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Most Popular General Psychology Schools in California

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2023 Most Popular General Psychology Schools in California

202 Colleges
$32,807 Avg Salary
$22,757 Avg Student Debt

Finding the Best General Psychology School for You

Out of the majors we analyze each year, general psychology was ranked 3rd in California. In fact, 29,966 were awarded in the state in 2020-2021.

With all the programs available today, it can be tough to choose which one is the best for you. Along with traditional schools that require in-person attendence, you can attend one of many reputable online schools. Some programs even offer a hybrid experience. Alternatively, you may choose a trade school that prepares you to enter the workforce with knowledge in a specific field.

To help you arm yourself with the information you need to make your decision, Course Advisor has developed this Most Popular General Psychology Schools in California ranking. Our analysis looked at 202 schools in California to see which programs were the most popular for students. To create this ranking we looked at how many students graduated from the General Psychology program at each school on the list.

Check out the psychology programs at these schools if you want to attend one of the most popular in California.

Our 2023 rankings named California State University - Northridge the most popular school in California for general psychology students. CSUN is a fairly large public school located in the city of Northridge.

While working on their degree, psychology majors at CSUN accumulate an average of around $12,990 in student debt.

Read full report on General Psychology at California State University - Northridge

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend California State University - Fullerton. The school came in at #2 on this year’s Most Popular General Psychology Schools in California list. Located in the suburb of Fullerton, Cal State Fullerton is a public college with a very large student population.

While working on their degree, psychology majors at Cal State Fullerton accumulate an average of around $13,672 in student debt.

Full General Psychology at California State University - Fullerton Report

The excellent programs at University of California - Los Angeles helped the school earn the #4 place on this year’s ranking of the best general psychology schools in California. Located in the large city of Los Angeles, UCLA is a public school with a fairly large student population.

Psychology majors at UCLA take out an average of $14,826 in student loans while working on their egree. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $251.

Full General Psychology at University of California - Los Angeles Report

#5

San Diego State University

San Diego, CA

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around you if you attend San Diego State University. The school came in at #5 on this year’s Most Popular General Psychology Schools in California list. SDSU is a fairly large public school located in the large city of San Diego.

After completing their degree, psychology graduates from SDSU carry an average student debt load of $15,000. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $235.

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California State University - Sacramento ranked #6 on this year’s Most Popular General Psychology Schools in California list. Sac State is a fairly large public school located in the city of Sacramento.

The average amount in student loans that psychology majors at Sac State take out is $15,000. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $179, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on General Psychology at California State University - Sacramento

California State University - San Bernardino came in at #7 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular General Psychology Schools in California ranking. CSUSB is a large public school located in the midsize city of San Bernardino.

After completing their degree, psychology graduates from CSUSB carry an average student debt load of $12,826. The average monthly payment of a loan this size is about $146, assuming that the borrower is on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on General Psychology at California State University - San Bernardino

California State University - Long Beach did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for general psychology students. It came in at #8 on the list. Located in the large city of Long Beach, CSULB is a public college with a very large student population.

After completing their degree, psychology graduates from CSULB carry an average student debt load of $13,750.

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University of California - Santa Cruz came in at #9 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular General Psychology Schools in California ranking. UC Santa Cruz is a large public school located in the small city of Santa Cruz.

Psychology majors at UC Santa Cruz take out an average of $19,000 in student loans while working on their egree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $236.

Full General Psychology at University of California - Santa Cruz Report

#10

San Jose State University

San Jose, CA

With a ranking of #10, San Jose State University did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for general psychology students. Located in the city of San Jose, San Jose State is a public school with a very large student population.

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California State University - Dominguez Hills did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for general psychology students. It came in at #11 on the list. Located in the small city of Carson, CSUDH is a public college with a large student population.

While working on their degree, psychology majors at CSUDH accumulate an average of around $13,834 in student debt.

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California State University - Fresno came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular General Psychology Schools in California ranking. Fresno State is a fairly large public school located in the large city of Fresno.

Psychology majors at Fresno State take out an average of $13,855 in student loans while working on their egree.

Full General Psychology at California State University - Fresno Report

#13

San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA

San Francisco State University came in at #13 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular General Psychology Schools in California ranking. SFSU is a fairly large public school located in the large city of San Francisco.

The average amount in student loans that psychology majors at SFSU take out is $15,000. For students who choose a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly student loan payment is $190.

Read More…

#14

Sierra College

Rocklin, CA

Sierra College did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for general psychology students. It came in at #14 on the list. Located in the large suburb of Rocklin, Sierra College is a public school with a large student population.

