Psychology Schools in Florida

Florida Licensure Requirements

With 47 colleges and universities offering psychology degree programs in Florida, deciding which program is ideal for your career goals and your needs can be daunting. The following guide to psychology schools in Florida provides important information to help make your decision easier. Florida’s colleges and universities allow students to earn undergraduate and graduate degrees in psychology in such areas as general psychology, neuroscience, social psychology, cognitive psychology, and clinical psychology. Students interested in a more flexible option for earning a psychology degree may opt for an online psychology degree program.

Quick Facts

There are 46 not-for-profit colleges and universities with psychology degree programs in Florida.¹
3 schools offer an associate’s degree in psychology.¹
46 schools offer a bachelor’s degree in psychology.¹
26 schools offer a master’s or advanced degree in psychology.¹
7 schools 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
2 schools ranked in PsychologyDegree411’s Top Schools with Online Psychology Programs.⁴
5 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 Florida

Kiplinger’s Best College Values 2019*

Florida International University (#56)
Florida State University (#14)
New College of Florida (#16)
University of Central Florida (#36)
University of Florida (#2)
University of North Florida (#71)
University of South Florida (#39)

*Institution-wide ranking.

Princeton Review’s Great Schools for Psychology Majors for 2018

Florida State University
Stetson University
University of Florida
University of South Florida

PsychologyDegree411’s Top Schools with Online Psychology Programs

University of Central Florida (#7)
University of Florida (#1)

Times Higher Education Best Universities for Psychology 2019

Florida International University (#176-200)
Florida State University (#65)
University of Florida (#76)
University of Miami (#98)
University of South Florida (#151-175)

Continue reading to learn more about the colleges and universities that offer psychology programs in Florida.

Schools in Florida with Psychology Programs

Traditional Undergraduate Programs

Florida State University

Florida State University affords students the opportunity to earn a bachelor’s degree in general psychology while exploring an array of individual areas, such as clinical psychology, developmental psychology, social psychology, and neuroscience. The psychology department encourages students to become involved in departmental activities. For example, the university’s campus chapter of Psi Chi, the national honor society for psychology majors, hosts an annual undergraduate research day, during which time psychology majors are invited to present findings from their research to attendees. Psychology majors may also join the Psychology summer program in London, which combines classes with field trips throughout the historic city.

Florida A&M University

Florida A&M University allows students to earn a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology or a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Psychology. Students in the BA program develop a solid foundation in general psychology and must take 12 credits of Spanish or French while psychology majors working toward a BS can specialize in one of several areas: clinical psychology/counseling, community and social psychology, educational and school psychology, industrial and organizational psychology, and research psychology. All psychology majors must complete 31 psychology credits to fulfill degree requirements in addition to general college coursework. Psychology courses that students may take include community psychology, human growth and development, psychological measurement, personality psychology, and educational psychology.

University of Florida

As a psychology major at the University of Florida, students receive a well-rounded, science-based education in the liberal arts. Florida’s psychology curriculum focuses on the principles of psychology and its applications, both as a social science and as a natural science. With a thorough background in psychology, students also have the opportunity to explore the specialty areas of psychology more in-depth. Psychology students are highly encouraged to engage in field or laboratory research projects, colloquia, and other activities such as the Psychology Club at the University of Florida and its honor society for psychology majors, Psi Chi, as well as participate in program-related volunteer work. With over 1,500 degree programs, the psychology major is one of the top choices for students at the University of Florida. University faculty possess expertise in five areas of specialization including Counseling Psychology, Behavior Analysis, Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience, Developmental Psychology, and Social Psychology. Psychology majors at the University of Florida are highly prepared for graduate programs in psychology, advanced professional programs like medicine, law, business, or education, as well as a diverse range of careers.

Traditional Graduate Programs

Florida Atlantic University

Florida Atlantic University features a 31 credit graduate program leading to the Master of Arts (MA) in General-Experimental Psychology. The full-time program generally takes between two and three years for graduate students to complete. Graduate students are paired with a faculty member in their particular area of interest in psychology and the faculty member becomes a mentor, providing specialized training for students. The number of students accepted into the program each year depends on whether faculty members have space for new mentees. Candidates must complete an application and provide GRE scores and three letters of recommendation for consideration.

