General Psychology is a field worth a close look when choosing where to study. While the number of schools offering the program varies, there are still top-quality ones to be found.
For its 2026 ranking, College Factual looked at 248 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for general psychology students pursuing a degree.
Our analysis ranked University Of California Davis the best school in the country for a degree in general psychology. Set in the suburb of Davis, University Of California Davis is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 86%. There were roughly 26 general psychology students who graduated with this degree at University Of California Davis in the most recent data year. General Psychology graduates of University Of California Davis earn a median of $53,749 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $14,404.
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San Jose State University is a great choice for students pursuing a degree in general psychology, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State University is a very large public university. About 69% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 449 general psychology students who graduated with this degree at San Jose State University in the most recent data year.
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Students looking for a strong general psychology program will find one at Santa Clara University, which ranked #3. Set in the city of Santa Clara, Santa Clara University is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 88%. Santa Clara University awarded about 98 general psychology degrees in the most recent data year. General Psychology graduates of Santa Clara University earn a median of $38,587 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,667 to complete this degree.
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Students looking for a strong general psychology program will find one at California State University East Bay, which ranked #4. California State University East Bay is a large public school located in the suburb of Hayward. About 48% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 368 general psychology students who graduated with this degree at California State University East Bay in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general psychology program make about $37,702 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete this degree.
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University Of Southern California is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in general psychology, ranking #5. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Los Angeles. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Southern California awarded about 232 general psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general psychology degree from University Of Southern California earn around $34,139 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $14,000.
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University Of San Diego came in at #6 for general psychology this year. Set in the city of San Diego, University Of San Diego is a large private not-for-profit institution. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. About 99 general psychology degrees were awarded at University Of San Diego in the most recent year. Graduates of the general psychology program make about $35,595 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $24,293 to complete this degree.
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University Of California Los Angeles ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best general psychology schools. Set in the city of Los Angeles, University Of California Los Angeles is a very large public institution. University Of California Los Angeles graduates 93% of students within six years. About 765 general psychology degrees were awarded at University Of California Los Angeles in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, general psychology degree recipients from University Of California Los Angeles generally make around $46,534. University Of California Los Angeles graduates carry a median of $14,500 in student loans.
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University Of San Francisco ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the best general psychology schools. University Of San Francisco is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of San Francisco. The six-year graduation rate is 70%. University Of San Francisco awarded about 124 general psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general psychology degree recipients from University Of San Francisco generally make around $36,734. University Of San Francisco graduates carry a median of $24,315 in student loans.
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University Of California San Diego ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best general psychology schools. Set in the city of La Jolla, University Of California San Diego is a very large public institution. About 86% of students finish within six years. About 351 general psychology degrees were awarded at University Of California San Diego in the most recent year. Students who receive their general psychology degree from University Of California San Diego earn around $29,144 in the first couple years of their career. University Of California San Diego graduates carry a median of $16,124 in student loans.
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Western Washington University earned the #10 position for general psychology this year. Set in the city of Bellingham, Western Washington University is a large public institution. About 65% of students finish within six years. About 234 general psychology degrees were awarded at Western Washington University in the most recent year. General Psychology graduates of Western Washington University earn a median of $32,306 early in their careers. Western Washington University graduates carry a median of $19,449 in student loans.
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California State University Long Beach came in at #11 for general psychology this year. Located in the city of Long Beach, California State University Long Beach is a very large public university. California State University Long Beach graduates 69% of students within six years. About 744 general psychology degrees were awarded at California State University Long Beach in the most recent year. Graduates of the general psychology program make about $27,511 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $12,000.
More information about a degree in general psychology from California State University Long Beach
California State University Sacramento placed #12 among the best general psychology schools. California State University Sacramento is a very large public school located in the city of Sacramento. California State University Sacramento graduates 56% of students within six years. California State University Sacramento awarded about 647 general psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general psychology degree recipients from California State University Sacramento generally make around $45,601. Typical student debt for the program is $15,500.
