You probably want to study the human mind and behavior. That’s a great thing to do! There are a variety of options for individuals like you seeking affordable online colleges for psychology, and we are going to show them to you in a moment.
It would interest you to know that according to the National Center for Education Statistics, psychology was named amongst the most popular programs at colleges and Universities in the United States.
That’s not even all, psychology is a versatile course, which can give you the leverage to choose from a number of careers.
Aside from all the promises a psychology degree might hold for you, the most important thing is that you’re making a significant financial investment in yourself.
This peculiar reason makes us at World Scholars Hub delighted to help you with vital information like affordable online colleges for psychology that would make earning a college degree less expensive for you.
We understand that it might have been your longtime dream to study psychology at the bachelor’s-degree and master’s-degree levels, but the high cost of college may have discouraged you from taking that bold step.
There are a couple of ways to get past the cost barrier like cheapest online colleges per credit hour or through online colleges that pay you to attend.
However, by access to the information in this article, you might be a step closer to achieving that long dream of yours. Read on as we take you through this amazing experience with the information in this article.
Table of Contents
Advantages of Affordable Online Colleges for Psychology
You should know that there are quite a few affordable online colleges for psychology that are available. They are relatively affordable when compared to the degree programs at other top schools for psychology.
You can also look through affordable non profit online colleges we’ve discussed in the past to see if they meet your needs. If they don’t, hang in, we’ll provide you more vital information.
There are some benefits of studying in affordable online colleges for psychology. Here are a few of them:
- This may aid you to be able to graduate with minimal student loan debt or without any debt at all.
- Since these programs are online, you gain access to learning resources and knowledge no matter your distance from campus. You therefore don’t have to move to a new location.This allows prospective students to select a program that best meets their budget, interests, and career goals. It also gives you broader range of schools to choose from.
- Regardless of whether you study online or on-campus or whether you studied in affordable online colleges for psychology, spent a lot on your degree or not, the opportunities out in the world are the same.
- Enrolling in an online master’s degree program in psychology after earning a bachelor’s degree can open more career doors for you in some states like; Alaska, Kentucky, Oregon, Vermont, West Virginia etc after acquiring the necessary licenses.
- Psychology is a versatile degree. It opens doors to a vast number of opportunities for you across a diverse range of fields.
- Studying psychology helps you develop attributes that make you a better individual. Attributes such as empathy and sensitivity, critical thinking etc
Nevertheless, it is important to note that before a person can practice, they must adhere to their state’s licensing laws, which may require an internship and 1-2 years of supervised experience in the field.
Affordable Online Colleges for Psychology
1. Purdue University Global
They offer the following psychology degrees programs which includes:
- Online Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology—Applied Behavior Analysis.
- Online Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology—Addictions
- Online Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology
- Online Applied Behavior Analysis Postbaccalaureate Certificate
- Online Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) Postbaccalaureate Certificate
- Online Graduate Certificate in Addictions
- Online Graduate Certificate in Industrial/Organizational Psychology (I/O)
- Online Master of Science Degree in Psychology
- Online Postgraduate Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
All these programs have their various cost as well as credit hours.
Check out how much these psychology programs cost here.
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
2.Tennessee State University
With an annual tuition fee estimated at $4200, Tennessee State University runs an online Bachelor of Science in Psychology which requires 120 credits, including 38 credits of general education, 33 credits of major-specific coursework, and 49 credits of elective courses. The 120-credit online Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies requires students to choose two cognates (focuses) to study.
As a requirement, prospective students may be expected to provide a high school diploma with at least a 2.5 GPA and ACT/SAT scores of at least 19 or 900, respectively. You will also require an online application, transcripts, and test scores. Students with a GPA of 3.2 or above are guaranteed admission.
They offer the following online Bachelor’s Degrees
- Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies – Psychology.
- Bachelor of Science in Psychology.
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges.
3. Fort Hays State University
The online school psychology program is designed for students who have a passion for school psychology but need the flexibility of an online education.
In the online school psychology program at Fort Hays State University, you have the opportunity to pursue the MS and EdS degrees either on a part-time or full-time basis. The entire online program is delivered virtually.
Students are only required to come to the FHSU campus for one five-day workshop on appraisal of children, which takes place during a summer semester. The online program and the on-campus program are designed with the same structure.
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission.
4. California Coast University
With an annual tuition fee estimated at $4,000 – $5,000, California Coast University runs online bachelor’s degree B.S. in Psychology.
It’s curriculum is designed to focus on understanding human behavior, the science of emotion, industry best-practices, and research strategies.
The program contains about 126 credits which includes; general education, core, and elective courses. Students can choose to study on a full-time or part-time basis and may begin classes at any time.