University of West Florida

Graduate students at the University of West Florida can earn a Master of Arts (MA) in General Psychology and can specialize in counseling, industrial and organizational psychology, or health psychology. The graduate program allows for both part-time and full-time study with classes typically consisting of 13 students. All psychology students, regardless of their concentration, must complete a capstone project to fulfill degree requirements. That capstone project can be a thesis, an internship, or a terminal research project. The terminal research project is designed for students who will not pursue doctoral studies and requires students to complete a full research study, to orally present their research to department faculty and students, and to prepare their findings in written form for publication.

Online Psychology Programs

University of Central Florida

The University of Central Florida offers an online Bachelor of Science in Psychology that prepares graduates for careers in a broad variety of fields by building foundational knowledge in the psychological sciences. The program places an emphasis on learning how to evaluate information in real-world scenarios. To fulfill the psychology core, which requires a minimum of 21 credit hours from the psychology department, students can choose from such courses as Developmental Psychology; Statistical Methods in Psychology; History and Systems of Psychology; and Cross-Cultural Psychology. Students can also build tracks emphasizing such fields within psychology as clinical psychology, experimental psychology, human factors psychology, or neuroscience to prepare for specific careers and/or graduate-level study. The UCF Psychology Department is widely respected and as of 2017 was the largest postsecondary psychology department by student enrollment in the Western hemisphere.

Nova Southeastern University

The College of Psychology at Nova Southeastern University awards the Master of Science in General Psychology to students who complete its 30 credit hour online program. The online MS in General Psychology prepares students for career advancement as well as for doctoral study. Core courses include Behavioral Neuroscience, Social Psychology, and Individual Evaluation and Assessment. Students must also complete a Research Design course with a grade of B or better to fulfill program requirements and pass a comprehensive exam after taking the core foundational and methodology courses. Specialty tracks are offered in the areas of general psychology, applied health science, and diversity studies. Cultural sensitivity and professional interpersonal skills are heavily emphasized throughout the program on all tracks. Students may study full- or part-time but must complete all degree requirements within five years of beginning the program. Faculty mentorship and student involvement in research are viewed as fundamental at Nova Southeastern University, which can help students prepare for professional success and advancement.

