by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Social Psychology explores Social Psychology. A Program That Focuses On The Scientific Study Of Individual Behavior In Group Contexts, Group Behavior, And Associated Phenomena. Includes Instruction In Social Learning Theory, Group Theory And Dynamics, Sex Roles, Social Cognition And Inference, Attribution Theory, Attitude Formation, Criminal Behavior And Other Social Pathologies, Altruistic Behavior, Social Development, And Social Ecology. Read on to learn the important information every social psychology student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering social psychology programs.
Across the country, social psychology draws strong interest, with 458 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Social Psychology Schools ranking analyzes these 33 schools to determine the best overall colleges for social psychology students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of social psychology programs later in this article.
Studies in Social Psychology emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations social psychology graduates commonly enter.
The skill set developed in a social psychology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a social psychology major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several social 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 5 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 30 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 279 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 98 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 33 |
People currently working in careers related to social 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 social psychology careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in social psychology prepares you for a variety of career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to social psychology.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to social 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 social 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 social psychology graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers social 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 33 different social psychology programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased social psychology school rankings to help you.
Those considering social 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 |
| Cognitive Psychology and Psycholinguistics | 380 |
| Psychometrics and Quantitative Psychology | 203 |
| Psychopharmacology | 67 |
| Personality Psychology | 17 |
| Comparative Psychology | 9 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
