4 Best HBCU Psychology Programs of 2024
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Psychology degrees are in high demand, partly because there is an increasing need for mental health practitioners.However, like many academic disciplines, psychology, both as a medical and educational field, has historically given priority to white students. This is one of the reasons why 81% of U.S. psychologists are white, while only 5% are Black or African American, according to the American Psychological Association (APA).Historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) offer students the opportunity to study human behavior while focusing on the experiences of Black individuals, women, and people from multicultural backgrounds.Continue reading to discover the HBCU psychology program that is right for you.
Popular Online Psychology Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
What to Expect from a Psychology Program
Psychology is an academic, clinical, and scientific discipline that seeks to understand human behavior.
The psychology field is broad and encompasses many subspecialties, including but not limited to:
- Behavioral psychology
- Counseling psychology
- Clinical psychology
- Educational psychology
- Developmental psychology
- Industrial organizational psychology
You might assume that a psychology degree is most relevant for those aspiring to become licensed clinical psychologists. However, psychology graduates are highly sought after and have seen increasing success in various careers, including human resources, marketing and market research, education, and business.
The Best HBCU Psychology Programs
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Peterson's Data
and the National Center for Education Statistics to inform the data for these schools.
BestColleges.com is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.
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North Carolina Central University
Durham, NC - 4 years
- Online + Campus
Cost per Credit Hour:
In-State | $185
Out-of-State | $728
Credits to Graduate: 120
NCCU's online bachelor's in psychology program prepares you for a career in the human services field or to pursue graduate studies. The degree program includes courses on general psychology, abnormal psychology, and an introduction to Black psychology. You'll also complete 18 credits of electives, focusing your studies on areas of interest.
Coursework is available entirely online. Students can apply to begin their studies in the summer, fall, or spring term.
Delaware State University
Dover, DE - 4 years
- Online + Campus
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $382-$432
Out-of-State | $382-$432
Credits to Graduate: 120
In DSU's online BS in psychology program, you'll have the opportunity to develop your skills in hands-on settings that will prepare you to work directly in your community.
In this undergraduate program, you'll volunteer at local organizations, assist with research projects, and analyze how race, gender, and culture play a role in the field. The program concludes with a senior research project designed to provide practical experience you can apply in the real world after graduation.
Claflin University
Orangeburg, SC - 4 years
- Online + Campus
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $562
Out-of-State | $562
Credits to Graduate: 120
Claflin University's undergraduate psychology program is offered in both traditional and online formats. You choose to specialize in one of three concentrations: general psychology, counseling, or research. Each path is designed to prepare you for a different career and has unique courses.
While enrolled, you also have the opportunity to participate in Claflin's psychology student organizations: Psychology Club and Psi Chi. The latter of these is a chapter of the international honor society in psychology.
Fort Valley State University
Fort Valley, GA - 4 years
- Online + Campus
Cost per Credit:
In-State | $169
Out-of-State | $169
Credits to Graduate: 123
FVSU's BA in psychology program can be completed on campus or online. This program prepares you for career paths related to human behavior. Courses cover topics like behavioral statistics, cultural diversity, and psychological research.
Elective classes of interest include the psychology of religion, psychological testing, and forensic psychology. Once completed, you can choose to pursue a graduate degree or work in fields like business, human resources, and counseling.
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Our rankings are grounded in a few guiding principles and use the latest statistical data available from trusted sources. Read our ranking methodology. We hope our approach helps you find the school that is best for you.
These rankings were compiled by our BestColleges Ranking Team and include sponsored results from our partners. We use publicly available provisional datasets from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) to inform the data for these schools. All data is current as of the date this article was published. Program-specific information may vary. The standard cutoff for BestColleges program rankings is 56%, but the graduation rate cutoff for the top four HBCU psychology programs is 45% due to the availability of programs.
Why Attend an HBCU Psychology Program?
HBCUs provide a unique learning environment for student groups that have historically been barred from educational opportunities, namely Black students.
Today, HBCUs attract some 300,000 students each year, of which about 76% identify as Black.
A majority of four-year colleges in the U.S. have psychology departments that offer majors and minors in psychology and related fields. However, HBCU psychology programs provide a unique opportunity to study the discipline from diverse perspectives. Notably, HBCUs are more likely to feature Black experiences, women's experiences, and multicultural and multi-gendered perspectives as a focus of the study.
Attending a psychology program at one of the best HBCUs for psychology also offers career and professional benefits. HBCUs can provide students with a supportive community and lead to opportunities for mentorship, access to a strong alumni network, and improved career prospects after graduation.
Additional Resources for Students in HBCU Psychology Programs
Psi Chi
Student organizations like Psi Chi not only bring students together around a joint interest but also provide important career development opportunities by broadening students' social and professional networks. Psi Chi is an international honors society for psychology.
American Psychological Association Student Leadership Directory
The APA hosts a website with student leadership opportunities through the organization and with its partners. Gaining experience early on in your psychology education can help when you start your post-grad job search.
Association for Psychological Science Student Caucus
The Association for Psychological Science's Student Caucus offers leadership opportunities, webinars, awards, grants, and more for psychology students. Take advantage of these opportunities to lighten the financial burden of paying for college while also gaining some necessary experience.
Note: The insights on this page — excluding school descriptions — were reviewed by an independent third party compensated for their time by BestColleges. Page last reviewed on December 20, 2023.