Best Online Master’s in Psychology Programs 2026
If you’re looking to build a career as a psychologist or counselor, an online master’s in psychology could be your next step. Focusing on cognitive processes and human development, the degree can prepare you for private counseling practice or jobs in industries such as education and social services.
An online degree gives you the flexibility to keep working while you’re in school. You can also specialize your skills through concentrations such as forensic psychology, child psychology, or industrial organizational psychology.
Explore our guide to the best online master’s in psychology programs, including application info, career options, and our ranking of top schools.
Why Earn Your Master’s in Psych Online
- Balance school, work, and family commitments with the flexibility of online coursework.
- Gain specialized knowledge by completing a concentration such as child development or forensic psychology.
- Qualify for many in-demand psychology jobs.
- Pursue leadership roles in social and human services or human resources.
- Prepare for a doctoral program in psychology, which can lead to research, clinical, and lecturer positions.
Top 5 Online Master’s in Psychology Degrees
Nova Southeastern University — Best for Working Healthcare Professionals
- Fort Lauderdale, FL
- 4 year
- Online
- Accredited
Why It's a Top Program
NSU's MSin psychology program stands out as the best program for working healthcare professionals, thanks to its applied health science concentration that covers the business of psychology, clinical assessment interviews, and the treatment of diseases.
The program’s three start dates (in August, January, and May) allow you to enroll at a time that works best for you. The curriculum consists of only 30 credit hours, or 10 courses, which is considerably shorter than other general psychology programs.
What to Expect
- Complete 21 core credits and choose a nine-credit specialization track in general psychology or applied health science.
- Complete an optional master's thesis if you enroll in the general track.
- Prepare for non-clinical practice careers or doctoral study.
How to Enroll
Applicants with a bachelor's degree in psychology or a related field are preferred. Include any professional, volunteer, research, or personal experience with psychology in your application. A minimum GPA of 3.0 in the last 60 credits of your undergraduate study (or a GRE score of at least 300) is required.
56%
$22,890
76%
$22,890
- Acceptance Rate
- 73%
- Students Enrolled
- 20,850
- Institution Type
- Private
Roosevelt University — Shortest Pathway to Graduation
- Chicago, IL
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- Accredited
Why It's a Top Program
Roosevelt's online MA in psychology offers the shortest pathway to graduation among the programs on our list. You can complete the program in just one academic year — as long as you take courses in the fall, spring, and summer.
The fully online, non-clinical program has no thesis requirement, and you can start in the fall or spring.
What to Expect
- Choose between an 8-week and a 16-week course format.
- Gain research experience, prepare for a doctoral program, or advance in your career.
- Explore principles such as applied psychology, research, and intervention in courses that follow APA guidelines.
How to Enroll
Complete your application online with official or unofficial transcripts from any colleges you’ve attended in the United States. A minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 is recommended. There is no enrollment deadline — Roosevelt offers rolling admissions.
53%
$22,764
62%
$22,764
- Acceptance Rate
- 94%
- Students Enrolled
- 4,015
- Institution Type
- Private
Southern New Hampshire University — Most Psychology Concentrations
- Manchester, NH
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- Accredited
Why It's a Top Program
SNHU's online MS in psychology program offers three career-focused concentrations: child and development psychology, forensic psychology, and industrial-organizational psychology.
You can either choose a 12-credit concentration or opt for no concentration and take 12 credits of psychology electives. This is a non-clinical program that does not prepare you for state licensure.
What to Expect
- Complete 36 credits to graduate.
- Take 12 courses in 10-week terms.
- Each concentration culminates in a capstone course.
How to Enroll
Apply by filling out SNHU’s online application. You’ll need to verify your previous education and psychology experience. If you don’t have a psychology background, SNHU may require you to take up to three foundational courses before you enroll.
97%
$19,467
60%
$19,467
- Acceptance Rate
- 96%
- Students Enrolled
- 184,099
- Institution Type
- Private
University of Idaho — Best for Future Product Designers
- Moscow, ID
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- Accredited
Why It's a Top Program
UIdaho's MS in psychology program stands out on our list as the best for aspiring product designers. The two-year online program uniquely blends psychology, engineering, and user experience (UX) principles to help you prepare for a role in tech, human performance, and product design.
What to Expect
- Complete 30 credits to graduate.
- Build your skills in UX and systems design 100% online.
- Pay in-state tuition regardless of your location.
