Best Psychology Programs in Indiana for 2024: Online & On-Campus
There has never been a greater need for psychology professionals than now, and as a result, the industry is flourishing. This guide is a sneak peek at some of the best high-ranking psychology programs Indiana has to offer. Keep reading to match a program with your career goals.
In today’s complex world, we’re desperate to understand human behavior. So, it’s no surprise that the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts the psychology industry will grow by more than 6% over the next decade.
If you’re interested in pursuing a psychology degree in Indiana, the Hoosier State boasts several top-tier psychology programs for both undergraduate and graduate students. You can also find best-in-class online psychology degree programs in Indiana. Whatever you choose, these top programs will catapult you into a fascinating career in which you can study the cognitive, emotional, and social behaviors of others.
Ready to explore the range of psychology degree programs you’ll find in Indiana? Let’s begin with three school spotlights.
Ball State University
Muncie, Indiana
Public
Indiana University-East
Richmond, Indiana
Public
Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global
Marion, Indiana
Private
Purdue University Global
West Lafayette, Indiana
Public
Indiana State University
Terre Haute, Indiana
Public
Indiana Tech
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Private
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College
Saint Mary of the Woods, Indiana
Private
Huntington University
Huntington, Indiana
Private
Trine University
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Private
Indiana Tech
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Private
Ivy Tech Community College
Indianapolis, Indiana
Public
Best College for Psychology in Indiana in 2024
Indiana has a wealth of high-ranking psychology programs. In order to get you started on your journey, we’re highlighting three outstanding, accredited programs below that offer an affordable degree. Additionally, each school prides itself on strong academic support, ensuring you’ll have resources in place to bolster your education. This list is only the beginning; stay tuned for a full ranking of Indiana’s best psychology programs, coming later in 2024.
Purdue University
This public school has a prestigious Department of Psychological Sciences that is home to some of the world’s leading psychology experts. As an undergraduate or graduate student at Purdue, you’ll be exposed to abundant research and education opportunities across a wide range of psychology topics.
- Tuition: Undergraduate and graduate tuition costs about $10,000 a year for in-state residents, and about $29,000 for out-of-state students.
- Curriculum details: The psychology department has opportunities to join the research-based honors program, where you work closely with faculty mentors.
Delivery:
- On-campus
- Part-time
- Full-time
- Online
Undergraduate Programs:
- For a bachelor’s degree, you can choose from two majors: Psychological Sciences or Brain and Behavioral Sciences.
Graduate Programs:
Choose from six graduate training areas that culminate in a PhD:
- Clinical Psychological Sciences
- Cognitive Psychology
- Industrial-Organizational Psychology
- Mathematical and Computational Psychology
- Neuroscience and Behavior
- Social Psychology
The department also offers a graduate certificate in psychological statistics.
University of Notre Dame
A private university, Notre Dame’s Department of Psychology proudly features faculty whose research is cited by the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, and a variety of charitable research foundations.
- Tuition: You’ll pay $62,000 a year as an undergraduate or graduate student, whether you live in- or out-of-state.
- Curriculum details: The University of Notre Dame is home to more than 30 psychology research labs — focused on everything from sleep, stress, and memory to visual cognition to suicide prevention. The school is also home to two centers that offer psychological services to residents of South Bend, Indiana: the Psychological Services Center and the Shaw Center for Children and Families.
Delivery:
- On-campus
- Part-time
- Full-time
Undergraduate Programs:
- The Department of Psychology offers two undergraduate programs of study: a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Bachelor of Arts in Neuroscience and Behavior.
Graduate Programs:
The graduate program has four areas of specialty:
Indiana University
Indiana University’s Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences offers abundant undergraduate and graduate degree offerings. It manages 57 research labs and is home to Centerstone, the nation’s largest not-for-profit provider of community-based behavioral healthcare.
- Tuition:For undergraduate students, tuition costs close to $12,000 a year for in-state students, and about $40,500 for out-of-state. For graduate students, the tuition is less: almost $11,000 for in-state students, and almost $31,000 for out-of-state.
- Curriculum details: Research is conducted in the 130,000-square-foot Psychological and Brain Sciences Building and another multi-disciplinary building designed to house at least 10 neuroscience labs and a state-of-the-art animal quarters, including a transgenic facility.
