10 Best Community Colleges That Offer Psychology 2026

If you’re thinking about a career in psychology, starting at a community college can be one of the smartest moves you make. These programs give you access to affordable associate degrees, clear transfer pathways, and flexible tuition that fits your budget. 

You’ll study topics like behavior, development, and mental health while preparing for a bachelor’s degree or entry-level work. Below, you’ll find the best community colleges for psychology programs that provide a practical starting point for your academic journey.

Do Community Colleges Offer Psychology?

Yes, many schools offer psychology pathways through associate degrees and transfer tracks that lead directly into bachelor’s programs. When you go to a community college for psychology, you’ll take courses like: 

• general psychology
• social psychology
• abnormal psychology
• research methods 

These programs also build your skills in critical thinking and scientific reasoning, which prepare you for further study or entry-level work in related fields. Because tuition is far more affordable than at four-year universities, starting at a community college can make your path into psychology much more cost-effective.

What Types of Psychology Degrees Do Community Colleges Offer?

Starting at a community college with a psychology degree pathway can give you a strong academic foundation while keeping tuition costs low. You’ll usually be able to enroll in an associate program that either stands alone or prepares you to transfer into a bachelor’s program. The most common option is an Associate in Arts (AA) or Associate in Science (AS), which introduces you to the fundamentals of behavior, development, and mental health while also fulfilling general education requirements. 

Some schools also offer certificates in areas like behavioral science or human development. In addition, a growing number of community colleges with psychology major options let you officially declare psychology at the associate level, giving you a clear identity in the field from the very start.

Community Colleges With Psychology Programs

At community colleges, psychology programs are typically structured as two-year associate degrees that combine general education with core coursework in the field. You’ll study subjects like developmental psychology, abnormal psychology, and social psychology, often paired with classes in research methods and statistics. 

These programs are set up to transfer smoothly into bachelor’s degrees at four-year universities, allowing you to save money on tuition while still earning credits that count toward your major. For many students, this creates an affordable and practical first step into psychology.

Top 10 Community Colleges That Offer Psychology Programs

These community colleges provide affordable psychology pathways with strong transfer options to four-year universities. Each school offers accessible tuition, supportive faculty, and courses that build the foundation for advanced study or entry-level opportunities in the field.

 1. Los Angeles Pierce College 

Los Angeles Pierce College in Woodland Hills, CA, offers a psychology pathway that helps you build a deeper understanding of human behavior and mental processes while strengthening your ability to think scientifically. Coursework introduces major areas of the field, including cognition, development, abnormal psychology, and social behavior, so you can connect theory to everyday life. You’ll also practice research methods and critical reasoning, skills that prepare you for both academic and professional growth.

The program is offered as an Associate in Arts for Transfer (AA-T), which means your credits are structured to transfer seamlessly into the California State University system. This gives you a clear, affordable path to continue your studies toward a bachelor’s degree. 

• Estimated tuition cost: $46 per unit (resident); $377 per unit (non-resident)
• Financial aid: Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for federal aid option; scholarships and campus support are also available.
• Accreditation: Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC); Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)

2. Miami Dade College

Miami Dade College in Miami, FL, offers an Associate in Arts (AA) in psychology structured to make transferring simple, often guaranteeing admission into the state’s public universities. While working toward your degree, you’ll complete courses in behavioral science and general education, building a foundation that aligns with bachelor’s programs across Florida.

One unique feature is the program’s flexibility; you can follow a traditional pace or fast-track your studies and finish the AA in as little as one year. With affordable tuition and strong advising support, Miami Dade provides an efficient and cost-conscious way to move from community college into a university psychology program.

• Estimated tuition cost: $83 per credit hour (resident); $331 per credit hour (non-resident)
• Financial aid: FAFSA-based grants, scholarships, and advising support are available.
• Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)

3. Houston Community College 

Houston Community College in Houston, TX, offers a psychology pathway that explores how the mind works through topics such as perception, memory, emotion, development, and psychological disorders. You can pursue an Associate in Science (AS) or take individual courses that build toward it, which means that you can transfer your degree to a bachelor’s program or just learn more about psychology.

The program also develops your ability to read research, apply core psychological concepts, and communicate findings clearly. These are skills that will carry into upper-level study or related fields.

• Estimated tuition cost: $85 per credit hour (in-district); $181 (out-of-district); $227 (out-of-state)
• Financial aid: HCC offers access to FAFSA-based grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study.
• Accreditation: SACSCOC

4. Laney College

Laney College in Oakland, CA, offers a psychology AA-T that creates a direct pathway into the California State University system with junior standing and priority admission. This makes it a strong choice if you’re aiming to continue toward a bachelor’s degree.

