Psychology Schools in Kansas
The following guide to psychology schools in Kansas is designed to provide you with important information that will help you make an informed decision on the best undergraduate or graduate psychology program in the state for your academic and career goals. The undergraduate and graduate programs offered at Kansas’s colleges and universities allow students to earn a general psychology degree or to concentrate in a specific area, such as school psychology. Students who need a more flexible and convenient option for earning a psychology degree may want to consider an online degree. Many colleges and universities now offer online psychology degrees.
Quick Facts
- There are 32 not-for-profit colleges and universities with psychology degree programs in Kansas.1
- 7 schools offer an associate’s degree in psychology.1
- 25 schools offer a bachelor’s degree in psychology.1
- 10 schools offer a master’s or advanced degree in psychology.1
- No schools ranked in Kiplinger’s Best College Values for 2019.2
- No schools 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
- 1 school 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 Kansas
PsychologyDegree411’s Top Schools with Online Psychology Programs
- Fort Hays State University (#3)
Times Higher Education Best Universities for Psychology 2019
- University of Kansas (#101-125)
Continue reading below to learn more about several of the popular graduate and undergraduate psychology programs offered at Kansas’s leading universities.
Schools in Kansas with Psychology Programs
Traditional Undergraduate Programs
Wichita State University
Wichita State University allows students to earn a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in psychology, which provides psychology majors with a solid foundation in psychology and research for graduate studies. Psychology majors must complete a combination of general college course requirements and psychology coursework. Required psychology courses include general psychology, psychological statistics, research methods in psychology, social psychology, and biological psychology. Students will also choose electives from a diverse menu of courses, such as child psychology, substance use and abuse, and the psychology of aging. Psychology majors may want to join such on-campus organizations as Psi Chi, the national honor society for psychology students, and the student chapter of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society.
Kansas State University
Kansas State University affords undergraduate students the option of earning a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology or a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Psychology. Both degree options require 124 credits. Students pursuing the BA must complete four semesters of a foreign language while those working toward a BS will take additional science and math courses. All psychology majors are required to take such courses as general psychology, junior seminar in psychology, experimental methods in psychology, cognitive psychology, psychobiology, and fundamentals of perception. Students with a minimum 3.2 GPA may want to join Psi Chi, the on-campus chapter of the national honor society for psychology students.
Traditional Graduate Programs
Washburn University
Washburn University confers the Master of Arts (MA) in Psychology with an emphasis in Clinical Skills to graduate students who successfully complete the three-year, 60-credit program. Graduates of the program will be prepared for doctoral study and will meet the qualifications necessary to sit for the Kansas licensing exam for Licensed Masters Level Psychologists. Graduate students spend the first two years of the program gaining real-world experience in a practicum in the university’s Psychological Services Clinic. Graduate students will also complete an internship in a mental health facility in the local community in the third year of the program.
Fort Hays State University
Fort Hays State University features a Master of Science (MS) in School Psychology. Graduates of the two-year graduate program will have the necessary qualifications to gain licensure as a school psychologist in the state of Kansas. The program is comprised of two parts and allows students to earn both an MS and an EdS (Education Specialist) degree in only two years. Students will fulfill master’s degree requirements during the first year, taking such courses as behavior therapy, developmental psychology, appraisal of children, and professional ethics in psychology. The second year consists of a 600-hour practicum and additional courses, which leads to the EdS. Students will complete a total of 66 credits to fulfill both degree requirements.
Online Psychology Programs
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas offers an online Bachelor of General Studies in Psychology program that mirrors the on-campus program in content and academic rigor. Graduates emerge with a broad and fundamental understanding of human thought processes. Courses are offered in an eight-week “minisemester” format, which can reduce the time it takes to complete your bachelor’s degree. Core courses in the psychology major include Cognitive Psychology, Social Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, and Child Development. Students must also declare either a minor or two undergraduate certificates; online offerings for this requirement include anthropology, communication studies, and sociology. In total, 120 credit hours are required to earn the degree.
Ottawa University
Ottawa University is home to an online Bachelor of Arts in Psychology that equips graduates with the skills and knowledge needed to provide entry-level mental health care support as well as to pursue graduate study. The curriculum emphasizes the development of critical thinking skills, self-awareness, and empathy in a global context. Students may optionally add a concentration in communication to the bachelor’s degree. Up to 80 credit hours towards the degree may be transferred from other institutions. Psychology major courses include Developmental Psychology, Statistics for the Social Sciences, Ethnic Relations and Multiculturalism, and Physiological Psychology. Students also take a capstone seminar course that revolves around writing a theoretical paper on issues within psychology.
