by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in General Psychology involves the study of Psychology, General. A General Program That Focuses On The Scientific Study Of Individual And Collective Behavior, The Physical And Environmental Bases Of Behavior, And The Analysis And Treatment Of Behavior Problems And Disorders. Includes Instruction In The Principles Of The Various Subfields Of Psychology, Research Methods, And Psychological Assessment And Testing Methods. Continue reading for the important information every general psychology student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering general psychology programs.
Across the country, general psychology draws strong interest, with 147,078 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best General Psychology Schools ranking analyzes these 1,575 schools to determine the best overall colleges for general psychology students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of general psychology programs later in this article.
Coursework for General Psychology develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations general psychology graduates commonly enter.
Skills emphasized by a general psychology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a general psychology major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several general 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 | 139 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 18,782 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 118,927 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 7,474 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 1,747 |
People currently working in careers related to general psychology tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 32.6% |
| Post-doctoral training | 23.7% |
| Doctoral degree | 17.5% |
| Master’s degree | 11.3% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 4.8% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 3.5% |
| Some college courses | 2.4% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 2.3% |
| 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 general psychology careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in general psychology opens doors to many career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to general psychology.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to general 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% |
| Social Science Research Assistants | 153,535 | 4.7% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of general psychology graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $33,076 |
| 4 years | $43,735 |
| 5 years | $50,901 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for general psychology graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers general 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 1,575 different general psychology programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased general psychology school rankings to help you.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
