Best Psychology Schools in California

In May 2023, California had a total of 24,870 psychologists, including 240 Industrial-Organizational Psychologists, 11,840 Clinical and Counseling Psychologists, 11,150 School Psychologists, and 1,370 other psychologists. Additionally, there were 5,970 postsecondary psychology teachers in the state. The average mean wages for these professionals were $140,000, $130,000, $110,000, $135,000, and $110,000 respectively.

List of Universities/Colleges in California

Cost of Studying Psychology in California

The cost of attending psychology programs in California typically ranges from $13,000 to $31,000 per year for in-state students. For out-of-state students, the cost is generally higher, ranging from $13,000 to $55,000 per year.

10 Best Psychology Schools in California

Institution	Location	In-state Tuition Fees		Out-of state Tuition Fees
Stanford University	Stanford	UG-$21,000 annually	G-$1,300 per unit	UG-$21,000 annually	G-$1,300 per unit
University of California	Berkeley	UG-$6,500 per semester	G-$6,300 per semester	UG-$6,500 per semester	G-$6,300 per semester
University of Southern California	Los Angeles	UG-$34,000 per semester	G-$34,000 per semester	UG-$34,000 per semester	G-$34,000 per semester
University of California	Los Angeles	UG-$15,000 annually	G-$7,000 per quarter	UG-$15,000 annually	G-$12,000 per quarter
University of California	San Diego	UG-$20,000 annually	G-$19,000 annually	UG-$55,000 annually	G-$35,000 annually
University of California	Santa Barbara	UG-$14,000 annually	G-$14,000 annually	UG-$47,000 annually	G-$29,000 annually
Pomona College	Claremont	UG-$31,000 per semester	G-$31,000 per semester	UG-$31,000 per semester	G-$31,000 per semester
University of California	Irvine	UG-$14,000 annually	G-$20,000 annually	UG-$47,000 annually	G-$35,000 annually
San Diego State University	San Diego	UG-$2,900 per term	G-$3,600 per term	UG-$400 per unit	G-$400 per unit
California State University	Long Beach	UG-$3,100 per semester	G-$3,800 per semester	UG-$3,600 per semester	G-$4,300 per semester

Stanford University

Stanford University offers students the choice to pursue Honors, a major, or a minor, as well as doctoral and Master of Arts degrees in Psychology. The university does not offer a terminal MA Degree in Psychology to students who are not simultaneously pursuing another advanced degree at Stanford. To declare psychology as their major, students must successfully complete a minimum of 70 units of coursework in Psychology with a grade of C- or higher, with at least 60 units completed within the Department of Psychology. The student-to-faculty ratio at the university is 6:1, and the acceptance rate is approximately 4%.

University of California - Berkeley

The University of California at Berkeley boasts a student-to-faculty ratio of 20:1 and offers a Psychology major, as well as STEM-designated graduate programs in psychology. The graduate programs offer specializations in Behavioral and Systems Neuroscience, Clinical Science, Cognition, Cognitive Neuroscience, Developmental, and Social-Personality. Students seeking to take a psychology major must achieve a minimum 2.0 GPA in all prerequisite courses. The university has an acceptance rate of 11%.

University of California - Los Angeles

The University of California at Los Angeles has an acceptance rate of approximately 9%. The university offers a minor in Applied Developmental Psychology, a Psychology B.A., a Cognitive Science B.S., a Psychobiology B.S., a Departmental Honors program, and a Ph.D. in various areas of psychology including Behavioral Neuroscience, Clinical Psychology, Cognitive Neuroscience, Cognitive Psychology, Computational Cognition, Developmental Psychology, Health Psychology, Learning & Behavior, Quantitative Psychology, Social Psychology, and Social and Affective Neuroscience. To be eligible for the psychology major, students must have completed all of the preparatory coursework with a minimum GPA of 2.5.

University of Southern California

The University of Southern California boasts an acceptance rate of 12% and a student-to-faculty ratio of 9:1. The university offers a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, a major in Social Science with an emphasis in Psychology, a major in Cognitive Science, a minor in Psychology, a Master of Science in Applied Psychology, a Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis, and a doctoral psychology program. The Department of Psychology conducts research in areas such as Brain and Cognitive Science, Clinical Science, Developmental Psychology, Quantitative Methods and Computational Psychology, and Social Psychology. The requirements for the psychology major include earning a grade of C- or higher.

University of California - San Diego

The University of California at San Diego offers a range of undergraduate psychology programs, including Psychology BA, Psychology BS, and specialized tracks in Clinical Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Human Health, Sensation and Perception, and Social Psychology. They also offer programs in Business Psychology BS, Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience BS, and a Ph.D. in Psychology. Graduate students, including international students, receive full tuition coverage and an additional $30,000 in financial support each year. The student-to-faculty ratio at the university is 19:1.

University of California - Santa Barbara

The University of California at Santa Barbara offers degree programs such as the B.S. in Psychological & Brain Sciences, B.S. in Biopsychology, and Ph.D. in Psychology. The graduate research training areas offered at the university encompass Cognition, Perception, Cognitive Neuroscience, Developmental and Evolutionary Psychology, Neuroscience and Behavior, and Social Psychology. Admission is solely for the Ph.D. program, but students have the option to earn an M.A. degree during their enrollment. The student-to-faculty ratio at the university stands at 17:1, with an acceptance rate of approximately 26%.

Pomona College

Pomona College, a private institution, boasts an acceptance rate of 7% and a student-to-faculty ratio of 8:1, with an average class size of 15 students. The college offers a major and a minor in psychological science, a joint Psychological Science/Public Policy Analysis major as well as a Ph.D. program in psychology. The Pomona College Internship Program also provides chances for internships. Fieldwork components and critical analysis of modern social issues are integral parts of numerous psychology courses.

University of California - Irvine

The University of California at Irvine boasts an acceptance rate of 26%. The student-to-faculty ratio at the university is 18:1. The university offers a Minor in Psychological Science, a major in Psychological Science, a BA in Psychological Science, a Master of Legal and Forensic Psychology, and a Ph.D. in Psychology. The department offers specializations in Health Psychology, Social and Personality Psychology, Affective Science, and Developmental Psychology. Ph.D. students are required to take six core courses within the department. Students with an interest in developmental, clinical, social, emotional, health, cross-cultural, or environmental psychology, as well as psychology and the law, have the opportunity to take related courses.

San Diego State University

San Diego State University offers a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a focus on Industrial/Organizational Psychology, a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a focus on Neuroscience, a Master of Arts in Psychology with research concentrations in Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience, Learning and Cognition, Social/Personality, Developmental, and Physical and/or Mental Health Research, a Master of Science in Applied Psychology with tracks in Industrial-Organizational Psychology and Quantitative Methods, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Psychology. The university maintains a student-to-faculty ratio of 25:1 and has an acceptance rate of 39%.

California State University

California State University offers a psychology major, a BA in Psychology, a Master of Arts in Psychological Research, a Master of Science in Human Factors, and a Master of Science with an Option in Industrial/Organizational Psychology. The student-to-faculty ratio is 24:1. To be eligible for admission to the psychology major, students must complete courses in General Psychology, Introductory Statistics, Research Methods, and Psychobiology, as well as GE Foundations, with grades of C or higher and a minimum overall and suite GPA of 2.5. On average, students receive a financial aid award of $11,000.