Psychology has long been one of the most popular degree choices for undergraduates. This field of study not only probes some of the most universal questions of mankind, but it also opens doors for many different career paths and provides a solid foundation for post-graduate work. Not all psychology bachelor’s degrees at colleges and universities are the same, however. Aspiring psychology majors among the student body must use discretion when choosing a school and program of study that provides the knowledge as well as the opportunities they’ll need to achieve their long-term goals and have an enjoyable and fulfilling student life. To assist in this pursuit, we’ve researched scores of small college undergraduate psychology programs and selected 50 small colleges that stand out amongst the rest in terms of program features and opportunities afforded to the student body.
Featured Programs
Rating and Ranking Methodology
Graduate Degree Opportunities in Psychology
Presence of Master’s Degree Program – 1 point
Presence of Doctoral Degree Program – 1 point
Psychology Research Opportunities – 1 point
Distance Learning Opportunities in Psychology – 1 point
Study Abroad Opportunities in Psychology – 1 point
Psychology Internship Opportunities – 1 point
Psychology Scholarship Opportunities – 1 point
Affiliated Centers and Institutes on Campus – 1 point
Related Student Organizations and Societies – 1 point
Wow Factor
1 point awarded for each unique feature or program that “wowed” us
Ranking the 50 Great Small Colleges for a Bachelor’s in Psychology 2015
The following 50 small colleges that offer students a psychology bachelor’s degree program also offer students the one-on-one attention they can only find in a close-knit academic community while simultaneously affording them the high-tech resources and undergraduate research opportunities typically found in larger university settings. Please note that programs which received the same number of points according to the rating and ranking methodology above are listed by net price (as found in NCES’s College Navigator database), with the more affordable schools receiving the higher ranking. We hope you enjoy our list our small colleges that keep their student body in mind even step of the way.
#50 – Pepperdine University
Malibu, California
Points: 4
Enrollment: 3,451
Net Price: $27,644
Pepperdine University is a small college that offers both a bachelor of arts in psychology and a minor in Industrial Organizational Psychology. Students benefit from the school’s connections to local community agencies such as the nearby juvenile detention center and state hospital. Advanced students may elect to participate in the two-semester Honors Research Program in Psychology where they will design, execute, and present individual research projects. All students have the opportunity to become active in the school’s Psychology Club and/or the Pepperdine chapter of Psi Chi.
#49 – Colorado College
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Points: 4
Enrollment: 2,050
Net Price: $24,141
Colorado College’s Psychology Department is located inside the state-of-the-art Tutt Science Center, a LEED certified facility that houses three computer labs, two wet labs, various research rooms, and Smart Classrooms. The focus of the bachelor’s degree in psychology program is to educate the student body in traditional, time-tested concepts rather than passing fads depicted in the media. With a strong research basis, the program prepares graduates for work in the mental health arena or continued study in a Master’s psychology program. Ethics is also a major program focus, and all students must uphold ethical behavior throughout their studies and research.
#48 – Hamilton College
Clinton, New York
Points: 4
Enrollment: 1,904
Net Price: $22,392
The psychology bachelor’s degree program at Hamilton College enables students to explore a wide range of fascinating topics in the field, including Introduction to Brain and Behavior, The Self in Social Psychology, Autobiographical Memory, and Neural Plasticity. The school also offers many research opportunities for undergraduates, including independent studies, senior projects, and fellowship programs. Those interested in students with special needs can study for a semester at the New England Center for Children in Boston. Hamilton students are eligible for a variety of internship opportunities in academic, government, and nonprofit settings.
#47 – Bridgewater College
Bridgewater, Virginia
Points: 4
Enrollment: 1,785
Net Price: $19,303
The bachelor’s degree in psychology at Bridgewater College encourages the student body to actively engage in their studies, conducting research in labs, preparing presentations for classmates, participating in internships, and even dissecting brains. In the classroom, students explore such topics as Functional Neuroanatomy, Sensation and Perception, and Historical Issues in Psychology. The school has strong community ties, which opens up internship opportunities at local establishments such as the Boys and Girls Club, Bridgewater Retirement Community, and Center for Marriage and Family Therapy, for instance.
