Online Associates Degree in Psychology - Best Programs of 2025

University Headquarters (HQ) is an industry-leading, independent educational organization that provides independent college rankings using a proprietary formula to create first class, unbiased rankings. The team at University HQ strives to provide accurate and trustworthy rankings that highlight the best programs for an associate in psychology.

Overview of an Associates in Psychology

Before you request admission to your local vocational or community college so that you can apply for an in-person or online associate degree in psychology, you should see what associate-level psychology programs are all about. Once you have completed your general education courses, which are required, you’ll take your core courses, or the psychology course offerings that make up your major. While a bachelor's degree might include all of these core psychology courses, an associate degree in psychology might only include some psychology courses that cover some of these subjects.

Introduction to General Psychology
Social Psychology
Behavioral Sciences
Personality Psychology
Child Psychology - Developmental Psychology - Educational Psychology
Abnormal Psychology
Counseling Psychology
Experimental Research Methods in Psychology
And More

Any good, accredited associate degree in psychology should teach you about the broad, foundational basics of psychology. And online psychology associate programs should have the same psychology course offerings for online learners as it does for those psychology students who attend in person. You should be able to transfer credits to accredited four-year college or university online associate programs, where you can complete your bachelor’s in psychology or a similar type of degree. Look for a program that also requires you to take courses that provide general critical thinking skills (liberal arts).

If you look at a list of the required courses for prospective students looking for a psychology education at this level, you won’t see many psychology classes listed. Because graduates of an Associate of Arts (AA) program won’t be ready to work with clients, you’ll take the majority of these classes in a bachelor’s psychology program.

Featured Online Psychology Programs

PROS

Earning an associate degree in psychology gives you the ability to enter a strong psychology program at a four-year college or university, which itself could lead to graduate study in the field. However, you must ensure that your community college credits will transfer to that four-year program so that you don’t have to retake any classes.

If you are drawn to a helping field such as psychology, human services, or social work, then an associate degree in psychology or human services will be an excellent start.

If you decide to take a year or two away from school before transferring into a four-year degree in psychology program, you’ll be able to fill some jobs easily with your two-year online associate degree in psychology. These include entry-level positions such as case management aide, client advocate, youth worker, psychiatric aides, psychiatric technicians, human services assistants, community action worker, social work assistant, group activities aide, mental health aide, and intake interviewer. After earning your bachelor’s degree in psychology, your career opportunities will expand greatly.

CONS

Even with an associate degree in psychology, you’ll find it necessary to go back to school for your bachelor’s and then a master’s degree in psychology if you plan to work directly with people and help them with their emotional problems.

If you plan on working with people or offering psychoanalysis, you’ll have to have an advanced degree in psychology, not a degree you can earn from in-person or online psychology associate programs. The same is true if you plan on going into clinical social work - here, you'll need to complete advanced social work and social psychology classes and training in treatment practices, abnormal psychology, developmental psychology and human development, behavioral sciences, research methods, and more.

People interested in entering a counseling career may believe that psychology is the same thing, but it isn’t. To become a licensed counselor, you'll need to take master’s-level education courses in mental health counseling and abnormal psychology and earn a license to practice.

The level of study required in a bachelor’s degree is much deeper than in an associate degree in psychology program. Psychology students earning this psychology degree will be able to explore psychology-related electives, such as child psychology or developmental psychology, which may lead into a minor to round out your future career.

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Top 25 Best Online Associate Psychology Programs

Saint Joseph's College of Maine

Score: 78.98

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $42,834
- Out-of-State:$42,834
Net Price: $29,625
Acceptance Rate: 81%
Retention Rate: 77%

Graduation Rate: 70%
Total Enrollment: 1,478
Undergrad Students: 990
Graduate Students: 488
Grads Salary: $83,000
Student-to-faculty: 10:1

View All Their Popular Majors and Rankings

Loyola University New Orleans

Score: 76.55

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $47,240
- Out-of-State:$47,240
Net Price: $23,808
Acceptance Rate: 78%
Retention Rate: 76%

Graduation Rate: 67%
Total Enrollment: 4,397
Undergrad Students: 3,289
Graduate Students: 1,108
Grads Salary: $75,000
Student-to-faculty: 13:1

Georgia State University

Score: 73.04

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $8,478
- Out-of-State:$23,709
Net Price: $17,589
Acceptance Rate: 67%
Retention Rate: 78%

