Online Master's and Doctoral Programs in Psychology

Based in Lake Charles, Louisiana, McNeese State University offers an online master's in psychology with a concentration in applied behavior analysis, clinical mental health counseling, general/experimental psychology, and school counseling. The general/experimental psychology concentration emphasizes research and other readiness for a doctorate. The applied behavior analysis program is accredited by the Association for Behavior Analysis International. Programs end with either a thesis or an internship. 

Louisiana residents and non-residents both pay the same fees for course loads of three credits or less, but for three credits or higher, non-residents pay an additional fee. Resident tuition starts at $1,435, but the cost per credit declines as the number of credits increases.

Mississippi State University's master of science in counselor education with a concentration in rehabilitation counseling is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs. The curriculum prepares graduates to become licensed professional counselors in Mississippi or certified rehabilitation counselors in other states. Students can enroll on a part- or full-time basis, and the program requires 60 credits for completion. 

Learners must have a cumulative 3.0 GPA to take the comprehensive final examination. They must also pass certain gatekeeper courses with at least a B grade.

National University's master of arts in human behavior psychology suits students who plan to take on leadership positions, but it can also prepare learners for doctoral studies or to fulfill personal or career growth plans. Enrollees must complete at least 54 quarter credits to graduate. The program is based on four-week courses, allowing students to begin the program as quickly as possible. The schedule and structure are also designed to be military-friendly, and students in the armed forces have access to special support. 

As part of its antiracism and antidiscrimination statement, the school encourages community members to develop their capacity to oppose racism and intersectional oppression through reflection and critical learning.

The online master of psychology at Pepperdine can be completed in 18 months, making it one of the faster programs on this list. Students can attend on a full- or part-time basis. The curriculum includes just two electives, as well as the five foundation and nine core courses. Classes are mostly held on weeknights and occasional weekends. Applicants must have a bachelor's degree, but those without coursework in psychology in the last seven years must take a refresher course. Those with a GPA below 3.0 are asked to submit an explanation.

Purdue's online master's in psychology takes approximately two years to complete. Students can choose a concentration in addictions, forensic psychology, or in industrial/organizational psychology, or they can pursue a general program. The concentration in addictions is accredited by the National Addiction Studies Accreditation Commission. 

Please note that enrollees must pass a criminal background check for the addictions or industrial/organizational psychology concentrations. Students may choose between a capstone project and a master's thesis. If the program requires a practicum, learners are responsible for finding a site and making arrangements. 

Regent's online master's in psychology offers classes entirely online. Regent describes its graduates as mental health practitioners who combine science and faith in their practice. Students can choose addiction, cyberpsychology, industrial-organizational psychology, leadership coaching, or marriage and family as concentrations, or follow the doctoral preparation track. Tuition costs $695 per credit.

The program requires at least 39 credits, depending on the concentration. The addictions concentration includes the study of faith-based interventions, and the concentration in cyberpsychology is among the few available in this emerging area. 

Southern New Hampshire University's online master's in psychology offers three concentration options: child and development, forensic, and industrial-organizational. All programs require 36 credits, and students can transfer up to 12 credits toward completion. Each program ends with a capstone and seminar.

Classes are asynchronous, so learners can participate on their own schedule. Students without a background in psychology may be required to take up to three pre-requisite courses in psychology, statistics, and research methods. Tuition is $637 per credit. U.S. service members and spouses of those on active duty receive a 25% discount.

The University of Louisiana at Monroe's online master's in psychology requires applicants to have at least nine hours in undergraduate psychology, including at least three hours in statistics. Otherwise eligible students may take up to 12 credits of graduate programs while they complete these prerequisites. Applicants should have a 3.0 GPA or an equivalent of GPA and GRE scores. 

Students can complete the general psychology course or the forensics concentration entirely online but must complete a semester on-campus for the psychometrics concentration. A thesis is not required, but students considering a doctorate are encouraged to exercise that option.

The school is designated a Governor's Military and Veteran-Friendly Campus.

The University of Nevada-Las Vegas offers an online master of educational psychology degree. The school says that students can develop individualized programs that focus on the students' professional aspirations and interests. Students can pursue a thesis or a non-thesis track. Applicants should have a 2.75 GPA or a 3.0 GPA in their last two years. Applicants with scores at the 50th percentile or better on the verbal and quantitative GRE test receive preference.

The program requires 33 credits for completion. For a six-credit term, residents pay $2,808, including fees, while non-residents pay $5,080. The school offers limited scholarships for graduate students. 

The University of Oregon's online master's in psychology bridges the gap between researchers who perform translational work and practitioners. The program is not designed for general training in psychology and does not prepare graduates to become licensed. 

The curriculum takes six terms and 49 credits for completion. Applicants must have a degree in psychology or a related field, be an employee or volunteer in a community-based organization that provides social or mental health services, be familiar with psychology research methods, have a research goal or interest, and plan to advance their careers in a related field, such as social services, mental health, education, or healthcare. 

Tuition costs $592 per credit.