4 Best HBCU Psychology Programs of 2024

Psychology degrees are in high demand, partly because there is an increasing need for mental health practitioners.However, like many academic disciplines, psychology, both as a medical and educational field, has historically given priority to white students. This is one of the reasons why 81% of U.S. psychologists are white, while only 5% are Black or African American, according to the American Psychological Association (APA).Historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) offer students the opportunity to study human behavior while focusing on the experiences of Black individuals, women, and people from multicultural backgrounds.Continue reading to discover the HBCU psychology program that is right for you.

Psychology is an academic, clinical, and scientific discipline that seeks to understand human behavior.

The psychology field is broad and encompasses many subspecialties, including but not limited to:

You might assume that a psychology degree is most relevant for those aspiring to become licensed clinical psychologists. However, psychology graduates are highly sought after and have seen increasing success in various careers, including human resources, marketing and market research, education, and business.

HBCUs provide a unique learning environment for student groups that have historically been barred from educational opportunities, namely Black students.

Today, HBCUs attract some 300,000 students each year, of which about 76% identify as Black.

A majority of four-year colleges in the U.S. have psychology departments that offer majors and minors in psychology and related fields. However, HBCU psychology programs provide a unique opportunity to study the discipline from diverse perspectives. Notably, HBCUs are more likely to feature Black experiences, women’s experiences, and multicultural and multi-gendered perspectives as a focus of the study.

Attending a psychology program at one of the best HBCUs for psychology also offers career and professional benefits. HBCUs can provide students with a supportive community and lead to opportunities for mentorship, access to a strong alumni network, and improved career prospects after graduation.

Note: The insights on this page — excluding school descriptions — were reviewed by an independent third party compensated for their time by BestColleges. Page last reviewed on December 20, 2023.