10 Most Affordable Master’s in Psychology Online Degree Programs

Professionals who are interested in earning an online Master’s in Psychology have far more options than they did a decade ago. With so many schools understanding the need for a flexible program that can fit into the lives of working adults, the number of programs available has increased. This, in turn, has provided employers and companies with competent professionals who are just as committed to their careers as they are to furthering their education.

The programs below are all offered 100 percent online or as low-residency programs to ensure that students from all over the country can apply for admittance. Some also offer alternatives in their culminating experience, providing options that are less intrusive to working students. Others may offer students the chance to complete required internships and practicums within their community, eliminating the need to travel to the school to complete this step in the process. All of these features and more have made it possible for professionals to complete an online degree that is respected, as well as encouraged, in the field.

Methodology

This school ranking would not have been made possible without the research that was conducted by using the National Center for Education Statistics website and its publicly available College Navigator database. An initial group of 70 schools was first identified by searching for online master’s in psychology degrees through the database. Each school was then individually reviewed by utilizing both the NCES website and the school’s program website. The schools were then compared to each other based on several factors, including tuition rates. The final 10 schools, which are listed below, are chosen based on the school’s in-state graduate tuition rate.

Ranking Low-Cost Master’s in Psychology

Health Counseling, School Counseling, and Student Affairs and College Student Development Training. This program requires that students complete a minimum of 31 credit hours of coursework, a capstone project, a clinical internship, and a comprehensive final exit exam. More information on this degree can be found by contacting the school’s graduate admissions office.

10. Angelo State University

San Angelo, Texas

Online Master of Science in Counseling Psychology

School Profile

Tuition: $21,324

Angelo State University is home to a cheap online Master’s in Psychology that offers students the chance to complete a three-year degree entirely online. This program provides pathways towards becoming licensed as either a psychologist or professional counselor in the state of Texas. Students have a variety of choices when it comes to their degree; they can choose to complete a thesis or take on more coursework for their culminating experience, they may take on extra practicum work, and they can choose to study as either full-time or part-time students. This degree requires a minimum of 36 credit hours of coursework, a capstone project, and a comprehensive written and oral final exam. Sample courses include Professional Orientation to Counseling, Group Counseling, and A Survey of Vocational Counseling Methods.

9. California Southern University

Irvine, California

Online Master of Science in Psychology with a Concentration in Industrial and Organizational Psychology

School Profile

Tuition: $20,790

The Master’s in Industrial and Organizational Psychology that is delivered by California Southern University is a great program for students that are interested in both psychology and business. This program will provide students with the necessary education to work in the business sector. The degree is offered entirely online and has no residency requirements. Students will be able to complete their work online through the school’s virtual platform which comes complete with an online library and an online bookstore. This degree requires that students complete a minimum of 48 credit hours of coursework, a capstone project, and a comprehensive final exam. Sample courses include Interpersonal Conflict in the Workplace, Organizational Psychology, and Myers-Briggs Type Indicator.

8. McNeese State University

Lake Charles, Louisiana

Online Master of Arts in Psychology with a Concentration in Applied Behavior Analysis

School Profile

Tuition: $18,750

McNeese State University offers students the chance to complete an online Master of Arts in Psychology that confers a concentration in applied behavior analysis. This wholly online course of study is approved by the Behavior Analysis Certification Board and provides the necessary pathway for students to sit for national certification as a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst. This is a non-thesis degree that requires an internship that is completed in a student’s community. Students will be expected to complete a minimum of 55 credit hours of coursework, three internships, and a comprehensive exit exam. Sample courses Verbal Behavior, Applied Research Methods, and Ethics for Behavior Analysts.

