Psychology Colleges In California

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best california state university for psychology

The following guide to psychology schools in California provides important information that will allow you to choose the best psychology program for your career goals. California’s colleges and universities offer psychology degrees focused on such areas as behavioral psychology, clinical psychology, and cognitive psychology. Online programs, because of their flexibility, are often a viable alternative to traditional on-campus programs. Southern California University, for example, allows students to earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology entirely online.

Quick Facts

• There are 203 not-for-profit colleges and universities with psychology degree programs in California.*¹
• 106 schools offer an associate’s degree in psychology.¹
• 82 schools offer a bachelor’s degree in psychology.¹
• 76 schools offer a master’s or advanced degree in psychology.¹
• 21 schools ranked in Kiplinger’s Best College Values for 2019.²
• 10 schools ranked in the Princeton Review’s Great Schools for Psychology Majors for 2018.³
• No schools ranked in PsychologyDegree411’s Top Schools with Online Psychology Programs.⁴
• 7 schools ranked in Times Higher Education’s Best Universities for Psychology 2019.⁵

*For not-for-profit colleges and universities with psychology degree programs.

Kiplinger’s Best College Values 2019*

• California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo (#86)
• California State University-Long Beach (#184)
• Claremont McKenna College (#62)
• Loyola Marymount University (#230)
• Occidental College (#127)
• Pepperdine University (#199)
• Pitzer College (#53)
• Point Loma Nazarene University (#292)
• Pomona College (#6)
• San Diego State University (#196)
• Santa Clara University (#112)
• Scripps College (#82)
• Stanford University (#20)
• University of California-Berkeley (#64)
• University of California-Davis (#256)
• University of California-Irvine (#170)
• University of California-Los Angeles (#84)
• University of California-San Diego (#155)
• University of California-Santa Cruz (#289)
• University of San Diego (#223)
• University of Southern California (#83)

*Institution-wide ranking.

Princeton Review’s Great Schools for Psychology Majors for 2018

• Mills College
• Pitzer College
• Stanford University
• University of California-Davis
• University of California-Los Angeles
• University of California-Riverside
• University of California-Santa Barbara
• University of California-Santa Cruz
• University of San Francisco
• University of Southern California

Times Higher Education Best Universities for Psychology 2019

• Stanford University (#1)
• University of California, Los Angeles (#8)
• University of California, San Diego (#31)
• University of California-Irvine (#101-125)
• University of California-Riverside (#126-150)
• University of California-Santa Barbara (#56)
• University of Southern California (#43)

Continue reading to learn more about the psychology programs offered in California, including profiles of several popular programs at California’s leading universities.Sponsored Listings

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Northcentral UniversityNorthcentral University was founded in 1996 to provide working professionals around the world with unprecedented access to richly engaging, professionally-relevant, and academically-rigorous education from a U.S. university. As a regionally accredited, private, online and graduate-focused university, NCU offers doctoral, master’s and bachelor’s degrees in business and technology management, education, and psychology, as well as doctoral and master’s degrees in marriage and family therapy. NCU utilizes a one-to-one learning model—one student is paired with a professor in each course—to create a more personalized, individual experience for students enhanced by their professors’ real-world experience. NCU professors all hold doctoral degrees, and none of our programs have residency requirements, allowing access to students no matter where they live. Additionally, with the exception of the Department of Marriage and Family Sciences, within the School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, all of NCU’s programs are delivered 100% online.

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Schools in California with Psychology Programs

Traditional Undergraduate Programs

The University of California at Los Angeles

The University of California at Los Angeles offers three undergraduate psychology-related degrees: a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology, a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Cognitive Science, and a BS in Psychobiology. The psychology department at UCLA encourages psychology majors to become involved in academic activities such as the Psychology Undergraduate Research Conference, which brings together psychology majors from across the country to discuss the latest research in the field. Psychology majors are also invited to join the UCLA Psych Society and qualified students may opt to join Psi Chi, a national honor society in psychology. Students may also share research findings with the school’s Undergraduate Psychology Journal.

