Top Industrial-Organizational Psychology Online Master’s Programs
Organizational psychologists are in demand. Discover the best online industrial-organizational psychology master’s programs to take the next step in your career.
A master’s degree in industrial-organizational psychology can prepare you for one of the highest-paying careers in psychology. Earning an online degree can save you time and money.
What should you look for in an online psych master’s program? Our guide to the best online industrial-organizational psychology programs walks you through everything you need to know.
Top Online Programs in Industrial-Organizational Psychology
New York University
- New York, NY
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- Accredited
Why We Chose This School:
New York University's master's in industrial-organizational psychology trains graduates to use a research-based, consultative approach to solving business problems. We appreciate the NYC-based program's integrative curriculum, which includes internships, network development, and team-based projects.
Specialization areas include conflict and negotiation, diversity and culture, executive coaching, and quality of work life. Designed for working professionals, the 36-credit program features primarily evening classes, full- or part-time enrollment, and a choice of a comprehensive exam or thesis. Students have five years to complete the requirements.
Applicants do not need a bachelor's in psychology to apply, but they do need prerequisite courses in introductory psychology and statistics (behavioral statistics preferred).
Highlights:
- Instructors are leaders in the field and hold a Ph.D.
- Small class sizes
- Students can continue working while earning their degree
Considerations:
- No online or distance courses
- No financial aid or scholarships offered by the department
- Limited graduate housing available
31%
$37,332
96%
$37,332
- Acceptance Rate
- 9%
- Students Enrolled
- 57,335
- Institution Type
- Private
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College
- New York, NY
- 4 year
- Campus
- Accredited
Why We Chose This School:
CUNY Bernard M. Baruch College offers a master's in industrial-organizational psychology that prepares practitioners and researchers focused on human behavior in the workplace. We like that students can enroll full or part time for in-person classes at the central Manhattan campus.
Graduation requires 36 credits, including required courses, a thesis, and electives in topics like motivation, performance management, survey research in organizations, emotions in the workplace, and group processes and high-performance work teams. Core courses cover the design of psychological research, applied statistical analysis for business decisions, and problems in I/O psychology.
Highlights:
- Affordable tuition rates
- GRE waived for 2025
Considerations:
- No online or distance courses
- Expensive off-campus living
53%
$11,090
88%
$20,520
- Acceptance Rate
- 51%
- Students Enrolled
- 19,698
- Institution Type
- Public
Rice University
- Houston, TX
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- Accredited
Why We Chose This School:
Located in Houston, Texas, Rice University offers a master of industrial-organizational psychology that spans two years of full-time study. We like the program's focus on scientific and practical knowledge about future workplaces using methodological and statistical skills. Students explore practicing in diverse and dynamic work environments, improving training in an aging workforce with greater technological demands, and facing challenges, such as mergers and acquisitions, AI, and automation.
The non-thesis degree program requires 44 credits and a project-based capstone experience course. Electives include foundations of social psychology, multivariate statistics, psychometrics, and foundations of individual differences.
Highlights:
- Concentrated, two-year program
- Variety of electives
- No thesis required
Considerations:
- Full-time study only
- No online or evening courses
- Enrollees cannot work full time while earning their degree
10%
$51,634
98%
$51,634
- Acceptance Rate
- 9%
- Students Enrolled
- 8,672
- Institution Type
- Private
University of Central Florida
- Orlando, FL
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- Accredited
Why We Chose This School:
The master's in industrial-organizational psychology at the University of Central Florida allows students to choose between thesis and non-thesis options. The full-time, 38-hour curriculum takes two years to complete at the school's Orlando campus. Non-thesis option enrollees still conduct research by working with a faculty member on a potentially publishable project or by submitting a client-facing or research project approved by the program's director.
We appreciate the focus on practical training throughout the program. Core courses include industrial-organizational psychology consulting practice; work motivation and job attitudes; psychological testing; and recruitment, placement, and selection.
Highlights:
- Affordable in-state tuition
- Thesis optional
- Graduate fellowships available
Considerations:
- Out of 120-130 applicants, only 16-18 accepted
- GRE scores, taken within the prior five years, required
- No online or part-time study options
9%
$ 6,916
92%
$25,759
- Acceptance Rate
- 43%
- Students Enrolled
- 68,842
- Institution Type
- Public
University of Georgia
- Athens, GA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- Accredited
Why We Chose This School:
The University of Georgia offers its master's in industrial-organizational psychology program at its Gwinnett campus in Lawrenceville. Students move through the two-year program as a cohort that includes two summer semesters. We like the blended in-person and online format that requires five on-campus course sessions per semester. In-person classes meet on weekends to accommodate working professionals.
