100 Best colleges for Psychology in the United States

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in the United States ranked based on their research performance in Psychology. A graph of 336M citations received by 7.88M academic papers made by 1,561 universities in the United States 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

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Psychology

#1 in North America

#1 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,525

2. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Psychology

#3 in North America

#4 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,017

3. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Psychology

#4 in North America

#5 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 69%

4. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Psychology

#5 in North America

#6 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,078

5. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Psychology

#6 in North America

#7 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Receiving Aid: 56%
Average Aid: $16,156
Enrollment: 56,997

6. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Psychology

#7 in North America

#8 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $23,570

7. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Psychology

#8 in North America

#9 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

8. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Psychology

#9 in North America

#10 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $22,520

9. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Psychology

#10 in North America

#11 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Receiving Aid: 59%
Average Aid: $25,627
Enrollment: 47,335

10. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Psychology

#11 in North America

#12 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Enrollment: 3,007
Male:Female: 36:64
Founded: 1864

11. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Psychology

#12 in North America

#14 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 74%

12. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Psychology

#13 in North America

#15 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Receiving Aid: 66%
Average Aid: $25,757
Enrollment: 44,256

13. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Psychology

#14 in North America

#16 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,361

14. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Psychology

#16 in North America

#18 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 15%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

15. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Psychology

#17 in North America

#19 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $30,325

16. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Psychology

#18 in North America

#20 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 81%

17. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Psychology

#19 in North America

#21 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1450
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

18. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Psychology

#20 in North America

#23 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,408

19. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Psychology

#22 in North America

#25 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 63%
Average Aid: $29,608
Enrollment: 45,882

20. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Psychology

#23 in North America

#27 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,830

21. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Psychology

#24 in North America

#29 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1510
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $27,303

22. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Psychology

#25 in North America

#31 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $43,412

23. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Psychology

#26 in North America

#32 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1395
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 80%

24. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Psychology

#27 in North America

#34 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $21,981

25. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

Minnesota | Rochester

For Psychology

#28 in North America

#35 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 39%
Net Price: $12,328
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $2,018

26. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Psychology

#29 in North America

#36 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $28,060

27. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Psychology

#30 in North America

#37 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

28. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Psychology

#31 in North America

#38 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 61%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

29. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Psychology

#32 in North America

#39 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 64%

30. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Psychology

#33 in North America

#40 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $24,420

31. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Psychology

#34 in North America

#42 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 90%

32. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Psychology

#35 in North America

#43 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 69%

33. University of Texas at Austin

For Psychology

#36 in North America

#46 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 27%
Average SAT: 1380
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 65%

34. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Psychology

#37 in North America

#47 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1550
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,996

35. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Psychology

#38 in North America

#51 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Receiving Aid: 65%
Average Aid: $24,591
Enrollment: 40,065

36. Baylor College of Medicine

Texas | Houston

For Psychology

#41 in North America

#56 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 1,774
Male:Female: 40:60
Founded: 1900

37. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Psychology

#42 in North America

#57 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 92%

38. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Psychology

#43 in North America

#58 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $44,000

39. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Psychology

#44 in North America

#59 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 57%

40. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Psychology

#45 in North America

#60 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 96%

41. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Psychology

#46 in North America

#61 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $45,397

42. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Psychology

#49 in North America

#64 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $25,186

43. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Psychology

#50 in North America

#67 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 79%

44. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Psychology

#51 in North America

#68 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $23,110
Enrollment: 37,297

45. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Psychology

#52 in North America

#69 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 80%

46. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

New York State | New York City

For Psychology

#53 in North America

#71 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 1,261
Male:Female: 38:62
Founded: 1963

47. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Psychology

#54 in North America

#73 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $40,462

48. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Psychology

#56 in North America

#79 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $12,172
Enrollment: 79,818

49. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

For Psychology

#57 in North America

#80 in the World

Enrollment: 2,549
Male:Female: 43:57
Founded: 1943

50. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Psychology

#58 in North America

#84 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 67%

51. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Psychology

#59 in North America

#87 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $26,256

52. University of Alabama at Birmingham

Alabama | Birmingham

For Psychology

#60 in North America

#88 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 95%

53. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Psychology

#62 in North America

#91 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $35,552

54. University of Maryland, Baltimore

Maryland | Baltimore

For Psychology

#63 in North America

#92 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Enrollment: 6,636
Male:Female: 27:73
Founded: 1807

55. Oregon Health & Science University

Oregon | Portland

For Psychology

#64 in North America

#93 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 2,942
Male:Female: 30:70
Founded: 1887

56. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Psychology

#65 in North America

#94 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 97%

57. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Psychology

#66 in North America

#95 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 59%

58. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Colorado | Denver

For Psychology

#67 in North America

#96 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1100
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 94%

59. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

Indiana | Indianapolis

For Psychology

#68 in North America

#98 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

60. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Psychology

#69 in North America

#105 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 89%

61. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Psychology

#70 in North America

#114 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1165
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 99%

62. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Psychology

#71 in North America

#115 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Average SAT: 1295
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 86%

63. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Psychology

#72 in North America

#116 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $15,313

64. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Psychology

#73 in North America

#117 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 97%

65. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Psychology

#74 in North America

#122 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1515
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $32,367

66. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Psychology

#75 in North America

#124 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 88%

67. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Psychology

#76 in North America

#127 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 74%

68. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Psychology

#77 in North America

#130 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 88%

69. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Psychology

#78 in North America

#131 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 24%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

70. Temple University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Psychology

#79 in North America

#133 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $14,837
Enrollment: 29,640

71. Georgetown University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Psychology

#80 in North America

#136 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $39,083

72. Wake Forest University

North Carolina | Winston-Salem

For Psychology

#81 in North America

#139 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Average SAT: 1465
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $24,401

73. Medical University of South Carolina

South Carolina | Charleston

For Psychology

#82 in North America

#140 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 56%
Enrollment: 3,246
Male:Female: 27:73
Founded: 1824

74. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Psychology

#84 in North America

#145 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 99%

75. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Psychology

#85 in North America

#148 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 94%

76. George Washington University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Psychology

#86 in North America

#155 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $46,485

77. Virginia Commonwealth University

Virginia | Richmond

For Psychology

#87 in North America

#158 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1140
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 92%

78. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Psychology

#89 in North America

#163 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Average SAT: 1375
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 89%

79. Medical College of Wisconsin

Wisconsin | Milwaukee

For Psychology

#90 in North America

#164 in the World

Enrollment: 1,677
Male:Female: 41:59
Founded: 1893

80. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Psychology

#91 in North America

#171 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1455
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 73%

81. University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Texas | Houston

For Psychology

#92 in North America

#172 in the World

Enrollment: 4,938
Male:Female: 30:70
Founded: 1972

82. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Psychology

#93 in North America

#175 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 67%

83. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Psychology

#94 in North America

#176 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 94%

84. University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

Texas | San Antonio

For Psychology

#97 in North America

#180 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 3,786
Male:Female: 34:66
Founded: 1959

85. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Psychology

#99 in North America

#186 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

86. University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Texas | Houston

For Psychology

#100 in North America

#187 in the World

Enrollment: 359
Male:Female: 22:78
Founded: 1941

87. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Psychology

#101 in North America

#190 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 33%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $24,695
Enrollment: 26,133

88. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Psychology

#102 in North America

#192 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 89%

89. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Psychology

#103 in North America

#193 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1030
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 100%

90. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Psychology

#104 in North America

#199 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 93%

91. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Psychology

#105 in North America

#202 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 96%

92. University of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester

Massachusetts | Worcester

For Psychology

#106 in North America

#205 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 1,489
Male:Female: 31:69
Founded: 1962

93. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Psychology

#107 in North America

#208 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 67%

94. University of Louisville

Kentucky | Louisville

For Psychology

#109 in North America

#212 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1155
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 98%

95. Dartmouth College

New Hampshire | Hanover

For Psychology

#110 in North America

#215 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $20,322

96. Drexel University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Psychology

#111 in North America

#219 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1340
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $42,801

97. University of Vermont

Vermont | Burlington

For Psychology

#112 in North America

#220 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 65%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 95%

98. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Psychology

#113 in North America

#224 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Net Price: $14,513
Receiving Aid: 70%
Average Aid: $72,373

99. Georgia State University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Psychology

#114 in North America

#226 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1060
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 94%

100. West Virginia University

West Virginia | Morgantown

For Psychology

#115 in North America

#228 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1115
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 97%

The best cities to study Psychology in the United States based on the number of universities and their ranks are Cambridge, Baltimore, Ann Arbor, and Stanford.

Psychology subfields in the United States

Child Psychology945

Clinical Psychology815

Cognitive Science797

Education Majors1087

Negotiation and Conflict Resolution273

Neuroscience1137

Occupational Therapy276

Organizational / Business / IO Psychology252

Social Psychology1223

Special Education344