Best Online and Campus Psychology Schools in North Carolina
The following guide to psychology schools in North Carolina is designed to provide you with essential information on the many psychology programs offered in the state.
Table of Contents
- North Carolina Psychology School Facts
- Top-Ranked Psychology Programs
- Top 20 Bachelor’s in Psychology Programs
- Graduate Psychology Program Comparison
- Related Articles
North Carolina Psychology School Facts
- There are 52 not-for-profit colleges and universities with psychology degree programs in North Carolina.1
- 1 school offers an associate degree in psychology.1
- 51 schools offer a bachelor’s degree in psychology.1
- 15 schools offer a master’s or advanced degree in psychology.1
- 7 schools ranked in College Factual’s Best General Psychology Schools 2024.2
- No schools ranked in Psychology Degree 411’s Top Schools With Online Psychology Programs.3
- 1 school ranked in The Princeton Review’s Great Schools for Psychology Majors 2024.4
- 3 schools ranked in Times Higher Education’s Best Universities for Psychology 2023.5
- 10 schools ranked in Most Affordable Schools With a Bachelor’s in Psychology.1
Nationally Ranked Top Psychology Programs in North Carolina
Our curated list of third-party and proprietary rankings can be useful in measuring the overall value and reputation of a program. Lists include College Factual, Psychology Degree 411, The Princeton Review, and Times Higher Education. Note if one of these lists is not present below, no schools in the state were named on it. Generally, schools and programs ranked on multiple lists tend to be stronger in academic quality.
Schools Ranked on Multiple Lists
- Appalachian State University
- Duke University
- East Carolina University
- North Carolina A&T State University
- North Carolina State University
- University of North Carolina at Charlotte
- University of North Carolina at Greensboro
- University of North Carolina at Wilmington
- Wake Forest University
- Western Carolina University
- Winston-Salem State University
College Factual’s Best Psychology Schools 2024
- Duke University (#4)
- Elon University (#75)
- Wake Forest University (#80)
- North Carolina State University (#83)
- University of North Carolina at Charlotte (#114)
- Appalachian State University (#117)
- University of North Carolina at Wilmington (#165)2
The Princeton Review’s Great Schools for Psychology Majors 2024
- Duke University4
Times Higher Education’s Best Universities for Psychology 2023
- Duke University (#23)
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (#55)
- University of North Carolina at Greensboro (#151-175)5
Most Affordable Schools With a Bachelor’s in Psychology
The following North Carolina schools with bachelor’s degrees in psychology have the lowest average net prices. Please note that we grouped regional campuses together and included a range for the net price of these schools. We have included each school’s graduation rate, a key quality metric.
- Fayetteville State University ($6,355 / Grad rate: 44%)
- University of North Carolina Regional Campuses ($8,208-$18,709 / Grad rate: 45%-74%)
- North Carolina A&T State University ($9,189 / Grad rate: 57%)
- Western Carolina University ($13,022 / Grad rate: 61%)
- Appalachian State University ($13,084 / Grad rate: 75%)
- North Carolina Central University ($13,708 / Grad rate: 44%)
- Winston-Salem State University ($14,097 / Grad rate: 50%)
- Shaw University ($14,204 / Grad rate: 14%)
- East Carolina University ($14,410 / Grad rate: 65%)
- Livingstone College ($15,914 / Grad rate: 26%)1
Top 20 Bachelor’s in Psychology Programs in North Carolina
This table compares the top 20 bachelor’s in psychology programs from not-for-profit schools in North Carolina based on a graduation rate above 50% and an annual net price of $27,000 or below. A high graduation rate is a top indicator of student success, and affordability is a key consideration for prospective undergrad students. Programs in bold text offer hybrid or online options.
| School | Grad Rate*1 | Accept Rate1 | Median Debt*6 | Median Earnings*6 | Full Price In State1 | Full Price Out of State1 | Net Price*1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina A&T State University | 57% | 56% | $27,000 | $44,390 | $6,733 | $20,243 | $9,189 |
| University of North Carolina at Greensboro | 58% | 92% | $22,858 | $46,514 | $7,498 | $22,657 | $10,979 |
| Western Carolina University | 61% | 85% | $21,868 | $44,755 | $4,453 | $8,453 | $13,022 |
| Appalachian State University | 75% | 83% | $20,231 | $48,352 | $7,450 | $23,454 | $13,084 |
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte | 70% | 80% | $21,500 | $54,580 | $7,214 | $21,138 | $13,951 |
| Winston-Salem State University | 50% | 73% | $25,000 | $40,976 | $6,276 | $16,932 | $14,097 |
| East Carolina University | 65% | 92% | $22,750 | $50,819 | $7,325 | $23,602 | $14,410 |
| University of North Carolina at Asheville | 59% | 74% | $20,500 | $44,906 | $7,380 | $24,728 | $14,730 |
| North Carolina State University at Raleigh | 85% | 47% | $20,121 | $65,211 | $9,128 | $30,869 | $14,852 |
| Salem College | 62% | 87% | $26,649 | $44,315 | $31,016 | $31,016 | $18,354 |
| University of North Carolina Wilmington | 74% | 69% | $19,500 | $52,560 | $7,238 | $21,858 | $18,709 |
| Wingate University | 57% | 86% | $25,000 | $51,262 | $40,806 | $40,806 | $18,823 |
| Catawba College | 56% | 67% | $25,000 | $43,706 | $32,868 | $32,868 | $19,701 |
| Lenoir-Rhyne University | 51% | 83% | $26,000 | $45,633 | $43,000 | $43,000 | $21,843 |
| Gardner-Webb University | 52% | 75% | $24,222 | $45,181 | $32,200 | $32,200 | $22,339 |
| Meredith College | 68% | 73% | $25,000 | $45,455 | $42,540 | $42,540 | $23,259 |
| Duke University | 97% | 6% | $13,000 | $97,418 | $60,220 | $60,220 | $23,694 |
| Campbell University | 56% | 89% | $22,500 | $51,142 | $39,230 | $39,230 | $24,280 |
| Wake Forest University | 90% | 21% | $21,500 | $81,964 | $62,128 | $62,128 | $26,197 |
| Davidson College | 92% | 17% | $18,688 | $77,379 | $57,340 | $57,340 | $26,704 |
*See Table Notes at bottom of page.
