Psychology Schools in Connecticut
The following guide to psychology schools in Connecticut is designed to provide you with essential information to help make choosing the best psychology program for your goals easier. Connecticut’s colleges and universities offer undergraduate and graduate programs in general psychology, community psychology, and applied psychology, among other fields. If you need a more flexible option, consider one of the many online psychology programs available at a growing number of universities.
Quick Facts
- There are 31 not-for-profit colleges and universities with psychology degree programs in Connecticut.1
- 12 schools offer an associate’s degree in psychology.1
- 19 schools offer a bachelor’s degree in psychology.1
- 12 schools offer a master’s or advanced degree in psychology.1
- 1 school ranked in Kiplinger’s Best College Values for 2019.2
- 4 schools ranked in the Princeton Review’s Great Schools for Psychology Majors for 2018.3
- No schools 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 Connecticut
Kiplinger’s Best College Values 2019*
- University of Connecticut (#35)
*Institution-wide ranking.
Princeton Review’s Great Schools for Psychology Majors for 2018
- Quinnipiac University
- University of Connecticut
- Wesleyan University
- Yale University
Times Higher Education Best Universities for Psychology 2019
- University of Connecticut (#71)
- Yale University (#10)
*For not-for-profit colleges and universities with psychology degree programs.
Read further to learn more about several specific psychology programs offered in Connecticut, including profiles of several popular programs at the state’s leading universities.
Schools in Connecticut with Psychology Programs
Traditional Undergraduate Programs
Western Connecticut State University
Psychology majors at Western Connecticut State University must complete 122 credits to fulfill degree requirements for the Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology. Students will take core college requirements in such topics as math, English, a foreign language, and physical education in addition to required and elective psychology coursework. Abnormal Psychology, Industrial Psychology, Child Psychology, Psychology of Women, and Psychology of Men are among the undergraduate courses offered. All psychology majors are encouraged to become involved in on-campus activities, including by attending professional meetings held by the psychology department and by joining the Psychology Club and Psi Chi. The university also holds an annual Psychology Day, in which students participate in social and scholarly activities.
University of Hartford
The University of Hartford affords undergraduate students the opportunity to earn a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology. Psychology majors must complete 36 psychology credits to fulfill major requirements, which include such core courses as introductory psychology, research methods and statistical analysis, and history and systems in psychology. Students can also choose from an eclectic array of electives: Health Psychology, Career Development, Psychology of Gender, Personality Psychology, and Infant and Child Development, among others. Internships generally take place during the junior and senior years. Independent studies are available for psychology majors who receive permission to undertake research in a particular area of interest.
Traditional Graduate Programs
Connecticut College
The Master of Arts in Psychology program at Connecticut College offers four concentrations for students to choose from: clinical psychology; behavioral medicine/health psychology; social/personality psychology; or neuroscience/psychobiology. Including clinical and/or research practicums, most students can fulfill degree requirements within two years; students are allowed up to four years from starting the program to complete all requirements. Students take 12 graduate-level courses and must write a thesis across two semesters of a thesis course. The program is competitive and requires students to maintain a 3.0 GPA throughout the program. Admission is open to students with an undergraduate degree in any field, though students must meet statistics prerequisites prior to being admitted.
Central Connecticut State University
Central Connecticut State University features a Master of Arts (MA) in Psychology in one of three concentrations: general psychology, health psychology, or community psychology. Graduate students can study full-time or part-time and the program requires between 36 and 42 credits to fulfill graduation requirements. All psychology students, regardless of the concentration, must complete 18 core courses, including introduction to clinical psychology, introduction to community psychology, psychological research, and a thesis. Graduate students may participate in international courses to increase their international experience. Courses are offered in both Costa Rica and in Hawaii. Psychology courses are designed to provide both classroom instruction and real-world experience. Assistantships in the psychology department may be available to help offset educational costs.
Online Psychology Programs
University of Bridgeport
The online Bachelor of Science at the University of Bridgeport focuses on psychology’s historical background, methods, and research while providing students with foundational knowledge in psychology’s real-world applications. Courses are offered in an eight-week format, which can accelerate the time to completion. Students take 39 credit hours in advanced psychology and 20 credit hours of electives in addition to the university’s liberal arts core, providing a well-rounded education. The psychology core is comprised of such courses as Child Psychology, Personality Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, and Statistical Methods in Psychology. Students who are planning to apply to graduate school may be interested in advanced electives offered online such as individual study, an internship, a senior thesis, or a psychology research practicum.
Sacred Heart University
Sacred Heart University’s online Master of Science (MS) in Applied Psychology features an accelerated format, with classes held in intensive eight-week sessions. Graduate students attending online generally take two courses a session, allowing them to fulfill degree requirements in one year. The program allows graduate students to concentrate in one of several areas: community psychology, industrial-organizational psychology, or general applied psychology. Regardless of the concentration, all psychology students must complete several core courses, including Foundations of Applied Psychology, Developmental Issues Across the Life Span, and Applied Research Methods and Statistics. Students either undertake a capstone project or a thesis as the final part of the program.
