What is Psychology?
Students planning to pursue a psychology degree in California can easily find programs that suit their goals by exploring various universities and colleges. It's crucial to choose a program aligned with career aspirations and understand the education and experience required for employability in the field.
California boasts the largest US economy and ranks fifth worldwide. While psychology isn't the state's largest industry, its size and diverse demographics make it a key area for students, professionals, and those seeking mental health services.
Educational services, healthcare, and social assistance are California's fifth-largest industries, contributing $218.3 billion annually. California ranks #1 for psychologist employment opportunities, with an average annual salary of $132,410 for clinical and counseling psychologists and $109,830 for school psychologists.
California has 16,900+ total psychologist jobs, which is relatively low given the state's population. However, students can also find roles as crisis intervention counselors, addiction counselors, social workers, youth counselors, family therapists, and more.
Not only is California the state with the highest number of psychologists, it is #1 in granting psychology degrees, with options available from some of the best psychology colleges in California. The state holds more than 450 colleges and universities, which offer a plethora of opportunities for future psychologists looking for an excellent education.
Featured Online Programs
Top Ranked Campus & Online Psychology Programs in California
1
Stanford University
Score: 94.37
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $62,484
- Out-of-State:$62,484
- Net Price: $18,279
- Acceptance Rate: 4%
- Retention Rate: 98%
- Graduation Rate: 95%
- Total Enrollment: 18,283
- Undergrad Students: 8,049
- Graduate Students: 10,234
- Grads Salary: $116,000
- Student-to-faculty: 5:1
2
University of California-Berkeley
Score: 84.76
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $14,850
- Out-of-State:$45,627
- Net Price: $19,257
- Acceptance Rate: 11%
- Retention Rate: 96%
- Graduation Rate: 94%
- Total Enrollment: 45,307
- Undergrad Students: 32,479
- Graduate Students: 12,828
- Grads Salary: $97,000
- Student-to-faculty: 19:1
3
University of California-Los Angeles
Score: 82.48
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $13,747
- Out-of-State:$44,524
- Net Price: $16,999
- Acceptance Rate: 9%
- Retention Rate: 97%
- Graduation Rate: 92%
- Total Enrollment: 46,430
- Undergrad Students: 32,423
- Graduate Students: 14,007
- Grads Salary: $89,000
- Student-to-faculty: 18:1
4
University of California-Irvine
Score: 80.46
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $14,237
- Out-of-State:$45,014
- Net Price: $14,033
- Acceptance Rate: 21%
- Retention Rate: 91%
- Graduation Rate: 87%
- Total Enrollment: 35,937
- Undergrad Students: 28,662
- Graduate Students: 7,275
- Grads Salary: $88,000
- Student-to-faculty: 18:1
5
University of California-San Diego
Score: 80.37
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $15,265
- Out-of-State:$46,042
- Net Price: $16,111
- Acceptance Rate: 24%
- Retention Rate: 93%
- Graduation Rate: 88%
- Total Enrollment: 42,006
- Undergrad Students: 33,096
- Graduate Students: 8,910
- Grads Salary: $89,000
- Student-to-faculty: 19:1
6
University of Southern California
Score: 78.8
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $68,237
- Out-of-State:$68,237
- Net Price: $36,808
- Acceptance Rate: 12%
- Retention Rate: 97%
- Graduation Rate: 92%
- Total Enrollment: 48,945
- Undergrad Students: 20,699
- Graduate Students: 28,246
- Grads Salary: $92,000
- Student-to-faculty: 9:1
7
University of California-Davis
Score: 78.07
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $15,247
- Out-of-State:$46,024
- Net Price: $17,385
- Acceptance Rate: 37%
- Retention Rate: 92%
- Graduation Rate: 86%
- Total Enrollment: 39,679
- Undergrad Students: 31,532
- Graduate Students: 8,147
- Grads Salary: $88,000
- Student-to-faculty: 21:1
8
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $11,075
- Out-of-State:$30,995
- Net Price: $19,184
- Acceptance Rate: 30%
- Retention Rate: 94%
- Graduation Rate: 85%
- Total Enrollment: 22,000
- Undergrad Students: 21,026
- Graduate Students: 974
- Grads Salary: $88,000
- Student-to-faculty: 20:1
9
San Diego State University
Score: 74.21
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,290
- Out-of-State:$20,170
- Net Price: $13,017
- Acceptance Rate: 39%
- Retention Rate: 89%
- Graduation Rate: 78%
- Total Enrollment: 37,402
- Undergrad Students: 32,194
- Graduate Students: 5,208
- Grads Salary: $82,000
- Student-to-faculty: 25:1
10
University of California-Santa Cruz
Score: 73.64
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $14,560
- Out-of-State:$45,337
- Net Price: $17,975
- Acceptance Rate: 47%
- Retention Rate: 88%
- Graduation Rate: 77%
- Total Enrollment: 19,478
- Undergrad Students: 17,502
- Graduate Students: 1,976
- Grads Salary: $86,000
- Student-to-faculty: 23:1
11
Pitzer College
Score: 73.45
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $62,692