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California State University - East Bay came in at #15 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular General Psychology Schools in California ranking. Cal State East Bay is a large public school located in the suburb of Hayward.

On average, psychology graduates from Cal State East Bay take out $15,000 in student loans while working on their degree. Assuming that a graduate chooses a 10-year repayment plan, the average monthly loan payment is $187.

Read More…

California State University - Stanislaus ranked #16 on this year’s Most Popular General Psychology Schools in California list. Located in the suburb of Turlock, Stan State is a public school with a large student population.

On average, psychology graduates from Stan State take out $15,000 in student loans while working on their degree.

Full General Psychology at California State University - Stanislaus Report

#17

Mt. San Antonio College

Walnut, CA

Mt. San Antonio College came in at #17 in this year’s edition of the Most Popular General Psychology Schools in California ranking. Located in the large suburb of Walnut, Mt. SAC is a public college with a very large student population.

The average amount in student loans that psychology majors at Mt. SAC take out is $5,500.

Read full report on General Psychology at Mt. San Antonio College

#18

Merced College

Merced, CA

Merced College landed the #18 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular general psychology programs. Merced Community College District is a medium-sized public school located in the small city of Merced.

Full General Psychology at Merced College Report

With a ranking of #19, California State Polytechnic University - Pomona did quite well on this year’s most popular schools for general psychology students. Cal Poly Pomona is a very large public school located in the large suburb of Pomona.

While working on their degree, psychology majors at Cal Poly Pomona accumulate an average of around $15,000 in student debt.

Read More…

University of California - Irvine landed the #20 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular general psychology programs. Located in the large city of Irvine, UC Irvine is a public college with a very large student population.

While working on their degree, psychology majors at UC Irvine accumulate an average of around $15,000 in student debt. When it comes time to repay the loan, graduates who are on a 10-year repayment plan pay an average monthly payment of $161.

Read More…

California State University - Chico ranked #21 on this year’s Most Popular General Psychology Schools in California list. Located in the medium-sized city of Chico, Chico State is a public school with a large student population.

After completing their degree, psychology graduates from Chico State carry an average student debt load of $15,000.

Full General Psychology at California State University - Chico Report

California State University - Los Angeles did quite well in this year’s ranking of the most popular schools for general psychology students. It came in at #21 on the list. Cal State LA is a very large public school located in the large city of Los Angeles.

Full General Psychology at California State University - Los Angeles Report

#23

Bakersfield College

Bakersfield, CA

Bakersfield College landed the #23 spot in the 2023 rankings for the most popular general psychology programs. Located in the city of Bakersfield, Bakersfield College is a public school with a very large student population.

Read More…

California State University - Channel Islands ranked #24 on this year’s Most Popular General Psychology Schools in California list. Located in the suburb of Camarillo, CSUCI is a public college with a medium-sized student population.

Psychology majors at CSUCI take out an average of $15,000 in student loans while working on their egree. This translates to an average monthly loan payment of $262, based on a 10-year repayment plan.

Read full report on General Psychology at California State University - Channel Islands

#25

Pasadena City College

Pasadena, CA

Pasadena City College ranked #25 on this year’s Most Popular General Psychology Schools in California list. Pasadena City College is a very large public school located in the city of Pasadena.

Read More…

#28

East Los Angeles College

Monterey Park, CA
#30

Pepperdine University

Malibu, CA

Additional Noteworthy Schools

These are some additional schools worth mentioning that are also popular but just didn't quite make the cut to earn our top Most Popular General Psychology Schools in California award.

Rank College Location
31 College of the Canyons Santa Clarita, CA
32 Long Beach City College Long Beach, CA
33 California State University - Monterey Bay Seaside, CA
33 El Camino College Torrance, CA
35 Citrus College Glendora, CA
36 Northcentral University San Diego, CA
37 Chaffey College Rancho Cucamonga, CA
38 Diablo Valley College Pleasant Hill, CA
39 National University La Jolla, CA
40 Brandman University Irvine, CA

Best General Psychology Colleges in the Far Western US Region

Explore all the Most Popular General Psychology Schools in the Far Western US Area or other specific states within that region.

State Degrees Awarded
Washington 1,737
Oregon 1,632
Nevada 908
Hawaii 389
Alaska 109

One of 3 majors within the area of study, general psychology has other similar majors worth exploring.

Majors Similar to Psychology

Related Major Annual Graduates
Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology 33,758
Child Development & Psychology 17,542
Other Psychology 2,683

Notes and References

*These averages are for the top 25 schools only.

  • The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of the rest of our data about colleges.
  • Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
  • Credit for the banner image above goes to BruceBlaus.

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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