Find Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Psychology

Find Schools Near

2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Psychology (Income $0-$30k)

598 Ranked Colleges
30,283 Degrees Awarded
$41,400 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees*
Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master's For Those Making $0-$30k

When pursuing a degree in today’s world, students have many different options to choose from. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking is part of that endeavor.

With 183,889 degrees handed out in 2019-2020, psychology is the 7th most popular major in the United States. In 2017-2018, psychology graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $33,496 and had an average of $36,227 in loans still to pay off.

At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 30,283 psychology graduates with average earnings and debt of $56,398 and $43,194 respectively.

For this year’s “Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k” ranking, we looked at 598 colleges that offer a degree in psychology. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great psychology programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.

When determining these rankings, we looked at things such as overall quality of the psychology program at the school and the cost to attend the school once aid has been awarded. Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

One Size Does Not Fit All

The psychology school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k”.

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. If you’re torn between two schools, you can use it to help you see how they stack up against one another. Bookmark it so you can compare any new schools that might interest you.

Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k.

Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Psychology (Income $0-$30k)

#1

Yale University

New Haven, Connecticut
#2 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Yale University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in New Haven, Connecticut, this fairly large private not-for-profit school handed out 19 degrees to qualified masters’s psychology students in 2019-2020.

Yale not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #2 on our “Best Psychology Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Yale University are $44,500, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Psychology at Yale

#2

Stanford University

Stanford, California

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Stanford University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k. Stanford is a private not-for-profit institution located in Stanford, California. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 3 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Stanford did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #0 on our “Best Psychology Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Stanford University are $55,011, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Psychology at Stanford University

#3

Duke University

Durham, North Carolina
#3 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Duke University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Duke University is located in Durham, North Carolina and, has a fairly large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 16 masters’s psychology degrees to qualified students.

Duke also took the #3 spot in our “Best Psychology Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Duke University are $59,140, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Duke Psychology Report

#4

Harvard University

Cambridge, Massachusetts
#1 in overall quality

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Harvard University. It ranked #4 on our 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. This large school is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and it awarded 50 masters’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.

Harvard did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #1 on our “Best Psychology Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Harvard University are $50,654.

Full Harvard Psychology Report

#5

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
#5 in overall quality

Out of the 598 schools in the Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k that were part of this year’s ranking, University of Pennsylvania landed the #5 spot on the list. UPenn is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 181 masters’s psychology degrees to qualified students.

UPenn not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #5 on our “Best Psychology Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UPenn are $41,760.

Full University of Pennsylvania Psychology Report

#6

Northwestern University

Evanston, Illinois
#7 in overall quality

Northwestern University ranked #6 on this year’s Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Evanston, Illinois is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s psychology degrees to 195 students in 2019-2020.

As a testament to the quality of education offered at Northwestern, the school also landed the #7 spot in our “Best Psychology Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Northwestern University are $56,567, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Psychology at Northwestern University

#7

University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois
#8 in overall quality

University of Chicago ranked #7 on this year’s Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. University of Chicago is a fairly large school located in Chicago, Illinois that handed out 12 masters’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree psychology students whose families make $0-$30k list, UChicago has also earned the #8 rank in our “Best Psychology Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UChicago are $61,548, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Psychology at University of Chicago

#8

Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri
#6 in overall quality

Washington University in St Louis landed the #8 spot on the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Saint Louis, Missouri is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s psychology degrees to 21 students in 2019-2020.

WUSTL also took the #6 spot in our “Best Psychology Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at WUSTL are $56,562, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full WUSTL Psychology Report

#9

Brown University

Providence, Rhode Island

Brown University came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Providence, Rhode Island is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s psychology degrees to 5 students in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree psychology students whose families make $0-$30k list, Brown has also earned the #0 rank in our “Best Psychology Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Brown are $60,363, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full Brown University Psychology Report

#10

Cornell University

Ithaca, New York
#4 in overall quality

Cornell University landed the #10 spot on the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Cornell University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Ithaca, New York. The school has a large population, and it awarded 25 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Cornell not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #4 on our “Best Psychology Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Cornell are $30,042, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Psychology at Cornell

#11

Princeton University

Princeton, New Jersey

Princeton University landed the #11 spot on the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This medium-sized school is located in Princeton, New Jersey, and it awarded 4 masters’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.