#46 – Colby College
Waterville, Maine
Points: 4
Enrollment: 1,847
Net Price: $18,477
Colby College, a small college that excels in student reviews, offers a bachelor’s degree in psychology with the option to pursue a concentration in neuroscience. Students are afforded a wide variety of research opportunities, beginning in the introductory course and continuing throughout their senior years. Research topics include cognitive development, memory & language, personality, and social development. Students also benefit from the research of others through the school’s Colloquium Series, which features renowned psychologists presenting their most recent findings. Specialty course topics include Psychology of Drugs, Our Lives as Animals, Biological Basis of Behavior, and Lifespan Development.
#45 – Bryan College
Dayton, Tennessee
Points: 4
Enrollment: 1,506
Net Price: $15,680
Bryan College approaches the bachelor’s degree in psychology from a faith-based perspective. The school supports student research through its annual undergraduate research conference, which provides an open forum for students to discuss ongoing research and present the results of their experiments. In the classroom, students delve into topics such as Counseling Theory, Gender and Sexuality, and Introduction to Christian Soul Care. Over the past six years, the Bryan student body majoring in psychology have scored in the 99th percentile in the ETS Major Field Exam in Psychology.
#44 – Amherst College
Amherst, Massachusetts
Points: 4
Enrollment: 1,792
Net Price: $14,687
Amherst College takes an interdisciplinary approach to the study of psychology, providing students with opportunities to connect various topics in psychology as well as other disciplines for a more meaningful understanding of human behavior. Research opportunities for undergraduates are plentiful and include departmental honors research as well as research assistantships. The five research laboratories on the Amherst College campus allow students to probe such topics as physiological psychology, behavioral neuroscience, cognitive psychology, social/personality psychology, child learning, and communication and social interaction. Specialty courses include Stereotypes and Prejudice, Psychopharmacology, Personality and Political Leadership, and Social Development and Peer Relations.
#43 – University of Mount Olive
Mount Olive, North Carolina
Points: 4
Enrollment: 3,406
Net Price: $12,245
University of Mount Olive offers both a bachelor of arts in psychology and a bachelor of science in psychology. The department has recently constructed a new, state-of-the-art research laboratory complete with a testing room, and observation room, a conference area, and a student computer lab. As part of the program requirement for both degree options, students must complete an off-campus internship, either in research or in clinical counseling. Students may opt to participate in either the school’s Psychology Club or its chapter of Psi Chi, organizations that actively engage in community projects and service learning.
#42 – Berea College
Berea, Kentucky
Points: 4
Enrollment: 1,621
Net Price: $1,990
Berea College offers a hands-on degree program that leads to a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. Students at Berea have unparalleled research opportunities as well as the opportunity to take on a job in the department, including assistant teaching positions. Alumni of the program have attended and presented at area conferences such as the Kentucky Academy of Science conference and the South-Eastern Psychological Association conference. Specialty program topics include Cross-Cultural Psychology, Personality Theory, and Social Gerontology. The school is also home to a chapter of Psi Chi, the National Honor Society in Psychology.
#41 – Dickinson College
Carlisle, Pennsylvania
Points: 5
Enrollment: 2,364
Net Price: $33,457
The psychology bachelor’s degree program at Dickinson College offers a wide range of courses regardless of it being a small college. With courses including Animal Learning and Cognition, Perception, Memory & Thought, Psychology of Women and Gender, and Psychopathology, there is no shortage of education for students at Dickinson College. The school offers several study abroad opportunities for psychology majors including popular programs in Brisbane, Australia; Norwich, England; Toulouse, France; and Copenhagen, Denmark. Students will find networking opportunities through The Psychology Club and the school’s chapter of Psi Chi. The school also offers various internship and job opportunities for students.
