Psychology Schools in Minnesota
The following guide to psychology schools in Minnesota provides you with essential information, including profiles of undergraduate and graduate programs in psychology in the state, to help you make an informed decision as to the best psychology program for your particular goals. Minnesota’s colleges and universities allow students to specialize in a variety of areas, including general psychology and counseling psychology. Students may also consider the convenience and flexibility afforded by the many online undergraduate and graduate psychology degree programs.
Quick Facts
- There are 33 not-for-profit colleges and universities with psychology degree programs in Minnesota.1
- 2 schools offer an associate’s degree in psychology.1
- 31 schools offer a bachelor’s degree in psychology.1
- 11 schools offer a master’s or advanced degree in psychology.1
- 2 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
- 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 Minnesota
Kiplinger’s Best College Values 2019*
- University of Minnesota, Morris (#79)
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Campus (#23)
*Institution-wide ranking.
Princeton Review’s Great Schools for Psychology Majors for 2018
- Carleton College
- University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
PsychologyDegree411’s Top Schools with Online Psychology Programs
- University of Minnesota-Duluth (#20)
Times Higher Education Best Universities for Psychology 2019
- University of Minnesota-Twin Cities (#17)
Keep reading to learn more about some of the popular undergraduate and graduate psychology programs offered at several of Minnesota’s top universities.
Schools in Wisconsin with Psychology Programs
Traditional Undergraduate Programs
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota confers the Bachelor of Arts (BA) and the Bachelor of Science (BS) in Psychology. Academically eligible students may also join the honors program to earn an honors degree. Psychology majors have plenty of opportunities to get involved on campus by joining such organizations as the Psychology Club, the Psychology International Student Association, and Psi Chi, the national honor society for psychology students. Students interested in broadening their horizons may want to participate in an academic year or semester abroad while internships and volunteer work in the community are encouraged. Psychology majors may also become a research assistant in the department or with a particular faculty member.
Minnesota State University at Mankato
Minnesota State University at Mankato features a four-year, undergraduate program leading to the Bachelor of Arts (BA) or the Bachelor of Science (BS) in Psychology. Psychology majors must complete 40 credits of required and elective psychology courses to fulfill major requirements. Courses cover such diverse topics as history and systems, sensation and perception, social psychology, personality psychology, drugs and behavior, neuroscience, and psychology of aging. An independent study is available for upperclassmen with students encouraged to complete a field experience to gain experience in their particular area of psychological interest. Students may also listen to or participate in the weekly radio show on campus, “Psychological Frontiers: Exploring Human Behaviors.”
Traditional Graduate Programs
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota’s 48-credit graduate program leads to the Master of Arts (MA) in Counseling and Psychological Services. Successful completion of the program provides students with the educational credentials necessary to obtain licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor by the Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy. The program, which is offered in Rochester and in the Twin Cities, generally takes two years to complete. Graduate students will take such courses as Foundations of Family Therapy, Developmental Psychology, Psychological Assessment, and Group Therapy. All students are also required to complete two practicums.
Bethel University
Bethel University’s Master of Arts (MA) in Counseling Psychology program prepares students in a Christian setting to become a Licensed Professional Counselor or Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor in the state of Minnesota. Licensure is awarded by the Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy and students must meet all other requirements held by the board at the time of application. Graduate students can opt for the two-year or the three-year program. With the two-year program, classes are held for four hours in the evening, twice a week the first year and once a week the second year. The master’s program allows students to concentrate in child and adolescent counseling or community and mental health counseling.
Online Psychology Programs
Crown College
Crown College offers a fully online Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Counseling which emphasizes mental health services from a Christian perspective. The program provides students with an understanding of fundamental psychological theory as well as skills-based counseling training through its unique counseling concentration. The major core comprises 39 credit hours among such courses as Developmental Psychology; Social Science Research Methods; Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy; and Group Dynamics. Students take an additional 43 credits of electives, which can be selected to focus on their area(s) of interest to suit personal and/or career goals. Graduates are prepared for entry-level careers as well as for pursuit of graduate study in counseling or social work.
Concordia University-Saint Paul
Concordia University-Saint Paul is home to an online Bachelor of Arts in Psychology designed for students who wish to work in careers involving social behaviors and research. Students take 44 credit hours towards the major, including courses such as Research Methods with Statistical Applications; Cognition, Learning, and Memory; Introduction to Personality Theories; and Lifespan Developmental Psychology. Students also complete an eight credit hour internship to earn practical, hands-on experience. In total, 120 credit hours are required to earn the bachelor’s degree. Courses are offered in convenient seven-week formats, which for full-time students can reduce the time it takes to earn the bachelor’s degree compared to traditional semester-based study on campus. Graduates are well-prepared to pursue master’s or doctoral study in psychology and related fields.
