Best Universities for Psychology in the World

Updated: February 29, 2024

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in the World ranked based on their research performance in Psychology. A graph of 550M citations received by 21.8M academic papers made by 6,528 universities in the World was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. Harvard University

United States | Massachusetts

For Psychology

#1 in North America

#1 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,491

2. University College London

United Kingdom | England

For Psychology

#1 in Europe

#1 in the United Kingdom

Enrollment: 42,000
Founded: 1826

3. University of Toronto

Canada | Ontario

For Psychology

#2 in North America

#1 in Canada

Enrollment: 27,651
Founded: 1827

4. Johns Hopkins University

United States | Maryland

For Psychology

#3 in North America

#2 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $24,034

5. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

United States | Michigan

For Psychology

#4 in North America

#3 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 74%

6. Stanford University

United States | California

For Psychology

#5 in North America

#4 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,279

7. University of Washington - Seattle

United States | Washington

For Psychology

#6 in North America

#5 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $14,731
Enrollment: 52,319

8. Yale University

United States | Connecticut

For Psychology

#7 in North America

#6 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,647

9. University of Pennsylvania

United States | Pennsylvania

For Psychology

#8 in North America

#7 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,123

10. University of California - San Francisco

United States | California

For Psychology

#9 in North America

#8 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,140
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1864

11. Columbia University

United States | New York State

For Psychology

#10 in North America

#9 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,058

12. University of California - Los Angeles

United States | California

For Psychology

#11 in North America

#10 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 57%
Average Aid: $21,766
Enrollment: 46,430

13. University of Pittsburgh

United States | Pennsylvania

For Psychology

#12 in North America

#11 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

14. University of Oxford

United Kingdom | England

For Psychology

#2 in Europe

#2 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1096

15. University of California-San Diego

United States | California

For Psychology

#13 in North America

#12 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $20,782
Enrollment: 42,006

16. Cornell University

United States | New York State

For Psychology

#14 in North America

#13 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,060

17. University of British Columbia

Canada | British Columbia

For Psychology

#15 in North America

#2 in Canada

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Enrollment: 20,893
Founded: 1908

18. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

United States | Minnesota

For Psychology

#16 in North America

#14 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 82%

19. New York University

United States | New York State

For Psychology

#17 in North America

#15 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $29,499

20. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

United States | North Carolina

For Psychology

#18 in North America

#16 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 59%

21. University of Wisconsin - Madison

United States | Wisconsin

For Psychology

#19 in North America

#17 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 58%

22. McGill University

Canada | Quebec State

For Psychology

#20 in North America

#3 in Canada

Acceptance Rate: 46%
Enrollment: 37,888
Founded: 1821

23. University of Cambridge

United Kingdom | England

For Psychology

#3 in Europe

#3 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1209

24. Karolinska Institute

Sweden | Stockholm

For Psychology

#4 in Europe

#1 in Sweden

Enrollment: 8,070
Founded: 1861

25. Washington University in St Louis

United States | Missouri

For Psychology

#21 in North America

#18 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $23,432

26. University of California - Berkeley

United States | California

For Psychology

#22 in North America

#19 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 60%
Average Aid: $21,669
Enrollment: 45,307

27. University of Melbourne

Australia | Melbourne

For Psychology

#1 in Australia

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Enrollment: 49,000
Founded: 1853

28. King's College London

United Kingdom | England

For Psychology

#5 in Europe

#4 in the United Kingdom

Founded: 1829

29. Emory University

United States | Georgia

For Psychology

#23 in North America

#20 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $26,680

30. University of Southern California

United States | California

For Psychology

#24 in North America

#21 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $36,808

31. University of Sydney

Australia | Sydney

For Psychology

#2 in Australia

Enrollment: 63,602
Founded: 1850

32. Ohio State University

United States | Ohio

For Psychology

#25 in North America

#22 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 83%

33. Northwestern University

United States | Illinois

For Psychology

#26 in North America

#23 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,095

34. Boston University

United States | Massachusetts

For Psychology

#27 in North America

#24 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,829

35. University of Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Psychology

#28 in North America

#25 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $36,991

36. Pennsylvania State University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Psychology

#29 in North America

#26 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1300
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 68%

