Psychology Schools in Maine
Choosing an undergraduate or graduate psychology program, especially with the many options available, can present a challenge. The following guide to psychology schools in Maine provides you with essential information on the programs available in the state. Maine’s colleges and universities offer general psychology degrees with specializations in such areas as cognitive psychology, biological psychology, and social psychology. There are also many online universities that offer students convenience and flexibility of earning an online psychology undergraduate or graduate degree.
Quick Facts
- There are 14 not-for-profit colleges and universities with psychology degree programs in Maine.1
- 1 school offers an associate’s degree in psychology.1
- 14 schools offer a bachelor’s degree in psychology.1
- 6 schools offer a master’s or advanced degree in psychology.1
- No schools 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
- No 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 Maine
Princeton Review’s Great Schools for Psychology Majors for 2018
- Bates College
PsychologyDegree411’s Top Schools with Online Psychology Programs
- University of Maine-Presque Isle (#18)
Continue reading below to learn more about the graduate and undergraduate psychology programs offered at Maine’s leading universities.
Schools in Maine with Psychology Programs
Traditional Undergraduate Programs
Husson University
Husson University’s Bachelor of Science in Psychology is a competitive program that prepares graduates for advanced study by building on a solid core of foundational psychology content. Bachelor’s degree graduates can also pursue the Maine State Mental Health Rehabilitation Technician/Community certification through the careful selection of electives. Students are also encouraged to complete a minor. Professional psychology courses in the major include Human Growth and Development; Social Psychology; and Research Methods. Students also complete a capstone seminar in psychology as well as a field placement. In total, 122 credit hours are required to complete the degree.
Saint Joseph’s College of Maine
Saint Joseph’s College of Maine’s four-year undergraduate program leads to the Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology. In addition to general college course requirements in history, English, and science, psychology majors must complete such required psychology courses as Introduction to Psychology, research methods in psychology, and statistical methods in planning. All psychology majors must also complete a thesis as well as eight elective courses in the psychology department. Students are encouraged to participate in an internship to gain real-world experience. Past internship sites have included Spring Harbor Hospital and the Center for Grieving Children. The undergraduate program prepares graduates for continuation to graduate school.
Traditional Graduate Programs
University of Maine
Graduate students at the University of Maine may choose between one of two masters programs in psychology: the Master of Arts (MA) in Psychological Sciences and the Master of Arts (MA) in Developmental Psychology. The psychological sciences program focuses on such areas as cognitive psychology, biological psychology, and social psychology. The program is designed to prepare graduate students for continued doctoral studies and to pursue a career as a university professor. The developmental program is geared toward students who want to work with children (infants through adolescents) and allows for a concentration in one of several areas, including play, communicative competence, emotional development, and friendship evolution.
University of Southern Maine
The University of Southern Maine offers a PsyD in School Psychology that equips students with the skills and knowledge needed to become effective school psychology practitioners. The curriculum emphasizes evidence-based models for assessment, intervention, and consultation with school-aged children. Courses include Clinical Research Methods, Professional Ethics in School Psychology, Psychological Measurement and Evaluation, and Cognitive-Affective Bases of Behavior. In addition to coursework, students also complete research assignments and field-based experiences. The program culminates in a dissertation and a 1,500 clock hour pre-doctoral internship. In total, 111 credit hours are required to earn the PsyD.
Online Psychology Programs
University of Maine at Machias
The University of Maine at Machias offers an online Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Community Studies that emphasizes the history and needs of the southeastern Maine community. Those enrolled in the program may choose to emphasize in Applied Psychology or Disabilities in Youth. Those who are interested in pursuing graduate study in psychology will likely choose the Applied Psychology focus. The Disabilities in Youth focus prepares graduates to work with youth in capacities other than K-12 teaching, such as casework and counseling support. Students on either track will learn how to identify community needs and promote positive change through an interdisciplinary curriculum touching on anthropology, psychology, the natural sciences, and social science while taking a core of liberal arts courses for a well-rounded education.
University of Southern Maine
The University of Southern Maine offers a fully online Master of Science in Educational Psychology: Applied Behavior Analysis that requires 36 credit hours to complete. The program prepares students for professional work in school and behavioral health environments, focusing on behavioral assessments, intervention design, and intervention analysis, as well as consultation and supervision in a service setting. The program is designed to be completed within two years; to complete the program students should plan on taking courses throughout the fall, spring, and summer semesters. Required courses include Behavioral Principles of Learning, Clinical Research Methods, Consultation in School Psychology, and Social Foundations of Behavior. Graduates will be eligible to apply for certification as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA).
EPPP Pass Rate and Accreditation Information for Psychology Programs in Maine
The table below is designed to help you compare not-for-profit psychology schools in Maine 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bates College | Yes | No | No | — | 89% | — | — | 52 | — | $25,113 |
| Bowdoin College | Yes | No | No | — | 95% | — | — | — | — | $24,831 |
| Colby College | Yes | No | No | — | 90% | — | — | 8 | — | $20,689 |
| Husson University | Yes | Yes | Bachelor’s | CACREP | 55% | — | — | — | — | $18,417 |
| Saint Joseph’s College of Maine | Yes | No | No | — | 63% | — | — | — | — | $27,221 |
| Thomas College | Yes | No | No | — | 49% | — | — | — | — | $21,526 |
| University of Maine | Yes | Yes | No | APA | 60% | 100% | 10 | — | 190^ | $16,984 |
| University of Maine at Farmington | Yes | No | No | — | 52% | — | — | — | — | $14,579 |
| University of Maine at Machias | Yes | No | Bachelor’s | — | 29% | — | — | — | — | $8,877 |
| University of Maine at Presque Isle | Yes | No | No | — | 35% | — | — | — | — | $10,370 |
| University of New England | Yes | No | No | — | 63% | — | — | — | — | $34,445 |
| University of Southern Maine | Yes | Yes | Master’s | CACREP | 39% | — | — | — | — | $11,963 |
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
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