They run a self-paced coursework, but students are expected to complete courses within six months and must complete their degrees within five years.
Accreditation: (DEAC) Distance Education Accrediting Commission.
5. Aspen University
Aspen University offers an online Bachelor’s Degrees in psychology, where students receive the Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Addiction Studies on completion.
They use th the Desire2Learn learning management system, to carry out their online learning at different times.which organizes students’ reading materials, video lectures, interactive assignments, and email. Students are also allowed to work with an academic advisor to determine their eligibility for prior experience or transfer credits.
The courses in this program are offered with start dates every two weeks. Students can save time and money by receiving credits for prior experience or by applying up to 90 transfer credits.
Accreditation: (DEAC) Distance Education Accrediting Commission.
6. John F. Kennedy University
With an annual tuition of about $8,000 the John F. Kennedy University is amongst the affordable online colleges for psychology, offering the following psychology programs:
- BA in Psychology
- BA in Psychology – Criminal Justice
- BA in Psychology – Early Childhood Education
- BA in Psychology – Industrial-Organizational Psychology
Accreditation: WASC Senior College and University Commission.
How Long Does It Take to Earn a Psychology Degree Online?
To know how long it will take you to earn your psychology degree online, you must identify what type of degree you want to earn.
To do this, knowing which degree program fits into your career choices is important. Generally, you can spend about 2 to 8 years studying to earn a degree.
However, it will take you a lot less time to earn an associate degree, than it would to earn a bachelor’s degree. You should also know that, a candidate with an associate degree has limited options in their career choices especially when they are interested in working in the field of mental health.
Most often, an online psychology program contains about 120-126 credit hours which students are expected to complete. About half of these credits are general education courses, while the other half consists of psychology courses.
Although if you meet certain requirements a few schools could offer accelerated programs that can be completed in about two years. However, most programs are expected to be completed in four years of full-time study.
Nevertheless, if you wish to save some time and money while earning a psychology degree, you could do the following:
✅ Check if your online college/university allows students to take exams to show that they have knowledge of a class, instead of taking the class itself.
If they accept it, then passing the exam shows that you understand the class subject and have thorough knowledge of the material.
✅ Also enquire if it is possible within your online college to transfer college level coursework credits to your total.
✅ Also, there are schools that offer credit for prior work or military experience. They do this by examining your records and past job performance in a prior learning assessment to determine whether they can bypass a related course.
Check if this applies to your online college too.
Some Common Psychology Courses you should take
Remember what it feels like when you’re at that point where you’re so confused about which dress to wear to a party or which accessories fits your outfit better? That might probably be your situation when thinking of the options available for common psychology courses.
Not to worry, take a deep breath and pick whichever one fits closely into your career interests. While you do that, here are a few courses available for those pursuing an undergraduate psychology degree.
However, you should know that the courses you offer depend on your school. Some schools amongst the affordable online colleges for psychology teach these courses as core courses, while others treat them as electives.
1. General Psychology
General psychology this is an introductory course that gives an overview of the broad field of psychology. It is a popular liberal arts elective for undergraduate students, and it is very important for psychology students as it lays the foundation for future studies.
The coursework often introduces the history of psychology and the scientific study of the human mind and behavior, after which it delves into broader topics, like consciousness, motivation, perception etc.
2. History of Psychology
This course is aimed at understanding the contemporary aspects of psychology. It lays focus on the origins and influences that have forged the science of psychology.
Courses on the history of psychology usually begin with the subject’s ancient philosophical origins and explore the contributions of major thinkers from it’s past to modern times.
3. Experimental Psychology
Experimental psychology is an essential foundation for any psychology major. This course involves the scientific study of motives, behaviours or cognition in a laboratory.
This course will teach you about basic research methods and experimental designs.The requirements for this course may vary from one school to the next, most experimental psychology courses will involve experiments.
4. Clinical Psychology
This branch of psychology focuses on evaluating, researching, diagnosis, and treatment of patients experiencing psychological distress, emotional disorders and mental illness. A course in clinical psychology helps students to understand vital topics, such as patient assessments, common disorders, and ethical considerations.
5. Abnormal Psychology
This class examines the common causes of mental disorders and surveys the possible treatment for them. These illnesses include schizophrenia, social anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, depression, addiction, and eating disorders.
The coursework explores assessment of patients with these disorders and the possible ways to implement treatment plans in their clinical practice.
This is the branch of psychology devoted to the study, assessment, treatment, and prevention of maladaptive behavior.
6. Developmental Psychology
This is the branch of psychology that studies the physical, mental, and behavioural changes that occur from conception to old age.
It studies the various biological, neurobiological, genetic, psychological, social, cultural, and environmental factors that affect development throughout the lifespan.