California State University, Los Angeles

California State University, Los Angeles features a 180-credit undergraduate program leading to a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. Psychology majors must complete between 76 and 79 credits to fulfill major requirements, focusing on such topics as inferential statistics in psychology, the psychology of violence and aggression, social psychology, history and systems of psychology, and media psychology. Undergraduate students can hone their research skills by working with the on-campus psychology research labs. Field experiences place students in volunteer assignments that allow for observation and participation in a variety of settings, such as a clinical facility. Psychology majors may join Psi Chi, if eligible, and the Black Psychology Society.

Traditional Graduate Programs

California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo

California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo affords students the opportunity to earn a Master of Science (MS) in Psychology. Graduates of the 90 quarter credit program will be eligible to sit for the Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) license exam in California. In addition to completing core graduate coursework, all graduate students will gain real-world experience by participating in on-campus clinical labs and in fieldwork in the local community. Psychology students generally complete the graduate program in two-and-a-half to three years. Individual classes are offered once each year in the afternoon or in the evening. Successful applicants to the program must have first completed the required prerequisite courses, including abnormal psychology and research methods in psychology.

California Lutheran University

California Lutheran University awards the Master of Science (MS) in Clinical Psychology to students who successfully complete its 34 credit graduate program. Graduate students begin the program in the fall semester, which allows for full-time or part-time study, the latter of which generally takes two-and-a-half years to complete. The program prepares students for work in psychology roles that do not require licensing and to continue on to doctoral study. Graduate students will focus on research rather than gaining direct experience with clients and will be able to take such courses as psychopathology, applied behavior analysis, theories of Latino counseling, and survey of psychological testing.

University of California San Diego

Through exceptional research, excellent academic education, public service, and community leadership, the University of California San Diego (UCSD) is one of the nation’s top-ranked public research institutions. Both a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Arts are offered by the Department of Psychology at the undergraduate level, with emphases on studying the mind and research in the theoretical and experimental analysis of animal and human behavior. With courses across all areas of experimental psychology, an undergraduate degree from USCD allows students to gain knowledge in areas like behavior analysis, clinical psych, biopsychology, developmental psychology, social psychology, and more. A PhD is also offered in experimental psychology from the University of California San Diego.

Online Psychology Programs

California Baptist University

The online Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at California Baptist University aims to prepare graduates for careers in human and social services, as well as for graduate study in fields including social work, psychology, sociology, and anthropology. In addition to learning the principles of behavioral science and psychology, students learn how to assess client needs and act as advocates for clients through empathy and best practices records-keeping. Course requirements in the major include Theories of Personality, Cognitive Psychology, Abnormal Psychology, and Theories of Counseling. Students must have a high school diploma or its equivalent and a minimum GPA of 2.0; admissions preference is given to applicants who have at least 24 transferable units. Classes are offered on an eight-week schedule and are designed to provide flexibility to working professionals. Students have access to personal advising as well as 24/7 online tutoring support in multiple subjects. CBU also maintains educational service centers in Brea, Rancho Cucamonga, Riverside, and Temecula that can assist students with a variety of needs in person. Online students use the latest technologies to promote an interactive environment with peers and faculty, including high definition video, Blackboard, and Voice Thread.

University of Southern California

The University of Southern California is home to an online Master of Science in Applied Psychology. Students can choose to concentrate in either Organizational Psychology or Consumer Psychology; both tracks prepare students to successfully manage workforces and marketing services in organizations operating in a global marketplace. Many of the faculty in this MS program have senior-level executive experience, which combined with diverse peer cohorts provides students with challenging, interactive learning experiences. Core courses include Research Methods in Applied Social Psychology, Principles of Consumer Psychology, and Organizational Psychology. A practicum based on a student-written treatise, which may include an internship, is also part of the required curriculum. A total of 34 credit hours are required to graduate from the program. The Dana and David Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences, through which the MS in Applied Psychology is offered, is nationally recognized for its faculty and student contributions to research and scholarship. As of 2017, the school had graduated 35 National Endowment for the Humanities Fellows and 73 Fulbright Fellows since 2008. Four USC Dornsife graduates are also Nobel Prize recipients.FIND SCHOOLS

