Psychology is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. A focused field like this rewards careful comparison of the schools that offer it.
College Factual analyzed 277 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best psychology schools.
Best Schools for 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 psychology degrees they offer, see the list below.
Stanford University is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in psychology. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Stanford. Stanford University graduates 92% of students within six years. Stanford University awarded about 95 psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their psychology degree from Stanford University earn around $100,827 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in psychology from Stanford University
Santa Clara University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best psychology schools. 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 220 psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the psychology program make about $65,474 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,667.
See the full psychology program report for Santa Clara University
A rank of #3 makes San Jose State University one of the top schools for psychology. 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. About 464 psychology degrees were awarded at San Jose State University in the most recent year.
See the full psychology program report for San Jose State University
A rank of #4 makes University Of Southern California one of the top schools for psychology. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 92% of students finish within six years. University Of Southern California awarded about 357 psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, psychology degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $71,262. Students borrow a median of $14,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full psychology details for University Of Southern California
California State University East Bay is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in psychology, ranking #5. Set in the suburb of Hayward, California State University East Bay is a large public institution. About 48% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 368 psychology students who graduated with this degree at California State University East Bay in the most recent data year. Psychology graduates of California State University East Bay earn a median of $37,702 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $15,000.
See the full psychology program report for California State University East Bay
University Of California Santa Barbara landed the #6 spot for psychology this year. This very large public university is located in the suburb of Santa Barbara. About 83% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 694 psychology students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Santa Barbara in the most recent data year. Graduates of the psychology program make about $34,431 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete this degree.
Get the full psychology details for University Of California Santa Barbara
University Of California Davis placed #7 among the best psychology schools. Located in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public university. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 901 psychology degrees were awarded at University Of California Davis in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, psychology degree recipients from University Of California Davis generally make around $32,301. Students borrow a median of $13,232 to complete this degree.
See the full psychology program report for University Of California Davis
University Of San Francisco ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best psychology schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of San Francisco. Roughly 70% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 328 psychology degrees were awarded at University Of San Francisco in the most recent year. Graduates of the psychology program make about $65,304 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,315 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in psychology from University Of San Francisco
University Of California Los Angeles came in at #9 for psychology this year. University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public school located in the city of Los Angeles. University Of California Los Angeles graduates 93% of students within six years. About 1,185 psychology degrees were awarded at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent year. Psychology graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of $28,027 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $16,719.
Read more about the psychology program at University Of California Los Angeles
California State University Long Beach earned the #10 position for psychology this year. Located in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public university. California State University Long Beach graduates 69% of students within six years. California State University Long Beach awarded about 798 psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the psychology program make about $78,818 in their early career. California State University Long Beach graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans.
Read more about the psychology program at California State University Long Beach
California State University Sacramento ranked #11 on our 2026 list of the best psychology schools. Set in the city of Sacramento, California State University Sacramento is a very large public institution. About 56% of students finish within six years. About 677 psychology degrees were awarded at California State University Sacramento in the most recent year. Graduates of the psychology program make about $45,601 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,500.
Read more about the psychology program at California State University Sacramento
Western Washington University earned the #12 position for psychology this year. This large public university is located in the city of Bellingham. The six-year graduation rate is 65%. There were roughly 247 psychology students who graduated with this degree at Western Washington University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their psychology degree from Western Washington University earn around $32,306 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $19,449 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in psychology from Western Washington University
University Of California San Diego came in at #13 for psychology this year. Set in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public institution. University Of California San Diego graduates 86% of students within six years. About 831 psychology degrees were awarded at University Of California San Diego in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, psychology degree recipients from University Of California San Diego generally make around $26,320. Typical student debt for the program is $15,145.
Get the full psychology details for University Of California San Diego
University Of Oregon came in at #14 for psychology this year. Set in the city of Eugene, University Of Oregon is a very large public institution. About 72% of students finish within six years. About 425 psychology degrees were awarded at University Of Oregon in the most recent year. Psychology graduates of University Of Oregon earn a median of $44,628 early in their careers. University Of Oregon graduates carry a median of $22,122 in student loans.
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Loyola Marymount University earned the #15 position for psychology this year. Set in the city of Los Angeles, Loyola Marymount University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 79% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 188 psychology students who graduated with this degree at Loyola Marymount University in the most recent data year. Psychology graduates of Loyola Marymount University earn a median of $84,524 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500.
Read more about the psychology program at Loyola Marymount University
University Of San Diego came in at #16 for psychology this year. Set in the city of San Diego, University Of San Diego is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 84% of students finish within six years. University Of San Diego awarded about 154 psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the psychology program make about $52,370 in their early career. University Of San Diego graduates carry a median of $24,293 in student loans.
Read more about the psychology program at University Of San Diego
San Francisco State University came in at #17 for psychology this year. Set in the city of San Francisco, San Francisco State University is a very large public institution. Roughly 50% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 481 psychology students who graduated with this degree at San Francisco State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their psychology degree from San Francisco State University earn around $57,489 in the first couple years of their career. San Francisco State University graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans.
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University Of California Santa Cruz placed #18 among the best psychology schools. This very large public university is located in the city of Santa Cruz. The six-year graduation rate is 75%. There were roughly 465 psychology students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Santa Cruz in the most recent data year. Graduates of the psychology program make about $30,730 in their early career. University Of California Santa Cruz graduates carry a median of $18,902 in student loans.
See the full psychology program report for University Of California Santa Cruz
California State University Fullerton came in at #19 for psychology this year. Set in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. California State University Fullerton awarded about 1,092 psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their 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.
More information about a degree in psychology from California State University Fullerton
Cuesta College placed #20 among the best psychology schools. Cuesta College is a large public school located in the rural area of San Luis Obispo. About 134 psychology degrees were awarded at Cuesta College in the most recent year. Psychology graduates of Cuesta College earn a median of $64,492 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $18,958 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in psychology from Cuesta College
Chapman University earned the #21 position for psychology this year. Located in the city of Orange, Chapman University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 82% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 178 psychology students who graduated with this degree at Chapman University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the psychology program make about $89,587 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $21,500.
Read more about the psychology program at Chapman University
University Of California Merced landed the #22 spot for psychology this year. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Merced. University Of California Merced graduates 69% of students within six years. About 341 psychology degrees were awarded at University Of California Merced in the most recent year. Graduates of the psychology program make about $42,071 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $16,500 to complete this degree.
See the full psychology program report for University Of California Merced
Pepperdine University earned the #23 position for psychology this year. Located in the suburb of Malibu, Pepperdine University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 83% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 1,175 psychology students who graduated with this degree at Pepperdine University in the most recent data year. Psychology graduates of Pepperdine University earn a median of $67,173 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $22,580.
See the full psychology program report for Pepperdine University
Claremont Mckenna College landed the #24 spot for psychology this year. Located in the suburb of Claremont, Claremont Mckenna College is a small private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. Claremont Mckenna College awarded about 20 psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Psychology graduates of Claremont Mckenna College earn a median of $66,028 early in their careers. Claremont Mckenna College graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans.
Read more about the psychology program at Claremont Mckenna College
University Of California Irvine earned the #25 position for psychology this year. University Of California Irvine is a very large public school located in the city of Irvine. Roughly 87% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 1,114 psychology degrees were awarded at University Of California Irvine in the most recent year. Students who receive their psychology degree from University Of California Irvine earn around $32,931 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,015 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in psychology from University Of California Irvine
Rest of the Top 50 Psychology Schools
Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong psychology education:
The ranking above is published 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 · 277 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).