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San Francisco State University earned the #13 position for general psychology this year. San Francisco State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Francisco. About 50% of students finish within six years. San Francisco State University awarded about 465 general psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general psychology degree from San Francisco State University earn around $34,803 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $15,000 to complete this degree.
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University Of California Santa Cruz landed the #14 spot for general psychology this year. Set in the city of Santa Cruz, University Of California Santa Cruz is a very large public institution. About 75% of students finish within six years. University Of California Santa Cruz awarded about 465 general psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general psychology degree from University Of California Santa Cruz earn around $30,730 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $18,902 to complete this degree.
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California State University Fullerton earned the #15 position for general psychology this year. California State University Fullerton is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fullerton. California State University Fullerton graduates 70% of students within six years. California State University Fullerton awarded about 1,092 general psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general psychology degree recipients from California State University Fullerton generally make around $27,965. Students borrow a median of $12,998 to complete this degree.
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Cuesta College placed #16 among the best general psychology schools. Cuesta College is a large public school located in the rural area of San Luis Obispo. There were roughly 134 general psychology students who graduated with this degree at Cuesta College in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general psychology program make about $64,492 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,958.
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Pepperdine University placed #17 among the best general psychology schools. Located in the suburb of Malibu, Pepperdine University is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 83% of students complete a degree within six years here. Pepperdine University awarded about 290 general psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general psychology degree from Pepperdine University earn around $35,285 in the first couple years of their career. Pepperdine University graduates carry a median of $22,580 in student loans.
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Loyola Marymount University ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best general psychology schools. Set in the city of Los Angeles, Loyola Marymount University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 79% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 125 general psychology students who graduated with this degree at Loyola Marymount University in the most recent data year. General Psychology graduates of Loyola Marymount University earn a median of $30,848 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $20,500 to complete this degree.
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Chapman University came in at #19 for general psychology this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Orange. Roughly 82% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 151 general psychology students who graduated with this degree at Chapman University in the most recent data year. General Psychology graduates of Chapman University earn a median of $28,661 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $21,500.
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California State University Chico earned the #20 position for general psychology this year. Located in the city of Chico, California State University Chico is a large public university. Roughly 63% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 284 general psychology students who graduated with this degree at California State University Chico in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general psychology degree from California State University Chico earn around $40,027 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,000.
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University Of Washington Tacoma Campus placed #21 among the best general psychology schools. Set in the city of Tacoma, University Of Washington Tacoma Campus is a moderately-sized public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 63%. About 154 general psychology degrees were awarded at University Of Washington Tacoma Campus in the most recent year. Students who receive their general psychology degree from University Of Washington Tacoma Campus earn around $34,660 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $17,426 to complete this degree.
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University Of California Irvine landed the #22 spot for general psychology this year. Located in the city of Irvine, University Of California Irvine is a very large public university. The six-year graduation rate is 87%. University Of California Irvine awarded about 486 general psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general psychology degree recipients from University Of California Irvine generally make around $27,115. University Of California Irvine graduates carry a median of $14,883 in student loans.
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Sonoma State University landed the #23 spot for general psychology this year. Located in the suburb of Rohnert Park, Sonoma State University is a moderately-sized public university. The six-year graduation rate is 58%. There were roughly 229 general psychology students who graduated with this degree at Sonoma State University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, general psychology degree recipients from Sonoma State University generally make around $33,006. Sonoma State University graduates carry a median of $16,500 in student loans.
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San Diego State University earned the #24 position for general psychology this year. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego State University is a very large public university. San Diego State University graduates 76% of students within six years. There were roughly 695 general psychology students who graduated with this degree at San Diego State University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their general psychology degree from San Diego State University earn around $46,005 in the first couple years of their career. San Diego State University graduates carry a median of $14,301 in student loans.
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California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo came in at #25 for general psychology this year. Located in the suburb of San Luis Obispo, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo is a very large public university. About 86% of students finish within six years. California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo awarded about 164 general psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the general psychology program make about $36,403 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,000.
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Rest of the Top 50 General Psychology Schools
These schools also placed among the best for general psychology this year:
The ranking above is published by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. The methodology weighs graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and program quality, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 248 schools evaluated.
The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
