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CIP 42.2813 Psychology

Applied Psychology

IPEDS Completions, US Department of Education · 2025

Total graduates

2,914

2025 · 90 schools

International share

2.7%

79 international students

Bachelor's degrees

1,667

1.4% international

Master's degrees

1,144

4.7% international

Overview

Applied Psychology is a dynamic and interdisciplinary field that focuses on the practical application of psychological principles and theories to real-world problems. This branch of psychology aims to understand and improve human behavior in various settings, including clinical, organizational, educational, and community environments.

In an Applied Psychology program, students typically study a range of topics such as cognitive psychology, social psychology, developmental psychology, and research methods. They learn how to apply psychological theories to address issues like mental health disorders, workplace productivity, educational challenges, and social dynamics. Students are often trained in assessment techniques, intervention strategies, and program evaluation to help them effectively implement psychological practices in their chosen field.

Career opportunities for graduates of Applied Psychology are diverse. They may work in clinical settings as mental health counselors or therapists, in corporate environments as human resource specialists or organizational consultants, or in educational institutions as school psychologists or counselors. Additionally, applied psychologists can engage in research or policy-making roles, contributing to the advancement of psychological knowledge and practices.

The demand for professionals with expertise in Applied Psychology is growing, driven by an increasing awareness of mental health issues and the importance of psychological well-being in various domains of life. Overall, a degree in Applied Psychology equips students with valuable skills to make a positive impact on individuals and communities by leveraging psychological insights to foster personal and organizational growth.

Graduates by year

Graduates by degree level (first and second majors)

AssociateBachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral

From 2010 to 2025, graduates grew 2,573% and the international share went from 1.8% to 2.7%.

International share (%)
Graduates by group, 2025
White
41.7%
Asian
4.9%
Hispanic
17.3%
Black
13.4%
Other
19.9%
Intl.
2.7%

Colleges that award this degree

In 2025, 90 schools awarded this degree as a first major. The table lists those in the 2027 U.S. News National or Liberal Arts rankings, plus the unranked schools with the most graduates.

RankSchoolStateGraduatesInternational
#16 Washington University in St Louis Missouri 1 0
#27 University of Southern California California 96 4
#31 Boston College Massachusetts 116 5
#34 Boston University Massachusetts 5 1
#42 Northeastern University Massachusetts 21 0
#44 Rutgers University-New Brunswick New Jersey 46 6
#55 Santa Clara University California 5 0
#59 University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Pennsylvania 21 7
#85 Fordham University New York 5 2
#95 University of Illinois at Chicago Illinois 167 4
#100 University of South Florida-Main Campus Florida 1 0
#121 Arizona State University-Tempe Arizona 35 1
#121 Loyola University Chicago Illinois 11 0
#148 University of Massachusetts-Lowell Massachusetts 4 0
#169 Michigan Technological University Michigan 5 1
#202 University of St. Thomas (TX) Texas 1 0
#219 Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis Indiana 2 0
#236 Florida Institute of Technology Florida 51 2
#236 Pacific University Oregon 39 0
#250 Pace University-New York New York 35 1
#276 Regis University Colorado 5 0
#276 University of Missouri--St. Louis Missouri 5 0
#288 Biola University California 14 0
#288 Wichita State University Kansas 2 0
#299 Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Minnesota 10 0
#342 University of Northern Colorado Colorado 1 0
#365 Liberty University Virginia 255 2
#376 Belhaven University Mississippi 10 0
#382 Southeastern University Florida 14 0
#382 Angelo State University Texas 21 0
#382 Lamar University Texas 8 0
#382 Tarleton State University Texas 18 2
LAC #9 The United States Military Academy at West Point New York 28 0
LAC #128 Cornell College Iowa 7 1
LAC #160 Albright College Pennsylvania 19 0
— University of Phoenix Arizona 397 0
— California Institute of Integral Studies California 216 0
— Arizona State University Digital Immersion Arizona 188 0
— Colorado Christian University Colorado 102 0
— Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach Florida 69 5
— Farmingdale State College New York 65 0
— Capella University Minnesota 60 5
— SUNY College of Technology at Canton New York 58 0
— SUNY Buffalo State University New York 54 0
— Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide Florida 46 4
— Ottawa University-Ottawa Kansas 44 2
— Fielding Graduate University California 40 2
— Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global Indiana 40 0
— Los Angeles Pacific University California 38 0
— Adler University Illinois 29 0
— Oregon Institute of Technology Oregon 29 0
— Touro University Worldwide California 28 0
— SUNY Morrisville New York 26 2
— Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania Pennsylvania 23 0
— Rider University New Jersey 22 0
— University of Mount Olive North Carolina 19 0
— Colorado State University Global Colorado 18 0
— Warner Pacific University Professional and Graduate Studies Oregon 17 0
— Keiser University Florida 16 16
— Francis Marion University South Carolina 15 0
— University of New Hampshire College of Professional Studies Online New Hampshire 13 0
— Northampton County Area Community College Pennsylvania 12 0
— SUNY College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill New York 11 0
— Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine Pennsylvania 11 0
— Mount Saint Mary's University California 10 0

Purple: international students are 25% or more of the school's graduates.

Related jobs and pay

OccupationUS employmentMean hourly wageMean annual wage
Managers, All Other 622,190 $73.99 $153,890
Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary 41,530 — $93,860
Psychologists, All Other 18,820 $53.47 $111,210

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.

Graduate counts: IPEDS Completions, US Department of Education, 2010–2025. Rankings: 2027 U.S. News.