by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Personality Psychology involves the study of Personality Psychology. A Program That Focuses On The Unique Organization Of Fairly Permanent Characteristics That Set The Individual Apart From Other Individuals And, At The Same Time, Determine How Others Respond To That Individual. Includes Instruction In Freudian, Skinnerian, Rogerian, And Ellisonian Psychology; Neo-Freudian Psychology; Psychological Systems, Neurophysiology, And Psychopharmacology. Continue reading for the essential details every personality psychology major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering personality psychology programs.
Nationwide, personality psychology draws strong interest, with 17 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Personality Psychology Schools ranking analyzes these 3 schools to determine the best overall colleges for personality psychology students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of personality psychology programs later in this article.
Coursework for Personality Psychology develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations personality psychology graduates commonly enter.
Skills emphasized by a personality psychology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a personality psychology major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several personality 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 9 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 4 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 4 |
People currently working in careers related to personality 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 personality psychology careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in personality psychology prepares you for many career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to personality psychology.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to personality 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% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of personality psychology graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise 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 personality psychology graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers personality 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 3 different personality psychology programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased personality psychology school rankings to help you.
Those considering personality 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 |
| Comparative Psychology | 9 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
