2027 Best Value General Psychology Associate’s Degree Schools
[General Psychology](/majors/psychology/general-psychology/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The best values balance affordable tuition against strong post-graduation earnings.
College Factual analyzed 243 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value general psychology schools.
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2027 Best Value General Psychology Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in general psychology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value General Psychology Schools
Our analysis ranked College Of The Canyons the best value for a degree in general psychology in the United States. Located in the suburb of Santa Clarita, College Of The Canyons is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,166, while out-of-state students pay about $10,958. Students borrow a median of $7,177 to complete the general psychology program here. Soon after graduation, general psychology degree recipients from College Of The Canyons generally make around $51,913. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
College Of San Mateo is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general psychology, landing the #2 spot this year. College Of San Mateo is a large public school located in the city of San Mateo. Students from in state pay about $1,332 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $11,428. Typical student debt for general psychology graduates is $12,831. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $54,172. Set against $12,831 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
A rank of #3 makes Cypress College one of the best values for general psychology. Cypress College is a very large public school located in the city of Cypress. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,150, while out-of-state students pay about $12,379. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $43,533.
Santa Ana College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in general psychology, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the city of Santa Ana, Santa Ana College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,180, while out-of-state students pay about $10,756. General Psychology graduates carry a median of $11,196 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general psychology degree recipients from Santa Ana College generally make around $39,633. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Saddleback College came in at #5 on our 2027 list of the best value general psychology schools. Set in the suburb of Mission Viejo, Saddleback College is a very large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,432, while out-of-state students pay about $14,812. Typical student debt for general psychology graduates is $5,707. General Psychology graduates of Saddleback College earn a median of $15,890 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Skyline College landed the #6 spot for general psychology value this year. Skyline College is a large public school located in the suburb of San Bruno. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,332, compared with $9,956 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $55,702 ten years after entry.
Moorpark College earned the #7 position for value in general psychology this year. Moorpark College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Moorpark. Students from in state pay about $1,426 in tuition and fees, compared with $9,615 for out-of-state students. General Psychology graduates carry a median of $17,075 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general psychology degree recipients from Moorpark College generally make around $105,599. Set against $17,075 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Pasadena City College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value general psychology schools. Located in the city of Pasadena, Pasadena City College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,180, while out-of-state students pay about $10,924. Students borrow a median of $12,000 to complete the general psychology program here. Early-career general psychology graduates make about $24,894. Set against $12,000 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
San Joaquin Delta College landed the #9 spot for general psychology value this year. Located in the city of Stockton, San Joaquin Delta College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,180, compared with $9,772 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general psychology graduates is $6,382. Soon after graduation, general psychology degree recipients from San Joaquin Delta College generally make around $65,168. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Las Positas College ranked #10 on our 2027 list of the best value general psychology schools. Las Positas College is a large public school located in the city of Livermore. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,168, while out-of-state students pay about $9,808. Median earnings reach $51,088 ten years out.
Foothill College came in at #11 for value in general psychology this year. Foothill College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Los Altos Hills. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,565, with out-of-state students paying around $12,590. Typical student debt for general psychology graduates is $5,500. Early-career general psychology graduates make about $94,152. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Diablo Valley College landed the #12 spot for general psychology value this year. Diablo Valley College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Pleasant Hill. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,312, compared with $10,320 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general psychology graduates is $7,110. General Psychology graduates of Diablo Valley College earn a median of $27,813 early in their careers. Set against $7,110 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Shasta College landed the #13 spot for general psychology value this year. Set in the suburb of Redding, Shasta College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,197, compared with $8,853 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general psychology graduates is $12,275. General Psychology graduates of Shasta College earn a median of $50,330 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $12,275 median debt.
Santiago Canyon College placed #14 among the best values for general psychology. Santiago Canyon College is a very large public school located in the city of Orange. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,164, with out-of-state students paying around $9,612. Typical student debt for general psychology graduates is $5,500. Soon after graduation, general psychology degree recipients from Santiago Canyon College generally make around $34,100. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Mission College ranked #15 on our 2027 list of the best value general psychology schools. Located in the city of Santa Clara, Mission College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,438 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,500. Typical student debt for general psychology graduates is $17,223. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $50,936. Set against $17,223 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Modesto Junior College came in at #16 for value in general psychology this year. Modesto Junior College is a very large public school located in the city of Modesto. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,282, with out-of-state students paying around $9,264. General Psychology graduates carry a median of $6,757 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general psychology degree recipients from Modesto Junior College generally make around $25,832. That is a strong return on a $6,757 median debt.
Canada College placed #17 among the best values for general psychology. Located in the suburb of Redwood City, Canada College is a large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,332 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $11,384. General Psychology graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans. General Psychology graduates of Canada College earn a median of $106,691 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
San Diego Miramar College placed #18 among the best values for general psychology. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego Miramar College is a very large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,146, while out-of-state students pay about $10,002. General Psychology graduates carry a median of $8,098 in student loans. Soon after graduation, general psychology degree recipients from San Diego Miramar College generally make around $41,038. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Chaffey College earned the #19 position for value in general psychology this year. Located in the suburb of Rancho Cucamonga, Chaffey College is a very large public university. In-state tuition and fees average $1,184, with out-of-state students paying around $11,120. General Psychology graduates carry a median of $6,952 in student loans. Early-career general psychology graduates make about $23,532. That is a strong return on a $6,952 median debt.
Clovis Community College Fresno earned the #20 position for value in general psychology this year. Located in the city of Fresno, Clovis Community College Fresno is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,378, while out-of-state students pay about $8,638.
El Camino Community College District landed the #21 spot for general psychology value this year. Set in the suburb of Torrance, El Camino Community College District is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,144, while out-of-state students pay about $7,630. Median earnings reach $41,589 ten years out.
Victor Valley College landed the #22 spot for general psychology value this year. Set in the suburb of Victorville, Victor Valley College is a very large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,425, compared with $10,125 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general psychology graduates is $7,995. General Psychology graduates of Victor Valley College earn a median of $37,755 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Solano Community College placed #23 among the best values for general psychology. Solano Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Fairfield. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,172, compared with $9,772 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for general psychology graduates is $10,500. Graduates go on to earn a median of $44,170 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Hartnell College placed #24 among the best values for general psychology. Set in the city of Salinas, Hartnell College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,404, compared with $10,398 for out-of-state students. General Psychology graduates carry a median of $6,000 in student loans. General Psychology graduates of Hartnell College earn a median of $35,080 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $6,000 median debt.
Merced College landed the #25 spot for general psychology value this year. Merced College is a large public school located in the city of Merced. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,200, compared with $8,520 for out-of-state students. General Psychology graduates carry a median of $6,849 in student loans. Early-career general psychology graduates make about $34,441. Set against $6,849 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value General Psychology Schools
Not far behind, these schools also offered excellent value in general psychology:
Other General Psychology Degree Levels
Explore the best-value general psychology schools at other degree levels:
View All General Psychology Rankings >
Notes and References
This ranking is produced by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2027 edition. The methodology weighs the cost of a degree against the earnings graduates go on to achieve, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 243 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 243 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
