Best Online and Campus Psychology Schools in Alabama
This guide to psychology schools in Alabama is designed to provide you with information to help you make an informed decision on the best psychology program in the state for your academic and career goals.
Table of Contents
- Alabama Psychology School Facts
- Top-Ranked Psychology Programs
- Top 10 Bachelor’s in Psychology Programs
- Graduate Psychology Program Comparison
- Related Articles
- Student Reviews
Alabama Psychology School Facts
- There are 24 not-for-profit colleges and universities with psychology degree programs in Alabama.1
- No schools offer an associate degree in psychology.1
- 24 schools offer a bachelor’s degree in psychology.1
- 9 schools offer a master’s or advanced degree in psychology.1
- 3 schools ranked in College Factual’s Best General Psychology Schools 2024.2
- 1 school 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
- No schools ranked in Times Higher Education’s Best Universities for Psychology 2023.5
- 10 schools ranked in Most Affordable Schools With a Bachelor’s in Psychology.1
Nationally Ranked Top Psychology Programs in Alabama
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
- Auburn University
- University of Alabama
- University of Alabama at Birmingham
- University of North Alabama
College Factual’s Best Psychology Schools 2024
- University of Alabama (#55)
- Auburn University (#93)
- University of Alabama at Birmingham (#154)2
Psychology Degree 411’s Top Schools With Online Psychology Programs
- University of Alabama Birmingham (#8)3
Most Affordable Schools With a Bachelor’s in Psychology
The following Alabama schools with bachelor’s degrees in psychology have the lowest average net prices. We have included each school’s graduation rate, a key quality metric.
- University of North Alabama ($9,837 / Grad rate: 52%)
- Jacksonville State University ($11,953 / Grad rate: 52%)
- Talladega College ($12,360 / Grad rate: 35%)
- Auburn University at Montgomery ($13,163 / Grad rate: 36%)
- Alabama State University ($13,176 / Grad rate: 28%)
- Troy University ($13,187 / Grad rate: 46%)
- University of West Alabama ($13,786 / Grad rate: 38%)
- Alabama A&M University ($14,600 / Grad rate: 27%)
- Stillman College ($15,574 / Grad rate: 25%)
- University of South Alabama ($15,664 / Grad rate: 48%)1
Top 10 Bachelor’s in Psychology Programs in Alabama
This table compares the top 10 bachelor’s in psychology programs from not-for-profit schools in Alabama based on a graduation rate of 50% or above and an annual net price below $26,000. 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.
| 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 North Alabama | 52% | 96% | $22,077 | $42,601 | $18,950 | $29,150 | $9,837 |
| Jacksonville State University | 52% | 78% | $22,189 | $41,504 | $20,592 | $30,552 | $11,953 |
| University of Alabama at Birmingham | 64% | 87% | $22,300 | $50,907 | $21,952 | $34,336 | $16,834 |
| University of Montevallo | 55% | 60% | $24,000 | $40,439 | $23,845 | $36,865 | $17,421 |
| University of Alabama in Huntsville | 63% | 78% | $20,705 | $56,901 | $23,000 | $35,892 | $18,588 |
| The University of Alabama | 73% | 80% | $22,750 | $56,118 | $26,466 | $46,726 | $20,592 |
| Spring Hill College | 62% | 73% | $27,000 | $51,166 | $33,516 | $33,516 | $21,018 |
| Birmingham-Southern College | 65% | 57% | $25,000 | $55,236 | $35,250 | $35,250 | $21,153 |
| Huntingdon College | 50% | 66% | $27,000 | $47,328 | $39,122 | $39,122 | $23,662 |
| Auburn University | 81% | 44% | $21,000 | $61,042 | $27,174 | $47,958 | $25,271 |
*See Table Notes at bottom of page.
Comparison of All Graduate Psychology Programs in Alabama
This table compares all of Alabama’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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama A&M University | — | MS | — | — | $422 |
| Auburn University (Clinical PhD) | APA | PhD | 95% | 19 | $594 |
| Auburn University (Counseling PhD) | APA | PhD | 78% | 18 | $594 |
| Auburn University at Montgomery | — | MS | — | — | $451 |
| The University of Alabama | APA, NASP | MA, EdS, PhD | 91% | 22 | $635 |
| Troy University | — | MS | — | — | $475 |
| University of Alabama at Birmingham | APA | EdS, PhD | 100% | 16 | $468 |
| University of Alabama in Huntsville | — | MA, PhD | — | — | $678 |
| University of South Alabama | APA | MS, PhD | 86% | 22 | $480 |
| University of West Alabama | — | MS | — | — | $429 |
Related Articles
- Degree Levels Overview: Associate to PhD
- Alabama Licensure Guide
- Top Online Bachelor’s Programs Ranking
- Psychology Careers by Degree Level
Alabama 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.
