Psychology Schools in Utah
Choosing the best psychology program for your needs can be a challenge. The following guide to psychology schools in Utah provides you with essential information, including profiles of several undergraduate and graduate psychology programs, to make your decision easier. The colleges and universities in Utah allow students to earn a general psychology degree or to specialize in such areas as clinical psychology and school psychology. A flexible, convenient alternative to a traditional degree is an online degree. Numerous universities offer partially or fully online undergraduate and graduate psychology programs.
Quick Facts
- There are 10 not-for-profit colleges and universities with psychology degree programs in Utah.1
- 3 schools offer an associate’s degree in psychology.1
- 8 schools offer a bachelor’s degree in psychology.1
- 4 schools offer a master’s or advanced degree in psychology.1
- 1 school ranked in Kiplinger’s Best College Values for 2019.2
- 1 school 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 Utah
Kiplinger’s Best College Values 2019*
- University of Utah (#49)
*Institution-wide ranking.
Princeton Review’s Great Schools for Psychology Majors for 2018
- University of Utah
Continue reading below to learn more about a few of the undergraduate and graduate psychology programs offered at several of Utah’s colleges and universities.
Schools in Utah with Psychology Programs
Traditional Undergraduate Programs
Utah Tech University
Utah Tech University’s Social and Behavioral Sciences Department offers an undergraduate degree program in psychology that prepares students for entry-level careers as well as for continuing on to graduate study. The bachelor’s degree program is multidisciplinary and combines core psychology courses with learning from the disciplines of neurology, sociology, gerontology, education, and others. Psychology courses focus on the three core areas of Social/Developmental, Behavioral Neuroscience/Cognitive, and Clinical Counseling-Applied. Enrolled students will develop critical thinking skills as well as an appreciation and understanding of how human behavior is driven by complex interactions and influences.
Weber State University
Weber State University is home to a competitive Bachelor of Science in Psychology program that takes an integrative approach to the study of psychology and human behavior. In addition to academic learning in the classroom, students have opportunities to gain professional experience both in research and in the community with practicum and internship courses. With a wide variety of courses available, students may tailor their education to focus on specific areas of interest within psychology such as counseling, neuroscience, and research. Students are required to choose a minor or a double major in order to meet graduation requirements. Core content courses include Biopsychology, Social Psychology, Theories of Personality, and Psychology of Diversity. A four-credit capstone experience is also included in the curriculum; as with coursework, students may tailor their capstone experience to a specific area of interest.
Traditional Graduate Programs
Westminster College
Westminster College confers the Master of Science (MS) in Counseling Psychology to students who successfully complete the three-year program. Graduate students generally fulfill degree requirements during the fall and spring semesters. During the first year, students take such courses as ethics, stats and research methods, individual psychotherapy, infant and child development, and tests and measurement. The second year includes a mandatory practicum, with students beginning the mandatory thesis and required to pass comprehensive exams prior to completing two internships in the third year of study. Prospective candidates must submit GRE scores, a personal statement, and three letters of recommendation prior to the mid-March deadline.
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University offers two doctoral-level programs in psychology, the Clinical Psychology PhD and the Psychology PhD. The Clinical Psychology PhD prepares graduates to become ethical practitioners working as clinicians in psychology and includes a core of research training following the scientist-practitioner model. Doctoral candidates are exposed to various clinical approaches and diverse populations, providing practical experience as well as deep academic learning. The Psychology PhD is non-clinical and focuses on training in research. Three emphasis areas are available: Applied Social Psychology, Developmental Psychology, or Cognitive and Behavioral Neurosciences. Both programs are accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA).
Online Psychology Programs
Utah State University
Utah State University’s online bachelor’s degree in psychology can be completed as either a Bachelor of Science (BS) or a Bachelor of Arts (BA). BS students will typically take more psychology and science courses, while BA students will gain proficiency in at least one foreign language. While graduates will be prepared to enter the workforce, the program also prepares students for graduate study in competitive master’s and doctoral degree programs. Students are also given opportunities to participate in faculty research, which can help students prepare for work as well as for graduate-level academics. Admission to the online psychology major is competitive and typically requires students to have at least a 3.0 GPA. Courses are offered in flexible seven-week sessions, which can also provide opportunities for accelerated study.
University of Utah
The University of Utah features an online undergraduate program leading to a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. Psychology majors must complete 41 credits of core and elective classes to fulfill degree requirements. Classes focus on general psychology, psychology as a science and a profession, abnormal child psychology, cognitive psychology, and health psychology. Students must also complete an internship to meet degree requirements. Eligible psychology majors may apply for acceptance into the psychology department’s honors program. Students in the honors program complete an honors thesis, and as with all psychology majors, have the opportunity to work in research with faculty members. Undergraduate research assistantships are available through the psychology department.
EPPP Pass Rate and Accreditation Information for Psychology Programs in Utah
The table below is designed to help you compare not-for-profit psychology schools in Utah 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brigham Young University-Provo (Clinical PhD) | Yes | Yes | No | APA, NASP | 86% | 93% | 15 | 42 | 131^ | $13,120 |
| Brigham Young University-Provo (Counseling PhD) | Yes | Yes | No | APA, NASP | 86% | 89% | 9 | 42 | 131^ | $13,120 |
| Dixie State University | Yes | No | No | — | 35% | — | — | — | — | $14,458 |
| Southern Utah University | Yes | No | No | — | 49% | — | — | — | — | $14,702 |
| University of Utah (Clinical PhD) | Yes | Yes | Bachelor’s | APA, NASP | 70% | 100% | 9 | 144 | 148^ | $13,460 |
| University of Utah (Counseling PhD) | Yes | Yes | Bachelor’s | APA, NASP | 70% | 90% | 10 | 144 | 148^ | $13,460 |
| University of Utah (School PhD) | Yes | Yes | Bachelor’s | APA, NASP | 70% | 71% | 7 | 144 | 148^ | $13,460 |
| Utah State University | Yes | Yes | Bachelor’s | APA, CACREP, NASP | 50% | 100% | 9 | — | 148^ | $12,738 |
| Utah Valley University | Yes | No | No | — | 35% | — | — | — | — | $6,760 |
| Weber State University | Yes | No | No | — | 34% | — | — | — | — | $10,951 |
| Westminster College | Yes | Yes | No | CACREP | 61% | — | — | — | — | $24,371 |
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 Utah
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.
Brigham Young University
Provo, UT 84602
(801) 422-4636
https://www.byu.edu/
Student Review: “My experience as a psychology major at Brigham Young University (in Provo, UT) was mixed. Some of my professors were very helpful in helping me get ready for graduate school. I was able to work with more than one professor on research projects and eventually I presented one research project as a poster at a professional conference. But I had some professors who were not very current in their knowledge and taught in a rather biased way. One professor, in particular, taught about gender issues in psychology by assigning conservative magazine articles to students instead of scientific articles from journals like Sex Roles, Psychology of Women Quarterly, etc. We learned early on in the major that psychology is a behavioral science, so it was quite a surprise when a professor ignored the science and just taught opinions that made a lot of the women (and a few men) in his class uncomfortable. Also, most of the psychology majors in my classes were nice people, but I found some of them to rather uneducated about controversial issues like the heritability of intelligence, personality, and sexual orientation; determinism vs. free will; and the cognitive origins of stereotyping and prejudice.” – Student at Brigham Young 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