EPPP Pass Rate and Accreditation Information for Psychology Programs in Minnesota
The table below is designed to help you compare not-for-profit psychology schools in Minnesota 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adler Graduate School | No | Yes | No | — | N/A | — | — | — | — | N/A |
| Augsburg College | Yes | No | Bachelor’s | — | 64% | — | — | — | — | $24,608 |
| Bemidji State University | Yes | No | Bachelor’s | — | 46% | — | — | — | — | $14,814 |
| Bethany Lutheran College | Yes | No | No | — | 55% | — | — | — | — | $17,546 |
| Bethel University | Yes | Yes | No | — | 77% | — | — | 245 | — | $27,085 |
| Carleton College | Yes | No | No | — | 93% | — | — | 153 | — | $32,336 |
| College of Saint Benedict | Yes | No | No | — | 80% | — | — | 38 | — | $27,961 |
| Concordia College at Moorhead | Yes | No | No | — | 75% | — | — | 222 | — | $23,109 |
| Concordia University-Saint Paul | Yes | No | Bachelor’s | — | 59% | — | — | — | — | $18,591 |
| Crown College | Yes | No | Bachelor’s | — | 52% | — | — | — | — | $24,220 |
| Gustavus Adolphus College | Yes | No | No | — | 78% | — | — | 219 | — | $23,906 |
| Hamline University | Yes | No | Bachelor’s | — | 63% | — | — | — | — | $22,079 |
| Macalester College | Yes | No | No | — | 90% | — | — | — | — | $29,013 |
| Metropolitan State University | Yes | Yes | No | — | 39% | — | — | — | — | $14,900 |
| Minnesota State University Moorhead | Yes | Yes | No | CACREP, NASP | 49% | — | — | — | — | $16,397 |
| Minnesota State University-Mankato | Yes | Yes | No | CACREP, NASP | 50% | — | — | — | — | $14,519 |
| North Central University | Yes | No | No | — | 54% | — | — | — | — | $21,598 |
| Oak Hills Christian College | Yes | No | No | — | 38% | — | — | — | — | $18,221 |
| Saint Cloud State University | Yes | Yes | No | CACREP | 44% | — | — | — | — | $13,816 |
| Saint Johns University | Yes | Yes | No | — | 76% | — | — | — | — | $27,500 |
| Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota | Yes | Yes | No | APA | 61% | — | — | — | — | $21,370 |
| Southwest Minnesota State University | Yes | No | No | — | 46% | — | — | — | — | $14,604 |
| St. Catherine University | Yes | No | No | — | 56% | — | — | — | — | $22,519 |
| St. Olaf College | Yes | No | No | — | 86% | — | — | 163 | — | $26,894 |
| The College of Saint Scholastica | Yes | No | No | — | 69% | — | — | — | — | $24,007 |
| University of Minnesota-Crookston | Yes | No | No | — | 48% | — | — | — | — | $12,135 |
| University of Minnesota-Duluth | Yes | Yes | Bachelor’s | — | 59% | — | — | — | — | $16,993 |
| University of Minnesota-Morris | Yes | No | No | — | 66% | — | — | — | — | $11,403 |
| University of Minnesota-Twin Cities (School PhD) | Yes | Yes | Bachelor’s | APA, NASP | 80% | 83% | 6 | 56 | 8^ | $16,691 |
| University of Minnesota-Twin Cities (Dept of Educ Psych Counseling PhD) | Yes | Yes | Bachelor’s | APA, NASP | 80% | 79% | 14 | 56 | 8^ | $16,691 |
| University of Minnesota-Twin Cities (Clinical Science PhD) | Yes | Yes | Bachelor’s | APA, NASP | 80% | 100% | 15 | 56 | 8^ | $16,691 |
| University of Minnesota-Twin Cities (Counseling PhD) | Yes | Yes | Bachelor’s | APA, NASP | 80% | 83% | 6 | 56 | 8^ | $16,691 |
| University of Northwestern-St. Paul | Yes | No | No | — | 63% | — | — | — | — | $24,286 |
| University of St. Thomas | Yes | Yes | No | APA | 77% | 70% | 27 | 221 | — | $30,183 |
| Winona State University | Yes | No | No | CACREP | 64% | — | — | — | — | $16,401 |
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 Minnesota
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.