EPPP Pass Rate and Accreditation Information for Psychology Programs in Florida

The table below is designed to help you compare not-for-profit psychology schools in Florida 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
Ave Maria University	Yes	No	No	—	56%	—	—	—	—	$18,924
Baptist College of Florida	Yes	No	BA/BS	—	62%	—	—	—	—	$9,252
Barry University	Yes	Yes	No	CACREP, NASP	36%	—	—	—	—	$19,293
Beacon College	Yes	No	No	—	56%	—	—	—	—	$37,337
Bethune-Cookman University	Yes	No	BA/BS	—	34%	—	—	—	—	$15,309
Carlos Albizu University-Miami	Yes	Yes	Master’s	APA	100%	39%	62	—	—	$26,048
Eckerd College	Yes	No	No	—	68%	—	—	175	—	$34,461
Edward Waters College	Yes	No	No	—	20%	—	—	—	—	$12,165
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach	Yes	Yes	No	—	61%	—	—	—	—	$32,329
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide	No	Yes	Master’s	—	19%	—	—	—	—	$18,922
Flagler College-St Augustine	Yes	No	No	—	56%	—	—	—	—	$23,776
Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University	Yes	Yes	No	—	51%	—	—	—	—	$14,692
Florida Atlantic University	Yes	Yes	No	CACREP	52%	—	—	—	112^	$9,486
Florida Gulf Coast University	Yes	No	No	CACREP	48%	—	—	—	—	$11,716
Florida Institute of Technology	Yes	Yes	No	APA	60%	74%	34	—	202^	$34,139
Florida Institute of Technology-Online	Yes	No	BA/BS	—	N/A	—	—	—	—	N/A
Florida International University	Yes	Yes	BA/BS	APA, CACREP, NASP	58%	—	—	105	148^	$9,180
Florida Memorial University	Yes	No	No	—	36%	—	—	—	—	$15,806
Florida Southern College	Yes	No	No	—	64%	—	—	—	—	$26,135
Florida State University (Counseling/School PhD)	Yes	Yes	No	APA, CACREP, NASP	83%	93%	15	77	60^	$13,318
Florida State University (Clinical PhD)	Yes	Yes	No	APA, CACREP, NASP	83%	93%	15	77	60^	$13,318
Hobe Sound Bible College	Yes	No	No	—	50%	—	—	—	—	$10,212
Hodges University	Yes	Yes	BA/BS	CACREP	22%	—	—	—	—	$18,686
Jacksonville University	Yes	No	No	—	53%	—	—	—	—	$21,820
Lynn University	Yes	Yes	BA/BS, Master’s	—	55%	—	—	—	—	$39,401
Nova Southeastern University (Clinical PhD)	Yes	Yes	BA/BS	APA, NASP	50%	85%	33	—	211^	$25,867
Nova Southeastern University (Clinical PsyD)	Yes	Yes	BA/BS	APA, NASP	50%	79%	136	—	211^	$25,867
Palm Beach Atlantic University	Yes	No	BA/BS	—	53%	—	—	—	—	$24,557
Rollins College	Yes	Yes	No	CACREP	74%	—	—	—	—	$32,826
Saint Leo University	Yes	Yes	BA/BS, Master’s	—	51%	—	—	—	—	$20,036
South Florida Bible College and Theological Seminary	Yes	No	No	—	0%	—	—	—	—	$11,460
Southeastern University	Yes	Yes	No	—	42%	—	—	—	—	$24,259
St. Thomas University	Yes	Yes	No	—	40%	—	—	—	—	$19,476
Stetson University	Yes	No	No	CACREP	61%	—	—	—	—	$25,721
Trinity Baptist College	Yes	No	No	—	34%	—	—	—	—	$15,854
Trinity College of Florida	Yes	No	BA/BS	—	27%	—	—	—	—	$16,641
Trinity International University-Florida	Yes	Yes	No	—	N/A	—	—	—	—	N/A
University of Central Florida	Yes	Yes	BA/BS	APA, CACREP, NASP	73%	100%	5	185	112^	$13,016
University of Florida (Clinical PhD)	Yes	Yes	BA/BS	APA, CACREP, NASP	87%	96%	25	44	39^	$11,313
University of Florida (Counseling PhD)	Yes	Yes	BA/BS	APA, CACREP, NASP	87%	100%	8	44	39^	$11,313
University of Florida-Online	Yes	No	BA/BS	—	N/A	—	—	44	—	$10,287
University of Miami (Counseling PhD)	Yes	Yes	No	APA	82%	100%	10	73	60^	$43,305
University of Miami (Clinical PhD)	Yes	Yes	No	APA	82%	100%	21	73	60^	$43,305
University of North Florida	Yes	Yes	No	CACREP	59%	—	—	—	—	$10,809
University of South Florida-Main Campus(School PhD)	Yes	Yes	No	APA, CACREP, NASP	73%	100%	10	171	81^	$10,460
University of South Florida-Main Campus (Clinical PhD)	Yes	Yes	No	APA, CACREP, NASP	73%	100%	14	171	81^	$10,460
University of South Florida-Sarasota-Manatee	Yes	No	No	—	N/A	—	—	—	—	$4,705
University of South Florida-St. Petersburg	Yes	Yes	No	—	34%	—	—	—	—	$10,924
University of Tampa	Yes	No	No	—	60%	—	—	—	—	$30,683
University of West Florida	Yes	Yes	No	—	43%	—	—	—	—	$9,091

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 Florida

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.