EPPP Pass Rate and Accreditation Information for Psychology Programs in California

The table below is designed to help you compare not-for-profit psychology schools in California on a variety of factors. Clicking on the arrows in the top row allows you to sort the table. In addition to factors such as focus areas offered and tuition costs, accreditation is an important consideration when researching psychology programs. Depending on the type of program and the ultimate career path you are considering, accreditation from the American Psychological Association (APA), the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), the Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Education Programs (CACREP), or the Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System (PCSAS) can make it easier to become licensed in your desired area of practice. For more information on these accreditations, see our overview of accreditation for psychology programs. You should also ensure that the program you are considering will meet the licensure requirements in the state where you wish to practice. The Examination for Professional Practice of Psychology (EPPP), a licensing exam administered by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards (ASPPB), is required in most US states in order to qualify for psychologist licensure. The EPPP results shown below are provided are for the exam period from February 1, 2015 to March 21, 2017.⁶ Only results from APA-accredited or ASPPB-designated doctoral programs with at least four test-takers during the exam period are included.

School	BA/BS Program	Graduate Program	Online Psych Program	National Accred.*	Grad Rate**	EPPP Pass Rate6	Number Taking6	College Factual Under- grad Rank7	US News Grad Rank8	Net Price
American Jewish University	Yes	No	No	—	44%	—	—	—	—	$28,389
Antioch University-Los Angeles	Yes	Yes	Master’s	—	—	—	—	—	—	N/A
Antioch University-Santa Barbara	No	Yes	No	—	—	—	—	—	—	N/A
Azusa Pacific University	Yes	Yes	Bachelor’s Master’s	APA NASP	70%	75%	20	137	—	$28,506
Azusa Pacific University – University College (Online)	Yes	Yes	Bachelor’s Master’s	—	—	—	—	137	—	$22,318
Biola University (Clinical PhD)	Yes	Yes	Bachelor’s	APA	72%	100%	10	—	—	$32,273
Biola University (Clinical PsyD)	Yes	Yes	Bachelor’s	APA	72%	88.9%	9	—	—	$32,273
Brandman University	Yes	Yes	Bachelor’s Master’s	—	—	—	—	—	—	N/A
California Baptist University	Yes	Yes	Bachelor’s	—	60%	—	—	—	—	$25,875
California Institute of Integral Studies	No	Yes	PhD	—	—	—	—	—	—	N/A
California Lutheran University	Yes	Yes	No	APA	73%	—	—	—	—	$29,038
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo	Yes	Yes	No	—	80%	—	—	178	—	$18,530
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona	Yes	Yes	No	—	69%	—	—	—	—	$12,598
California State University-Bakersfield	Yes	Yes	No	—	43%	—	—	—	—	$6,143
California State University-Channel Islands	Yes	No	No	—	58%	—	—	—	—	$14,461
