by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Comparative Psychology covers Comparative Psychology. A Program That Focuses On The Behavior Of Members Of Particular Species Or Groups And The Relationship Of The Behaviors Of The Species Or Group To Their Evolutionary Origins. Includes Instruction In Differential Psychology, Experimental And Physiological Psychology, Psychopharmacology, Psychology Of Individual Differences, Reinforcement Theory, And Neurophysiology. Continue reading for the important information every comparative psychology student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering comparative psychology programs.
Nationwide, comparative psychology draws strong interest, with 9 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Comparative Psychology Schools ranking analyzes these 2 schools to determine the best overall colleges for comparative psychology students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of comparative psychology programs later in this article.
Coursework for Comparative Psychology emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations comparative psychology graduates commonly enter.
Skills built by a comparative psychology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a comparative psychology major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several comparative psychology degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 9 |
People currently working in careers related to comparative psychology tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 33.1% |
| Post-doctoral training | 25.2% |
| Doctoral degree | 17.5% |
| Master’s degree | 8.4% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 5.4% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 4.0% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.6% |
| Some college courses | 2.0% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.7% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.3% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in comparative psychology careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying comparative psychology prepares you for a variety of career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to comparative psychology.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to comparative psychology.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary | 513,614 | -3.0% |
| Managers, All Other | 468,025 | 6.2% |
| Compliance Managers | 310,203 | 13.0% |
| Loss Prevention Managers | 265,210 | 2.2% |
| Clinical Neuropsychologists | 216,013 | 8.9% |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | 206,415 | 9.9% |
| Neuropsychologists | 186,493 | 6.5% |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | 128,884 | 5.2% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of comparative psychology graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $34,814 |
| 4 years | $50,900 |
| 5 years | $59,985 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for comparative psychology graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers comparative psychology grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Wind Energy Development Managers | $169,952 |
| Loss Prevention Managers | $165,723 |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | $122,567 |
| Compliance Managers | $117,178 |
| Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers | $99,321 |
| Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary | $98,479 |
| Managers, All Other | $95,684 |
| Neuropsychologists | $83,690 |
With 2 different comparative psychology programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased comparative psychology school rankings to help you.
Students interested in comparative psychology, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Research and Experimental Psychology, Other | 13,996 |
| Experimental Psychology | 4,439 |
| Developmental and Child Psychology | 1,820 |
| Behavioral Neuroscience | 1,424 |
| Social Psychology | 458 |
| Cognitive Psychology and Psycholinguistics | 380 |
| Psychometrics and Quantitative Psychology | 203 |
| Psychopharmacology | 67 |
| Personality Psychology | 17 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
