Top 10 Online Bachelor in Psychology Degrees

online-psychology-degree

Psychology observes and interprets the human mind by considering everything from memory and reasoning to personality and mental health. It’s no wonder that even outside of fields associated with psychology, many organizations would consider someone with a psychology degree to be a huge asset.

Whether you want to become a counselor, improve corporate/employee relationships, or conduct your own research, a bachelor’s degree in psychology is a great place to start.

You don’t have to move across the country to explore the human mind. There are countless online bachelor in psychology degree programs that can land you the credentials, expertise, and experience you need to enter the field.

To help you sort through all these programs, we’ve used data from The National Center for Education Statistics and ratings from school-ranking entities like TheBestSchools.org, BestColleges.com, BestPsychologyDegrees.com, TopCounselingSchools.org, BestCollegeReviews.org, and CollegeChoice.net to compile a list of the top 10 online bachelor’s in psychology programs. These programs are the best of the best!

To help you make the choice that’s right for you, we’ll show you each school’s:

  • Tuition cost
  • Program length
  • Graduation rates
  • Awards and accolades
  • Accreditation
  • Anything else we think could help you decide

Let’s find a school you’ll love! For starters, here are some highlights:

Most affordable

Almost all of these schools are more affordable than the average college education, but two Florida schools in particular stand out. For residents of Florida, University of Florida (#3 on our list) is the most affordable, costing just $3,000 per year. For everyone else, University of Central Florida costs a total of about $36,000, even if you take six or more years to finish your degree.

Best graduation rate

After spending a few years and thousands of dollars on your education, you probably want to walk away with a degree in your hand. If you’re worried about whether or not you’ll actually finish your degree, once again, University of Florida (#3) is your safest choice with an 87% graduation rate.

Only one of these schools has a notably low graduation rate. Penn State University (#1 on the list) has a graduation rate of 20%. The national average graduation rate is 59%, and most of the schools on this list are above that.

Now, on to the top ten!

1. Penn State University (World Campus)

Tuition cost: about $14,000 per year

Program length: 123 credits

Graduation rate: 25%

Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education

Awards and accolades:

  • Rank on TheBestSchools.org: 1
  • Rank on CollegeChoice.net: 2

Penn State University’s World Campus offers three online options for undergraduate psychology majors: two bachelor of science programs and a bachelor of arts.

Here’s what they say about each degree:

BS in psychology with a life science option:

“This allows students to complement their education in psychology with coursework focused on the life sciences most closely related to psychology, including anthropology, biology, and biobehavioral health. It is an excellent choice for individuals considering graduate education in psychology. It also provides the background necessary for careers in counseling, health care, or other professions that provide care for substance abuse, eating disorders, or other disorders involving both behavior and biology.”

BS in psychology with a business option:

“This option provides students ways to enhance their psychology coursework with courses in business, leadership, ethics, and diversity. Together with the analytic and communication skills acquired in psychology courses, this option can prepare graduates for a range of careers in business, human resources, management, or health care administration. It is also an excellent choice for individuals considering further study in industrial-organizational psychology, consumer behavior, or leadership.”

A professor described the unique curriculum in this option as “psychology in the workplace.”

BA in psychology:

“The principles of psychology are used in nearly every field, from human resources and rehabilitative therapies to educational testing and business practices. Regardless of the career path you choose, the Penn State World Campus online bachelor of arts degree program in psychology can help you refine the analytical skills you need to understand interpersonal interaction—and implement valuable problem-solving techniques.”

The BA program prepares students to pursue careers in:

  • Social work
  • Probation and corrections
  • Professional at-home aid
  • Caregiving for the elderly and children
  • Recreational therapy

Here’s what Penn State University’s students and professors have to say about their experience with the online psychology programs:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fC0VI07Hyhk

Note: Penn State’s PhD in clinical psychology, school psychology, and counseling psychology programs are all accredited by the American Psychological Association, Commission on Accreditation. So if you want to pursue your graduate studies, this could be a great school to continue with.

Fun fact: Penn State University has an online psychology club that lets you interact with both students and professors.

2. Arizona State University

Tuition cost:

  • In-state: about $10,000 per year
  • Out-of-state: about $26,000 per year

Program length: 120 credits

Graduation rate: 67%

Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission

Awards and accolades:

  • Rank on TheBestSchools.org: 3
  • Rank on CollegeChoice.net: 3
  • Rank on BestCollegeReviews.org: 4

Arizona State University offers an online BS in psychology and an online BA in psychology through their New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences.

Students in Arizona State’s psychology programs have the opportunity to conduct research in:

  • Decision-making process of a jury
  • Deception and cheating
  • Negotiation and persuasion
  • Impulsiveness and risk-taking
  • Group identification
  • Bias in expert testimony
  • Postpartum stress in parents

Here’s how an associate professor describes the psychology program as a whole:

https://vimeo.com/196494000

Online psychology students do not have all the same opportunities as on-campus students. The website doesn’t specify, but this may affect internships, service-learning, and faculty-supervised research.

