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Psychology Schools in New Jersey

The following guide to psychology schools in New Jersey includes profiles of specific undergraduate and graduate psychology programs, and is designed to help you find the psychology program that matches your goals.

Table of Contents

New Jersey Psychology School Facts

Nationally Ranked Top Psychology Programs in New Jersey

Our curated list of third-party and proprietary rankings can be useful in measuring the overall value and reputation of a program. Lists include College Factual, Psychology Degree 411, The Princeton Review, and Times Higher Education. Note if one of these lists is not present below, no schools in the state were named on it. Generally, schools and programs ranked on multiple lists tend to be stronger in academic quality.

Schools Ranked on Multiple Lists

  • Kean University
  • Felician University
  • Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus
  • Georgian Court University
  • Montclair State University
  • Princeton University
  • Ramapo College of New Jersey
  • Rowan University
  • Rutgers University-Newark
  • Rutgers University-New Brunswick
  • Saint Peter’s University
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey

College Factual’s Best Psychology Schools 2024

  • Rutgers University-New Brunswick (#63)
  • Rutgers University-Newark (#167)2

The Princeton Review’s Great Schools for Psychology Majors 2024

  • Princeton University
  • Rowan University4

Times Higher Education’s Best Universities for Psychology 2023

  • Princeton University (#3)
  • Rutgers University-New Brunswick (#126-150)5

Lowest-Priced Schools With a Bachelor’s in Psychology

The following New Jersey schools with bachelor’s degrees in psychology have the lowest average net prices. Please note that we grouped regional campuses together and included a range for the net price of these schools. We have included each school’s graduation rate, a key quality metric.

  • Kean University ($10,747 / Grad rate: 51%)
  • Saint Peter’s University ($11,996 / Grad rate: 60%)
  • William Paterson University of New Jersey ($10,747 / Grad rate: 51%)
  • Montclair State University ($13,742 / Grad rate: 65%)
  • Rutgers University Regional Campuses ($14,151-$17,535 / Grad rate: 65%-84%)
  • Felician University ($15,743 / Grad rate: 52%)
  • Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus ($16,030 / Grad rate: 51%)
  • Ramapo College of New Jersey ($16,262 / Grad rate: 70%)
  • Ana G. Mendez University ($17,726 / Grad rate: N.Av.)
  • Georgian Court University ($18,187 / Grad rate: 54%)1

Top 15 Bachelor’s in Psychology Programs in New Jersey

This table compares the top 15 bachelor’s in psychology programs from not-for-profit schools in New Jersey based on a graduation rate above 50% and an annual net price of below $21,000. A high graduation rate is a top indicator of student success, and affordability is a key consideration for prospective undergrad students. Programs in bold text offer hybrid or online options.

SchoolGrad Rate*1Accept Rate1Median Debt*6Median Earnings*6Full Price In State1Full Price Out of State1Net Price*1
Kean University51%83%$23,250$52,714$27,806$35,198$10,747
Saint Peter’s University60%89%$20,500$52,442$56,998$56,998$11,996
William Paterson University of New Jersey56%92%$22,334$52,855$27,784$36,784$12,967
Montclair State University65%91%$22,000$57,008$29,932$38,642$13,742
Rutgers University-Camden65%77%$21,500$69,748$29,035$46,735$14,151
Felician University52%89%$25,000$55,992$50,070$50,070$15,743
Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus51%84%$25,000$57,054$49,992$49,992$16,030
Ramapo College of New Jersey70%70%$21,000$62,810$30,891$40,901$16,262
Rutgers University-Newark66%74%$21,500$69,748$29,991$47,691$16,578
Rutgers University-New Brunswick84%66%$21,500$69,748$30,172$47,872$17,535
Georgian Court University54%76%$21,816$47,161$47,812$47,812$18,187
Stockton University76%86%$20,500$54,393$28,752$36,486$18,515
Princeton University97%6%$10,320$110,433$76,040$76,040$18,698
Caldwell University68%66%$25,000$53,908$51,449$51,449$20,612
Rowan University68%77%$20,500$56,115$30,908$40,301$20,963

*See Table Notes at bottom of page.

