Psychology Schools in Washington
Washington’s colleges and universities feature a range of psychology concentrations, including nutrition and clinical psychology, applied behavioral analysis, and mental health counseling.
Students searching for a more flexible psychology degree program may want to choose a college or university that offers courses online. Some undergraduate or graduate psychology degree programs can be completed partially or entirely online.
This page covers all you need to know about psychology schools in Washington, including profiles of top graduate and undergraduate psychology programs in the state.
Quick Facts
- There are 24 not-for-profit colleges and universities with psychology degree programs in Washington.1
- 1 school offers an associate degree in psychology.1
- 22 schools offer a bachelor’s degree in psychology.1
- 15 schools offer a master’s or advanced degree in psychology.1
- 2 schools 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
- 2 schools 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
Top-Ranked Schools with Psychology Programs in Washington
Kiplinger’s Best College Values 2019*
- University of Washington (#7)
- Western Washington University (#92)
*Institution-wide ranking.
Princeton Review’s Great Schools for Psychology Majors for 2018
- University of Puget Sound
PsychologyDegree411’s Top Schools with Online Psychology Programs
- Central Washington University (#26)
- Washington State University (#10)
Times Higher Education Best Universities for Psychology 2019
- University of Washington (#15)
Continue reading to learn more about several of the popular undergraduate and graduate psychology programs offered at some of Washington’s leading universities.
Schools in Washington with Psychology Programs
Traditional Undergraduate Programs
Washington State University
Washington State University (WSU) confers the Bachelor of Science (BS) in Psychology to students who complete the four-year program. Students can declare the psychology major after having accrued 30 credits. Core major required coursework includes General Biology, Introductory Psychology, Operant Behavior, Psychology of Aging, and Clinical and Community Psychology. Students can network with other psychology majors by joining the Psych Club, and academically eligible psychology students may want to apply to Psi Chi, the national honor society for psychology students. Financial aid is available through scholarships and undergraduate research funds. Students are encouraged to complete the university’s general scholarship application upon admittance.
University of Washington
The University of Washington’s (UW) Department of Psychology awards both the Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology and the Bachelor of Science (BS) in Psychology. The Bachelor of Science degree focuses predominately on research and prepares students for graduate study. Students pursuing the BS degree must complete 66 psychology credits in topics covering biopsychology, fundamentals of research, and statistics. The Bachelor of Arts program requires 53 psychology credits, encompassing courses such as personality, abnormal psychology, animal psychology, and cognitive psychology. Students can gain field experience through an internship, and upper-level students can gain teaching experience working as tutors to first- and second-year students.
Traditional Graduate Programs
Central Washington University
Central Washington University (CWU) affords graduate students the opportunity to earn a Master of Science (MS) in Applied Behavioral Analysis, a Master of Science (MS) in General Experimental Psychology, and a Master of Science (MS) in Mental Health Counseling. Graduate students pursuing an applied behavior analysis degree will complete a maximum of 61 quarter credits to fulfill degree requirements. A 12-credit practicum is mandatory. Courses cover functional behavior assessment, single-subject design, comparative psychology, and cognitive psychology. Students must also complete a thesis. The general experimental psychology degree requires 48 credits, which includes a mandatory thesis. Students working toward the mental health counseling degree receive hands-on experience in a clinical setting, preparing them to work as counselors.
Bastyr University
Bastyr University features a graduate program leading to the Master of Science (MS) in Nutrition and Clinical Psychology. The three-year, full-time program prepares graduates to become licensed mental health counselors and certified nutritionists. Courses are held in quarters and focus on such areas as psychopathology and biomedical conditions, theories of counseling and psychotherapy, nutrition and clinical health psychology, and psychological testing. Graduate students must also complete 15 credits of clinical experience to gain hands-on experience in a clinical setting. Former students have worked at such organizations as the YWCA, Sound Mental Health, and Compass Health.
Online Psychology Programs
City University of Seattle
The City University of Seattle (CityU) is home to an online Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Applied Psychology. This competitive program requires a total of 180 credit hours to complete. Full-time students can earn the degree in as few as three years. The bachelor’s program prepares graduates to continue to advanced study at the master’s or doctoral level. The faculty who lead the psychology program are active practitioners with real-world experience that is translated into the classroom for students’ benefit. The applied psychology core includes such courses as Fundamentals of Research Methods in Social Sciences; Fundamentals of Abnormal Psychology; Critical Thinking & Writing Skills in Social Sciences; and Neuropsychology. Students must complete 25 credit hours in a specialized study emphasis approved by senior faculty members.