Florida International University
11200 SW 8th St
Miami, FL 33199
(305) 348-2000
https://www.fiu.edu/

Student Review: “My experience in the psychology program at Florida International University was an enjoyable one. The lectures were highly intelligent and interesting. The professors I had were very involved in their teaching and didn’t simply read from the powerpoint slides. They engaged us by doing simple yet creative and interesting psychology experiments. One thing that I also enjoyed about this program was that the professors would stay after class if they were not busy; to clarify anything we had questions on. Even though they did have office hours, I found it very helpful that they would stay after class in order to avoid making an appointment and waiting for them to be available. The one thing that I did not like was that some of the courses were too full and even though we did some interesting experiments, it would have been better if the groups were smaller.” – Student at Florida International University

Student Review: “Florida International University’s psychology program offered a variety of subjects that were all interesting. It is evident that the professors are passionate about what they teach. All of my professors made themselves largely accessible outside of the classroom. It is noteworthy to mention that all my classes had 100 plus students. There are also a significant amount of online classes that are made available to students who cannot attend campus. By far my favorite psychology class offered was Legal Psychology. This class went through the scientific aspect of a criminal case (DNA, blood analysis, gunshot residue, etc.) and looked at it from a psychology perspective. This class was outstanding and to my amazement the professor of that class was often called on as an expert witness in high profile criminal cases to discredit the scientific and eye account evidence. The psychology department at FIU also hosted job fairs every semester that allowed for current students and alum to have the opportunity to network and view current job opportunities. Overall I had a fantastic experience at FIU’s psychology department.” – Student at Florida International University

Pensacola State College
1000 College Blvd
Pensacola, FL 32504
(850) 484-1000
https://www.pensacolastate.edu

Student Review: “The psychology program at Pensacola State College in Pensacola, Florida has been rewarding for me both academically and personally. All of the instructors that I have had are interesting, experienced educators that bring life experiences to the table, which made for a laid back and inviting classroom learning experience. They were always professional and approachable even after classroom/school hours, and you can tell they love educating. I enjoyed hearing countless stories of their personal experiences as an undergraduate coupled with advice. The curriculum was always challenging, yet in that positive way that always assured me that I would be learning something new and be a success in the classroom. The instructors never have the attitude like they are above you. They acted and functioned just as any teacher should … in service of you. They were always ready to go the extra mile spending time after class giving extra help.” – Student at Pensacola State College

Santa Fe College
3000 NW 83 St
Gainesville, FL 32606
(352) 395-5000
https://www.sfcollege.edu/

Student Review: “I attended a psychology program at Santa Fe College (formerly known as Santa Fe Community College) in Gainesville, Fl and had a great experience overall. The campus is much smaller than most, making it easy to navigate, and class sizes do not generally exceed 30 students. The professors are extremely knowledgeable and most are very helpful and go out of there way to make sure you pass the class. My behavioral psychology teacher was one of my favorites due to the fact that she incorporated a good deal of off-campus activities that made the learning process more hands-on and applicable to life. I had little complaints about the school, except for the fact that parking is a disaster. You don’t pay for parking, it’s first-come, first-serve, but the lack of parking spaces makes it nearly impossible to get a space, especially at certain times of the day. Overall though Santa Fe is a very competitive four-year college that offers many benefits to its students.” – Student at Santa Fe College

Valencia College
1800 S Kirkman Rd
Orlando, FL 32811
(407) 299-5000
https://valenciacollege.edu/

Student Review: “The Associate of Arts in Psychology program at Valencia College was the perfect preparation for me to be able to move on and continue my studies in Psychology at the University of Central Florida. My professors in the psychology program at Valencia offered challenging coursework and were always available and willing to help a student succeed in any way possible. The professors whose courses I took online were always quick to respond to any of my questions within 48 hours, and those whose courses I attended on campus typically responded within 24 hours. Valencia College also offered excellent guest speakers from many different fields and encouraged students of all majors to attend the lectures and apply what they could do their particular field of study which I felt was a unique take on the invitation of guest speakers to campus. The one aspect of the program I feel could still be vastly improved is the academic advising as I met once with an advisor prior to graduating with Associate’s Degree in Psychology from Valencia and was misled to believe I was graduating a term earlier than I was actually able to graduate.” – Student at Valencia College

University of Central Florida
4000 Central Florida Blvd
Orlando, FL 32816
(407) 823-2000
https://www.ucf.edu/

Student Review: “I felt that the psychology program at the University of Central Florida was mediocre. I took most of my courses online, but took a few on campus. The difference between the online and on-campus classes is noticeable. The online classes were much easier and it felt like we completed the online content much more quickly than in class. A lot of students would just write generic statements as their discussion board topics and it felt like it took much less of an effort to complete the online courses. The content itself was not very difficult at all, but if I did need help, my professors were always available, which I appreciated. Overall, I felt that the psychology program was very easy and quite generic.” – Student at University of Central Florida

