Best Online and Campus Psychology Schools in Washington
This page covers all you need to know about psychology schools in Washington, including degree availability, affordability, and state rankings.
Table of Contents
- Washington Psychology School Facts
- Top-Ranked Psychology Programs
- Top 13 Bachelor’s in Psychology Programs
- Graduate Psychology Program Comparison
- Related Articles
Washington Psychology School 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
- 12 schools offer a master’s or advanced degree in psychology.1
- 4 schools ranked in College Factual’s Best General Psychology Schools 2024.2
- 2 schools ranked in Psychology Degree 411’s Top Schools With Online Psychology Programs.3
- 3 schools ranked in The Princeton Review’s Great Schools for Psychology Majors 2024.4
- 2 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 Washington
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
- Central Washington University
- Eastern Washington University
- Northwest University
- Pacific Lutheran University
- Saint Martin’s University
- Washington State University
- Western Washington University
- University of Washington-Bothell
- University of Washington-Seattle
- University of Washington-Tacoma
College Factual’s Best Psychology Schools 2024
- Washington State University (#72)
- Seattle University (#98)
- Seattle Pacific University (#106)
- Gonzaga University (#149)2
Psychology Degree 411’s Top Schools With Online Psychology Programs
- Washington State University (#14)
- Central Washington University (#27)3
The Princeton Review’s Great Schools for Psychology Majors 2024
- University of Mary Washington
- University of Puget Sound
- Washington & Jefferson College4
Times Higher Education’s Best Universities for Psychology 2023
- University of Washington-Seattle (#38)
- Washington State University (#176-200)5
Most Affordable Schools With a Bachelor’s in Psychology
The following Washington 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.
- Heritage University ($7,841 / Grad rate: 45%)
- University of Washington Regional Campuses ($9,357-$10,680 / Grad rate: 54%-84%)
- Eastern Washington University ($12,827 / Grad rate: 50%)
- Central Washington University ($15,864 / Grad rate: 52%)
- Washington State University ($17,911 / Grad rate: 62%)
- Western Washington University ($21,105 / Grad rate: 65%)
- Saint Martin’s University ($21,811 / Grad rate: 60%)
- Northwest University ($23,722 / Grad rate: 68%)
- Northwest University-Center for Online and Extended Education ($22,070 / Grad rate: 38%)
- Pacific Lutheran University ($24,825 / Grad rate: 72%)1
Top 13 Bachelor’s in Psychology Programs in Washington
This table compares the top 13 bachelor’s in psychology programs from not-for-profit schools in Washington based on a graduation rate of 50% or above and an annual net price below $30,000. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Washington-Bothell | 69% | 88% | $14,615 | $74,063 | $27,506 | $56,004 | $9,357 |
| University of Washington-Seattle | 84% | 48% | $14,615 | $74,063 | $28,310 | $56,808 | $10,603 |
| University of Washington-Tacoma | 54% | 88% | $14,615 | $74,063 | $26,678 | $55,176 | $10,680 |
| Eastern Washington University | 50% | 96% | $19,500 | $55,189 | $21,878 | $40,268 | $12,827 |
| Central Washington University | 52% | 93% | $19,500 | $59,283 | $22,490 | $39,555 | $15,864 |
| Washington State University | 62% | 83% | $19,500 | $65,331 | $25,097 | $40,781 | $17,911 |
| Western Washington University | 65% | 93% | $18,500 | $59,142 | $23,658 | $41,564 | $21,105 |
| Saint Martin’s University | 60% | 95% | $22,500 | $60,191 | $56,060 | $56,060 | $21,811 |
| Northwest University | 68% | 94% | $20,891 | $52,311 | $45,140 | $45,140 | $23,722 |
| Pacific Lutheran University | 72% | 89% | $22,578 | $60,932 | $62,754 | $62,754 | $24,825 |
| Walla Walla University | 63% | N.Av. | $26,842 | $56,658 | $41,577 | $41,577 | $25,314 |
| Seattle Pacific University | 65% | 91% | $24,000 | $61,006 | $51,567 | $51,567 | $26,549 |
| Whitworth University | 76% | 91% | $25,000 | $57,211 | $62,090 | $62,090 | $28,299 |
*See Table Notes at bottom of page.
Comparison of All Graduate Psychology Programs in Washington
This table compares all of Washington’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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antioch University-Seattle | APA | MA, PsyD | 68% | 19 | $1,032 |
| Bastyr University | — | MA | — | — | $790 |
| Central Washington University | NASP | MS, EdS | — | — | $1,071 |
| Eastern Washington University | — | EdS | — | — | $423 |
| Gonzaga University | — | EdS, PsyD | — | — | $1,090 | Northwest University | APA | MA | 59% | 17 | $1,005 |
| Seattle Pacific University | APA | MA, MS, PhD | 93% | 28 | $899 |
| Seattle University | NASP | MA, EdS | — | — | $834 |
| The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology | — | MA | — | — | $720 |
| University of Washington-Seattle Campus (Clinical PhD) | APA, NASP | MA, MEd, PhD | 100% | 22 | $1,141 |
| University of Washington-Seattle Campus (School PhD) | APA, NASP | MA, MEd, PhD | 91% | 11 | $1,141 |
| University of Washington-Tacoma Campus | — | EdS | — | $1,954 | |
| Washington State University | APA | PhD | 100% | 18 | $578 |
| Western Washington University | — | MS | — | — | $884 |
Related Articles
- Degree Levels Overview: Associate to PhD
- Washington 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