by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Educational Psychology involves the study of Educational Psychology. A Program That Focuses On The Application Of Psychology To The Study Of The Behavior Of Individuals In The Roles Of Teacher And Learner, The Nature And Effects Of Learning Environments, And The Psychological Effects Of Methods, Resources, Organization And Non-School Experience On The Educational Process. Includes Instruction In Learning Theory, Human Growth And Development, Research Methods, And Psychological Evaluation. Continue reading for the key facts every educational psychology student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering educational psychology programs.
In the U.S., educational psychology draws strong interest, with 1,979 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Educational Psychology Schools ranking analyzes these 90 schools to determine the best overall colleges for educational psychology students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of educational psychology programs later in this article.
Studies in Educational Psychology develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations educational psychology graduates commonly enter.
The skill set emphasized by a educational psychology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a educational psychology major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several educational 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 | 128 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,516 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 335 |
People currently working in careers related to educational psychology tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 30.4% |
| Post-doctoral training | 23.1% |
| Doctoral degree | 16.1% |
| Master’s degree | 11.4% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 4.9% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 4.5% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 3.7% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.4% |
| Some college courses | 1.9% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.5% |
| First professional degree | 0.1% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in educational psychology careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in educational psychology opens doors to numerous career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to educational psychology.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to educational 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% |
| School Psychologists | 190,660 | 12.0% |
| Neuropsychologists | 186,493 | 6.5% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of educational 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 educational psychology graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers educational 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 |
| School Psychologists | $108,275 |
| Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers | $99,321 |
| Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary | $98,479 |
| Managers, All Other | $95,684 |
With 90 different educational psychology programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased educational psychology school rankings to help you.
Students interested in educational 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 |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology, Other | 577 |
| Community Psychology | 520 |
| Health/Medical Psychology | 447 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
