100 Best colleges for Psychology in the United States

Updated: February 29, 2024

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 238M citations received by 6.85M academic papers made by 1,527 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: 3%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $19,491

2. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Psychology

#3 in North America

#4 in the World

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

3. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Psychology

#4 in North America

#5 in the World

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

4. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Psychology

#5 in North America

#6 in the World

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

5. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Psychology

#6 in North America

#7 in the World

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

6. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Psychology

#7 in North America

#8 in the World

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

7. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Psychology

#8 in North America

#9 in the World

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

8. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Psychology

#9 in North America

#10 in the World

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

9. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Psychology

#10 in North America

#11 in the World

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

10. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Psychology

#11 in North America

#12 in the World

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

11. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Psychology

#12 in North America

#13 in the World

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

12. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Psychology

#13 in North America

#15 in the World

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

13. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Psychology

#14 in North America

#16 in the World

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

14. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Psychology

#16 in North America

#18 in the World

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

15. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Psychology

#17 in North America

#19 in the World

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

16. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Psychology

#18 in North America

#20 in the World

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

17. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Psychology

#19 in North America

#21 in the World

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

18. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Psychology

#21 in North America

#25 in the World

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

19. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Psychology

#22 in North America

#26 in the World

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

20. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Psychology

#23 in North America

#29 in the World

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

21. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Psychology

#24 in North America

#30 in the World

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

22. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Psychology

#25 in North America

#32 in the World

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

23. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Psychology

#26 in North America

#33 in the World

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

24. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Psychology

#27 in North America

#34 in the World

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

25. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Psychology

#28 in North America

#35 in the World

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

26. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Psychology

#29 in North America

#36 in the World

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

27. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Psychology

#30 in North America

#37 in the World

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

28. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

Minnesota | Rochester

For Psychology

#31 in North America

#38 in the World

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

29. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Psychology

#32 in North America

#39 in the World

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

30. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Psychology

#33 in North America

#40 in the World

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

31. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Psychology

#34 in North America

#41 in the World

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

32. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Psychology

#35 in North America

#44 in the World

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

33. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Psychology

#36 in North America

#47 in the World

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

34. Baylor College of Medicine

Texas | Houston

For Psychology

#37 in North America

#48 in the World

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

35. University of Texas at Austin

For Psychology

#39 in North America

#52 in the World

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

36. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Psychology

#40 in North America

#54 in the World

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

37. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Psychology

#41 in North America

#56 in the World

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

38. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Psychology

#42 in North America

#57 in the World

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

39. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Psychology

#43 in North America

#58 in the World

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

40. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Psychology

#45 in North America

#60 in the World

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

41. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Psychology

#46 in North America

#61 in the World

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

42. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Psychology

#47 in North America

#62 in the World

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

43. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Psychology

#48 in North America

#63 in the World

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

44. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Psychology

#49 in North America

#64 in the World

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

45. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Psychology

#51 in North America

#68 in the World

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

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: 1,253
Male:Female: 40:60
Founded: 1963

47. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

For Psychology

#54 in North America

#74 in the World

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

48. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Psychology

#56 in North America

#78 in the World

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

49. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Psychology

#57 in North America

#80 in the World

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

50. University of Alabama at Birmingham

Alabama | Birmingham

For Psychology

#58 in North America

#82 in the World

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

51. University of Maryland, Baltimore

Maryland | Baltimore

For Psychology

#59 in North America

#83 in the World

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

52. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Psychology

#60 in North America

#84 in the World

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

53. Oregon Health & Science University

Oregon | Portland

For Psychology

#61 in North America

#86 in the World

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

54. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Psychology

#62 in North America

#87 in the World

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

55. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Psychology

#63 in North America

#88 in the World

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

56. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Colorado | Denver

For Psychology

#64 in North America

#89 in the World

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

57. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Psychology

#65 in North America

#90 in the World

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

58. Indiana University - Purdue University - Indianapolis

Indiana | Indianapolis

For Psychology

#67 in North America

#95 in the World

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

59. Providence College

Rhode Island | Providence

For Psychology

#68 in North America

#97 in the World

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

60. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Psychology

#69 in North America

#107 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 98%

61. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Psychology

#70 in North America

#111 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 86%

62. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Psychology

#71 in North America

#112 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 90%

63. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Psychology

#72 in North America

#116 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 91%

64. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Psychology

#73 in North America

#117 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1500
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $30,479

65. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Psychology

#74 in North America

#119 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $18,698

66. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Psychology

#75 in North America

#123 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 84%

67. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Psychology

#76 in North America

#124 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 89%

68. Wake Forest University

North Carolina | Winston-Salem

For Psychology

#77 in North America

#128 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Net Price: $26,197
Receiving Aid: 37%
Average Aid: $54,233

69. Georgetown University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Psychology

#78 in North America

#130 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $35,566

70. Temple University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Psychology

#79 in North America

#132 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Receiving Aid: 93%
Average Aid: $11,575
Enrollment: 33,196

71. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Psychology

#80 in North America

#134 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Average SAT: 1290
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 93%

72. Medical University of South Carolina

South Carolina | Charleston

For Psychology

#81 in North America

#135 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 56%
Enrollment: 3,175
Male:Female: 29:71
Founded: 1824

73. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Psychology

#82 in North America

#136 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 74%

74. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Psychology

#83 in North America

#138 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1410
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 88%

75. George Washington University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Psychology

#84 in North America

#141 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1410
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $42,723

76. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Psychology

#85 in North America

#143 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 60%

77. Medical College of Wisconsin

Wisconsin | Milwaukee

For Psychology

#87 in North America

#146 in the World

Enrollment: 1,615
Male:Female: 41:59
Founded: 1893

78. Virginia Commonwealth University

Virginia | Richmond

For Psychology

#89 in North America

#149 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1160
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 90%

79. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Psychology

#90 in North America

#152 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1215
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 91%

80. University of Georgia

Georgia | Athens

For Psychology

#91 in North America

#157 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Average SAT: 1320
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 94%

81. University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Texas | Houston

For Psychology

#92 in North America

#165 in the World

Enrollment: 5,354
Male:Female: 29:71
Founded: 1972

82. University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

Texas | San Antonio

For Psychology

#93 in North America

#166 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 3,518
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1959

83. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Psychology

#97 in North America

#173 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 98%

84. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Psychology

#98 in North America

#174 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Receiving Aid: 73%

85. University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Texas | Houston

For Psychology

#99 in North America

#175 in the World

Enrollment: 364
Male:Female: 20:80
Founded: 1941

86. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Psychology

#100 in North America

#176 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1220
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 89%

87. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Psychology

#101 in North America

#180 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 68%

88. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Psychology

#102 in North America

#184 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 26%
Receiving Aid: 59%
Average Aid: $20,389
Enrollment: 26,420

89. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Psychology

#103 in North America

#187 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 97%
Average Aid: $9,280

90. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Psychology

#104 in North America

#190 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1370
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 91%

91. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Psychology

#105 in North America

#191 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 98%

92. University of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester

Massachusetts | Worcester

For Psychology

#106 in North America

#192 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 1,352
Male:Female: 34:66
Founded: 1962

93. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Psychology

#107 in North America

#198 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 91%

94. University of Louisville

Kentucky | Louisville

For Psychology

#108 in North America

#199 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1170
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 98%

95. Seattle University

Washington | Seattle

For Psychology

#109 in North America

#201 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 27
Net Price: $35,412

96. University of Vermont

Vermont | Burlington

For Psychology

#110 in North America

#211 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1345
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 98%

97. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Psychology

#111 in North America

#213 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 71%

98. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Psychology

#113 in North America

#223 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 3%
Net Price: $20,755
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $59,192

99. Thomas Jefferson University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Psychology

#114 in North America

#225 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $28,110

100. Rockefeller University

New York State | New York City

For Psychology

#115 in North America

#226 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 273
Male:Female: 54:46
Founded: 1901

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 Psychology910

Clinical Psychology766

Cognitive Science750

Education Majors1036

Negotiation and Conflict Resolution282

Neuroscience1080

Occupational Therapy260

Organizational / Business / IO Psychology281

Social Psychology1186

Special Education362