1
Rank 1
Top pickFresno Pacific University
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology · Master's Degree · CA
- Median earnings, 1 yr
- $96,593
- Median debt
- n/a
- School completion
- 49%
- Net price
- $17,491
Christian Colleges
Best Christian Psychology Degree Programs of 2026
Fresno Pacific University's clinical and counseling psychology program has the highest median earnings on this list at $96,593 one year after graduation, among 286 Christian colleges with a psychology program. One program per school is shown, ordered by program earnings.
We may earn a fee from the schools on this page, which can affect how they are placed.
Partner placement can affect which schools appear in the featured offer. It does not change the editorial ranking order.
Updated Oct 15, 2026
We rechecked the figures on this page against the College Scorecard release dated Oct 15, 2026, confirmed each school is ordered only by the metric named in the ranking, and confirmed a sponsorship does not change that order.Featured schools
SponsoredThese schools paid to appear here. We may earn a fee if you click or request information. Paying never changes a school’s place in our rankings.
How we ranked these
Every program is listed with the same published figures from the u.s. department of education, college scorecard (most recent cohorts, 2025-26). One figure orders the list: median earnings one year after graduation. One program per school is shown. Sponsorship is labeled and never changes a program's place.
At a glance
Compare programs by median earnings one year after graduation
| # | Program | Median earnings one year after graduation | Median debt | School completion | Net price | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fresno Pacific UniversityClinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology · Master's Degree | $96,593 | n/a | 49% | $17,491 | Visit |
| 2 | Chapman UniversityClinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology · Master's Degree | $95,430 | n/a | 83% | $46,708 | Visit |
| 3 | Loyola Marymount UniversityClinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology · Master's Degree | $92,908 | n/a | 79% | $50,518 | Visit |
| 4 | Azusa Pacific UniversityClinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology · Master's Degree | $86,903 | n/a | 63% | $22,597 | Visit |
| 5 | Saint Mary's College of CaliforniaClinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology · Master's Degree | $86,092 | n/a | 67% | $32,200 | Visit |
| 6 | Seattle UniversityClinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology · Master's Degree | $84,415 | n/a | 71% | $34,324 | Visit |
| 7 | Fordham UniversityResearch and Experimental Psychology · Master's Degree | $82,580 | n/a | 81% | $42,760 | Visit |
| 8 | University of San FranciscoClinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology · Master's Degree | $72,848 | n/a | 66% | $30,496 | Visit |
| 9 | Seattle Pacific UniversityClinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology · Master's Degree | $70,299 | n/a | 55% | $25,419 | Visit |
| 10 | Santa Clara UniversityClinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology · Master's Degree | $68,468 | n/a | 87% | $50,570 | Visit |
Featured schools
SponsoredThese schools paid to appear here. We may earn a fee if you click or request information. Paying never changes a school’s place in our rankings.
The shortlist
The 10 programs, from the top
- 2
Rank 2
Chapman University
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology · Master's Degree · CA
- Median earnings, 1 yr
- $95,430
- Median debt
- n/a
- School completion
- 83%
- Net price
- $46,708
- 3
Rank 3
Loyola Marymount University
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology · Master's Degree · CA
- Median earnings, 1 yr
- $92,908
- Median debt
- n/a
- School completion
- 79%
- Net price
- $50,518
- 4
Rank 4
Azusa Pacific University
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology · Master's Degree · CA
- Median earnings, 1 yr
- $86,903
- Median debt
- n/a
- School completion
- 63%
- Net price
- $22,597
- 5
Rank 5
Saint Mary's College of California
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology · Master's Degree · CA
- Median earnings, 1 yr
- $86,092
- Median debt
- n/a
- School completion
- 67%
- Net price
- $32,200
- 6
Rank 6
Seattle University
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology · Master's Degree · WA
- Median earnings, 1 yr
- $84,415
- Median debt
- n/a
- School completion
- 71%
- Net price
- $34,324
- 7
Rank 7
Fordham University
Research and Experimental Psychology · Master's Degree · NY
- Median earnings, 1 yr
- $82,580
- Median debt
- n/a
- School completion
- 81%
- Net price
- $42,760
- 8
Rank 8
University of San Francisco
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology · Master's Degree · CA
- Median earnings, 1 yr
- $72,848
- Median debt
- n/a
- School completion
- 66%
- Net price
- $30,496
- 9
Rank 9
Seattle Pacific University
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology · Master's Degree · WA
- Median earnings, 1 yr
- $70,299
- Median debt
- n/a
- School completion
- 55%
- Net price
- $25,419
- 10
Rank 10
Santa Clara University
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology · Master's Degree · CA
- Median earnings, 1 yr
- $68,468
- Median debt
- n/a
- School completion
- 87%
- Net price
- $50,570
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Get startedQuestions about this ranking
How is this ranking made?