#40 – Macalester College
St. Paul, Minnesota
Points: 5
Enrollment: 2,073
Net Price: $27,999
Macalaster College offers a bachelor’s degree in psychology that can be adapted to individual interests and career goals. Students are encouraged to pursue their own research topics, participate in individualized internships, and study away from campus, either abroad or domestically. Standout course titles of the program include Psychology in the Material World, Psychological Anthropology, and Psychology of Sustainability. The Psychology Department’s Olin-Rice Science Center includes over 10,800 square feet of dedicated classrooms and research labs equipped with the latest, state-of-the-art technology and equipment.
#39 – Lafayette College
Easton, Pennsylvania
Points: 5
Enrollment: 2,503
Net Price: $27,019
Lafayette College offers a bachelor’s of science in psychology for students interested in entering the mental health field or pursuing graduate work. Because Lafayette chooses to focus only on undergraduate education, students are afforded the opportunity to conduct meaningful research alongside experienced instructors. Honors students have additional opportunities in the lab as they work on their senior honors theses. Close connections between the college and community organizations allow for a wealth of internship opportunities. Inside the classroom, professors lecture on a variety of topics including Quantitative Methods in Psychology, Human Factors and Engineering Psychology, and Mood Disorders.
#38 – Smith College
Northampton, Massachusetts
Points: 5
Enrollment: 2,563
Net Price: $25,619
The psychology bachelor’s degree at Smith College is one of the most popular options for Smith College student body year after year. The program is organized around three different tracks: Mind and Brain, Health & Illness, and Person and Society. Standout courses within these tracks include Psycholinguistics, Psychology of Sport, Happiness, and Psychology of Asian American Experience.
Psychology students at Smith have many opportunities to get involved on campus, including student proctorships, research assistantships, and student liaisons. Summer research opportunities are also available as is membership in the school’s chapter of Psi Chi.
#37 – Nova Southeastern University
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Points: 5
Enrollment: 4,699
Net Price: $24,833
Nova Southern University offers a flexible bachelor of science in psychology degree path that can be tailored to individual interests and career aspirations. Students can choose to take traditional day classes or attend school at night. The program is also offered online for those who wish to take advantage of this distance learning opportunity. Specialty course titles include Evolutionary Psychology, Behavior Modification, Multicultural Issues in Psychology, and Stereotypes, Prejudice, and Discrimination. The school’s Dual Admission Program allows interested students to secure early acceptance into a graduate degree program.
#36 – La Sierra University
Riverside, California
Points: 5
Enrollment: 2,510
Net Price: $24,027
La Sierra University offers a bachelor of arts in psychology degree program that emphasizes the science of psychology and its application. Students are free to choose advanced topics that appeal to their interests and career goals, creating specialized emphases in a range of sub-areas of the field including personality, sport psychology, abnormal psychology, and more. La Sierra offers two scholarships specifically awarded to psychology students: the Richard Christian Nies Endowed Scholarship and the Schmidt Family Scholarship. The university’s psychology honors program adds an extra element of undergraduate research to the program for advanced students.
#35 – Bowdoin College
Brunswick, Maine
Points: 5
Enrollment: 1,805
Net Price: $22,289
Bowdoin College offered its first psychology course in 1904, and since then, its bachelor’s degree in psychology has become one of the most renowned in the nation. The school’s undergraduate research grants are testaments to its commitment to providing students with meaningful research opportunities that will prepare them for professional work in the field or success in graduate school. Bowdoin College also offers research and teaching assistantships in psychology for eligible students who wish to hone their skills prior to graduation.
#34 – Barnard College
New York, New York
Points: 5
Enrollment: 2,573
Net Price: $21,791
Barnard College offers a bachelor’s degree in psychology rich in experiential learning opportunities. In addition to traditional classroom instruction, students have the opportunity to work closely with the on-campus Toddler Center and extend the classroom into the community through the Field Work in Psychological Services course. Through independent study and the Senior Research Seminar, students have the opportunity to work alongside an instructor in the laboratory to conduct meaningful research. Standout courses include Human Learning and Memory, Psychology of Drug Use and Abuse, Psychology and Women, and Human Motivation.
