Optimize the work experience with one of the best organizational psychology degrees.

How can a business ensure that its employees are happy? Moreover, how can an organization keep its employees motivated? These are just a couple of the many questions that organizational psychologists ask. The 15 Best Online Bachelor’s in Organizational Psychology programs will answer these questions and help you reach your dream profession.
Organizational psychology is one of the 17 psychology fields that the American Psychological Association recognizes. And it’s one of the highest-paying fields, too. Organizational psychologists benefit from the dynamic nature of their jobs. One day, they may work to improve the well-being of an individual employee. The next day, they may train executives on performance evaluation best practices.
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One critical aspect of organizational psychology is team behavior. Organizational psychologists seek to enhance group effectiveness, composition, rewards, and goals. By improving a business team, both the organization and its employees can notice significant benefits.
Related Resource: Highest Paying College Majors
What Is an Organizational Psychology Degree?
Psychology has many paths, but each subfield of psychology shares similar roots. If a person immediately were to enroll in advanced organizational psychology courses, they would miss crucial information that only general psychology classes can impart. Thus, most undergraduate organizational psychology programs begin with the fundamentals. And few of them are technically organizational psychology programs, but most are general psychology programs or psychology programs with an organizational psychology emphasis.
Some standard classes in undergraduate organizational psychology programs are Mind, Brain, and Behavior; Psychological Measurement and Testing; Organizational Psychology; Introduction to Psychology; and Psychology of Personality. Some programs require students to write a thesis or complete a capstone project; others do not.
There are no general requirements to gain admission to organizational psychology programs. Some may be stricter with 3.0 GPA and SAT or ACT requirements, while others may be more lenient, permitting GED holders and non-test-takers to enter the program. Always be sure to read through the admission requirements of prospective schools, and consider that it’s best to exceed those requirements.
Careers for Organizational Psychology Majors
Organizational psychology, like other psychology fields, requires extensive schooling. While the satisfaction ratings of organizational psychology are above average, organizational psychologists have to endure (or get to enjoy?) several years of school to gain the Ph.D. or Psy.D. required for most jobs in the profession. If you love learning and you can embrace the end goal, though, the path toward organizational psychology will feel like a breeze.
People who hold a bachelor’s and master’s usually cannot get jobs as organizational psychologists, but they may be able to work in adjacent roles, such as in human resources. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, some of the most popular work environments for organizational psychologists are in scientific research and development services; colleges, universities, and professional schools; management, scientific, and technical consulting services; and management of companies and enterprises.
The best states for employment in the field are Virginia, Massachusetts, California, and New Jersey. These are the states where jobs are most abundant, but almost every state has a healthy job market for organizational psychologists.
Organizational Psychology Salary Potential
Organizational psychologists are some of the best-paid psychologists. The mean salary for organizational psychologists is $109,030 or $52.42 per hour. Pretty nice, right? School takes a lot of time and money, but the return of investment is almost immediate for employed organizational psychologists.
Like every profession, organizational psychologists don’t all earn the same salary. The lowest-paid 10% of organizational psychologists earn $51,350 per year or $24.69 per hour, while the highest echelon of psychologists in the field earn $192,150 per year or $92.38 per hour.
Of the several workplaces that employ the most organizational psychologists, those who work for scientific research and development services earn the most, at $149,780 per year or $72.01 per hour. Organizational psychologists who work for colleges, universities, and professional schools earn far less, at $70,360 per year or $33.83 per hour. But the work at educational institutions can be very satisfying, and the salary reduction may be worth it, depending on your needs.
What Are the Best Organizational Psychology Degrees?
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Eastern Kentucky University

