Rankings / Value
Most Affordable Colleges for Psychology
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Finding an affordable college for a psychology degree can feel overwhelming, especially with so many options available. Each of the schools on this list shares a commitment to keeping costs manageable while providing a solid educational foundation in psychology. With average earnings for graduates in this field at $57,372, it’s important to choose wisely.
What sets these institutions apart is not just their affordability, but also their outcomes. The schools here demonstrate a balance of graduation rates, earnings potential, and reasonable debt levels. For instance, the average graduation rate across these institutions is 57%, which indicates a strong likelihood of completing the degree, a crucial factor for future earning potential.
Consider CUNY Hunter College and CUNY Brooklyn College. Both schools have similar debt levels at around $11,000, but Hunter boasts higher earnings at $63,163 compared to Brooklyn's $60,752, alongside a graduation rate of 59% versus Brooklyn’s 55%. This tells us that while both schools offer value, Hunter may provide a slight edge in outcomes for psychology students.
Key Findings
CUNY Hunter College graduates earn an average of $63,163, the highest on this list.
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College has the highest graduation rate at 72%.
The average net price across these schools is $3,494, making them accessible options.
Graduates from this list have an average debt of $11,000, keeping financial burdens low.
Quick Numbers
How We Ranked
Ranked by affordability with program concentration in Psychology
Read our full methodology →Earnings vs. Cost
Each dot is a ranked school. Up = higher earnings. Right = higher cost. Top-left is the best value.
Graduation Rates
Longer bars = higher graduation rate.
Top 3
CUNY Hunter College
New York, NY
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CUNY Brooklyn College
Brooklyn, NY
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CUNY Queens College
Queens, NY
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Full Rankings
CUNY Hunter College
New York, NY · 16,289 students · Public
CUNY Brooklyn College
Brooklyn, NY · 10,543 students · Public
CUNY Queens College
Queens, NY · 12,550 students · Public
CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice
New York, NY · 11,590 students · Public
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College
New York, NY · 16,154 students · Public
CUNY Lehman College
Bronx, NY · 10,696 students · Public
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL · 35,629 students · Public
CUNY City College
New York, NY · 12,505 students · Public
CUNY York College
Jamaica, NY · 4,345 students · Public
University of Florida-Online
Gainesville, FL · 4,627 students · Public
CUNY Medgar Evers College
Brooklyn, NY · 3,233 students · Public
University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma
Chickasha, OK · 941 students · Public
Florida International University
Miami, FL · 39,508 students · Public
Texas A & M International University
Laredo, TX · 6,667 students · Public
Berea College
Berea, KY · 1,513 students · Private nonprofit
University of South Florida
Tampa, FL · 37,207 students · Public
University of Central Florida
Orlando, FL · 59,146 students · Public
Elizabeth City State University
Elizabeth City, NC · 1,975 students · Public
Florida Atlantic University
Boca Raton, FL · 23,757 students · Public
California State University-Stanislaus
Turlock, CA · 8,385 students · Public
Stanford University
Stanford, CA · 7,554 students · Private nonprofit
College of Staten Island CUNY
Staten Island, NY · 9,657 students · Public
University of North Florida
Jacksonville, FL · 13,359 students · Public
California State University-San Bernardino
San Bernardino, CA · 15,023 students · Public
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Edinburg, TX · 28,666 students · Public
Indiana University-Kokomo
Kokomo, IN · 2,352 students · Public
University of West Florida
Pensacola, FL · 9,330 students · Public
Portland State University
Portland, OR · 13,182 students · Public
Fayetteville State University
Fayetteville, NC · 5,762 students · Public
Marshall University
Huntington, WV · 7,266 students · Public
Oakland University
Rochester Hills, MI · 12,351 students · Public
California State University-Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA · 19,562 students · Public
Northern Kentucky University
Highland Heights, KY · 8,246 students · Public
Clayton State University
Morrow, GA · 4,348 students · Public
Dalton State College
Dalton, GA · 4,553 students · Public
Rhode Island College
Providence, RI · 5,049 students · Public
Christian Brothers University
Memphis, TN · 905 students · Private nonprofit
Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL · 32,212 students · Public
California State University-Bakersfield
Bakersfield, CA · 8,577 students · Public
California State University-Fullerton
Fullerton, CA · 38,546 students · Public
Rice University
Houston, TX · 4,776 students · Private nonprofit
Kentucky State University
Frankfort, KY · 1,309 students · Public
Murray State University
Murray, KY · 6,688 students · Public
The University of Texas at El Paso
El Paso, TX · 21,005 students · Public
Austin Peay State University
Clarksville, TN · 7,560 students · Public
The University of Texas at San Antonio
San Antonio, TX · 30,580 students · Public
California State University-Northridge
Northridge, CA · 32,691 students · Public
University of North Georgia
Dahlonega, GA · 16,146 students · Public
University of Chicago
Chicago, IL · 7,569 students · Private nonprofit
Northwestern Oklahoma State University
Alva, OK · 1,498 students · Public
The data reveals a notable pattern when we compare CUNY Hunter College and CUNY Bernard M Baruch College. While Hunter College has a slightly higher average earning potential at $63,163, Baruch College outperforms in graduation rates at 72%. This suggests that while Hunter may lead in earnings, Baruch offers a more consistent pathway to graduation, which is critical in the competitive job market for psychology graduates.
As you sift through these 50 schools, consider how the data aligns with your personal priorities. Look beyond the numbers; weigh factors such as location, specific psychology programs, and campus culture against your financial situation. If low student debt is a priority, schools with comparable debt levels can help guide your decision. Make a list of what’s most important to you and see which schools check those boxes.
Ultimately, this data highlights the crucial link between education and financial stability. Choosing a college is a pivotal decision that shapes not only academic success but also future earning potential. For one family, that choice might mean the difference between a comfortable life and financial struggle after graduation. It’s essential to approach this decision with a clear understanding of the long-term implications.
Data Sources
U.S. Dept of Education College Scorecard
Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Card
Social Capital Atlas
Times Higher Education World Rankings
NCES IPEDS
Sources & Citations
Chetty, R., Friedman, J., Saez, E., Turner, N., & Yagan, D. (2017). Mobility Report Cards: The Role of Colleges in Intergenerational Mobility. NBER Working Paper No. 23618. →
U.S. Department of Education. College Scorecard Data. Federal Student Aid, National Center for Education Statistics. →
National Center for Education Statistics. Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). →
David Krug
Co-Founder, CollegeRanker
David Krug is the co-founder of CollegeRanker and a data systems architect focused on making institutional research accessible to families. He builds the data pipelines and ranking algorithms that power CollegeRanker, drawing from federal datasets and Raj Chetty's Opportunity Insights research to measure what traditional rankings ignore: whether a college actually changes a family's economic trajectory.
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