7. Touro University Worldwide

Los Alamitos, California

Online Master of Arts in Industrial and Organizational Psychology

School Profile

Tuition: $18,000

The online Master’s of Psychology that is available from Touro University Worldwide is dedicated to providing students with an exceptional education in the field of industrial-organizational psychology. This 100 percent online course of study comes with four concentrations, including Coaching and Consulting, Human Resource Management, Forensic Psychology, and Occupational Health Psychology. Students will find that this degree has a strong focus on the concentration; courses in the specialized area make up about 30 percent of the entire requirement for coursework. This degree requires a minimum of 36 credit hours of coursework, a capstone project, and a comprehensive written and oral exit exam. More information on this degree and sample courses can be found by contacting the school’s graduate admissions office.

6. Austin Peay State University

Fort Campbell, Tennessee

Online Master of Science in Industrial-Organizational Psychology

School Profile

Tuition: $17,838

Austin Peay State University confers an online Master’s in Psychology that focuses on industrial-organizational psychology. This degree follows the Guidelines for Master’s Level Training that were established by the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology. This program is offered entirely online and can be taken on by students who are working full-time. This is a non-thesis program that has no residency or fieldwork experiences, making it perfect for working professionals. This degree requires a minimum of 34 credit hours of coursework and a comprehensive exam. Sample courses include Foundations of Applied Psychology, Performance Management, and Training and Development.

5. The University of West Alabama

Livingston, Alabama

Online Master of Science in Experimental Psychology: Clinical Psychology Option

School Profile

Tuition: $16,731

Students interested in a cheap online Master’s in Psychology will be happy with the offering from the University of West Alabama. This degree is offered 100 percent online; there are no residency requirements. Students will be required to complete a practicum and an internship, both of which are done within a student’s community and under the supervision of an approved preceptor. There are two culminating experience options: Thesis or Comprehensive Exam. Students will be expected to complete a minimum of 39 credit hours of coursework and a culminating experience. Sample courses include Systems of Psychotherapy, Psychopharmacology, and Marriage and Family Therapy.

4. Lamar University

Beaumont, Texas

Online Master of Education in Clinical Mental Health Counseling

School Profile

Tuition: $16,500

Lamar University provides students with an online master’s in psychology that can be completed in just 30 months when students study part-time. This degree is fully accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs. Students will find that this degree has two five-day residencies making it a low-residency program. It also requires an extensive amount of practicum and internship experiences; these experiences take place in a student’s own community under the supervision of a preceptor. Students will be expected to complete a minimum of 60 credit hours of coursework, one practicum, two internships, a culminating experience, and a comprehensive final exit exam. Sample courses include Individual Counseling Theories and Techniques, Foundations of Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and Career Development.

3. CUNY School of Professional Studies

New York City, New York

Online Master of Arts in Psychology

School Profile

Tuition: $16,380

The online Master’s in Psychology that is provided by the CUNY School of Professional Studies is a program that was designed to be completed entirely through the school’s virtual platform; there are no residency requirements. Students will be able to choose from two concentrations: Industrial/Organizational Psychology or Developmental Psychology. Students will note that this degree does not offer a pathway to licensure and, as such, does not require internships or practicums in its degree plan. Students can expect to complete a minimum of 39 credit hours of coursework, a capstone project, and a comprehensive written and oral exit exam. Sample courses include Perspectives on Developmental Psychology, Introduction to Industrial and Organizational Psychology, and Social Behavior.

2. Capella University

St. Paul, Minnesota

Online Master of Science in Clinical Psychology

School Profile

Tuition: $16,005

Capella University delivers an exceptional online Master’s in Psychology degree that is perfect for working adults. Students will be able to choose from one of three concentrations: Applied Research, Forensic Psychology, or Clinical Counseling. Students will find that this is a low-residency program; students will need to attend three residencies to meet the requirements for graduation. Two clinical experiences are also required for this degree; these are completed in a student’s community. This degree requires a total of 70 quarter credit hours of coursework, three residencies, two clinical experiences, a capstone project, and a comprehensive exam. Sample courses include Introduction to Psychopathology, Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy, and Survey of Research Methods.

