Top Online Psychology Master’s Programs in Florida (FL)
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Browse high-ranked, accredited, and affordable schools that offer some of the best master’s in psychology degree programs in Florida. Discover the different specializations that are available, the admission requirements you’ll need to meet, and the differences between online and traditional learning formats.
Psychology master’s programs in Florida provide students with advanced knowledge in the field of behavioral science and offer opportunities to focus on applied areas of practice. Whether you aspire to work as a licensed clinician, market researcher, or in another profession where comprehension of human behavior is crucial, a Florida psychology master’s program can align with your career goals.
This guide aims to assist you in commencing your college search by highlighting some of the top psychology master’s programs in Florida and addressing essential questions you may have. You’ll also discover various specialization options that can influence your degree and career path, Florida universities that offer flexible online programs, and more. Keep scrolling to discover your ideal college match and the best psychology master’s program in Florida for you.
Programs that might interest you:
Specialization Options for Master’s Psychology Programs in Florida
Many psychology graduate programs in Florida offer concentration tracks or areas of specialization to help you tailor your grad program to fit your career goals. Specializations include applied areas of clinical and professional practice as well as research and theory-based avenues. We’ve detailed these opportunities and the careers they can lead to below.
Clinical Psychology
Graduates specializing in clinical psychology can pursue careers as therapists, mental health counselors, substance abuse specialists, lab researchers, and postsecondary educators. This concentration blends scientific theory and empirical knowledge with clinical reasoning and focuses on intervention strategies designed to treat or modify human behavior. It also often includes hands-on training in applied settings and prepares students for doctoral-level study.
Examples of Florida Colleges with this Psychology Master’s Program
Barry University (On-Campus)
National Louis University (On-Campus)
University of Central Florida (On-Campus)
Industrial/Organizational Psychology
A new and emerging applied psychology subfield, industrial/organizational (I/O) psychology qualifies graduates for work in the corporate sector as trainers, human resources managers, behavior analysts, and independent consultants. I/O psychology produces scholar-practitioners who can analyze organizational structures and identify new ways to advance long-term business goals. Coursework for this specialization looks at employee behavior and motivation, talent acquisition, and leadership development. Some programs also have practicum placements.
Examples of Florida Colleges with this Psychology Master’s Program
Keiser University (On-Campus)
Florida Institute of Technology (On-Campus)
University of Central Florida (On-Campus)
School/Educational Psychology
Most specialists in school or educational psychology find work as licensed counselors in K-12 settings. Psychology master’s programs in Florida with this concentration empower students to identify needs and develop individual education plans that achieve professional and academic goals. Key courses cover school psychology foundations, counseling theory and technique, lifespan development, learning theory, and methods of educational research. Most programs require a field education component in classroom-based settings.
Examples of Florida Colleges with this Psychology Master’s Program
Barry University (On-Campus)
Florida Atlantic University (Online)
Florida State University (Online or On-Campus)
Counseling Psychology
A concentration in counseling psychology equips graduates with applied skills for a range of settings like schools, hospitals, community treatment clinics, and social services agencies. Some programs focus more on applied behavior analysis or case management, while others develop skills in substance abuse, career, or clinical counseling. The best psychology graduate programs in Florida with this specialization qualify you for state licensure.
Examples of Florida Colleges with this Psychology Master’s Program
Florida International University (Online or On-Campus)
University of West Florida (On-Campus)
Nova Southeastern University (On-Campus)
Experimental Psychology
This theory-based specialization prepares students for postgraduate study by cultivating extensive knowledge in experiment design and applied research methods. It also leads to careers in consulting or lab science. Students learn to develop their own research and conduct individual experiments in cognitive neuroscience, health psychology, human factors psychology, and family science. Most programs culminate with a capstone thesis project that synthesizes research findings across the program. They also include electives such as developmental or personality psychology.
Examples of Florida Colleges with this Psychology Master’s Program
Florida Atlantic University (On-Campus)
Nova Southeastern University (On-Campus)
University of West Florida (On-Campus)
Top Online Psychology Master’s Programs in Florida
Students in online psychology master’s programs in Florida receive the same quality education as their on-campus peers through a blend of structured instruction and self-paced study. Some schools offer fully-online programs with potentially faster graduation timelines, while others come in a hybrid format with all coursework online and in-person attendance for practicum placements or internships. Albizu University, for example, offers on-campus, web-assisted, online, and/or hybrid courses for its Master of Science in Industrial/Organizational (I/O) Psychology program.
Explore this year’s top-rated online psychology master’s programs in Florida below, and see which one best meets your academic and career goals.
Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Private
- AccreditationSACSCOC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate58%
- Retention Rate69%
- Student/Faculty Ratio16/1
- Tuition$$$$
- % Excl. Online70%
- % Part. Online2%
Albizu University-Miami
Miami, Florida
Private
- AccreditationSACSCOC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate67%
- Retention Rate67%
- Student/Faculty Ratio14/1
- Tuition$$
- % Excl. Online6%
- % Part. Online36%
Saint Leo University
Saint Leo, Florida
Private
- AccreditationSACSCOC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate49%
- Retention Rate54%
- Student/Faculty Ratio16/1
- Tuition$$$$
- % Excl. Online77%
- % Part. Online17%
Florida State University
Tallahassee, Florida
Public
- AccreditationSACSCOC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate85%
- Retention Rate94%
- Student/Faculty Ratio22/1
- Tuition$
- % Excl. Online35%
- % Part. Online12%
Florida Atlantic University
Boca Raton, Florida
Public
- AccreditationSACSCOC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate62%
- Retention Rate81%
- Student/Faculty Ratio21/1
- Tuition$
- % Excl. Online36%
- % Part. Online23%
Florida International University
Miami, Florida
Public
- AccreditationSACSCOC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate69%
- Retention Rate91%
- Student/Faculty Ratio24/1
- Tuition$
- % Excl. Online29%
- % Part. Online22%
Lynn University
Boca Raton, Florida
Private
- AccreditationSACSCOC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate52%
- Retention Rate74%
- Student/Faculty Ratio18/1
- Tuition$$$$
- % Excl. Online45%
- % Part. Online27%
Nova Southeastern University
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Private
- AccreditationNSU
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate62%
- Retention Rate78%
- Student/Faculty Ratio17/1
- Tuition$$$$
- % Excl. Online36%
- % Part. Online13%
St. Thomas University
Miami Gardens, Florida
Private
- AccreditationSACSCOC
- Avg. Grant Aid
- Graduation Rate43%
- Retention Rate53%
- Student/Faculty Ratio10/1
- Tuition$$$$
- % Excl. Online48%
- % Part. Online10%
Base Methodology for STEP’s “Best Online Graduate Rankings”
Generate List of Eligible Schools and Programs
To be eligible for this ranking, schools were required to meet the following criteria based on government data provided by The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).
- Institutional accreditation from an organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
- At least one program in the subject area offered partially or fully online.
- Career placement and academic counseling services.
Assign Weightings
After generating the list of eligible schools, the STEPS data team then assigned weights and ranked schools based on their performance in a variety of key categories. Online learning metrics received the heaviest weightings, followed by affordability and student outcomes/academic quality metrics.
Online Learning
- Number of online programs
- Percent of graduate students enrolled exclusively in distance education courses
- Percent of graduate students enrolled in some but not all distance education courses
Affordability
- Average amount of federal, state, local, or institutional grant aid awarded
- Tuition and fess
Student Outcomes
- Full-time retention rate
- Student-to-faculty ratio
- Graduation rate
About Our Data
All STEPS rankings use the latest official data available from The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). Most recent data pull: August 2024
More Schools with Accredited Online Master’s Psychology Programs in Florida
Florida State University
Albizu University
Florida National University
Florida Southern College
Florida Atlantic University
Florida International University
FAQs About Psychology Master’s Programs in Florida
What are the admissions requirements for psychology master’s programs in Florida?
Most psychology graduate programs in Florida follow a similar admission process and require prospective applicants to submit the following items:
- Official academic transcripts with a competitive GPA
- At least two letters of recommendation
- A professional resume outlining relevant experience and work history
- A written personal statement
- Official GRE test scores
Note that the GRE is optional or waivable in some cases, such as at Florida Atlantic University, for instance. In addition, some schools require items not listed above, so check with individual colleges. Also, most colleges, like Keiser University, do not require a bachelor’s degree in psychology for admission to their psychology master’s programs.
How long do psychology master’s programs in Florida take to finish?
Completion timelines vary and depend on both the school itself and your own preferences. Overall, most students graduate from psychology master’s programs in Florida in 2-3 years. Online delivery can expedite the process. Programming at Lynn University, for example, only lasts a single year, while the hybrid program at Florida International University typically takes up to 2 years. Your program may take longer if you pursue a more hands-on course of study, like Barry University’s clinical psychology program that lasts three years, for example.
How much do psychology master’s programs in Florida cost?
Florida residents can significantly cut costs by attending public institutions and taking advantage of in-state tuition rates. Outside of that, most psychology master’s programs in Florida charge similar tuition rates. Additional factors can impact the final bill, however. Enrollment status plays a key role, for instance, and part-time study could cost more in the long run.
University of North Florida
Master of Science in Psychological Science
Total Credits: 48
$494/credit (in-state) $1,044/credit (out-of-state)
Florida Institute of Technology
Industrial Organizational Psychology, M.S.
Total Credits: 45
$1,310/credit
Financial Aid and Scholarships for Psychology Master’s Students in Florida
Financial aid opportunities like scholarships and grants can help reduce the costs associated with psychology master’s programs in Florida. These awards come from several outlets, but prospective schools of interest are a great place to start since these opportunities see smaller pools than national and state-based awards and are typically open to new and returning students. For example, the University of South Florida and Nova Southeastern both have scholarships specifically for psychology master’s students.
For more information on how to secure funding for your psychology education see the STEPS financial aid guide and our listing of available scholarships.