Comparison of All Graduate Psychology Programs in New Jersey

This table compares all of New Jersey’s graduate-level psychology programs from not-for-profit schools on multiple factors.

We’ve included accreditation status by the American Psychological Association (APA), the Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC), and the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). We also highlight the levels offered, 2020-2022 pass rates for the Examination for Professional Practice of Psychology (EPPP), and tuition information. Note EPPP scores are reported by degree type (clinical, counseling, or school psychology) and level (PhD or PsyD), so some schools may be listed more than once to include all pass rates. Schools in bold text offer hybrid or online options. Tuition per credit hour is more relevant for master’s and PsyD programs due to the fact that PhD students typically receive more program-awarded funding.

SchoolAccreditation7-10Levels OfferedEPPP Pass Rate 2020-2211EPPP # Taking 2020-2211Grad Tuition Per Credit Hour
Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham CampusAPA, NASPMA75%59$1,026
Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan CampusAPA, NASPMA, PhD, PsyD78%51$1,026
Felician UniversityAPA, MPCACMA, PsyD$985
Georgian Court UniversityNASPMA$985
Kean UniversityAPA, NASPMA, PsyD72%29$815
Montclair State UniversityAPA, NASPMA, PhD$809
Princeton UniversityPhDN.Av.
Rider UniversityNASPMA, EdS$1,020
Rowan UniversityAPA, NASPEdS$933
Rutgers University-New Brunswick (Clinical PhD)APA, NASPMS, PhD, PsyD100%13$1,005
Rutgers University-New Brunswick (Clinical PsyD)APA, NASPMS, PhD, PsyD95%42$1,005
Rutgers University-New Brunswick (School-PsyD)APA, NASPMS, PhD, PsyD81%53$1,005
Saint Elizabeth UniversityAPAMA, PsyD8%13$1,001
Saint Peter’s UniversityMA, MS$695
Seton Hall UniversityAPAMA, EdS, PhD55%11$1,520
William Paterson University of New JerseyAPA, MPCACMA, PsyD67%9$876

New Jersey Schools With Psychology Programs

Note: Student Reviews are based on the experiences of a few individuals and not everyone has the same results. Please review the “Data, Student Reviews, and Other Information” section in our Terms of Use and Disclaimers.

Saint Elizabeth University
2 Convent Rd
Morristown, NJ 07960
(973) 290-4000
https://www.steu.edu/

Student Review: “The Saint Elizabeth University Psychology program was interesting and I learned a lot. The professors were great and the school itself was a nice and warming environment. The only thing that I do not enjoy about the field of psychology itself is that with an undergraduates degree there is not much work afterward that I can find. Most organizations ask for a masters degree or higher. I chose this subject to study because I figured that it is a broad subject and many different things can be done with this degree, however, after completion, this has not been the case for me. The college did not assist much with job placement and throughout my schooling there, there were not many one-to-one meetings or help as far as guidance or support. I was interested in furthering my education however, it seemed as if i was alone in the process with many questions and concerns that were not considered. Again, the school itself has a great program and I learned many things, however, for the money spent on my education, I feel as though I could have gotten further if I went elsewhere. It seems to me that this school is more concerned with money and not so much with each students success.” – Student at Saint Elizabeth University
stars-2

Essex County College
303 University Ave
Newark, NJ 07102
(973) 877-3000
https://www.essex.edu/

Student Review: “Attending school at Essex County College has been one of the best experiences of my life. The psychology program they offer is amazing. Not only did I gain valuable information that would help me to have a successful career and go on to do good things in life. It helped me to grow as a person. Every single professor I have had here has been very attentive and friendly and most will go out of the way to help you out if you are having difficulty with something. They had an open-door policy and it was one of the best things about attending school there.” – Student at Essex County College
stars-4

