2025 Best General Psychology Schools in California
79
Colleges in California
30,073
Psychology Degrees Awarded
General Psychology is of the hottest degree programs in the United States, coming in as the #4 most popular major in the country. This means there are lots of options to choose from when you decide to get your degree.
College Factual looked at 79 colleges and universities when compiling its 2025 Best General Psychology Schools in California ranking. Combined, these schools handed out 30,073 degrees in general psychology to qualified students.
What's on this page: * Degree-Level Rankings
Choosing a Great General Psychology School
The psychology program you select can have a big impact on your future. That's why we developed our collection of Best Schools for General Psychology rankings. For our Best Overall General Psychology School rankings, we roll up the results of our degree-level rankings, weighted by the number of degrees awarded at that level.
In order to find the schools that are the best fit for you, you may want to filter to one of the degree levels below.
General Psychology Rankings by Degree Level
Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we've developed the Best General Psychology Schools in California ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.
If you'd like to restrict your choices to just one part of the country, you can filter this list by location.
In addition to our rankings, you can take two colleges and compare them based on the criteria that matters most to you in our unique tool, College Combat.
Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.
If you want to learn more about how we derive our rankings, see College Factual's Methodology.
Best Schools for General Psychology in California
If you aren't interested in a particular degree level and want to know which schools are the overall best at delivering an education for the psychology degrees they offer, see the list below. Only those schools that rank in the top 20% of all the schools we analyze get awarded with a place on this list.
15 Top California Schools in Psychology
Doctor's Degree
Highest Degree Type
4th
Most Popular In CA
720
Psychology Degrees Awarded
Any student who is interested in general psychology has to check out University of California - Los Angeles. UCLA is a very large public university located in the large city of Los Angeles. A Best Colleges rank of #28 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means UCLA is a great university overall.
There were about 720 general psychology students who graduated with this degree at UCLA in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in general psychology from University of California - Los Angeles
Doctor's Degree
Highest Degree Type
20th
Most Popular In CA
391
Psychology Degrees Awarded
University of California - Irvine is a great decision for students pursuing a degree in general psychology. Located in the city of Irvine, UC Irvine is a public university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #73 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means UC Irvine is a great university overall.
There were roughly 391 general psychology students who graduated with this degree at UC Irvine in the most recent year we have data available.
More information about a degree in general psychology from University of California - Irvine
Bachelors
Degree Type
BA in Psychology
Program Name
Advance in your human services or psychology career, or prepare for graduate studies in a variety of fields at Southern New Hampshire University.
More information about a degree in BA in Psychology from Southern New Hampshire UniversityRelated Programs
Master's Degree
Highest Degree Type
52nd
Most Popular In CA
198
Psychology Degrees Awarded
University of Southern California is one of the finest schools in the country for getting a degree in general psychology. Located in the large city of Los Angeles, USC is a private not-for-profit university with a very large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #13 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means USC is a great university overall.
There were about 198 general psychology students who graduated with this degree at USC in the most recent year we have data available.
More information about a degree in general psychology from University of Southern California
Doctor's Degree
Highest Degree Type
9th
Most Popular In CA
446
Psychology Degrees Awarded
Every student who is interested in general psychology has to check out University of California - Santa Cruz. Located in the city of Santa Cruz, UC Santa Cruz is a public university with a large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #91 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means UC Santa Cruz is a great university overall.
There were about 446 general psychology students who graduated with this degree at UC Santa Cruz in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in general psychology from University of California - Santa Cruz
Bachelor's Degree
Highest Degree Type
40th
Most Popular In CA
320
Psychology Degrees Awarded
Located in the city of La Jolla, UCSD is a public university with a very large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #49 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means UCSD is a great university overall.
There were roughly 320 general psychology students who graduated with this degree at UCSD in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in general psychology from University of California - San Diego
Bachelor's Degree
Highest Degree Type
98th
Most Popular In CA
122
Psychology Degrees Awarded
SCU is a medium-sized private not-for-profit university located in the midsize city of Santa Clara. A Best Colleges rank of #53 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means SCU is a great university overall.