EPPP Pass Rate and Accreditation Information for Psychology Programs in Kansas
The table below is designed to help you compare not-for-profit psychology schools in Kansas 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baker University | Yes | No | No | — | 59% | — | — | — | — | $23,016 |
| Barclay College | Yes | No | Bachelor’s | — | 43% | — | — | — | — | $22,484 |
| Benedictine College | Yes | No | No | — | 60% | — | — | — | — | $24,461 |
| Bethany College | Yes | No | No | — | 29% | — | — | — | — | $22,583 |
| Bethel College | Yes | No | No | — | 52% | — | — | — | — | $22,211 |
| Central Christian College of Kansas | Yes | No | Bachelor’s | — | 37% | — | — | — | — | $13,184 |
| Emporia State University | Yes | Yes | No | CACREP, NASP | 45% | — | — | — | — | $13,670 |
| Fort Hays State University | Yes | Yes | Bachelor’s, Master’s, EdS | — | 44% | — | — | — | — | $12,420 |
| Friends University | Yes | No | No | — | 39% | — | — | — | — | $18,780 |
| Kansas State University | Yes | Yes | Master’s | CACREP | 64% | — | — | 148 | 112^ | $18,002 |
| Kansas Wesleyan University | Yes | No | No | — | 37% | — | — | — | — | $25,221 |
| McPherson College | Yes | No | No | — | 37% | — | — | — | — | $22,094 |
| MidAmerica Nazarene University | Yes | Yes | No | CACREP | 42% | — | — | — | — | $19,905 |
| Newman University | Yes | No | No | — | 54% | — | — | — | — | $13,902 |
| Ottawa University-Kansas City | Yes | No | Bachelor’s | — | N/A | — | — | — | — | N/A |
| Ottawa University-Ottawa | Yes | No | Bachelor’s | — | 45% | — | — | — | — | $25,583 |
| Pittsburg State University | Yes | Yes | No | — | 53% | — | — | — | — | $13,906 |
| Southwestern College | Yes | No | Bachelor’s | — | 48% | — | — | — | — | $22,966 |
| Sterling College | Yes | No | No | — | 53% | — | — | — | — | $20,061 |
| Tabor College | Yes | No | No | — | 42% | — | — | — | — | $24,894 |
| University of Kansas (Child-Clinical PhD) | Yes | Yes | Bachelor’s | APA, NASP | 65% | 89% | 9 | 134 | 50^ | $18,415 |
| University of Kansas (Clinical PhD) | Yes | Yes | Bachelor’s | APA, NASP | 65% | 71% | 7 | 134 | 50^ | $18,415 |
| University of Kansas (Counseling PhD) | Yes | Yes | Bachelor’s | APA, NASP | 65% | 100% | 18 | 134 | 50^ | $18,415 |
| University of Saint Mary | Yes | Yes | No | — | 55% | — | — | — | — | $20,558 |
| Washburn University | Yes | Yes | No | — | 44% | — | — | — | — | $12,551 |
| Wichita State University | Yes | Yes | No | APA, NASP | 47% | — | — | — | 190^ | $14,256 |
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 Kansas
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.
Fort Hays State University
600 Park St
Hays, KS 67601
(785) 628-3478
https://www.fhsu.edu/
Student Review: “The psychology program at Fort Hays State University offered many benefits to me as an undergrad. First, the low student-to-teacher ratio allowed me to work closely with my advisor as well as allow for easy back-and-forth communication. There was an opportunity to join the Psychology Club that I took advantage of by running for office. The one recommendation would be to offer a tutoring program for advanced classes. My overall experience was very positive and I would recommend it to anyone interested in psychology.” -Student at Fort Hays State University
Kansas University
1450 Jayhawk Blvd
Lawrence, KS 66045
(785) 864-2700
https://www.ku.edu/
Student Review: “My experience at the University of Kansas psychology dept was astounding. Having two campuses around was surely a great help. All of my professors were extremely helpful, insightful, and reassuring in times of struggle. The facilities are amazing and the classes were pretty much grade A. There were a few professors in particular that really opened my eyes to new concepts in psychology that I had never heard of, all while retaining the old world knowledge and tried and true practices in teaching. We conducted some truly great experiments and even uncovered a few new facts about psychology through some of our studies. All in all, I would say my time spent at KU was very well invested.” -Student at Kansas University
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