by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Community Psychology explores Community Psychology. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply Psychological Principles To The Analysis Of Social Problems, And The Implementation Of Intervention Strategies For Addressing These Problems. Includes Instruction In Social Ecology, Primary And Secondary Prevention Of Social Pathologies, Social Intervention Strategies And Tactics, Large Group Counseling, Social Services Systems Behavior, Creating Settings, Cultural Stress, And The Dynamics Of Social Change. Continue reading for the important information every community psychology student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering community psychology programs.
Across the country, community psychology is a popular field of study, with 520 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Community Psychology Schools ranking analyzes these 38 schools to determine the best overall colleges for community psychology students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of community psychology programs later in this article.
Coursework for Community Psychology build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations community psychology graduates commonly enter.
Skills built by a community psychology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a community psychology major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several community 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 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 249 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 231 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 35 |
People currently working in careers related to community 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 community psychology careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in community psychology can lead to numerous career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to community psychology.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to community 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% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of community psychology graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow 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 community psychology graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers community 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 38 different community psychology programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased community psychology school rankings to help you.
Students interested in community 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 |
| Applied Psychology | 2,998 |
| Industrial and Organizational Psychology | 2,898 |
| Forensic Psychology | 2,667 |
| Educational Psychology | 1,979 |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology, Other | 577 |
| Health/Medical Psychology | 447 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
