by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Applied Psychology involves the study of Applied Psychology. A Program That Focuses On The Application Of Psychological Theories And Methods To Real-World Settings And Problems, Such As Business And Industry, Government, Education, Military, And Community Settings. Includes Instruction In Applications Of Psychology, Industrial/organizational Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Social Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, Counseling, Human Factors, Research Methods And Statistics, And Program Evaluation. Continue reading for the essential details every applied psychology student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering applied psychology programs.
Across the country, applied psychology is a popular field of study, with 2,998 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Applied Psychology Schools ranking analyzes these 95 schools to determine the best overall colleges for applied psychology students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of applied psychology programs later in this article.
Studies in Applied Psychology emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations applied psychology graduates commonly enter.
The skill set emphasized by a applied psychology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a applied psychology major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several applied 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 | 1 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 52 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1,536 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,348 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 61 |
People currently working in careers related to applied 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 applied psychology careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in applied psychology can lead to a variety of career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to applied psychology.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to applied 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 applied psychology graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $54,756 |
| 4 years | $59,892 |
| 5 years | $67,036 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for applied psychology graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers applied 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 95 different applied psychology programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased applied psychology school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in applied psychology, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Counseling Psychology | 11,691 |
| Applied Behavior Analysis | 6,914 |
| Clinical Psychology | 6,059 |
| School Psychology | 3,685 |
| Industrial and Organizational Psychology | 2,898 |
| Forensic Psychology | 2,667 |
| Educational Psychology | 1,979 |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology, Other | 577 |
| Community Psychology | 520 |
| Health/Medical Psychology | 447 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
