Psychology Schools in Colorado
The following guide to psychology schools in Colorado includes essential information for prospective students who hope to pursue an undergraduate or a graduate degree in psychology. Colorado’s colleges and universities allow students to develop a knowledge of a vast array of psychology concentrations, including general psychology, cognitive psychology, and clinical psychology. Students who prefer a more flexible and affordable alternative may consider an online psychology degree.
Quick Facts
- There are 19 not-for-profit colleges and universities with psychology degree programs in Colorado.1
- 2 schools offer an associate’s degree in psychology.1
- 17 schools offer a bachelor’s degree in psychology.1
- 11 schools offer a master’s or advanced degree in psychology.1
- 1 school ranked in Kiplinger’s Best College Values for 2019.2
- 1 school ranked in the Princeton Review’s Great Schools for Psychology Majors for 2018.3
- 1 school ranked in PsychologyDegree411’s Top Schools with Online Psychology Programs.4
- 2 schools ranked in Times Higher Education’s Best Universities for Psychology 2019.5
*For not-for-profit colleges and universities with psychology degree programs.
Top-Ranked Schools with Psychology Programs in Colorado
Kiplinger’s Best College Values 2019*
- University of Colorado-Boulder (#68)
*Institution-wide ranking.
Princeton Review’s Great Schools for Psychology Majors for 2018
- Colorado State University
PsychologyDegree411’s Top Schools with Online Psychology Programs
- Colorado State University (#6)
Times Higher Education Best Universities for Psychology 2019
- University of Colorado-Boulder (#96)
- Colorado State University (#176-200)
Read below to learn more about the diverse psychology programs available in Colorado. Included are several profiles of popular psychology programs at Colorado’s leading colleges and universities.
Schools in Colorado with Psychology Programs
Traditional Undergraduate Programs
University of Colorado at Denver
Undergraduate students at the University of Colorado at Denver can choose between earning a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology or a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Psychology. Both programs provide students with a solid foundation in such core psychology areas as biopsychology, cognitive psychology, animal behavior, experimental psychology, personality, and abnormal psychology. Students interested in human behavior and psychology from a social standpoint generally opt for the BA program while students with an interest in the biological and physical sciences of psychology pursue the BS degree. Psychology majors are encouraged to participate in an internship to gain real-world experience. Psychology majors with an overall 3.5 GPA after completing 75 credits may be eligible to join the Honors Program.
Colorado Mesa University
Colorado Mesa University allows undergraduate students to earn a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology with or without a concentration in counseling psychology. The 120-credit program, which generally takes four years to complete, combines general college coursework with psychology courses and research. Psychology majors will complete such core courses as general psychology, behavioral sciences research, and the history of psychology in addition to electives including child psychology, drugs and human behavior, and sports psychology. Students can become actively involved in on-campus activities by joining the Psychology Club and Psi Chi, the national honor society for psychology majors. The psychology department encourages psychology majors to volunteer in the community and to present the findings of their research at local and national conferences.
Traditional Graduate Programs
Naropa University
Naropa University’s psychology department features three Master of Arts (MA) programs in contemplative psychology, somatic counseling psychology, and transpersonal psychology. Transpersonal psychology, which takes a holistic approach to human behavior, allows students to concentrate in art therapy, counseling therapy, or wilderness therapy. The Somatic Counseling program requires all students to undergo 30 counseling sessions with a therapist to learn firsthand about psychotherapy and to develop self-awareness. Students focused on contemplative psychology participate in weekly clinical groups and in Maitri meditation retreats. All MA in psychology programs at Naropa University require graduate students to complete a 700-hour internship.
Regis University
Regis University’s Master of Arts (MA) in Counseling degree requires graduate students to complete 60 credits to fulfill graduation requirements. Graduates of the three-year program will have met the academic requirements for obtaining a license from the Colorado State Board of Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC). Students must complete a full menu of psychology courses focusing on such areas as abnormal psychology, counseling techniques, substance abuse treatment, and theories of counseling. In addition, counseling majors spend a semester getting hands-on experience working in the university’s counseling lab and two additional semesters at a pre-approved internship. Regis University is also home to the Center for Counseling and Play Therapy.
