Psychology Schools in North Carolina

North Carolina Licensure Requirements

The following guide to psychology schools in North Carolina, which includes profiles of specific graduate and undergraduate psychology programs, is designed to provide you with essential information on the many psychology programs offered in the state. The colleges and universities in North Carolina allow students to concentrate in general psychology or in a wide range of specializations, including school psychology. Some colleges and universities also offer online options that afford students the convenience and flexibility of earning a bachelor’s or master’s degree in psychology either partially or fully online.

Quick Facts

There are 51 not-for-profit colleges and universities with psychology degree programs in North Carolina.¹
No schools offer an associate’s degree in psychology.¹
51 schools offer a bachelor’s degree in psychology.¹
14 schools offer a master’s or advanced degree in psychology.¹
6 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
4 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 North Carolina

Kiplinger’s Best College Values 2019*

Appalachian State University (#29)
North Carolina State University (#9)
University of North Carolina at Asheville (#61)
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (#1)
University of North Carolina Wilmington (#62)
Western Carolina University (#58)

*Institution-wide ranking.

Princeton Review’s Great Schools for Psychology Majors for 2018

Duke University
Guilford College

PsychologyDegree411’s Top Schools with Online Psychology Programs

Fayetteville State University (#17)

Times Higher Education Best Universities for Psychology 2019

Duke University (#6)
North Carolina State University (#126-150)
University of North Carolina at Chapel HIll (#27)
Wake Forest University (#101-125)

Continue reading below where you will find profiles of popular graduate and undergraduate psychology programs in North Carolina.

Schools in North Carolina with Psychology Programs

Traditional Undergraduate Programs

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill allows psychology majors to earn a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology or a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Psychology. In addition to core major courses, psychology majors may hone their research skills by taking a research-oriented course and may gain hands-on experience by volunteering with such local organizations as Arts for Life and the Autism Society of North Carolina. Psychology majors are encouraged to become involved with on-campus organizations such as the Psychology Club and the Minority Psychology Student Association. Academically eligible students may join Psi Chi, the national honor society for psychology students.

North Carolina State University

North Carolina State University features an undergraduate program leading to a bachelor’s degree in psychology that is designed to prepare graduates to continue on to graduate study. Undergraduates will complete a full menu of psychology core courses and electives to fulfill degree requirements in such topics as controversial issues in psychology, social psychology, applied psychology, and the psychology of independence and race. Students who maintain a 3.25 GPA or higher may be admitted to the honors program in the psychology department, which allows them to work on research projects with faculty members. Students may also join the Undergraduate Psychology Club and, if academically eligible, Psi Chi.

Traditional Graduate Programs

East Carolina University

East Carolina University offers the Master of Arts (MA) in School Psychology and the Master of Arts (MA) in Industrial and Organizational Psychology. The school psychology program, which requires full-time study for three years, allows students to earn both a master’s degree and a certificate of advanced study. Graduates of the program will have the necessary educational qualifications to gain licensure as a school psychologist in the state and to become certified as a psychological associate by the North Carolina Board of Psychology. Graduate students pursuing the industrial and organizational psychology degree must complete 45 credits, which includes a mandatory thesis. The two-year program also requires students to complete an internship during the summer between the first and the second year of study.

Fayetteville State University

Graduate students at Fayetteville State University may pursue a Master of Arts (MA) in Psychology on one of two tracks, counseling or experimental psychology. The counseling track consists of 60 credits with core courses covering social and cultural diversity, career development, and professional identity. Those in the counseling track also have the opportunity to get hands-on experience through fieldwork. Students must successfully pass a comprehensive written examination at the end of the program. The experimental psychology program, which is predominately research-based, requires the successful completion of 36 credits and prepares students to continue on to a doctoral program. A thesis is required.

Online Psychology Programs

Campbell University

Campbell University’s online Bachelor of Science in Psychology features eight-week accelerated terms that can allow students to earn their bachelor’s degree in less time than is typical for traditional, on-campus programs. The format also allows a high degree of flexibility and students can take all courses required for the degree 100% online. Students are challenged to better understand themselves and intellectual motivation and learn how to relate to others. Graduates are encouraged to attend graduate school but are prepared for entry-level positions in a variety of fields. Courses in the psychology program include Developmental Psychology, Statistics for Social Sciences, Psychology of Learning and Cognition, and Educational and Psychological Testing. Campbell University has been offering online education since 1999 and offers personalized support to online students throughout the academic experience.

