Psychology Schools in Maryland
The following guide to psychology schools in Maryland contains essential information, including several profiles of specific psychology undergraduate and graduate programs, designed to make choosing the best program for your academic and career goals easier. The universities in Maryland offer undergraduates and graduate students the opportunity to earn a general psychology degree or to concentrate in a specific area, such as clinical psychology. A flexible and convenient alternative to a traditional degree is an online degree. Numerous online universities offer undergraduate and graduate psychology programs.
Quick Facts
- There are 24 not-for-profit colleges and universities with psychology degree programs in Maryland.1
- 1 school offers an associate’s degree in psychology.1
- 23 schools offer a bachelor’s degree in psychology.1
- 12 schools offer a master’s or advanced degree in psychology.1
- 4 schools ranked in Kiplinger’s Best College Values for 2019.2
- 2 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
- 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 Maryland
Kiplinger’s Best College Values 2019*
- Salisbury University (#98)
- St. Mary’s College of Maryland (#78)
- University of Maryland, Baltimore County (#60)
- University of Maryland, College Park (#10)
*Institution-wide ranking.
Princeton Review’s Great Schools for Psychology Majors for 2018
- St. Mary’s College of Maryland
- University of Maryland-College Park
PsychologyDegree411’s Top Schools with Online Psychology Programs
- University of Maryland University College (#27)
Times Higher Education Best Universities for Psychology 2019
- Johns HopkinsUniversity (#25)
- University of Maryland-College Park (#56)
Keep reading to learn more about several of the popular undergraduate and graduate psychology programs offered at a few of Maryland’s leading universities.
Schools in Maryland with Psychology Programs
Traditional Undergraduate Programs
Towson University
Towson University awards the Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology to undergraduates who successfully complete the four-year program. Students must complete a combination of general college coursework and departmental requirements. Psychology majors may apply for the clinical concentration program, which allows students to gain real-world experience through internships and specialized classes. Applicants to the concentration must be a least a junior and meet academic requirements. The psychology department also features an Honors Thesis Program for juniors and seniors with a minimum 3.6 major GPA. Students may want to become involved on campus by joining the Psychology Club or, for eligible students, Psi Chi, the national honor society for psychology students.
University of Maryland at Baltimore County
The University of Maryland at Baltimore County allows students to earn a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology or a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Psychology. Psychology majors may opt for a general psychology degree or to specialize in biopsychology, developmental psychology, or human services psychology. Concentrations are not noted on a student’s conferred degree; however, the department provides a certificate denoting the successful completion of a concentration. The psychology department features an Honors Program, which allows academically eligible psychology majors to undertake research, which is often essential in earning acceptance into a graduate program. Eligible students may also join the campus chapter of Psi Chi, the national honor society for psychology majors.
Traditional Graduate Programs
Loyola University Maryland
Loyola University Maryland features a Master of Science (MS) in Clinical or Counseling Psychology with graduate students choosing one of two tracks: the practitioner track or the thesis track. Graduate students pursuing the practitioner track generally graduate and find employment under the supervision of a PhD-level psychologist. The practitioner track also prepares students to work toward the Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) credential or to move on to doctoral studies while the thesis track provides the foundation necessary for graduates to move on to a doctoral program. Prospective applicants to the program who do not hold a bachelor’s degree in psychology must complete prerequisite courses, including introductory psychology and abnormal psychology, before being admitted to the master’s program.
University of Baltimore
The University of Baltimore’s Master of Science (MS) in Applied Psychology program allows graduate students to concentrate in one of two tracks: the counseling psychology track or the industrial and organizational psychology track. All graduate students, regardless of the track, must take core departmental courses that encompass the biological basis of behavior, learning and cognition, and research methods. Track requirements include core and elective courses. Students pursuing a master’s in industrial and organizational psychology may take elective courses through both the psychology department and the business administration department. Successful candidates to either program must hold a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minimum 3.0 GPA. Those without a bachelor’s degree in psychology or who otherwise do not meet typical academic requirements may be considered on an individual basis.
Online Psychology Programs
University of Maryland University College
University of Maryland University College offers an online Bachelor of Science in Psychology that provides students with a broad, fundamental understanding of psychological theory, research, and practice. Students also develop skills in quantitative analysis and scientific reasoning. Students are exposed to the major schools of psychology and research findings to date, preparing graduates to pick fields of interest in which to launch careers or pursue graduate study. Core courses in the major include Sensation and Perception, Biological Basis of Behavior, Memory and Cognition, and Abnormal Psychology. Students also take a senior seminar in psychology that takes the form of a study survey that includes a portfolio. In total, 120 credits are required to earn the degree; up to 90 transfer credits may be accepted from other institutions.
