Psychology ranks among the most popular undergraduate majors in the United States. To meet high student demand, colleges and universities widely offer psychology programs in flexible online formats.
At the bachelor's level, online psychology programs focus on fundamental concepts in the field, like psychology theories and models, research methods and data analysis, and professional practice standards and ethics.
An accredited online bachelor's degree in psychology can also provide you with an essential foundation for studies at the graduate level, like a master's in psychology. If you wish to work as a licensed psychologist, you will eventually need a doctoral degree in psychology.
Prepare your academic pathway: Learn about what to expect from online psychology programs and connect with a ranked list of top-rated schools.
10 Best Online Bachelor's in Psychology Programs
Why Accreditation Matters
You must attend an accredited school to qualify for federal financial aid, earn a degree respected by employers, and have the option to transfer your credits to another accredited institution.
Bachelor's programs in the field generally do not require programmatic accreditation. That said, if you are pursuing a psychology program with a concentration in addiction studies or behavior analysis, programmatic accreditation from the National Addiction Studies Accreditation Commission or the Association for Behavior Analysis International, respectively, may boost your employment opportunities.
Bachelors of Arts vs. Bachelor of Science in Psychology
You have the option of earning a bachelor of arts (BA) or a bachelor of science (BS) in psychology. As an undergraduate student at the outset of your learning journey, you'll want to put some thought into your choice since BA and BS programs prepare you for future endeavors in different ways.
BA programs tend to focus on how psychology overlaps with other social sciences and humanities disciplines. You'll explore societal influences on human psychology and the qualitative side of the field in greater detail.
BS programs focus on psychology's quantitative and analytical aspects. They tend to place more emphasis on research design, statistical analysis, and psychology's scientific and technical elements.
Both options also share some core similarities. You'll learn about important theories and models of the human mind, and the history and development of psychology. Both BA and BS programs in psychology cover about 120 semester credits and require four years of full-time study.
Popular Concentrations Within Psychology
- Addiction Studies
- Child and Adolescent Psychology
- Forensic Psychology
- Industrial and Organizational Psychology
- Mental Health
- Neuroscience
Is an Online Psychology Degree Worth It?
The value you'll get from your online bachelor's degree in psychology depends on how the program advances your future educational and career goals.
Some graduate psychology programs don't require applicants to hold a bachelor's degree in psychology. Even so, you'll almost certainly enjoy an academic advantage if you have one. Since most licensure-track mental health careers require a graduate degree, bachelor's programs tend to deliver considerable value in this regard.
You can also enter the workforce after graduating. Popular fields of employment for psychology graduates include education, human resources, market research, and social and human services.
According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, psychology majors from the class of 2023 had an 81.6% career outcome rate, meaning those students had found meaningful employment or were continuing their education. Psychology graduates had a median starting salary of about $44,080 per year.
Earning your psychology degree online offers convenience and flexibility. However, you'll trade off some social aspects of the traditional campus experience, and online learning tends to come more easily to independent learners. Consider these factors when trying to decide whether online education aligns with your personal profile.