Graduation Rate: 55%
Total Enrollment: 36,516
Undergrad Students: 28,924
Graduate Students: 7,592
Grads Salary: $73,000
Student-to-faculty: 26:1

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Regent University

Score: 70.74

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $20,686
- Out-of-State:$20,686
Net Price: $17,341
Acceptance Rate: 32%
Retention Rate: 70%

Graduation Rate: 55%
Total Enrollment: 10,337
Undergrad Students: 4,541
Graduate Students: 5,796
Grads Salary: $63,000
Student-to-faculty: 21:1

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Drury University

Score: 70.55

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $35,235
- Out-of-State:$35,235
Net Price: $20,996
Acceptance Rate: 63%
Retention Rate: 78%

Graduation Rate: 64%
Total Enrollment: 1,595
Undergrad Students: 1,375
Graduate Students: 220
Grads Salary: $59,000
Student-to-faculty: 12:1

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University of the Cumberlands

Score: 68.88

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $9,875
- Out-of-State:$9,875
Net Price: $14,337
Acceptance Rate: 83%
Retention Rate: 70%

Graduation Rate: 44%
Total Enrollment: 18,053
Undergrad Students: 5,174
Graduate Students: 12,879
Grads Salary: $70,000
Student-to-faculty: 18:1

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Brescia University

Score: 68.72

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $30,450
- Out-of-State:$30,450
Net Price: $16,127
Acceptance Rate: 50%
Retention Rate: 77%

Graduation Rate: 43%
Total Enrollment: 646
Undergrad Students: 551
Graduate Students: 95
Grads Salary: $63,000
Student-to-faculty: 9:1

Allan Hancock College

Score: 66.78

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $1,156
- Out-of-State:$9,436
Net Price: $6,119
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 65%

Graduation Rate: 29%
Total Enrollment: 10,329
Undergrad Students: 10,329
Graduate Students: N/A
Grads Salary: $73,000
Student-to-faculty: 22:1

Foothill College

Score: 65.61

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $1,565
- Out-of-State:$12,320
Net Price: $11,013
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 100%

Graduation Rate: 57%
Total Enrollment: 12,434
Undergrad Students: 12,434
Graduate Students: N/A
Grads Salary: $48,800
Student-to-faculty: 25:1

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Liberty University

Score: 65.36

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $21,222
- Out-of-State:$21,222
Net Price: $29,913
Acceptance Rate: 99%
Retention Rate: 79%

Graduation Rate: 66%
Total Enrollment: 96,709
Undergrad Students: 48,906
Graduate Students: 47,803
Grads Salary: $63,000
Student-to-faculty: 18:1

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Upper Iowa University

Score: 64.51

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $19,000
- Out-of-State:$19,000
Net Price: $24,563
Acceptance Rate: 54%
Retention Rate: 57%

Graduation Rate: 42%
Total Enrollment: 3,072
Undergrad Students: 2,463
Graduate Students: 609
Grads Salary: $70,000
Student-to-faculty: 13:1

Park University

Score: 63.93

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $16,400
- Out-of-State:$16,400
Net Price: $15,858
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 59%

Graduation Rate: 23%
Total Enrollment: 7,662
Undergrad Students: 6,238
Graduate Students: 1,424
Grads Salary: $80,000
Student-to-faculty: 14:1

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Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Score: 63.64

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $27,140
- Out-of-State:$27,140
Net Price: $24,828
Acceptance Rate: 98%
Retention Rate: 67%

Graduation Rate: 52%
Total Enrollment: 1,080
Undergrad Students: 1,080
Graduate Students: N/A
Grads Salary: $65,000
Student-to-faculty: 13:1

Vincennes University

Score: 61.15

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $6,886
- Out-of-State:$16,289
Net Price: $9,637
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 67%

Graduation Rate: 33%
Total Enrollment: 16,773
Undergrad Students: 16,773
Graduate Students: N/A
Grads Salary: $62,000
Student-to-faculty: 23:1

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UNH College of Professional Studies

Score: 59.75

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $7,812
- Out-of-State:$9,372
Net Price: $11,850
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 40%

Graduation Rate: 15%
Total Enrollment: 1,425
Undergrad Students: 1,195
Graduate Students: 230
Grads Salary: $77,000
Student-to-faculty: 14:1