Student Review: “I really enjoy my complete experience at Essex, from the time I applied all the way through the placements tests, the financial aid process and picking my classes. Everyone here is so helpful and you really feel like they want you to succeed. And on top of all the great people I met, staff and students, I had one of the best professors ever. Psychology was a really hard subject and I passed her class with an “A”. She really wants you to understand the topics fully and doesn’t mind repeating herself over and over again. This is one of the best psychology departments around and I really felt like I had a great learning experience here.” – Student at Essex County College
stars-5

Kean University
1000 Morris Ave
Union, NJ 07083
(908) 737-5326
https://www.kean.edu/

Student Review: “My experience with the biology program at Kean University was good overall. I had mostly positive experiences although there were a few aspects that I disliked. Some of the things I enjoyed about Kean were the quality and prestige of the classes, program, and school. Many of my professors were renowned and respected within their field. I also liked the quality of the labs. The equipment we used was state-of-the-art. Also, the techniques we were practicing were very complex and current. I had spoken with friends enrolled in other schools. The labs they took part in were almost always a simplified form of what I had done. I also liked the diversity of the student body. The campus itself was beautiful and well maintained. The aspects of Kean that I disliked were based on the fact that it was such a large school. One-on-one time with professors was almost impossible. I had classes with 300+ students. Also, getting guidance from counselors was very difficult and often not helpful.” -Student at Kean University
stars-3

Rowan University
201 Mullica Hill Rd
Glassboro, NJ 08028
(856) 256-4000
https://www.rowan.edu/

Student Review: “I really enjoyed studying Psychology at Rowan. Some professors were more difficult than others, but the majority of the work was challenging. Rowan offers a variety of courses so that students can learn about psychology from many different perspectives. Both the professors and the head of the department offered internship and research opportunities to help students get a foot in the door and work in the field. The professors were very informative, knowledgeable and helpful and it was a great experience to be able to learn from individuals who are so passionate about psychology. While the psychology program is excellent, I am not a fan of Rowan’s servers and web-based tools. Rowan runs Blackboard, and while it is a decent tool for professors and students alike, I feel that it has a lot of downtime and they change the interface too often. They recently changed servers as well and students now have to change their passwords every 120 days which I feel can be a bit of an inconvenience.” – Student at Rowan University
stars-5

Rutgers University
7 College Ave
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
(732) 445-4636
https://www.stockton.edu/

Student Review: “Rutgers University’s psychology program really prepared me for what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. Going into college, I was so unsure about what route I exactly wanted to follow. I took a general psychology class, and from there I was hooked. Not only did I love the subject I was studying, but I also loved the faculty in the psychology department. I was able to do research on preschoolers, and be a TA for one of my professors. The department also offered great advising and really helped you decide which aspect of psychology you wanted to focus on – clinical, counseling, school, etc. Overall, this program prepared me for graduate-level psychology courses.” – Student at Rutgers University
stars-5

Student Review: “The Rutger’s psychology program is very detailed and analytical – using research-based skill set for students to learn in the curriculum. Personally, I loved every aspect of the program. For one, every teacher has a degree related to the teaching subject. No adjuncts taught any of my classes, only professional professors in which mentorship can be sought after. All TA’s (teaching assistants), are grad students mentoring within the related field of study. Lastly, I am grateful for the various research assistant opportunities that help students like myself gain hands-on knowledge in the direct field. With similar such opportunities, students of Rutgers have a chance to add important information and experience to their CV for future use – definitely, an added benefit of attending a researched-based school. ” – Student at Rutgers University
stars-5

Student Review: “Rutgers University-New Brunswick’s psychology program was not as helpful to my future as I had hoped it would be. While I was warned that pursuing an undergraduate degree in psychology would be a waste of time and money, the field interested me immensely. While the diverse catalog of classes covered many subdivisions of the field, they were just too large to really connect with the professor, other students, and in most cases, the material itself. There was no room for question and answers or discussion in class, and professors offered limited office hours for out of class meetings. Assigned textbook readings and long multiple-choice exams were the norms, writing or reading scholarly papers was not generally required. And because the psychology program was so large, there was very little opportunity to apply any skills I learned in a real setting. Anything I happened to learn from classes and my one externship was completely useless in any jobs I obtained in the psychology field once I graduated. If the program was smaller and more interactive, it would be a psychology program worth the time and money.” – Student at Rutgers University
stars-2