California State University-Chico	Yes	Yes	No	NASP	69%	—	—	—	—	$13,645
California State University-Dominguez Hills	Yes	Yes	No	—	42%	—	—	—	—	$3,297
California State University-East Bay	Yes	Yes	No	NASP	48%	—	—	—	—	$10,758
California State University-Fresno	Yes	Yes	No	NASP CACREP	57%	—	—	—	—	$6,177
California State University-Fullerton	Yes	Yes	No	CACREP	62%	—	—	—	—	$8,170
California State University-Long Beach	Yes	Yes	No	NASP	69%	—	—	—	—	$9,867
California State University-Los Angeles	Yes	Yes	No	NASP CACREP	46%	—	—	—	—	$3,933
California State University-Monterey Bay	Yes	Yes	No	NASP	55%	—	—	—	—	$11,390
California State University-Northridge	Yes	Yes	No	NASP CACREP	50%	—	—	—	—	$6,574
California State University-Sacramento	Yes	Yes	No	NASP CACREP	49%	—	—	—	—	$9,127
California State University-San Bernardino	Yes	Yes	No	CACREP	55%	—	—	—	—	$6,444
California State University-San Marcos	Yes	Yes	No	—	52%	—	—	—	—	$8,985
California State University-Stanislaus	Yes	Yes	No	—	57%	—	—	—	—	$7,557
Chapman University	Yes	Yes	No	NASP	79%	—	—	188	—	$40,709
Claremont Graduate University	No	Yes	No	—	—	—	—	—	112^	N/A
Claremont McKenna College	Yes	No	No	—	93%	—	—	—	—	$30,527
Concordia University-Irvine	Yes	No	Bachelor’s	—	54%	—	—	—	—	$26,180
Dominican University of California	Yes	No	No	—	72%	—	—	—	—	$34,339
Fielding Graduate University	No	Yes	Master’s PhD	APA	67.8%	—	34	—	—	N/A
Fresno Pacific University	Yes	Yes	No	—	—	—	—	—	—	$18,245
Fuller Theological Seminary in California (Clinical PhD)	No	Yes	No	APA	—	75%	20	—	202^	N/A
Fuller Theological Seminary in California (Clinical PsyD)	No	Yes	No	APA	—	94.1%	17	—	202^	N/A
Golden Gate University-San Francisco	Yes	Yes	Bachelor’s Master’s	—	—	—	—	—	—	N/A
Holy Names University	Yes	Yes	No	—	45%	—	—	—	—	$21,464
Hope International University	Yes	Yes	Master’s	—	43%	—	—	—	—	$20,087
Humboldt State University	Yes	Yes	No	—	46%	—	—	—	—	$13,147
John F. Kennedy University	Yes	Yes	Master’s	APA	—	64.3%	14	—	—	N/A
La Sierra University	Yes	Yes	No	—	52%	—	—	—	—	$23,414
Loma Linda University (Clinical PhD)	Yes	Yes	No	APA	—	66.7%	6	—	—	N/A
Loma Linda University (Clinical PsyD)	Yes	Yes	No	APA	—	66.7%	6	—	—	N/A
Loyola Marymount University	Yes	Yes	No	NASP	83%	—	—	78	—	$40,946
Marymount California University	Yes	Yes	No	—	34%	—	—	—	—	$27,412
Menlo College	Yes	No	No	—	53%	—	—	—	—	$29,439
Mills College	Yes	Yes	No	—	67%	—	—	—	—	$27,647
Mount Saint Mary’s University	Yes	No	No	—	59%	—	—	143	—	$27,134
National University	Yes	Yes	Bachelor’s Master’s	—	38%	—	—	—	—	$22,377
Notre Dame de Namur University	Yes	Yes	No	—	50%	—	—	—	—	$28,873
Occidental College	Yes	No	No	—	81%	—	—	103	—	$31,990
Pacific Union College	Yes	No	No	—	50%	—	—	—	—	$24,555
Palo Alto University (MA Counseling)	No	Yes	Bachelor’s Master’s	CACREP	—	—	—	—	—	N/A
Palo Alto University (Clinical PhD)	Yes	Yes	Bachelor’s Master’s	APA	—	81.7%	60	—	—	N/A
Palo Alto University (Clinical PsyD)	Yes	Yes	Bachelor’s Master’s	APA	—	100%	27	—	—	N/A