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Central Christian College of Kansas

Score: 59.38

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $21,000
- Out-of-State:$21,000
Net Price: $15,732
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 47%

Graduation Rate: 31%
Total Enrollment: 571
Undergrad Students: 537
Graduate Students: 34
Grads Salary: $67,000
Student-to-faculty: 14:1

Southwestern Assemblies of God University

Score: 59.16

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $18,610
- Out-of-State:$18,610
Net Price: $19,217
Acceptance Rate: 86%
Retention Rate: 77%

Graduation Rate: 42%
Total Enrollment: 1,794
Undergrad Students: 1,491
Graduate Students: 303
Grads Salary: $55,000
Student-to-faculty: 17:1

Northeast Community College

Score: 58.86

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $3,840
- Out-of-State:$5,130
Net Price: $10,170
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 73%

Graduation Rate: 51%
Total Enrollment: 5,583
Undergrad Students: 5,583
Graduate Students: N/A
Grads Salary: $41,000
Student-to-faculty: 17:1

New England College

Score: 58.46

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $41,578
- Out-of-State:$41,578
Net Price: $29,512
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 61%

Graduation Rate: 31%
Total Enrollment: 2,852
Undergrad Students: 1,043
Graduate Students: 1,809
Grads Salary: $74,000
Student-to-faculty: 7:1

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South Texas College

Score: 57.62

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $5,220
- Out-of-State:$7,500
Net Price: $1,692
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 63%

Graduation Rate: 26%
Total Enrollment: 27,894
Undergrad Students: 27,894
Graduate Students: N/A
Grads Salary: $52,000
Student-to-faculty: 22:1

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Navarro College

Score: 57.13

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $4,718
- Out-of-State:$6,578
Net Price: $10,124
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 59%

Graduation Rate: 25%
Total Enrollment: 6,277
Undergrad Students: 6,277
Graduate Students: N/A
Grads Salary: $61,000
Student-to-faculty: 21:1

Fisher College

Score: 55.34

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $35,013
- Out-of-State:$35,013
Net Price: $26,257
Acceptance Rate: 74%
Retention Rate: 55%

Graduation Rate: 26%
Total Enrollment: 1,421
Undergrad Students: 1,312
Graduate Students: 109
Grads Salary: $67,000
Student-to-faculty: 11:1

College of Southern Nevada

Score: 55.32

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $4,110
- Out-of-State:$12,209
Net Price: $7,685
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 79%

Graduation Rate: 17%
Total Enrollment: 28,901
Undergrad Students: 28,901
Graduate Students: N/A
Grads Salary: $55,000
Student-to-faculty: 17:1

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Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas

Score: 54.47

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $4,296
- Out-of-State:$4,746
Net Price: $5,345
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 79%

Graduation Rate: 46%
Total Enrollment: 1,278
Undergrad Students: 1,278
Graduate Students: N/A
Grads Salary: $29,300
Student-to-faculty: 17:1

Casper College

Score: 54.06

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $4,410
- Out-of-State:$10,710
Net Price: $8,451
Acceptance Rate: 100%
Retention Rate: 72%

Graduation Rate: 42%
Total Enrollment: 3,354
Undergrad Students: 3,354
Graduate Students: N/A
Grads Salary: $35,000
Student-to-faculty: 14:1

Certificate vs. Associate's

You don’t need to think of this as either-or. If you earn your psychology associate degree and earn a certificate in psychology, you’ll have that much more knowledge to use in your job or for transfer to a four-year program.

For instance, if you opt for a Mental Health Advocate/Aide Certificate, you’ll know about basic theories of psychology and counseling. You’ll also learn about self-care skills, cultural competencies, and healthy coping methods. At the least, earning such a certificate means you’ll become familiar with social services and human care services.

What Psychology Associate Degrees are Available Online?

Associate of Science in Psychology (AS Psychology):
In this psychology associate degree, you’ll get a good introduction to what psychology is. You’ll be expected to study human behavior in scholarly surroundings, which helps you to develop critical and creative thinking. In addition, you’ll learn about how needs, beliefs and values influence human behavior. You’ll also learn human development from prenatal through late adulthood.
Associate of Arts in Psychology (AA Psychology):
This psychology associate degree allows you to expand your understanding of the human mind. These psychology degree programs also help you lay the groundwork for a future career in psychology. The AA in Psychology degree prepares you to enter the workforce in a helping field, which allows you to work with people in need of support and assistance. Even though it is not designated as a transfer psychology degree program, it can help to prepare you to begin taking classes at a four-year university.

