Online Masters in Psychology

Download Seal

See Schools

Psychology is a very popular career field, so it is not surprising that there are numerous psychology master’s programs to choose from, especially from those offered online. But how do prospective students find the best online master’s in psychology? There is no quick and easy answer to that question, as what is best for one student is not necessarily the best for another. However, there are particular characteristics of the best online program. These factors include – graduation rates, program quality & reputation, tuition fees, teacher to students ratio, and many more. We considered all these created the list of the best online master’s in psychology:

Link to this Page

Source – Integrated Post Secondary Education Data System & University Data
*Tuition rates are for in-state and per year. Program specific rates may apply.
**NA – data not available

Download Seal

See Schools

Keeping the financial bottom line manageable is a key component of finding the right online psychology degree. A psychology program is generally quite expensive to pursue, so prospective students need to look for schools that provide great value. Here is a list of some of the most affordable schools for an online master’s in psychology:

Link to this Page

Source – Integrated Post Secondary Education Data System & University Data
*Tuition rates are for in-state and per year. Program specific rates may apply.
**NA – data not available

A master’s psychology program is an important stepping stone to working in the field of psychology. Online psychology degrees not only provide graduates an opportunity to move into entry-level work in the field, usually under the supervision of a licensed psychologist, but in some cases – such as in industrial-organizational psychology – a master’s degree in psychology is what it takes to get licensed. Additionally, it also serves as a great foundation for continuing into psychology doctoral programs or to conduct research.

Typically, an online master’s degree in psychology deals with the study of psychological theory, human behavior, developmental psychology, cognitive psychology, physiological psychology, and encourages students to develop their research skills and research methods necessary for psychological research. Apart from taking up core courses, students of an online master psychology program are generally expected to take up a capstone project as well.

A good master’s psychology program can stack up to hundreds and even thousands of dollars. However, many colleges allow students to pay as they go, which can make budgeting much easier. Online learning also brings with it several financial advantages, such as the lack of a commute and the ability for students to keep working their current job while pursuing higher education, potentially saving them a lot of money. Figuring out how to pay for graduate school is usually at the top of any prospective student’s list of things to consider. Luckily, there are several resources to help students pay for their education.

Scholarships

Scholarships are one of the most prized and commonly used forms of financial aid by any postsecondary student. Sometimes called fellowships, scholarships are forms of financial aid that do not need to be paid back. Many of them are sponsored or administered by a variety of sources, including the master’s programs themselves, charitable organizations, and corporations. (Beware of the many Scholarship Scams online)

Grants

Like scholarships, grants are financial awards that do not have to be paid back. Sometimes “scholarships” and “grants” are considered interchangeable; the biggest difference, however, is that grants are usually need-based and scholarships are often merit-based. The most popular grant is the Pell Grant, which is offered through federal financial aid.

Loans

Some loans are available through the federal financial aid program. These loans might be subsidized (where no interest accrues until six months after graduation) or unsubsidized (where the interest begins to accrue immediately). In some cases, parent loans are available that allow parents to take out a certain amount of money toward their child’s education. And finally, there are private loans through banks and credit unions.

Fellowships

Though these opportunities are most often reserved for students in doctoral programs, earning a fellowship while in a master’s program is a possibility. Fellowships are merit-based and designed to allow a student to pursue their degree full-time, and perhaps engage in research or clinical work as well, without having to worry about financial constraints. These are sometimes offered by the schools themselves, or by professional organizations.

FAFSA

It’s important to remember that to be eligible for many of these sources of funding, students must first complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA®. Even if master’s students don’t expect to receive any financial aid from the federal government, this form will still help the school when awarding scholarships or grants.

Prospective students should read the Best Financial Aid Guide to understand more about college funding.

Scholarships for Online Masters in Psychology Students

Scholarships play an important role in paying towards a master’s degree in psychology. Here are a few scholarships for online master’s in psychology students.

American Psychological Association(APA): APA awards several scholarships, grants, and awards to students pursuing psychology education. Master’s degree in psychology students qualify for many of these. The amounts and deadlines vary based on the award and scholarship.