#33 – Colgate University
Hamilton, New York
Points: 5
Enrollment: 2,875
Net Price: $21,649
Colgate University’s bachelor’s degree in psychology affords students high-level research opportunities typically reserved for graduate students. Students are encouraged to take a variety of 200 and 300-level courses in order to gain a broad understanding of the field. Course offerings include such topics as Human Cognition, Personality Psychology, Origins of Human Thought, and Industrial/Organizational Psychology. Colgate’s psychology department is affiliated with the university’s Center for Language and Brain, an interdisciplinary research institute supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation.
#32 – York College of Pennsylvania
York, Pennsylvania
Points: 5
Enrollment: 4,853
Net Price: $21,120
York College of Pennsylvania offers a bachelor of science in psychology degree option that provides students with a strong foundation in the psychological sciences on which they can build a profession or pursue further graduate work in the field. In addition to the required fundamental courses, students can elect to study such topics as Childhood Exceptionalities, Sustainability and Psychology, Eating Disorders, and Psychological Testing. York also offers a variety of applied internships and research internships which students can take during the fall, spring, and summer semesters.
#31 – Hampden-Sydney College
Hampden-Sydney, Virginia
Points: 6
Enrollment: 1,105
Net Price: $29,533
Hampden-Sydney College prides itself on combining traditional psychological concepts with the latest advancements in research and technology to prepare students for graduate work or professional pursuits in a competitive, global society. The school’s experimental and physiological psychology labs are equipped with state-of-the-art equipment, including a microcomputer lab, a new developmental psychology lab, and live animal laboratories. Students pursuing a bachelor’s degree in psychology also benefit from internship and practicum experiences as well as student organizations such as the psychology honorary fraternity, Psi Chi.
#30 – Southwestern University
Georgetown, Texas
Points: 6
Enrollment: 1,538
Net Price: $25,635
Southwestern University offers both a bachelor of arts and a bachelor of science in psychology. Unique course offerings include Exotic Sensory Systems, Forensic Psychology, and Human Sexuality. Independent study options give undergraduates the opportunity to design and execute their own experiments. The school also has a strong internship program which hosts nearly two dozen established psychology internship sites, ensuring that all students have a meaningful field experience. Southwestern also offers a minor in psychology, which can be paired with other degree programs.
#29 – Grinnell College
Grinnell, Iowa
Points: 6
Enrollment: 1,734
Net Price: $24,896
Grinnell College offers a bachelor’s degree in psychology comprised of courses such as Human-Computer Interaction, History of Psychological Theories, Psychology of Language, and Multicultural Psychology. The Preschool Laboratory on campus acts as a research lab for students as they study child development and psychology. Students who wish to become involved in student life can join the Journal Club or the Grinnell College Psi Chi Chapter. The school also offers free tutoring to psychology students of any ability level.
#28 – Barry University
Miami, Florida
Points: 6
Enrollment: 3,996
Net Price: $24,610
Barry University offers a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with specializations in Forensic Psychology and Industrial/Organizational Psychology. Hallmarks of the undergraduate psychology experience at Barry include small class sizes, personalized academic advisement, and experiential learning opportunities through service learning projects and independent research. Each spring, students have the chance to present their research findings through the Annual Psychology Student Research Forum. Undergraduates have access to two research facilities on campus: the undergraduate lab and the cognitive lab.
#27 – Texas Wesleyan University
Fort Worth, Texas
Points: 6
Enrollment: 1,687
Net Price: $23,044
The bachelor of science in psychology from Texas Wesleyan University is one that can be adapted to individual student career goals. Individuals can opt to take courses aligned with their aspirations such as Psychology of Everyday Life, Infant and Child Development, and Sports Psychology, for instance. The school’s Maximize Your Major Program features speakers on topics such as Demystifying Counseling Relationships, Professionalism, and Getting into Graduate School. Texas Wesleyan offers three different types of internships for students to choose from: Counseling, Research, and Teaching.