What are the Admission Requirements for an Associate's Degree in Psychology

A psychology associate degree can lead to a career in many different fields, such as mental health counseling, social work, or human resources. Most colleges and universities require students to have a high school diploma or equivalent, although some will consider students with a GED. In addition to general education requirements, students must complete coursework in psychology and related subjects. Some programs also require field experience or an internship. Most students majoring in psychology will find it helpful to participate in research projects and other hands-on learning opportunities.

You’ll need to submit your high school transcripts (or GED), as well as your ACT or SAT test scores when you apply to any of these psychology degree programs. If you have any previous community college credits, you’ll submit your official transcripts from each institution in which you earned your credits. Some schools may also require letters of recommendation from those who know you academically, like teachers.

Why Attending an Accredited Psychology School Matters

There are many reasons why students should consider attending an accredited online associate degree college or university for their psychology degree. For one, it is important to make sure that the school you choose is properly accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) and the colleges and schools commission. This accreditation process ensures that the school meets certain standards and provides a quality education in psychology. Additionally, attending an accredited school can provide students with access to better job opportunities after graduation. Finally, students who attend an accredited institution may be eligible for financial aid and scholarships that are not available to those who attend non-accredited schools. All of these factors make attending an accredited college or university a wise choice for psychology majors.

Accreditation Recognizes Quality Schools

The APA accredits institutions of higher learning that have been determined to offer quality education in psychology. The APA is a recognized authority on the quality of psychology programs and has developed a set of standards to measure the quality of their member schools.

When choosing a college, online students must decide whether to attend a school with national or regional accreditation. National accreditation is granted by agencies that are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Regional accreditation is granted by six agencies that are each responsible for accrediting schools in a specific geographic region of the country.

While both types of accreditation are important, regional accreditation is generally considered to be more prestigious. This is because regional accreditors have stricter standards and conduct more thorough evaluations than national accreditors. Additionally, most regionally accredited schools will only accept transfer credits from other regionally accredited schools. So, if you're looking to transfer credits or pursue a graduate psychology programs degree, you'll want to make sure that your school has regional accreditation.

Search for Your Online Psychology Program

Potential Careers in Psychology with an Associate's

Residential Support Worker
You’ll care directly for residents who are admitted to a residential treatment program for their mental health issues. Possible client populations include mentally disabled individuals who live independently but need supervision, senior citizens, and at-risk youth.
Average annual salary: $31,523
Orderly
You’ll be likely to work under the direction of a nurse. You may help residents with basic living activities, also known as activities of daily living. These include bathing, feeding, moving from area to area, and dressing. You may also give medication to a patient as directed by the supervising nurse.
Average annual salary: $29,500
Patient Care Technician
You assist nurses, medical staff and doctors in giving care to residents. Your job setting may be in a hospital or a more-restrictive residential setting, where you are under the supervision of medical staff. If you notice that a resident’s mental health status seems to be changing, you’ll report this to a nurse or doctor.
Average annual salary: $31,300.
Psychiatric Technician
You’ll work in a hospital or nursing home setting. You’ll be a psychiatrist’s assistant, helping to care for patients who have mental illnesses or emotional problems. Your typical tasks include administering treatments in group and individual activities. Your role is to encourage patients to participate, helping them to increase their self-confidence. You’ll also monitor your patients via CCTV or in-person.
Average annual salary: $34,500
Personal Support Worker
You’ll give long-term or short-term care to your clients and act as their companion. You are an unregulated health professional, with no set guidelines to follow. Your job duties include providing physical care, recreational activities, laundry, and cleaning. Your employer may prefer that you hold a associate psychology degree online or a certification. You may work different shifts, including weekends.
Average annual salary: $32,700

Salary by Occupation

Occupation	Entry-Level	Mid-Career	Late Career
Psychiatric Technician	$30,400	$42,000	$48,300
Case Manager	$36,200	$44,200	$65,700
Health Educator	$38,400	$50,400	$56,800
Career Counselor	$40,500	$47,500	$53,100
Psychologist	$77,800	$81,500	$91,100
Psychology Program Manager	$67,600	$78,000	$100,000

Further Psychology Education to Advance

You should seriously consider going on to earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology or higher after earning your online associate degree in psychology. At your current level, you’ll only be equipped to fill support roles, such as a residential treatment aide or patient care technician. If you want to do more with your knowledge, then you need to earn an online bachelor’s degree, at the least. Then, you can become a family counselor, social worker, employment counselor for a large employer, mental health associate, crisis line therapist, chemical abuse counselor, or even a registered nurse.