Pepperdine University	Yes	Yes	Master’s	APA	87%	80.7%	26	49	—	$39,637
Phillips Graduate University	No	Yes	No	—	—	—	—	—	—	N/A
Pitzer College	Yes	Yes	No	—	88%	—	—	—	—	$25,521
Point Loma Nazarene University	Yes	Yes	No	—	71%	—	—	—	—	$29,954
Pomona College	Yes	No	No	—	97%	—	—	45	—	$18,140
Saint Mary’s College of California	Yes	Yes	No	—	73%	—	—	63	—	$35,696
San Diego Christian College	Yes	No	Bachelor’s	—	52%	—	—	—	—	$27,770
San Diego State University	Yes	Yes	No	NASP, CACREP	73%	—	—	—	—	$14,344
San Diego State University-University of California-San Diego (Joint Program)	No	Yes	No	APA	—	100%	18	—	—	N/A
San Francisco State University	Yes	Yes	No	CACREP	53%	—	—	—	—	$13,250
San Jose State University	Yes	Yes	No	—	62%	—	—	—	—	$13,777
Santa Clara University	Yes	Yes	No	—	89%	—	—	120	—	$37,657
Saybrook University	No	Yes	Master’s, PhD	—	—	—	—	—	—	N/A
Scripps College	Yes	No	No	—	84%	—	—	—	—	$37,860
Simpson University	Yes	Yes	Bachelor’s	—	47%	—	—	—	—	$20,574
Sonoma State University	Yes	Yes	No	CACREP	61%	—	—	—	—	$16,204
Southern California Seminary	No	Yes	No	—	50%	—	—	—	—	$25,518
Stanford University	Yes	Yes	No	—	94%	—	—	6	1^	$16,695
The Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Irvine	No	Yes	Bachelor’s Master’s PhD	—	—	—	—	—	—	N/A
The Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Los Angeles	Yes	Yes	Bachelor’s Master’s PhD	—	—	—	—	—	—	N/A
Touro University	No	Yes	Bachelor’s Master’s PhD	—	78%	—	—	—	—	$10,572
University of California-Berkeley (Clinical PhD)	Yes	Yes	No	APA PCSAS	92%	80%	5	32	1^	$17,160
University of California-Berkeley (School PhD)	Yes	Yes	No	APA PCSAS	92%	—	—	32	1^	$17,160
University of California-Davis	Yes	Yes	No	—	85%	—	—	—	26^	$16,039
University of California-Irvine	Yes	Yes	Master’s	—	87%	—	—	12	36^	$13,780
University of California-Los Angeles	Yes	Yes	No	APA PCSAS	91%	100%	15	2	3^	$14,236
University of California-Merced	Yes	Yes	No	—	66%	—	—	—	90^	$12,805
University of California-Riverside	Yes	Yes	No	APA NASP	73%	—	—	8	66^	$12,841
University of California-San Diego	Yes	Yes	No	CACREP	87%	—	—	1	13^	$14,770
University of California-Santa Barbara	Yes	Yes	No	APA NASP	82%	100%	12	—	53^	$15,149
University of California-Santa Cruz	Yes	Yes	No	—	77%	—	—	36	90^	$16,261
University of La Verne	Yes	Yes	No	APA	66%	58.8%	17	—	—	$22,284
University of Redlands	Yes	Yes	No	—	74%	—	—	—	—	$34,200
University of San Diego	Yes	No	No	—	78%	—	—	—	—	$38,596
University of San Francisco	Yes	Yes	No	—	72%	—	—	83	—	$35,054
University of Southern California	Yes	Yes	Master’s	APA PCSAS	92%	90%	10	102	26^	$32,932
University of the Pacific	Yes	Yes	No	NASP	68%	—	—	—	—	$33,794
University of the West	Yes	Yes	No	—	50%	—	—	—	—	$12,474
Vanguard University	Yes	Yes	No	—	56%	—	—	—	—	$21,827
Westmont College	Yes	No	No	—	77%	—	—	159	—	$34,974
Whittier College	Yes	No	No	—	64%	—	—	112	—	$25,638
William Jessup University	Yes	Yes	No	—	65%	—	—	—	—	$22,263
Woodbury University	Yes	No	No	—	44%	—	—	—	—	$30,399
Wright Institute	No	Yes	No	—	—	81.5%	54	—	—	N/A