Online Psychology Programs
Colorado Christian University
Colorado Christian University maintains an online Bachelor of Science in Psychology that provides students with a broad understanding of foundational psychology and human nature. The program emphasizes the exploration of psychology through a Christian worldview and integrates faith with the study of human behavior through scholarly inquiry. Students are equipped for entry-level careers as well as graduate study. 120 credit hours are required to complete the degree, 36 of which comprise the psychology major. Students only take one course at a time with small class sizes, which provides a flexible and interactive learning environment. In addition to generous transfer credit policies, Colorado Christian University also utilizes credit by portfolio and credit by exam, which can reduce the time students spend taking courses and further accelerate the time to earn the bachelor’s degree.
Colorado State University
Colorado State University offers an online Master of Applied Industrial/Organizational Psychology (MAIOP) that requires 38 credit hours to complete. Students learn how to analyze and influence the behavior of individuals in an organizational context in order to increase performance and productivity. The program is heavily oriented towards research and analysis and their practical applications. Students also learn how to effectively recruit and manage talent, as well as how to develop and deliver training and leadership development programs. With full-time study the program can be completed in two years; part-time students can typically complete the program within four years. Courses in this non-thesis program include Applied Industrial Psychology; Competency Modeling and Criterion Development; Applied Measurement Theory; and Workforce Training and Development. The program is meant for career development rather than as a precursor to doctoral study and leads to a terminal master’s degree. However, graduates may be prepared to apply to an industrial/organizational psychology PhD program following completion of the MAIOP.
EPPP Pass Rate and Accreditation Information for Psychology Programs in Colorado
The table below is designed to help you compare not-for-profit psychology schools in Colorado on a variety of factors. Clicking on the arrows in the top row allows you to sort the table. In addition to factors such as focus areas offered and tuition costs, accreditation is an important consideration when researching psychology programs. Depending on the type of program and the ultimate career path you are considering, accreditation from the American Psychological Association (APA), the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), the Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Education Programs (CACREP), or the Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System (PCSAS) can make it easier to become licensed in your desired area of practice. For more information on these accreditations, see our overview of accreditation for psychology programs. You should also ensure that the program you are considering will meet the licensure requirements in the state where you wish to practice. The Examination for Professional Practice of Psychology (EPPP), a licensing exam administered by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB), is required in most US states in order to qualify for psychologist licensure. The EPPP results shown below are provided are for the exam period from February 1, 2015 to March 21, 2017.6 Only results from APA-accredited or ASPPB-designated doctoral programs with at least four test-takers during the exam period are included.6
| School | BA/BS Prog. | Grad Prog. | Online Psych Prog. | Nat’l Accred.* | Grad Rate** | EPPP Pass Rate6 | # Taking6 | College Factual Under- grad Rank7 | US News Grad Rank8 | Net Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adams State University | Yes | Yes | No | CACREP | 27% | — | — | — | — | $13,314 |
| Colorado Christian University | Yes | Yes | Bachelor’s | CACREP | 52% | — | — | — | — | $25,031 |
| Colorado College | Yes | No | No | — | 89% | — | — | 228 | — | $28,390 |
| Colorado Mesa University | Yes | No | No | — | 36% | — | — | — | — | $14,403 |
| Colorado State University-Fort Collins | Yes | Yes | Bachelor’s, Master’s | APA, CACREP | 71% | 100% | 14 | 167 | 90^ | $17,914 |
| Colorado State University-Pueblo | Yes | No | No | — | 32% | — | — | — | — | $12,243 |
| Denver Seminary | No | Yes | No | CACREP | N/A | — | — | — | — | N/A |
| Fort Lewis College | Yes | No | No | — | 44% | — | — | — | — | $18,522 |
| Johnson & Wales University-Denver | Yes | Yes | Bachelor’s, Master’s | — | 66% | — | — | — | — | $25,941 |
| Metropolitan State University of Denver | Yes | No | No | — | 28% | — | — | — | — | $15,248 |
| Naropa University | Yes | Yes | No | — | 42% | — | — | — | — | $25,220 |
| Regis University | Yes | Yes | Bachelor’s | CACREP | 69% | — | — | 199 | — | $26,273 |
| University of Colorado Boulder | Yes | Yes | No | APA | 71% | — | — | 89 | 26^ | $21,466 |
| University of Colorado Colorado Springs | Yes | Yes | No | APA | 45% | — | — | — | 148^ | $15,645 |
| University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus | Yes | Yes | Bachelor’s | APA, NASP | 48% | — | — | 173 | — | $14,477 |
| University of Denver(Child Clinical-PhD) | Yes | Yes | No | APA, NASP | 77% | 100% | 6 | 117 | 81^ | $34,337 |
| University of Denver(Clinical Psychology-PhD) | Yes | Yes | No | APA, NASP | 77% | 100% | 7 | 117 | 81^ | $34,337 |
| University of Denver(Counseling PhD) | Yes | Yes | No | APA, NASP | 77% | 91% | 11 | 117 | 81^ | $34,337 |
| University of Denver(Clinical-PsyD) | Yes | Yes | No | APA, NASP | 77% | 82% | 66 | 117 | 81^ | $34,337 |
| University of Northern Colorado | Yes | Yes | Bachelor’s, Master’s | APA, NASP | 47% | 100% | 12 | — | — | $14,641 |
| Western State Colorado University | Yes | No | No | — | 48% | — | — | — | — | $17,230 |
Schools marked with a caret (^) in US News Best Graduate Psychology Programs ranked in a tie with other programs in their respective positions.