#26 – Middlebury College
Middlebury, Vermont
Featured Programs
Points: 6
Enrollment: 2,526
Net Price: $20,903
Middlebury College offers a unique bachelor’s degree in psychology featuring courses not found at any other university in the country. Distinctive course titles include Psychology and Work, Mindfulness and Psychology, and Psychology of Morality. Students are encouraged to participate in the Psychology Club as well as Middlebury’s chapter of Psi Chi. High-tech equipment such as video recording equipment and one-way observation mirrors supports undergraduate research efforts at the college. Students at Middlebury College can also choose to study abroad for a semester or even a year at one of the school’s 40 Study Abroad universities.
#25 – Rice University
Houston, Texas
Points: 6
Enrollment: 3,926
Net Price: $20,512
The bachelor of arts in psychology from Rice University is one of the school’s most popular majors. Rice psychology graduates often go on to pursue careers in medicine and law. Those who wish to continue their education in the field may also obtain their Master’s and Ph.Ds from Rice. The school’s GATEWAY program provides a portal through which students can obtain meaningful internships, summer fellowships, research opportunities, and even international ambassadorships. Students also benefit from a psychology fraternity on campus as well as the psychology colloquia.
#24 – Washington and Jefferson College
Washington, Pennsylvania
Points: 7
Enrollment: 1,362
Net Price: $27,817
Psychology students at Washington & Jefferson College have the option to concentrate in one of two subject areas: Human Resource Management or Neuroscience. The Psychology Department also partners with the Department of Education to offer the interdisciplinary major, Child Development and Education for aspiring early childhood teachers. Students are encouraged to take an independent study course for the opportunity to pursue research in a subtopic of interest. Summer research opportunities are also available from the school as are internships in clinical counseling.
#23 – Brandeis University
Waltham, Massachusetts
Points: 7
Enrollment: 3,729
Net Price: $26,367
Brandeis University offers a unique bachelor’s degree in psychology with strong foundations in research. Students have three different ways to gain experience in formal research, including volunteering in a laboratory setting, registering to work alongside a professor as a course credit, or completing an independent research project. The school’s clinical practicum program enables students work in a mental health facility one day per week to build authentic experiences within the field. Brandeis also offers a Master’s degree program and a Doctoral program in psychology for students who wish to further their education in this area.
#22 – Andrews University
Berrien Springs, Michigan
Points: 7
Enrollment: 1,805
Net Price: $23,620
Andrews University offers both a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science degree program with emphases in Behavioral Neuroscience, Pre-Professional, and Health Psychology for interested undergraduates. Regardless of the specialty they choose, students will engage in meaningful research as part of their undergraduate experience. Each year, the best research projects are submitted to the Midwest Psychology Association for review. Study abroad opportunities in the discipline are also available as is a Master’s Program in Community & International Development.
#21 – Florida Southern College
Lakeland, Florida
Points: 7
Enrollment: 2,403
Net Price: $23,395
Florida Southern College offers a bachelor’s degree in psychology with the option to pursue one of three dedicated tracks: the Social/Cognitive track, the Natural Science track, or the Applied Psychology track. Enrolled students will choose from a wide range of course topics include Psychology and the Social World, Psychology and the Natural World, Professional Issues in Psychology, and Criminalization of Mental Illness. The school’s unique location opens up atypical internships for its students, including positions at the Central Florida Autism Institute, Holladay Child Development Services, and even Sea World.
#20 – Swarthmore College
Swarthmore, Pennsylvania
Points: 7
Enrollment: 1,542
Net Price: $22,557
Undergraduate research is one of the mainstays of the psychology bachelor’s degree program at Swarthmore College. Although students may choose their own topics of inquiry, common research subjects include psycholinguistics, depression prevention, self-control, cognitive development, cultural psychology, and perception and action. The flexible academic program offers a major and a minor, an honors track, and the opportunity to create specialized majors by combining disciplines such as psychology and education and psychology and economics, for instance. Students at Swarthmore College also complete a clinical practicum at the culmination of their studies.
