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2026 Best Psychology Master’s Degree Schools

418 Colleges in the United States
46,589 Psychology Degrees Awarded
$51,534 Avg Early-Career Salary

Psychology programs are offered at a focused set of schools across the country. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.

College Factual analyzed 1829 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the best psychology schools.

What’s on this page:

Best Schools for Psychology in the United States

See the highest-ranked psychology schools offering a master’s degree below.

Top Schools in Psychology

1

Leading the list is Ohio State University Main Campus, our #1 school for psychology. This very large public university is located in the city of Columbus. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. Ohio State University Main Campus awarded about 23 psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the psychology program make about $91,275 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $22,145. More information about a degree in psychology from Ohio State University Main Campus

2
Vanderbilt University crest
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN

Vanderbilt University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in psychology, ranking #2. Set in the city of Nashville, Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 75 psychology degrees were awarded at Vanderbilt University in the most recent year. Students who receive their psychology degree from Vanderbilt University earn around $36,716 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $11,209 to complete this degree. Get the full psychology details for Vanderbilt University

3

A rank of #3 makes University Of Southern California one of the top schools for psychology. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Los Angeles. About 92% of students finish within six years. About 134 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 $71,488 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $14,000. Get the full psychology details for University Of Southern California

4
Harvard University crest
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA

A rank of #4 makes Harvard University one of the top schools for psychology. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 98% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 99 psychology students who graduated with this degree at Harvard University in the most recent data year. Psychology graduates of Harvard University earn a median of $41,501 early in their careers. Harvard University graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans. Get the full psychology details for Harvard University

5
Santa Clara University crest
Santa Clara University
Santa Clara, CA

Santa Clara University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in psychology, ranking #5. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Santa Clara. Santa Clara University graduates 88% of students within six years. About 220 psychology degrees were awarded at Santa Clara University in the most recent year. Psychology graduates of Santa Clara University earn a median of $65,474 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $17,667. See the full psychology program report for Santa Clara University

6

George Mason University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the best psychology schools. Set in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a very large public institution. George Mason University graduates 68% of students within six years. About 237 psychology degrees were awarded at George Mason University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, psychology degree recipients from George Mason University generally make around $60,254. Students borrow a median of $21,000 to complete this degree. See the full psychology program report for George Mason University

7
Boston College crest
Boston College
Chestnut Hill, MA

Boston College earned the #7 position for psychology this year. Boston College is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chestnut Hill. About 91% of students finish within six years. About 208 psychology degrees were awarded at Boston College in the most recent year. Graduates of the psychology program make about $42,384 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,363. More information about a degree in psychology from Boston College

8

California State University Long Beach landed the #8 spot for psychology this year. Set in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. About 110 psychology degrees were awarded at California State University Long Beach in the most recent year. Graduates of the psychology program make about $80,829 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,000. See the full psychology program report for California State University Long Beach

9

University Of Maryland College Park landed the #9 spot for psychology this year. University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public school located in the suburb of College Park. Roughly 89% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 16 psychology degrees were awarded at University Of Maryland College Park in the most recent year. Students who receive their psychology degree from University Of Maryland College Park earn around $57,901 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Maryland College Park graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans. Read more about the psychology program at University Of Maryland College Park

10

Johns Hopkins University earned the #10 position for psychology this year. Set in the city of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 94% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 65 psychology students who graduated with this degree at Johns Hopkins University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their psychology degree from Johns Hopkins University earn around $49,035 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,507. More information about a degree in psychology from Johns Hopkins University

11

Pennsylvania State University Main Campus came in at #11 for psychology this year. Set in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 541 psychology degrees were awarded at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent year. Get the full psychology details for Pennsylvania State University Main Campus

12

Cornell University ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best psychology schools. Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Ithaca. About 95% of students finish within six years. Cornell University awarded about 85 psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Psychology graduates of Cornell University earn a median of $75,976 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $14,157. Read more about the psychology program at Cornell University

13

Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earned the #13 position for psychology this year. Set in the city of Atlanta, Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus awarded about 13 psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, psychology degree recipients from Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus generally make around $83,560. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus graduates carry a median of $24,323 in student loans. See the full psychology program report for Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus

14
Stanford University crest
Stanford University
Stanford, CA

Stanford University placed #14 among the best psychology schools. Stanford University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Stanford. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 10 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. Stanford University graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans. Get the full psychology details for Stanford University

15
Simmons College crest
Simmons College
Boston, MA

Simmons College placed #15 among the best psychology schools. Set in the city of Boston, Simmons College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. About 72% of students finish within six years. About 170 psychology degrees were awarded at Simmons College in the most recent year. Graduates of the psychology program make about $68,173 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $26,678 to complete this degree. More information about a degree in psychology from Simmons College

16

San Jose State University earned the #16 position for psychology this year. Set in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public institution. About 69% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 32 psychology students who graduated with this degree at San Jose State University in the most recent data year. Get the full psychology details for San Jose State University

17

University Of California Los Angeles came in at #17 for psychology this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Los Angeles. About 93% of students finish within six years. University Of California Los Angeles awarded about 455 psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Psychology graduates of University Of California Los Angeles earn a median of $27,761 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

18
University Of San Francisco crest
University Of San Francisco
San Francisco, CA

University Of San Francisco placed #18 among the best psychology schools. University Of San Francisco is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Francisco. University Of San Francisco graduates 70% of students within six years. About 314 psychology degrees were awarded at University Of San Francisco in the most recent year. Psychology graduates of University Of San Francisco earn a median of $65,300 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $24,315. See the full psychology program report for University Of San Francisco

19
Tufts University crest
Tufts University
Medford, MA

Tufts University earned the #19 position 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. About 68 psychology degrees were awarded at Tufts University in the most recent year. Graduates of the psychology program make about $61,346 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,875 to complete this degree. Read more about the psychology program at Tufts University

20

Texas A And M University College Station ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best psychology schools. Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public school located in the city of College Station. About 84% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 225 psychology students who graduated with this degree at Texas A And M University College Station in the most recent data year. Psychology graduates of Texas A And M University College Station earn a median of $60,503 early in their careers. Texas A And M University College Station graduates carry a median of $19,121 in student loans. More information about a degree in psychology from Texas A And M University College Station

21
Saint Josephs University crest
Saint Josephs University
Philadelphia, PA

Saint Josephs University landed the #21 spot for psychology this year. Set in the city of Philadelphia, Saint Josephs University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 79% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 43 psychology degrees were awarded at Saint Josephs University in the most recent year. Graduates of the psychology program make about $65,421 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $27,000 to complete this degree. Get the full psychology details for Saint Josephs University

22

Saint Marys College Of California earned the #22 position for psychology this year. Located in the suburb of Moraga, Saint Marys College Of California is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. Saint Marys College Of California awarded about 90 psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the psychology program make about $28,018 in their early career. Saint Marys College Of California graduates carry a median of $25,124 in student loans. Get the full psychology details for Saint Marys College Of California

23

George Washington University placed #23 among the best psychology schools. Set in the city of Washington, George Washington University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 84% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 221 psychology students who graduated with this degree at George Washington University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the psychology program make about $55,091 in their early career. George Washington University graduates carry a median of $25,220 in student loans. See the full psychology program report for George Washington University

24
Auburn University crest
Auburn University
Auburn, AL

Auburn University came in at #24 for psychology this year. This very large public university is located in the city of Auburn. About 82% of students finish within six years. About 50 psychology degrees were awarded at Auburn University in the most recent year. Graduates of the psychology program make about $27,606 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500. Read more about the psychology program at Auburn University

25

Chapman University earned the #25 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 177 psychology students who graduated with this degree at Chapman University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, psychology degree recipients from Chapman University generally make around $89,548. Typical student debt for the program is $21,500. Read more about the psychology program at Chapman University

Rest of the Top 50 Psychology Schools

Not far behind, these schools also delivered a strong psychology education:

26
27
Hofstra University crest
Hofstra University
Hempstead, NY
28
Lehigh University crest
Lehigh University
Bethlehem, PA
29
30
31
32
33
New York University crest
New York University
New York, NY
34
University Of Pennsylvania crest
University Of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA
35
36
37
Villanova University crest
Villanova University
Villanova, PA
38
39
40
Boston University crest
Boston University
Boston, MA
41
Florida State University crest
Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL
42
43
Yale University crest
Yale University
New Haven, CT
44
Emory University crest
Emory University
Atlanta, GA
45
Wake Forest University crest
Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem, NC
46
47
48
49
Fairfield University crest
Fairfield University
Fairfield, CT
50

Additional Psychology Award Winners

The following schools placed in the top tier for psychology:

Rank School Location
#51 Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University Blacksburg, VA
#52 James Madison University Harrisonburg, VA
#53 Northwestern University Evanston, IL
#56 University Of Georgia Athens, GA
#59 University Of Wisconsin Madison Madison, WI
#60 University Of Michigan Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI
#63 Marquette University Milwaukee, WI
#65 Pepperdine University Malibu, CA
#68 Towson University Towson, MD
#69 University Of South Carolina Columbia Columbia, SC
#72 University Of Denver Denver, CO
#73 University Of Virginia Main Campus Charlottesville, VA
#74 California State University Fullerton Fullerton, CA
#75 University Of Minnesota Twin Cities Minneapolis, MN
#77 Indiana University Bloomington Bloomington, IN
#78 California State University Monterey Bay Seaside, CA
#81 University Of Illinois At Chicago Chicago, IL
#84 Loyola University Chicago Chicago, IL
#85 University Of Oregon Eugene, OR
#86 Miami University Oxford Oxford, OH
#87 Marist College Poughkeepsie, NY
#97 University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign Champaign, IL
#99 Syracuse University Syracuse, NY
#103 Temple University Philadelphia, PA
#111 American University Washington, DC

Honorable Mentions

Also worth considering for psychology:

Other Psychology Degree Levels

Explore the best psychology schools at other degree levels:

All Degree Levels in Psychology
Associate's Degrees in Psychology
Bachelor's Degrees in Psychology
View All Psychology Rankings >

Notes and References

This ranking is produced 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 · 1829 schools evaluated.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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