- Out-of-State:$62,692
- Net Price: $39,809
- Acceptance Rate: 18%
- Retention Rate: 89%
- Graduation Rate: 85%
- Total Enrollment: 1,212
- Undergrad Students: 1,212
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $88,000
- Student-to-faculty: 10:1
12
California State University-Long Beach
Score: 72.9
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $7,008
- Out-of-State:$18,888
- Net Price: $9,346
- Acceptance Rate: 40%
- Retention Rate: 85%
- Graduation Rate: 73%
- Total Enrollment: 38,973
- Undergrad Students: 32,931
- Graduate Students: 6,042
- Grads Salary: $79,000
- Student-to-faculty: 22:1
13
San Jose State University
Score: 72.37
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $7,992
- Out-of-State:$19,872
- Net Price: $14,219
- Acceptance Rate: 77%
- Retention Rate: 85%
- Graduation Rate: 68%
- Total Enrollment: 35,751
- Undergrad Students: 26,863
- Graduate Students: 8,888
- Grads Salary: $91,000
- Student-to-faculty: 22:1
14
Santa Clara University
Score: 72.36
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $59,241
- Out-of-State:$59,241
- Net Price: $50,551
- Acceptance Rate: 52%
- Retention Rate: 92%
- Graduation Rate: 89%
- Total Enrollment: 9,178
- Undergrad Students: 6,115
- Graduate Students: 3,063
- Grads Salary: $96,000
- Student-to-faculty: 12:1
15
California State University-Fullerton
Score: 71.03
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $7,073
- Out-of-State:$18,953
- Net Price: $7,925
- Acceptance Rate: 67%
- Retention Rate: 86%
- Graduation Rate: 69%
- Total Enrollment: 40,386
- Undergrad Students: 35,432
- Graduate Students: 4,954
- Grads Salary: $80,000
- Student-to-faculty: 24:1
16
University of San Diego
Score: 70.86
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $56,444
- Out-of-State:$56,444
- Net Price: $36,008
- Acceptance Rate: 53%
- Retention Rate: 90%
- Graduation Rate: 83%
- Total Enrollment: 8,815
- Undergrad Students: 5,669
- Graduate Students: 3,146
- Grads Salary: $85,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
17
University of California-Riverside
Score: 70.6
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $14,170
- Out-of-State:$44,947
- Net Price: $14,487
- Acceptance Rate: 69%
- Retention Rate: 87%
- Graduation Rate: 76%
- Total Enrollment: 26,809
- Undergrad Students: 22,911
- Graduate Students: 3,898
- Grads Salary: $79,000
- Student-to-faculty: 24:1
18
Cal Poly Pomona
Score: 70.18
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $7,439
- Out-of-State:$19,319
- Net Price: $12,480
- Acceptance Rate: 55%
- Retention Rate: 87%
- Graduation Rate: 66%
- Total Enrollment: 27,503
- Undergrad Students: 25,181
- Graduate Students: 2,322
- Grads Salary: $82,000
- Student-to-faculty: 25:1
19
Saint Mary's College of California
Score: 67.78
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $56,134
- Out-of-State:$56,134
- Net Price: $32,129
- Acceptance Rate: 88%
- Retention Rate: 86%
- Graduation Rate: 72%
- Total Enrollment: 2,765
- Undergrad Students: 2,003
- Graduate Students: 762
- Grads Salary: $86,000
- Student-to-faculty: 9:1
20
California State University-Chico
Score: 67.71
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,064
- Out-of-State:$19,944
- Net Price: $15,517
- Acceptance Rate: 95%
- Retention Rate: 80%
- Graduation Rate: 64%
- Total Enrollment: 14,183
- Undergrad Students: 12,981
- Graduate Students: 1,202
- Grads Salary: $85,000
- Student-to-faculty: 20:1
21
Pepperdine University
Score: 67.33
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $66,742
- Out-of-State:$66,742
- Net Price: $47,804
- Acceptance Rate: 49%
- Retention Rate: 88%
- Graduation Rate: 84%
- Total Enrollment: 10,030
- Undergrad Students: 3,662
- Graduate Students: 6,368
- Grads Salary: $84,000
- Student-to-faculty: 13:1
22
California Lutheran University
Score: 67.06
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $50,670
- Out-of-State:$50,670
- Net Price: $30,416
- Acceptance Rate: 87%
- Retention Rate: 81%
- Graduation Rate: 73%
- Total Enrollment: 3,615
- Undergrad Students: 2,513
- Graduate Students: 1,102
- Grads Salary: $85,000
- Student-to-faculty: 14:1
23
University of Redlands
Score: 66.86
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $57,614
- Out-of-State:$57,614
- Net Price: $28,157
- Acceptance Rate: 82%
- Retention Rate: 80%
- Graduation Rate: 67%
- Total Enrollment: 3,460
- Undergrad Students: 2,313
- Graduate Students: 1,147
- Grads Salary: $85,000
- Student-to-faculty: 10:1
24
Occidental College
Score: 66.69
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $63,446
- Out-of-State:$63,446
- Net Price: $44,853
- Acceptance Rate: 39%
- Retention Rate: 89%
- Graduation Rate: 83%
- Total Enrollment: 1,942
- Undergrad Students: 1,942
- Graduate Students: N/A
- Grads Salary: $77,000
- Student-to-faculty: 9:1
25
University of La Verne
Score: 66.68
- Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $47,000
- Out-of-State:$47,000
- Net Price: $25,103
- Acceptance Rate: 74%
- Retention Rate: 77%
- Graduation Rate: 63%
- Total Enrollment: 5,662
- Undergrad Students: 3,365
- Graduate Students: 2,297
- Grads Salary: $85,000
- Student-to-faculty: 11:1