Princeton also made our “Best Psychology Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #0. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Princeton are $56,470.

Read more about Psychology at Princeton University

#12

Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, Maryland
#20 in overall quality

Johns Hopkins University landed the #12 spot on the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Johns Hopkins University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Baltimore, Maryland. The school has a large population, and it awarded 7 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Johns Hopkins did well in our major quality rankings, too. It placed #20 on our “Best Psychology Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Johns Hopkins are $59,425, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Psychology at Johns Hopkins

#13

University of Florida

Gainesville, Florida
Top 10% in overall quality

University of Florida came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. UF is a large public school situated in Gainesville, Florida. It awarded 24 masters’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.

UF also claimed a top spot on our “Best Psychology Master’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Florida are $30,130.

Read full report on Psychology at University of Florida

#14

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, Michigan
#16 in overall quality

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. Ann Arbor, Michigan is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s psychology degrees to 46 students in 2019-2020.

U-M also made our “Best Psychology Master’s Degree Schools” list, coming in at #16. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at U-M are $49,548.

Read more about Psychology at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

#15

Baruch College

New York, New York

With a ranking of #15, Baruch College did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Located in New York, New York, this fairly large public school awarded 55 diplomas to qualified masters’s psychology students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at Baruch are $20,880, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Psychology at Baruch

#16

Rice University

Houston, Texas
#25 in overall quality

With a ranking of #16, Rice University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. Rice is a private not-for-profit institution located in Houston, Texas. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 8 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.

Rice also took the #25 spot in our “Best Psychology Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at Rice are $47,913, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Psychology at Rice University

Top 10% in overall quality

With a ranking of #17, University of Wisconsin - Madison did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. UW - Madison is located in Madison, Wisconsin and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 58 masters’s psychology degrees to qualified students.

On top of its placing in this ranking, UW - Madison also did well on our “Best Psychology Master’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools in this category. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Madison are $25,523, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full University of Wisconsin - Madison Psychology Report

#18

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Top 10% in overall quality

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #18. This large school is located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and it awarded 13 masters’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.

On top of its placing in this ranking, UNC Chapel Hill also did well on our “Best Psychology Master’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 10% of all schools reviewed in that analysis. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UNC Chapel Hill are $30,248.

Read more about Psychology at UNC Chapel Hill

#19

University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, Indiana
#11 in overall quality

University of Notre Dame ranked #19 on this year’s Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k list. This fairly large school is located in Notre Dame, Indiana, and it awarded 8 masters’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our master’s degree psychology students whose families make $0-$30k list, Notre Dame has also earned the #11 rank in our “Best Psychology Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Notre Dame are $57,522, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full Notre Dame Psychology Report

#20

Queens College

Queens, New York

Queens College did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #20. Queens College is a fairly large school located in Queens, New York that handed out 55 masters’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at QC are $21,042, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read more about Psychology at Queens College

#21

Florida State University

Tallahassee, Florida
Top 10% in overall quality

Florida State University came in at #21 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in Tallahassee, Florida, and it awarded 67 masters’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on this list, Florida State is in the top on our “Best Psychology Master’s Degree Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our “Best Psychology Master’s Degree Schools” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Florida State are $26,707, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Read full report on Psychology at Florida State

#22

Hunter College

New York, New York

Hunter College came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This large school is located in New York, New York, and it awarded 38 masters’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Hunter College are $20,828.

Read full report on Psychology at Hunter

John Jay College of Criminal Justice landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. New York, New York is the setting for this fairly large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s psychology degrees to 70 students in 2019-2020.