University of Maryland-College Park
The University of Maryland at College Park offers a hybrid-online Master of Professional Studies in Organizational Psychology. The program is designed to meet the needs of those at both the entry-level and the mid-level of professional careers in psychology and related fields. The 30-credit program focuses on statistical and research methods in business settings, organizational change, and performance management. The program can be completed in five semesters across 15 months. Students typically take two courses per term; courses required to earn the degree include Managing Strategic Organizational Change; The Business of Evaluation: Research Methods at Work; and Selection and Classification Issues in Organizations. As a hybrid program, the on-campus instruction is combined with online modules on a schedule designed to be flexible for working professionals. In-person courses are scheduled for early evenings. Graduates are prepared to work in consulting, government, research, and academia.
EPPP Pass Rate and Accreditation Information for Psychology Programs in Maryland
The table below is designed to help you compare not-for-profit psychology schools in Maryland 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowie State University | Yes | Yes | No | CACREP, NASP | 42% | — | — | — | — | $13,455 |
| Coppin State University | Yes | No | No | CACREP | 24% | — | — | — | — | $9,689 |
| Frostburg State University | Yes | Yes | No | — | 52% | — | — | — | — | $13,980 |
| Goucher College | Yes | No | No | — | 71% | — | — | — | — | $13,980 |
| Hood College | Yes | No | No | — | 66% | — | — | — | — | $23,149 |
| Johns Hopkins University | Yes | Yes | No | CACREP | 93% | — | — | 94 | 26^ | $27,868 |
| Loyola University Maryland | Yes | Yes | No | APA, CACREP | 80% | 97% | 28 | 132 | — | $39,027 |
| McDaniel College | Yes | No | No | — | 67% | — | — | — | — | $24,065 |
| Morgan State University | Yes | Yes | No | — | 39% | — | — | — | — | $15,814 |
| Mount St Mary’s University | Yes | No | No | — | 64% | — | — | — | — | $28,548 |
| Notre Dame of Maryland University | Yes | No | No | — | 53% | — | — | — | — | $21,686 |
| Salisbury University | Yes | No | No | — | 68% | — | — | — | — | $18,163 |
| St. Mary’s College of Maryland | Yes | No | No | — | 80% | — | — | — | — | $20,479 |
| Stevenson University | Yes | No | No | — | 56% | — | — | — | — | $26,663 |
| Towson University | Yes | Yes | No | NASP | 73% | — | — | 188 | — | $16,148 |
| University of Baltimore | Yes | Yes | No | — | 37% | — | — | — | — | $20,010 |
| University of Maryland Eastern Shore | Yes | No | No | CACREP | 39% | — | — | — | — | $16,606 |
| University of Maryland-Baltimore County | Yes | Yes | No | APA | 68% | 100% | 16 | 138 | 98^ | $17,141 |
| University of Maryland-College Park (School PhD) | Yes | Yes | No | APA, NASP | 86% | 80% | 5 | 66 | 39^ | $16,790 |
| University of Maryland-College Park (Clinical PhD) | Yes | Yes | No | APA, NASP | 86% | 100% | 8 | 66 | 39^ | $16,790 |
| University of Maryland-College Park (Counseling PhD) | Yes | Yes | No | APA, NASP | 86% | 90% | 10 | 66 | 39^ | $16,790 |
| University of Maryland-University College | Yes | No | Bachelor’s | — | 15% | — | — | — | — | $13,672 |
| Washington Adventist University | Yes | Yes | No | — | 37% | — | — | — | — | $16,862 |
| Washington College | Yes | No | No | — | 68% | — | — | — | — | $29,457 |
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 Maryland
University of Maryland – Baltimore
620 W Lexington St
Baltimore, MD 21201
(410) 706-3100
https://www.umaryland.edu/
Student Review: “I was a undergrad student at UMBC going for a bachelor’s in psychology. This is a great college for someone pursuing a psychology degree. The professors there are very helpful and respectful of students. They give students a lot of time outside of the classroom as well as inside the classroom. Their career planning department is outstanding. This school is not a good school for parties though. People tend to be a little bit anti-social and quiet. On weekends, it is hard to find a good party on campus. However, there are many places near campus that are packed with college kids. All in all, this is a great school academically and they have great opportunities for students looking to be research assistants. This school provided me the education I needed to be successful in graduate school.” – Student at University of Maryland – Baltimore
Student Review: “The undergraduate psychology program at the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) provided me with the general skills allowing me to further advance my career in the psychological counseling career. Since it is an honors research university, I was able to perform undergraduate research during my last two years at UMBC. Performing academic research in a highly engaging group with a wonderful mentor allowed me to get my feet wet, and interact with human research subjects and experience data entry. The only downside I would mention was the very large class sizes during my first two years in the psychology program. Since UMBC is a medium-size school it is normal to attend classes of 300 people, however, towards my last two years my class sizes were reduced significantly and the learning experience was more intimate and engaging.” – Student at University of Maryland – Baltimore
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