2023 Best Online PhDs in Psychology

Liberty University (LU) is a private Christian institution with an online PhD in Psychology - General Psychology requiring 60 credit hours. The average completion time for this degree is three years for full-time students. Specializations are available, such as social psychology, theology, and developmental psychology. The acceptance rate at LU is 99%, and the graduation rate is 36%.

At LU, students use Canvas as their learning management system for flexible online courses. The core curriculum teaches advanced psychology applications, including behavioral therapy, clinical techniques, and practical training, all through a biblical lens. Some of the required courses include Psychological Research and Biblical Worldview, Teaching of Psychology, and Theories and Research in Industrial/Organizational Psychology. Students must also complete a dissertation. Career opportunities include corporate psychologists, project managers, and psychology researchers.

LU is not an LGBTQ-friendly university. Per its 2022-2023 Student Honor Code, students are forbidden from engaging in the LGBT community and using pronouns "inconsistent with one's birth sex."

Capella University is a private university offering an online PhD in Psychology that requires 87 credit hours with concentrations in general, developmental, educational, and industrial/organizational psychology. Students can complete this program in approximately six years while studying full time. The acceptance rate at Capella is 100%, with 21% of students reaching their degrees.

At Capella, students use Canvas for remote courses completed online and asynchronously. This program teaches the skills to conduct original research through data analysis and statistics. Face-to-face residencies are available to complement remote coursework. Required classes include Program Evaluation, Multivariate Statistics, and Survey Construction and Administration. A dissertation is also required to graduate, and then students may explore roles in hospitals, universities, and market research firms.

Regent University Online (RU) is a private Christian university with an online PhD in Counseling & Psychological Studies. This is a three-year degree requiring 51 credit hours. It's typical for full-time students to graduate from a PhD in approximately six years. There are 11 concentration options, including pastoral, grief, biblical, and addictions counseling. Students are accepted into RU at a rate of 41%, with 49% graduating with a degree. It's important to note that RU is not an LGBTQ-friendly university. According to its 2023 Student Handbook, same-sex relationships are prohibited.

RU students use Canvas as its primary learning management system, where they can complete courses 100% online and asynchronously. The curriculum for this program combines field experience with research while including advanced psychology coursework in Appraisal and Psychometrics, Disaster Trauma and Psychological First Aid, and Research Methods in Psychological Sciences. Students must also do a dissertation and complete a capstone project related to psychological sciences and Christian thought. Careers may be available as psychological researchers, mental health services executives, and guidance directors.

National University (NU) is a private institution offering an online PhD in Psychology. There are 60 credit hours required to graduate, which full-time students can complete in approximately 46 months. Specializations include counseling psychology, general psychology, and gerontology, among other areas.

NU uses Blackboard to deliver its online coursework. The core curriculum prepares students to solve individual, organizational, and global psychology challenges using research methodologies and practical experience. Required classes include Scholarly Writing and Professional Communication in Psychology, Tests and Measurements in Industrial/Organizational Psychology, and Research Design Planning. Students are also required to complete a dissertation and internship. Career paths may include college professors, clinical practice managers, and psychology researchers.

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology Online (TCSPP) is a private university with an online PhD in International Psychology requiring 60 credit hours. This is a nonclinical, nonlicensure degree, with concentrations in organizations and systems and trauma services. Students studying on a full-time schedule can complete this program online in around three years. The acceptance rate at TCSPP is 37%, but graduation rates are unavailable.

TCSPP uses Canvas to deliver coursework online. Online students must attend two residencies at one of TCSPP's campus locations and two field experiences at international locations. The unique curriculum focuses on theory, research, and scholarly learning in global environments. Students learn to be advocates for social justice and personal values as they relate to international psychological challenges. Required courses include Ethics and Professional Development, Humanitarianism and Mental Health Care Delivery, and Evaluation and Applied Research Methodology in Global Contexts. Students are also required to complete a dissertation. Graduates may find employment in nonprofit organizations, government embassies, and nongovernmental organizations.

TCSPP also offers a PhD in Business Psychology that explores employee engagement, organizational behavior, and diversity in the workplace.

Aspen University is a private university offering an online Doctor of Education in Leadership and Learning - Organizational Psychology that requires 60 credit hours. Students studying on a full-time schedule complete similar programs in approximately six years. Aspen has an open admission policy and a graduation rate of 46%.