Eastern Kentucky University has the best online Bachelor of Science in psychology program in the country. EKU offers eight potential concentrations within the major, the most pertinent concentration being psychology of the workplace. This concentration requires four classes: a small but necessary introduction into the field. Students in this program learn from 21 full-time faculty, each of whom hold a doctorate in a relevant field.
Some notable courses that Eastern Kentucky University students take are Abnormal Psychology, Adolescent and Adult Development, Psychological Interviewing and Reporting, Cognitive Psychology, and Introduction to Behavior Therapy. These courses provide you the foundations of organizational psychology and the practices you’ll use for the rest of your life. Each student supplements their psychology core with general education and elective requirements.
So what makes Eastern Kentucky University the best program? Besides the excellent faculty and courses, EKU boasts affordable tuition rates, six start dates per year, a personalized graduation plan, eight-week terms, and free online tutoring.
Colorado State University

Colorado State University’s bachelor’s in psychology program with a concentration in industrial and organizational psychology will give you a comprehensive introduction to the field. Students at CSU receive opportunities to become research assistants, interns, and experiential learners throughout the four-year program. These opportunities can strengthen your graduate school application and offer you an inside look at the organizational psychology profession.
Students begin their first year with courses like Attributes of Living Systems, Personal Computing, College Composition, and General Psychology. By their senior year, students take more advanced classes, such as Principles of Human Physiology, Capstone Seminar, Seminar: Industrial/Organizational Psychology, and Psychology of Personality. Each student can choose from an independent study, group study, research project, or thesis to complete the program.
To apply, you must submit application fees or a fee waiver, high school transcripts or GED, ACT or SAT results, and college transcripts if you’re a transfer student. International applicants must submit proof of English proficiency.
Kansas State University

Kansas State University offers an excellent bachelor’s of psychology program with a specialization in Industrial-Organizational Psychology. Graduates of this program have become organizational psychologists, psychotherapists, educators, administrators, data scientists, and human resource managers. The potential outcomes for Kansas State University are boundless, partially because of the fantastic reputation of this program.
Students in this program must take core classes like General Psychology, Introduction to Statistics, Cognitive Psychology, and Principles of Learning. Some Industrial-Organizational Psychology courses include Psychology Applied to Work, Industrial Psychology, Psychology of Organizations, and Occupational Health Psychology. Students supplement these classes with general education and elective courses, which contributes to their success as psychologists and citizens.
Kansas State University offers extensive undergraduate research opportunities. Undergraduate students can take advantage of these opportunities to work alongside faculty and graduate students in nationally published studies. If you seek an excellent and affordable program nearly unparalleled in America, choose Kansas State University.
Southern New Hampshire University

Are you at least as concerned with business as you are about psychology? If so, consider Southern New Hampshire University’s Bachelor in Business Administration with a concentration in industrial-organizational psychology. This program emphasizes business organization, organizational psychology, and the many facets of management that are unavailable in most psychology programs.
Students in this program take Business Core, Industrial-Organizational Psychology, as well as general education and elective classes. Some courses in the business core are Financial Accounting, Human Relations in Administration, Principles of Finance, and Introduction to International Business. Classes in the industrial-organizational psychology specialization include Cross-Cultural Psychology, Industrial-Organizational Psychology, Social Psychology, and Introduction to Psychology.
Southern New Hampshire University’s program suits students who seek to become organizational psychologists, training managers, development specialists, and more. At $320 per credit hour, SNHU also happens to be one of the most affordable programs on this list. If you want a business-focused and affordable education, SNHU may be the best program for you.
Brandman University

Brandman University’s Bachelor of Arts in psychology with an emphasis in industrial-organizational psychology prepares students to become psychologists, graduate students, and the next generation of industrial-organizational professionals. Students can enroll in this program online or in a hybrid format in one of Brandman University’s 21 campuses around California.
There are three parts of the Brandman University curriculum: general education requirements, core requirements, and classes in the industrial organization concentration. Some notable courses in this program are Introduction to Psychology, Scientific Writing in Behavioral Social Sciences, Personnel Psychology, Organizational Psychology, and Introduction to Psychological Measurement.
To gain admission to this program, applying students must have a 2.0 or higher GPA, a completed application, official transcripts from all high school and college programs, and twelve or more transferable baccalaureate level credits. If you don’t have the credits required for the program, Brandman University offers an expedited twelve-credit program that comprises four courses, which you can take online.
National University

