Many institutions offer a variety of online degrees at undergraduate and graduate levels but when it comes to the best online degrees in psychology, which institutions offer a top-quality education?
Generally, you can find many institutions offering online degree programs in various fields of study. There are many options online for students seeking to earn an online degree in psychology.
But the question is, how can you identify the best online psychology degree? There are several factors to consider when searching for an online psychology degree.
In this article, we will not only be listing the best online psychology degrees, but we will also give you tips on how to identify accredited programs and institutions.
So stay with us and continue reading.
How to Choose an Online Psychology Degree Program
There are two options available in psychology. You can either earn a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. These are the two options you have at the undergraduate level.
Now there is a difference between a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science and it all lies in the subset of the field of psychology.
A Bachelor of Science in Psychology incorporates studies in neuroscience, analysis, an introduction to clinical psychology topics, and statistics.
A Bachelor of Arts in Psychology on the other hand incorporates a wider study area of psychology. You will study behavioural issues and liberal arts topics like sociology and political science.
Also Read: 10 Psychology Scholarships For International Students in Canada 2024
Search for Institutions and Programs with Accreditation
When you are doing your research on the best online degrees in psychology, try to find out if your preferred institution is accredited and offers accredited online programs.
This is important even for graduate students. Many employers out there will only accept graduates with degrees from accredited institutions. So, it’s very important to attend institutions with valid accreditation. But how can you identify accredited institutions?
Well, the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) provides a searchable directory for inquisitive students. You can check the status of any institution to find out if they are accredited.
Attending an accredited institution comes with a benefit. For example, some financial aid programs are only available to students attending regionally accredited colleges or universities.
What Is the Cost of an Online Psychology Bachelor’s Degree?
The estimated cost per credit will vary based on your preferred institution.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the 2020-2021 academic year national average cost for tuition & fees was over $9,000 for state residents at public four-year universities.
The national average cost of tuition and fees for out-of-state learners in that same academic year was over $27,000. According to Forbes.com, tuition and fees at private colleges cost over $32,000 on average.
A good number of undergraduate online degrees in psychology cost over $9,000 for in-state learners and more for out-of-state learners. Some universities charge in-state- tuition rates to all online learners, irrespective of their present state of residence.
List of the Best Online Degrees in Psychology
Here are the top institutions that offer online degrees in psychology;
- University of Florida- Online
- University of Central Florida
- Oregon State University
- Florida International University
- Drexel University
- University of Massachusetts- Lowell
- DePaul University
- Regent University
- University of Utah
- George Masson University
- University of Missouri
- University of West Florida
- Northwest Missouri University
- Indiana University
- University of Memphis
Best Online Degrees in Psychology
Let’s explore the best options to earn an online degree in psychology.
#1. University of Florida- Online
- Location: Gainesville, Florida
The University of Florida- Online is an institution where you can earn an online degree in psychology. UF Online has been ranked #1 for undergraduate online programs and #2 best online bachelor’s in psychology by U.S. News & World Report.
The online Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology offered at UF Online is designed for students who were unable to enrol in a traditional program.
The BA in psychology at UF Online offers a flexible schedule with concentrations in developmental psychology, behaviour analysis, counselling psychology, social psychology, and behavioural and cognitive neuroscience.
Psychology majors are required to complete 120 credits before graduation. Some online learners take 8 semesters to complete this Bachelor of Arts in Psychology.
To enrol in this online program, all first-year applicants are expected to present a minimum GPA of 2.5. Get more information about this online BA degree in psychology on UF’s official website.
#2. University of Central Florida
- Location: Orlando, Florida
The University of Central Florida provides several options for your psychology concentration through its online Bachelor of Science in Psychology. This online undergraduate degree consists of 120 credits and 81 of those credits must be in major courses.
Online learners can either choose to complete a general degree or choose from any of these concentration options, which include experimental psychology, human factors psychology, clinical psychology, industry/organizational psychology, and neuroscience.
Online learners enrolled in BS in psychology must complete a capstone course before they graduate. The University of Central Florida provides support services for its online learners’ such as an academic advisor, tutoring, and the UCF Online Support Center Team.
#3. Oregon State University
- Location: Corvallis, Oregon
Oregon State University offers both a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology. The undergraduate degree program in psychology offered at Oregon State is entirely online.
The university offers this online degree program through its Ecampus. The undergraduate online degrees in psychology offered at OSU are taught by the university’s faculty.
Online learners must complete the 180-credit program general core classes. At OSU, you will study both the general education coursework alongside important topics in psychology like brain and behaviour, behaviour modification, etc.
As a student learning online at Oregon State, you can benefit from resources like free online tutoring, career and success coaching, and more.
#4. Florida International University
- Location: Miami, Florida
FIU offers a fully online Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. FIU allows new students to choose between three start dates in the fall, spring, and summer. The online undergraduate program offered at this university is designed to prepare students for successful careers in education, and law enforcement.
FIU faculty includes world-class researchers with expertise in the areas of metacognition, ethnic and racial identity development, the sexual health process of minority populations, etc. This online Bachelor of Arts in Psychology requires 120 credits with 36 in psychology major courses.
#5. Drexel University
- Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
One of the best universities in Pennsylvania, Drexel University offers an online Bachelor of Science in Psychology.
At Drexel, online learners are taught by faculty members from the university’s Department of Psychology and Brain Sciences.