Delivery:
- On-campus
- Part-time
- Full-time
- Online
Undergraduate Programs:
- Bachelor of Science in Clinical Psychological Science
- Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience
- Bachelor of Science in Organizational + Business Psychology
- Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
- Bachelor of Science in Psychology
Graduate Programs:
The graduate program has seven areas of specialty:
Top Online Psychology Degree Programs in Indiana
Online and hybrid psychology programs can be a perfect way to pursue a degree if you already are a working professional, have a family or find yourself traveling regularly. When you earn a degree from one of the top online psychology programs in Indiana, you can pursue a new career as a school counselor or social worker, among other jobs. Below you’ll find three schools in Indiana with robust online psychology programs. This list is just a preview of our full rankings list, coming in 2024.
Purdue University
Purdue Global’s online psychology course catalog is extensive and allows you to obtain a bachelor’s or master’s degree entirely online. You can tailor your focus to psychology, addictions, applied behavior analysis, educational psychology or industrial-organizational psychology at one the most consistently top-ranked schools in the nation.
- Tuition: About $280 per credit for in-state students and $371 per quarter credit hour for out-of-state students enrolled in the online undergraduate program. Graduate students pay about $420 to $700 per quarter credit hour.
- Curriculum details: A bachelor’s degree usually takes about four years to complete, requiring about 180 credits and about 15-18 hours of work a week. Alternatively, a master’s degree usually takes about two years to complete, requiring about 60 to 75 credits and 15 hours of work weekly.
Undergraduate program:
Graduate program:
Specializations:
- As an undergraduate, you can pursue a concentration in Business Foundations.
- Graduate concentrations include: Addictions, Forensic Psychology, General Psychology, Industrial/Organization Psychology.
Indiana University
Students at Indiana University can pursue a bachelor’s degree in psychology 100% online, earning their degree in 120 total credits.
- Curriculum details:As a student in the online psychology program at Indiana University, you’ll choose eight- or 16-week courses in behavioral neuroscience, sensation and perception, evolutionary psychology, the psychology of learning, the psychology of personality, abnormal psychology, and more, according to the school’s website. You’ll gain skills in critical thinking, communication, and problem solving.
- Tuition: is $249.73 per credit for in-state students and $365.31 per credit for out-of-state students.
- Career outcomes: More than half of IU Online students advance in their careers before they complete their degree.
- Standout support services: You can pursue an accelerated bachelor’s degree in psychology and also participate in research. Other student resources to online students include: Onboarding, advising, success coaching, career services, peer mentorship, and tutoring.
Undergraduate Programs:
- Bachelor of Science in Psychology
Graduate Programs:
- None
Program Options:
- Part-time
- Full-time
- Fully online
- Partially online
Indiana Wesleyan University
If you are interested in incorporating faith into your psychology study, this could be a perfect fit for you. As the largest member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities, the Psychology Department at Indiana Wesleyan University online employs research-based practices for applying psychological principles and theory, along with Christian-based principles.
As a Christian school, the curriculum emphasizes turning education into service to the local community in Marion, Indiana.
- Tuition: You’ll pay $31,168 per year at the university.
- Financial assistance: If you are a current member of a church, you could potentially take advantage of the school’s Church Matching Scholarship Fund in which the university will match a gift from your church toward your tuition.
- Curriculum details: Students have the option of majoring in psychology, double majoring in psychology along with another major, or pursuing a minor in psychology.
Undergraduate Programs:
Bachelor of Science in Psychology of Human Relations
Graduate Programs:
Master of Arts in Psychology degree with specializations in Life Coaching and Positive Psychology and Industrial/Organizational Psychology.
Program Options:
- Part-time
- Full-time
- Fully online
- Partially online
Types of Psychology DegreesYou Can Earn in Indiana
When you research psychology degrees from some of the top programs in Indiana, you’ll notice that not all programs look the same. You’ll find degrees designed for students at all levels of their education and career. Learn more about examples of some of the quality programs you’ll find in Indiana below.
Undergraduate Psychology Degrees in Indiana
Associate Degrees in Psychology
With a two-year associate degree in psychology, you can get your foot in the door of the psychology field. This is a fast-track degree that can introduce students to research methods and behavioral analysis. Once you earn your degree, job outcomes can include a psychiatric technician or a research assistant, among others.
Accredited Indiana Colleges with Associate Degrees in Psychology:
- Indiana Wesleyan University (On-Campus and Online)
- Ivy Tech Community College (On-Campus)
Bachelor’s Degrees in Psychology
A bachelor’s degree in psychology can lead to opportunities as a mental health technician, parole officer, social worker, or human resources manager. A bachelor’s degree typically requires four years of study as well as research experience.