Eastern Washington University
Eastern Washington University (EWU) offers an online Educational Specialist (EdS) in School Psychology program. This doctoral-level program is designed for those who have bachelor’s or master’s degrees and teaching experience who want to become school psychologists. The program follows a scientist-practitioner model with each admitted student cohort following the same course progression together. While all courses are offered online, students must attend a four-day on-campus seminar each fall. Out-of-state residents are welcome to apply; all applicants must have a minimum 3.0 GPA, meet education and experience requirements, and meet all other admissions requirements set by the graduate school. Courses in the program include Counseling Theories and School-based Mental Health Interventions; Professional School Psychology: and Intervention and Program Evaluation. The EdS program at ESU is accredited by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP).
EPPP Pass Rate and Accreditation Information for Psychology Programs in Washington
The table below compares not-for-profit psychology schools in Washington on a variety of factors. Clicking on the arrows in the top row sorts 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 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 to qualify for psychologist licensure. The EPPP results shown below 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antioch University-Seattle | Yes | Yes | No | APA, CACREP | 0% | — | — | — | — | N/A |
| Bastyr University | Yes | Yes | No | — | N/A | — | — | — | — | N/A |
| Central Washington University | Yes | Yes | Bachelor’s, Master’s | CACREP, NASP | 55% | — | — | — | — | $14,647 |
| City University of Seattle | Yes | Yes | Bachelor’s | CACREP | 0% | — | — | — | — | $20,567 |
| Eastern Washington University | Yes | Yes | EdS | CACREP, NASP | 44% | — | — | — | — | $10,751 |
| Gonzaga University | Yes | Yes | No | CACREP | 86% | — | — | 190 | — | $35,612 |
| Heritage University | Yes | No | No | — | 31% | — | — | — | — | $9,370 |
| Northwest University | Yes | Yes | Bachelor’s | APA | 55% | — | — | — | — | $23,117 |
| Northwest University-College of Adult and Professional Studies | Yes | No | No | — | N/A | — | — | — | — | $19,589 |
| Pacific Lutheran University | Yes | No | No | — | 67% | — | — | — | — | $24,174 |
| Saint Martin’s University | Yes | Yes | Bachelor’s | — | 62% | — | — | — | — | $22,578 |
| Seattle Pacific University | Yes | Yes | No | APA, CACREP | 68% | 84% | 19 | 246 | 211^ | $29,546 |
| Seattle University | Yes | Yes | No | CACREP, NASP | 74% | — | — | 108 | — | $35,577 |
| The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology | No | Yes | No | — | N/A | — | — | — | — | N/A |
| University of Puget Sound | Yes | No | No | — | 75% | — | — | 198 | — | $39,990 |
| University of Washington-Bothell | Yes | No | No | — | 62% | — | — | — | — | $8,346 |
| University of Washington-Seattle (School PhD) | Yes | Yes | No | APA, NASP | 84% | 100% | 7 | 41 | 26^ | $9,765 |
| University of Washington-Seattle (Clinical PhD) | Yes | Yes | Master’s | APA, NASP | 84% | 100% | 15 | 41 | 26^ | $9,765 |
| University of Washington-Tacoma | Yes | No | No | — | 58% | — | — | — | — | $9,292 |
| Walla Walla University | Yes | No | No | — | 57% | — | — | — | — | $22,715 |
| Washington State University (Counseling PhD) | Yes | Yes | Bachelor’s | APA | 59% | 75% | 8 | 69 | 112^ | $17,297 |
| Washington State University (Clinical PhD) | Yes | Yes | Bachelor’s | APA | 59% | 90% | 10 | 69 | 112^ | $17,297 |
| Western Washington University | Yes | Yes | No | CACREP | 68% | — | — | 216 | — | $17,403 |
| Whitman College | Yes | No | No | — | 87% | — | — | 104 | — | $38,109 |
| Whitworth University | Yes | Yes | No | — | 79% | — | — | 193 | — | $28,508 |
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 Washington
Note: Student Reviews are based on the experiences of a few individuals and not everyone has the same results. Please review the “Data, Student Reviews, and Other Information” section in our Terms of Use and Disclaimers.