You will take general education classes at Drexel and also, you will study broader aspects of foundational psychology topics alongside research and methodology, three writing-intensive courses, a senior thesis, and statistics.
Also Read: 15 Best Schools In Florida For Psychology 2023
#6. University of Massachusetts- Lowell
- Location: Lowell, Massachusetts
The University of Massachusetts, Lowell is an institution with a reputable background for offering one of the best online bachelor’s degree programs in the United States.
UMass Lowell provides the same curriculum for students learning online and those campus. The same faculty teaching students on campus are the same instructors educating online learners.
UMass Lowell’s Bachelor of Arts degree programs cover important topics in the field of psychology such as abnormal and community psychology courses, personality studies, upper division electives, practicum seminars, and experimental, and directed studies.
#7. DePaul University
- Location: Chicago, Illinois
DePaul University is recognized as one of the best institutions in the Midwest. The university offers an online Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. The online undergraduate program offers two concentrations in human development, which focuses on child and adolescent behaviour.
The program’s curriculum offered at DePaul is designed to prepare online learners to enter graduate psychology programs.
DePaul University provides resources that students can benefit from. It provides internship and research experiences. To get into DePaul, you need to complete at least 45 quarters/30 semester hours and specific prerequisites.
#8. Regent University
- Location: Virginia Beach, Virginia
Regent University is an institution that offers one of the best online degrees in psychology. This is a religious university that offers an online Bachelor of Science in Psychology guided by Christian principles.
The university’s faculty are experienced in the field of psychology. With their expertise, they teach online learners how to improve their critical thinking.
Regent University provides financial aid to certain students in the form of scholarships. Eligible freshmen stand a chance to from $4,000 to $10,000 in scholarships.
#9. University of Utah
- Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
The University of Utah offers an online degree program in psychology. Students enrolled in this program take 12 to 15 credits each semester.
Fifty-three credits are required with courses needed in areas like cognitive psychology, clinical psychology, developmental psychology, social psychology, behavioural psychology and neuroscience.
The University of Utah also provides resources for its students, with internships and research assistantships.
#10. George Mason University
- Location: Fairfax County, Virginia
George Mason University is a public college that offers an online undergraduate degree in psychology. At George Mason University, you can earn a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science in Psychology online.
The Bachelor of Science program concentrates on maths and science, while the Bachelors of Arts program offers a liberal arts education that concentrates on psychology. To earn both academic programs, students must complete 120 credits. Twenty-six to thirty-six of those credits must be in core psychology courses.
George Mason University allows students to choose their preferred concentrations. At this university, psychology majors may focus their studies on cognitive and behavioural neuroscience, educational psychology, health psychology, clinical psychology or developmental psychology.
#11. University of Missouri
- Location: Columbia, Missouri
At Missouri Online, you can earn an undergraduate online degree in psychology.
This university offers applicants the opportunity to choose between two campuses. You can apply for an online program at the University of Missouri, Columbia or at the University of Missouri, St. Louis. The two schools allow students to register for classes at either school.
However, there is a difference when you look at the cost at both schools. The University of Missouri, St. Louis has an estimated cost of $48,930 compared to Mizzou’s estimated cost of $51,180.
Also Read: 15 Best Psychology Schools in the World 2024
#12. University of West Florida
- Location: Pensacola, Florida
The University of West Florida offers a variety of online degrees including an undergraduate psychology program.
This online university is the best option for students seeking transfer to complete their bachelor’s degree. The online program offered at this university is designed to improve student skills.
Upon completing this program, students become experts in verbal communication, with skills to evaluate behaviours through psychological methods.
#13. Northwest Missouri State University
- Location: Maryville, Missouri
Northwest Missouri State University offers an accelerated online Bachelor of Science in Psychology. The online programs consist of 120 credits. Students can also transfer about 90 credits from other institutions attended.
The program’s curriculum incorporates 27 majors with 24 minor credits in communication-PR or business management. With a minimum GPA of 2.5, you can enrol in this online program.
Also Read: Missouri State University Scholarships for Undergraduate Students
#14. Indiana University
- Location: Bloomington, Indiana
Indiana University provides an online Bachelor of Science in Psychology. Major courses cover important subjects like evolutionary psychology, psychology of learning, psychology of personality, sensation and perception, and abnormal psychology. This online program comprises 120 credits, with 36 credits in psychology courses and a capstone course.
#15. University of Memphis
- Location: Memphis, Tennessee
The University of Memphis is another public institution that offers a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, which students can complete in four years. The programs consist of 120 credits, with 39 major credits in courses such as multicultural psychology, abnormal child psychology, general psychology, and thinking and cognitive processes.
Frequently Asked Question
Here are a few frequently asked questions about the best online degrees in psychology.
How fast can I get a psychology degree online?
On average, most online bachelor’s degrees in psychology can be completed in four years. Some programs offer part-time enrolment and it usually takes a longer period to complete.
On the other hand, accelerated programs can be completed in less than four years.
Is a BS better than a BA in psychology?
Everyone has a preference and goals they want to achieve after graduation. If you plan to further your education at a graduate school, then you consider a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. BS in psychology are more science-focused than BA in psychology.
A Bachelor of Arts in psychology focus on liberal arts and it’s the best option for students who wish to work or study outside the field of psychology.
Conclusion
With many options available, you can an online Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Psychology. It’s important you know if your preferred institution is accredited and offers accredited programs.
In this era, distance is not a barrier to getting an education or earning a degree in a specific field of study.
