2026 Best Behavioral Science Doctoral Degree Schools
Looking for the best Behavioral Science doctoral degree programs in the United States? Our ranking highlights 145 schools by overall quality and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. Our scores reflect factors such as graduation rate, post-graduation earnings, cost, and admissions selectivity.
To arm you with the information you need, Course Advisor reviewed schools to build this 2026 ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Behavioral Science Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
Here are the top-ranked schools:
Carnegie Mellon University tops our 2026 ranking of the best Behavioral Science doctoral degree schools in the United States. Based in Pittsburgh, PA, Carnegie Mellon University is a private not-for-profit institution. Carnegie Mellon University posts a six-year graduation rate of 94%. Students from in state pay about $65,636 in tuition and fees. Carnegie Mellon University Behavioral Science students take on a median of $23,529 in debt. Get the full Carnegie Mellon University report
The strong Behavioral Science programs at University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill earned it the #2 place in the United States. This public school is set in Chapel Hill, NC. About 91% of students finish within six years. In-state tuition and fees average $8,994, compared with $41,203 for out-of-state students. Typical Behavioral Science student debt is $15,117. Read the full report on University Of North Carolina At Chapel Hill
The strong Behavioral Science programs at University Of Washington Seattle Campus earned it the #3 place in the United States. Based in Seattle, WA, University Of Washington Seattle Campus is a public institution. University Of Washington Seattle Campus graduates 85% of students within six years. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,973, compared with $43,209 for out-of-state students. Typical Behavioral Science student debt is $16,481. Read more about University Of Washington Seattle Campus
The strong Behavioral Science programs at Washington University In St Louis earned it the #4 place in the United States. This private not-for-profit school is set in St. Louis, MO. Roughly 94% of students complete a degree within six years here. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,790. Washington University In St Louis Behavioral Science students take on a median of $17,553 in debt. Read the full report on Washington University In St Louis
The strong Behavioral Science programs at Columbia University In The City Of New York earned it the #5 place in the United States. Set in New York, NY, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a private not-for-profit institution. Roughly 96% of students complete a degree within six years here. In-state tuition and fees average $70,517. Columbia University In The City Of New York Behavioral Science students take on a median of $23,258 in debt. Read the full report on Columbia University In The City Of New York
University Of Kansas landed the #6 spot in the United States this year. Based in Lawrence, KS, University Of Kansas is a public institution. The six-year graduation rate is 69%. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $12,102, compared with $30,432 for out-of-state students. Typical Behavioral Science student debt is $25,000. See the full University Of Kansas profile
University Of Colorado Denver ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best Behavioral Science schools. Based in Denver, CO, University Of Colorado Denver is a public institution. Roughly 46% of students complete a degree within six years here. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $10,383, compared with $29,391 for out-of-state students. Students borrow a median of $26,582 to complete their Behavioral Science program here. See the full University Of Colorado Denver profile
University Of Iowa came in at #8 in this year's ranking. This public school is set in Iowa City, IA. University Of Iowa graduates 75% of students within six years. Students from in state pay about $11,283 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $33,371. Typical Behavioral Science student debt is $24,463. More on University Of Iowa
University Of Maine placed #10 among Behavioral Science schools in the United States. Located in Orono, ME, University Of Maine is a public institution. University Of Maine posts a six-year graduation rate of 55%. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $13,326, with out-of-state students paying around $36,756. University Of Maine Behavioral Science students take on a median of $25,984 in debt. More on University Of Maine
Illinois Institute Of Technology did well this year, earning the #10 position. Get the full Illinois Institute Of Technology report
University Of West Georgia did well this year, earning the #11 position. Get the full University Of West Georgia report
Lewis Clark State College landed the #12 spot in the United States this year. More on Lewis Clark State College
University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh landed the #13 spot in the United States this year. More on University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh
Northwestern University did well this year, earning the #14 position. Read the full report on Northwestern University
Eastern Washington University landed the #15 spot in the United States this year. Get the full Eastern Washington University report