Auburn University
Auburn, AL 36849
(334) 844-4000
https://www.auburn.edu/
Student Review: “The Psychology program at Auburn University provided a great foundation for me to pursue career fields within the psychology degree field. I enjoyed the fact that the degree was structured in a way that allowed me to choose the field of study within psychology that I wanted to pursue instead of taking classes that were not applicable to me. I found most professors were knowledgeable and passionate about their field of study, allowing them to teach effectively. If I could improve one thing about the degree field, it would be the loose structure within the major. I would have benefitted from knowing more about my options within the field earlier on and felt that the information could have been made more readily available.” – Student at Auburn University
Troy University, Montgomery Campus
231 Montgomery St
Montgomery, AL 36104
(334) 834-1400
https://www.troy.edu/
Student Review: “My overall experience as a psychology major at Troy University was all around a disappointing one. I was part of the e-campus, which means one hundred percent of my classes were online. Most of my professors were also professors on campus, so their workload was large and they did not have much time for individual aid. Sometimes it would take up to 48 hours to get any response from the professor at all. The classes were not engaging, not interesting, and felt repetitive with each psychology class I enrolled in. It was an overall frustrating, dull experience and am relieved that it is over.” – Student at Troy University, Montgomery Campus
Student Review: “Troy’s overall psychology department is innovative, expanding and all-encompassing. However, the personnel appointed to official positions do not seem to take the students’ eagerness to learn seriously. It is hard to gain insight into certain areas of psychology that are not listed in a book because the program leaders are not aware of the answers themselves. While Troy’s department is expanding, it is still expanding too slowly. The technology integrations are seriously lacking. Troy operates on a pen and paper system and that complicates certain processes that could easily be completed on a computer. Troy is looking for ways to grow as a college and they should look into further enriching their staff in order to help them remain up-to-date on the new practices and lessons that could better benefit students.” – Student at Troy University, Montgomery Campus
Student Review: “I received an associate degree, with a major in psychology, from Troy University. I began my journey with them at their main campus in Troy, Alabama. The campus was beautiful and had all of the amenities needed to allow for an easy transition to a college student. After one semester, I began taking online classes through Troy University. My “eTroy” experience was just as smooth as my onsite classes. The professors had the same high expectations online, but they made sure to provide all of the information needed to be successful in their class. You weren’t just thrown into a virtual world when no assistance. They were always quick to respond to any questions that I had. If I decide to continue on to pursue my bachelor’s degree, then I will definitely go back to Troy University.” – Student at Troy University, Montgomery Campus
University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487
(205) 348-6010
https://www.ua.edu/
Student Review: “The University of Alabama provided me with a great experience as a psychology student. Within the program, I had the opportunity to work as a research assistant in two professors’ labs. One included working with criminals on psychopathy levels and the other was working to provide mental health to rural areas. The labs had close contact with professors and allowed students to build up resumes for graduate school. The program did lack the necessary information for freshman and sophomores that might not understand what it truly means to be a psychologist and the importance of graduate school within the field. This is the major problem in my opinion with the program. The University of Alabama also housed a specific psychology honors program that I was allowed to be a part of. I applied and interviewed for this position and only 15 students were chosen each year. This program allowed you to select a mentor from the professors that worked in the program and do a personal research project of your choice. The program allowed for students to get real research experience similar to what you would be doing in a master’s program in Psychology. The program also allowed these students to have money to travel to present the project.” – Student at University of Alabama
University of South Alabama
307 N University Blvd
Mobile, AL 36688
(251) 460-6101
https://www.southalabama.edu/
Student Review: “The University of South Alabama psychology program was one of the most rewarding things I’ve been able to accomplish in my life thus far. In my four years there, I made both professional and personal social connections that I know will last a lifetime. In my first year in the program, the head of the psychology department sat down with each individual student and listened to their concerns and ideas. In my last year in the program, I once again was given the opportunity to sit down with the head of the psychology department and provide insight into my experience as a student in that program at the school. I left South Alabama with an amazing wealth of knowledge in the psychology field and was more than ready to enter into a professional program. Every teacher I had was helpful beyond belief and went completely out of their way to accommodate me.” – Student at University of South Alabama
*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, 2024 Psychology Licensing Exam Scores by Doctoral Program: https://asppb.net/wp-content/uploads/2024_asppb_dr_report.pdf