The Most Affordable Online Psychology Programs and Schools of 2024

Psychology is a versatile major. You can become a psychologist, counselor, therapist, game designer, user experience professional, marketer, or executive leader with a psychology degree. Whatever your career goals might be, this guide introduces the most affordable online psychology programs.

The right psychology degree for you depends on your background and goals. But, when looking for a good psychology program, consider the curriculum, accreditation, and online learning format before making a decision.

Our ranking of the most affordable online psychology programs focuses on objective measures such as reputation, cost, and graduation rates.

Choose a program that has curriculum electives that relate to your goals. For example, if you plan a career in user experience design, a curriculum that includes more electives in design and cognition may match your needs better than one with electives focusing more on developmental and child psychology.

Accreditation is an independent review of a school’s academic quality and the most important factor in evaluating a program. Most employers will not even consider hiring graduates of unaccredited programs, and unaccredited program credits rarely transfer to accredited programs. Note that all programs on this list are accredited.

The right program length and pace depend on your situation. A part-time program may be better if you plan to work while studying. Many of the most affordable online psychology programs offer part-time options or structure their programs around working students’ needs.

A school’s graduation rate, especially in the context of its admission rate, can indicate how successful students are in the program. A school with a high admission rate but low graduation rate might focus more on student volume than student success.

Ensure that the online format and structure meet your needs, especially if this is your first online learning experience. Do the classes meet in real-time (synchronously), or do you attend by viewing lectures and participating in online discussions when convenient (asynchronously)?

What you can do with your psychology degree depends on whether you have a license to practice clinical psychology, your specialty area, and the level of the degree.

For example, to become a counselor, social worker, or therapist, most states require you to have a master’s degree. Becoming a licensed psychologist requires a doctorate. Other careers — in business, for example — use psychology skills but do not have licensing requirements.

As in other fields, your salary varies based on your degree level, experience, other certifications or qualifications, and organizational role. An American Psychological Association (APA) study in 2019 found that workers with a bachelor’s in psychology earned a median salary of $50,000, $60,000 with a master’s degree, and $90,000 with a doctorate.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects a 7% job growth for psychologists between 2023 and 2033, approximately the same growth rate for all jobs. The BLS also projects job growth of 19% for mental health, substance use disorder, or behavioral disorder counselors due to a growing need for these services.

Full-time bachelor’s programs usually require four years, but if you have existing college credit, you may be able to finish sooner.

In addition to online classes, psychology students participate in fieldwork under the supervision of a licensed psychologist or counselor. At the bachelor’s level, fieldwork is mostly observation, while at the doctorate level, you can expect much more active work and independence.

If you live in a different geographic area than the program, you may need to find your own fieldwork placement. Some schools provide extensive support, especially for undergraduates, while other programs require students to make their own arrangements.

Tuition and costs vary significantly by school, and most schools will not indicate how much financial aid you are eligible for until you are admitted. In general, you can expect tuition to cost between $3,000-$10,000 per year for in-state tuition at public schools.

Private schools and out-of-state tuition typically cost between $7,000-$21,000 per year. However, scholarships can greatly reduce your costs. Attending school online means a significant saving on transportation and room and board, although you will still need to pay fees and buy or rent textbooks.