The best online psychology programs combine institutional accreditation, flexible scheduling, and a per-credit cost that won’t bury you in debt. This guide features nine accredited schools offering online bachelor’s and master’s degrees in psychology, chosen for how they deliver on those three factors so you can match a program to your budget and your career plans.
You’ve decided you want a psychology degree and you want to earn it online, around a job, or a family, or both. Good call. The harder question is which school, because the list of “online psychology programs” is long and most of them look identical from the outside.
Here’s the thing: the schools worth your tuition separate themselves on three boring, decisive factors. Is the school accredited, and what kind? Will the schedule actually bend around your life? And what does it cost? We chose nine accredited online programs that deliver on those three, and the write-ups below explain how each one stacks up. We’ve listed them in our recommended order based on overall fit rather than a points score, so read the criteria, then weigh them against your own situation.
This guide includes sponsored listings.
BA or BS in Psychology? Which Online Degree to Pick
Most of the programs below are bachelor’s degrees, and you’ll see both BA and BS versions. Here’s the part nobody explains: the core psychology coursework is basically identical between the two. The difference lies in the general-education requirements wrapped around it.
A BA leans toward liberal arts and foreign language. A BS loads up on science, statistics, and research methods. Despite what you may hear, neither is the “better” degree, and graduate programs care far more about your coursework, GPA, research experience, and prerequisites than about which letters are on your diploma. The practical difference is this: a BS bakes in the statistics and research courses that double as grad-school prerequisites, while a BA leaves more room for electives and a second interest. Pick the emphasis that fits where you want to go.
The 9 Best Online Psychology Programs at a Glance
Every school below holds accreditation from a recognized accreditor, the kind that decides whether your credits transfer and your degree counts for anything.—two things to read in the table. First, note whether a school is regionally or nationally accredited, because regional is the type most employers and graduate schools expect. Second, one myth worth killing now: a bachelor’s in psychology is not “APA-accredited.” The APA only accredits doctoral programs in clinical, counseling, and school psychology, so at the bachelor’s level, institutional accreditation is the whole story. Tuition changes every year, so treat the figures below as a starting point and confirm the current rate on each school’s page. Tap a school name to jump to its full write-up.
| School | Degree | Tuition | Accreditation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Capella University | BS, General Psychology | Per-credit or flat-fee plan | HLC (regional) |
| 2. Penn State World Campus | BS in Psychology | ~$632 / credit | MSCHE (regional) |
| 3. University of Liverpool | MSc, Applied Psychology | Varies | BPS (UK, program-level) |
| 4. Southern New Hampshire University | BA in Psychology | $354 / credit | NECHE (regional) |
| 5. Liberty University | BS in Psychology | ~$2,850 block (7-15 hrs) | SACSCOC (regional) |
| 6. Walden University | BS in Psychology | ~$341 / quarter credit | HLC (regional) |
| 7. Aspen University | BA, Psychology & Addiction Counseling | ~$250 / month plan | DEAC (national) |
| 8. Robert Morris University | BA in Psychology | ~$705 / credit (online) | MSCHE (regional) |
| 9. Purdue Global | BS in Psychology | $371 / quarter credit | HLC (regional) |
1. Capella University
Capella’s online BS in Psychology is built around a general psychology track, with coursework in human learning, behavior, and emotion, plus research and writing skills that transfer well to HR, business, and human services roles. The standout feature is the Accelerated Master’s Pathway, which lets you bank credits toward a bachelor’s and a master’s at the same time and shave time off both. The Higher Learning Commission, a regional accreditor, accredits Capella institutionally. It bills tuition two ways, a per-credit GuidedPath plan or a flat-fee FlexPath subscription, so your total depends on the format you choose and how fast you finish. For a closer look, see our full Capella University review.
2. Penn State World Campus
Penn State’s online BS in Psychology is the same degree you’d earn on campus in State College, taught with a workplace-applied slant and a business-course backbone. Your diploma doesn’t say “online,” and most employers focus on a school’s accreditation and reputation rather than how you attended. Recent rates run about $632 per credit across the 123 credits required for the degree, so confirm the current figure before you budget.
3. University of Liverpool
Liverpool is the one graduate option on this list, an MSc in Applied Psychology with two tracks: General and Mental Health. It’s a UK program, so you study alongside classmates from dozens of countries, and the coursework leans practical, from ethics to applied research you can put to work right away. Tuition varies by residency and personal circumstances, so you’ll need a quote from the school. Liverpool’s program carries British Psychological Society accreditation, which is a UK program-level recognition rather than US institutional accreditation, so weigh that if you plan to use the degree stateside. There’s more in the University of Liverpool profile.
4. Southern New Hampshire University
SNHU’s online BA in Psychology offers the widest selection of concentrations on this list, including forensic psychology, mental health, child and adolescent development, and addiction studies. The exact lineup shifts from year to year, so check the current list, but the point holds: if you already know which corner of psychology you’re aiming at, SNHU lets you specialize. Tuition is $354 per credit over 120 credits, and SNHU accepts up to 90 transfer credits. NECHE, a regional accreditor, accredits SNHU institutionally. We’ve got more on SNHU’s programs if you want the full rundown.
