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Cheapest Psychology Colleges

Ranked by lowest net price after financial aid. See our methodology.

California State University-Dominguez Hills delivers the nation's most affordable psychology specialization program at just $3,659 net cost, proving that quality education doesn't require financial strain. This Carson campus sits in the heart of Southern California's mental health sector, where behavioral health organizations and community clinics create steady employment for psychology graduates. The $27,000 cost gap between Dominguez Hills and private options like Holy Family University reflects how public institutions drive accessibility in psychology education. While UC San Diego commands selective 24% acceptance rates, schools like Adams State welcome nearly all applicants at 99% acceptance, showing the field's broad educational pathways. Psychology specializations beyond clinical tracks serve growing markets in organizational behavior, sports psychology, and forensic applications. The $30,000 to $34,000 earnings range for program graduates aligns with entry-level positions in community mental health, research assistance, and behavioral support services across varied sectors.
50
Programs
$3,659 – $26,328
Net Price Range
$31,712
Avg. Program Earnings
53.5%
Avg. Graduation Rate

50 Psychology, Other Programs

Program rankings
# School Net Price In-State Tuition Graduation Rate Acceptance Rate
1 $3,659 $7,064 46.9% 89.1%
2 $6,007 $7,001 25.6% 45.0%
3 $7,455 $5,354 50.6% 54.0%
4 $9,148 $5,354 48.6% 49.3%
5 $10,988 $10,986 46.2% 87.5%
6 $11,750 $15,265 87.6% 23.7%
7 $12,168 $13,426 43.4% 82.6%
8 $12,251 $33,968 60.4% 77.4%
9 $13,485 $12,643 83.7% 47.5%
10 $13,707 $14,170 76.6% 68.7%
11 $13,741 $7,992 64.7% 76.7%
12 $14,173 $9,776 31.6% 99.2%
13 $15,133 $10,506 35.7% 80.3%
14 $15,288 $15,247 85.1% 37.3%
15 $15,389 $9,622 43.0%
16 $15,608 $64,862 87.5% 10.8%
17 $16,664 $19,680 35.3% 63.9%
18 $17,324 $35,740 42.7% 61.7%
19 $17,815 $27,360 58.1% 64.8%
20 $17,980 $8,676 40.9% 84.0%
21 $18,109 $13,484 73.5% 68.4%
22 $18,362 $15,236 68.0% 77.3%
23 $18,661 $34,700 46.4% 79.8%
24 $18,686 $62,412 94.1% 6.9%
25 $19,313 $11,640 27.8% 46.1%
26 $19,353 $51,763 72.4% 61.4%
27 $19,428 $31,270 36.6% 75.3%
28 $19,969 $16,670 26.7%
29 $19,983 $20,796 61.4%
30 $20,004 $34,595 61.7% 72.5%
31 $20,906 $35,685 35.9% 98.4%
32 $21,165 $23,920 37.7% 82.4%
33 $21,563 $49,758 65.1% 92.5%
34 $21,803 $18,168 34.9% 88.8%
35 $22,198 $29,696 27.1% 63.0%
36 $22,240 $36,690 40.5% 85.7%
37 $22,762 $47,240 67.4% 78.1%
38 $23,281 $42,600 60.1% 96.0%
39 $23,369 $33,470 38.5% 69.6%
40 $23,636 $51,384 64.2% 85.1%
41 $23,758 $32,400 43.0% 82.8%
42 $23,774 $51,250 60.0% 80.2%
43 $23,875 $43,942 52.4% 76.5%
44 $23,901 $41,642 55.4% 92.7%
45 $24,978 $39,664 40.1% 75.7%
46 $25,537 $39,370 59.9% 88.2%
47 $25,717 $43,810 66.2% 66.3%
48 $25,866 $48,290 64.0% 77.6%
49 $26,111 $34,188 57.5% 75.3%
50 $26,328 $33,860 40.6% 68.1%

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes California State University-Dominguez Hills so much cheaper than other psychology programs?

CSU Dominguez Hills offers a net cost of just $3,659, benefiting from California's solid state funding for public universities. The campus focuses on serving working-class communities in Los Angeles County, keeping costs low while maintaining quality psychology education. Students save over $8,000 annually compared to the next cheapest option at Coppin State University.

How do UC schools compare for psychology specializations at different price points?

UC San Diego costs $11,750 net with an 88% graduation rate and highly selective 24% acceptance rate, while UC Riverside runs $13,707 net with 77% graduation rate and more accessible 69% acceptance. UC Davis sits at $15,288 net with 85% graduation rate and moderate 37% acceptance. All three UC campuses offer strong research opportunities and alumni networks in psychology fields.

Where can students find the best value in affordable psychology education?

University of Puerto Rico campuses at Ponce and Cayey offer strong value with net costs under $10,000 and graduation rates near 50%. San Jose State provides strong West Coast opportunities at $13,741 net cost with 65% graduation rate. University of Washington-Seattle delivers top-tier education at $13,485 net cost with 84% graduation rate for serious psychology students.

What graduation rates should students expect from budget-friendly psychology programs?

Graduation rates vary significantly among affordable options, from Adams State's 32% to UC San Diego's 88%. Most public universities in this price range maintain 40-65% graduation rates, reflecting the challenge of balancing access with academic rigor. Schools with rates above 75% like UC campuses and University of Washington typically require stronger academic preparation.

Is debt load manageable for psychology graduates from these affordable programs?

Students graduate with relatively low debt, ranging from $5,200 at UPR Cayey to $19,033 at UC San Diego. The $30,000-34,000 starting salary range provides reasonable debt-to-income ratios for most programs. California schools particularly excel at keeping debt low while preparing graduates for psychology careers in research, counseling support, and organizational settings.

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Net price reflects the average cost after grants and scholarships for first-time, full-time students. See our methodology for details.