Here’s how they say the two programs differ:

Difference between the online BA and BS in psychology:

“The BS degree differs from the BA degree in that it requires two additional lab courses and advanced statistical training. The Bachelor of Science degree program will provide a greater depth of knowledge in the biological and neuroscientific aspects of psychology that are becoming increasingly important both for research and clinical practice. In addition, the advanced statistical training will further prepare students for careers and graduate training involving psychological research, clinical research and legal policy research.”

Here’s what ASU Online says about the online faculty:

“Students enrolled online through Arizona State University have the opportunity to learn from some of the best and brightest in their fields, as our online courses are taught by the same internationally recognized and award-winning faculty members who teach in our on-ground programs.”

In this video, ASU’s professors share what makes online learning so appealing—and if you ask me, it’s one of the best pitches for attending class online, period:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vMzGQ50_JQ

Here’s the gist: Online classes make it easier to participate in class discussions (which are no longer dominated by one or two students), and online students actually perform as well as on-campus students in the industry.

3. University of Florida

Tuition cost:

  • In state: about $3,000 per year for online students
  • Out-of-state: about $10,000 per year for online students

Program length: 120 credits

Graduation rate: 87%

Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools

Awards and accolades:

  • Rank on TheBestSchools.org: 2
  • Rank on CollegeChoice.net: 4
  • Rank on BestColleges.com: 5

University of Florida offers an online bachelor of arts in psychology.

Here’s what they say about the program:

“Psychology is the science of human and animal behavior. Psychology majors receive a broad science-based liberal arts education. As a result, those with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology are widely sought in business, education, and certain mental health fields. For a professional career in psychology, a graduate degree is needed.”

There are four main subjects covered by the curriculum:

  • Psychology
  • Biological science
  • Mathematics
  • Statistics

You’ll learn the foundational principles of psychology and how to apply them, and you’ll explore psychology as both a natural and a social science.

With 400,000 alumni around the world, networking opportunities are never far from University of Florida students—even if you’re studying online. There are more than 100 “Gator clubs” dispersed throughout the world, so no matter where you are, you can connect with alumni and students.

Here’s what University of Florida Online says about connecting with fellow students:

“UF Online hosts a variety of activities to engage and connect with online students. We host regular events in Gainesville, like a tailgate at Homecoming, and events, like networking receptions, outside of Gainesville. Additionally, through Gator Clubs around the world you can interact with the Gator Nation. Online does not mean solitary as Florida Gators are known for being social creatures.”

4. University of Central Florida

Tuition cost:

  • In-State: about $12,000 total
  • Out-of-State: about $36,000 total

Program length: 120 credits

Graduation rate: 69%

Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges

Awards and accolades:

  • Rank on BestColleges.com: 1
  • Rank on TopCounselingSchools.org: 7
  • Rank on CollegeChoice: 8

University of Central Florida offers an online bachelor of science in psychology through the Department of Psychology in their College of Sciences.

Here’s what they say about the program:

“The Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology leads to a broad foundation of knowledge in the discipline of psychology. One of our primary goals is to educate students to intelligently evaluate psychological information that they are encountered with in the real world. By completing this major, students will understand basic psychology terminology and concepts used in; statistical and research methods, physiological psychology, and history and systems. Students will also understand what constitutes scholarly sources, and be able to access them. All psychology majors are encouraged to participate in extracurricular activities such as research, volunteer, and internships as well as our various student organizations that are affiliated with the major.”

This is a very affordable program, whether you live in Florida or not.

UCF has a transfer rate of 4%. The national average is over 30%. If you start your studies here, chances are you’re going to finish them here, too.

Note: University of Central Florida’s PhD in clinical psychology program is accredited by the American Psychological Association, Commission on Accreditation. So if you want to pursue your graduate studies, this could be a great school to continue with.

Fun fact: UCF offers “peer-assisted learning” and online tutors for online students.

5. Central Michigan University

Tuition cost: about $52,000 total

Program length: 124 credits

Graduation rate: 57%

Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission

Awards and accolades:

  • Rank on TopCounselingSchools.org: 3
  • Rank on BestCollegeReviews.org: 3

Central Michigan University offers a fully online or hybrid BS in psychology degree through their Global Campus.

Here’s what they say about the program:

“The BS in Psychology will develop your knowledge and understanding of behavior to better understand yourself and your environment. This flexible program offers the customization to match your degree with your career goals as you learn applicable skills in human development, mental health, behavior analysis, cognition, personality, and cultural awareness. . . .Through your increased awareness and understanding of the psychological process you will be prepared for a successful career in advancing human welfare within the field of your choosing. You also will have a strong foundation in the basic knowledge and skills necessary for advanced study in psychology and related disciplines.”

In this video, the director of undergraduate programs shares more about the psychology major:

https://player.vimeo.com/video/28733201

Ryan Nelson
Ryan has a B.A. in English Literature from Western Washington University. If he could rewind and go to college all over again, he'd do it a little differently. For now, he's living vicariously through people like you by helping you find the best online schools for your field.

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