The curriculum includes core classes such as general psychology, lifespan development, social psychology, abnormal psychology, and introductory research methods. Along the way, you’ll strengthen your critical thinking skills while gaining insight into behavior, culture, and social influence, which are key foundations for advanced study or careers connected to psychology.

• Estimated tuition cost: $42 per credit hour (in-state); $330 per credit hour (out-of-state)
• Financial aid: FAFSA-based aid, scholarships, and support services are available.
• Accreditation: ACCJC (WASC)

5. Mesa Community College

Mesa Community College in Mesa, AZ, has an AA with an emphasis in psychology that gives you both a strong academic foundation and a clear transfer path. By taking 60 to 64 credits, you’ll practice critical thinking, scientific reasoning, ethical awareness, and psychological literacy, while connecting what you learn to personal and community growth.

What sets this program apart is its intentional alignment with Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, and the University of Arizona. That means your credits move smoothly into a bachelor’s program.

• Estimated tuition cost: $ per credit hour (in-county); $372 (out-of-state students residing in Arizona); $531 (out-of-county resident)
• Financial aid: FAFSA-supported grants, scholarships, loans, work-study, and advising support are offered by Mesa.
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)

6. Dallas College

Dallas College in Texas offers a psychology program that works well whether you’re preparing to transfer or simply exploring the field. Courses include general psychology, lifespan development, social psychology, and human sexuality, offered across multiple campuses to give you scheduling flexibility. Guided Pathways help you choose the right course sequence so you stay on track from start to finish.

A key advantage is the inclusion of Texas’s approved field of study (FOS) in psychology. This ensures your credits transfer as a block to public universities in the state, simplifying the move into a bachelor’s program.

• Estimated tuition cost: $99 per credit hour (in-county); $169 (out-of-county); $250 (out-of-state)
• Financial aid: FAFSA-based grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study, with virtual and in-person support are available. 
• Accreditation: SACSCOC

7. Pima Community College

Pima Community College in Tucson, AZ, offers a psychology program with flexible learning formats. You can study in person, take hybrid classes, or complete the program fully online across multiple campuses. Courses explore behavior, emotion, brain function, and the environment, while also developing your skills in research, critical thinking, and human development.

The program is intentionally aligned with the first two years of classes at the University of Arizona, so you can transfer smoothly while keeping tuition affordable. This makes Pima an appealing option if you want the convenience of local or online study now and the assurance of a cost-effective pathway into a bachelor’s program later.

• Estimated tuition cost: $101 per credit hour (resident); $322 per credit hour (non-resident)
• Financial aid: FAFSA-based grants, scholarships, loans, and advising are available.
• Accreditation: HLC

8. Community College of Philadelphia 

The Community College of Philadelphia (CCP) in Pennsylvania offers an AA in psychology that provides academic study with preparation for transfer. Across 61 credits, you’ll explore topics such as abnormal psychology, research methods, cross-cultural psychology, and the foundations of behavior and mental processes. 

What sets CCP apart are its formal transfer agreements with nearby universities, including Temple and La Salle. These partnerships make the transition to a bachelor’s program far smoother by ensuring your credits count.

• Estimated tuition cost: $159 per credit hour (in-district); $169 (out-of-district); $179 (out-of-state)
• Financial aid: FAFSA-based grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study with advising services are available.
• Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)

9. College of Lake County

The College of Lake County in Grayslake, IL, offers a psychology AA that gives you the chance to explore the field in smaller classes where instructors know their students by name. Coursework covers brain development, behavior, cognition, mental health, and intervention strategies, while also helping you sharpen your research and critical thinking skills.

You can study either online or on campus, and advising support, including college and career navigators, guides your transfer plans every step of the way. The program is designed to be finished in about two years, after which you can move directly into a bachelor’s program.

• Estimated tuition cost: $142 per credit hour (in-district); $365 per credit hour (out-of-district); $495.20 per credit hour (out-of-state)
•  Financial aid: Financial aid and scholarships are available.
• Accreditation: HLC

10. Bunker Hill Community College 

Bunker Hill Community College in Boston, MA, offers an AA in psychology that builds a strong foundation in understanding human behavior and mental processes. Courses include general psychology, abnormal psychology, social psychology, and research methods. You’ll also develop critical thinking and scientific reasoning skills that apply to many academic and career paths.

The program is structured to align with transfer agreements at four-year institutions, so you can move directly into a bachelor’s program in psychology or a related field without losing credits.

