by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Family Psychology involves the study of Family Psychology. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Provide Therapeutic, Evaluative, And Research Services To Families And Individuals In The Family Unit Context. Includes Instruction In Natural And Family Systems Theory, Family And Group Rituals, Family Evaluation And Assessment, Marital And Couples Therapy, Sex Therapy, Parenting, Interviewing Techniques, Genogram Construction, Family Sculpting, Diversity Issues, Family Violence, Family Law, And Professional Standards And Ethics. Read on to learn the key facts every family psychology student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering family psychology programs.
In the U.S., family psychology is a widely-pursued major, with 101 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Family Psychology Schools ranking analyzes these 5 schools to determine the best overall colleges for family psychology students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of family psychology programs later in this article.
Programs in Family Psychology build a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations family psychology graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a family psychology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a family psychology major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several family 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 | 15 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 86 |
People currently working in careers related to family psychology tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 31.8% |
| Post-doctoral training | 26.0% |
| Doctoral degree | 18.5% |
| Master’s degree | 8.4% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 5.2% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 3.9% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.5% |
| Some college courses | 2.0% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.6% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.2% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in family psychology careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in family psychology prepares you for many career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to family psychology.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to family 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 family 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 family psychology graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers family 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 5 different family psychology programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased family psychology school rankings to help you.
Those considering family 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 |
| Community Psychology | 520 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