One figure orders the list: median earnings one year after graduation for the named program. One program per school is shown, the school's highest-earning program that matches this list. Every rule is published in the method below.
Can a school pay to rank higher?
No. Sponsorship is a separate, labeled section, and paying never changes a program's place in the ranking.
What do the figures cover?
Earnings and median debt are program-level figures from the College Scorecard field-of-study file. Net price and completion describe the whole school, not the program.
How this ranking is made
Every line below is a rule. None of them can be bought.
If a rule is not written here, we did not apply it.
- 01
Programs in this list: Christian colleges that award a degree in psychology, at the bachelor's and master's level.
- 02
Ranked by one figure: median earnings one year after graduation (median earnings one year after graduation), from the College Scorecard field-of-study file. One program per school is shown: the school's highest-earning program that matches this list.
- 03
Programs with fewer than 20 graduates reporting earnings are left out because a median from a small group swings too much to compare.
- 04
Earnings and median debt are program-level. Net price and completion describe the whole school, not the program.
- 05
No school can pay to be included or to move up. Sponsored schools, where shown, appear in a separate, labeled section.
- 06
Religious affiliation is self-reported by the school to the U.S. Department of Education. Confirm program accreditation, licensure, and curriculum details with the school.
Sources: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (Most Recent Cohorts, 2025-26), retrieved 2026-10-15. Earnings and debt are program-level; net price and completion describe the whole school. Logos by Logo.dev.
The short answer
The best psychology program at a Christian college is Fresno Pacific University.
Fresno Pacific University's clinical, counseling and applied psychology program has the highest median earnings on this list at $96,593 one year after graduation, among 286 Christian colleges with a matching program. Median debt is n/a. One program per school is shown. No school can pay to appear here or to move up.
$96,593Fresno Pacific University leads this list.Median earnings one year after graduation.
Schools on the list
286
Median program earnings
$41,272
Median program debt
$25,011
Median school completion
61%
Highest program earnings
- 01Fresno Pacific University$96,593 one year after graduation
- 02Chapman University$95,430 one year after graduation
- 03Loyola Marymount University$92,908 one year after graduation
- 04Azusa Pacific University$86,903 one year after graduation
Lowest program debt
- 01University of Mount Saint Vincent$9,750 median debt
- 02Duke University$10,500 median debt
- 03Saint Peter's University$10,930 median debt
- 04Georgetown University$12,500 median debt
Highest school completion
- 01Warner Pacific University Professional and Graduate Studies100% completion
- 02Duke University96% completion
- 03University of Notre Dame95% completion
- 04Georgetown University94% completion
Largest enrollment
- 01Liberty University50,012 students · $29,235 net price
- 02Baylor University14,785 students · $44,441 net price
- 03DePaul University14,090 students · $27,108 net price
- 04Loyola University Chicago11,737 students · $36,340 net price
01
Which psychology program is actually best?
Fresno Pacific University tops this list because its clinical, counseling and applied psychology program has the highest median earnings one year after graduation among the programs that match this list. It reports $96,593 for graduates of that program, with 28 graduates reporting earnings. Median debt for the program is n/a.
The figures are program-level, not school-level. That matters here: a school's overall earnings can hide a strong program or lift a weak one. This list compares the program itself, then shows the school's net price and completion rate beside it so you can see the whole picture.
02
What this list measures
The list is built from the College Scorecard field-of-study file. It reports median earnings one year after graduation for graduates of a named program, plus median debt for that program. One program per school is shown: the school's highest-earning program that matches this list.
Net price and completion describe the whole school, not the program. A low net price is a school-level figure. A high completion rate is a school-level figure. Use them as context, not as a program guarantee.
