Psychology Schools in Wisconsin
The following guide to psychology schools in Wisconsin is designed to help you decide which program is ideal for your academic and career goals.
Table of Contents
- Wisconsin Psychology School Facts
- Top-Ranked Psychology Programs
- Top 25 Bachelor’s in Psychology Programs
- Graduate Psychology Program Comparison
- Related Articles
- Student Reviews
Wisconsin Psychology School Facts
- There are 33 not-for-profit colleges and universities with psychology degree programs in Wisconsin.1
- No schools offer an associate degree in psychology.1
- 31 schools offer a bachelor’s degree in psychology.1
- 12 schools offer a master’s or advanced degree in psychology.1
- 3 schools ranked in College Factual’s Best General Psychology Schools 2024.2
- No schools ranked in Psychology Degree 411’s Top Schools With Online Psychology Programs.3
- No schools ranked in The Princeton Review’s Great Schools for Psychology Majors 2024.4
- 1 school ranked in Times Higher Education’s Best Universities for Psychology 2023.5
- 10 schools ranked in Lowest-Priced Schools With a Bachelor’s in Psychology.1
Nationally Ranked Top Psychology Programs in Wisconsin
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
- Alverno College
- Beloit College
- Concordia University-Wisconsin
- Lakeland University
- Mount Mary University
- Northland College
- Ripon College
- University of Wisconsin Regional Campuses
- Viterbo University
- Wisconsin Lutheran College
College Factual’s Best Psychology Schools 2024
- University of Wisconsin-Madison (#8)
- Marquette University (#58)
- University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (#133)2
Times Higher Education’s Best Universities for Psychology 2023
- University of Wisconsin-Madison (#39)5
Lowest-Priced Schools With a Bachelor’s in Psychology
The following Wisconsin 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.
- University of Wisconsin Regional Campuses ($8,510-$16,551 / Grad rate: 40%-89%)
- Alverno College ($18,097 / Grad rate: 53%)
- Beloit College ($20,192 / Grad rate: 71%)
- Lakeland University ($21,611 / Grad rate: 52%)
- Ripon College ($21,999 / Grad rate: 56%)
- Wisconsin Lutheran College ($22,682 / Grad rate: 67%)
- Mount Mary University ($22,897 / Grad rate: 60%)
- Northland College ($23,252 / Grad rate: 54%)
- Viterbo University ($23,257 / Grad rate: 61%)
- Concordia University-Wisconsin ($24,485 / Grad rate: 66%)1
Top 25 Bachelor’s in Psychology Programs in Wisconsin
This table compares the top 25 bachelor’s in psychology programs from not-for-profit schools in Wisconsin based on a graduation rate above 50% and an annual net price below $28,500. 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.
| School | Grad Rate*1 | Accept Rate1 | Median Debt*6 | Median Earnings*6 | Full Price In State1 | Full Price Out of State1 | Net Price*1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Wisconsin-Green Bay | 52% | 90% | $18,500 | $49,099 | $15,507 | $23,725 | $11,365 |
| University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh | 58% | 89% | $21,500 | $51,418 | $16,689 | $24,262 | $12,827 |
| University of Wisconsin-La Crosse | 70% | 74% | $22,500 | $57,125 | $16,174 | $24,993 | $13,130 |
| University of Wisconsin-Whitewater | 62% | 82% | $23,188 | $52,316 | $15,754 | $24,929 | $13,322 |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison | 89% | 49% | $20,484 | $70,586 | $23,690 | $52,321 | $13,376 |
| University of Wisconsin-River Falls | 59% | 84% | $20,500 | $50,940 | $16,229 | $24,222 | $13,427 |
| University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point | 56% | 89% | $21,503 | $48,872 | $16,376 | $25,080 | $13,702 |
| University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire | 65% | 77% | $20,909 | $55,619 | $17,928 | $26,641 | $15,000 |
| University of Wisconsin-Stout | 52% | 86% | $23,000 | $56,554 | $18,061 | $26,328 | $15,510 |
| University of Wisconsin-Platteville | 61% | 85% | $21,977 | $55,720 | $15,934 | $24,872 | $15,595 |
| Alverno College | 53% | 90% | $27,000 | $48,547 | $40,478 | $40,478 | $18,097 |
| Beloit College | 71% | 66% | $25,738 | $53,720 | $66,642 | $66,642 | $20,192 |
| Lakeland University | 52% | 100% | $25,000 | $52,878 | $42,564 | $42,564 | $21,611 |
| Ripon College | 56% | 81% | $27,000 | $51,436 | $59,090 | $59,090 | $21,999 |
| Wisconsin Lutheran College | 67% | 94% | $26,000 | $51,291 | $45,142 | $45,142 | $22,682 |
| Mount Mary University | 60% | 69% | $25,288 | $47,959 | $43,220 | $43,220 | $22,897 |
| Northland College | 54% | 68% | $25,450 | $42,687 | $50,925 | $50,925 | $23,252 |
| Viterbo University | 61% | 72% | $25,000 | $52,502 | $41,410 | $41,410 | $23,257 |
| Concordia University-Wisconsin | 66% | 70% | $25,750 | $51,567 | $45,222 | $45,222 | $24,485 |
| Marian University | 51% | 72% | $25,000 | $53,441 | $38,290 | $38,290 | $25,394 |
| Carroll University | 67% | 72% | $27,000 | $52,782 | $47,754 | $47,754 | $25,485 |
| Carthage College | 65% | 82% | $26,000 | $56,427 | $47,148 | $47,148 | $26,209 |
| Lawrence University | 78% | 72% | $26,000 | $50,848 | $65,499 | $65,499 | $26,368 |
| Saint Norbert College | 72% | 84% | $26,731 | $54,223 | $55,406 | $55,406 | $26,983 |
| Edgewood College | 62% | 99% | $24,424 | $55,742 | $45,670 | $45,670 | $28,189 |
*See Table Notes at bottom of page.