37. University of Florida

United States | Florida

For Psychology

#30 in North America

#27 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

38. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

United States | Minnesota

For Psychology

#31 in North America

#28 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Net Price: $11,830
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $2,182

39. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

United States | Illinois

For Psychology

#32 in North America

#29 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

40. Duke University

United States | North Carolina

For Psychology

#33 in North America

#30 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,694

41. University of Iowa

United States | Iowa State

For Psychology

#34 in North America

#31 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

42. University of Amsterdam

Netherlands | Amsterdam

For Psychology

#6 in Europe

#1 in the Netherlands

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Enrollment: 41,000
Founded: 1632

43. University of Queensland

Australia | St Lucia

For Psychology

#3 in Australia

Enrollment: 48,771
Founded: 1909

44. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

United States | Massachusetts

For Psychology

#35 in North America

#32 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1555
Average ACT: 36
Net Price: $20,232

45. Catholic University of Leuven

Belgium | Leuven

For Psychology

#7 in Europe

Enrollment: 62,693
Founded: 1425

46. Heidelberg University - Germany

Germany | Baden-Wurttemberg

For Psychology

#8 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Enrollment: 28,413
Male:Female: 45:55
Founded: 1386

47. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

United States | New Jersey

For Psychology

#36 in North America

#33 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 70%

48. Baylor College of Medicine

United States | Texas

For Psychology

#37 in North America

#34 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 1,610
Male:Female: 40:60
Founded: 1900

49. McMaster University

Canada | Ontario

For Psychology

#38 in North America

#4 in Canada

Enrollment: 27,965
Founded: 1887

50. Radboud University

Netherlands | Nijmegen

For Psychology

#9 in Europe

#2 in the Netherlands

Founded: 1923

51. University of New South Wales

Australia | Sydney

For Psychology

#4 in Australia

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1949

52. University of Texas at Austin

United States | Texas

For Psychology

#39 in North America

#35 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 89%

53. University of Manchester

United Kingdom | England

For Psychology

#10 in Europe

#5 in the United Kingdom

Founded: 1824

54. University of California - Davis

United States | California

For Psychology

#40 in North America

#36 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $20,548
Enrollment: 39,679

55. Monash University

Australia | Clayton

For Psychology

#5 in Australia

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Enrollment: 78,000
Founded: 1958

56. Michigan State University

United States | Michigan

For Psychology

#41 in North America

#37 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 94%

57. Case Western Reserve University

United States | Ohio

For Psychology

#42 in North America

#38 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $38,279

58. University of Arizona

United States | Arizona

For Psychology

#43 in North America

#39 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 98%

59. University of Alberta

Canada | Alberta

For Psychology

#44 in North America

#5 in Canada

Enrollment: 31,185
Founded: 1908

60. Vanderbilt University

United States | Tennessee

For Psychology

#45 in North America

#40 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,606

61. University of Utah

United States | Utah

For Psychology

#46 in North America

#41 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

62. University of Virginia

United States | Virginia

For Psychology

#47 in North America

#42 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 54%

63. University of Miami

United States | Florida

For Psychology

#48 in North America

#43 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $36,467

64. University of California - Irvine

United States | California

For Psychology

#49 in North America

#44 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Receiving Aid: 80%
Average Aid: $17,411
Enrollment: 35,937

65. University of Calgary

Canada | Alberta

For Psychology

#50 in North America

#6 in Canada

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Enrollment: 33,000
Founded: 1966

66. Tel Aviv University

Israel | Tel Aviv

For Psychology

#1 in Asia

#1 in Israel

Enrollment: 30,000
Founded: 1956

67. Imperial College London

United Kingdom | England

For Psychology

#11 in Europe

#6 in the United Kingdom

Enrollment: 17,565
Founded: 1907

68. University of Illinois at Chicago

United States | Illinois

For Psychology

#51 in North America

#45 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 81%

69. Western University

Canada | Ontario

For Psychology

#52 in North America

#7 in Canada

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Enrollment: 21,836
Founded: 1878

70. Lund University

For Psychology

#12 in Europe

#2 in Sweden

Enrollment: 40,000
Founded: 1666

71. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

United States | New York State

For Psychology

#53 in North America

#46 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 1,253
Male:Female: 40:60
Founded: 1963

