Earn Your Accelerated Psychology Degree Online
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A bachelor’s or master’s degree in psychology can set you up for a career in the psychology field. However, a four-year bachelor’s program and a two-to-three-year master’s program can cost you valuable time and money. With an accelerated degree program, you can shave off months or even years of your program, potentially saving you thousands of dollars.
According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), of graduates with a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the class of 2023, 46.6% were employed overall with a mean starting salary of $44,084, and 32.5% were continuing their education.
Of people who graduated with a master’s degree in psychology in 2023, 66% were employed overall, earning a mean starting salary of $60,298, according to NACE.
If you’re interested in earning your accelerated psychology degree online, explore our guide here to learn how long it could take, how much it could cost, and what you could earn.
What Is an Accelerated Psychology Degree?
In your accelerated psychology program, you may learn subjects such as social psychology, developmental psychology, human behavior, and cognitive psychology. You’ll also learn research and observation skills, as well as important soft skills that employers often seek.
Most accelerated bachelor’s programs are actually degree-completion programs. This means they require a certain number of transferable college credits or an associate degree. Many accelerated programs accept more transfer credits than traditional programs.
Accelerated programs are typically a good fit for people who want to enter the workforce quickly. However, because these programs involve teaching a lot of information in a condensed timeframe, some students might find these programs academically challenging, according to Megan Pietrucha, Psy.D., a licensed clinical psychologist with her own practice.
An accelerated psychology program can prepare you for a career as a school counselor, therapist, or mental health counselor. An accelerated bachelor’s degree in psychology can prepare you for a master’s program.
Why Get an Accelerated Psychology Degree?
Save time
An accelerated degree typically means you spend less time in the classroom and can fast track you to graduating with a degree.
Save money
When you spend less time in school and transfer in more credits, you can save money on your degree.
Learn valuable skills
Your bachelor’s and master’s degree programs offer opportunities to learn research, analytical, time management, and problem-solving skills.
Prepare for your career
If you want to become a psychologist, or enter the field of psychology, you’ll need to have your bachelor’s and maybe master’s and doctoral degrees in psychology.
List of Accelerated Psychology Degrees
We’ve compiled a list of accelerated psychology programs below to help you determine what option is the best fit for you. We only included accredited, nonprofit colleges and universities to ensure quality.
All bachelor’s degree-completion programs typically require a total of 120 credits, regardless of whether they are an accelerated or traditional program. Students of accelerated programs typically transfer 30 to 60 credits from a prior institution. The credits listed in this table are in addition to whatever credits you transfer.
| Program | Program Length | # of Credits | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree-Completion Program at The University of New Mexico | 2 years | 36 major credits | $442 per credit |
| Bachelor’s Degree-Completion Program at Old Dominion University | 1-2+ years | At least 30 additional credits | $408 per credit for VA residents; $439 for nonresidents |
| Accelerated Master’s Program at Simmons University | As few as 16 months | 65 credits | $1,165 per credit |
| Accelerated Five-Year Master’s Program at Fordham University | 5 years | 30 credits | $1,732 per credit |
| Online BS in Psychology Program at | 8- or 16-week courses | Required to meet 120 credits total | $250-$365 per credit |
| Accelerated Master’s Program at George Mason University | 5 years | 60 credits | For full-time students: $14,138 per year for residents, $36,477 per year for nonresidents |
| BS + MS Program at Drexel University | 5 years | 120 credits for the bachelor’s degree, 45 for the master’s degree | $473 per credit |
| Accelerated MS in Psychology Program at the University of Connecticut | 5 years | 30 credits | Total cost of program: $47,264 for residents, $69,380 for non-residents |
| Accelerated Psychology BA/MA Program at Adelphi University | 5 years | 36-39 credits | $3,530 per semester |
| Accelerated BS + MS Program at North Carolina Central University | 4-5 years | 49 credits | $299 – $1,039 per credit |
What Can You Do With an Accelerated Psychology Degree?
Most psychology jobs require at least a bachelor’s degree in psychology, and some jobs require a master’s or doctoral degree in psychology. After completing your accelerated psychology degree, you can go on to become a psychologist, therapist, social worker, or counselor.
Some jobs, such as a psychologist or school counselor, may require additional licenses and certifications.
“If you want to become a counselor or psychologist, you will need to complete a master’s or doctoral degree and seek licensure,” Pietrucha adds. “With an associate or bachelor’s degree in psychology, you can work in the field with jobs such as a social service aid, case manager, or human resources professional.”
These jobs all have projected job growth rates faster than the average growth rate of 4% for all occupations, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). They also all pay median annual salaries above $48,060, higher than the national median salary of all occupations.
| Job Title | Median Annual Salary | Job Growth Rate (2023-2033) |
|---|---|---|
| Psychologist | $94,310 | 7% |
| Marriage and Family Therapist | $63,780 | 16% |
| Social Worker | $61,330 | 7% |
| Mental Health Counselor | $59,190 | 19% |
| School and Career Counselor | $65,140 | 4% |
How Much Does a Psychology Degree Cost?
Online Psychology Programs, 2019-2020
Avg. Tuition & Fees
$11,997
Avg. Net Price
$7,470
Source: NCES PowerStats
How much your accelerated psychology degree will cost depends on what school and what program you pursue, as well as how many credits you transfer in from prior learning. For example, the programs in the table above have per-credit prices ranging from $299 to $1,732. For an accelerated bachelor’s degree program, you can expect to take 30-60 credits.
Whether or not you’re a resident of the state you study in can also change how much you pay, as in-state students typically pay less in tuition. According to the NCES, the average price of tuition and fees for an academic year in a psychology program is $11,997, and the average net price is $7,470.
Get Financial Aid for Your Accelerated Psychology Degree Online
How Long Does It Take to Get an Accelerated Psychology Degree?
Typical # of Credits
30-60 Credits
Typical Program Length
2 Years
Most students transfer 30-60 credits to their accelerated degree program. How long your program takes depends on whether it’s an accelerated bachelor’s or master’s degree. Most accelerated master’s programs start during a student’s final year of their bachelor’s program and take one additional year. Accelerated bachelor’s programs can take 2-3 years to complete.
Most bachelor’s degrees require a total of 120 credits, but you may need fewer credits depending on how many credits you transfer.
You can expedite your program by transferring more college credits, taking placement exams, earning credit for prior experiences, or enrolling in summer classes.
Want to learn more? Discover what courses you’ll take in our accelerated psychology program guide.
Accreditation for Accelerated Psychology Degrees
Programmatic accreditation is essential in many fields including in psychology. It assures that programs offer quality education through a third-party evaluation process. You can check if your program is accredited on the accreditor’s official website, and often on the website of your school.
Is an Accelerated Psychology Degree Worth It?
An accredited, accelerated psychology degree can be worth it for people who want to pursue a career in psychology. A career in psychology can lead to well-paying, in-demand jobs.
Pietrucha agrees that an accelerated degree program is worth it, “especially if you want to enter the workforce in psychology, would like to conserve financial and time resources, or want to pursue a master’s or doctoral degree in psychology.”
Accelerated psychology degrees can be affordable and quick options for working adults who want to enter the workforce faster than through traditional programs.
Frequently Asked Questions About Accelerated Psychology Degrees
You can earn both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in psychology completely online. Online options can be faster and more affordable than in-person programs. However, many master’s programs will require some form of in-person experiential training component, such as an internship.
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