There were approximately 122 general psychology students who graduated with this degree at SCU in the most recent year we have data available.
More information about a degree in general psychology from Santa Clara University
Master's Degree
Highest Degree Type
5th
Most Popular In CA
724
Psychology Degrees Awarded
Located in the large city of San Diego, SDSU is a public university with a fairly large student population. A Best Colleges rank of #185 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means SDSU is a great university overall.
There were approximately 724 general psychology students who graduated with this degree at SDSU in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in general psychology from San Diego State University
Masters
Degree Type
MS in Psychology
Program Name
Our Master of Science in Psychology program is designed to extend your knowledge and discipline in psychology, preparing you for a wide variety of professions and contexts.
More information about a degree in MS in Psychology from Southern New Hampshire UniversityRelated Programs
Doctor's Degree
Highest Degree Type
174th
Most Popular In CA
37
Psychology Degrees Awarded
UC Davis is a very large public university located in the small suburb of Davis. A Best Colleges rank of #55 out of 2,152 colleges nationwide means UC Davis is a great university overall.
There were roughly 37 general psychology students who graduated with this degree at UC Davis in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in general psychology from University of California - Davis
Master's Degree
Highest Degree Type
8th
Most Popular In CA
565
Psychology Degrees Awarded
Located in the large city of Long Beach, CSULB is a public university with a very large student population. This university ranks 36th out of 161 schools for overall quality in the state of California.
There were about 565 general psychology students who graduated with this degree at CSULB in the most recent year we have data available.
More information about a degree in general psychology from California State University - Long Beach
Master's Degree
Highest Degree Type
30th
Most Popular In CA
297
Psychology Degrees Awarded
Pepperdine is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit university located in the large suburb of Malibu. A Best Colleges rank of #63 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means Pepperdine is a great university overall.
There were roughly 297 general psychology students who graduated with this degree at Pepperdine in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in general psychology from Pepperdine University
Master's Degree
Highest Degree Type
2nd
Most Popular In CA
912
Psychology Degrees Awarded
Cal State Fullerton is a fairly large public university located in the large suburb of Fullerton. This university ranks 41st out of 161 colleges for overall quality in the state of California.
There were approximately 912 general psychology students who graduated with this degree at Cal State Fullerton in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in general psychology from California State University - Fullerton
Bachelor's Degree
Highest Degree Type
67th
Most Popular In CA
150
Psychology Degrees Awarded
Located in the city of San Francisco, USFCA is a private not-for-profit university with a medium-sized student population. A Best Colleges rank of #152 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means USFCA is a great university overall.
There were about 150 general psychology students who graduated with this degree at USFCA in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in general psychology from University of San Francisco
Master's Degree
Highest Degree Type
1st
Most Popular In CA
944
Psychology Degrees Awarded
CSUN is a fairly large public university located in the large city of Northridge. This university ranks 48th out of 161 colleges for overall quality in the state of California.
There were roughly 944 general psychology students who graduated with this degree at CSUN in the most recent data year.
More information about a degree in general psychology from California State University - Northridge
Master's Degree
Highest Degree Type
48th
Most Popular In CA
171
Psychology Degrees Awarded
Located in the suburb of Azusa, Azusa Pacific is a private not-for-profit university with a moderately-sized student population. A Best Colleges rank of #143 out of 2,152 schools nationwide means Azusa Pacific is a great university overall.
There were about 171 general psychology students who graduated with this degree at Azusa Pacific in the most recent year we have data available.
More information about a degree in general psychology from Azusa Pacific University
Bachelor's Degree
Highest Degree Type
100th
Most Popular In CA
123
Psychology Degrees Awarded
Located in the city of San Diego, USD is a private not-for-profit university with a moderately-sized student population. This university ranks 35th out of 161 schools for overall quality in the state of California.
There were roughly 123 general psychology students who graduated with this degree at USD in the most recent year we have data available.
More information about a degree in general psychology from University of San Diego