• Estimated tuition cost: $282 per credit hour (in-state); $294 (regional students); $488 (out-of-state)
• Financial aid: FAFSA-based grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study programs are available.
• Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)

How We Rank Schools

We rank psychology programs by looking at the factors that matter most for students planning to transfer or start a career. Accreditation, affordability, reputation, and course offerings help ensure you get the right preparation.

• Accreditation: Each school must hold regional accreditation to guarantee that your credits transfer and your degree is widely recognized.
• Affordability: Tuition rates and financial aid options are reviewed so programs remain accessible for a wide range of students.
• Program reputation: Graduate outcomes, faculty support, and university transfer agreements shape the overall quality of each program.
• Course offerings: Schools are evaluated on whether they provide key courses like developmental, abnormal, and social psychology, plus research methods.

Career Opportunities With a Community College Psychology Degree

Graduating from a community college with a psychology degree can open the door to several entry-level career options. With an associate degree, you may qualify for roles in human services, such as case aide or community support worker, where you help connect people with resources and programs. Some students find opportunities in education as classroom assistants, while others take on entry-level research support positions. 

It’s important to note that many psychology-related careers require at least a bachelor’s degree, so most students continue their education. Still, an associate degree provides valuable skills and experience that translate into jobs across social services, education, and related fields.

How Much Does a Psychology Degree at Community College Cost?

The cost of earning an associate degree in psychology at a community college is typically much lower than at a four-year university. Tuition often ranges from about $50 to $300 per credit for in-state students, depending on the college and your residency status. 

By comparison, universities can charge two to three times as much per credit. Financial aid options such as federal grants, state programs, scholarships, and work-study help further reduce expenses.

How Long Does It Take To Earn a Psychology Degree at Community College?

Most psychology associate degrees at community colleges take about two years of full-time study to complete. If your school offers short-term certificates in psychology or behavioral science, you may be able to finish those in less than a year. 

Transfer students sometimes shorten their timeline by bringing in previously earned credits, while part-time students may take a little longer to finish. Your overall timeline often depends on how many classes you take each semester and whether the program follows a traditional or flexible schedule.

Why Choose a Community College Psychology Program?

Starting your studies at a community college with a good psychology program gives you a practical and affordable way to begin exploring the field. These schools combine accessible tuition with strong academic support and clear transfer pathways to four-year universities.

• Compared to four-year universities, earning your associate degree in psychology from a community college is significantly more affordable. 
• Smaller class sizes and personalized advising help you stay on track toward your goals.
•  Transfer agreements make it easier to move into bachelor’s programs without losing credits.
• Flexible scheduling, including online and hybrid options, allows you to balance school with work or family commitments.

Across the country, you can find good community colleges for psychology that offer strong advising, transfer pathways, and opportunities to explore areas like child development, social behavior, or research skills. Many of these programs have local partnerships with universities, helping you move smoothly into a bachelor’s degree while saving money.

If you’re considering psychology, start by looking at community colleges with psychology programs near you. Local schools often offer the lowest tuition rates and strong community connections. Some schools even provide specialized options, such as forensic psychology community colleges, where you can explore niche interests while earning transferable credits.

FAQs About Community Colleges That Offer Psychology Programs

If you’re thinking about starting your psychology degree at a community college, you probably have questions. Below are answers about program length, costs, transfer options, and career pathways to help you decide if it’s the right fit.

Is There a Two-Year Degree in Psychology?

Yes, many community colleges offer a two-year associate degree in psychology. These programs introduce you to topics like human development, abnormal psychology, and research methods while also covering general education requirements. After finishing, you can transfer into a bachelor’s program or explore entry-level roles in related fields.

What Are the Admission Requirements for Community College Psychology Programs?

Admission requirements for community college psychology programs are typically straightforward. Most schools ask for a high school diploma or GED, a completed application, and placement tests in math or English. Some colleges also provide assessment or advising sessions to help you pick the right starting courses for your degree.

Can I Transfer From a Community College to a University Psychology Program?

Yes, many community colleges have articulation agreements with universities that make transferring straightforward. These agreements ensure your psychology credits count toward a bachelor’s degree, often guaranteeing junior-level standing. With advising support and transfer pathways in place, moving from a community college program into a university psychology program is both affordable and seamless.

What Are the Best Community Colleges in California for Psychology?

The best community colleges in California for psychology combine low tuition with clear transfer opportunities into the California State University system. Schools like Los Angeles Pierce College and Laney College offer affordable AA-T degrees that provide priority admission and junior standing at CSU campuses.

Explore Psychology Degrees

Explore more associate degrees and transfer programs in psychology and the social sciences on Learn.org. Compare affordable community college options and find the pathway that fits your academic and career goals.