St. Andrews University

Students at St. Andrews University can earn a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology without ever setting foot in a traditional classroom. The online BA in Psychology prepares graduates for careers in social and human services as well as for graduate study. The curriculum for the psychology program emphasizes the understanding of society in sociocultural and global contexts and exposes students to major branches of psychology and data analysis, as well as ethics and methods of research. A total of 120 credits, which includes 36 credit hours of psychology courses, are required to earn the degree. Courses offered include Biopsychology; Applied Psychology; Personality Theory and Research; Psychology of Persuasion and Influence; and Psychology in Legal Contexts. St. Andrews University encourages student advancement through personal and professional achievements and offers dedicated support to online learners.

EPPP Pass Rate and Accreditation Information for Psychology Programs in North Carolina

The table below is designed to help you compare not-for-profit psychology schools in North Carolina 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
Appalachian State University	Yes	Yes	No	CACREP, NASP	72%	—	—	—	—	$10,491
Barton College	Yes	No	No	—	52%	—	—	—	—	$22,792
Belmont Abbey College	Yes	No	No	—	44%	—	—	—	—	$22,731
Bennett College	Yes	No	No	—	32%	—	—	—	—	$18,392
Brevard College	Yes	No	No	—	33%	—	—	—	—	$23,102
Campbell University	Yes	Yes	Bachelor’s	CACREP	53%	—	—	—	—	$22,458
Catawba College	Yes	No	No	—	46%	—	—	—	—	$18,609
Chowan University	Yes	No	No	—	29%	—	—	—	—	$17,298
Davidson College	Yes	No	No	—	90%	—	—	61	—	$25,565
Duke University	Yes	Yes	No	APA	96%	100%	15	11	—	$19,785
East Carolina University	Yes	Yes	No	APA, CACREP, NASP	65%	100%	13	—	—	$13,746
Elizabeth City State University	Yes	No	No	—	42%	—	—	—	—	$3,412
Elon University	Yes	No	No	—	83%	—	—	172	—	$34,974
Fayetteville State University	Yes	Yes	Bachelor’s, Master’s	—	35%	—	—	—	—	$5,685
Gardner-Webb University	Yes	No	No	CACREP	53%	—	—	—	—	$19,197
Greensboro College	Yes	No	Bachelor’s	—	40%	—	—	—	—	$21,507
Guilford College	Yes	No	No	—	59%	—	—	—	—	$25,419
High Point University	Yes	No	No	CACREP	65%	—	—	—	—	$39,229
Johnson C Smith University	Yes	No	No	—	36%	—	—	—	—	$18,991
Lees-McRae College	Yes	No	No	—	37%	—	—	—	—	$22,356
Lenoir-Rhyne University	Yes	Yes	No	CACREP	50%	—	—	—	—	$18,927
Livingstone College	Yes	No	No	—	24%	—	—	—	—	$16,826
Mars Hill University	Yes	No	No	—	39%	—	—	—	—	$15,976
Meredith College	Yes	Yes	No	—	61%	—	—	—	—	$25,471
Methodist University	Yes	No	No	—	36%	—	—	—	—	$31,287
Mid-Atlantic Christian University	Yes	No	No	—	28%	—	—	—	—	$16,943
Montreat College	Yes	No	Bachelor’s	CACREP	43%	—	—	—	—	$21,454
North Carolina A & T State University	Yes	No	No	CACREP	53%	—	—	—	—	$9,378
North Carolina Central University	Yes	Yes	Bachelor’s	CACREP	46%	—	—	—	—	$12,470
North Carolina State University at Raleigh	Yes	No	No	APA, CACREP, NASP	81%	—	—	84	112^	$14,771
North Carolina Wesleyan College	Yes	No	No	—	29%	—	—	—	—	$16,419
Pfeiffer University	Yes	No	No	—	43%	—	—	—	—	$19,554
Piedmont International University	Yes	No	No	—	36%	—	—	—	—	$13,491
Queens University of Charlotte	Yes	No	No	—	53%	—	—	—	—	$21,651
Saint Augustine’s University	Yes	No	No	—	31%	—	—	—	—	$25,668
Salem College	Yes	No	No	—	60%	—	—	—	—	$15,560
Shaw University	Yes	No	No	—	15%	—	—	—	—	$18,773
St. Andrews University	Yes	No	Bachelor’s	—	32%	—	—	—	—	$25,069
University of Mount Olive	Yes	No	Bachelor’s	—	47%	—	—	—	—	$16,413
University of North Carolina at Asheville	Yes	No	No	—	63%	—	—	—	—	$11,804
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill	Yes	Yes	No	APA, CACREP, NASP	89%	92%	13	6	13^	$11,649
University of North Carolina at Charlotte	Yes	Yes	No	APA, CACREP	59%	—	—	—	—	$14,987
University of North Carolina at Greensboro	Yes	Yes	No	APA, CACREP	53%	100%	6	—	131^	$10,396
University of North Carolina at Pembroke	Yes	No	No	CACREP	41%	—	—	—	—	$11,576
University of North Carolina Wilmington	Yes	Yes	No	—	73%	—	—	—	—	$17,771
Wake Forest University	Yes	Yes	No	CACREP	89%	—	—	15	—	$27,354
Warren Wilson College	Yes	No	No	—	52%	—	—	—	—	$27,527
Western Carolina University	Yes	Yes	No	CACREP, NASP	62%	—	—	—	—	$15,021
William Peace University	Yes	No	No	—	37%	—	—	—	—	$24,842
Wingate University	Yes	No	No	—	51%	—	—	—	—	$19,512
Winston-Salem State University	Yes	No	No	CACREP	48%	—	—	—	—	$11,142