Students at Aspen use the Brightspace learning management system to access their core online courses, which are entirely online and asynchronous. The curriculum highlights applications of leadership, problem-solving, and ethics to address psychological challenges in groups and organizations. There are required courses such as Human Potential and Motivation, The Psychology of Leadership, and The Social Psychology of Groups. Students must also complete a written dissertation summarizing their research findings. This is not a teacher certification program but may lead to roles within universities as human resources managers, research psychologists, and public relations specialists.

Keiser University (KU) is a private institution with an online PhD in Psychology requiring the completion of 60 credit hours. The estimated completion time for this program is 36-60 months for full-time students. KU accepts 96% of applicants, with 56% of students graduating.

All online courses at KU are delivered through the Blackboard learning management system, allowing students to study online and access their coursework anytime. This online PhD degree teaches foundational psychology theory and principles, research methodologies, and educational and social program evaluation techniques. Among the core requirements are courses in Evolutionary Psychology, Cognitive and Affective Basis of Behavior, and Sociocultural Basis of Behavior. Additionally, students must complete two eight-week dissertation courses each semester. Students may be hired as psychosocial specialists, education program evaluators, and marketing directors.

Touro University Worldwide (TUW) is a private university that offers an online Doctor of Psychology in Human and Organizational Psychology. This online doctoral degree requires 66 credit hours, which TUW notes are generally completed in three years while studying full time. The acceptance rate is 100%, and 43% of students achieve degrees.

Canvas is the primary learning platform TUW students use for their coursework, which can be completed 100% online, flexibly, and within eight-week courses. This curriculum emphasizes psychology applications in the workforce, designed to implement change and increase productivity. Among the required credits are classes such as Applied Social Psychology, Qualitative Research Methods, and Application of Research Methods in Professional Settings. After completing research and theory coursework, students will move on to a final dissertation. Graduates of similar programs become policy officers, human resources executives, and behavioral analysts.

The University of Memphis (U of M) is a public university offering an online Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Psychology and Research requiring 54 credit hours. Students studying on a full-time schedule complete similar programs in approximately six years. The acceptance rate at U of M is 95%, and the graduation rate is 53%.

Students at U of M use the Canvas learning management system to access their core online courses, which are entirely online. The curriculum highlights various areas of human development, from infancy to adulthood, alongside program evaluation and research methodologies. There are required courses, such as Learning and Cognition, Psychology of Aging, Moral Development and Education, a research residency project, and a dissertation. Graduates may have career opportunities, such as social workers, education consultants, and school administrators.

Sofia University is a private university offering an online Doctor of Philosophy in Transpersonal Psychology, which requires 75 credit hours. Concentrations are available in areas such as consciousness and creativity, health and wellbeing, and neuroscience. This program is designed for full-time students to complete it in three years. Sofia does not provide acceptance or graduation rates.

Students at Sofia use the Canvas learning management system to access their core online courses, which are entirely online. Classes are offered both synchronously and asynchronously. The curriculum integrates spirituality and transcendence with the scientific understanding of psychology. This is done through applied learning in theory, research, and philosophy. Four residential seminars are mandated, although they can be completed virtually. There are required courses such as Foundations of Transpersonal Psychology; Critical Thinking and Scholarly Writing; and Psychology of Cognition, Affect, and Consciousness. A dissertation is also required. Career outcomes vary based on the concentration but may include social workers, psychology researchers, and corporate consultants.

Alliant International University (AIU) is a private university offering an online Doctor of Psychology in Educational Psychology that requires 50 credit hours. This online doctorate is designed for students with a school psychology license or certification. AIU notes that students can graduate in as little as two years on a full-time schedule. The acceptance rate at AIU is 100%, with 62% of students reaching their degrees.

At AIU, students use Canvas for remote courses completed online and asynchronously. Among the core components of school counseling, social justice, human development, and program evaluation, students will also gain essential leadership skills. Required classes include Current Trends/Legal Issues in Schools and Child Psychology; Law, Ethics, and Equity; and Developmental Psychopathology. A doctoral project and dissertation are also required. Graduates may explore university teaching roles or pursue mental health-related positions in government agencies, consulting firms, or research organizations.

AIU also offers a Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology, Public Policy, and Law and a Doctor of Philosophy in Industrial and Organizational Psychology.

The University of the Southwest (USW) is a private, Christian institution with an online Doctor of Education in Educational Psychology requiring 60 credit hours. Typically, full-time students graduate from a PhD in approximately six years. USW accepts 100% of its applicants, while 35% of students graduate.

