100 Best colleges for Psychology in the United States

Updated: July 18, 2023

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 693M citations received by 21.4M academic papers made by 1,455 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: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $13,910

2. University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Michigan | Ann Arbor

For Psychology

#3 in North America

#3 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Receiving Aid: 70%
Average Aid: $16,326
Enrollment: 50,278

3. Stanford University

California | Stanford

For Psychology

#4 in North America

#4 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $14,402

4. University of Washington - Seattle

Washington | Seattle

For Psychology

#5 in North America

#5 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 53%
Receiving Aid: 54%
Average Aid: $15,895
Enrollment: 52,434

5. Yale University

Connecticut | New Haven

For Psychology

#6 in North America

#6 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $20,605

6. Johns Hopkins University

Maryland | Baltimore

For Psychology

#7 in North America

#7 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Net Price: $20,680
Receiving Aid: 71%
Average Aid: $45,373

7. University of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Psychology

#8 in North America

#8 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $14,578

8. Columbia University

New York State | New York City

For Psychology

#9 in North America

#9 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $12,411

9. University of California - Los Angeles

California | Los Angeles

For Psychology

#10 in North America

#10 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Receiving Aid: 56%
Average Aid: $17,592
Enrollment: 46,116

10. University of California - San Francisco

California | San Francisco

For Psychology

#11 in North America

#11 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Enrollment: 3,165
Male:Female: 35:65
Founded: 1864

11. University of Pittsburgh

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Psychology

#12 in North America

#12 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Average SAT: 1360
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 78%

12. University of California-San Diego

California | San Diego

For Psychology

#13 in North America

#15 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 34%
Receiving Aid: 54%
Average Aid: $18,083
Enrollment: 41,885

13. Boston University

Massachusetts | Boston

For Psychology

#15 in North America

#17 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 19%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $25,852

14. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Wisconsin | Madison

For Psychology

#17 in North America

#19 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1410
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 64%

15. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

North Carolina | Chapel Hill

For Psychology

#18 in North America

#20 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 60%

16. New York University

New York State | New York City

For Psychology

#19 in North America

#21 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1510
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $50,991

17. Washington University in St Louis

Missouri | St. Louis

For Psychology

#20 in North America

#23 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $28,298

18. University of California - Berkeley

California | Berkeley

For Psychology

#21 in North America

#24 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Receiving Aid: 61%
Average Aid: $21,406
Enrollment: 45,036

19. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minnesota | Minneapolis

For Psychology

#22 in North America

#25 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 82%

20. University of Southern California

California | Los Angeles

For Psychology

#23 in North America

#27 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $26,021

21. Emory University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Psychology

#24 in North America

#28 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 13%
Average SAT: 1480
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $28,367

22. Cornell University

New York State | Ithaca

For Psychology

#25 in North America

#29 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $24,262

23. Ohio State University

Ohio | Columbus

For Psychology

#26 in North America

#30 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 57%
Average SAT: 1345
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 83%

24. University of Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Psychology

#27 in North America

#34 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $33,727

25. Pennsylvania State University

Pennsylvania | University Park

For Psychology

#28 in North America

#35 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 55%
Receiving Aid: 73%
Average Aid: $8,719
Enrollment: 40,363

26. University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

Illinois | Champaign

For Psychology

#29 in North America

#36 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1415
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 85%

27. University of Florida

Florida | Gainesville

For Psychology

#30 in North America

#37 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Average SAT: 1385
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 94%

28. Duke University

North Carolina | Durham

For Psychology

#31 in North America

#38 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1513
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $27,297

29. University of Iowa

Iowa State | Iowa City

For Psychology

#32 in North America

#39 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 87%

30. Northwestern University

Illinois | Evanston

For Psychology

#33 in North America

#40 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $29,999

31. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts | Cambridge

For Psychology

#34 in North America

#42 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Net Price: $30,958
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $32,562

32. University of Texas at Austin

For Psychology

#35 in North America

#43 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Average SAT: 1365
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 71%

33. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

Minnesota | Rochester

For Psychology

#36 in North America

#45 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Net Price: $11,188
Receiving Aid: 97%
Average Aid: $2,100

34. Rutgers University - New Brunswick

New Jersey | New Brunswick

For Psychology

#37 in North America

#46 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1355
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 69%

35. Michigan State University

Michigan | East Lansing

For Psychology

#39 in North America

#48 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1210
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 72%

36. University of California - Davis

California | Davis

For Psychology

#40 in North America

#50 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Receiving Aid: 65%
Average Aid: $17,628
Enrollment: 40,050