72. University of Edinburgh

United Kingdom | Scotland

For Psychology

#13 in Europe

#7 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Founded: 1583

73. University of Tokyo

For Psychology

#2 in Asia

#1 in Japan

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Enrollment: 28,218
Founded: 1877

74. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

United States | Texas

For Psychology

#54 in North America

#47 in the United States

Enrollment: 2,354
Male:Female: 45:55
Founded: 1943

75. Pierre and Marie Curie University

France | Ile-de-France

For Psychology

#14 in Europe

#1 in France

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Enrollment: 35,114
Founded: 1150

76. University of Groningen

Netherlands | Groningen

For Psychology

#15 in Europe

#3 in the Netherlands

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Enrollment: 34,000
Founded: 1614

77. University of Montreal

Canada | Quebec State

For Psychology

#55 in North America

#8 in Canada

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Enrollment: 66,972
Founded: 1878

78. University of Rochester

United States | New York State

For Psychology

#56 in North America

#48 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $39,775

79. University of Sao Paulo

Brazil | Sao Paulo

For Psychology

#1 in Latin America

#1 in Brazil

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 97,964
Founded: 1827

80. Arizona State University - Tempe

United States | Arizona

For Psychology

#57 in North America

#49 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $12,381
Enrollment: 80,065

81. University of Copenhagen

Denmark | Copenhagen

For Psychology

#16 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Founded: 1479

82. University of Alabama at Birmingham

United States | Alabama

For Psychology

#58 in North America

#50 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1305
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 96%

83. University of Maryland, Baltimore

United States | Maryland

For Psychology

#59 in North America

#51 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Enrollment: 6,931
Male:Female: 27:73
Founded: 1807

84. Brown University

United States | Rhode Island

For Psychology

#60 in North America

#52 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,723

85. University of Hong Kong

China | Hong Kong

For Psychology

#3 in Asia

#1 in China

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Enrollment: 21,652
Founded: 1911

86. Oregon Health & Science University

United States | Oregon

For Psychology

#61 in North America

#53 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 2,870
Male:Female: 30:70
Founded: 1887

87. University of Maryland - College Park

United States | Maryland

For Psychology

#62 in North America

#54 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 63%

88. University of Kentucky

United States | Kentucky

For Psychology

#63 in North America

#55 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

89. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

United States | Colorado

For Psychology

#64 in North America

#56 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1145
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 94%

90. Carnegie Mellon University

United States | Pennsylvania

For Psychology

#65 in North America

#57 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $33,499

91. University of Zurich

Switzerland | Zurich

For Psychology

#17 in Europe

#1 in Switzerland

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Enrollment: 25,732

92. University of Munich

Germany | Bavaria

For Psychology

#18 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Enrollment: 52,418
Founded: 1472

93. University of Ottawa

Canada | Ontario

For Psychology

#66 in North America

#9 in Canada

Enrollment: 42,027
Founded: 1848

94. Utrecht University

Netherlands | Utrecht

For Psychology

#19 in Europe

#4 in the Netherlands

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1636

95. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

United States | Indiana

For Psychology

#67 in North America

#58 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 91%

96. University of Bristol

United Kingdom | England

For Psychology

#20 in Europe

#8 in the United Kingdom

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Enrollment: 27,513
Founded: 1909

97. Providence College

United States | Rhode Island

For Psychology

#68 in North America

#59 in the United States

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $43,970

98. University of Helsinki

Finland | Helsinki

For Psychology

#21 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 31,312
Founded: 1640

99. Maastricht University

Netherlands | Maastricht

For Psychology

#22 in Europe

#5 in the Netherlands

Enrollment: 18,000
Founded: 1976

100. Kyoto University

For Psychology

#4 in Asia

#2 in Japan

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 22,455
Male:Female: 76:24
Founded: 1897

Psychology subfields in the World

Child Psychology3779

Clinical Psychology3123

Cognitive Science3939

Education Majors4239

Negotiation and Conflict Resolution1019

Neuroscience5102

Occupational Therapy1135

Organizational / Business / IO Psychology1026

Social Psychology5255

Social Work1028

Special Education1011