EPPP Pass Rate and Accreditation Information for Psychology Programs in Connecticut
The table below is designed to help you compare not-for-profit psychology schools in Connecticut 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 | Grad Prog. | Online Prog. | Nat’l Accred.* | Grad Rate** | EPPP Pass Rate6 | # Taking6 | College Factual Under- grad Rank7 | US News Grad Rank8 | Net Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albertus Magnus College | Yes | Yes | No | — | 72% | — | — | — | — | $24,652 |
| Central Connecticut State University | Yes | Yes | No | CACREP | 51% | — | — | — | — | $15,469 |
| Charter Oak State College | Yes | No | BA/BS | — | N/A | — | — | — | — | N/A |
| Connecticut College | Yes | No | No | — | 81% | — | — | 114 | — | $38,890 |
| Eastern Connecticut State University | Yes | No | No | — | 58% | — | — | — | — | $17,769 |
| Fairfield University | Yes | Yes | No | CACREP, NASP | 81% | — | — | 149 | — | $39,791 |
| Mitchell College | Yes | No | No | — | 45% | — | — | — | — | $28,002 |
| Quinnipiac University | Yes | No | No | — | 77% | — | — | — | — | $40,208 |
| Sacred Heart University | Yes | Yes | — | — | 70% | — | — | 207 | — | $41,403 |
| Southern Connecticut State University | Yes | Yes | No | CACREP, NASP | 51% | — | — | — | — | $17,389 |
| Trinity College | Yes | No | No | — | 84% | — | — | 34 | — | $24,962 |
| University of Bridgeport | Yes | No | BA/BS | — | 42% | — | — | — | — | $23,326 |
| University of Connecticut(School-PhD) | Yes | Yes | No | APA, CACREP, NASP | 85% | 100% | 7 | 45 | 53^ | $19,650 |
| University of Connecticut(Clinical-PhD) | Yes | Yes | No | APA, CACREP, NASP | 85% | 100% | 17 | 45 | 53^ | $19,650 |
| University of Hartford | Yes | Yes | BA/BS, Master’s | APA, NASP | 58% | 73% | 51 | — | — | $29,819 |
| University of New Haven | Yes | Yes | No | — | 65% | — | — | — | — | $33,214 |
| University of Saint Joseph | Yes | Yes | No | CACREP | 63% | — | — | — | — | $25,714 |
| Wesleyan University | Yes | No | No | — | 89% | — | — | 17 | — | $21,236 |
| Western Connecticut State University | Yes | Yes | No | CACREP | 49% | — | — | — | — | $19,029 |
| Yale University | Yes | Yes | No | APA | 97% | 100% | 9 | 7 | 3^ | $18,748 |
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 Connecticut
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.
Eastern Connecticut State University
83 Windham St
Willimantic, CT 06226
(860) 465-5000
https://www.easternct.edu/
Student Review: “My experience at in the social work department at Eastern Connecticut State University was fairly straightforward. As a transfer student with a few other colleges in my transcript, I had a variety of experience to draw on for comparison. I found the courses to be very manageable, at least at the undergrad level. The professors were very knowledgeable and fair. I particularly liked the different opportunities available for internships which could be used for course credit. There were typical options like counseling and community support programs, as well as some unusual choices like District Court assistant. Being allowed to apply my lessons in the real world was a tremendous asset to gaining holistic comprehension of the courses being taught. One of the greatest benefits of my time in this program was being invited to join Psi Chi, a national honor society for Psychology professionals. This is an accreditation that has granted me a significant advantage on my resume over many of my cohorts.” – Student at Eastern Connecticut State University
Manchester Community College
60 Bidwell St
Manchester, CT 06040
(860) 512-3000
https://www.manchestercc.edu/
Student Review: “My time at MCC was critical in preparing me for Central CT State University. The staff in my psychology department were well informed and took the necessary steps in directing me on a path that would lead to a counseling degree. The thing I appreciated the most was their knowledge of the subject matter and the way they presented it in an informal and understandable format. I loved the internships that my professors recommended to me which prepared me for the field that I am currently in. This community college was a great experience for me from the first psychology 101 class all the way through my internships and the final courses that prepared me for state college. The classes were small in size and individual attention was the norm. I have very fond memories of this wonderful school that prepared me well for my future. Since this school had a dedicated program in psychology and counseling, I consider it second to none in terms of real-world preparation.” – Student at Manchester Community College
Student Review: “I really enjoyed working towards my psychology degree at Manchester. Even though it’s a community college, I learned quite a lot and they have a lot of options like drug counseling psych 101 and 102. My favorite was abnormal psychology and learning how there are a lot of different variables that affect how people function and why they do what they do. I also enjoyed learning about disorders because I personally have a few and I like the categorization of how people tick. I took a few classes online but I didn’t enjoy it not the same as interacting with a teacher and participating in discussions.” – Student at Manchester Community College
Mitchell College
437 Pequot Ave
New London, CT 06320
(860) 701-5000
https://community.mitchell.edu/
Student Review: “Mitchell College has a very unique and personalized psychology track which allows their students flexibility in coursework. The staff within the psychology department are very approachable and often schedule appointments to meet with students outside of normal office hours. Hands-on teaching and small classrooms help in discussions and retention of information. Some downsides to the program are the lack of class times actually offered and the number of online classes available. For your typical student that lives on campus and doesn’t work this would not be a problem but for your working student or parent these classes are very difficult to schedule around.” – Student at Mitchell College
University of Connecticut
Storrs, CT 06269
(860) 486-2000
https://uconn.edu/
Student Review: “The University of Connecticut psychology program provides rigor and excitement in the classroom. As an undergraduate, I was afforded the opportunity to take courses ranging from Cognitive Psychology to Social Psychology all the while participating in a variety of internships. Additionally, I was required to participate in academic research that allowed me to establish personal relationships with the amazing faculty in the department. The department prepared me for a career as an Academic Advisor by furthering my counseling skills and developing multicultural competencies through related coursework. I feel adequately prepared for the workforce and I am thankful for the plethora of opportunities available to me as a UCONN Psychology student.” – Student at University of Connecticut
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