37. Baylor College of Medicine

Texas | Houston

For Psychology

#41 in North America

#52 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 1,596
Male:Female: 42:58
Founded: 1900

38. Vanderbilt University

Tennessee | Nashville

For Psychology

#43 in North America

#55 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 7%
Average SAT: 1525
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $27,553

39. University of Arizona

Arizona | Tucson

For Psychology

#44 in North America

#56 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1245
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 95%

40. Case Western Reserve University

Ohio | Cleveland

For Psychology

#45 in North America

#57 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 30%
Average SAT: 1470
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $38,166

41. University of Virginia

Virginia | Charlottesville

For Psychology

#46 in North America

#58 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 34
Receiving Aid: 63%

42. University of Utah

Utah | Salt Lake

For Psychology

#47 in North America

#59 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Average SAT: 1285
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 89%

43. Indiana University - Bloomington

Indiana | Bloomington

For Psychology

#49 in North America

#62 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 79%

44. University of California - Irvine

California | Irvine

For Psychology

#50 in North America

#63 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Receiving Aid: 79%
Average Aid: $16,868
Enrollment: 36,505

45. University of Miami

Florida | Coral Gables

For Psychology

#52 in North America

#66 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 28%
Average SAT: 1380
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $34,492

46. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

New York State | New York City

For Psychology

#53 in North America

#69 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 1,249
Male:Female: 41:59
Founded: 1963

47. University of Rochester

New York State | Rochester

For Psychology

#54 in North America

#71 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Average SAT: 1445
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $40,125

48. Arizona State University - Tempe

Arizona | Tempe

For Psychology

#55 in North America

#73 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Receiving Aid: 92%
Average Aid: $12,201
Enrollment: 77,881

49. Carnegie Mellon University

Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh

For Psychology

#57 in North America

#76 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $37,450

50. University of Alabama at Birmingham

Alabama | Birmingham

For Psychology

#58 in North America

#78 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1281
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 97%

51. University of Kentucky

Kentucky | Lexington

For Psychology

#59 in North America

#79 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 94%
Average SAT: 1207
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 94%

52. University of Maryland - College Park

Maryland | College Park

For Psychology

#60 in North America

#80 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 52%
Average SAT: 1420
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 68%

53. Oregon Health & Science University

Oregon | Portland

For Psychology

#61 in North America

#83 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Enrollment: 2,984
Male:Female: 31:69
Founded: 1887

54. University of Illinois at Chicago

Illinois | Chicago

For Psychology

#62 in North America

#85 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Average SAT: 1195
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 81%

55. Brown University

Rhode Island | Providence

For Psychology

#63 in North America

#86 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1515
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $25,028

56. Providence College

Rhode Island | Providence

For Psychology

#65 in North America

#93 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $39,566

57. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

For Psychology

#66 in North America

#98 in the World

Enrollment: 2,308
Male:Female: 46:54
Founded: 1943

58. University of South Florida

Florida | Tampa

For Psychology

#67 in North America

#99 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 49%
Average SAT: 1235
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 99%

59. Wayne State University

Michigan | Detroit

For Psychology

#68 in North America

#100 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Average SAT: 1145
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 99%

60. University of Missouri - Columbia

Missouri | Columbia

For Psychology

#69 in North America

#105 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Average SAT: 1240
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 91%

61. Princeton University

New Jersey | Princeton

For Psychology

#70 in North America

#109 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1515
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $20,908

62. University of Connecticut

Connecticut | Storrs

For Psychology

#71 in North America

#110 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 56%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 82%

63. Tufts University

Massachusetts | Medford

For Psychology

#72 in North America

#111 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1495
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $31,630

64. University of Cincinnati

Ohio | Cincinnati

For Psychology

#73 in North America

#114 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 85%

65. Temple University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Psychology

#74 in North America

#120 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Receiving Aid: 91%
Average Aid: $11,292
Enrollment: 35,626

66. University of Maryland, Baltimore

Maryland | Baltimore

For Psychology

#75 in North America

#121 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Enrollment: 7,244
Male:Female: 26:74
Founded: 1807

67. Wake Forest University

North Carolina | Winston-Salem

For Psychology

#76 in North America

#122 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Net Price: $24,643
Receiving Aid: 41%
Average Aid: $53,244

68. Texas A&M University - College Station

Texas | College Station

For Psychology

#77 in North America

#123 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 78%

69. Florida State University

Florida | Tallahassee

For Psychology

#78 in North America

#124 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 37%
Average SAT: 1260
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 96%