5. Liberty University
Liberty’s online BS in Psychology folds faith into the curriculum and builds in a 3-credit capstone you can satisfy with an internship or a research-based course, so you can graduate with field experience if you want it. It’s a Christian university, and the program reflects that worldview throughout. SACSCOC, a regional accreditor, accredits Liberty institutionally. For 2025-2026, full-time online undergraduates pay a block rate of about $2,850 for 7 to 15 credits, which works out to roughly $390 per credit at part-time loads.
6. Walden University
Walden’s online BS in Psychology runs heavy on application, asking you to apply psychological theory to current social problems. Several concentrations are on offer, from workplace psychology to criminal justice. One detail to read carefully: Walden bills in quarter credit hours at roughly $341 each, and the degree runs 181 of them, so do the math against semester-based programs before you compare sticker prices. The Higher Learning Commission, a regional accreditor, accredits Walden institutionally. See Walden’s psychology profile for the concentration list.
7. Aspen University
Aspen’s online BA in Psychology and Addiction Counseling is the most specialized undergraduate option here, focused on the assessment, treatment, and prevention of substance abuse, with electives such as group therapy and juvenile justice. Aspen prices tuition as a flat monthly subscription, around $250 per month, rather than per credit, which can work in your favor if you move quickly. One thing to understand before you enroll: Aspen is nationally accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC), a federally recognized accreditor, with accreditation renewed through January 2029. National accreditation is legitimate, but it isn’t the regional accreditation most employers and graduate schools expect, and it can make transferring credits to a regionally accredited school harder. Factor that in.
8. Robert Morris University
RMU’s online BA in Psychology aims squarely at applying psychological principles to workplace and everyday problems, with a research thread that prepares students for human services work after graduation. It’s a private university, so its online tuition of about $705 per credit runs higher than the public options on this list, though most undergraduates receive some financial aid. MSCHE, a regional accreditor, accredits RMU institutionally. Read Robert Morris’s program profile for more.
9. Purdue Global
Purdue Global’s online BS in Psychology lets you pick one of four areas of emphasis: child development, applied behavior analysis, substance abuse, or industrial/organizational psychology. The coursework leans interactive, with simulation-style assignments and a professional portfolio you build as you go. Tuition is $371 per quarter credit over 180 quarter credits, with a sizable discount for Indiana residents. The Higher Learning Commission, a regional accreditor, accredits Purdue Global institutionally.
What to Look for in an Online Psychology Program
We chose these nine schools by weighing three things, and they’re the same three you should weigh for any online program you’re considering.
Accreditation comes first, and the type matters. Institutional accreditation is what makes your credits transferable and your degree worth listing on a resume, and it matters more than you might think for an online program. Most schools here hold regional accreditation (HLC, MSCHE, NECHE, SACSCOC), the kind employers and graduate schools expect. Aspen is nationally accredited by DEAC, which is federally recognized and legitimate, but can make transferring credits to a regionally accredited school more difficult. And remember, a bachelor’s in psychology is never APA-accredited, because the APA only accredits doctoral programs.
Flexibility is the reason you’re going online, so make it earn its keep. Ask whether courses are self-paced or run on fixed weekly deadlines, and how many credits you can transfer in. A program that accepts a big block of transfer credits, and several here take up to 90, can cut your time and cost substantially.
Cost is where the comparison gets tricky. Per-credit pricing only tells you half the story. Watch the total credit count and whether a school bills in semester or quarter credits, because a low per-credit rate across 181 quarter credits can cost more than a higher rate across 120 semester credits. And because published rates change every year, confirm the current number on the school’s own page before you commit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do employers respect online psychology degrees?
Yes, when the school is institutionally accredited. Most online degrees, including Penn State’s, print the same diploma as the on-campus version with no mention of how you earned it. Employers care far more about the school’s accreditation and reputation than whether you sat in a classroom.
Can you become a psychologist with an online bachelor’s in psychology?
Not on its own. A bachelor’s is the starting line. Becoming a licensed psychologist takes a doctoral degree, supervised hours, and a state licensing exam. A bachelor’s in psychology opens doors in human resources, social services, case management, and research support, and it’s the prerequisite for graduate programs that lead to licensure.
How much does an online psychology degree cost?
It varies widely, and most bachelor’s programs require about 120 credits. Total cost depends on per-credit or subscription pricing, transfer credits, financial aid, and whether the school bills in semester or quarter hours, so compare the full program price rather than the per-credit rate alone.
Is an online psychology degree different from an on-campus one?
The coursework and the credential are the same at most schools. The only change is the delivery: you watch lectures and submit work online instead of in a classroom. The degree you earn is identical, which is the whole point.
Compare accredited online psychology programs, request information, and find the school that fits your budget and your schedule.