The most affordable online psychology degrees available today let students take advantage of competitive tuition costs and flexible course schedules. As one of the most popular majors in the US, according to the National Center of Education Statistics (NCES), the cheapest online psychology degrees provide the necessary education for a job in the psychology field.
Read on for detailed information about the best online psychology degrees, their accreditation, degree cost, financial options, and whether each major will be worth it for you in the long run.
How Much Do the Cheapest Online Psychology Degrees Cost?
The average cheapest online psychology degree tuition costs range from $3,000 to $8,000. This is a considerably affordable option compared to the average tuition cost of four-year majors at $16,647, according to NCES.
Cheapest Online Psychology Degrees Costs Breakdown
- Tuition fee. The tuition fee is the net cost of the program.
- Application fee. Some schools require an application fee. This fee is used to cover expenses associated with the admissions process.
- Books and resources. Online and in-person students of psychology programs need to buy learning resources like books or guides. The only difference is that on-site universities may ask for physical books while for online schools, virtual books might be enough.
- Technology fee. Some schools include a technology fee used to pay for costs associated with the elearning environment. This could be Google Classroom or any other tool or platform used for communication and education processes.
- Eventual on-site transportation. Even though the material is online, prospective students might still have to go to school eventually, whether to take an on-site exam or to handle documentation processes.
Why You Should Pursue an Online Psychology Degree
You should pursue an online psychology degree if you’re interested in learning about this field, but don’t like the idea of attending in-person classes. Some people prefer online programs to have a better life balance, and others find themselves more productive when studying online.
An online psychology program will allow you to maintain your current job and other activities, and spend more time with your family. Some online programs even offer flexible scheduling or an asynchronous format.
Best Online Psychology Degree Career Options
A wide variety of online psychology programs are very affordable and will provide significant job opportunities. A Bachelor of Arts in Psychology online program offers versatile careers across a wide professional spectrum. Those with a psychology degree can work as counselors, clinical psychologists, forensic psychologists, or higher-education teachers.
Online Psychology Degree Salary
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual salary of a psychologist is $82,180. However, this can become a six-figure salary for top earners. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the highest 10 percent of psychologists earn an annual wage of $137,590.
Can You Pursue an Online Psychology Degree for Free?
No, you can’t earn an online psychology degree for free. However, you can still apply for scholarships to receive full or partial financial aid for your online degree. There are also other options, like discounts or education loans, that can help finance your education.
Cheapest Online Psychology Degrees That Won’t Break the Bank
| School | In-State Tuition | Out-of-State Tuition | Graduation Rate |
| Aspen University | $180 per credit | $180 per credit | 31% |
| California Coast University | $170 per credit hour | $170 per unit credit | N/A |
| Claflin University | $562 per credit hour | $562 per credit hour | 50% |
| Columbia Southern University | $235 per credit hour | $235 per credit hour | 49% |
| Fort Valley State University | $169 per credit hour | $169 per credit hour | 29% |
| Kennesaw State University | $185 per credit hour | $185 per credit hour | 48% |
| Ohio University-Main Campus | $240 per credit hour | $243 per credit hour | 78% |
| Tarleton State University | $10,334 per year | $21,799 per year | 56% |
| University of the Cumberlands Online | $199 per credit hour | $199 per credit hour | 67% |
| Valdosta State University | $299 per credit hour | $299 per credit hour | 43% |
What Are the Cheapest Online Psychology Degrees?
Aspen University
Aspen University offers a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Addiction Studies for online students interested in sociology and human behavior associated with an addiction condition. This three-year psychology program costs $21,600. The online degree can be paid in monthly installments. This program doesn’t provide any state licensure for counseling.
California Coast University
This online Bachelor of Science in Psychology is an affordable, self-paced major that will help build core skills for a career in psychology. Online learners will learn about personality theories, social psychology, health psychology, abnormal behavior, and learning theories. This academic program also offers an interest-free month-to-month financing option.
Claflin University
The Claflin University online Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology is a comprehensive program that covers fundamental topics like social statistics, research, social, and abnormal psychology. This program offers three concentrations in counseling, general psychology, and research.
This program is great for online learners on a budget because it’s affordable, in-depth, and has multiple financing options like student loans, scholarships, grants, and veteran assistance. Online options also offer greater flexibility in a person’s learning schedule.
Columbia Southern University
This degree provides a solid foundation to land entry-level jobs in psychology in areas such as case management and psychiatric aid. This program teaches technical writing, behavioral psychology, research method, and personality theories. Online students will have access to scholarships, learning partners discounts, military/veteran benefits, and more.
