A degree in Psychology offers skills used in nearly every commercial field; an affordable online Psychology degree allows you flexibility in obtaining those skills. Self-improvement is the name of the game in today’s competitive job market. Making yourself indispensable to employers could be the difference between a secure career and constantly looking over your shoulder.
A strong background in biology, chemistry, and mathematics are necessary when looking to complete a Psychology degree. Students graduate with a solid understanding of the essential concepts of psychology and sociology that allow fluid mobility between different career choices or advancement in a current profession.
Online degrees offer advantages over traditional “brick-and-mortar” programs mainly due to flexible scheduling. The smaller class sizes online allow for greater student/instructor interaction. We have established the Top 10 online Psychology ranking by combining the future earnings potential of a degree from these accredited schools, the responsiveness of the respective faculty, and the cost-effectiveness of obtaining the degree. Below, in no particular order, are our results.
Top Online School Psychology Programs
1. Capella University
Executive Summary
Capella offers a Bachelor of Science – General Psychology specialization that helps students develop an understanding of human learning, behaviors and emotions. Through Capella programs, students can develop skills in research, writing and problem-solving; skills applicable to a vast range of post-degree professions.
Tuition
Visit capella.edu for tuition details.
Unique Features
Capella University offers an Accelerated Master’s Pathway (AMP) which allows a learner to earn credits toward a bachelor’s and master’s degree at the same time, potentially saving time and money. Capella University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
2. Penn State World Campus
Executive Summary
Penn State World Campus is the online branch of Penn State University, located in State College, PA. Established in 1855, Penn State is a nationally recognized institution with the largest alumni network in the nation. The school offers a Bachelor of Science in Psychology degree built around a focus on business courses and the application of psychology in the workplace. Online courses are the same courses offered on campus; therefore, your diploma will be the same whether earned online or by physically attending Penn State University.
Tuition
Penn State World Campus tuition is $518 per credit. 123 credits are required for graduation.
Unique Features
Penn State was ranked the No. 1 institution in the nation for producing the best-prepared, most well-rounded graduates who are most able to succeed once hired, according to a survey by the Wall Street Journal. The established alumni network gives new Penn State graduates a potential advantage when entering into a job search. World Campus students founded the first fully online Psychology Club to keep members in touch with faculty and staff to facilitate graduate education options, internships, and career opportunities.
3. University of Liverpool
Executive Summary
A globally respected school, The University of Liverpool offers a Masters in Applied Psychology degree. Two degree tracks are offered: General Psychology and Mental Health Psychology. Grounded in a western perspective, the program covers a wide range of subjects from ethics to psychological research. Studies will include both theoretical and practical examination of human behavior that can be immediately applied to real-life situations.
Tuition
Tuition costs vary for international students (school is based in Liverpool, England) and household financial circumstances. Tuition counselors are available to quote tuition pricing.
Unique Features
Students collaborate and share best-practices with peers from over 50 countries, allowing professional networking on a truly global scale. The University of Liverpool Psychology programs are accredited by the British Psychological Society and satisfy the requirements for pursuing various careers and pathways to postgraduate study within Psychology.
4. Southern New Hampshire University
Executive Summary
Southern New Hampshire University offers a Bachelor of Arts Psychology degree with a choice of six different concentrations: Addiction Studies, Applied Psychology, Child and Adolescent, Forensic Psychology, Mental Health, or Social Psychology. The Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) physical campus is located in Manchester, NH. With 13,000+ students and an 80-year history, SNHU is geared toward providing education with real-world application. Students intern with hundreds of organizations to preview chosen careers.
Tuition
Southern New Hampshire University online tuition is $320 per credit hour. 120 credit hours are required for degree completion.
Unique Features
Southern New Hampshire University is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc., (NEASC) through its Commission on Institutions of Higher Education. Southern New Hampshire University’s online degrees rank in the top 20 in the nation, according to a 2012 national survey of accredited colleges and universities conducted by SuperScholar.org.