City College Of San Francisco did well this year, earning the #16 position. See the full City College Of San Francisco profile
Teachers College At Columbia University landed the #17 spot in the United States this year. Read the full report on Teachers College At Columbia University
Mercy College
Mercy College placed #18 among Behavioral Science schools in the United States. See the full Mercy College profile
Saint Louis University Main Campus landed the #19 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Saint Louis University Main Campus
Northern Michigan University placed #20 among Behavioral Science schools in the United States. See the full Northern Michigan University profile
Miracosta College landed the #21 spot in the United States this year. See the full Miracosta College profile
Purdue University Northwest landed the #22 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Purdue University Northwest
University Of Massachusetts Lowell landed the #23 spot in the United States this year. See the full University Of Massachusetts Lowell profile
St Louis College Of Pharmacy came in at #24 in this year's ranking. See the full St Louis College Of Pharmacy profile
Eastern Michigan University did well this year, earning the #25 position. Read the full report on Eastern Michigan University
Rest of the Top 50 Best Behavioral Science Doctoral Degree Schools in the United States
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s ranking:
Athens State University came in at #26 in this year's ranking. Get the full Athens State University report
The University Of Texas Medical Branch placed #27 among Behavioral Science schools in the United States. See the full The University Of Texas Medical Branch profile
San Jacinto Community College did well this year, earning the #28 position. Read more about San Jacinto Community College
University Of California Merced placed #29 among Behavioral Science schools in the United States. More on University Of California Merced
University Of Delaware came in at #30 in this year's ranking. See the full University Of Delaware profile
Rochester College landed the #31 spot in the United States this year. More on Rochester College
Loyola University Chicago ranked #32 on our 2026 list of the best Behavioral Science schools. See the full Loyola University Chicago profile
University Of Wisconsin Green Bay did well this year, earning the #33 position. Read more about University Of Wisconsin Green Bay
Carroll University ranked #34 on our 2026 list of the best Behavioral Science schools. Read more about Carroll University
Elizabethtown College landed the #35 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Elizabethtown College
Felician College
Felician College came in at #36 in this year's ranking. See the full Felician College profile
College Of Mount Saint Vincent ranked #37 on our 2026 list of the best Behavioral Science schools. More on College Of Mount Saint Vincent
University Of Baltimore came in at #38 in this year's ranking. More on University Of Baltimore
Murray State College ranked #40 on our 2026 list of the best Behavioral Science schools. Read more about Murray State College
Chabot College
Chabot College placed #41 among Behavioral Science schools in the United States. Get the full Chabot College report
Columbia College South Carolina landed the #42 spot in the United States this year. See the full Columbia College South Carolina profile
Emory University
Emory University ranked #43 on our 2026 list of the best Behavioral Science schools. Read more about Emory University
Chaminade University Of Honolulu placed #44 among Behavioral Science schools in the United States. Get the full Chaminade University Of Honolulu report
Concordia University Seward landed the #45 spot in the United States this year. More on Concordia University Seward
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University placed #46 among Behavioral Science schools in the United States. Read more about Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University
New Mexico Highlands University did well this year, earning the #47 position. See the full New Mexico Highlands University profile
Mount Aloysius College came in at #48 in this year's ranking. Read the full report on Mount Aloysius College
Red Lake Nation College landed the #49 spot in the United States this year. Read more about Red Lake Nation College
Hill College
Hill College ranked #50 on our 2026 list of the best Behavioral Science schools. More on Hill College
Related Behavioral Science Rankings
See rankings for other degree levels:
- Best Behavioral Science Schools (All Levels)
- Best Behavioral Science Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Behavioral Science Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Behavioral Science Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Behavioral Science Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Behavioral Science Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Behavioral Science Master’s Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
These rankings are produced by Course Advisor (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on a blend of student outcomes (graduation rate, post-graduation earnings), affordability, and admissions data drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: Dms College Quality · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 145 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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