Affordable Online Bachelor’s in Psychology Degree Programs

The Advantages of a Psychology Education

Earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology online provides several advantages over an associate degreee. In an industry where advanced degrees are preferred and often required, a bachelor’s degree opens up more career opportunities. Jobs available to an associate degree holder include executive assistant, administrative coordinator, and administrative assistant. Individuals who pursue these careers typically work in assistant positions.

Bachelor’s degree graduates can work in entry-level roles while pursuing an advanced degree, which can often lead to a salary increase. Some employers offer programs to help offset tuition costs. Going beyond a bachelor’s degree demonstrates a willingness to gain more experience and skills in the field, making the multiple-degree holder more accomplished. While earning an advanced degree offers advantages, not everyone wants to pursue one. Graduates of a bachelor’s degree program can explore many appealing and rewarding career paths.

Source: PayScale

Choosing an Online Psychology Degree Program

Students who want to earn an online bachelor’s degree in psychology should research online programs and schools before choosing the best one for their needs. Research should include tuition costs, in-state and out-of-state rates, and admission requirements. In-state programs are often more affordable. Research can involve browsing course descriptions and specializations of interest. Degree seekers should also consider their current work schedule and financial means when choosing the best program. Institutional quality and value are significant factors in the selection process. Several online resources provide the necessary information to make the best decision.

Program Cost:

Tuition rates and fees are vital when considering program cost. Discounted military rates and lower costs for in-state tuition, even for an online program, are common. Individuals should look for schools with good reputations that deliver quality instruction coupled with competitive tuition rates.

Transfer Policies:

Transfer policy research is especially important for students who have completed core credits. For earned hours in the discipline, some schools accept those credits for their own lower-division psychology courses. Here, grades may be deciding factors for acceptance of those transfer credits. GPA standards are another transfer policy consideration.

School Size and Type:

Enrollment numbers for online bachelor’s degree courses vary. Ideally, the class size stays manageable for the instructor while not depriving students of the individual attention they may need. If class size is important, degree seekers can research individual degree programs and institutions. State funding is the major difference between private and public schools. Public schools receive state funding while private institutions are funded by tuition and private contributions. There is no measurable or distinct difference in education quality.

Program Length:

Earning an online bachelor’s degree in psychology is a four-year commitment for full-time students. Part-time students often require 6–6 years to graduate. Taking additional courses each term, including summers, can accelerate the process by 1–1.5 years.

On-Campus Requirements:

Most online bachelor’s degree in psychology programs do not have any on-campus requirements, though this varies by school and program. Potential students who live locally can take advantage of on-campus services, such as orientations.

Featured Online Bachelor's in Psychology

Accreditation for Online Psychology Degrees

Accreditation is an evaluation process for colleges and universities in which accrediting organizations independently assess education quality. Peer review boards often conduct these assessments. Seven regional accreditation organizations exist: Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, Middle States Commission on Higher Education, New England Commission of Higher Education, Higher Learning Commission, Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and Western Association of Schools and Colleges. Traditionally, accredited colleges and universities award degrees and are nonprofit institutions. Since it is a voluntary process, non-degree and for-profit institutions may seek accreditation.

The Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) is a body whose recognition asserts that the standards of the accreditation organizations meet CHEA standards. The United States Department of Education also reviews accreditation organizations. The American Psychological Association accreditation is limited to doctoral programs. Accreditation is an important factor when choosing where to pursue an online bachelor’s degree in psychology since it provides reassurance that the institution meets quality standards.

Psychology Concentrations

Earning an online bachelor’s degree in psychology encompasses a variety of concentrations. Students must consider which career path corresponds with their interest area. Some institutions offer individualized concentration services via consultation with an academic advisor for a specific career path or an academic plan to earn an advanced degree required by the chosen career path.

Clinical and Counseling Psychology:

This concentration focuses on the assessment and treatment of behavioral, mental, and emotional disorders. In counseling, the science of psychology is used for treatment to promote resilience for healthier individuals, helping them find their inner strengths. Clinical psychology is more intensely focused on helping people with a serious mental illness or psychosis.

Careers this concentration prepares for:

• Clinical Social Worker
• Laboratory Assistant
• Case Manager
• Social Work Assistant

Developmental Psychology:

This concentration evaluates the psychological growth of individuals through behavioral changes which occur during the stages of human life. Developmental psychology examines, through biological, social, emotional, and cognitive theories, how one thinks and feels. The disciplinary focus of developmental psychology is childhood development, which is the period of human life when the most significant change takes place.

Careers this concentration prepares for:

• Child Life Specialist
• Social Worker
• Early Childhood Education Consultant
• Special Education Paraprofessional

Educational Psychology:

This concentration examines learning and knowledge retainment among students. Educational psychology is the scientific study of learning, using analysis to identify behavior and social challenges which may impede emotional, social, and cognitive processes. This psychological field uses quantitative methodology such as measurement and testing to improve learning and retention.

Careers this concentration prepares for:

• Elementary School Psychology Teacher
• Middle School Psychology Teacher
• High School Psychology Teacher

Experimental Psychology:

This concentration investigates the science of psychological processes such as learning, memory, and cognition in humans and animals. This psychological concentration undertakes tasks that apply to experimental study and its underlying processes, playing a significant role in the understanding of behavior and the human mind.

Careers this concentration prepares for:

• Research Analyst
• Product Development Analyst
• Experimental Researcher

Social Psychology:

This concentration explores the origins of social interactions and their effects on humans. It is the study of how behaviors, feelings, and thoughts, which are measurable human variables, are influenced by the real or imagined presence of others. Empirical investigation via the scientific method explains human behavior as the interaction between social situations and mental states.

Careers this concentration prepares for:

• Political Strategist
• Market Researcher
• Public Relations Specialist

Featured Online Bachelor's in Psychology

How Long Does It Take to Get a Degree in Psychology?

Earning an online bachelor’s degree in psychology allows for flexibility regarding the time required to graduate. Approximately 36 hours of psychology courses are required for graduation in addition to general education requirements and electives, totaling 120 hours. Undergraduate advisors consider student work schedules, the number of hours required to complete the coursework, and expect students to maintain a 2.0 GPA or higher. A three-hour class may require double or triple the hours devoted to coursework and study time.

Online learners should always budget time for taking online classes. They can explore accelerated programs, which add additional credits to each term. These programs are subject to advisor approval or recommendation and can reduce the degree from four years to 2.5–3 years.

While students might find the freedom to double credits in a term appealing, they should consider the course workload. It may divide focus and lessen knowledge retention, becoming a disadvantage.

Tuition is estimated on a yearly basis. Taking more or fewer classes impacts the tuition costs. Some institutions offer discounted tuition rates for hours beyond a full-time course load.

Courses in an Online Bachelor’s in Psychology Program

Introduction to Statistics:

In an introduction to basic statistical techniques and principles in psychology, students explore probability distributions, hypothesis testing, correlation, variance analysis, sampling, research design, interpretation of research, and statistical inference. Hypothesis testing is emphasized in the examination of the core concepts of descriptive and inferential statistics.

Research and Experimental Methods:

This course instructs students in the psychological experimental method, providing philosophical background and introducing research strategies and designs in addition to descriptive statistics. Theoretical and methodological research approaches, presented in literature, with procedural instruments, are used in the planning, implementation, and reporting of experiments.

Multicultural Psychology:

The curriculum addresses relevant multicultural and psychological considerations in racial identity, discrimination, oppression, power and privilege, and racism as a means of articulating and comprehending human behavior. Through research and theories, students are prepared to work with diverse groups.

Social Psychology:

Human social behavior exhibited in conformity, aggression, persuasion, attraction, attribution, and the perception of others is addressed in the exploration of social psychology. Societal influence and interpersonal relationships are important factors in presenting a consistent definition of social psychology. The course is, at its core, a survey of social psychological research and theories.

Health Psychology:

Students learn about the promotion of good health, through behavior analysis and disease prevention, which are primary outcomes in health psychology. Students explore the influence of and relationships among social, psychological, and biological factors and their impact on health. Coursework addresses the psychology of disease prevention for chronic and acute illnesses.

The Most Affordable Online Bachelor’s in Psychology Degree Programs

Bachelor’s in Psychology Degree Online Ranking Guidelines

We selected the online psychology programs based on the quality of the program, the types of online classes for psychology offered, the faculty, rankings, awards, and reputation, including the school’s reputation for effectively providing quality online degree programs.