5. Liberty University
Executive Summary
Established in 1971 in Lynchburg, VA, Liberty University offers a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. Students are required to participate in Psychology Department activities that give practical field experience to better prepare students for future careers. The Psychology Department offers an internship program and a club called PsyComm, open to any student wanting to learn about or discuss psychology-related topics.
Tuition
Liberty University tuition is $340 per credit hour (based on full-time enrollment). A bachelor degree requires 120 total hours, half of which must be completed through Liberty University.
Unique Features
Liberty University is a Christian school that integrates faith with learning. Inspired by Jerry Falwell, Liberty University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS). Liberty University boasts an uncompromising doctrinal statement, based upon an inerrant Bible, a Christian worldview beginning with belief in biblical Creationism, an eschatological belief in the pre-millennial, pre-tribulational coming of Christ for all of His Church, dedication to world evangelization, an absolute repudiation of “political correctness,” a strong commitment to political conservatism, total rejection of socialism, and firm support for America’s economic system of free enterprise.
6. Walden University
Executive Summary
Walden University offers a Bachelor of Science in Psychology degree that helps students gain perspective by applying psychological theories to current issues. Ten concentrations are available, from Workplace Psychology to Criminal Justice. Students are expected to gain experience in making evidence-based decisions while increasing their cross-cultural competence, social awareness, and civic engagement.
Tuition
Walden University tuition for this program is $300 per quarter credit hour. Degree completion requires 181 total quarter credit hours.
Unique Features
The mission of Walden University is to apply 21st-century learning to the immediate solution of critical societal challenges and advancement of a greater global good. Walden University issues a yearly Social Change Impact Report that provides a global perspective on why people engage in social change and seeks to determine the role that individuals, non-profit organizations, government, and the media play in facilitating the change. Founded in 1970, Walden University’s is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission.
7. Aspen University
Executive Summary
Aspen University offers a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Addiction Counseling that addresses fundamental aspects of healthcare ethics and individual/family counseling. The specific focus of the courses offered is the assessment, treatment, and prevention of substance abuse. Students should expect to graduate with a solid understanding of the underlying concepts of psychology, sociology, and counseling theory.
Tuition
If you are looking for monetarily cheap online Psychology degree, look no further than Aspen University. Aspen University tuition for this program is $250 per credit. 120 credits are required for graduation.
Unique Features
Students at Aspen University have the opportunity to tailor their educational experience to their career goals by choosing between a variety of courses to fulfill degree completion requirements, including Group Therapy, Child Psychology, and Juvenile Justice, to name a few. Aspen University offers the cheapest online Psychology degree of the ten schools listed. Aspen University is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council, a recognized member of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
8. Robert Morris University
Executive Summary
Founded in 1921, Robert Morris University (RMU) offers a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology degree that teaches students to apply current psychological principles to practical problems in the workplace and everyday life. The university has approximately 200 full-time faculty members and 5,413 students. It also has a 93-percent placement rate for students.
Tuition
Robert Morris University tuition is $680 per credit for on-line undergraduates.
Unique Features
RMU’s online Psychology program has been ranked among the Top 20 in the nation by TheBestSchools.org and recently made SuperScholar’s list of the Top 25 Smart Choice Schools for Online Psychology Degrees. Students will exit the program prepared to conduct and integrate research and scholarship to human services occupations. Approximately 93 percent of undergraduate students receive financial aid from the university. RMU is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.
9. Purdue global
Executive Summary
Purdue Global offers a Bachelor of Science in Psychology degree with a choice of four areas of emphasis: Child Development, Applied Behavior Analysis, Substance Abuse, or Industrial/Organizational Psychology. Students will examine current theories and historical trends in psychology that they will learn to apply to human behavior, learning, and development.
Tuition
Purdue Global tuition is $371 per credit. 180 credits are required for degree completion.
Unique Features
Classes are designed to be interactive and engaging for students to facilitate learning. Students will be exposed to unique assignments such as interactive websites with learning tools such as seeing how virtual rats are affected by differing drug interactions, conducting your own case study on a factor you feel is key to emotional development, and developing and strengthening a professional portfolio. Purdue Global is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission.