Top Online Doctorate in Psychology Programs of 2025

A doctorate in psychology is the highest degree in the field — and you can earn one online. Once you earn your online doctorate in psychology, you can pursue high-level research, academic, and counseling roles, working in the areas of psychology that interest you most.

There are many specializations you can choose from, including neuropsychology, developmental psychology, and industrial-organizational psychology.

Keep reading to learn about top online doctorate in psychology programs and potential career paths.

Benefits of Getting a Doctorate in Psychology Online

To ensure your program is a good fit for you, consider important factors like cost, accreditation, and program length. You should also research potential careers you can pursue after you graduate.

To determine whether a doctor of psychology (Psy.D.) or a Ph.D. in psychology is right for you, look into what each program entails and the careers they typically lead to. Each degree takes a different approach to psychology.

“A Psy.D. offers more clinical training and generally prepares you to become a psychologist who provides therapy,” explains Juli Fraga, a psychologist with nearly 20 years of experience. “A Ph.D. [in psychology] prepares you to become a therapist but also focuses more on research, meaning it prepares you to also become a researcher or professor.”

Based on data from NCES, online Ph.D. in psychology programs cost an average of just over $16,000 in tuition and fees in 2019-2020.

In comparison, online Psy.D. programs were significantly cheaper, costing an average of around $8,000 that same year — about half the price of their Ph.D. counterparts.

One possible reason Psy.D. programs may cost less than Ph.D. programs in psychology is that Psy.D. programs emphasize clinical practice over academic research. This means they don’t require as much funding for research and teaching assistantships as Ph.D. programs.

As you compare psychology doctorates, be sure to look into financial aid, such as grants and scholarships. Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to see what kinds of aid you’re eligible for.

The typical length of an online Ph.D. in psychology program is 4-7 years. Pursue a Psy.D. and you can expect to spend a little less time — usually 4-5 years — on your degree.

But this difference can be deceiving. In reality, after completing a Psy.D. program, you’ll need to complete a postdoc in order to be eligible to work as a psychologist. All in all, it can take 6-7 years to earn your Psy.D. degree and your license, making it not much different, time-wise, from a Ph.D. in psychology.

You can shorten these time frames by enrolling in a dual-degree master’s/Ph.D. program or an accelerated online doctorate in psychology program.

Transferring credits and earning credit for life and work experience can also shorten the length of your program, not to mention save you money.

Programmatic accreditation is essential for many doctoral programs, including psychology doctorates. Accreditation shows that a program meets certain academic standards and — in the case of psychology and other professional pathways — prepares you for licensure.

“APA accreditation also ensures oversight of the doctoral program by APA, which is an important stamp of approval,” says Fraga.

Most states require psychologists to graduate from a doctorate in psychology program that’s been accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA).

Unfortunately, APA does not currently accredit fully online doctorate in psychology programs. It does, however, accredit in-person and hybrid programs.

Since many employers prefer applicants to have completed an APA-accredited psychology program, this limitation could impact your job options. Consult your state’s psychologist licensing board to learn more about licensure requirements in your area.

You can also search for accredited doctorate in psychology programs using APA’s directory.

Graduates of online doctorate in psychology programs have a diverse array of well-paying job options. Even some of the lowest-paid roles boast median salaries of over $80,000 per year.

According to the BLS, psychology professors earn around $82,000 a year, while school psychologists earn just under $85,000.

Research psychologists and industrial-organizational psychologists each boast median salaries of over $100,000 per year. Clinical and counseling psychologists are close, earning just over $96,000 annually.

To become a psychologist and qualify for state licensure, you must have a doctorate in psychology — usually from an APA-accredited program — and complete 1,500-6,000 supervised clinical hours.

You must also pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP) with a score of at least 500 out of 800.

Whether an online doctorate in psychology is worth it depends on your academic interests and career goals.

First, consider whether you’re more interested in research or clinical practice.

Next, think about your learning style.

“In an online program, you won’t have the same person-to-person experience, and you’ll be expected to be a fairly independent learner,” says Fraga. “That said, if cost is a concern, an online program can be less expensive, which can save money in the long run.”

Other benefits of attending an online doctoral program are the flexibility to continue your personal obligations, such as a full-time job and childrearing.

According to our research, the majority (97%) of prospective online students, currently enrolled online students, and online program graduates would recommend online education to others.

The only major drawback of fully online doctorate in psychology programs is that they can’t get APA accreditation. This can pose a big problem if you want to become a psychologist. Depending on your state, you may have fewer licensure options and job opportunities if you attend a program that’s not APA-accredited.

“Even APA-accredited internships require that you attend an APA-accredited program in order to apply for them,” cautions Fraga.

So be sure to check accreditation statuses before you apply to any doctorate in psychology programs.