#19 – Haverford College
Haverford, Pennsylvania
Points: 7
Enrollment: 1,194
Net Price: $22,409
The bachelor’s degree in psychology from Haverford College gives students two concentration options in addition to the traditional degree track: Concentration in Education and Concentration in Gender and Sexuality Studies. Students at Haverford College benefit from a number of on-campus laboratories including a behavioral neuroscience lab, a social psychology lab, a personality lab, and a cognition lab. In the classroom, students have the opportunity to explore topics such as Memory and Cognition, Cultural Psychology, Neurobiology of Disease, and Anxiety Disorders and Their Treatment.
#18 – Pomona College
Claremont, California
Points: 7
Enrollment: 1,650
Net Price: $19,205
Pomona College not only offers a top-tier psychology bachelor’s degree; it is also one of the leading producers of psychology Ph.D.s in the nation. Furthermore, undergraduates at Pomona College are not just exposed to undergraduate research; it is at the very core of the program and acts as the primary way in which students develop critical thinking skills in the field of psychology. Unique course offerings complement this strong research component and include Psychology of the Black Experience, The Social Brain, Contemporary Prejudice, and The Psychology of Health and Medicine. Pomona College is one of most highly respected small colleges.
#17 – Hobart & William Smith Colleges
Geneva, New York
Points: 8
Enrollment: 2,421
Net Price: $35,882
Hobart & Williams Smith Colleges offer a bachelor of arts in psychology as well as a bachelor of science in psychology. Both degree programs are complemented by a wide range of student resources and opportunities including internships, undergraduate research opportunities, student organizations, and a psychology colloquium. Hobart & Williams’ robust study abroad program encourages psychology students to study off campus in places such as Auckland, New Zealand; Carmarthen, Wales; Copenhagen, Denmark; and Lingnan, Hong Kong. The school’s most popular psychology courses include Intro to Child Psychology and Human Development, Research in Experimental Social Psychology, and Topics in Personality.
#16 – Union College
Schenectady, New York
Points: 8
Enrollment: 2,242
Net Price: $33,826
Union College offers two options for students who wish to pursue a bachelor of science degree: the traditional bachelor of science in psychology and the interdepartmental bachelor of science. Specialty course topics from the department include Attention and Memory, Judgment and Decision Making, Psychology of Emotion, and Neural Circuits of Behavior. The school offers several different internship opportunities for students, including work in a center for autistic children, biofeedback clinics, battered women’s shelters, and a suicide hotline, for example. Students are also encouraged to apply for the college’s selective Psi Chi chapter.
#15 – Bucknell University
Lewisburg, Pennsylvania
Points: 8
Enrollment: 3,565
Net Price: $33,127
Bucknell University’s unique bachelor’s degree in psychology is comprised of courses such as Introduction to Sport Psychology, Culture and Child Development, and Cognitive Aging. Emphasizing real-world experiences, the program offers students the opportunity to engage in collaborative research with faculty members, participate in summer internships, and even study abroad for a semester or an entire year. The annual Kalman Research Symposium gives students the opportunity to present their research findings to faculty and classmates. Bucknell also offers a Masters of Science in General Experimental Psychology for students who wish to continue their education in the field.
#14 – Bryn Mawr College
Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
Points: 8
Enrollment: 1,308
Net Price: $32,285
Bryn Mawr College offers a major in psychology with minors in Neuroscience, Computational Methods, and Child and Family Studies. Specialty course topics include Educational Psychology, Autism Spectrum Disorders, History of Modern American Psychology, and Psychology of Negotiations. The program also includes a strong research component. In fact, many seniors and even some juniors at Bryn Mawr have their research results published in professional journals or presented at major national conferences. In addition to its well-respected undergraduate program, the school also offers one of the top Clinical Development Psychology programs in the nation.