Schools marked with a caret (^) in US News Best Graduate Psychology Programs ranked in a tie with other programs in their respective positions.
*See our guide to psychology program accreditation for more information on these accrediting bodies.
**The graduation rate is for first-time, full-time undergraduate degree- or certificate-seeking students who began studies in Fall 2012 and is calculated based on the percentage of students earning their degree or certificate within 150% of the normal time for program completion.¹FIND SCHOOLS

Schools with Psychology Degree Programs in California

Note: Student Reviews are based on the experiences of a few individuals and it is unlikely that you will have similar results. Please review the “Data, Student Reviews and Other Information” section in our Terms of Use and Disclaimers.

American River College
4700 College Oak Dr
Sacramento, CA 95841
(916) 484-8011
https://arc.losrios.edu/

Student Review: “I really enjoyed the vast majority of professors I had in my psychology program. Each semester was new and I had new experiences (mostly good) with each new professor. This made things a little more difficult, but it conditioned me to become a better student throughout the years and I really enjoyed all the different aspects of psychology that I learned from many different people. I also enjoyed the support I was given, and many of my professors continued to help me even after I had finished and passed their classes. All-in-all, I loved the entire feeling I got from the school. I had minimal problems, I loved most of my professors and classes, and overall I would do it all over again if I could.” – student at American River College

California State, Channel Islands
1 University Dr
Camarillo, CA 93012
(805) 437-8400
https://www.csuci.edu/

Student Review: “The Psychology program at Cal State Channel Islands is phenomenal. From the very beginning of my freshman year, the Psych program nurtures and teaches you how to utilize methods and theories that can be applied to real life. The classes offered to try to integrate other majors into the program so that the psych students are able to have a broader spectrum on how psychology is in our everyday life. The department chair of the program not only runs the program but actually teaches some of the upper division classes. Since our school is so small it’s so easy for your professor to know your name and it’s very likely you will have that professor for multiple classes. The one way I think they can improve is if they offered more online classes for certain classes.” – student at California State, Channel Islands

California State, Fullerton
800 N State College Blvd
Fullerton, CA 92831
(657) 278-2011
https://www.fullcoll.edu/

Student Review: “My experience with Cal State Fullerton’s psychology department was very positive. The professors seemed very knowledgeable about their specialties and the classes themselves were structured very well. Several of my professors had published books on the topic of psychology and were well-respected in their fields. My abnormal psychology professor was a particular favorite. She was very skilled at teaching and the subject was extremely interesting. The best part was the case studies from former patients. Without identifying anyone, she provided real-life examples of session notes and behaviors of the patients. It was far more useful than the textbook examples and greatly helped the students to understand the disorders.” – student at California State, Fullerton

California State, San Marcos
333 S Twin Oaks Valley Rd
San Marcos, CA 92078
(760) 750-4000
https://www.csusm.edu/

Student Review: “Cal State San Marcos’s psychology program was very enriching for me. The curriculum was always very interesting and hands-on, and undergrad students got to participate in studies organized by the graduate students. Additionally, we are given the opportunity to do research alongside professors. One thing that could have been better was having more guest speakers from various specializations within the psychology world. We never really had any, other than our professors, so specific questions that we may have had often got broad answers, which was not very helpful. However, the professors were extremely helpful when it came to their specific subject and understanding the material. They worked very closely with us to keep us from falling behind.” – student at California State, San Marcos

College of the Redwoods
7351 Tompkins Hill Rd
Eureka, CA 95501
(707) 476-4100
https://www.redwoods.edu/

Student Review: “I took a variety of classes at CR before narrowing my field of study to psychology. I found some related electives, such as crime and delinquency (administration of justice) and intro to race and ethnic relations (sociology) which really helped me broaden my understanding. My favorite class by far was lifespan development, which focused on mental abilities and specific psychological issues from infancy to end of life. Another interesting class was abnormal psychology, in which we learned about mood disorders, personality disorders, and other issues. The one mistake I made was taking intro to psych after the other classes, which meant that it was mostly review. With regard to CR in general, I found it to be a welcoming and easy-to-navigate campus, tucked into the scenic redwoods of Humboldt County. It was also very affordable: at the time, I paid about 26 dollars per credit. CR also has a transfer agreement with Humboldt State University, for those looking to get into a higher-level program. Overall, aside from the commute, I found it very enjoyable.” – student at College of the Redwoods

Columbia College
11600 Columbia College Dr
Sonora, CA 95370
(209) 588-5100
https://www.gocolumbia.edu/

Student Review: “Attending Columbia College was a great experience for me. The campus is natural and scenic and my instructors were knowledgeable and available. During my time taking courses for a Sports Psychology degree, I learned a wealth of information. Some of my coursework was online and this portion went very smoothly. My instructors were available weekly between classes to help with questions and exam preparation. I am pleased with what I have learned in Psychology and Sports Psychology, and I have been able to use my degree to further my career and to be better qualified for advancement. I think Columbia College is a good choice for anyone who is reasonably local, and is interested in coursework involving Psychology and/or Sports Psychology.” – Student at Columbia College

