With the growing demand for mental health professionals, pursuing a psychology degree has never been more relevant. If you want to pursue a psychology degree but can’t attend the program physically, fortunately, online education has made it easier to access these quality programs from anywhere in the world. In this article, we’ll explore the 10 best online colleges for psychology degrees in 2024.
10 Best Online Colleges for Psychology Degrees in 2024
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University of Florida
In-state Tuition (Undergraduate): $3,358
Out-of-state Tuition (Undergraduate): $15,000
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Acceptance Rate: 66%
University of Florida Bachelor of Arts in Psychology is ranked among the best online psychology degrees. This is a joint program for nontraditional students focused on the biological, developmental, and sociocultural foundations of behaviour. First-time college students must hold a high school diploma or GED and meet a 2.5 minimum GPA requirement, as well as provide SAT/ACT scores and complete the necessary prerequisites in English, math, sciences, and social sciences. However, transfer students with 60 or more credits need at least a 2.75 GPA and the required courses in biology, psychology, and statistics. The subjects taught in the program include psychology, statistics, mathematics, and biology, in addition to the required courses. The faculty’s experts are focused on behaviour analysis, counselling psychology, developmental psychology and social psychology.
The University of Florida was founded in 1853 and is one of the largest universities in the United States, with more than 56000 students, of which 3000 are distance learners. According to the U.S. News & World Report, UF is the 6th Best Public University, and the university is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
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University of Central Florida
In-state Tuition (Undergraduate): $4,478
Out-of-state Tuition (Undergraduate): $19,810
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Acceptance Rate: 36%
The University of Central Florida was founded in 1963 as a research university which currently serves over 66,000 students, making it the university with the largest on-campus population in the United States. UCF is ranked by the US News & World Report as the 16th Most Innovative School and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
The University of Central Florida’s online Bachelor of Science in Psychology offers a comprehensive 120-credit program with six specialized tracks, including clinical psychology, experimental psychology, general psychology, human factors psychology, industrial/organizational psychology, and neuroscience. First-time college students need a high school diploma or GED and SAT scores; transfer students need 12 college credits and at least a 2.0 GPA. The program promotes practical experience through internships, volunteering, research, and student clubs and organizations. The courses cover statistics and the history of psychology and physiology and provide students with an opportunity to undertake a final project. Students can further enhance their learning through research, surveys or practical exposure through internships.
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Florida International University
In-state Tuition (Undergraduate): $4,721
Out-of-state Tuition (Undergraduate): $16,529
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Acceptance Rate: 64%
The FIU is one of the largest universities in Southern Florida, with more than 57,000 enrolled students, and it is in University Park, Florida. It was established in 1965 and is amongst the most progressive and growing modern universities. The fully online Bachelor of Arts in Psychology program emphasizes scientific research and human behaviour, offering five concentration areas, including Applied Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Experimental Psychology, Personality/Abnormal Psychology and Social Psychology. The courses cover various areas, including cognitive functions, statistics, human anatomy, and theoretical foundations of personality and behavioural disorders. The topics also include industrial/organizational psychology, personal adjustment, and infancy and childhood psychology.
More specifically, the school requires first-year students to provide their high school records and SAT, ACT or CLT scores. Transfer students require 60 transferable college credits and official transcripts. Freshers can enroll in courses in the fall, spring or summer semesters of the academic year. Noteworthy, every online student here is paired with a success coach for personalized support and guidance.
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Eastern New Mexico University
In-state Tuition (Undergraduate): $4,074
Out-of-state Tuition (Undergraduate): $6,114
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
Acceptance Rate: 33%
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Eastern New Mexico University in Portales, New Mexico, delivers a fully online Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. The program focuses on such components of behaviour as motivation, memory, and language. Students can also participate in Psyched-In, which is a group on campus or in Psi Chi, which is the national honours society in psychology. ENMU scholarships and other financial aid plans are available to those who plan to study online. Most students combine their education with working on-campus to make ends meet, and that’s fine if you can create balance.
The online program offered is a four-year program that offers skills in behavioural research design and analysis. Other courses that are taught are cognitive psychology, research methods and statistics, writing and career in psychology, developmental psychology and theoretical psychology. Currently, students at ENMU get more than $22 million in student financial aid every year. As mentioned, students interested in this online program can apply for admission scholarships and other awards after enrolling in the program, making the program affordable for psychology majors.
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Trine University
In-state Tuition (Undergraduate): $9,576
Out-of-state Tuition (Undergraduate): $9,576
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
Acceptance Rate: 60%
Trine University of Fort Wayne, Indiana, has an online Bachelor of Science in Psychology program. This program is 100% online and is comprised of courses which do not include strict class meeting times for the convenience of working students and others who may not attend traditional college. The curriculum comprises counselling, personality, human sexuality, marriage and family, forensics, abnormality and addictions, among others. Students also have the option to do a clinical internship or to complete a capstone demonstration.
Trineonline is an accredited online university that accepts up to 90 transfer college credits and grants credit for prior learning experiences such as work experience, military service, and college standardized tests. The recommended admission credentials include prior academic records such as high school transcripts or GED. Earning a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Trine University allows students to comprehend human behaviour, acquire research abilities and acquire analytical skills in order to pursue a career in psychology or other related careers.