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 North Carolina

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.

Appalachian State University
287 Rivers St
Boone, NC 28608
(828) 262-2000
https://www.appstate.edu/

Student Review: “The Appalachian State psychology program was interesting because I was able to learn a lot of different theories. However, the program was not cohesive, so I didn’t come away with a comprehensive understanding of my field. It was not a practical education; I would only recommend it to people who choose to repeat theories created by others as a profession. The psychology professors were somewhat robotic in delivering lectures and seemed uncomfortable and annoyed when having to interact with some students. If I had known I would be getting a college education that consisted of a bunch of theories and no facts, I would have skipped it altogether. I just feel like the program did not prepare me for a smooth transition into a graduate program, or even a career in psychology. My psychology education was so disconnected that all I have to show for it are countless notebooks filled with lecture notes: a lot memorized text for exams, but no cohesive body of knowledge.” – Student at Appalachian State University

Student Review: “I received my BS in Psychology from Appalachian State, and I consider the four years some of the best of my life. The town that the university is located in is small, charming, and safe. The last characteristic made my going off to college less scary for my parents. As far as the education I received, I enjoyed my classes and a majority of my professors. Almost all of my classes were smaller, containing around 20-30 students. The first year focused on taking general classes and the last three on my major. My fellow students and a majority of the administration were friendly. This includes the chancellor, whom I met on several occasions and couldn’t be more open to talking to students. If there was one thing that I don’t like besides the brutally cold winters, it would be that the school has now stopped their “freshman seminar” program. This was a big drawing point when I enrolled, but since I’ve graduated, they have discontinued this program. I met lifelong friends while going through this program, and it really helped ease the transition from high school to college. In this program, a group of around 20 of us had two classes together. The first one was called “Freshman Seminar” and the second was a history class the following semester. The seminar class allowed all the students to talk to each other and share their experiences with how college was affecting them. We all bonded over that semester and helped to make none of us feel alone during the transition.” – Student at Appalachian State University

East Carolina University
1001 E 5th St
Greenville, NC 27858
(252) 328-6131
https://www.ecu.edu/

Student Review: “The program at East Carolina University was nothing special and seemed very generic. I was disappointed that as a major I could not pick an area of specialization such as Social Psychology or Cognitive Psychology. The classes that I took did not challenge me and most of the classes featured multiple-choice testing so I am uncertain about whether I retained anything I learned. I also did not learn very much since the majority of my classes repeated the same lectures on topics such as Stanley Milgram and the Stanford Prison Experiments. The good news is that I am working in mental health right now, though the university had nothing to do with my placement in the field. None of the curricula I learned has been relevant to my current job.” – Student at East Carolina University

University of North Carolina at Asheville
1 University Heights
Asheville, NC 28804
(828) 251-6600
https://www.unca.edu/