The 36-credit curriculum includes electives in advanced analytics, diversity and teams, organizational change, and principles of leadership and a capstone completed during the second year. Enrollees learn to apply theory and analyze data to diagnose organizational issues and formulate evidence-based solutions.
Highlights:
- Courses taught by experienced practitioners and faculty
- First-year students can receive alumni mentorship
- Program respected by hiring managers in I-O psychology
Considerations:
- GRE scores required (waived with three years of professional work experience and a graduate degree or "B" undergrad GPA)
- No part-time study options
- Strict attendance policy and admission criteria
20%
$ 8,878
95%
$25,186
- Acceptance Rate
- 37%
- Students Enrolled
- 41,615
- Institution Type
- Public
DePaul University
- Chicago, IL
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- Accredited
Why We Chose This School:
Chicago-based DePaul University offers an industrial-organizational psychology graduate program that leads to a master of arts and a Ph.D. We like the program's focus on collaboration with faculty to develop and implement new research in the field. The four-year, cohort-based curriculum includes in-person classes held on DePaul's Lincoln Park campus and internships within the Chicago business community.
The master's portion comprises 18 courses and a thesis. The Ph.D. requires six courses and a dissertation. Learners can opt for a secondary specialization in communication, management, marketing, or women's and gender studies.
Highlights:
- Most students receive graduate assistantships with $30,000 stipends per academic year
- Industrial-organizational classes average 6-12 students
- Alumni network of 201,000 members
Considerations:
- No part-time or online study options
- Enrollees must earn both a master's and a doctorate
- Only three applicants typically admitted per cohort, based on grades, GRE scores, and recommendations
60%
$21,719
87%
$21,719
- Acceptance Rate
- 74%
- Students Enrolled
- 21,348
- Institution Type
- Private
San Jose State University
- San Jose, CA
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- Accredited
Why We Chose This School:
We like San Jose State University's master's in industrial-organizational psychology because it focuses on a scientist-practitioner model. The program prepares graduates to become strong thinkers and problem solvers who can apply theory and methods to professional situations.
The curriculum includes internships at Silicon Valley companies, including Adobe, Google, LinkedIn, and Nvidia. Graduates may find permanent positions at these organizations or pursue doctoral study. The in-person, 30-credit program takes two years to complete. Some students work part time, but full-time employment is discouraged. Graduation requires the completion of a master's thesis.
Highlights:
- Affordable tuition rates
- GRE not required for admission
- 93% of students successfully complete the program
Considerations:
- No part-time or online study options
- No tuition waivers or assistantships
- Requires an undergraduate degree or extensive coursework in psychology
71%
$ 7,176
86%
$16,680
- Acceptance Rate
- 80%
- Students Enrolled
- 36,062
- Institution Type
- Public
Fairfield University
- Fairfield, CT
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- Accredited
Why We Chose This School:
The industrial-organizational psychology master's program at Fairfield University offers classes at its Fairfield, Connecticut campus. Full-time enrollees can complete the program in 24 months, but we appreciate that Fairfield also offers a part-time study option, along with an accelerated, five-year integrated bachelor's and master's track.
In addition to required industrial-organizational psychology coursework, both the 36-credit master's curriculum and the five-year, accelerated track include supervised fieldwork placements. Students can pursue electives in areas that include conflict communication, cross-cultural management and sustainability leadership, perspectives and theories in organizational communication, and small group and team communication.
Highlights:
- GRE not required for admissions
- Courses offered in the evening or on weekends to accommodate working professionals
- Rolling admissions
Considerations:
- No online study options
- Graduation requires a comprehensive exam
21%
$20,034
90%
$20,034
- Acceptance Rate
- 45%
- Students Enrolled
- 6,289
- Institution Type
- Private
Southern Methodist University
- Dallas, TX
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- Accredited
Why We Chose This School:
Southern Methodist University's master's in organizational psychology offers an accelerated, 1.5-year pathway for SMU undergraduates. The 36-credit, cohort-based curriculum requires full-time attendance at the Dallas, Texas, campus. Core classes are only scheduled on weekdays and include topics in advanced applied social psychology, people and organizational analytics, and strategic management in human capital.
Learners also complete full-time, paid summer internships. We like that students benefit from long-term relationships between the school and internship organizations and from the professional opportunities available to graduates in Dallas.
