Why This Matters

  • COUNSELING AND SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS EARN $87,450 PER YEAR

    The mean U.S. salary for educational psychologists is more than twice that of all other occupations.

  • DEMAND FOR SCHOOL COUNSELORS IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE BY 8%

    More educational psychologists are needed to provide personal and academic support to students enrolled at universities and colleges.

  • 5,300 MORE EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGISTS ARE NEEDED BY 2029

    The United States will have an estimated 176,700 clinical, counseling, and school psychologists by the end of the decade. The demand for psychologists is consistent with the national growth rate of other occupations.

Our Research

This list covers master’s programs in educational psychology. Graduates receive a specialized education preparing them for jobs as educational psychologists, college counselors, and university educators. Degrees offered include Master of Arts in Educational Psychology, Master of Science in Educational Psychology, and Master of Education in Educational Psychology. All programs are taught online.

National and regional accreditation are given to higher learning programs that prepare graduates for the educational workforce. Students might also be able to transfer credits from accredited institutions. Schools on our list are accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), Higher Learning Commission (HLC), or Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).

We evaluated each program on the basis of flexibility, faculty, course strength, cost, and reputation. Then we calculated the Intelligent Score for each program on a scale from 0 to 100. For a more extensive explanation, check out Our Ranking Methodology.

  • 65 hours to write this article
  • 193 universities and colleges we assessed
  • 294 education programs we compared

The Top 35 Master’s in Educational Psychology Degree Programs

Best Master's in Educational Psychology Degree Programs
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What You Should Know About This Degree

Psychology is a diverse profession, and it’s important to consider your future career path when choosing a graduate program. If you’re interested in working with younger students, consider a master’s in school psychology. While educational psychology programs train graduates to work with both students and academic professionals, school psychology programs focus on elementary, middle, and high school students’ needs. Educational psychology is focused on research, assessment, and educational policy within a community. In contrast, school psychology centers around individual counseling and testing. If you’re interested in helping individuals, families, and communities to improve their quality of life as they deal with challenging life issues, you should consider pursuing a master’s degree in social work.

Graduates looking to practice educational psychology will need to obtain a state license. They’ll also need to pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology (EPPP). Educational psychology is a competitive field, and additional certifications can provide an edge with future employers. Certifications approved by the American Board of Psychology can help demonstrate expertise in cognitive behavioral therapy, counseling, psychology, clinical child and adolescent psychology, and school psychology.

What’s Next?

Ask yourself these questions when pursuing a graduate degree in educational psychology:

  • Am I eligible for this program? All graduate programs in educational psychology require students to hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent. Certain programs may also require professional work experience as well as a minimum Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) score.
  • How long does it take to complete this online degree? Students can expect to complete their graduate degrees in educational psychology following two years of full-time study. Part-time study can take up to four years to complete. The programs on our list require between 30 and 52 credits to graduate.

Each program has specific requirements and application deadlines. Contact the school or visit its website for information about when applications are due, as well as which materials you must submit.

Determine how you’ll pay for your master’s degree by researching potential funding opportunities. You might be eligible for scholarships, grants, or federal aid to help cover tuition fees.