Best Online Master’s in Psychology Degrees of 2025

Demand for psychologists is on the rise. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects a faster-than-average rise in psychologist jobs over the next decade.

A master’s in psychology can help you advance in this fast-growing field or even break into an adjacent one like social services.

What’s more, getting your psychology master’s degree online gives you the flexibility needed to advance your education without giving up your career.

Source: BestColleges 2024 Online Education Trends Report

Online master’s in psychology degrees come in all shapes and sizes. Before you apply, be sure to consider factors such as application requirements, program costs, and concentrations.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, students enrolled in online master’s in psychology programs paid an average of just over $12,000 in tuition and fees in 2019-2020.

Online master’s degrees generally cost less than their in-person counterparts. Most two-year master’s programs cost more than $57,000, but online master of science degrees — which can include many psychology programs — generally cost less than $31,000.

The good news: Students generally think online degrees are worth it. In our survey, 97% of online master’s students and program graduates think earning an online degree has had or will have a positive return on investment.

How long an online master’s in psychology takes you will depend on both your schedule and how the program is structured.

Some programs offer accelerated online formats, which generally involve more intensive classes but can take as little as one year to complete.

A typical full-time master’s in psychology program takes around two years. That said, an asynchronous program built around your schedule could take longer.

Some programs accept transfer credits or offer credit for work experience. Depending on your school, you might be able to complete your master’s in psychology faster — and typically at a lower cost if you transfer a lot of credits or get credit for experience.

If you want to break into a niche psychology field or hone your skills in a specific area, you might pursue a psychology concentration in your online master’s program.

Different schools offer different specializations, so be sure schools offer the specialization you’re interested in before you apply.

But how do you decide on a concentration?

“Start with basic research into how to leverage your interests in the field,” recommends Megan Pietrucha, Psy.D., a licensed clinical and sport psychologist. “Attending professional conferences and exploring coursework offered in your program can also help narrow options for choosing a concentration.”

You don’t necessarily need to pick a concentration for your psychology master’s degree — you can also choose to study general psychology, which includes instruction in a number of areas to give you a broad overview of the field.

Here are some popular concentrations for online master’s in psychology programs:

Attending an accredited psychology master’s program ensures you learn relevant work-ready skills.

While programmatic accreditation isn’t always necessary for master’s in psychology students, it’s best to prioritize programs that are accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).

A CACREP-accredited program may include an in-person internship or practicum requirement, so keep this in mind when you apply for programs. This may mean you will have to travel to campus to complete clinical requirements or find a program that accepts placements in your area.

Alternatively, you could look for programs accredited by:

Note that the American Psychological Association (APA) only accredits doctoral programs, so you won’t find any APA-accredited master’s in psychology programs.

Finally, the university itself should be institutionally accredited, ideally by a regional accrediting agency.

Psychology is a broad field, and psychologists work across industries to help both individuals and organizations.

Keep in mind that to call yourself a psychologist, you typically need a doctorate in psychology. Still, a master’s degree can set you on the path to earning this terminal degree.

With a master’s in psychology, you can seek out roles like therapist and counselor.

“If you want to provide direct clinical or counseling services, a master’s degree will allow you to become licensed to provide such services,” says Pietrucha.

Alternatively, you can work in psychology-related fields like management, community service, research, and social work. If you’re already working in psychology, a master’s degree can help you advance into a more specialized position or leadership role.

Source: BLS

An online master’s in psychology can lead to career advancement, specialized roles, and higher-paying jobs — but it also comes at a cost.

Depending on the program, earning your master’s in psychology online might mean going into debt.

This degree can also take time out of your schedule. If you’re an adult learner with a career and family, you might find it challenging to balance work and family with your program.

Fortunately, many online psychology master’s programs offer asynchronous classes to help you earn your degree on your own schedule. Online part-time degrees also tend to be less costly than full-time in-person options.

Master’s degrees can also lead to higher earnings. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, bachelor’s in psychology grads in the class of 2023 had an average starting salary of just over $44,000 — but master’s grads earned more than $60,000. These earnings also increase over time.

Finally, an online psychology master’s can mean more than just a chance at better pay: 52% of online master’s students and program graduates told us their online classes included opportunities to build their professional networks.

Online programs also incorporate networking opportunities into their curricula, helping you meet peers in your field.

A master’s degree in psychology doesn’t have to be the final step in your education journey. You can go on to earn a Ph.D. in psychology or a doctor of psychology (Psy.D.).

These doctoral degrees can lead to high-level research jobs. What’s more, combined with work experience, they can even help you start your own clinical practice.

Some schools offer dual-degree programs that let you earn a master’s along with a Psy.D. Your master’s could be in psychology or in an entirely separate field, such as business administration, public health, or criminal justice.