70. Stony Brook University

New York State | Stony Brook

For Psychology

#79 in North America

#126 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 82%

71. Medical University of South Carolina

South Carolina | Charleston

For Psychology

#80 in North America

#128 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 56%
Enrollment: 3,240
Male:Female: 30:70
Founded: 1824

72. Purdue University

Indiana | West Lafayette

For Psychology

#81 in North America

#130 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 30
Receiving Aid: 73%

73. University at Buffalo

New York State | Buffalo

For Psychology

#83 in North America

#134 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Average SAT: 1270
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 84%

74. University of Kansas

Kansas State | Lawrence

For Psychology

#84 in North America

#135 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average SAT: 1210
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 86%

75. Medical College of Wisconsin

Wisconsin | Milwaukee

For Psychology

#85 in North America

#136 in the World

Enrollment: 1,538
Male:Female: 41:59
Founded: 1893

76. Virginia Commonwealth University

Virginia | Richmond

For Psychology

#86 in North America

#138 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 85%

77. George Washington University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Psychology

#88 in North America

#151 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Average SAT: 1400
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $31,240

78. University of South Carolina - Columbia

South Carolina | Columbia

For Psychology

#90 in North America

#155 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 62%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 95%

79. Iowa State University

Iowa State | Ames

For Psychology

#92 in North America

#157 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1207
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 93%

80. University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Colorado | Denver

For Psychology

#93 in North America

#158 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Average SAT: 1140
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 83%

81. University of California - Santa Barbara

California | Santa Barbara

For Psychology

#94 in North America

#160 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 29%
Receiving Aid: 58%
Average Aid: $18,107
Enrollment: 26,124

82. University of Colorado Boulder

Colorado | Boulder

For Psychology

#96 in North America

#163 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Average SAT: 1280
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 65%

83. Georgia Institute of Technology

Georgia | Atlanta

For Psychology

#97 in North America

#166 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 72%

84. University of New Mexico

New Mexico | Albuquerque

For Psychology

#98 in North America

#173 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 97%
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $7,531

85. University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Texas | Houston

For Psychology

#99 in North America

#174 in the World

Enrollment: 358
Male:Female: 20:80
Founded: 1941

86. University of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester

Massachusetts | Worcester

For Psychology

#100 in North America

#178 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Enrollment: 1,292
Male:Female: 34:66
Founded: 1962

87. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College

Louisiana | Baton Rouge

For Psychology

#101 in North America

#179 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 95%

88. University of Louisville

Kentucky | Louisville

For Psychology

#102 in North America

#186 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1160
Average ACT: 24
Receiving Aid: 98%

89. Rockefeller University

New York State | New York City

For Psychology

#103 in North America

#187 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 268
Male:Female: 54:46
Founded: 1901

90. California Institute of Technology

California | Pasadena

For Psychology

#105 in North America

#189 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Net Price: $30,162
Receiving Aid: 67%
Average Aid: $47,556

91. University of Vermont

Vermont | Burlington

For Psychology

#106 in North America

#192 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 64%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 96%

92. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Massachusetts | Amherst

For Psychology

#107 in North America

#194 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1355
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 88%

93. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Virginia | Blacksburg

For Psychology

#108 in North America

#200 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 56%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 72%

94. University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

Texas | San Antonio

For Psychology

#109 in North America

#203 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 3,499
Male:Female: 36:64
Founded: 1959

95. University of Oregon

Oregon | Eugene

For Psychology

#110 in North America

#204 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 93%
Receiving Aid: 88%
Average Aid: $13,590
Enrollment: 22,257

96. University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Texas | Houston

For Psychology

#111 in North America

#206 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Enrollment: 5,796
Male:Female: 28:72
Founded: 1972

97. University of Tennessee - Knoxville

Tennessee | Knoxville

For Psychology

#112 in North America

#209 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Average SAT: 1255
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 92%

98. Georgia State University

Georgia | Atlanta

For Psychology

#113 in North America

#212 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Average SAT: 1170
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 97%

99. Georgetown University

District of Columbia | Washington

For Psychology

#114 in North America

#214 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Average SAT: 1480
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $23,049

100. Thomas Jefferson University

Pennsylvania | Philadelphia

For Psychology

#115 in North America

#216 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Average SAT: 1225
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $24,227

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

Psychology subfields in the United States

Child Psychology867

Clinical Psychology729

Cognitive Science696

Education Majors976

Negotiation and Conflict Resolution280

Neuroscience1016

Occupational Therapy235

Organizational / Business / IO Psychology288

Social Psychology1122

Special Education374