National University’s online Bachelor of Science in organizational behavior program stands out for its four-week classes, which offer students an expedited and intensive education. Students in this program learn how to apply ethics in professional decision making, diagnose and implement organizational change, recognize multiple cultural perspectives in their work, and demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of interpersonal communication.
Note that this program isn’t as heavily based on organizational psychology as most other programs on this list. Instead, it focuses on leading organizations and improving the morale of your colleagues. While the subject matter is adjacent to psychology courses, this program won’t include many courses focused on psychological theory or the foundations of organizational psychology. If you’re looking for a more clinical approach to the field, consider another option.
Besides its four-week classes, National University students also benefit from monthly program start dates, the availability of hybrid formats, significant tuition discounts to servicemembers and their dependents, and some of the best faculty in the country.
Purdue University Global

Purdue University offers many benefits aside from its recognized name and deserved reputation. The school’s online Bachelor of Science in psychology in industrial-organizational psychology is well-designed, affordable, and accessible to students of all needs and lifestyles. Purdue University offers four yearly start dates: July 1st, July 29th, August 26th, and September 26th.
Some notable courses in this program are Employment and Staffing, Psychology of Leadership, Organizational Behavior, Attitudes and Motivation in the Workplace, and Selection and Assessment in Organizations. These courses adequately prepare students for entry-level positions as human resource and training professors, and as graduate school applicants and students.
At $371 per credit, Purdue University is an affordable school, especially for the worldwide reputation of the school. Prospective students should research financial aid opportunities, including scholarships, grants, and discounts for military experience. If you want an affordable, high-quality, and flexible program, look no further than Purdue University’s Bachelor of Science in psychology in industrial-organizational psychology.
Touro University Worldwide

Touro University Worldwide offers an excellent online Bachelor of Arts in industrial-organizational psychology program. The program is notable for having six start dates throughout the year, professors with doctorates and extensive experience in the field, and its flexible transfer policy. Touro University Worldwide accepts up to 90 transfer credits, meaning students can complete their degree at Touro University in less than one year.
The breakdown of this program is as follows: 45 credits in general education; 39 credits, including a three-credit capstone, in core requirements; 24 credits in electives; and twelve credits in a concentration. Some of the classes that students take are Applied Social Psychology, Effective Client Communication, Theories of Attitude Change and Persuasion, and Cross-Cultural Issues in Industrial and Organizational Psychology.
Touro University Worldwide charges $400 per credit hour, which is affordable but not the cheapest option on this list. Students can subsidize the cost of tuition with the many grant and scholarship opportunities that the school offers.
Florida Institute of Technology

The Florida Institute of Technology’s Bachelor of Arts in applied psychology with a concentration in organizational psychology is one of the best 100% online programs in the nation. Students in this program learn about management issues, employee recruitment, training employees, multicultural issues in organizational psychology, and enhancing organizational effectiveness through team building and other methods.
Students divide their time at FIT between psychology core, general education, and organizational psychology concentration requirements. Some courses students in this program take are Introduction to Psychology, Principles of Program Development and Evaluation, Psychology of Leadership, and Psychology of the Workplace. Students also take mathematics, humanities, social science, and natural science courses alongside the main psychology component.
Many students in this program go onto master’s and doctoral programs in organizational psychology. Other graduates have become human resources directors, training managers, vocational specialists, labor relations specialists, lawyers, CEOs, and many other professions integral to business and its operations.
Keiser University