Accredited Indiana Colleges with Bachelor’s Degrees in Psychology:
- Purdue University (Online or On-Campus)
- University of Notre Dame (On-Campus)
- Indiana Wesleyan University (Online)
Graduate Psychology Degrees in Indiana
Master’s Degrees in Psychology
An advanced master’s degree can open the door to non-clinical, advanced careers such as a social and community service manager or a residential advisor. Graduates with master’s degrees have the potential to earn a higher income than those with a bachelor’s degree.
Accredited Indiana Colleges with Master’s in Psychology Degrees:
- Purdue University (Online or On-Campus)
- University of Indianapolis (On-campus)
- Indiana Wesleyan University (Online)
PsyD Programs
A PsyD, or a doctor of psychology degree, is slightly different than a PhD, or a doctor of philosophy degree. Students who graduate from PsyD programs typically become clinical psychologists either in private practice or other fields, while PhD graduates often work in academia or as full-time researchers, some also work as clinical psychology professionals. PsyD graduates work more with patients, while the latter focus on analytics and research.
Accredited Indiana Colleges with PsyD Programs:
- University of Indianapolis (On-Campus)
- Indiana State University (On-Campus)
Psychology PhD Programs
With a doctorate in psychology, you can become a clinical psychologist, a psychotherapist, or even a professor of psychology. Most programs will be research heavy, but you’ll find online and on-campus options available in Indiana.
Accredited Indiana Colleges with PhD Psychology Programs:
- University of Notre Dame (On-Campus)
- Purdue University (Online or On-Campus)
Graduate Certificates
Graduate certification denotes a certain specialty within a field. A certificate can help you qualify for specific job roles that require expertise in a niche area of psychological study.
Accredited Indiana Colleges with Psychology Graduate Certificates:
- Purdue: Graduate Certificate in Psychological Statistics (On-Campus)
- Purdue: Graduate Certificate in Industrial/Organizational Psychology (Online)
Financial Aid and Scholarships for Psychology Students in Indiana
Now that you’ve identified stand-out psychology programs to research among Indiana’s top schools, it’s time to figure out the financial picture. In Indiana, you’ll find a few state-specific financial aid opportunities available to you as an undergraduate or graduate student. Consider applying for Indiana’s 21st Century Scholars Program and the Next Generation Hoosier Educators Scholarship.
If you’re member of a church, you may be interested in funding options at Indiana Wesleyan University, where the university will match the gift from your church toward your education. Additionally, check out STEPS’ financial aid guide and scholarships guide, where you can learn more about ways to fund your psychology education.
Job Outlook and Earnings Potential for Psychology Gradsin Indiana
The job market is promising for students who graduate from top psychology programs in Indiana. The median pay for psychology professionals in the state can vary depending on the field, but it can reach upwards of $83,000 a year, according to the Indiana Department of Workforce Development.
Students who earn advanced degrees typically make more money than those with an associate or bachelor’s degree. For example, according to Salary.com, an Indiana psychology research assistant, which requires an associate or bachelor’s degree, would make an average of $30,870in annual salary, whereas a professor of psychology in Indiana makes a mean salary of $106,441.
| Career | Job Growth Rate (2022-2032) | Average Annual Openings (2022-2032) | Annual Mean Wage (2023) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clinical psychologist | 6.5% | 1,314 | $92,700 |
| Substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselor | 5.0% | 10,230 | $49,750 |
| School psychologist | 10.3% | 700 | $77,870 |
| Marriage and family therapist | 9.6% | 740 | $53,470 |
| Human resources specialist | 2.2% | 17,550 | $65,610 |
Sources: Indiana Department of Workforce Development, BLS.gov
Indiana Psychology Professional and Student Resources
- Hoosiers by the Numbers
For more information about which psychology jobs are in demand in Indiana, check out this state site that documents job variety and growth within the state. - Indiana Professional Licensing Agency
Interested in how to obtain your license to practice as a psychologist in Indiana? Visit this state site, which can answer questions about licensing and certification. - Indiana Psychological Association
Check out this network of psychologists who are supporting each other’s work, welfare, and research. Use this tool to become more involved in the future of psychology in Indiana. - National Alliance of Mental Health – Indiana
This state chapter of the National Alliance of Mental Health is a great resource for advocates and members of the public alike to promote strengthened mental health in Indiana. It’s also a great way to help those battling mental illness in your own community. - National Association of Social Workers Indiana Chapter
This state chapter connects those in the trenches of social work to each other and to resources to improve the policies and practices that shape social work in Indiana. Social work can be a challenging profession, and this resource is here to ease the challenge.