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George Mason University
In-state Tuition (Undergraduate): $9,510
Out-of-state Tuition (Undergraduate): $32,970
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Acceptance Rate: 91%
George Mason University’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences delivers a completely online B.S. or B.A. in Psychology focusing on the study of the brain and behaviour. The B.S. degree program focuses on math and science courses in psychology, while the B.A. degree offers more liberal arts and general education. The areas focused on in the curriculum include developmental, abnormal and social psychology. There are eight optional concentrations: forensic, industrial and organizational, applied, and developmental. These concentrations make it possible for students to have focused training in preparation for their chosen disciplines.
The program also features service learning, independent research projects, and practical experience in faculty laboratories. It also helps students learn about human behaviour and lays a foundation for careers in psychology and similar professions after successfully completing a Bachelor’s in Psychology at George Mason University. Also, applicants must have a high school diploma/General Educational Diploma (GED) completed within 5 years and must submit their test scores with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 (with a competitive GPA of 3.7 and above).
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University of Utah
In-state Tuition (Undergraduate): $7,749
Out-of-state Tuition (Undergraduate): $27,201
Accreditation: Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
Acceptance Rate: 95%
The University of Utah’s online Bachelor’s in Psychology is a program in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences that prepares learners for the study of psychological subjects that are helpful in real life. The program calls for 53 credits for the major and 16 credits for the minor option at $260 per credit. There are specific subject areas of focus within the curriculum, such as developmental, social, clinical, cognitive, and behavioral/neuroscience psychology. Students take four core psychology courses, then choose one course from five specializations including psychopathology, behavioural / neuroscience, developmental, illness, social, and cognitive psychology. Noteworthy, two degree pathways are available, that is, a fully online Bachelor of Science (BS) program and a Bachelor of Arts (BA) with on-campus foreign language requirements. It can take from three to four semesters to finish the program, and the classes are offered part-time.
First-year students who live close to the campus may engage in research assistantships, internships, peer advising, and the honour society. University of Utah’s online psychology program is among the best in the western United States, with great and experienced faculty and an excellent research focus. This makes the program quite suitable for learners who want an all-round study experience in psychology, as the program is highly flexible and based on interactive learning.
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Indiana State University
Tuition Per Credit: $456
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
Acceptance Rate: 70%
Indiana University has an accelerated online Bachelor of Science in Psychology that focuses on a range of areas, such as evolutionary psychology, abnormal psychology, and psychology of learning. This program is suitable for preparing students for personnel departments, mental health clinics, social welfare organizations, and other similar organizations. Some of the courses offered in the curriculum are life span development, behavioural neuroscience, methods of experimental psychology, and psychology of everyday life. Aspiring psychology students can kickstart their education by enrolling in these courses that offer a proper grounding in psychology for enhanced performance.
Also, the online Bachelor of Science in Psychology degree takes a total of 120 credit hours, with 45 of those in the major, 25 elective credits, and 50 in the University’s Foundational Studies Program. This program includes an orientation towards critical thinking, leadership, and interpersonal skills. It also integrates lectures and seminars with research activities, field practices, and other related co-curricular activities. The programme can be completed in four years or done part-time, thus making it convenient for students.
The application date is also on a rolling basis meaning that the students can apply at any time they wish to do so. Graduates with a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology from Indiana State University are well equipped to pursue various careers in the areas of psychology and related disciplines in areas such as service industries, research, government, and business.
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John Brown University
In-state Tuition (Undergraduate): $27,662
Out-of-state Tuition (Undergraduate): $27,662
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
Acceptance Rate: 53%
John Brown University, a private Christian institution, offers an online psychology degree with two options, either a typical B.A. in Psychology or an accelerated program which enables students to get the Master’s degree in Counseling within an extra year of study. The online Bachelor of Science in Psychology program focuses on the aspects of communication, learning about people, and learning how to apply the science of psychology to faith and theology. The intended purpose of this program is to enhance students’ ability to better comprehend individuals’ actions and interactions.
To complete the program, a student needs to have completed 43 hours of psychology courses and up to 20 hours in speciality areas such as natural science, foreign language, counselling or any other speciality as approved by the school. Some of the elective areas include child and adolescent development, counselling, family and human services, and intercultural and social justice.
Certain features of the program are worth mentioning, such as the chance to submit capstone projects to the undergraduate psychology journal as well as completing observational field placements at organizations and ministries. John Brown University also considers other forms of credit for transfer, including examinations, military, first aid, police, and other professional certifications. This enables students to bring with them experience and knowledge acquired from other institutions towards their degree.
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Liberty University
In-state Tuition (Undergraduate): $15,409
Out-of-state Tuition (Undergraduate): $15,409
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Acceptance Rate: 99%
Liberty University is a nonprofit, coeducational, Christian university located in Lynchburg, Virginia, which aims to nurture the spiritual and academic side of the students. With a biblical foundation as its guiding belief, professors who have masters or doctorate degrees facilitate small group classes with 25 students at most. Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the university was founded in 1971 and has expanded and become one of the largest Christian universities in the world.
The online Bachelor of Science in Psychology degree program at Liberty University allows students to choose areas of concentration that appeal to them as they build their careers. The program provides different options, such as addictions and recovery, Christian counselling, criminal psychology, crisis counselling, developmental psychology, life coaching, and military resilience. Graduates of the program are equipped to optimize clients’ and colleagues’ psychological, relational, and spiritual health.
Conclusion
Earning an online psychology degree from a reputable university can help you get a good job. The 10 colleges mentioned above provide a great opportunity to obtain an online education that is as good as a traditional one and relatively inexpensive. Currently, there is an increase in demand for mental health professionals, and thus, online programs are more common. Selecting one of these top colleges is the first step towards a fulfilling career in helping improve the lives of people and society as a whole for psychologists.