saddleback College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Mission Viejo. About 195 psychology degrees were awarded at Saddleback College in the most recent year. Students who receive their psychology degree from Saddleback College earn around $15,890 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $5,707 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in psychology from Saddleback College
College Of San Mateo placed #8 among the best psychology schools. This large public university is located in the city of San Mateo. College Of San Mateo awarded about 83 psychology degrees in the most recent data year. College Of San Mateo graduates carry a median of $12,831 in student loans.
More information about a degree in psychology from College Of San Mateo
Las Positas College came in at #9 for psychology this year. Located in the city of Livermore, Las Positas College is a large public university. There were roughly 101 psychology students who graduated with this degree at Las Positas College in the most recent data year.
Get the full psychology details for Las Positas College
Santa Ana College earned the #10 position for psychology this year. Located in the city of Santa Ana, Santa Ana College is a very large public university. There were roughly 153 psychology students who graduated with this degree at Santa Ana College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the psychology program make about $39,633 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $11,196.
Read more about the psychology program at Santa Ana College
Chaffey College earned the #11 position for psychology this year. Set in the suburb of Rancho Cucamonga, Chaffey College is a very large public institution. Chaffey College awarded about 235 psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Psychology graduates of Chaffey College earn a median of $23,532 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $6,952.
See the full psychology program report for Chaffey College
El Camino Community College District came in at #12 for psychology this year. Located in the suburb of Torrance, El Camino Community College District is a very large public university. About 241 psychology degrees were awarded at El Camino Community College District in the most recent year.
Get the full psychology details for El Camino Community College District
Mission College placed #13 among the best psychology schools. Mission College is a large public school located in the city of Santa Clara. Mission College awarded about 57 psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Mission College graduates carry a median of $17,223 in student loans.
Read more about the psychology program at Mission College
De Anza College ranked #14 on our 2027 list of the best psychology schools. Located in the city of Cupertino, De Anza College is a very large public university. De Anza College awarded about 165 psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Typical student debt for the program is $7,271.
Read more about the psychology program at De Anza College
Pasadena City College placed #15 among the best psychology schools. Located in the city of Pasadena, Pasadena City College is a very large public university. Pasadena City College awarded about 293 psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, psychology degree recipients from Pasadena City College generally make around $24,894. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete this degree.
See the full psychology program report for Pasadena City College
Skyline College ranked #16 on our 2027 list of the best psychology schools. Set in the suburb of San Bruno, Skyline College is a large public institution. About 86 psychology degrees were awarded at Skyline College in the most recent year.
See the full psychology program report for Skyline College
Evergreen Valley College landed the #17 spot for psychology this year. This large public university is located in the city of San Jose. Evergreen Valley College awarded about 64 psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their psychology degree from Evergreen Valley College earn around $82,879 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $12,981 to complete this degree.
Read more about the psychology program at Evergreen Valley College
Fresno City College placed #18 among the best psychology schools. Set in the city of Fresno, Fresno City College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 200 psychology students who graduated with this degree at Fresno City College in the most recent data year. Psychology graduates of Fresno City College earn a median of $27,421 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $7,802 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in psychology from Fresno City College
Moorpark College came in at #19 for psychology this year. Set in the suburb of Moorpark, Moorpark College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 227 psychology students who graduated with this degree at Moorpark College in the most recent data year. Psychology graduates of Moorpark College earn a median of $105,599 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $17,075.
More information about a degree in psychology from Moorpark College
Clovis Community College Fresno came in at #20 for psychology this year. Set in the city of Fresno, Clovis Community College Fresno is a large public institution. About 154 psychology degrees were awarded at Clovis Community College Fresno in the most recent year.
See the full psychology program report for Clovis Community College Fresno
Northern Virginia Community College landed the #21 spot for psychology this year. Located in the suburb of Annandale, Northern Virginia Community College is a very large public university. There were roughly 230 psychology students who graduated with this degree at Northern Virginia Community College in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, psychology degree recipients from Northern Virginia Community College generally make around $40,126. Typical student debt for the program is $14,413.
Read more about the psychology program at Northern Virginia Community College
Napa Valley College placed #22 among the best psychology schools. Napa Valley College is a moderately-sized public school located in the city of Napa. About 33 psychology degrees were awarded at Napa Valley College in the most recent year.
Read more about the psychology program at Napa Valley College
San Joaquin Delta College ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best psychology schools. Set in the city of Stockton, San Joaquin Delta College is a very large public institution. There were roughly 210 psychology students who graduated with this degree at San Joaquin Delta College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their psychology degree from San Joaquin Delta College earn around $65,168 in the first couple years of their career. San Joaquin Delta College graduates carry a median of $6,382 in student loans.
Get the full psychology details for San Joaquin Delta College
Solano Community College earned the #24 position for psychology this year. Solano Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Fairfield. There were roughly 111 psychology students who graduated with this degree at Solano Community College in the most recent data year. Students borrow a median of $10,500 to complete this degree.
Read more about the psychology program at Solano Community College
San Diego Mesa College placed #25 among the best psychology schools. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego Mesa College is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 92%. About 147 psychology degrees were awarded at San Diego Mesa College in the most recent year. Graduates of the psychology program make about $26,229 in their early career. San Diego Mesa College graduates carry a median of $7,597 in student loans.
Read more about the psychology program at San Diego Mesa College
Rest of the Top 50 Psychology Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong psychology education:
Honorable Mentions
Also worth considering for psychology:
- #51 — College Of The Desert · Palm Desert, CA
- #52 — San Bernardino Valley College · San Bernardino, CA
- #53 — College Of Southern Nevada · Las Vegas, NV
- #54 — Gavilan College · Gilroy, CA
- #55 — Victor Valley College · Victorville, CA
- #56 — Hartnell College · Salinas, CA
- #57 — Santa Monica College · Santa Monica, CA
- #58 — West Valley College · Saratoga, CA
- #59 — Miracosta College · Oceanside, CA
- #60 — Palomar College · San Marcos, CA
Other Psychology Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare Psychology rankings across degree levels:
View All Psychology Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 245 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).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