How to Enroll
A bachelor’s degree in psychology, UX, or a related field with a minimum GPA of 3.0 is required. Submit three references with your application. Include your TOEFL/IELTS scores if English is not your first language. GRE scores are not required.
45%
$ 8,272
76%
$27,508
- Acceptance Rate
- 76%
- Students Enrolled
- 12,286
- Institution Type
- Public
University of Louisiana at Monroe — Most Affordable Tuition Rate
- Monroe, LA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- Accredited
Why It's a Top Program
ULM's MS in psychology program offers the most affordable tuition rate out of the programs on our list. The program requires 36 credits, priced at $500 per credit, which brings the total cost to about $18,000.
ULM also offers an online payment plan, which allows you to split your total tuition into four staggered payments. Graduate assistantships, work-study programs, and scholarships are also available.
What to Expect
- Choose a forensic psychology concentration (fully online), psychometrics concentration (requires one semester on campus), or no concentration (fully online).
- Complete an optional master's thesis.
- Take 24 elective credits if not pursuing a concentration.
How to Enroll
You must have completed at least nine semester hours of psychology coursework in your undergraduate program, including at least three hours of statistics (or a closely related course). A minimum overall GPA of 3.0 (or a 3.0 GPA on the last 60 hours of your attempted coursework) is required.
45%
$ 6,490
72%
$18,590
- Acceptance Rate
- 75%
- Students Enrolled
- 8,272
- Institution Type
- Public
Why Accreditation Matters for Psychology
Before enrolling in an online master’s in psychology program, you should confirm that the institution offering the program is accredited. Institutional accreditation legitimizes your degree and is required if you want to qualify for federal financial aid.
Programmatic accreditation accredits the particular program rather than the whole school. This might be required by some employers. However, if you wish to earn a master’s in general psychology, you usually do not need programmatic accreditation.
However, if your psychology program emphasizes counseling or therapy, it should ideally be accredited by the Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC), Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), or Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education (COAMFTE).
Likewise, if your program focuses on behavioral analysis, then you’ll want to check for accreditation by the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI).
Types of Online Master’s in Psychology Degrees
You have many options when it comes to choosing a psychology degree. Some programs focus on theoretical approaches, while others emphasize clinical practice. Explore the various types of online master’s in psychology degrees below.
- Master of Arts (MA): MA programs take a holistic approach to psychology, focusing on cultural and social perspectives. These programs may include courses centered more on theoretical approaches and less on research and statistics. MA programs commonly prepare you for counseling careers where you work face-to-face with clients.
- Master of Science (MS): MS in psychology programs typically take a more scientific approach to the field, highlighting quantitative research and data. These programs may also include more courses in the hard sciences. An MS can prepare you for more academic and research-based positions, as well as doctoral study.
- Master of Education (M.Ed.): M.Ed. in psychology programs focus mostly on educational psychology, preparing you for roles in school and college counseling. These programs typically operate under the education department, rather than the psychology department. However, this degree can also lead to careers in research related to educational psychology and counseling.
Explore Master’s in Psychology Specializations
Online Master’s in Industrial-Organizational Psychology Program Guide
Online industrial-organizational psychology master’s programs can lead to fascinating opportunities. Discover career options and how to choose the right program for you.
Online School Psychology Graduate Program Guide
Interested in becoming a school psychologist? Explore our guide to online school psychology programs and learn about your options.
Is an Online Master’s in Psychology Worth It?
Average Starting Salaries for Master’s Graduates, Class of 2023
$52,273
General psychology
$61,594
Clinical, counseling, and applied psycholog
$79,325
Research and experimental psychology
As the figures above indicate, research and experimental psychology jobs offer the highest starting salary potential, followed by clinical and counseling positions. Higher-paying positions may require licensure, which can mean additional education.
As with most career fields, your starting salary also depends on factors such as industry of employment, level of professional experience, and location. Larger cities usually offer more job opportunities with higher salary potential. You may also be able to earn a higher starting salary if you have relevant professional experience.
Holding a master’s degree typically allows you to earn a higher salary than a bachelor’s degree alone. However, you may need a doctorate to pursue top positions in research or academia. These jobs may offer some of the highest salary levels in the psychology field.
Frequently Asked Questions
To apply to a master’s in psychology program, you’ll need to submit your bachelor’s degree transcripts. If you don’t hold a bachelor’s in psychology, you may also need to complete additional foundation courses. More selective schools may also require you to submit some combination of GRE scores, a personal statement, letters of recommendation, and an academic writing sample.
