2027 Best Value Psychology Associate’s Degree Schools
[Psychology](/majors/psychology/) programs reward a close look at where your money goes furthest. The schools below stand out for delivering a strong psychology education at a price that pays off.
College Factual analyzed 245 schools to build this 2027 ranking of the best value psychology schools.
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2027 Best Value Psychology Schools in the United States
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in psychology, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Psychology Schools
For return on investment in psychology, no school beat College Of The Canyons this year. College Of The Canyons is a very large public school located in the suburb of Santa Clarita. In-state tuition and fees average $1,166, compared with $10,958 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for psychology graduates is $7,177. Soon after graduation, psychology degree recipients from College Of The Canyons generally make around $51,913. Set against $7,177 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
College Of San Mateo came in at #2 on our 2027 list of the best value psychology schools. Set in the city of San Mateo, College Of San Mateo is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,332, with out-of-state students paying around $11,428. Students borrow a median of $12,831 to complete the psychology program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $54,172 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Cypress College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in psychology, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of Cypress, Cypress College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,150, compared with $12,379 for out-of-state students. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $43,533.
The strong cost-to-outcome balance at Santa Ana College earned it the #4 place for psychology. Santa Ana College is a very large public school located in the city of Santa Ana. In-state tuition and fees average $1,180, while out-of-state students pay about $10,756. Psychology graduates carry a median of $11,196 in student loans. Psychology graduates of Santa Ana College earn a median of $39,633 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $11,196 median debt.
A rank of #5 makes Saddleback College one of the best values for psychology. Saddleback College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Mission Viejo. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,432, while out-of-state students pay about $14,812. Students borrow a median of $5,707 to complete the psychology program here. Psychology graduates of Saddleback College earn a median of $15,890 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $5,707 median debt.
Skyline College earned the #6 position for value in psychology this year. Set in the suburb of San Bruno, Skyline College is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,332, while out-of-state students pay about $9,956. Graduates go on to earn a median of $55,702 ten years after entry.
Moorpark College ranked #7 on our 2027 list of the best value psychology schools. Moorpark College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Moorpark. In-state tuition and fees average $1,426, while out-of-state students pay about $9,615. Typical student debt for psychology graduates is $17,075. Early-career psychology graduates make about $105,599. That is a strong return on a $17,075 median debt.
Pasadena City College ranked #8 on our 2027 list of the best value psychology schools. Set in the city of Pasadena, Pasadena City College is a very large public institution. 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 psychology program here. Early-career psychology graduates make about $24,894. That is a strong return on a $12,000 median debt.
Foothill College ranked #9 on our 2027 list of the best value psychology schools. Located in the suburb of Los Altos Hills, Foothill College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,565, with out-of-state students paying around $12,590. Psychology graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Psychology graduates of Foothill College earn a median of $94,152 early in their careers. Set against $5,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Diablo Valley College landed the #10 spot for psychology value this year. Diablo Valley College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Pleasant Hill. Students from in state pay about $1,312 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,320 for out-of-state students. Psychology graduates carry a median of $7,110 in student loans. Early-career psychology graduates make about $27,813. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
San Joaquin Delta College placed #11 among the best values for psychology. San Joaquin Delta College is a very large public school located in the city of Stockton. Students from in state pay about $1,180 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $9,772. Psychology graduates carry a median of $6,382 in student loans. Psychology graduates of San Joaquin Delta College earn a median of $65,168 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $6,382 median debt.
Las Positas College ranked #12 on our 2027 list of the best value psychology schools. Las Positas College is a large public school located in the city of Livermore. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,168, with out-of-state students paying around $9,808. Graduates go on to earn a median of $51,088 ten years after entry.
Shasta College placed #13 among the best values for psychology. Shasta College is a large public school located in the suburb of Redding. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,197, while out-of-state students pay about $8,853. Psychology graduates carry a median of $12,275 in student loans. Early-career psychology graduates make about $50,330. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Santiago Canyon College earned the #14 position for value in psychology this year. Located in the city of Orange, Santiago Canyon College is a very large public university. Students from in state pay about $1,164 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $9,612. Psychology graduates carry a median of $5,500 in student loans. Soon after graduation, 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 placed #15 among the best values for psychology. Located in the city of Santa Clara, Mission College is a large public university. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,438, compared with $12,500 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $17,223 to complete the psychology program here. Graduates go on to earn a median of $50,936 ten years after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Chaffey College landed the #16 spot for psychology value this year. Set in the suburb of Rancho Cucamonga, Chaffey College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $1,184, while out-of-state students pay about $11,120. Psychology graduates carry a median of $6,952 in student loans. Soon after graduation, psychology degree recipients from Chaffey College generally make around $23,532. Set against $6,952 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Modesto Junior College came in at #17 for value in 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. Psychology graduates carry a median of $6,757 in student loans. Psychology graduates of Modesto Junior College earn a median of $25,832 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $6,757 median debt.
Canada College ranked #18 on our 2027 list of the best value psychology schools. Canada College is a large public school located in the suburb of Redwood City. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,332, with out-of-state students paying around $11,384. Psychology graduates carry a median of $15,000 in student loans. Psychology graduates of Canada College earn a median of $106,691 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $15,000 median debt.
San Diego Miramar College came in at #19 for value in psychology this year. Located in the city of San Diego, San Diego Miramar College is a very large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,146, compared with $10,002 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $8,098 to complete the psychology program here. Psychology graduates of San Diego Miramar College earn a median of $41,038 early in their careers. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Clovis Community College Fresno landed the #20 spot for psychology value this year. Set in the city of Fresno, Clovis Community College Fresno is a large public institution. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,378, compared with $8,638 for out-of-state students.
El Camino Community College District placed #21 among the best values for psychology. El Camino Community College District is a very large public school located in the suburb of Torrance. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,144, compared with $7,630 for out-of-state students. Graduates go on to earn a median of $41,589 ten years after entry.
Solano Community College earned the #22 position for value in psychology this year. Solano Community College is a large public school located in the suburb of Fairfield. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,172, with out-of-state students paying around $9,772. Typical student debt for psychology graduates is $10,500. Graduates go on to earn a median of $44,170 ten years after entry. Set against $10,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff.
Victor Valley College ranked #23 on our 2027 list of the best value psychology schools. Victor Valley College is a very large public school located in the suburb of Victorville. Students from in state pay about $1,425 in tuition and fees, compared with $10,125 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $7,995 to complete the psychology program here. Psychology graduates of Victor Valley College earn a median of $37,755 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $7,995 median debt.
Hartnell College came in at #24 for value in psychology this year. Hartnell College is a large public school located in the city of Salinas. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $1,404, with out-of-state students paying around $10,398. Typical student debt for psychology graduates is $6,000. 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 placed #25 among the best values for psychology. Set in the city of Merced, Merced College is a large public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $1,200, while out-of-state students pay about $8,520. Psychology graduates carry a median of $6,849 in student loans. Early-career psychology graduates make about $34,441. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
Rest of the Top 50 Best Value Psychology Schools
These schools also delivered strong value for psychology this year:
Other Psychology Degree Levels
Looking for a different degree level? Compare best-value Psychology rankings across degree levels:
View All 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 · 245 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 245 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.