03
How this list is ordered
One published figure orders the list: median earnings one year after graduation for the matching program. There is no composite score and no editorial adjustment. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates reporting earnings are left out because a median from a small group swings too much to compare.
For this psychology list, the matching programs are limited to psychology programs at Christian colleges. A school can have more than one matching program. The highest-earning one is the one shown. No school can pay to be included or to move up.
04
The top 8 programs on this list
These are the highest-ranked programs, ordered by median earnings one year after graduation.
- 01
Fresno Pacific University
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology · Master's Degree
$96,593 median earnings one year after graduation. n/a median program debt. The school reports 49% completion and $17,491 average net price.
- Program earnings
- $96,593
- Program debt
- n/a
- School completion
- 49%
- Graduates reporting
- 28
- 02
Chapman University
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology · Master's Degree
$95,430 median earnings one year after graduation. n/a median program debt. The school reports 83% completion and $46,708 average net price.
- Program earnings
- $95,430
- Program debt
- n/a
- School completion
- 83%
- Graduates reporting
- 33
- 03
Loyola Marymount University
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology · Master's Degree
$92,908 median earnings one year after graduation. n/a median program debt. The school reports 79% completion and $50,518 average net price.
- Program earnings
- $92,908
- Program debt
- n/a
- School completion
- 79%
- Graduates reporting
- 24
- 04
Azusa Pacific University
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology · Master's Degree
$86,903 median earnings one year after graduation. n/a median program debt. The school reports 63% completion and $22,597 average net price.
- Program earnings
- $86,903
- Program debt
- n/a
- School completion
- 63%
- Graduates reporting
- 87
- 05
Saint Mary's College of California
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology · Master's Degree
$86,092 median earnings one year after graduation. n/a median program debt. The school reports 67% completion and $32,200 average net price.
- Program earnings
- $86,092
- Program debt
- n/a
- School completion
- 67%
- Graduates reporting
- 25
- 06
Seattle University
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology · Master's Degree
$84,415 median earnings one year after graduation. n/a median program debt. The school reports 71% completion and $34,324 average net price.
- Program earnings
- $84,415
- Program debt
- n/a
- School completion
- 71%
- Graduates reporting
- 34
- 07
Fordham University
Research and Experimental Psychology · Master's Degree
$82,580 median earnings one year after graduation. n/a median program debt. The school reports 81% completion and $42,760 average net price.
- Program earnings
- $82,580
- Program debt
- n/a
- School completion
- 81%
- Graduates reporting
- 38
- 08
University of San Francisco
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology · Master's Degree
$72,848 median earnings one year after graduation. n/a median program debt. The school reports 66% completion and $30,496 average net price.
- Program earnings
- $72,848
- Program debt
- n/a
- School completion
- 66%
- Graduates reporting
- 241
05
What does the program cost?
Median program debt is $25,011 for the programs on this list. That is debt for graduates of the named program, not the whole school. A low debt figure can mean lower tuition, more grant aid, or a shorter program. Ask the school which one drives the number.
| School | Program | Program debt | School net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fresno Pacific University | Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | n/a | $17,491 |
| Chapman University | Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | n/a | $46,708 |
| Loyola Marymount University | Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | n/a | $50,518 |
| Azusa Pacific University | Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | n/a | $22,597 |
| Saint Mary's College of California | Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | n/a | $32,200 |
| Seattle University | Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | n/a | $34,324 |
| Fordham University | Research and Experimental Psychology | n/a | $42,760 |
| University of San Francisco | Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | n/a | $30,496 |
06
Does it pay off?
The median program on this list reports $41,272 one year after graduation. The top program reports $96,593. Earnings one year out are an early signal, not a lifetime total. They vary by field, by role, and by how many graduates go on to further study.
Read the program earnings next to the program debt and the school's completion rate. A high earnings number with very high debt is a different story from a moderate earnings number with low debt. The right comparison is the one that matches the career you actually want.
07
What makes a strong psychology program?
Psychology programs at Christian colleges range from broad bachelor's degrees to clinical and counseling master's programs. The strongest programs combine research methods with supervised practice and a clear path to the license or graduate degree you want.
- 01Does the program include a practicum or supervised clinical hours?
- 02Is the program aligned with the license you want, such as LPC, LMFT, or psychologist?