With an online bachelor’s degree, you will have the skills to work in a halfway house, crisis intervention center, social service agency, or as a psychologist in a vocational rehab center, or in a community mental health center. If you want to work in counseling (school or clinical), this isn’t possible with an online associate or bachelor’s degree. A master’s degree is necessary, along with mandatory licensing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should you consider earning an associate degree in psychology online?

Online learning is a great option these days. It’s especially good for any degree that doesn’t require hands-on experience or learning. This puts psychology at the top of the list, especially an online associate degree in psychology in the field, as all of your learning at this level will be from texts and through discussion and paper writing. And if you are uncertain about earning a full bachelor’s degree in psychology, this will give you a look into the field and let you finish your general education without paying the higher prices you can expect from a four-year college or university.

What classes will I take in an online associate psychology degree program?

As mentioned, you will be able to complete your general education introductory courses in an associate psychology degree online (such as English composition, Intro to computers, humanities, arts, etc.), which will help you complete a bachelor’s more quickly if you decide to gain further education. Other than that, you can expect some introductory online psychology courses that might cover subjects such as the following.

Introduction to Psychology
Social Psychology
Human Relations
Human Growth and Development
Abnormal Psychology
Psychology of Personality
Critical Thinking in Psychology
Self Motivation Standards
Christian Counseling
Problem Solving Techniques
Social Work
Science in Psychology
Developmental Psychology
Applied Psychology
Social Psychology
Forensic Psychology
Clinical Psychology
And More

Are online programs cheaper than traditional programs?

In many cases, online associate's degree in psychology are around the same cost as traditional programs when you consider tuition only. Even if that is true for the program you are considering, savings can come from other sources. For example, you won’t be paying to stay on campus or for a rental, for a meal plan, for gas to drive to and from campus or around a new town, more for laundry services, etc. Of course, you will still have living expenses, but if you are also able to work or if you are staying with your family and having those expenses covered as they were during high school, you’ll still save a bundle.

What can you do with an associate degree in psychology?

Unfortunately, an associate degree in psychology doesn’t give you many options in the field of psychology. It can help you to gain a job purely for the fact that you will have finished some kind of psychology degree, but you will not be ready or licensed to help clients in most cases. Depending on the state, you may be able to get some sort of initial licensure for working with patients trying to get out of addiction, but this is very state specific and you should check with your local licensure board before you assume this is an option.

How long does it take to earn a psychology associate degree online?

At most community colleges, online associate degrees in psychology require that you earn 60 credits. These include your general education classes, core classes in your psychology major, and electives. If you take 12 credits per semester, you’ll graduate in five semesters or 30 months. If you increase your credit hours each semester to 15, you’ll graduate in about two years, or four semesters.

Your general education classes are your math, English, social sciences, liberal arts, sciences, and humanities classes. They are required for graduation. You’ll also be required to select several units from a list of classes related to your psychology degree.

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Search All Programs

Best Online Associate in Psychology Degrees for 2025

Overview of an Associates in Psychology

PROS

CONS

Search Programs

Top 25 Best Online Associate Psychology Programs

Loyola University New Orleans

Brescia University

Allan Hancock College

Upper Iowa University

Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Central Christian College of Kansas

Southwestern Assemblies of God University

Northeast Community College

Navarro College

Fisher College

Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas

Casper College

Certificate vs. Associate's

What Psychology Associate Degrees are Available Online?

What are the Admission Requirements for an Associate's Degree in Psychology

Why Attending an Accredited Psychology School Matters

Accreditation Recognizes Quality Schools

Potential Careers in Psychology with an Associate's

Salary by Occupation

Further Psychology Education to Advance

Frequently Asked Questions

Should you consider earning an associate degree in psychology online?

What classes will I take in an online associate psychology degree program?

Are online programs cheaper than traditional programs?

What can you do with an associate degree in psychology?

How long does it take to earn a psychology associate degree online?

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