Keiser University is another program based in Florida. Students in the online Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology choose from four concentrations: human services, developmental psychology, health care/fitness, and business. While other programs have a cut-and-dry organizational psychology concentration, each of these four concentrations can help you forge your career as an organizational psychologist.
Some courses in this program are Introduction to Cognitive Development, Abnormal Psychology, Speech Communications, Introduction to Psychology, Microeconomics, and College Algebra. More advanced classes that students can take in their final years are Constructs of Interpersonal Conflict, Human Exceptionality, Addictive Behaviors, Managing Diversity, and Performance Management.
Ninety-one percent of Keiser University graduates from this program have found a job in the field within one year of graduating. Others have gone onto master’s and doctoral programs to become professionals in the field. Wherever your desire lies, though, Keiser University’s excellent program will take you there.
Concordia University

Concordia University offers one of the only dedicated online Bachelor of Science in organizational psychology programs. Students in this program examine the psychology foundations of organizational psychology before moving onto more niche topics that organizational psychologists must know. Students should recognize that this program is based in biblical thought. That doesn’t mean each class is Christian-focused, but Christian thinking does inspire the Concordia University curriculum and faculty.
Some courses in this program are Christianity and Contemporary Culture, Measurement of Human Performance, Social Psychology, Business Ethics, and Organizational Consulting. Courses in the Organizational Psychology core make up 42 of the 120 credits required for graduation. Students spend the rest of the curriculum in elective, general education, and theological classes.
Concordia University charges $495, which is more expensive than many programs on this list. You must, however, consider that the extra cost may be worth it, considering the benefit of enrolling in a dedicated organizational psychology program.
Palo Alto University

If you’re equally invested in business and psychology, look no further than Palo Alto University’s online Bachelor of Science in business psychology program. Students in this versatile program take business, psychology, and economics courses, giving them equal strength to become organizational psychologists and leaders in other capacities.
Some notable courses in this program are Information Technology Management, Business Writing Fundamentals, Developmental Psychology, Psychology of Leadership and Team Development, Social Psychology, and Multicultural Studies. Students complete their degree with a senior seminar, which introduces them to the latest business and organizational psychology trends of the day.
Palo Alto University costs $22,752 per year, including tuition and fees. While the university isn’t the most affordable option on this list, it is one of the best, especially if you’re torn between a future in business and psychology. After graduating from this program, you’ll have sufficient preparation to begin your career in business or continue onto a graduate program in organizational psychology.
Washington University in St. Louis

Washington University in St. Louis is one of the best learning institutions in America. It is the second most selective university on this list. On average, WUSTL accepts 15% of its applicants. The 50th percentile of admitted students have an SAT score between 1470 and 1570 or an ACT score of 32 and 35. The career outcomes of WUSTL graduates are unlimited, but you must focus and perform excellently in high school to gain admittance to this program.
Students in this program take psychology, industrial psychology, and business courses. Some notable classes are Introduction to Group Dynamics, Applied Psychology of Learning: Training in Industry, Principles of Management, Financial Accounting, and Cognitive Psychology.
Applicants must have six college credits to gain admittance to this program. People can get these credits through AP classes, community college courses, or transferable college coursework of any other kind. WUSTL offers students the unique opportunity to take courses without applying to a degree program. This option is ideal for those who don’t seek a degree or don’t want to commit themselves to more education and debt.
Northwestern University

Northwestern University is the most well-known, most demanding, and most selective university on this list. Its alumni include Nobel Prize winners, politicians, Pulitzer prize winners, and leading scientists. Northwestern University’s psychology program is demanding, but it rewards the students that invest time and effort into the program. Northwestern University shines as an excellent learning institution and a resume supporter that employers won’t overlook.
Some classes students in this program may take are Statistical Methods in Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, Introduction to Neuroscience, Social Psychology, and Consumer Psychology and Marketing Research. Each class is taught by faculty members who hold doctorates and the experience required to teach at this acclaimed university.
Northwestern University is far from the most affordable option on this list. But if you have savings or you’re willing to go into debt for an education that goes above and beyond almost any program in the country, there is no better option than Northwestern University.
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