Student Review: “I greatly enjoyed my undergraduate experience as a psychology major at the University of North Carolina at Asheville. The psychology degree at UNCA is one of the biggest and fastest-growing on campus. The professors are very personable and are always available to give one on one help when needed. The program offers a variety of courses from introductory psychology to fundamentals of neuroscience and much much more. The department is focused on preparing you for your next step whether it be going directly into the field or continuing your studies in graduate school. Research and internship opportunities are offered in multiple areas of interest for those who are considering higher-level degrees.” – Student at the University of North Carolina at Asheville

University of North Carolina at Charlotte
9201 University City Blvd
Charlotte, NC 28223
(704) 687-8622
https://www.charlotte.edu/

Student Review: “The psychology program at the University of North Carolina is a wonderful program which has offered ideal preparation for a career in research, public relations, or for graduate school. I have explored a multitude of topics within psychology and feel that I have received a very thorough survey of various fields in psychology. The information is not only helpful in preparing for various fields of work after college but is also helpful in working with people in every area of life. The course professors are some of the very best in their fields of research and are also excellent teachers and lecturers. Additionally, I have always been able to approach my professors for individual questions and advice. The only thing that I would improve about the program is that the class sizes are often fairly large (50+ students), particularly in introductory courses.” – Student at University of North Carolina at Charlotte

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC
(919) 962-2211
https://www.unc.edu/

Student Review: “Studying psychology at UNCG was a very enjoyable experience. In general, the professors were very helpful. I visited office hours with many of my professors in order to understand the material more fully. They really wanted the students to do well. The psychology courses came pretty easily to me, although some students did struggle with the material. There were many opportunities for psychology research and the professors were very helpful in guiding students in helping them get to their next goal (graduate school, employment, etc..) The psychology program at UNCG is very good; it is actually in the top 100 graduate centers for psychology in the nation, and you could really tell. There were also opportunities to join honors societies and clubs for psychology such as Psi Chi. Overall my experience at UNCG was very positive. The only thing I would want to change is the library. It is very noisy.” – Student at University of North Carolina at Greensboro

University of North Carolina at Wilmington
601 S College Rd
Wilmington, NC 28403
(910) 962-3000
https://uncw.edu/

Student Review: “I am a junior at The University of North Carolina at Wilmington and have mostly enjoyed my experience there. The professors in my online classes are always willing to help and answer questions. They also absolutely love when I go to see them during office hours since they don’t often get to meet their online students. I try to take mostly online classes because the class sizes are very large, typically between 100-200 students. Also, since the professors have so many students in each class, they are often less available than the online professors. However, I do enjoy the benefits of having a knowledgeable person whom I can ask questions about a subject I don’t understand as it comes up. Most of the courses I have taken provide a lot of valuable outside resources that coincide with the topics in class, which makes the concepts much easier to understand.” – Student at University of North Carolina at Wilmington

Student Review: “The psychology department at UNC-Wilmington was a very rewarding experience for me personally. I felt that every professor in the department went out of their way to make sure that every student had a chance to be successful in the various fields of psychology. I felt the curriculum was challenging and prepared me well for a career after school. Faculty and staff were always available to offer guidance after classes were over. Class sizes were small enough so that each student got the individual attention that they needed. If there’s anything that could have been improved, it was the size of the department. A larger department could have supported more students. I regularly had trouble signing up for courses as they would close fast due to student seat limits being reached.” – Student at University of North Carolina at Wilmington

Student Review: “I have done very well since graduating from this program, so on that basis, it’s a top choice. The professors are well networked in the area and assisted me to get interviews arranged after I graduated. Overall, the program is very good. My major focus was on cognitive behavioral therapy, but you can study other therapeutic approaches as well. I felt very well prepared as a counselor after leaving this program. Relatively small class sizes compared to some friends who are in the same programs at other schools. The campus is also beautiful and near the beach, so that’s great too. There is also a big nursing program and a big social work program, so there is a lot of opportunity for interdepartmental study and projects.” – Student at University of North Carolina at Wilmington

Wake Forest
1834 Wake Forest Rd
Winston-Salem, NC 27106
(336) 758-5000
https://www.wfu.edu/

Student Review: “My time at Wake Forest was so transformative. The psychology department prepared me for my graduate degree and eventual career by providing me skills in research, academic inquiry and psychological principals. The professors were the best part of my experience at Wake. They provided me with a supportive environment where I could explore my own research ideas while also having the opportunity to work in several research labs. The program was certainly academically rigorous, and there were times when I questioned whether I could finish this difficult degree, but I am glad that I stuck with it. Having this degree has made me the professional that I am today.” – Student at Wake Forest

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