1. The University of North Dakota

Grand Forks, North Dakota

Online Master of Arts in Forensic Psychology

School Profile

Tuition: $12,122

The University of North Dakota confers an affordable Master’s of Psychology online that is generally completed in two years on a part-time basis. This program is offered entirely online; there are no residency requirements. Students will find that the majority of the curriculum focuses on the relationship between law and psychology. All courses are held through the school’s learning management system and are delivered in the traditional academic term format. Students will find that this degree requires a minimum of 30 credit hours of coursework, a capstone project, and a comprehensive written exit exam. Sample courses include Diversity Psychology, Advanced Social Psychology, and Psychology and Law.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Career Options for an Affordable Online Master’s in Psychology?

  • Industrial-Organizational Psychologist
  • Social Worker
  • School Psychologist
  • Human Resource Manager
  • Psychiatric Technician
  • Rehabilitation Counselor
  • Juvenile Justice Detention Officer
  • Special Education Teacher
  • Business Intelligence Specialist
  • Forensic Psychologist
  • Career Counselor
  • Behavioral Health Psychiatric Nurse
  • Substance Abuse Counselor
  • Victims Advocate
  • Colleges Admissions Counselor

How Much Can You Earn in This Field?

The average salary for a professional with a Master’s in Psychology is around $50,000. The average mid-career salary for psychologists tends to range from $65,000 to $200,000. This range includes private and public sector positions, professionals who work in clinical or school settings, those in private practice, and more. It accounts for differences in salaries of similar positions from different regions in the country. It does not account for any bonus forms of compensation that may be applicable.

The highest-paid positions in the field are psychiatrists and industrial-organizational psychologists; both positions carry a mid-range salary of over $100,000, with psychiatrists making closer to $200,000. Students will note that these paths require more than just a master’s degree. A psychiatrist must complete both medical school and a four-year residency while industrial-organizational psychologists would be best served by completing a doctoral degree. They must also be licensed in their respective specialties in order to gain a foothold in the industry.

Mid-tier salaried positions include clinical psychologists and neuropsychologists. These professionals must also have a doctoral degree in their field and will be required to complete several internships as well as an exam in order to become licensed. These salaries can range from between $77,000 for clinical psychologists in private practice to $100,000 for neuropsychologists that work in a healthcare setting.

Lower-paying jobs include school psychologists, forensic psychologists, and sports psychologists. These professionals tend to make around $60,000 a year and work in settings such as schools, crime laboratories, and sports venues. While it is not necessary for them to complete an additional degree after they have their graduate degree, it may provide them with better chances for advancement in their field; doctoral degrees may also serve to provide them with additional career options in their chosen specialty.

What are the Various Disciplines of Psychology?

Psychology is the study of the human mind and how humans behave, making it an attractive discipline for professionals who are interested in how people interact with each other and how they view themselves. It is an academic discipline that has been around since the late 19th century, making it a relatively new area of research and practice. And while it is a discipline of its own that interacts with other disciplines, it has its own specialties as well.

Psychology is informed by a variety of other disciplines, mainly those from the humanities and science. Some of the most common disciplines associated with the field include physiology, neuroscience, sociology, anthropology, religion, philosophy, culture, medicine, biology, and chemistry. Depending on a student’s chosen focus area, all or just a few disciplines will be important to their education; at the undergraduate level, and in the first term of graduate school, all disciplines will be discussed to some degree.

Most professionals in the psychology profession will choose a specialty. Fields like industrial-organizational psychology, forensics, substance abuse, counseling, school counseling, psychiatry, neuropsychology, business intelligence, art therapy and more are all offered as sub-disciplines under the larger field. This means that professionals have the opportunity to choose a discipline that matters to them and focus solely on how psychology plays a role in that career.

Understanding the human mind and how it operates has been at the core of human thought since ancient times. It is still in practice today and is utilized to help individuals through personal problems as well as provide insight into what methods are best employed to keep those individuals and families healthy. Professionals who are interested in becoming licensed psychologists and working in a variety of settings to help provide answers and advice will be well served by earning an online Master’s in Psychology.

This concludes our ranking of the Top 10 Most Affordable Master’s in Psychology Online degree programs.

By OPD Staff