Comparison of All Graduate Psychology Programs in North Carolina
This table compares all of North Carolina’s graduate-level psychology programs from not-for-profit schools on multiple factors.
We’ve included accreditation status by the American Psychological Association (APA), the Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC), and the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). We also highlight the levels offered, 2020-2022 pass rates for the Examination for Professional Practice of Psychology (EPPP), and tuition information. Note EPPP scores are reported by degree type (clinical, counseling, or school psychology) and level (PhD or PsyD), so some schools may be listed more than once to include all pass rates. Schools in bold text offer hybrid or online options. Tuition per credit hour is more relevant for master’s and PsyD programs due to the fact that PhD students typically receive more program-awarded funding.
| School | Accreditation7-10 | Levels Offered | EPPP Pass Rate 2020-2211 | EPPP # Taking 2020-2211 | Grad Tuition Per Credit Hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appalachian State University | NASP | MA, PsyD | — | — | $282 |
| Duke University | APA | PhD | 100% | 10 | $3,479 |
| East Carolina University (Clinical PhD) | APA, NASP | MA, MA/SSP, PhD | 94% | 17 | $264 |
| East Carolina University (School PhD) | APA, NASP | MA, MA/SSP, PhD | 67% | 6 | $264 |
| Fayetteville State University | — | MA | — | — | $191 |
| Meredith College | — | MA | — | — | $725 |
| North Carolina A&T State University | — | MS | — | — | $593 |
| North Carolina Central University | — | MA | — | — | $263 |
| North Carolina State University at Raleigh | APA, NASP | MS, PhD | 80% | 5 | $526 |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Clinical PhD) | APA, NASP | PhD | 100% | 18 | $586 |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (School PhD) | APA, NASP | PhD | 74% | 19 | $586 |
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte | APA | MA, PhD | 100% | 11 | $248 |
| University of North Carolina at Greensboro | APA | MA, PhD | — | — | $461 |
| University of North Carolina Wilmington | APA | MS, PhD | — | — | $277 |
| Wake Forest University | — | MA | — | — | $1,610 |
| Western Carolina University | APA, NASP | SSP | — | — | $432 |
Related Articles
- Degree Levels Overview: Associate to PhD
- North Carolina Licensure Guide
- Top Online Bachelor’s Programs Ranking
- Psychology Careers by Degree Level
*Table Notes:
-N.Av. indicates data is not available.
-Metrics are institution-wide unless otherwise noted.
-Graduation rate is completion percentage within six years of start.
-Median (average) debt is cumulative federal loan debt for undergraduate completers in 2020-2021.
-Median earnings are from the 2020-2021 cohort 10 years post school entry.
-Net price is the average yearly price paid by full-time, first-year undergraduate students receiving financial aid. See NCES for more in-depth information.
References:
1. National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
2. College Factual, Best Colleges Offering Degrees in Psychology (Nationwide): https://www.collegefactual.com/majors/psychology/rankings/top-ranked/#
3. Psychology Degree 411 Top Schools With Online Psychology Programs: https://www.psychologydegree411.com/degrees/online/
4. The Princeton Review. The Best 388 Colleges, 2023 Edition. The Princeton Review, 2022.
5. Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023 – Psychology: https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/2023/subject-ranking/psychology
6. Department of Education College Scorecard: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/
7. American Psychological Association Accredited Programs: https://accreditation.apa.org/accredited-programs
8. Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs, Directory: https://www.cacrep.org/directory/
9. Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council Accredited Programs: https://mpcacaccreditation.org/accredited-programs/
10. National Association for School Psychologists, Approved Programs: https://apps.nasponline.org/standards-and-certification/graduate-program-approval-and-accreditation/approved-accredited.aspx
11. The Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards, 2023 Psychology Licensing Exam Scores by Doctoral Program: https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.asppb.net/resource/resmgr/eppp_/2023_dr_rpt_012024.pdf