Fort Valley State University
Fort Valley State University offers an online undergraduate degree in psychology that focuses on how to recognize certain human behaviors, conduct research, and provide counseling. Distance learners will learn how emotional, cognitive, and social factors influence relationships.
This psychology major is affordable and provides multiple financing options like veteran assistance and scholarships. This school also has community groups to guide online students such as the social workers club and the sociology club.
Kennesaw State University
This online degree program helps students develop core skills needed to pursue advanced education. In addition to its inexpensive tuition rates, Kennesaw State University also offers financing options like interest-free monthly payments, loans, scholarships, and housing plans.
Ohio University-Main Campus
Ohio University-Main Campus’ online Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology provides in-depth training, affordable tuition costs, flexible dynamics, and multiple learning resources. This program covers topics like sports psychology, childhood disorders, and counseling.
Tarleton State University
This Bachelor of Arts in Psychology is a hands-on experience major that trains online learners on key subjects like neuropsychopharmacology, human behavior, psycholinguistics, and child psychopathology. Prospective students have three concentrations to choose from, including pre-clinical psychology, general psychology, or educational psychology.
University of the Cumberlands Online
With a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from this university, students will be able to pursue a wide variety of careers such as school psychologist, counselor, clinical psychologist, forensic psychologist, neuropsychologist, or sports psychologist. The college offers financial aid and multiple payment plans.
Valdosta State University
Undergraduate students will gain a solid foundation in fundamental topics like cognitive psychology, statistics, and behavior modification. This online psychology degree program helps students with psychology career goals related to a wide range of human behaviors. Valdosta State University is affordable and offers a variety of research opportunities for distance learners.
Options to Help Pay for the Best Online Psychology Degree
Paying for an online psychology degree should not be an impossible task. There are multiple options available to finance an education. Below, we explain a few options.
Scholarships
Most online colleges offer grants and scholarships for psychology students and other fields. Prospective students can apply by submitting a request form. They will have to provide information about their educational background, their personal motivations, school transcripts, and any financial limitations. These scholarships can offer a tuition discount or cover it in full.
Interest-Free Installments
Interest-free installments are perfect because they allow students to pay for their education at a reasonable pace. The best part of it is that with this option, students will pay tuition as they go and not graduate from the program with any student debt.
Student Loans
If your school of choice doesn’t offer monthly installments, you can also check whether it accepts private or federal student loans. This way, you can also pay for your education in affordable installments.
Tips for Saving Money While Pursuing an Online Psychology Degree
- Attending a public school. One of the best ways to lower online course costs is to attend a public school or community college. These valuable institutions provide students with practical skills for the future.
- Transferring credits. To reduce costs, students can transfer credits from other online classes or courses they’ve taken in the past. Prospective students should first consult with their prospective school to learn if it will accept those credits.
- Applying military or volunteering experience. Some schools are open to accepting credit for work, volunteer, or military experience. Students will have to submit a request by demonstrating the relevance of that experience in their chosen career field.
- Finding inexpensive or free course materials. Another way to reduce the cost of online courses is to get cheap or free learning resources. A public library, used books, or a college bookstore are all good resources for discounted necessities.
- Get financial aid. A wide range of schools are open to providing financial aid to outstanding students. This aid could cover at least the learning materials, if not the entire program.
Find the Online Psychology Degree That’s Right for You
Considering the number of options in the field of psychology, you’ll more than likely be able to find the best and most affordable Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. If you can’t find anything that fits your budget, remember that there are always opportunities for financial aid and flexible payment options.
Cheapest Online Psychology Degree FAQ
Yes, the field of psychology has a strong demand. Job opportunities in the various branches of the sector will increase from 2020 to 2030, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For example, psychologists will experience an eight percent job growth, marriage and family therapists will grow 16 percent, and jobs for school and career counselors and advisors will grow 11 percent.
Yes, an online bachelor’s degree in psychology will be widely respected if the school has a reputable accreditation. Online college degrees are now more valid than ever, with the recent global shift to online learning and education and the wide range of offerings from various respected institutions.
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Forensic psychology is considered one of the most difficult branches in the field of psychology, and it’s usually part of a doctoral degree. It is used for courtroom testimonies to evaluate people’s behavior in terms of criminal justice.
According to PayScale, the highest-paying psychology degree is in neuropsychology. Neuropsychologists earn an average salary of $95,009 which is considerably higher than the earnings of the average Bachelor of Psychology degree holder, at $65,000 annually.
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