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 1829 schools in the United States to determine which ones were the best for psychology students pursuing a degree.
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Choosing a Great Psychology School
The psychology program you select can have a big impact on your future. That is why we developed our collection of Best Schools for Psychology rankings. Our overall ranking combines our degree-level rankings, weighted by degrees awarded at each level.
To find the best fit, you can narrow this list to a specific degree level below.
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we have developed a number of rankings, including this Best Psychology Schools list, to help you choose. Want schools in a particular part of the country? Narrow the list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Leading the list is Ohio State University Main Campus, our #1 school for psychology. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a very large public institution. Roughly 88% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 723 psychology students who graduated with this degree at Ohio State University Main Campus in the most recent data year. Psychology graduates of Ohio State University Main Campus earn a median of $91,275 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $22,145 to complete this degree.
See the full psychology program report for Ohio State University Main Campus
A rank of #2 makes Georgetown University one of the top schools for psychology. Set in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. About 95% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 85 psychology students who graduated with this degree at Georgetown University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the psychology program make about $51,959 in their early career. Georgetown University graduates carry a median of $17,500 in student loans.
More information about a degree in psychology from Georgetown University
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the best psychology schools. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of University Park. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus graduates 86% of students within six years. There were roughly 564 psychology students who graduated with this degree at Pennsylvania State University Main Campus in the most recent data year.
See the full psychology program report for Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
Boston College came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the best psychology schools. Boston College is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chestnut Hill. The six-year graduation rate is 91%. Boston College awarded about 348 psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the psychology program make about $42,392 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $17,363 to complete this degree.
See the full psychology program report for Boston College
A rank of #5 makes Stanford University one of the top schools for psychology. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Stanford. Roughly 92% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 95 psychology students who graduated with this degree at Stanford University in the most recent data year. Psychology graduates of Stanford University earn a median of $100,827 early in their careers. Stanford University graduates carry a median of $10,492 in student loans.
More information about a degree in psychology from Stanford University
Vanderbilt University landed the #6 spot for psychology this year. Vanderbilt University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Nashville. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 173 psychology students who graduated with this degree at Vanderbilt University in the most recent data year. Students who receive their psychology degree from Vanderbilt University earn around $36,716 in the first couple years of their career. Vanderbilt University graduates carry a median of $11,209 in student loans.
More information about a degree in psychology from Vanderbilt University
Cornell University earned the #7 position for psychology this year. Located in the city of Ithaca, Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. Cornell University awarded about 160 psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Psychology graduates of Cornell University earn a median of $36,630 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $14,157.
Read more about the psychology program at Cornell University
University Of Notre Dame earned the #8 position for psychology this year. Located in the suburb of Notre Dame, University Of Notre Dame is a large private not-for-profit university. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. There were roughly 81 psychology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Notre Dame in the most recent data year. Graduates of the psychology program make about $69,494 in their early career. University Of Notre Dame graduates carry a median of $19,015 in student loans.
More information about a degree in psychology from University Of Notre Dame
Santa Clara University ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best psychology schools. Santa Clara University is a large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Santa Clara. Santa Clara University graduates 88% of students within six years. About 220 psychology degrees were awarded at Santa Clara University in the most recent year. Students who receive their psychology degree from Santa Clara University earn around $65,474 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,667.
Get the full psychology details for Santa Clara University
San Jose State University ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best psychology schools. San Jose State University is a very large public school located in the city of San Jose. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. There were roughly 464 psychology students who graduated with this degree at San Jose State University in the most recent data year.
Get the full psychology details for San Jose State University
Colby College earned the #11 position for psychology this year. Located in the town of Waterville, Colby College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit university. About 89% of students finish within six years. About 64 psychology degrees were awarded at Colby College in the most recent year. Students who receive their psychology degree from Colby College earn around $40,842 in the first couple years of their career. Colby College graduates carry a median of $22,016 in student loans.
More information about a degree in psychology from Colby College
University Of Wisconsin Madison ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best psychology schools. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 581 psychology degrees were awarded at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent year. Students who receive their psychology degree from University Of Wisconsin Madison earn around $55,378 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Wisconsin Madison graduates carry a median of $21,215 in student loans.
