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# Best Psychology Colleges in the United States (2026)

Updated October 1, 2026

Programs in this field[Research and Experimental Psychology](/rankings/best-research-and-experimental-psychology-programs/)

This page ranks 1057 Psychology programs in the United States by the median earnings of Psychology graduates four years after completing. [Dartmouth College](/school/dartmouth-college/majors/) leads the list with median earnings of $99,344 after completing.

Across the 1002 schools with a reported completion median, median earnings range from $99,344 to $17,624, with a median of $49,368.

The list includes 450 public and 607 private nonprofit institutions. Trinity International University-Illinois posts the lowest average net price at $2,835, while Princeton University reports the highest six-year completion rate at 98%.

University of California-San Diego ranks 1st on Azimuth's composite ranking among the 1,467 public and private nonprofit four-year institutions Azimuth ranks nationally.

## The ranked list

Top 25 of 1057 schools in list order

| Rank | School | Median Psychology Earnings | Average net price | Net price, families under $30K | Admission rate |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Dartmouth College · Hanover, NH | $99,344 | $29,519 | $41 | 5.4% |
|  | [Dartmouth College](/school/dartmouth-college/majors/) reports [median earnings of $99,344](/school/dartmouth-college/outcomes/) for its Psychology graduates four years after completing, and an average net price of $41 for families earning under $30,000. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Research and Experimental Psychology (71 graduates) |
| 2 | Georgetown University · Washington, DC | $99,007 | $40,815 | $5,064 | 12.9% |
|  | [Georgetown University](/school/georgetown-university/majors/) [admits 13% of applicants](/school/georgetown-university/admissions/) and its Psychology graduates earn a median of $99,007 four years after completing. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Psychology, General (106 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Psychology, General ($99,007) |
| 3 | Columbia University in the City of New York · New York, NY | $86,946 | $21,590 | $4,570 | 4.0% |
|  | With a [six-year completion rate of 96%](/school/columbia-university-in-the-city-of-new-york/outcomes/), [Columbia University in the City of New York](/school/columbia-university-in-the-city-of-new-york/majors/) posts median earnings of $86,946 for its Psychology graduates four years after completing. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Research and Experimental Psychology (163 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Research and Experimental Psychology ($86,946) |
| 4 | Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus · Atlanta, GA | $83,012 | $12,116 | $7,666 | 14.1% |
|  | [Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus](/school/georgia-institute-of-technology-main-campus/majors/), a public university in Atlanta, shows [median earnings of $83,012](/school/georgia-institute-of-technology-main-campus/outcomes/) for its Psychology graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $12,116. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Research and Experimental Psychology (27 graduates) |
| 5 | Carnegie Mellon University · Pittsburgh, PA | $82,433 | $31,944 | $9,097 | 11.7% |
|  | [Carnegie Mellon University](/school/carnegie-mellon-university/majors/) [ranks 106th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/carnegie-mellon-university/) among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Psychology graduates earn a median of $82,433 four years after completing. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Psychology, General (33 graduates) |
| 6 | Cornell University · Ithaca, NY | $78,049 | $28,690 | $1,776 | 8.8% |
|  | [Cornell University](/school/cornell-university/majors/) reports an [average net price of $1,776](/school/cornell-university/cost/) for families earning under $30,000, alongside median earnings of $78,049 for its Psychology graduates four years after completing. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Psychology, General (80 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Psychology, General ($78,049) |
| 7 | Washington University in St Louis · St. Louis, MO | $75,932 | $21,786 | $1,716 | 12.1% |
|  | [Washington University in St Louis](/school/washington-university-in-st-louis/majors/) [admits 12% of applicants](/school/washington-university-in-st-louis/admissions/) and graduates 94% of its students within six years, while its Psychology graduates earn a median of $75,932 four years after completing. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Research and Experimental Psychology (189 graduates), Psychology, General (8 graduates) |
| 8 | Santa Clara University · Santa Clara, CA | $75,742 | $50,062 | $22,985 | 48.0% |
