10 Best HBCUs for Psychology Master’s Programs

The best HBCUs for psychology offer high-quality education to students from all backgrounds. Learn more about these top schools.

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Updated January 3, 2024

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A master’s in psychology trains you in the research skills that many top social sciences jobs require. You can also use your degree from one of the best master’s in psychology programs to qualify for a doctoral program. If you want to be a psychologist, most states require a doctorate, supervised experience, and examination for licensure.

The best HBCUs for psychology can help you earn a master’s in just a few years. A high percentage of students in HBCUs for their master’s education receive financial aid. Although these institutions were originally established to educate Black students, they enroll degree-seekers of all races.

What Is a Master’s in Psychology Program?

A master’s in psychology lets you specialize in one of the discipline’s many subfields, such as counseling, educational, or organizational psychology. Your psychology specialty affects which careers and doctoral programs you may pursue after graduation.

The best HBCUs for psychology can help you qualify for one of many careers. Relevant careers like those listed below may require a master’s degree and work experience.

Marriage and family therapist
Organizational psychologist
Psychometrics specialist
Substance abuse counselor

Why Attend an HBCU Master’s in Psychology Program?

Attending one of the best HBCUs for psychology offers many potential benefits, such as connecting with top employers. These programs also appeal to adult learners needing a master’s to advance their education and career. Other advantages include learning alongside a diverse student body and performing supervised fieldwork in high-need areas.

The best HBCUs for psychology also offer the same rigorous curriculum as other institutions. You can determine a program’s credibility by checking its accreditation status.

Continue your research by contacting admissions officers and comparing schools’ graduate outcomes.

Best HBCU Master’s in Psychology Programs

Howard University

Washington, DC4 yearCampus + Online

$26,464

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$26,464

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

39%

Acceptance Rate

33%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$32,248

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$32,248

Retention Rate

90%

Students Enrolled

10,859

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$26,464

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$26,464

Howard University

Washington, DC4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$26,464

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$26,464

Acceptance Rate

39%

Online Enrollment

33%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$32,248

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$32,248

Retention Rate

90%

Students Enrolled

10,859

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Fayetteville State University

Fayetteville, NC4 yearCampus + Online

$2,982

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$14,590

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

79%

Acceptance Rate

91%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$3,438

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$14,503

Retention Rate

66%

Students Enrolled

6,726

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$2,982

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$14,590

Fayetteville State University

Fayetteville, NC4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$2,982

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$14,590

Acceptance Rate

79%

Online Enrollment

91%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$3,438

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$14,503

Retention Rate

66%

Students Enrolled

6,726

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

North Carolina Central University

Durham, NC4 yearCampus + Online

$3,728

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$16,435

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

87%

Acceptance Rate

54%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$4,740

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$17,694

Retention Rate

78%

Students Enrolled

8,078

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$3,728

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$16,435

North Carolina Central University

Durham, NC4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$3,728

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$16,435

Acceptance Rate

87%

Online Enrollment

54%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$4,740

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$17,694

Retention Rate

78%

Students Enrolled

8,078

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Hampton University

Hampton, VA4 yearCampus + Online

$26,198

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$26,198

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

36%

Acceptance Rate

11%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$13,099

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$13,099

Retention Rate

72%

Students Enrolled

3,516

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$26,198

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$26,198

Hampton University

Hampton, VA4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$26,198

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$26,198

Acceptance Rate

36%

Online Enrollment

11%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$13,099

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$13,099

Retention Rate

72%

Students Enrolled

3,516

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Prairie View A&M University

Prairie View, TX4 yearCampus + Online

$7,253

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$22,552

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

76%

Acceptance Rate

95%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$5,096

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$14,316

Retention Rate

74%

Students Enrolled

9,248

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$7,253

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$22,552

Prairie View A&M University

Prairie View, TX4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$7,253

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$22,552

Acceptance Rate

76%

Online Enrollment

95%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$5,096

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$14,316

Retention Rate

74%

Students Enrolled

9,248

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Bowie State University

Bowie, MD4 yearCampus

$5,647

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$16,338

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

81%

Acceptance Rate

99%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$7,614

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$12,762

Retention Rate

77%

Students Enrolled

6,250

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$5,647

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$16,338

Bowie State University

Bowie, MD4 yearCampus

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$5,647

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$16,338

Acceptance Rate

81%

Online Enrollment

99%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$7,614

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$12,762

Retention Rate

77%

Students Enrolled

6,250

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Southern University and A&M College

Baton Rouge, LA4 yearCampus + Online

$4,973

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$4,973

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

43%

Acceptance Rate

72%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$5,336

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$5,336

Retention Rate

60%

Students Enrolled

6,917

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$4,973

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$4,973

Southern University and A&M College

Baton Rouge, LA4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$4,973

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$4,973

Acceptance Rate

43%

Online Enrollment

72%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$5,336

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$5,336

Retention Rate

60%

Students Enrolled

6,917

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Kentucky State University

Frankfort, KY4 yearCampus + Online

$7,700

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$11,550

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

84%

Acceptance Rate

71%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$7,560

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$11,550

Retention Rate

78%

Students Enrolled

2,290

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$7,700

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$11,550

Kentucky State University

Frankfort, KY4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$7,700

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$11,550

Acceptance Rate

84%

Online Enrollment

71%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$7,560

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$11,550

Retention Rate

78%

Students Enrolled

2,290

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Fisk University

Nashville, TN4 yearCampus + Online

$20,220

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$20,220

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

66%

Acceptance Rate

N/A

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$20,220

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$20,220

Retention Rate

80%

Students Enrolled

911

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$20,220

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$20,220

Fisk University

Nashville, TN4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$20,220

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$20,220

Acceptance Rate

66%

Online Enrollment

N/A

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$20,220

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$20,220

Retention Rate

80%

Students Enrolled

911

Institution Type

Private

Accreditation

Yes

#10

Tennessee State University

Nashville, TN4 yearCampus + Online

$7,854

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$20,574

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

N/A

Acceptance Rate

52%

Online Enrollment

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$9,276

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$19,752

Retention Rate

64%

Students Enrolled

7,615

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$7,854

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$20,574

Tennessee State University

Nashville, TN4 yearCampus + Online

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, In-State

$7,854

Avg. Undergrad Tuition, Out-of-state

$20,574

Acceptance Rate

N/A

Online Enrollment

52%

Avg. Grad Tuition, In-State

$9,276

Avg. Grad Tuition, Out-of-state

$19,752

Retention Rate

64%

Students Enrolled

7,615

Institution Type

Public

Accreditation

Yes

Additional Resources for Students in HBCU Psychology Master’s Programs

American Board of Professional Psychology: ABPP awards board certification in 17 psychology subfields. Researching these as a student can help you develop long-term professional goals.
American Psychological Association: APA offers information and advice on psychology careers, degrees, and continuing education opportunities. Their guides can help you plan your education from an associate degree in psychology to a doctorate.
PsychCentral: PsychCentral lets you keep up to date with the latest psychology news and trends. Use this resource to discover whether a psychology degree can help you reach your career goals.
Psychology Today: Psychology Today helps people find highly trained psychologists and publishes the latest research findings. Consult this resource throughout your education to understand the challenges psychologists face.
Purdue OWL: Purdue University offers free academic writing and citation guides covering APA Style. Use these resources when writing papers and your master’s thesis.