Fielding Graduate University
2020 De La Vina St
Santa Barbara, CA 93105
(800) 340-1099
https://www.fielding.edu/

Student Review: “I have worked in the Federal Bureau of Prisons system at Butner FCI II, a medium custody unit, and found that particular experience to be a mixed bag. While it was a great experience to be involved in the federal prison system itself, I was not at all satisfied with my supervisor. I did not get the face-to-face time as expected. I am currently completing my doctoral internship within the NCDPS and am enjoying nearly all aspects of this internship. I have had access to both inpatient and outpatient mental health treatment, in group and individual sessions, suicide risk assessments, and crisis intervention. I’ve had excellent supervision from multiple supervisors and am completing my last rotation with potential job offers. My program has offered support if problems occurred and have adeptly handled any issues with positive outcomes. Additionally, my clinical internship director has personally congratulated me on my mid-term evaluation.” – student at Fielding Graduate University

San Diego State University
5500 Campanile Dr
San Diego, CA 92115
(619) 594-5200
https://www.sdsu.edu/

Student Review: “When I decided to go to San Diego State University, I entered as an undeclared freshman, unaware and naive as to what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. I took a medley of classes hoping to find my true calling. It wasn’t until I took Psychology 101 when I realized that was what I truly wanted to study. It all seemed like common sense which gave me a new perspective on human interactions and how the brain truly works. It highly intrigued and captivated me from the first class to my graduation this past spring. While writing 30-page research papers and studies definitely occupied me in my final year or two, I never stopped loving the subject matter. It only drove me to work harder to reach my goal. Taking a dive into the human psyche was the most exhilarating feeling and experience. While many may not agree with my decision in diving into such a difficult job market, I am still happy with the choice I made to take that Psychology 101 class my freshman year to help me find my true calling.” – student at San Diego State University

San Jose State
1 Washington Sq
San Jose, CA 95112
(408) 924-1000
https://www.sjsu.edu/

Student Review: “I really love the psychology program at San Jose State. As a freshman, I was undeclared but I took an intro psychology class and I fell in love with it. The professor teaching that class helped me a lot with making my decision and almost all the professors I’ve met in my major are awesome and really help the students. Psychology is actually pretty hard and not easy like everyone thinks, and I struggled a bit sometimes, but with the support of my fellow students and professors, I was able to pull through and succeed. Honestly, without the professors, I would’ve failed. I love everything about the psychology program, except for one or two professors that I’ve encountered. They weren’t terrible, but they weren’t great either. However, there are way more good professors than bad ones and overall, my experience has been wonderful.” – Student at San Jose State

Stanford University
450 Serra Mall
Stanford, CA 94305
(650) 723-2300
https://www.stanford.edu/

Student Review: “Considering Stanford has one of the best psychology programs in the world, my experience was probably the best it could have been. Learning from Zimbardo and other famous, groundbreaking researchers in the field was an experience that I couldn’t have had anywhere else. I was able to take classes on things that were extremely interesting and applicable to everyday life, such as judgment and decision making, perception psychology, neuroscience and personality, cultural psychology, and more. The teachers were easy to talk to at any time, understanding, available, and always willing to help me go above and beyond in my research. I thoroughly enjoyed writing every paper I had to write in my college career because the subject material was so fascinating. Everything I learned, I still use and think about on a daily basis.” – Student at Stanford University

University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA
(510) 642-6000
https://www.berkeley.edu/