#13 – St. Lawrence University
Canton, New York
Points: 8
Enrollment: 2,419
Net Price: $30,938
St. Lawrence University offers a psychology bachelor’s degree program with an emphasis on undergraduate research, including student-faculty collaborations. In addition to traditional psychology courses, the university has unique offerings such as Lab Animals, Psychology and Law, Hormones and Behavior, and Positive Psychology. Psychology students at St. Lawrence University have pursued various study abroad programs in locations such as Denmark, Australia, Kenya, London, and New Zealand. In addition to the B.S. in Psychology, the school also offers a B.S. in Neuroscience.
#12 – Trinity University
San Antonio, Texas
Points: 8
Enrollment: 2,241
Net Price: $27,851
The psychology department at Trinity University offers four programs of study for students to choose from: a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience, a Minor in Psychology, and a Minor in Linguistics. Students at Trinity are actively involved in intense research during the school year and have the option to participate in the school’s summer research program as well. Students enrolled in the department’s practicum course will participate in off-campus service learning in venues such as the Rape Crisis Center, Juvenile Probation, Child Safe, and the United Way Helpline, for example. Majors and minors alike are encouraged to join the university’s Psych Club.
#11 – Wake Forest University
Winston Salem, North Carolina
Points: 8
Enrollment: 4,867
Net Price: $25,826
Students pursuing a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Wake Forest University will have the advantage of learning from the department’s 19 full-time and 7 part-time faculty members who specialize in a wide range of topics. The department is housed in one of the newer buildings on campus, Greene Hall, which features state-of-the-art research laboratories and high-tech computer labs. In the classroom, psychology majors can expect to study topics such as Effective Parent-Child Relationships, Psychology of Gender, and Biopsychology. The school also offers a Master’s degree program intended to prepare students for doctoral work.
#10 – Wesleyan University
Middletown, Connecticut
Points: 8
Enrollment: 2,928
Net Price: $24,156
Psychology students at Wesleyan University will benefit from the expertise of 15 department faculty members who specialize in six subtopic of psychology: cognitive, cultural, developmental, social, psychopathology, and neuroscience. The university offers several unique course including Myth, Magic, and Movies; Motivation and Reward; Functional Anatomy of the Human Brain; and Psychology of Reading. Students may also participate in a variety of research labs including Cognitive Affective Personality Science Lab, Eye Movement and Reading Lab, Social Psychology Network, and Schizophrenia Cognition Lab.
#9 – Connecticut College
New London, Connecticut
Points: 8
Enrollment: 1,893
Net Price: $24,152
Connecticut College offers an impressive undergraduate psychology major featuring over 35 unique courses, including topics such as Environmental Psychology, Psychological Disorders and Dysfunction, Drugs and Behavior, and Industrial and Organizational Psychology. The program allows students to combine majors with certificates from other departments, creating a specialized program of study, or pursue an interdisciplinary major in behavioral neuroscience. Students are encouraged to attend faculty-led research groups, which meet weekly or bi-weekly and explore topics such as feminist psychology, environmental psychology, neuroscience, and developmental psychopathology.
#8 – Carleton College
Northfield, Minnesota
Points: 9
Enrollment: 2,057
Net Price: $32,017
Carleton College offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology that prepares students for graduate studies or professional careers in a wide variety of fields. The program emphasizes hands-on, experiential learning including research opportunities in five different laboratories: the Meerts Lab, the Language and Cognition Lab, the Perception Lab, the Primate Cognition Lab, and the Respiratory Lab. Carleton College also provides students with many undergraduate job and internship opportunities, including student fellowships and paid department positions. Off-campus study opportunities are made available through several programs, including the Carleton Cross-Cultural Psychology Program in Prague.
