Psychology degree programs prepare students for a range of careers in the field. 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.
No school ranked higher than Ohio State University Main Campus this year for psychology. This very large public university is located in the city of Columbus. Ohio State University Main Campus graduates 88% of students within six years. Ohio State University Main Campus awarded about 683 psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Graduates of the psychology program make about $91,275 in their early career. Ohio State University Main Campus graduates carry a median of $22,145 in student loans.
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Northwestern University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in psychology, ranking #2. Northwestern University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. The six-year graduation rate is 95%. About 508 psychology degrees were awarded at Northwestern University in the most recent year. Psychology graduates of Northwestern University earn a median of $43,591 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $13,065 to complete this degree.
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Georgetown University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in psychology, ranking #3. Georgetown University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. About 95% of students finish within six years. About 81 psychology degrees were awarded at Georgetown University in the most recent year. Psychology graduates of Georgetown University earn a median of $51,959 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $17,500 to complete this degree.
See the full psychology program report for Georgetown University
Stanford University is one of the finest schools in the country for a degree in psychology, ranking #4. 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. About 74 psychology degrees were awarded at Stanford University in the most recent year. Graduates of the psychology program make about $100,827 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $10,492 to complete this degree.
See the full psychology program report for Stanford University
Pennsylvania State University Main Campus came in at #5 on our 2026 list of the best psychology schools. Located in the city of University Park, Pennsylvania State University Main Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 86% of students complete a degree within six years here. Pennsylvania State University Main Campus awarded about 564 psychology degrees in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in psychology from Pennsylvania State University Main Campus
Boston College placed #6 among the best psychology schools. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Chestnut Hill. About 91% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 347 psychology students who graduated with this degree at Boston College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their psychology degree from Boston College earn around $42,392 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $17,363.
More information about a degree in psychology from Boston College
University Of Wisconsin Madison earned the #7 position for psychology this year. Set in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 90%. There were roughly 581 psychology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Wisconsin Madison in the most recent data year. Students who receive their psychology degree from University Of Wisconsin Madison earn around $55,378 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,215 to complete this degree.
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Cornell University placed #8 among the best psychology schools. This very large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Ithaca. Roughly 95% of students complete a degree within six years here. 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. Students borrow a median of $14,157 to complete this degree.
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University Of Notre Dame came in at #9 for psychology this year. University Of Notre Dame is a large private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Notre Dame. 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. Soon after graduation, psychology degree recipients from University Of Notre Dame generally make around $69,494. University Of Notre Dame graduates carry a median of $19,015 in student loans.
See the full psychology program report for University Of Notre Dame
San Jose State University placed #10 among the best psychology schools. This very large public university is located in the city of San Jose. Roughly 69% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 447 psychology degrees were awarded at San Jose State University in the most recent year.
See the full psychology program report for San Jose State University
Tufts University earned the #11 position for psychology this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the suburb of Medford. Tufts University graduates 94% of students within six years. About 135 psychology degrees were awarded at Tufts University in the most recent year. Psychology graduates of Tufts University earn a median of $42,259 early in their careers. Tufts University graduates carry a median of $15,875 in student loans.
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University Of Virginia Main Campus landed the #12 spot for psychology this year. Located in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a very large public university. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. University Of Virginia Main Campus awarded about 235 psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Soon after graduation, psychology degree recipients from University Of Virginia Main Campus generally make around $53,921. University Of Virginia Main Campus graduates carry a median of $19,500 in student loans.
See the full psychology program report for University Of Virginia Main Campus
Colby College placed #13 among the best psychology schools. Colby College is a mid-sized private not-for-profit school located in the town of Waterville. The six-year graduation rate is 89%. Colby College awarded about 64 psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their psychology degree from Colby College earn around $40,842 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $22,016 to complete this degree.
See the full psychology program report for Colby College
Vanderbilt University landed the #14 spot for psychology this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Nashville. About 94% of students finish within six years. Vanderbilt University awarded about 115 psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Psychology graduates of Vanderbilt University earn a median of $36,716 early in their careers. Typical student debt for the program is $11,209.
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Dartmouth College landed the #15 spot for psychology this year. Located in the town of Hanover, Dartmouth College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university. The six-year graduation rate is 96%. There were roughly 60 psychology students who graduated with this degree at Dartmouth College in the most recent data year. Students who receive their psychology degree from Dartmouth College earn around $42,947 in the first couple years of their career. Typical student debt for the program is $18,194.
See the full psychology program report for Dartmouth College
Brown University placed #16 among the best psychology schools. Set in the city of Providence, Brown University is a large private not-for-profit institution. About 96% of students finish within six years. About 66 psychology degrees were awarded at Brown University in the most recent year. Graduates of the psychology program make about $39,493 in their early career. Students borrow a median of $15,110 to complete this degree.
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Santa Clara University landed the #17 spot for psychology this year. 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%. 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.
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University Of Maryland College Park placed #18 among the best psychology schools. University Of Maryland College Park is a very large public school located in the suburb of College Park. About 89% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 441 psychology students who graduated with this degree at University Of Maryland College Park in the most recent data year. Students who receive their psychology degree from University Of Maryland College Park earn around $59,518 in the first couple years of their career. University Of Maryland College Park graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans.
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Bates College landed the #19 spot for psychology this year. This small private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Lewiston. Bates College graduates 90% of students within six years. About 46 psychology degrees were awarded at Bates College in the most recent year. Students who receive their psychology degree from Bates College earn around $47,376 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $13,750 to complete this degree.
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Wake Forest University landed the #20 spot for psychology this year. This moderately-sized private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Winston-Salem. Wake Forest University graduates 89% of students within six years. Wake Forest University awarded about 123 psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Students who receive their psychology degree from Wake Forest University earn around $34,823 in the first couple years of their career. Students borrow a median of $21,500 to complete this degree.
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Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus placed #21 among the best psychology schools. Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus is a very large public school located in the city of Atlanta. About 94% of students finish within six years. There were roughly 39 psychology students who graduated with this degree at Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus in the most recent data year. Psychology graduates of Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus earn a median of $83,560 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $24,323 to complete this degree.
See the full psychology program report for Georgia Institute Of Technology Main Campus
Emory University earned the #22 position for psychology this year. This large private not-for-profit university is located in the city of Atlanta. Roughly 91% of students complete a degree within six years here. About 115 psychology degrees were awarded at Emory University in the most recent year. Psychology graduates of Emory University earn a median of $32,085 early in their careers. Emory University graduates carry a median of $20,500 in student loans.
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Texas A And M University College Station ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the best psychology schools. Set in the city of College Station, Texas A And M University College Station is a very large public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 84%. There were roughly 845 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 $67,391. Students borrow a median of $19,121 to complete this degree.
See the full psychology program report for Texas A And M University College Station
College Of William And Mary earned the #24 position for psychology this year. College Of William And Mary is a large public school located in the suburb of Williamsburg. About 89% of students finish within six years. College Of William And Mary awarded about 162 psychology degrees in the most recent data year. Psychology graduates of College Of William And Mary earn a median of $36,818 early in their careers. Students borrow a median of $19,379 to complete this degree.
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California State University East Bay placed #25 among the best psychology schools. California State University East Bay is a large public school located in the suburb of Hayward. Roughly 48% of students complete a degree within six years here. California State University East Bay awarded about 368 psychology degrees 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.
Read more about the psychology program at California State University East Bay
Rest of the Top 50 Psychology Schools
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s psychology ranking:
This ranking is produced 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 · 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).
