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 1252 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for psychology students pursuing a degree.
Our analysis ranked Northwestern University the best school in the country for a degree in psychology. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. Northwestern University graduates 95% of students within six years. About 534 psychology degrees were awarded at Northwestern University in the most recent year. Psychology graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $43,592 early in their careers. Northwestern University graduates carry a median of $13,065 in student loans.
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Ohio State University Main Campus came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best psychology schools. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. Ohio State University Main Campus awarded about 606 psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their psychology degree from Ohio State University Main Campus earn around $91,275 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,145 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong psychology program will find one at Georgetown University, which ranked #3. Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 69 psychology degrees were awarded at Georgetown University in the most recent year. Psychology graduates of Georgetown University earn a median of $51,959 early in their careers. Georgetown University graduates carry a median of $17,500 in student loans.
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Cornell University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in psychology, ranking #4. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Ithaca. Cornell University graduates 95% of students within six years. There were roughly 194 psychology students who graduated with this degree at Cornell University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, psychology degree recipients from Cornell University generally make around $36,630. Cornell University graduates carry a median of $14,157 in student loans.
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Stanford University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in psychology, landing the #5 spot this year. Located in the suburb of Stanford, Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 92% of students finish within six years. About 71 psychology degrees were awarded at Stanford University in the most recent year. Graduates of the psychology program make about $100,827 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $10,492.
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University Of Wisconsin Madison placed #6 among the best psychology schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Madison. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates 90% of students within six years. There were roughly 620 psychology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent data year. Graduates of the psychology program make about $55,285 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $21,215 to complete this degree.
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Boston College placed #7 among the best psychology schools. Boston College is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chestnut Hill. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. About 408 psychology degrees were awarded at Boston College in the most recent year. Psychology graduates of Boston College earn a median of $42,394 early in their careers. Boston College graduates carry a median of $17,363 in student loans.
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Colby College earned the #8 position for psychology this year. Set in the town of Waterville, Colby College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit institution. Colby College graduates 89% of students within six years. About 55 psychology degrees were awarded at Colby College in the most recent year. Psychology graduates of Colby College earn a median of $40,842 early in their careers. Colby College graduates carry a median of $22,016 in student loans.
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Dartmouth College earned the #9 position for psychology this year. Set in the town of Hanover, Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. Dartmouth College awarded about 56 psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their psychology degree from Dartmouth College earn around $42,947 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,194.
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San Jose State University landed the #10 spot for psychology this year. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public university. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 535 psychology students who graduated with this degree at San Jose State University in the most recent data year.
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Texas A And M University College Station earned the #11 position for psychology this year. Set in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public institution. Texas A And M University College Station graduates 84% of students within six years. About 827 psychology degrees were awarded at Texas A And M University College Station in the most recent year. Students who receive their psychology degree from Texas A And M University College Station earn around $67,374 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,121.
See the full psychology program report for Texas A And M University College Station
Wake Forest University came in at #12 for psychology this year. Located in the city of Winston-Salem, Wake Forest University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 122 psychology students who graduated with this degree at Wake Forest University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, psychology degree recipients from Wake Forest University generally make around $34,823. Typical student debt for the program is $21,500.
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Bates College placed #13 among the best psychology schools. Set in the city of Lewiston, Bates College is a small private not-for-profit institution. Bates College graduates 90% of students within six years. Bates College awarded about 53 psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their psychology degree from Bates College earn around $47,376 in the first couple years of their career. Bates College graduates carry a median of $13,750 in student loans.
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Santa Clara University came in at #14 for psychology this year. Set in the city of Santa Clara, Santa Clara University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. Santa Clara University awarded about 270 psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, psychology degree recipients from Santa Clara University generally make around $65,491. Santa Clara University graduates carry a median of $17,667 in student loans.
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Rice University earned the #15 position for psychology this year. Rice University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Houston. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. There were roughly 61 psychology students who graduated with this degree at Rice University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their psychology degree from Rice University earn around $41,299 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,505.
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University Of Notre Dame came in at #16 for psychology this year. Located in the suburb of Notre Dame, University Of Notre Dame is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. University Of Notre Dame awarded about 116 psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the psychology program make about $69,494 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,015.
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Tufts University came in at #17 for psychology this year. Set in the suburb of Medford, Tufts University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 94% of students finish within six years. Tufts University awarded about 153 psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their psychology degree from Tufts University earn around $42,043 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,875.
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Kenyon College landed the #18 spot for psychology this year. Kenyon College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the rural area of Gambier. About 82% of students finish within six years. Kenyon College awarded about 52 psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the psychology program make about $39,203 in their early career. Kenyon College graduates carry a median of $19,000 in student loans.
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Vanderbilt University placed #19 among the best psychology schools. Set in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 94%. There were roughly 129 psychology students who graduated with this degree at Vanderbilt University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their psychology degree from Vanderbilt University earn around $36,716 in the first couple years of their career. Vanderbilt University graduates carry a median of $11,209 in student loans.
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University Of Maryland College Park landed the #20 spot for psychology this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of College Park. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 431 psychology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Maryland College Park in the most recent data year. Students who receive their psychology degree from University Of Maryland College Park earn around $35,933 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500.
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Emory University placed #21 among the best psychology schools. Located in the city of Atlanta, Emory University is a large private not-for-profit university. Emory University graduates 91% of students within six years. About 146 psychology degrees were awarded at Emory University in the most recent year. Psychology graduates of Emory University earn a median of $32,085 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete this degree.
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University Of Virginia Main Campus ranked #22 on our 2027 list of the best psychology schools. Set in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 236 psychology degrees were awarded at University Of Virginia Main Campus in the most recent year. Psychology graduates of University Of Virginia Main Campus earn a median of $53,934 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $19,500.
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Drexel University ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best psychology schools. Drexel University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. Roughly 78% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 119 psychology degrees were awarded at Drexel University in the most recent year. Psychology graduates of Drexel University earn a median of $51,315 early in their careers. Drexel University graduates carry a median of $30,000 in student loans.
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College Of William And Mary landed the #24 spot for psychology this year. Set in the suburb of Williamsburg, College Of William And Mary is a large public institution. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 197 psychology degrees were awarded at College Of William And Mary in the most recent year. Students who receive their psychology degree from College Of William And Mary earn around $36,818 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $19,379.
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University Of Southern California ranked #25 on our 2027 list of the best psychology schools. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. University Of Southern California graduates 92% of students within six years. About 299 psychology degrees were awarded at University Of Southern California in the most recent year. Psychology graduates of University Of Southern California earn a median of $71,281 early in their careers. University Of Southern California graduates carry a median of $14,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in psychology from University Of Southern California
Rest of the Top 50 Psychology Schools
These schools also placed among the best for psychology this year:
This list is compiled 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 · 1252 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).
