Psychology degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 217 schools to find the best for psychology students.
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.
Our analysis ranked Stanford University the best school in the country for a degree in psychology. 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 95 psychology degrees were awarded at Stanford University in the most recent year. Psychology graduates of Stanford University earn a median of $100,827 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete this degree.
Get the full psychology details for Stanford University
Santa Clara University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the best psychology schools. Located in the city of Santa Clara, Santa Clara University is a large private not-for-profit university. About 88% of students finish within six years. About 220 psychology degrees were awarded at Santa Clara University in the most recent year. Students who receive their psychology degree from Santa Clara University earn around $65,474 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,667.
Read more about the psychology program at Santa Clara University
San Jose State University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in psychology, ranking #3. 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. 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
University Of Southern California is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in psychology, ranking #4. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 357 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 $71,262 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $14,000.
See the full psychology program report for University Of Southern California
A rank of #5 makes California State University East Bay one of the top schools for psychology. Located in the suburb of Hayward, California State University East Bay is a large public university. About 48% of students finish within six years. About 368 psychology degrees were awarded at California State University East Bay in the most recent year. Students who receive their psychology degree from California State University East Bay earn around $37,702 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in psychology from California State University East Bay
University Of California Santa Barbara earned the #6 position for psychology this year. University Of California Santa Barbara is a very large public school located in the suburb of Santa Barbara. University Of California Santa Barbara graduates 83% of students within six years. University Of California Santa Barbara awarded about 694 psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their psychology degree from University Of California Santa Barbara earn around $34,431 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in psychology from University Of California Santa Barbara
University Of California Davis came in at #7 for psychology this year. University Of California Davis is a very large public school located in the suburb of Davis. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 901 psychology students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Davis in the most recent data 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.
Read more about the psychology program at University Of California Davis
University Of San Francisco placed #8 among the best psychology schools. Located in the city of San Francisco, University Of San Francisco is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. There were roughly 328 psychology students who graduated with this degree at University Of San Francisco in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, psychology degree recipients from University Of San Francisco generally make around $65,304. 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. Roughly 93% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 1,185 psychology students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent data year. Psychology graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of $28,027 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $16,719 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in psychology from University Of California Los Angeles
California State University Long Beach ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best psychology schools. 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. There were roughly 798 psychology students who graduated with this degree at California State University Long Beach in the most recent data year. Students who receive their psychology degree from California State University Long Beach earn around $78,818 in the first couple years of their 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 landed the #11 spot for psychology this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Sacramento. Roughly 56% of students complete a degree within six years here. California State University Sacramento awarded about 677 psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their psychology degree from California State University Sacramento earn around $45,601 in the first couple years of their career. California State University Sacramento graduates carry a median of $15,500 in student loans.
See the full psychology program report for California State University Sacramento
University Of California San Diego placed #12 among the best psychology schools. 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. University Of California San Diego awarded about 831 psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Psychology graduates of University Of California San Diego earn a median of $26,320 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $15,145 to complete this degree.
Get the full psychology details for University Of California San Diego
Loyola Marymount University came in at #13 for psychology this year. Loyola Marymount University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Los Angeles. Roughly 79% of students complete a degree within six years here. Loyola Marymount University awarded about 188 psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, psychology degree recipients from Loyola Marymount University generally make around $84,524. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500.
See the full psychology program report for Loyola Marymount University
University Of San Diego placed #14 among the best psychology schools. Located in the city of San Diego, University Of San Diego is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 154 psychology degrees were awarded at University Of San Diego in the most recent year. Students who receive their psychology degree from University Of San Diego earn around $52,370 in the first couple years of their career. University Of San Diego graduates carry a median of $24,293 in student loans.
More information about a degree in psychology from University Of San Diego
San Francisco State University earned the #15 position for psychology this year. San Francisco State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Francisco. The six-year graduation rate is 50%. San Francisco State University awarded about 481 psychology degrees 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. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in psychology from San Francisco State University
University Of California Santa Cruz came in at #16 for psychology this year. Set in the city of Santa Cruz, University Of California Santa Cruz is a very large public institution. About 75% of students finish within six years. About 465 psychology degrees were awarded at University Of California Santa Cruz in the most recent 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.
Get the full psychology details for University Of California Santa Cruz
California State University Fullerton came in at #17 for psychology this year. Set in the suburb of Fullerton, California State University Fullerton is a very large public institution. California State University Fullerton graduates 70% of students within six years. There were roughly 1,092 psychology students who graduated with this degree at California State University Fullerton in the most recent data year. Psychology graduates of California State University Fullerton earn a median of $27,965 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $12,998.
Read more about the psychology program at California State University Fullerton
Cuesta College came in at #18 for psychology this year. This large public university is located in the rural area of San Luis Obispo. About 134 psychology degrees were awarded at Cuesta College in the most recent year. Students who receive their psychology degree from Cuesta College earn around $64,492 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,958.
See the full psychology program report for Cuesta College
Chapman University earned the #19 position for psychology this year. Set in the city of Orange, Chapman University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 82%. About 178 psychology degrees were awarded at Chapman University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, psychology degree recipients from Chapman University generally make around $89,587. Chapman University graduates carry a median of $21,500 in student loans.
Get the full psychology details for Chapman University
University Of California Merced landed the #20 spot for psychology this year. University Of California Merced is a moderately-sized public school located in the suburb of Merced. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. There were roughly 341 psychology students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Merced in the most recent data 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 ranked #21 on our 2026 list of the best psychology schools. Set in the suburb of Malibu, Pepperdine University is a large private not-for-profit institution. 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. Soon after graduation, psychology degree recipients from Pepperdine University generally make around $67,173. Students borrow a median of $22,580 to complete this degree.
See the full psychology program report for Pepperdine University
Claremont Mckenna College ranked #22 on our 2026 list of the best psychology schools. Located in the suburb of Claremont, Claremont Mckenna College is a small private not-for-profit university. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. Claremont Mckenna College awarded about 20 psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the psychology program make about $66,028 in their early career. Claremont Mckenna College graduates carry a median of $12,000 in student loans.
More information about a degree in psychology from Claremont Mckenna College
University Of California Irvine ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best psychology schools. University Of California Irvine is a very large public school located in the city of Irvine. About 87% of students finish within six years. University Of California Irvine awarded about 1,114 psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the psychology program make about $32,931 in their early career. University Of California Irvine graduates carry a median of $13,015 in student loans.
Read more about the psychology program at University Of California Irvine
California State University Chico ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best psychology schools. Located in the city of Chico, California State University Chico is a large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. About 284 psychology degrees were awarded at California State University Chico in the most recent year. 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.
Get the full psychology details for California State University Chico
Sonoma State University ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best psychology schools. This moderately-sized public university is located in the suburb of Rohnert Park. About 58% of students finish within six years. About 229 psychology degrees were awarded at Sonoma State University in the most recent year. Graduates of the psychology program make about $33,006 in their early career. Sonoma State University graduates carry a median of $16,500 in student loans.
Get the full psychology details for Sonoma State University
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. 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 · 217 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).