|  | [Santa Clara University](/school/santa-clara-university/majors/) ranks 8th on this list, with [median earnings of $75,742](/school/santa-clara-university/outcomes/) for its Psychology graduates four years after completing and an average net price of $50,062. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Psychology, General (122 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Psychology, General ($75,742) |
| 9 | Virginia Military Institute · Lexington, VA | $75,059 | $17,113 | $12,697 | 71.3% |
|  | [Virginia Military Institute](/school/virginia-military-institute/majors/), a public university in Lexington, reports a [six-year completion rate of 76%](/school/virginia-military-institute/outcomes/) and median earnings of $75,059 for its Psychology graduates four years after completing. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Psychology, General (39 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Psychology, General ($75,059) |
| 10 | Lehigh University · Bethlehem, PA | $74,939 | $36,931 | $16,917 | 25.9% |
|  | [Lehigh University](/school/lehigh-university/majors/) [ranks 143rd on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/lehigh-university/) among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Psychology graduates earn a median of $74,939 four years after completing. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Psychology, General (63 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Psychology, General ($74,939) |
| 11 | University of San Diego · San Diego, CA | $74,178 | $30,365 | $15,586 | 52.4% |
|  | [University of San Diego](/school/university-of-san-diego/majors/) [admits 52% of applicants](/school/university-of-san-diego/admissions/) and reports an average net price of $15,586 for families earning under $30,000, while its Psychology graduates earn a median of $74,178 four years after completing. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Psychology, General (123 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Psychology, General ($74,178) |
| 12 | College of the Holy Cross · Worcester, MA | $74,095 | $38,782 | $14,343 | 17.6% |
|  | [College of the Holy Cross](/school/college-of-the-holy-cross/majors/) posts a [six-year completion rate of 87%](/school/college-of-the-holy-cross/outcomes/) and median earnings of $74,095 for its Psychology graduates four years after completing. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Psychology, General (132 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Psychology, General ($74,095) |
| 13 | George Washington University · Washington, DC | $73,823 | $36,586 | $17,440 | 47.1% |
|  | [George Washington University](/school/george-washington-university/majors/) reports [$73,823 in median earnings](/school/george-washington-university/outcomes/) for its Psychology graduates four years after completing, alongside an average net price of $36,586. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Research and Experimental Psychology (154 graduates), Psychology, General (43 graduates) |
| 14 | Boston College · Chestnut Hill, MA | $73,453 | $41,704 | $4,284 | 16.4% |
|  | With a [six-year completion rate of 91%](/school/boston-college/outcomes/), [Boston College](/school/boston-college/majors/) ranks 14th on this list and posts median earnings of $73,453 for its Psychology graduates four years after completing. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (138 graduates), Psychology, General (116 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology ($76,328), Psychology, General ($70,033) |
| 15 | Lafayette College · Easton, PA | $73,435 | $34,433 | $12,716 | 31.5% |
|  | [Lafayette College](/school/lafayette-college/majors/) [admits 31% of applicants](/school/lafayette-college/admissions/) and its Psychology graduates earn a median of $73,435 four years after completing. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Psychology, General (66 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Psychology, General ($73,435) |
| 16 | Clarkson University · Potsdam, NY | $73,359 | $30,305 | $21,335 | 77.4% |
|  | [Clarkson University](/school/clarkson-university/majors/) [ranks 654th on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/clarkson-university/) among nonprofit four-year institutions, and its Psychology graduates earn a median of $73,359 four years after completing. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Psychology, General (16 graduates) |
| 17 | Williams College · Williamstown, MA | $72,891 | $17,716 | \-$2,610\* | 8.3% |
|  | [Williams College](/school/williams-college/majors/) reports an [average net price of $17,716](/school/williams-college/cost/) and median earnings of $72,891 for its Psychology graduates four years after completing. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Psychology, General (64 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Psychology, General ($72,891) |
| 18 | Misericordia University · Dallas, PA | $72,572 | $37,485 | $36,759 | 70.9% |