Student Review: “The University of Central Florida’s psychology program was, in all honesty, a rocky experience for me. With the field of psychology being so vast with opportunities, the degree program at my university offers an extremely wide variety of certificates and tracks any student can follow according to their personal career goals and specializations. Although there seemed to be frequent funding problems as well as some disorganization here and there, the program overall definitely challenged me to think completely outside of the box and consistently challenged myself to engage and learn different perspectives of our society. Even with the incredible resources and ways to get involved I accessed through the psychology program, one thing that I felt could be improved is the diversity of professors pertaining specifically to their backgrounds and specializations so that students may experience different teaching techniques and areas of knowledge to enhance the overall education.” – Student at University of Central Florida

University of Miami
1320 S. Dixie Hwy
Coral Gables, FL 33124
(305) 284-2211
https://welcome.miami.edu/

Student Review: “I was a psychology minor at the University of Miami and found the department there to be exceptional. Out of all of the classes that I took at Miami, I enjoyed the professors in the psych department the most. All of the professors were extremely knowledgeable and shared the experiences they had in clinical studies and in practice. The classes were always interesting, particularly the specific areas of psychology like childhood development and abnormal psychology. I left the program feeling that the minor I earned had real relevance to my communications major and with a greater understanding of how people work.” – Student at University of Miami

University of South Florida
4202 E Fowler Ave
Tampa, FL 33620
(813) 974-2011
https://www.usf.edu/

Student Review: “I really enjoyed the psychology program at the University of South Florida. The faculty and staff were really helpful in helping me pick classes that I would enjoy and that would allow me to graduate on time. The variety of classes allowed me to explore topics that interested me, such as social psychology and Autism Spectrum Disorders. The professors were all really knowledgeable in their subjects and were all extremely helpful whenever I had questions. One thing I disliked about the program was the outside requirements that were necessary for graduation. We were required to take classes outside of our major in order to obtain our degree; I found this to be a waste of time and money. However, my experience at the University of South Florida was really pleasant and I would recommend it to any student interested in psychology.” – Student at University of South Florida

Student Review: “The psychology program at USF was overall a great experience. There were some downfalls though. I did not like the internship part of the program, as they put it all on the student to make arrangements to intern somewhere. I feel that should have been the job of the school and/or psychology department. One other downfall would be that there are limited night classes available to cater to the working student. This makes it difficult for students who have to work to make a living while attending school. I did like the curriculum for the most part and I learned a lot. I just wish someone would have told me that you can not do very much with a BA in psychology! I am looking to go back and get my MA in MHC now.” – Student at University of South Florida

Student Review: “My college experience has been a dilemma between loving the material and the content and hating the way it has been taught, administered, and graded. I really don’t believe that a certain percentage on a multiple-choice should define us as people. I also believe that the outrageous cost of college here in America is evidence of the intentional oppression of the less fortunate and the expansion and proliferation of the ever-growing wealth gap. That being said, science and knowledge is the greatest tool for mankind and I feel privileged to behold it. Concerning the specifics of my program, I feel that psychologists are insecure about the often obvious common sense aspect of their science. So it often seems drawn-out and over-complicated. Also, I wish there were more online opportunities to make it easier for impoverished students.” – Student at University of South Florida

University of Tampa
401 West Kennedy Boulevard
Tampa, FL 33606
(813) 253-3333
https://www.ut.edu/

Student Review: “The psychology program was difficult but rewarding at The University of Tampa. My intro to psychology professor was a practicing psychologist and could provide hands-on experience to us. Although his class was difficult, he was able to provide a lot of relevant information. The professors, including my psychology professor, were very easily approachable and wanted to help you with your goals. If you needed help for a test or just in understanding a concept, they would make sure that you got it. Although I enjoyed the program very much, I think that there could have been more review in terms of what will actually be on our tests. The first-hand knowledge was great but it didn’t help us in terms of our grades within the classes.” – Student at University of Tampa

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