This course explores the study of human development, from infancy to adolescence and late adulthood.
Important to Note:
Determining whether your chosen university or college is Accredited is one of the most important steps you must take before applying for admission into any school.
It gives credibility to what you’re studying and ensures that you’ll not end up wasting your time in a school that is not recognised.
Also, accreditation is often required in situations where a student wishes to transfer credits between schools, enter a graduate level program, or be eligible for federal financial aid.
To confirm your school’s accreditation, kindly visit the U.S. Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation databases and do a quick search with the name of your school.
Incase you’re having a hard time checking for the accreditation of your school, we’ve described it step by step in Online Colleges in Texas that Accept Financial Aid
Admissions Requirements for Affordable Online colleges for Psychology
The admission requirements may vary for the affordable online colleges for psychology, and sometimes depending on the degree of study.
However, most schools share the same admission requirements, with little variants for prospective psychology students, whether on campus or online.
Below are some requirements needed for admission:
- Pass scores on standardized college entrance exams.
- A high school diploma or an equivalent.
- A minimum high school GPA of 2.5
- Transferring students who completed their college coursework somewhere else may be expected to have a CGPA of at least 2.5.
Required Documents:
For prospective students applying for an online bachelor’s program, you may be required to submit the following documents and items:
- Personal essay(s) about your self, your interests and your goals.
- Grades on standardized tests, such as the ACT or SAT.
- Application fee
- Official transcripts from all previously attended schools
- Recommendation letter from anyone who can vouch for your good character and conduct .
- A list showing your extracurricular activities, student’s community, and/or any other relevant skills.
How Much Does an Online Degree in Psychology Cost?
There is no standard cost for an online degree in psychology. The cost vary for different states and schools. So, it is wise to check for the tuition of the school you’re interested in before applying.
However, on average, an online degree in psychology is estimated to cost about $13,000 annually. With the affordable online colleges for psychology costing around $4,000 to $9,000 yearly. Some schools also allow the same tuition fees for both on campus and online students.
Online students usually don’t pay for room and board, transportation, or other campus-based fees. Nevertheless, there are other routes and options to make college even more affordable for yourself.
Alternative Funding Options for Affordable Online Colleges for Psychology Programs
To reduce or sometimes totally slash the cost of college education for psychology, there are a number of options available for you.
These options includes;
✔️ Financial Aid : You’ll be required to fill out a FAFSA form to get started. Finany aids maybe in the form of grants, scholarships, fellowships, and work-study programs.
✔️ Federal and private loans
✔️ Some colleges provide funding to select students who are interested in studying psychology. Colleges like : University of Wisconsin at La Crosse and University of Minnesota
✔️ Assistance from professional organizations like:
- American Board of Professional Psychology
- Association for Psychological Science
- American Psychological Association
- National Association of Junior Auxiliaries
- National Association of School Psychologists
- Society for Personality and Social Psychology
- Society for the Teaching of Psychology
- Pride Foundation.
Salary potential for psychology programs
According to the Bureau of labor statistics, the median annual wage for psychologists was $82,180 in May 2020.
However, a degree in psychology gives students a broad multitude of career paths to choose from, many of which offer more desirable salaries. Here is an occupational outlook handbook for psychology, prepared by the U.S Bureau of Statistics.
Also, to increase your earning potential, you can opt for an advanced degree which is required for those who want to work as practicing psychologists. You should also note that clinical and research psychologists must have a doctoral degree, while school psychologists, industrial-organizational psychologists, and psychological assistants must have master’s degrees.
Career Options for Psychology Programs
- Forensic psychology
- Counseling psychology
- Industrial and organizational psychology
- Clinical psychologist
- Career counseling
- School psychology
- Health psychology
- Experimental psychology
- Psychologist
- Mental health counselor
- Psychotherapy
- Family therapy
- School and Career Counselor
- Social Worker
- Teacher.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is an Online Bachelor’s in Psychology Worth It?
An online bachelor’s degree in psychology may be worthwhile, but a large part of that depends on individuals. Therefore, you must weigh the costs and benefits a psychology degree holds for you.
2. Are online psychology students eligible for scholarships?
Yes, in this article, we highlighted some scholarship opportunities available for psychology students and other aids as well.
However, your college must be accredited and you must meet certain criteria to be eligible in many cases.
Conclusion
It is necessary to weigh your options based on your needs and interests when trying to make choices that would be beneficial to you.
In this article, World Scholars Hub have discussed in-depth the affordable online colleges for psychology. You can use this information to guide your decision making, and also expand your research for better opportunities.
We are happy to help you, and we hope you got what you were looking for. Drop a message for us in the comments box if this was helpful or you need any further assistance.