|  | Ranking 18th on this list, Misericordia University shows a six-year completion rate of 72% and median earnings of $72,572 for its Psychology graduates four years after completing. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Psychology, General (14 graduates) |
| 19 | Southern Methodist University · Dallas, TX | $72,136 | $40,892 | $23,544 | 63.4% |
|  | [Southern Methodist University](/school/southern-methodist-university/majors/) [admits 63% of applicants](/school/southern-methodist-university/admissions/) and its Psychology graduates earn a median of $72,136 four years after completing. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Psychology, General (103 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Psychology, General ($72,136) |
| 20 | University of Southern California · Los Angeles, CA | $70,461 | $32,740 | $13,516 | 9.8% |
|  | [University of Southern California](/school/university-of-southern-california/majors/) [ranks 92nd on Azimuth's composite ranking](/school/university-of-southern-california/) among nonprofit four-year institutions, with median earnings of $70,461 for its Psychology graduates four years after completing. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Psychology, General (183 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Psychology, General ($70,461) |
| 21 | Fairfield University · Fairfield, CT | $70,211 | $48,095 | $33,302 | 33.3% |
|  | With an average net price of $48,095, Fairfield University ranks 21st on this list and reports median earnings of $70,211 for its Psychology graduates four years after completing. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Psychology, General (69 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Psychology, General ($70,211) |
| 22 | Harvard University · Cambridge, MA | $70,167 | $19,066 | $8,697 | 3.7% |
|  | [Harvard University](/school/harvard-university/majors/) [graduates 98% of its students within six years](/school/harvard-university/outcomes/), and its Psychology graduates earn a median of $70,167 four years after completing. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Research and Experimental Psychology (66 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Research and Experimental Psychology ($70,167) |
| 23 | University of Chicago · Chicago, IL | $70,087 | $14,860 | \-$1,264\* | 4.5% |
|  | [University of Chicago](/school/university-of-chicago/majors/) reports an [average net price of $14,860](/school/university-of-chicago/cost/) and median earnings of $70,087 for its Psychology graduates four years after completing. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Research and Experimental Psychology (105 graduates), Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (35 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Research and Experimental Psychology ($73,483) |
| 24 | Elon University · Elon, NC | $69,856 | $41,555 | $26,523 | 66.4% |
|  | Ranking 24th on this list, Elon University shows a six-year completion rate of 84% and median earnings of $69,856 for its Psychology graduates four years after completing. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Psychology, General (111 graduates) Highest four-year median earnings by program: Psychology, General ($69,856) |
| 25 | University of Notre Dame · Notre Dame, IN | $69,793 | $26,780 | $7,244 | 11.3% |
|  | [University of Notre Dame](/school/university-of-notre-dame/majors/) reports [median earnings of $69,793](/school/university-of-notre-dame/outcomes/) for its Psychology graduates four years after completing, and an average net price of $7,244 for families earning under $30,000. |
|  | Largest programs by graduates in the earnings cohort: Psychology, General (97 graduates) |

\* Net price can be negative: when grants and scholarships exceed the listed cost of attendance, students can receive the difference as a refund for other expenses.

Continue by region[Best Psychology Colleges in the Midwest](/rankings/best-psychology-colleges-in-the-midwest/)[Best Psychology Colleges in the Northeast](/rankings/best-psychology-colleges-in-the-northeast/)[Best Psychology Colleges in the South](/rankings/best-psychology-colleges-in-the-south/)[Best Psychology Colleges in the West](/rankings/best-psychology-colleges-in-the-west/)

## How this list is ordered

Schools are ordered by the median earnings of their Psychology graduates four years after completing, or two years for programs that report only a two-year figure, highest first. The figure reflects federally aided completers who were working and not enrolled after completing. For 77 of the 1057 listed programs the figure is the two-year completion median rather than the four-year one. The metric does not adjust for graduate school enrollment, cost, or who enrolls, and it is not a measure of teaching quality. The figures cited on this page cover the 1002 schools with a reported completion median. Dartmouth College leads Georgetown University by just $337, and the spread from top to bottom reaches $81,720.

## Related rankings

-   Psychology Colleges for Social Mobility