See the full psychology program report for University Of Wisconsin Madison
University Of Southern California landed the #13 spot for psychology this year. Located in the city of Los Angeles, University Of Southern California is a very large private not-for-profit university. University Of Southern California graduates 92% of students within six years. There were roughly 357 psychology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Southern California in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, psychology degree recipients from University Of Southern California generally make around $71,262. Students borrow a median of $14,000 to complete this degree.
See the full psychology program report for University Of Southern California
Dartmouth College came in at #14 for psychology this year. Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Hanover. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 60 psychology degrees were awarded at Dartmouth College in the most recent year. Graduates of the psychology program make about $42,947 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,194.
Get the full psychology details for Dartmouth College
Brown University came in at #15 for psychology this year. Located in the city of Providence, Brown University is a large private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. About 69 psychology degrees were awarded at Brown University in the most recent year. Soon after graduation, psychology degree recipients from Brown University generally make around $39,493. Typical student debt for the program is $15,110.
See the full psychology program report for Brown University
University Of Maryland College Park placed #16 among the best psychology schools. University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public school located in the suburb of College Park. University Of Maryland College Park graduates 89% of students within six years. University Of Maryland College Park awarded about 460 psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the psychology program make about $59,316 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $20,500.
See the full psychology program report for University Of Maryland College Park
Tufts University ranked #17 on our 2026 list of the best psychology schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Medford. Tufts University graduates 94% of students within six years. There were roughly 143 psychology students who graduated with this degree at Tufts University in the most recent data year. Graduates of the psychology program make about $51,295 in their early career. Typical student debt for the program is $15,875.
Read more about the psychology program at Tufts University
Bates College ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the best psychology schools. Located in the city of Lewiston, Bates College is a small private not-for-profit university. Roughly 90% of students complete a degree within six years here. Bates College awarded about 46 psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the psychology program make about $47,376 in their early career. Bates College graduates carry a median of $13,750 in student loans.
Get the full psychology details for Bates College
Harvard University earned the #19 position for psychology this year. Located in the city of Cambridge, Harvard University is a very large private not-for-profit university. About 98% of students finish within six years. About 190 psychology degrees were awarded at Harvard University in the most recent year. Psychology graduates of Harvard University earn a median of $41,501 early in their careers. Harvard University graduates carry a median of $16,616 in student loans.
More information about a degree in psychology from Harvard University
Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the best psychology schools. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Atlanta. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus graduates 94% of students within six years. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus awarded about 57 psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their psychology degree from Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earn around $83,560 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $24,323 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in psychology from Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus
Wake Forest University came in at #21 for psychology this year. Wake Forest University is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the city of Winston-Salem. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. Wake Forest University awarded about 133 psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Psychology graduates of Wake Forest University earn a median of $34,823 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete this degree.
Get the full psychology details for Wake Forest University
California State University East Bay earned the #22 position for psychology this year. Set in the suburb of Hayward, California State University East Bay is a large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 48%. There were roughly 368 psychology students who graduated with this degree at California State University East Bay in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, psychology degree recipients from California State University East Bay generally make around $37,702. California State University East Bay graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans.
See the full psychology program report for California State University East Bay
Texas A And M University College Station ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best psychology schools. Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public school located in the city of College Station. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. There were roughly 854 psychology students who graduated with this degree at Texas A And M University College Station in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, psychology degree recipients from Texas A And M University College Station generally make around $67,386. Texas A And M University College Station graduates carry a median of $19,121 in student loans.
More information about a degree in psychology from Texas A And M University College Station
College Of William And Mary placed #24 among the best psychology schools. This large public university is located in the suburb of Williamsburg. About 89% of students finish within six years. College Of William And Mary awarded about 169 psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their psychology degree from College Of William And Mary earn around $36,818 in the first couple years of their career. College Of William And Mary graduates carry a median of $19,379 in student loans.
Get the full psychology details for College Of William And Mary
George Mason University came in at #25 for psychology this year. George Mason University is a very large public school located in the suburb of Fairfax. The six-year graduation rate is 68%. There were roughly 601 psychology students who graduated with this degree at George Mason University in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, psychology degree recipients from George Mason University generally make around $60,292. Students borrow a median of $21,000 to complete this degree.
More information about a degree in psychology from George Mason University
Rest of the Top 50 Psychology Schools
These schools also placed among the best for psychology this year:
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and program focus, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Top Ranked · 1829 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).