Psychology Schools in Mississippi
Choosing a psychology program, especially with the many options available, can present quite a challenge. The following guide to psychology programs in Mississippi, which provides essential information on undergraduate and graduate psychology programs in the state, is designed to make your decision easier. Programs in Mississippi allow students to concentrate in such areas as general psychology, counseling psychology, and experimental psychology. Some universities allow students the flexibility and convenience of earning a bachelor’s degree or a master’s degree in psychology entirely online.
Quick Facts
- There are 20 not-for-profit colleges and universities with psychology degree programs in Mississippi.1
- 7 schools offer an associate’s degree in psychology.1
- 13 schools offer a bachelor’s degree in psychology.1
- 6 schools offer a master’s or advanced degree in psychology.1
- 1 school 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
- No schools 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 Mississippi
Kiplinger’s Best College Values 2019*
- University of Mississippi (#75)
*Institution-wide ranking.
Continue reading to find additional information about your options, including profiles of several popular undergraduate and graduate psychology programs offered at Mississippi’s top universities.
Schools in Mississippi with Psychology Programs
Traditional Undergraduate Programs
University of Mississippi
The University of Mississippi features a 124-credit, four-year undergraduate program leading to the Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology. Students must complete a combination of liberal arts courses – such as English, history, math, science, and social sciences – and psychology coursework. Psychology coursework focuses on such topics as general psychology, industrial psychology, cognition and perception, drugs and behavior, and the science of emotion. Eligible psychology majors may want to join Psi Chi, the national honor society for psychology students. Psychology students may also want to participate in research studies, which may also help to fulfill requirements for individual courses.
Millsaps College
Millsaps College’s Psychology and Neuroscience Department allows students to earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology. The undergraduate program requires psychology majors to complete 10 psychology courses, including required coursework focusing on an introduction to psychology, statistics for behavioral sciences, research methods, and cognitive psychology. Students may also earn academic credit for taking a course trip to Europe. Psychology majors are encouraged to intern at one of the school’s numerous partner facilities in the state, including the University of Mississippi Medical Center, Mississippi School for the Blind, the Mississippi Crime Lab, and the Rankin County School District.
Traditional Graduate Programs
Mississippi State University
Graduate students at Mississippi State University may pursue a master’s degree in clinical psychology or experimental psychology. The clinical psychology program generally takes two years to complete and is comprised of such courses as psychopathology, intelligence testing, behavior therapy, personality appraisal, and a practicum. Graduate students also complete a thesis to fulfill degree requirements. The experimental psychology program allows students to add a focus area to their degree such as social psychology or cognitive psychology. Students may also design their own program track. The two-year program requires graduate students to research, write, and defend a thesis. Graduate students may also conduct research in conjunction with the Social Science Research Center and the Center for Advanced Vehicular Studies.
University of Southern Mississippi
The University of Southern Mississippi confers the Master of Science (MS) in Counseling Psychology to graduate students who successfully complete the two-year, 60 credit program. The graduate program prepares students to continue to doctoral studies or to earn certification as professional licensed counselors in the state of Mississippi. The full-time program admits students as a cohort, which means all new students begin and go through the program together as a group. All graduate students are expected to complete a professional practicum to fulfill degree requirements. Admission to the program is competitive with only eight students out of approximately 60 candidates applying each year being offered seats in the program.
Online Psychology Programs
Belhaven University
Belhaven University’s online Bachelor of Arts in Applied Psychology emphasizes the study of human behavior within a Christian context and prepares students to understand the fundamental theory and practice of psychology as well as the applications of psychology in day-to-day life. Graduates will be prepared to pursue advanced study at the master’s or doctoral levels as well as entry-level careers in fields such as human resources and community health. The psychology core comprises 36 credit hours and includes such courses as Human Growth and Development, Counseling Theory and Techniques, and Psychology from a Christian Perspective. Students take a further six credits of psychology electives plus 40 general education credits and 42 additional elective credits to earn the bachelor’s degree.
Blue Mountain College
Blue Mountain College offers an online Bachelor of Science in Psychology that requires 120 credit hours to complete as well as an 18-credit hour Minor in Psychology. All courses are taken in eight-week blocks, which allows students to focus on specific courses while advancing through the curriculum. Summer semesters are also available, which can accelerate the time to degree completion. Courses in the psychology major include Psychological Evaluation and Testing, Experimental Psychology, and Theories of Personality. Students also take courses in English, history, economics, and the sciences for a well-rounded education. Blue Mountain College provides an engaging learning environment that encourages interaction.
EPPP Pass Rate and Accreditation Information for Psychology Programs in Mississippi
The table below is designed to help you compare not-for-profit psychology schools in Mississippi 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alcorn State University | Yes | No | No | — | 40% | — | — | — | — | $14,923 |
| Belhaven University | Yes | No | Bachelor’s | — | 47% | — | — | — | — | $18,734 |
| Blue Mountain College | Yes | No | Bachelor’s | — | 49% | — | — | — | — | $12,499 |
| Delta State University | Yes | No | No | CACREP | 39% | — | — | — | — | $12,814 |
| Jackson State University | Yes | Yes | No | APA, CACREP | 43% | 43% | 7 | — | — | $12,541/td> |
| Millsaps College | Yes | No | No | — | 64% | — | — | — | — | $24,125 |
| Mississippi College | Yes | Yes | No | CACREP | 53% | — | — | — | — | $17,520 |
| Mississippi State University | Yes | Yes | Bachelor’s | APA, CACREP, NASP | 58% | — | — | — | 181^ | $16,670 |
| Mississippi University for Women | Yes | No | No | — | 48% | — | — | — | — | $11,152 |
| Tougaloo College | Yes | No | No | — | 35% | — | — | — | — | $11,796 |
| University of Mississippi | Yes | Yes | No | APA, CACREP | 64% | 100% | 15 | 234 | 167^ | $14,459 |
| University of Southern Mississippi (Clinical PhD) | Yes | Yes | No | APA, NASP | 49% | 89% | 9 | — | 181^ | $13,773 |
| University of Southern Mississippi (Counseling PhD) | Yes | Yes | No | APA, NASP | 49% | 90% | 10 | — | 181^ | $13,773 |
| William Carey University | Yes | Yes | No | — | 47% | — | — | — | — | $17,100 |
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 Mississippi
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.
University of Mississippi
Highway 6
University, MS 38677
(662) 915-7211
https://olemiss.edu/
Student Review: “I loved the psychology department at The University of Mississippi. The professors are always there to lend a helping hand and strongly encourage their students to utilize office hours and seek help if needed. They also offered advice on how to effectively study for tests. These professors are highly educated and come from various unique backgrounds. They are definitely experts in the field and integrate technology into the classroom more than any other department on campus that I know of. They like to have real-life conversations with students about what is going in the world and not just talk about information out of a textbook.” – Student at University of Mississippi
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