Student Review: “Enrolling in the Rutgers University psychology program was an amazing experience for me. While enrolled in the program, I made connections with professors that helped me get into a graduate program, where I eventually earned my master’s degree. The professors invited students to their home for holiday parties, where I was exposed to top professionals in the field, and given an opportunity to network. I learned more from these parties and informal exchanges with friendly professors about the true ins and outs of the profession, which I could never have learned in any purely academic setting. Also, while attending the Rutgers psychology program I was able to create and perform unique research experiments and was given access to a body of willing research participants. The program really prepared me to make money in my chosen field.” – Student at Rutgers University
stars-5

The Richard Stockton College of NJ
101 Vera King Farris Dr
Galloway, NJ 08205
(609) 652-1776
https://www.stockton.edu/

Student Review: “The psychology program at Stockton is enriched with knowledgeable professors with substantial research and clinical experience. I enjoyed learning from each professor and building close personal relationships with the psychology faculty. The recently renovated psychology labs for research experiments open opportunities for those interested in studying many different areas of the field, particularly neuroscience. The unique forensic psychology track (which I was in) offers students interested in the intersection between the social sciences and law enforcement the opportunity to take criminal justice classes with licensed forensic psychologists. This is a unique feature of the program that attracts many students while exposing them to the other fields in the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences.” – Student at The Richard Stockton College of NJ
stars-4

Thomas Edison State College
101 W State St
Trenton, NJ 08608
(888) 442-8372
https://www.tesu.edu/

Student Review: “I went to Thomas Edison College because they were the least expensive of my choices. Unfortunately, you get what you pay for. Most of the learning was completely on your own with no advisement from the instructors. Instructors were slow to respond to questions (in any form, even email) and at times never responded at all. There was very little guidance from start to finish including when I wanted to get assistance with my financial aid forms and class registration. I was very disappointed in their level of instruction. Also, I found their learning materials (such as books, etc.) to be extremely high-priced compared to other colleges prices for the same material.” – Student at Thomas Edison State College
stars-2

*Table Notes:
-N.Av. indicates data is not available.
-Metrics are institution-wide unless otherwise noted.
-Graduation rate is completion percentage within six years of start.
-Median (average) debt is cumulative federal loan debt for undergraduate completers in 2020-2021.
-Median earnings are from the 2020-2021 cohort 10 years post school entry.
-Net price is the average yearly price paid by full-time, first-year undergraduate students receiving financial aid. See NCES for more in-depth information.

References:
1. National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
2. College Factual, Best Colleges Offering Degrees in Psychology (Nationwide): https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/psychology/rankings/top-ranked/#
3. Psychology Degree 411 Top Schools With Online Psychology Programs: https://www.psychologydegree411.com/degrees/online/
4. The Princeton Review. The Best 388 Colleges, 2023 Edition. The Princeton Review, 2022.
5. Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023 – Psychology: https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/2023/subject-ranking/psychology
6. Department of Education College Scorecard: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/
7. American Psychological Association Accredited Programs: https://accreditation.apa.org/accredited-programs
8. Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs, Directory: https://www.cacrep.org/directory/
9. Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council Accredited Programs: https://mpcacaccreditation.org/accredited-programs/
10. National Association for School Psychologists, Approved Programs: https://apps.nasponline.org/standards-and-certification/graduate-program-approval-and-accreditation/approved-accredited.aspx
11. The Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards, 2023 Psychology Licensing Exam Scores by Doctoral Program: https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.asppb.net/resource/resmgr/eppp_/doctoralreportoct2023.pdf