USW uses Blackboard to deliver its online coursework. This software allows students to finish their degrees online. Students will study human learning habits and capabilities through four pillars: leadership foundations, organizational dynamics and change, strategic planning, and research. Required classes include Foundations of Action Research in Education, Transformational Leadership and the Learning Organization, and Policy Analysis and Ethics in Education. Online students are also required to complete a dissertation and two online residencies. Graduates are eligible to gain employment teaching at the elementary, secondary, or university levels.

The University of Western States (UWS) is a private health sciences university with an online Doctor of Education in Sport and Performance Psychology. Two concentrations are available: (1) positive leadership and administration as well as (2) sport and performance psychology consulting. This degree requires 86 quarter credits, which full-time students will likely complete in four to five years. UWS does not provide acceptance or graduate rates.

UWS students use Canvas as its primary learning management system, where they can complete courses 100% online through synchronous and asynchronous formats. The curriculum for this program blends applied clinical psychology with research practices, preparing students to become Certified Mental Performance Consultants and licensed counselors. The required classes include Assistive Technology Supporting Mental Health Treatment, Exercise Physiology, and Applied Leadership in Sport and Performance Coaching. Students must also complete an internship, capstone project, and dissertation. Careers may be available as sports research specialists, team psychologists, and sports rehabilitation directors.

California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS) is a private university that hosts an online PhD in Integral and Transpersonal Psychology. This part-time degree requires a minimum of 36 units of coursework, which can be completed between four and seven years. Concentrations include integral and transpersonal psychology; consciousness studies and contemplative neuroscience; and somatic studies. CIIS does not provide acceptance rate information; its graduation rate is 88%.

Online students at CIIS use Canvas to complete their coursework online and in an asynchronous format. Each semester, students must attend a five-day residential intensive on campus. This whole-person psychology program includes the study of mystical and spiritual experiences, each from the perspective of societies, communities, and the human body. Required courses include Western/World Philosophies with History and Systems of Psychology, Critical Thinking with Integral/Transpersonal Psychologies, and Integral Research Methods with Creative Expression. Students are also required to complete a dissertation. Graduates may find employment in social work, personal development, and academia.

Chaminade University of Honolulu (CUH) is a private institution featuring an online Doctor of Education in Educational Psychology - Mental Health Counseling that requires 60 credit hours. Full-time students can complete these requirements in as little as 36 months. The acceptance rate at CUH is 90%, and the graduation rate is 49%.

At CUH, students use Canvas as their learning management system. Courses are delivered entirely online through synchronous and asynchronous formats. The core curriculum focuses on three key areas: (1) psychological test administration, (2) mental health counseling, and (3) scholar-practitioner research. Some required courses include Behavioral Assessment and Intervention, Advanced Counseling Theories and Techniques, and Applied Leadership and Practice in Diverse Systems. Upon completion of this program, graduates can earn their mental health license in the state of Hawaii. Students must also complete an internship and dissertation. Career opportunities include college professors, instructional designers, and school counselors.

Saybrook University is a private university that offers an online Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology. Concentrations include consciousness, spirituality, and integrative health; creativity, innovation, and leadership; existential and humanistic psychology; and psychophysiology. This nonclinical, nonlicensure degree requires 66 credit hours, generally completed in five to six years while studying full time. Saybrook does not provide acceptance or graduation rates.

Canvas is the primary learning platform Saybrook students use for their coursework, which can be completed almost entirely online, with some educational and residential orientations required in person. This curriculum emphasizes transpersonal, existential, and humanistic elements to go beyond the foundations of traditional psychology. Among the required credits are classes such as Ethics, Spirit, and Health Care; Ethics and Laws in Psychotherapy and Behavioral Science Research; and Foundations and Critique of Contemporary Psychology. Additional credits are required for a dissertation. Jobs for graduates may be available in research facilities, universities, and government agencies.

William James College (WJC) is a private university that offers an online Doctorate in Leadership Psychology with concentrations in educational leadership, inclusive leadership, leading nonprofits and NGOs, and neuroscience of leadership psychology. This online doctoral degree requires 68 credit hours, generally completed in four years while studying full time and six years for part-time students. WJC does not provide acceptance or graduation rates.

Canvas is the primary learning platform WJC students use for their coursework, which can be completed primarily online, with three four-day residencies required in Newton, Massachusetts. This curriculum explores the tools and techniques needed to understand the relationship between leaders and followers while also looking at diversity and social justice characteristics. Among the required credits are classes such as Ethics and Standards of Practice in Leadership, The Neurobiology of Leadership, and Team and Group Development for Leaders. Additional credits are required for an internship and doctoral project. Jobs for graduates may be available as leadership psychologists, organizational development strategists, and chief human resource officers.