- 03For doctoral paths, does the program prepare you for APA-accredited graduate study?
08
Is it accredited?
Counseling programs can hold CACREP accreditation. Doctoral psychology programs can hold APA accreditation. Ask which agency covers the degree you want, and confirm the licensure requirements in your state.
Institutional accreditation is the baseline. It is a review by an agency the U.S. Department of Education recognizes, and it is what makes a school eligible for federal student aid. The schools on this list are in the College Scorecard, which covers institutions that participate in that aid system. Ask the school which agency accredits the program you want, and check the agency at CHEA or the College Scorecard.
09
What should I check before I apply?
Once a program is accredited, these are the questions worth answering before you apply.
- 01Does the program lead to the credential, license, or next degree you actually want?
- 02What are the clinical, practicum, residency, or portfolio requirements, and can you complete them near you?
- 03What will you pay after grants, and how much debt do graduates of this program carry?
- 04What do graduates of this program earn, and how many graduates are behind that figure?
- 05Can you transfer credit, and how long will the program take?
10
Other Christian college rankings
This page ranks psychology programs by one published figure. The rest of the hub uses the same rule and the same federal data.
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- Best Online Christian Colleges
- Best Bible Colleges
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11
Common questions about psychology programs
Can I become a counselor with a master's degree?
Yes, in most states. You usually need a master's degree, supervised hours, and a state license. Ask the program which license its graduates qualify for.
Is a Christian psychology program different from a secular one?
The curriculum covers the same core psychology and research methods. A Christian program may add integration courses or a faith-based practicum. Ask how those requirements work.
12
Where do these numbers come from?
Order. The list is ordered only by median earnings one year after graduation for the named program. There is no composite score and no editorial adjustment.
Figures. Earnings and median debt are program-level figures from the College Scorecard field-of-study file. Net price and completion describe the whole school. One program per school is shown.
No pay to rank. No school can pay to be included or to move up. Sponsored schools appear in a separate, labeled section.
Data source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (Most Recent Cohorts, 2025-26), retrieved 2026-10-15.
We rechecked the figures on this page against the College Scorecard release dated the 2026-10-15 College Scorecard release, confirmed each school is ordered only by the metric named in the ranking, and confirmed a sponsorship does not change that order.
Written by Lena Okonkwo, Education editor. Checked by Marcus Hale, Data editor. Some of the schools featured on this page are from our advertising partners who compensate us when you take certain actions on our website or click to take an action on their website. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own.
Terms used on this ranking
Median earningsMedian earnings is the midpoint of the earnings distribution for a defined group of former students, most ofte...Median debtMedian debt is the midpoint of the cumulative federal student loan amounts borrowed by a defined group of stud...Gainful employmentGainful employment is the federal regulatory framework that evaluates whether certain Title IV-eligible progra...Graduation rateGraduation rate is the percentage of full-time, first-time degree- or certificate-seeking undergraduates who c...
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96%
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Finish rateBest Online Christian Colleges of 2026
Gonzaga University, a Jesuit Catholic university with 11 programs reported fully online, finishes 85% of its students and sends them to a median $89,110 ten years after enrolling. It leads the Christian colleges with a real online catalog, ordered by completion rate.
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Finish rateBest Bible Colleges of 2026
College of Biblical Studies-Houston finishes 86% of its students and sends them to a median $44,156 ten years after enrolling. It leads our list of Bible colleges, where theology and religious vocations make up at least 30% of degrees and an undergraduate theology credential is offered.
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Finish rateBest Online Bible Colleges of 2026
College of Biblical Studies-Houston offers theology online and finishes 86% of its students, with median earnings of $44,156 ten years after enrolling. It leads the Bible colleges with a program reported fully online and an online theology or ministry program.
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Net priceMost Affordable Christian Colleges of 2026
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Program earningsBest Christian Education Degree Programs of 2026
Santa Clara University's educational administration program has the highest median earnings on this list at $105,580 one year after graduation, among 338 Christian colleges with a matching education program. One program per school is shown, ordered by program earnings.
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Advertising disclosure
The schools on this page are advertisers. They pay us when you click through or request information, and that payment affects which schools appear and in what order. Net price, graduation rate, earnings, and debt come from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and are the same figures we publish for every school.