by our College Data Analytics TeamIn 2020-2021, applied psychology was the 282nd most popular major nationwide with 2,058 degrees awarded. This represents a 16.5% increase in applied psychology degrees awarded over the prior year's total of 1,719.
This year's Best Applied Psychology Schools ranking compares 56 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Explore this or one of our many other custom applied psychology rankings further below.
One of the most important skills you will need for a career in applied psychology is understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents. Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times and using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems are all required skills for careers related to this major.
New students will need to have completed high school or a GED program and each school will have their own minimum GPA and SAT/ACT test requirements. Specific applied psychology careers may require a certain level of degree attainment or additional certifications beyond that.
Applied Psychology degree levels vary. You can get anything from a in applied psychology to the highest applied psychology degree, a . The type of applied psychology degree you choose will determine how long it takes to get your diploma.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to applied psychology, with approximately 38.6% of workers getting one. See the the most common levels of education for applied psychology workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 36.7% |
| Post-Doctoral Training | 25.5% |
| Doctoral Degree | 14.4% |
| Master’s Degree | 9.1% |
| High School Diploma | 3.9% |
Most workers in applied psychology have at least a bachelor's degree. View the chart below to get an idea of what degree level most of those in applied psychology careers have.
This of course varies depending on which applied psychology career you choose.
Want a job when you graduate with your applied psychology degree? Applied Psychology careers are expected to grow 8.4% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to applied psychology.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Managers | 1,071,700 | 8.0% |
| Psychology Professors | 54,000 | 15.1% |
| Psychologists | 19,200 | 10.3% |
As you might expect, salaries for applied psychology graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for applied psychology graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers applied psychology grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Managers | $115,590 |
| Psychologists | $95,610 |
| Psychology Professors | $88,490 |
With over 125 different applied psychology degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased applied psychology school rankings to help you with this.
Applied Psychology is one of 16 different types of Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology programs to choose from.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Counseling Psychology | 9,463 |
| Applied Behavior Analysis | 5,497 |
| Clinical Psychology | 5,125 |
| School Psychology | 3,230 |
| Industrial & Organizational Psychology | 2,386 |