American Psychological Foundation(APF): APF is an organization that is founded to advance psychology for the benefit of society and to improve lives. To support this mission, APF administers several awards, honors, and also provides research funding. Some of these awards include the APA Student Travel Award, American Psychological Foundation/Council of Graduate Departments of Psychology Graduate Research Scholarships, etc. The amounts and deadlines vary based on the award.

PSI CHI awards and grantsThe International Honor Society in Psychology was founded in 1929 to encourage excellence in scholarship and advance the science of Psychology. PSI CHI administers several scholarships and awards each year that are more than $400,000. Online Psychology students qualify for several of these scholarships and grants.

A degree in psychology, apart from licensure, is a basic necessity to become a practicing Psychologist. This is the main reason why there is a lot of demand for psychology masters programs. But students with a bachelor’s degree who want to pursue their graduate-level studies typically have to go through a GRE test to get admitted into most psychology master’s programs. Although this is a requirement that many universities adhere to, some universities are slowly realizing that the GRE test may or may not accurately measure applicants’ readiness to go through rigorous coursework in graduate programs. This realization is what is leading some of them to offer no GRE programs. Psychology is one of the fields in which many universities are foregoing the GRE requirement. A few examples of universities that are offering Master’s in Psychology No GRE are:

Ball State University

Medaille College

Capella University

Northcentral University

Pepperdine University

Southern New Hampshire University

University of Northern Colorado

While it is tempting to find out about free online master’s in psychology, it is important to note that there aren’t any accredited online masters degrees in psychology for free. Some educational entities provide tuition-free degrees, but most of them are not accredited, and certainly not APA-accredited. But the good news is that many courses are free and have the same content as master’s in psychology programs. Some of these courses are taken from previous years’ programs, with many of them offered by reputed educational institutions. These courses will not provide a degree or a diploma, but they will certainly get students started in psychology and prepare students for master’s in psychology programs. Here are a few free online courses in psychology at the graduate level:

In today’s competitive world, speed is of the essence. This is especially true for Psychology professionals who are looking for quick upward mobility in their careers. Getting an online master’s in psychology is a pathway to that career growth. Unfortunately, most master’s degrees take a few years to complete. Luckily, there are accelerated masters in psychology programs that allow students to graduate faster than usual. These accelerated programs are intense, with a lot of coursework packed in a short amount of time. Here is a list of the accelerated masters in psychology programs:

Though most psychologists need a doctoral degree to become licensed to practice, it certainly does not mean that those who graduate from the online psychology master’s programs cannot work in the field. Master’s degree graduates can pursue careers in research and clinical and counseling settings, while under the supervision of a licensed psychologist; they can work as industrial-organizational psychologists, or school counselors as well. It is also not unusual for psychology master’s degree graduates to work as teachers, whether in high schools or the postsecondary setting. Some of these positions are growing very quickly; for instance, marriage and family therapists have a job outlook of 23 percent growth from 2016 to 2026, while school counseling and rehabilitation counseling positions are expected to grow by 13 percent.

What can graduates expect from these positions? Here’s a quick rundown:

Getting a psychology master’s degree online will certainly help students with upward mobility in their careers. But it is essential to note that psychology is a vast field with so many specializations and branches, and is ever-changing. With that backdrop, masters in psychology students should keep in touch with all the happenings in the world of psychology, along with networking with other professionals, keeping abreast with the latest in mental health, and learning about professional ethics. There are many associations, organizations, and exhibitions that help psychology bachelor’s degree students, as well as master’s or doctoral degree students, to stay in touch with the industry, provide valuable networking opportunities with peers, open up career opportunities, and more. Here are a few such organizations that are extremely important for psychology degree students.

1. American Psychological Association (APA)
2. Psychology Tools
3. Social Behavior Medicine
4. Association for Psychological Science
5. National Association of School Psychologists
6. Society of Psychologists in Management

For those looking for more information on a psychology degree, the following in-depth resources should be of ample use:

1. APA Accredited Programs – Read about what American Psychological Association (APA) Accreditation is, why it matters, and what schools offer APA-Accredited programs.
2. Top Clinical Psychology Programs – These programs focus on clinical psychology and prepare students for the rigors of furthering their studies into a doctoral program.