*See our guide to psychology program accreditation for more information on these accrediting bodies.
**The graduation rate is for first-time, full-time undergraduate degree- or certificate-seeking students who began studies in Fall 2012 and is calculated based on the percentage of students earning their degree or certificate within 150% of the normal time for program completion.1
Schools with Psychology Degree Programs in Colorado
Note: Student Reviews are based on the experiences of a few individuals and it is unlikely that you will have similar results. Please review the “Data, Student Reviews and Other Information” section in our Terms of Use and Disclaimers.
University of Colorado
Boulder, CO
(303) 492-1411
https://www.colorado.edu/
Student Review: “I am very pleased that I chose The University of Colorado’s psychology department for my undergraduate education. The first two years were a bit of a challenge for me as most of the classes were quite large lecture courses. It was difficult for me to feel invested when I was just one of four hundred other students. That said, the professors were great and were able to use their passion and experience to engage the students. My last two years in the program were fantastic. I really enjoyed the smaller classes taught by professors who were leading researchers/writers on the topic they were teaching. They prepared me for a successful career in psychology with the great amount of knowledge they shared with me. The campus is absolutely stunning with a great diversity among the students. The surrounding area is gorgeous and helped me thoroughly enjoy my undergraduate experience. I am very pleased that I made the choice to attend University of Colorado’s psychology program.” – Student at University of Colorado
Student Review: “I’ve really enjoyed my time as a student here at CU. I feel that I’ve learned a lot even though the courses are not exactly challenging. My favorite class so far has been an interdisciplinary course – Language Development. It’s incredibly interesting to learn about how children learn language. I have enjoyed connecting with my professors and I cannot wait to see what the next two years hold.” – Student at University of Colorado
University of Northern Colorado
501 20th St.
Greeley, CO 80639
(970) 351-1890
https://www.unco.edu/
Student Review: “I spent four years pursuing my BA in psychology at the University of Northern Colorado, and I felt it was an extremely worthwhile experience. The rigor of the courses varied from lax to quite challenging, but I always felt I was learning something new and relevant to my future trade (teaching). The faculty was all extremely knowledgeable and, from what I could tell, highly qualified in their areas of expertise. UNC’s tuition was, furthermore, the lowest for any state school in Colorado – which was a major plus. They even offered a $1000 scholarship for graduating high school seniors with fairly good grades (GPA 3.3 and above). The campus is quite nice (better, I’d say, than either CU’s or CSU’s), and the city’s got plenty of things to keep students entertained. I’m quite pleased with my decision to attend UNC.” -Student at University of Northern Colorado
References:
1. National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
2. Kiplinger’s Best College Values: https://www.kiplinger.com/tool/college/T014-S001-best-college-values-college-finder/index.php#Table
3. The Princeton Review. The Best 382 Colleges, 2018 Edition. The Princeton Review, 2017.
4. PsychologyDegree411 Top Schools with Online Psychology Programs: https://www.psychologydegree411.com/degrees/online/
5. Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2019 – Psychology: https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/2019/subject-ranking/psychology
6. The Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards, Psychology Licensing Exam Scores by Doctoral Program: https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.asppb.net/resource/resmgr/eppp_/2017_Doctoral_Report.pdf
7. College Factual, Best Colleges Offering Degrees in Psychology (Nationwide): https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/psychology/rankings/top-ranked/#
8. US News & World Report Best Graduate Psychology Programs: https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-humanities-schools/psychology-rankings