Best Online Psychology Degrees in Pennsylvania (2025)

Several colleges and universities throughout the U.S. offer top online psychology degree programs. Students in Pennsylvania who want the best online psychology degrees should look for programs that are accredited and provide a solid education in psychology and the social sciences.

Whether you're searching for low-cost online psychology degrees or accelerated programs that help you finish faster, there's something for everyone. Keep reading to discover the best online psychology degrees in Pennsylvania.

Top Online Psychology Degree Programs in Pennsylvania

Over a dozen colleges and universities in Pennsylvania offer online psychology degree programs. Below, we've highlighted our top picks.

1. Albright College

Albright College is a private liberal arts school in Reading, PA. It offers both a Bachelor of Science (BS) and a Master of Science (MS) in applied psychology online.

The bachelor's degree explores topics such as human behavior, abnormal psychology, ethics, and more. Students learn how to apply psychology theory to solve real-world issues.

In the master's program, students develop advanced training in psychology, focusing on the application of psychology in a variety of settings. The program runs on accelerated five-week semesters, allowing students to earn their degree in just a year.

2. Alvernia University

At Alvernia University, students can earn an online Bachelor of Science in psychology. This program covers human behavior, lifespan development, and research methods.

This private Catholic institution is based in Reading, PA. The program includes real-world learning through internships, service learning experiences, and collaborative research projects.

3. Carlow University

A Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Master of Arts (MA) are available online at Carlow University. The private Catholic school is located in Pittsburgh.

In the bachelor's program, students can choose a concentration in child development, counseling, or crisis and trauma. They can transfer up to 90 credit hours, and they also have the option to take up to 12 credits of graduate-level coursework as undergraduates.

The master's degree offers five concentrations: assessment, exploration, forensic, therapeutic arts, or treatment psychology. This program is designed for students who want to work in psychology settings that do not require licensure.

4. DeSales University

DeSales University offers an accelerated online BS in psychology that offers two tracks: clinical/counseling and applied psychology. Both help students understand the thoughts, emotions, and behaviors of others.

DeSales University is a private Catholic institution in Center Valley, PA. It offers part-time, full-time, and accelerated plans of study for students in this online psychology program.

5. Drexel University

Drexel University is a private research institution in Philadelphia. It offers a BS in psychology online that studies numerous topics in psychology and teaches students rigorous, evidence-based methodologies that are integral to the field.

While the university doesn't offer an online master's degree in psychology, it does offer a hybrid educational specialist program in school psychology. This program prepares students to work with children and young adults as school psychologists through a mix of in-person and online learning.

6. Eastern University

Students at Eastern University can pursue an online BA in psychology. This program includes courses on subjects such as adolescent psychology, applied behavior analysis, and ethics.

This private Christian school is located in St. Davids, PA. The online bachelor's degree requires fieldwork, but it can be done at a site near the student.

7. PennState World Campus

Students can earn a BA or BS in psychology online through PennState World Campus. The World Campus is the online branch of the public Pennsylvania State University system.

Both programs explore human behavior, how it is studied, and how psychology impacts almost every area of society. The BA requires more humanities courses than the BS.

Although the school doesn't offer a master's degree specifically in psychology, it does offer a Master of Professional Studies in psychology of leadership. This program is for working professionals who want to learn how to apply psychological theories and research to solve practical leadership problems in organizations.

Our Selection Criteria

To choose the programs for this list, we focused on:

• Location: Every school above is located in Pennsylvania.
• Accreditation: All schools listed hold regional accreditation through the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).
• Type: We looked specifically at four-year public or nonprofit private schools.
• Financial Aid: All programs come from online colleges that accept FAFSA.

What Can I Expect From an Accredited Online Program in Psychology?

Online programs are typically offered through asynchronous courses, meaning that there are no set meeting times. You complete the coursework on your own schedule, which is far more flexible than learning on campus.

Undergraduate programs provide students with a general understanding of psychology. Courses cover topics like:

• abnormal psychology
• human behavior
• lifespan development
• mental health
• substance abuse and addiction
• theories of personality

These degrees also help students hone their critical thinking and research skills. Some may require an internship or research project.

Master's degrees offer a more advanced understanding of psychology. These often include capstone projects or clinical experiences.

Types of Psychology Concentrations

Often, psychology programs will offer specializations or concentrations that allow students to tailor their degree to their career goals. Common concentrations include:

• behavioral psychology
• child psychology
• clinical psychology
• counseling psychology
• developmental psychology
• educational psychology
• forensic psychology
• industrial-organizational psychology

How Long Does an Online Psychology Degree Take to Complete?

Bachelor's degrees usually require 120 credit hours, which takes an average of four years of full-time study to complete. However, some schools offer accelerated online psychology degrees, and others offer programs that you can progress through at your own pace.

Additionally, if you have an associate degree or a significant number of college credits, you can transfer your credits into your psychology program and reduce the number of credits you need to complete.

On the other hand, graduate programs can vary. Master's degrees average at about two years but often range between one and three years. Doctoral degrees take several years, usually between three and seven, but it depends on the type of doctoral program you're pursuing.

Career Paths for Psychology Majors

Psychology majors are prepared for a variety of career options. Some choose to further advance their studies to become licensed psychologists, while others pursue careers in fields like:

• criminal justice
• education
• healthcare
• human resources
• marketing
• social services and social work

Note that some careers in these fields may still require a graduate degree or licensure.

Explore Accredited Online Programs Today

Start your journey toward an education in psychology by exploring the online programs featured on Learn.org. Reach out to individual schools to learn more about their psychology degrees today.