Highlights:
- No thesis required to graduate
- GRE not required for admission
Considerations:
- No part-time or online study options
- Bachelor's degree-holders from other schools may be admitted on a space-available basis
- Working full-time discouraged
13%
$31,590
90%
$31,590
- Acceptance Rate
- 61%
- Students Enrolled
- 11,842
- Institution Type
- Private
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
- Charlotte, NC
- 4 year
- Campus + Online
- Accredited
Why We Chose This School:
We like that the University of North Carolina at Charlotte's industrial-organizational master's program is guided by five foundational elements: leadership, organizational change and development, talent, culture/climate, and analytics. In addition, evening and weekend classes at the school's uptown Charlotte campus accommodate working professionals in industrial-organizational psychology-related fields. The program admits new cohorts in the fall of even years.
The two-year curriculum offers classes in competency modeling, job attitudes, succession planning, and talent management. Internships are not required, as most students are already employed in industrial-organizational-related positions.
Highlights:
- Standardized test score admission requirements waived
- Six graduate transfer credits may be accepted
- The most affordable tuition among the schools on this list
Considerations:
- No online study options
- Graduation requires a comprehensive exam
- No internship placement
56%
$ 4,337
84%
$18,482
- Acceptance Rate
- 80%
- Students Enrolled
- 30,298
- Institution Type
- Public
How to Choose an Online Industrial-Organizational Psychology Program
Start by narrowing your search to accredited institutions, and then consider factors such as admission requirements, specializations, and cost.
Accreditation
Accreditation recognizes universities that provide a high-quality education. Earning a degree from an accredited school ensures you are eligible for federal financial aid and jobs, licenses, or certifications after graduation. Psychology graduate students should always choose an accredited institution.
Admission Requirements
Many industrial-organizational psychology master’s programs have similar admission requirements, but it’s important to ensure you qualify for the program. Make sure you meet GPA and undergraduate course requirements before applying. Some programs require letters of recommendation and/or standardized test scores while others do not.
Career Relevance
Review the course requirements, faculty, and graduate placements to determine whether a program matches your professional goals. An I-O psychology master’s can lead to career opportunities in human resources, talent acquisition, management consulting, and training and development. When choosing a program, consider whether courses and specializations align with your professional goals.
Flexibility
Online psychology programs use a variety of delivery formats, including asynchronous classes with no set meeting times and synchronous classes with live sessions. Review a program’s format to decide which one best matches your need for flexibility and learning style.
Cost and Financial Aid
Loans, grants, and scholarships can help offset the overall cost of your degree. The first step in determining your financial aid eligibility is to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Universities and organizations also provide scholarships to qualified students based on need or merit.
How to Apply to an Online Industrial-Organizational Psychology Program
The process of getting into an industrial-organizational psychology program starts years before you fill out the application. You typically need a bachelor’s degree, letters of recommendation, and standardized test scores before applying. Keep in mind that the application process varies depending on the program, so make sure to review specific requirements carefully.
- Step 1: Earn a Bachelor’s Degree
Before applying to a master’s program, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree. While most colleges do not offer a bachelor’s in industrial-organizational psychology, earning a psychology degree or a social science field provides a strong foundation for graduate study.
- Step 2: Meet GPA and GRE Requirements
Psychology graduate programs may set a minimum required or recommended GPA. You may also need to meet prerequisite course requirements, such as undergraduate psychology courses. Finally, many psychology programs require GRE scores, which typically expire after five years. More competitive programs often expect higher GPAs and GRE scores from applicants.
- Step 3: Personal Statement
Most programs require a personal statement. This statement should explain your preparation for graduate-level study in psychology and your reasons for pursuing a master’s in industrial-organizational psychology. Including specifics about the program and its faculty can strengthen your argument for an admission offer.
- Step 4: Letters of Recommendation
Industrial-organizational psychology programs often ask for 1-3 letters of recommendation. These letters can come from professors, supervisors, or mentors. Specifically, letter writers should speak to your strengths and ability to succeed at the graduate level. Make sure to ask your letter writers several weeks before the deadline and provide a copy of your personal statement.
- Step 5: Submit Completed Application
Submitting your application is the final step to apply to an industrial-organizational master’s program. Some programs may conduct interviews as part of the admission process. After you submit the application, make sure to submit FAFSA and scholarship applications to help pay for your graduate degree.
Frequently Asked Questions
A master’s in industrial-organizational psychology can prepare you for high-paying, in-demand careers. These psychologists earn a median pay of $109,840 with 6% projected job growth from 2024-2034, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLA).