Student Review: “My undergraduate experience as a psychology major at UC Berkeley has been amazing. I was initially intimidated by the cap for the major, believing it competitive to get in, but I strongly feel that the GPA requirements (3.2 when I applied) and timeline are completely reasonable. I was thrilled to have the opportunity to work with professors who were not only world-renowned researchers but also approachable individuals. Furthermore, as a research university, UC Berkeley provides countless opportunities for participation in research. Students had to participate in studies to pass most upper-division psychology classes, and those interested in pursuing lab work could do so through a research apprenticeship program or by working as a research assistant. There are also many extracurricular opportunities for psychology students. My one complaint is that the material, which is very reasonable, can be a little too easy. Some of the tests were too easy. I have achieved a GPA of 3.75 overall, which I am told is very good, but I don’t think it was particularly impressive given the ease of some of my midterms and finals. Psychology is not considered a difficult major, but truth be told, it can be — but only if professors stop dumbing down exams. Overall, though, great program!” – Student at University of California, Berkeley

University of California, Davis
1 Shields Ave
Davis, CA 95616, United States
(530) 752-1011
https://www.ucdavis.edu/

Student Review: “The psychology program at the University of California, Davis, was a great experience for me. With an outstanding faculty at the forefronts of research in their respective fields in psychology, I was able to obtain research experience that further solidified in my understanding of contemporary psychology. Getting an internship at UC Davis was not difficult as it often integrated as coursework notation. My lab experiences as an undergraduate research assistant gave me the opportunity to work with leaders in neuroscience and cognitive psychology. This connection has provided me with numerous connections with potential employers associated with fields in marketing and research. In addition to the research opportunities, I liked that the UC Davis faculty and teaching assistants were very open to helping their students during both open office hours and appointments. Students in the psychology club form a very large support network in helping their colleagues in academic work. Seminars are also offered during the school year, with topics such as Psychology in Hollywood, which offer interesting applications in psychology on to various fields of work. One thing that UC Davis could have improved on their psychology program is with the use of more online or hybrid coursework.” – Student at University of California, Davis

Student Review: “The University of California, Davis psychology program was an exceptional experience. All of the classes were challenging but I feel that I was pushed to my full potential and succeeded. I learned a great deal in many different topics such as development, the psychology of religion, social psychology, criminal psychology, and much more. The faculty is extremely competent and well-educated. All of the psychology professors hold PhDs and Master’s degrees in various subjects. The professors were always kind, understanding, and readily available for questions and test review. Getting my degree in psychology at this school made me extremely proud and confident. That I could handle some of the hardest work I have ever done in my life, taught to me by some of the greatest minds, was a huge accomplishment.” – Student at University of California, Davis

University of California, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA 90095
(310) 825-4321
https://www.ucla.edu/

Student Review: “The psychology program at UCLA was extremely enjoyable for me. I started out as a pre-med student, but quickly changed my mind after taking organic chemistry and found my home in the psychology department. The curriculum taught me a great deal about the subject and prepared me to continue my studies in graduate school. My professors were all passionate about the subject and allowed me to thrive because of their expertise. The only issue I had with the psychology program was the large class sizes in the lower division classes, which prevented me from feeling connected to my classmates. However, the professors were always very available during office hours.” – Student at University of California, Los Angeles

University of San Francisco
2130 Fulton St
San Francisco, CA 94117
(415) 422-5555
https://www.usfca.edu/

Student Review: “I really enjoyed my study of psychology at the University of San Francisco. The professors made my courses diverse and challenging. The faculty came from all walks of life and incorporated their diverse backgrounds into the curriculum. I always felt I was in the hands of a professional. The program helped me to explore all facets of psychology from forming experiments/analyzing the results to understanding brain biology, to studying different forms of mental illness. My one complaint is that I do not feel the program gave me a good understanding of how to streamline my interests into actual jobs while I was studying there.” – Student at the University of San Francisco

University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA
(213) 740-2311
https://www.usc.edu/

Student Review: “The USC psychology program and department was an unforgettable experience for me. The program itself and the people I worked with taught me a lot of lessons over the span of time I spent there. The professors were very professional, kind, and easy to approach when I needed help. Every week they would have different guest speakers that allowed the students to be absorbed in the studies and weekly discussions about different issues. I found that incredibly helpful to my studies. At the end of the program, if there was one thing I could improve, it would be the office hours and being able to keep in contact with the professors at any time whenever the students have concerns or problems about the program.” – Student at University of Southern California