Average graduate tuition and fees at John Jay College of Criminal Justice are $20,962, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Full John Jay College of Criminal Justice Psychology Report

#24

The City College of New York

New York, New York

The City College of New York came in at #24 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking. This fairly large school is located in New York, New York, and it awarded 13 masters’s psychology degrees in 2019-2020.

Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at The City College of New York are $20,832.

Read more about Psychology at CCNY

#25

University of Maryland - College Park

College Park, Maryland
Top 10% in overall quality

University of Maryland - College Park did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k ranking, coming in at #25. College Park, Maryland is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s psychology degrees to 24 students in 2019-2020.

UMCP also claimed a top spot on our “Best Psychology Master’s Degree Schools” list. It’s ranked in the top 10% of all schools on our “Best Psychology Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of Maryland - College Park are $30,885.

Read more about Psychology at University of Maryland - College Park

Rest of the Best 50 in Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k

Not only did these schools make the top 50 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

#27

University of California - Berkeley

Berkeley, California
#29

Brooklyn College

Brooklyn, New York
#31

University of Central Florida

Orlando, Florida
#32

William & Mary

Williamsburg, Virginia
#35

Wake Forest University

Winston-Salem, North Carolina
#36

Tufts University

Medford, Massachusetts
#38

Boston College

Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts
#40

University of Georgia

Athens, Georgia
#41

University of California - Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California
#45

Indiana University - Bloomington

Bloomington, Indiana
#46

University of Wisconsin - La Crosse

La Crosse, Wisconsin
#49

Purdue University - Main Campus

West Lafayette, Indiana
#50

Emory University

Atlanta, Georgia

Rest of the Top 15% Colleges in Best Value Psychology Schools for a Master’s For Those Making $0-$30k

While not in the ‘top 50’, these schools make the top 15% of this year’s ranking:

Rank College Location
51 University of California - Irvine Irvine, CA
52 Michigan State University East Lansing, MI
53 Appalachian State University Boone, NC
54 North Carolina State University Raleigh, NC
55 University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Minneapolis, MN
56 University of Minnesota - Duluth Duluth, MN
57 California State University - Dominguez Hills Carson, CA
58 San Diego State University San Diego, CA
59 Northeastern University Boston, MA
60 The University of West Florida Pensacola, FL
61 California State University - Northridge Northridge, CA
62 Texas A&M International University Laredo, TX
63 University of North Texas Denton, TX
64 Towson University Towson, MD
65 California State University - Stanislaus Turlock, CA
Rank College Location
66 University of Wisconsin - Whitewater Whitewater, WI
67 Texas A&M University - College Station College Station, TX
68 University of Maryland - Baltimore County Baltimore, MD
69 St Lawrence University Canton, NY
70 University of California - Riverside Riverside, CA
71 California State University - Bakersfield Bakersfield, CA
72 Iowa State University Ames, IA
73 University of Virginia - Main Campus Charlottesville, VA
74 Northern Kentucky University Highland Heights, KY
75 University of Wisconsin - River Falls River Falls, WI
76 University of Nevada - Reno Reno, NV
77 Washington State University Pullman, WA
78 Touro University Worldwide Los Alamitos, CA
79 Citadel Military College of South Carolina Charleston, SC
80 Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis Indianapolis, IN
81 Lehigh University Bethlehem, PA
81 Trinity University San Antonio, TX
83 University of Wyoming Laramie, WY
84 Franklin University Columbus, OH
85 The University of Texas at San Antonio San Antonio, TX
86 The University of Texas at Tyler Tyler, TX
87 California State University - San Bernardino San Bernardino, CA
88 Arizona State University - Tempe Tempe, AZ
89 Western Washington University Bellingham, WA
90 University of Wisconsin - Stout Menomonie, WI
Rank College Location

Notes and References

References

  • 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).
  • Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

  • *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
  • Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

Credits

Featured Psychology Schools

Find Schools Near You