Bellevue College
3000 Landerholm Cir SE
Bellevue, WA 98007
(425) 564-1000
https://www.bellevuecollege.edu/
Student Review: “Dr. Helen Taylor was the head of the psychology department while I was attending Bellevue, and her classes were absolutely wonderful. She incorporated such a good balance of visuals, text learning, class discussion, group work, and thought-provoking real-world examples of phenomena. Lots of moving around and seeing many, many different perspectives. She would try to get her classes involved on the campus, meaning sometimes she’d cancel a lesson if there was an interesting speaker presenting at our campus. Even if the speaker’s talk wasn’t directly related, she would find a way to merge the principles we were learning. As another example, one time in our abnormal psychology class she had the students pair up, go out to the campus and act in an odd way. Some people walked around backward, some kids waited for groups to walk by and they would stop and pause like a crazy flash mob. I and my partner walked around with her leading me on a leash. Lots of room for creativity, while also proving a lot of good points. I tried to get her classes when I could. The other psychology teachers I had there weren’t as engaging.” – Student at Bellevue College
Eastern Washington University
526 5th St
Cheney, WA 99004
(509) 359-6200
https://www.ewu.edu/
Student Review: “I attended the Psychology program on the Bellevue campus of Eastern Washington University. The program was great because it allowed me to work a full time job during the day, and attend my classes in the evening, as the professors flew in from the main campus for the once a week classes. The one challenging thing about this was communication with professors had to be done mainly over email, so when needing additional help, the time was very limited as they were only on campus for a few hours a day. It was a very self-regulated program, and there were limited online classes, which was disappointing because I prefer online. The professors were all very approachable and even worked with me when I went through some troubling times to ensure I not only passed my classes but did very well in them. The one thing I would improve would be to have the professors on the campus for longer so students could meet with them more easily. ” – Student at Eastern Washington University
University of Washington
NE 45th St
Seattle, WA, United States
(206) 543-2100
http://www.washington.edu/
Student Review: “I chose to major in psychology because my career counselor told me that I should choose what subject I love, and it was true, I love psychology. The classes were interesting. I loved to take part in the 499 classes and in the studies that were conducted on campus. I got to actually worked with the principal investigator and did my research which was quite interesting and useful in determining if this was what I want to do in the future. The only drawback was that with a four-year degree you can’t do much with Psychology. If you want to teach, you have to get a Master or PhD or even to practice as a counselor or therapist you have to get further education.” – Student at the University of Washington
Student Review: “The psychology course of study at the University of Washington was a rigorous program that I enjoyed very much. The teachers were exemplary but the class sizes were very large. While that was somewhat of a hindrance, I was still able to meet other people in the program and build close relationships with most of my instructors. Overall, my experience was a positive one as the University of Washington’s Psychology program is a very reputable, engaging, and thorough one. I gave the program a 4 out of 5 due to the large class sizes.” – Student at University of Washington
Washington State University
Pullman, WA, United States
(509) 335-3564
https://wsu.edu/
Student Review: “My experience with the psychology program at Washington State University has been nothing short of amazing. I was actually challenged to think and form opinions in my classes. The teachers and advisers were always there to help me avoid slipping through the cracks or falling behind. I attended online so this was especially important because I am not so technically inclined. My advisers and tech support received calls from me frequently and they were always willing to help me. I was challenged more and took more away from the curriculum at WSU than I had at schools I had attended prior. I sincerely look forward to graduating this year.” – Student at Washington State University
Student Review: “The psychology program at Washington State University was better than average. The community surrounding the program seemed great as I learned about the program through the Psy Chi club. I was also able to meet grad and other undergrad students early on. As a freshman and later a sophomore, I felt like I was just a number as most of my classes were huge lectures. Professors were available during mandatory office hours but it didn’t feel like enough time to fully explore the subject. Coursework was difficult and I had to use student study groups and other services offered by the university to fully understand the subject and pass with high marks. WSU did provide adequate resources. The libraries on campus had knowledgeable librarians with a large selection of journals and text to help my studies. In addition, the career fairs provided me an opportunity to talk with professionals in the field helping me shape my last two years of school to best prepare me for a job. Overall, the first year and a half felt like one long intro that required perseverance to get to what felt like a valuable education in the last two and half years.” – Student at Washington State University
Western Washington University
59 College Ave
Buckhannon, WV 26201
(304) 473-8000
https://www.wvwc.edu/
Student Review: “I really enjoyed my time at Western Washington University. The teachers were very enthusiastic about their areas of expertise. Still, WWU offers little in the way of helping you establish a career. The typical advice for those in this field is to do a few years unpaid work and get an advanced degree or look elsewhere for a job. I have talked with so many graduate students who gave me the impression that an advanced degree is a good idea for anyone who’d like to get to a level where their degree and hard work will be put to good use. However, after I left the university, I highly regret that it has offered limited help finding reasonable employment.” – Student at Western Washington 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