#7 – Trinity College
Hartford, Connecticut
Points: 9
Enrollment: 2,316
Net Price: $25,120
Psychology students at Trinity College say the school is just the right size. It’s small enough to allow for personal attention from professors but large enough to afford them the resources they need to delve deep into psychological study and research. The school’s location in the capital city of Hartford is also ideal as it enables students to secure nearby internships in the many public and private businesses and agencies in the area. The school’s Open Semester option gives students the freedom to pursue their own independent studies and research in an area of personal interest.
#6 – Franklin & Marshall College
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Points: 9
Enrollment: 2,209
Net Price: $22,974
Renowned for its high academic expectations and emphasis on empirical research, the psychology bachelor’s degree program at Franklin & Marshall College is comprised of courses such as Evolution of Mind and Intelligence, Conditioning and Learning, Cognitive Neuroscience, and Personality Psychology. Enrolled students will benefit from the school’s new Barshinger Life Sciences & Philosophy Building where they will use state-of-the-art equipment to probe such topics as artificial intelligence, primate behavior, language acquisition, and interpersonal relationships. The college’s psychology department also offers two interdisciplinary majors: Biological Foundations of Behavior and Scientific and Philosophical Studies of the Mind.
#5 – Vassar College
Poughkeepsie, New York
Points: 9
Enrollment: 2,421
Net Price: $19,661
Students seeking a bachelor’s in psychology from Vassar College are able to take advantage of the recently renovated New England Building, which houses state-of-the-art research laboratories, observation and testing suites, and sophisticated audio and video equipment. The school is also home to one of the country’s first laboratory schools, the Wimpfheimer Nursery School, which serves as both a learning institute for children and an early childhood development laboratory for Vassar students. Students can expect to take courses such as Psychological Perspectives on the Holocaust, The Psychology of Sport, and Individual Differences and Personality.
#4 – University of Richmond
Richmond, Virginia
Points: 10
Enrollment: 3,346
Net Price: $24,011
The University of Richmond offers a bachelor of arts in psychology and a bachelor of science in psychology as well as an interdisciplinary major in cognitive science. These programs feature a challenging curriculum that routinely prepares graduates for acceptance into some of the top psychology graduate schools in the nation. Research is a major component of each program, and students are encouraged to present their findings at both the School of Arts & Sciences’ annual Student Symposium and at national and international psychology conferences. Many of the school’s psychology majors take part in study abroad programs each year.
#3 – Claremont McKenna College
Claremont, California
Points: 10
Enrollment: 1,301
Net Price: $23,982
Psychology is the third largest major at Claremont McKenna College, and it’s not hard to see why. The department offers a breadth of opportunities for undergraduates, including the opportunity to conduct hands-on research in one of the many laboratories housed within the school, including the Berger Institute, the Center for Applied Psychological Research, the Claremont Autism Center, the Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory and many more. Other opportunities at Claremont McKenna College include fellowships, internships, student organizations, and study abroad options.
#2 – University of Tulsa
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Points: 11
Enrollment: 3,473
Net Price: $28,105
Students at the University of Tulsa have the option of pursuing either a bachelor of science in psychology or a bachelor of arts in psychology. These degree programs feature standout courses such as Psychology of Advertising, Psychology of Women, Occupational Health Psychology, and Responding to Violence. Students are expected to engage in intensive undergraduate research and to expand the walls of the classroom by participating in community service learning projects. For students who wish to continue their studies in the field, the university also offers masters and Ph. D programs in industrial/organizational psychology and clinical psychology.
#1 – Dartmouth College
Hanover, New Hampshire
Points: 11
Enrollment: 4,289
Net Price: $21,277
Dartmouth College offers a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences. The department is located in Moore Hall, which houses state-of-the-art facilities and equipment dedicated to undergraduate and graduate research in psychology. This includes a dedicated MRI Lab, neurophysiological and psychophysical recording facilities, and a video production and editing center. Undergraduate research is encouraged and supported through two fellowship programs: the Lincoln Filene Undergraduate Fellowship in Human Relations and the Benjamin J. Benner ’69 Undergraduate Research Fellowship.
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