College of St. Benedict
2850 Abbey Rd
Collegeville, MN 56321
(320) 363-2011
https://www.csbsju.edu/
Student Review: “Collaborative exploration was a key aspect of my experience. I was encouraged to take part in community research with employees. This joint effort incorporated direct research managed by my professors. In keeping with the soul of the school, I was furnished with numerous extra experiential learning. I had a wonderful internship in the St. Cloud Hospital as well as in the campus recruiting office. However, I disliked having to write a thesis as it was time-consuming and frustrating to do so much research. Nevertheless, I loved the faculty and my fellow students and had a wonderful 4 years at St. Benedict’s studying psychology.” – Student at College of St. Benedict
Student Review: “Overall the psychology program at the College of Saint Benedict was excellent. I highly enjoyed the variety of courses, the professors, and the styles of teaching. The courses were all very different from each other and yet they built on each other so you receive a comprehensive education. The professors are all really great. They have extensive office hours and are always more than happy to meet with you if needed or answer any questions that you have. The best part of the program is that you learn via real-world experience and internships, lectures, movies, case studies, and textbooks. Using a variety of teaching techniques the professors ensure all of the students are engaged and learn in the ways best suited to them. The one complaint I have about the program is that it does feel a bit slow-paced at times and there are times when the information is redundant between classes and courses. In the end, the program was excellent and taught me a great deal.” – Student at College of St. Benedict
Hamline University
1536 Hewitt Ave
Saint Paul, MN 55104
(651) 523-2800
https://www.hamline.edu/
Student Review: “I had the privilege of earning my degree in psychology from Hamline University. The University itself was quite small and I benefited from small class sizes both in the general psychology classes and in the major-specific ones. There was a range of classes that helped me find which aspects of the major I found most interesting. Hamline also gave its students the opportunity to enroll in “Psi Chi,” a national Psychology honor society. The only critique I have of the psychology program is the limited number of classes available. Due to a relatively small staff, core subjects were covered but anything incredibly specific wasn’t offered.” – Student at Hamline University
Macalester College
1600 Grand Ave
St Paul, MN 55105
(651) 696-6000
https://www.macalester.edu/
Student Review: “Macalester is not an easy school. Even for large classes (e.g., 60 people for our Abnormal Psychology course), which are quite rare, professors expect a high level of critical thinking in and outside of the classroom. Professor Strauss is a brilliant woman, and her classes are filled immediately because of the quality of her teaching. Also, a lot of Macalester’s psychology courses require lab components, which are exceptional preparation for graduate school. At most colleges, Intro to Psychology has a reputation for being rather easy and simplistic, but at Macalester, it is a rather difficult course that requires high-level thinking to pass. The psychology professors and their amazing teaching have inspired me to go to either a Clinical Psychology PhD or Psy.D program despite having earned my B.A in geography and not psychology.” – Student at Macalester College
Saint Catherine University
2004 Randolph Ave
Saint Paul, MN 55105
(651) 690-6000
https://www.stkate.edu/
Student Review: “My psychology program was an amazing experience. When I entered the program, I was able to transfer credits from a previous institution, which allowed me to enter the program at a more advanced level. Every course in the program included a lab component. During the labs, we were able to apply our knowledge of psychology to real research projects. We designed projects and conducted the research ourselves. It gave me a great idea of what a research psychologist would be expected to do in the workplace. My professors were always available and we also had teaching assistants that would help us when we had more extensive questions. The program really made me feel like part of a community and the students would spend time studying together in groups to prepare for exams and presentations. It was a wonderful program.” – Student at Saint Catherine University
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
2500 Park Ave
Minneapolis, MN 55404
(612) 728-5100
https://www.smumn.edu/
Student Review: “Saint Mary’s University’s psychology program has a lot to offer. It has been a challenging, fun-filled adventure. Their classes are not only educational but also exciting. Every day I actually look forward to attending lectures. A lot of the professors are really well distinguished in the field so you get a state of the art education from actual published therapists and psychologists. The exciting part comes in when you actually get to participate in some of the new and upcoming research projects that students get to be a part of. Every professor I have encountered so far has been amazing in terms of communication and is always available through email in a timely fashion. Another perk of this program is their use of Blackboard. Blackboard is their online system that allows students to not only access grades, assignments, and syllabi, but it also allows you to have direct communication with other students and the professor. Overall I would highly recommend this program to anyone looking to enter the field. It has helped me get hands-on experience and has taught me what type of occupations I can achieve with my specific degree.” – Student at Saint Mary’s University
Southwest Minnesota State University
1501 State St
Marshall, MN 56258
(800) 642-0684
https://www.smsu.edu/
Student Review: “My experience at SMSU was not the greatest. Several times, it was nearly impossible to register for needed classes. My graduation date was postponed a whole semester due to not being able to get into my capstone psychology class (they only offer it once a year). Despite this, for the most part, the professors were helpful, but there were a few of them who were relatively awkward and initially hard to approach. My psychology professors offered me more information on repaying student loans in one semester than the financial aid office did in the 4 years I was there. I also did not get a graduation ceremony because they only do it once a year.” – Student at Southwest Minnesota State 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