Comparison of All Graduate Psychology Programs in Wisconsin
This table compares all of Wisconsin’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.
| School | Accreditation7-10 | Levels Offered | EPPP Pass Rate 2020-2211 | EPPP # Taking 2020-2211 | Grad Tuition Per Credit Hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alverno College | NASP | MS, EdS | — | — | $866 |
| Marquette University (Clinical-PhD) | APA | MS, PhD | 67% | 6 | $1,295 |
| Marquette University (Counseling-PhD) | APA | MS, PhD | 92% | 13 | $1,295 |
| University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire | NASP | MS, EdS | — | — | $562 |
| University of Wisconsin-Green Bay | — | MS | — | — | $552 |
| University of Wisconsin-La Crosse | NASP | MS, EdS | — | — | $575 |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison (Clinical-PhD) | APA, NASP | MS, EdS, PhD | 91% | 11 | $675 |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison (Counseling-PhD) | APA, NASP | MS, EdS, PhD | 87% | 15 | $675 |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison (School-PhD) | APA, NASP | MS, EdS, PhD | 92% | 12 | $675 |
| University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (Clinical-PhD) | APA, NASP | MS, EdS, PhD | 100% | 17 | $1,359 |
| University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (Counseling-PhD) | APA, NASP | MS, EdS, PhD | 56% | 16 | $1,359 |
| University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh | — | MS | — | — | $538 |
| University of Wisconsin-River Falls | NASP | MS, EdS | — | — | $505 |
| University of Wisconsin-Stout | NASP | MS, EdS | — | — | $426 |
| University of Wisconsin-Whitewater | NASP | MS, EdS | — | — | $467 |
| Wisconsin School of Professional Psychology | APA | MS, PsyD | 78% | 23 | $1,150 |
Related Articles
- Degree Levels Overview: Associate to PhD
- Wisconsin Licensure Guide
- Top Online Bachelor’s Programs Ranking
- Psychology Careers by Degree Level
Wisconsin 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.
Carthage College
2001 Alford Park Dr
Kenosha, WI 53140
(262) 551-8500
https://www.carthage.edu/
Student Review: “Overall, I really enjoyed my time at Carthage College. I wasn’t sure of my major when I first attended classes as a transfer student but quickly decided on psychology after meeting some of the faculty. The majority weren’t just lecturers – they actually encouraged us to find an area within the field of psychology that actually interested us. I especially enjoyed experimental psych which explored both human and animal behavior, using reliable scientific methodology. I thought this was quite a change from other schools that I had attended before (boring lectures straight from the text), and they sincerely took part in advising projects that I designed. As a non-traditional student who had kids at home, they were also understanding when I had to leave in a hurry, so long as I completed my work on time (which I did). I’d definitely recommend Carthage to anyone!” – Student at Carthage College
University of Wisconsin
Madison, WI 53706
(608) 263-2400
https://www.wisc.edu/
Student Review: “The undergraduate Psychology program at UW-Madison is very strong in its wealth of opportunities and the variety of classes that are offered to students. The faculty were very approachable and you can immediately tell that they are passionate about the field of Psychology and extremely knowledgeable in the topics that they teach. They are always open to discussing research opportunities and welcome new students to apply to work in their labs. There are so many research opportunities for undergraduates that every student is bound to find a lab that suits their research interests. Furthermore, the Psychology department also offers a variety of career sessions that featured panelists from different divisions within Psychology including I/O Psychology, Counseling, Clinical, Social Work, Rehabilitation and School Psychology. The only aspect I felt the program lacked was communication between the department and students. While there are hundreds of opportunities available, these opportunities were not always advertised to students and were difficult to find. The program also lacks active student organizations that focus on the field of Psychology. While there were several Psychology based student organizations, most of them were not very active, had very few members, and I often did not feel like it was worth my time to attend any of the meetings.” – Student at University of Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Milwaukee, WI 53211
(414) 229-1122
https://uwm.edu/
Student Review: “I absolutely love being a student at UW-Milwaukee! UWM’s psychology program is both challenging and interesting. The course load is designed to make sure that you have a broad knowledge of psychology while still giving you room to focus on an area of specialty or interest. The professors are all very knowledgeable and understanding. Many of them use different learning techniques, so the classroom is never boring. It also helps that the class size is usually below 100 students. Individual assistance is always available, either through your professor or one of the many academic centers on campus. I, personally, love the online psych classes. They give me an opportunity to fulfill credits while staying at home. The online psychopathology course was amazing! I highly recommend it.” – Student at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
*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