Psychology is one of the most popular choices for an undergraduate degree from a four-year university. Top college majors often cause market saturation, but not in psychology.
According to the American Psychological Association (APA), the growing demand for mental health professionals has led to excellent and high pay. The complex nature of this job also means that not even ChatGPT can ruin this career path.
So, is a psychology degree right for you? Let's look at why you should choose this major. We'll also discuss the best schools and review top positions.
Why you should choose psychology as your major
Psychology Today confesses that most people don't decide to major in psychology in high school. So, what happens? Well, college students take a few introductory psychology courses that pique their interest. Next thing they know, they're declaring it as a major for their bachelor's degree.
Still, some people know this is the path for them from the start. Here's why:
- Students build critical thinking and problem-solving skills while learning a lot about themselves and others.
- Psychology complements other academic fields and jobs well. Examples include social work and marketing.
- Psychology provides an excellent foundation for graduate school, even if you switch to another focus, such as law or business.
- Psychology provides many specializations for students to explore. You can choose from behavioral disorders, cognitive psychology, social psychology, and educational psychology.
- Psychology graduates are one of the few who can expect to earn six figures without a Ph.D.
- The need for mental health care is rising. That means more job opportunities for psychologists.
- Psychologists can work for themselves as licensed therapists running private offices.
- Psychologists can work remotely as digital nomads jet-setting around the world.
7 top psychology jobs
Previous generations often didn't give mental health the focus it deserves. After years of working to remove the stigma associated with mental illness, mental health has become synonymous with self-care.
This change gave psychology majors many rewarding career opportunities, from counseling to research. These are the top seven career options fueled by the shift.
Psychiatrists are medical professionals. They specialize in researching, identifying, and treating mental health disorders. These professionals can prescribe medications. They often treat biological and psychological aspects of mental illness.
So, what does a psychiatrist do at work?
- Conduct psychotherapy sessions
- Complete in-depth assessments of patients' mental and physical health
- Develop treatment plans
- Closely monitor progress
- Adjust medications as needed and provide counseling
Want an upper-middle-class lifestyle? Psychiatrists earn a mean annual salary of $249,760 and are generally well-respected.
Organizational psychology focuses on human behavior in a workplace setting. These professionals use psychology to help companies boost productivity without disrupting work-life balance for employees.
Here's what professionals get up to in this area of psychology:
- Analyzing organizational effectiveness
- Developing policies for human resources
- Designing job assessment tests
- Conducting employee feedback surveys
- Conducting research to identify potential problems
- Implementing solutions for those problems
IO psychologists earn a mean annual salary of $113,320.
Outpatient care centers provide mental health services to people in their communities. Psychologists assess, diagnose, and treat patients with mental health issues.
Here's what a typical week as an outpatient care center worker might look like:
- Interviewing patients
- Performing psychological assessments
- Developing treatment plans
- Providing family or group therapy sessions
- Regularly monitoring patient progress
- Addressing substance abuse
The mean annual salary is $107,610. Psychologists with advanced degrees and specializations in this field are more likely to command high salaries.
Clinical psychology involves assessing, diagnosing, and treating mental health issues. These professionals focus on a particular type of patient or mental health matter. They could end up working with trauma victims or those suffering from depression or anxiety.
Here are some examples of the work they do.
- Performing psychological evaluations
- Designing treatment plans
- Providing individual therapy sessions
- Providing inpatient and outpatient treatment
- Referring patients to support groups and other professionals
Clinical psychologists make good money. They earn a mean annual salary of $99,640.
Forensic psychology professionals apply psychological principles to legal matters. They often liaise with criminal justice workers, such as police officers and attorneys. They help assess whether a suspect is competent to stand trial or provide testimony in court.
Here's some of the work they do:
- Assessing suspects for mental competency
- Conducting research on defendants
- Providing expert testimony in legal proceedings
- Providing criminal psychological evaluations
- Conducting risk assessments
Forensic psychologists earn an average base annual salary of $104,907. Surprisingly, Montana, New Mexico, and Ohio pay the highest annual wages for this profession.
Neuroscience analyzes the relationship between brain functions and behavior. These professionals treat patients with neurological disorders. People with Alzheimer's disease, dementia, and traumatic brain injuries likely see neuropsychologists.
Here's an idea of how they spend their time at work:
- Performing neuropsychological assessments
- Developing treatment plans
- Providing counseling to patients and their families
- Testing cognitive abilities
- Providing referrals for additional treatment
Neuropsychologists earn an average annual salary that ranges from $87,230 to $237,677. Averages change depending on geographic location and professional experience.
School psychology professionals study students' social, emotional, and cognitive development. You likely had at least one at your school. Schools typically hire them to help create safe learning environments.
Their work centers on developmental psychology and counseling, including:
- Testing and assessing students
- Providing counseling services to struggling students
- Developing schoolwide behavior management systems
- Developing individualized education plans (IEPs)
- Collaborating with teachers, parents, and other professionals
School psychologists earn an annual median salary of $60,510.
Is a psychology major worth it?
You don't always need to graduate with a psychology major to work in these positions, but it expands your options. Employers and individual clients prefer people who specialize in this field. At the undergraduate level, that means declaring a psychology major.
Most psychology jobs only ask for an undergraduate degree. Some might also require state licensure and certification. Even though graduate and postgraduate degrees aren't usually necessary, you'll need that master's degree or PsyD for a top-paying position.
Psychiatrists and clinical psychologists are two apparent exceptions to the general rule. Psychiatrists must possess a medical degree to practice. This field of study takes roughly 15 years to complete because, like other M.D.s, they must also complete four years of residency. Clinical psychologists require a master's or doctoral degree to meet licensing qualifications.
What are the best schools for psychology?
Ivy League schools top the list for most fields, but psychology is an exception. Location is the thing that ties most of America's best psychology schools together.
Three of the four best universities for psychology are in California. All schools listed provide bachelor's, master's, and postgraduate programs.
Students with impressive academic achievements should consider Stanford University. This private university has a 4% acceptance rate, and its Ivy League status can strengthen any resume.
Psychology was one of the first departments Stanford established. In fact, the department spearheaded its fair share of groundbreaking psychological research in America.
UC-Berkley is known for its prestigious psychology department. Students can choose from several specialized degree programs. These programs provide access to leading faculty members, research laboratories, and the chance to study under some of America's top minds in the field. This public institution has an acceptance rate of 11%.
Ivy League hopefuls in the eastern United States should consider Harvard University. This private university created the field of psychology in the 1800s with the assistance of William James.
Some of the most prominent psychologists are Harvard alums, such as B. F. Skinner and Erik Erikson. Harvard has an acceptance rate of 4%.
UCLA offers both Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees. The curriculum takes a scientific and systematic approach to psychology with a strong focus on research.
Students can also choose from several specialties, such as personality studies and psychobiology. This public university has an acceptance rate of 11%.
Compare the best psychology colleges and universities with College Rover
Attending the top schools has obvious benefits, but the low acceptance rates mean that only so many psychology students stand a chance. The good news is that hundreds of schools across America provide impressive psychology programs. Think about your college needs carefully and choose schools with the best chances of meeting them.
The downside? Manually completing this process can be tedious and overwhelming. No one's got time to look at multiple college websites for hours. Instead, find everything you need in one location.
College Rover provides all the resources you need to find the right psychology program. Customize your search to include everything from tuition to demographics.
Are you ready to find the right school to kick-start your psychology career goals? Start comparing your top options today.
