Those that reside in New York and looking to stay in-state for their education are extremely fortunate as some of the best psychology schools on the East Coast are located in New York. This includes many Ivy League schools as well as smaller, more intimate schools.
Psychology is one of the most popular undergraduate majors; each year over 100,000 students graduate with a degree in psychology. Many students fail to realize that without a doctoral degree (and a lot more education) they will not become a licensed psychologist. So before jumping into a degree in psychology, they need to determine what type of career they want to pursue and if they are ready for an advanced degree to get there.
Top 5 Psychology Schools in New York
| Rank | School | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Columbia University | New York City, New York |
| 2 | Cornell University | Ithaca, New York |
| 3 | New York University | New York City, New York |
| 4 | Colgate University | New York State |
| 5 | The University of Rochester | Rochester, New York |
What is Psychology?
Just so students have a clear idea of what they will be studying, plain and simple, psychology is the study of how people feel and think. Throughout their coursework, students will study the workings of the brain, how it contributes to the human experience, consciousness, memory, reasoning, language, and personality.
One thing students should always keep in mind, if they are pursuing a degree in psychology to “better understand themselves and others,” keep looking for a different degree. Students need to have a career path outlined when they are studying psychology. Those looking for a little self-help should seek out someone to talk to. Pursuing a degree is an expensive way to find out who you are.
Career Outlook for Psychology Majors
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, overall job growth for psychologists is expected to grow 3% until 2029. Today, more than ever, there is a need for psychological care for those with mental and emotional difficulties, social interactions, and by studying cognitive and emotional reactions to different settings. We are seeing more need for psychologists in these areas:
- School psychologist
- Hospital and mental health facilities
- Social service agencies
- Care for the aging
- Those with mental and physical challenges
- Veteran care or those with PTSD and other traumas
- Autism and other childhood issues
- Sports psychology
The median pay for a Psychologist starts at around $80,370 per year.
Psychology, A Steppingstone to Different Careers
Many consider a master’s degree in psychology as setting the foundation before moving onto more specialized degrees within the field. Students that do not want to pursue a doctorate often find themselves pursuing positions in teaching, human resources, marketing, and advertising.
Those that want to pursue a doctorate or Ph.D., typically choose a particular field of study and continue down that path with coursework and research that help them achieve their final career goal.
A Master’s in Psychology Offers Careers that Let Students Help Others
There are many different types of positions graduates with a master’s in psychology can choose from, including:
- Human resource manager
- Market research expert
- Family and social services worker
- Instructor at a community college
- Social service manager/director
- Employee trainer
- Research assistant
- Data analyst/manager
- Organizational consultant
- Intervention advocate
Choosing a College
Choosing a college can be particularly challenging, so our team has put together some of the top schools for psychology degrees in the State of New York. This sampling offers everything from top Ivy League schools to private schools to accommodate students that thrive in different types of educational settings. Here are some of the top psychology schools in New York.
Best 6 Psychology Schools in New York
Columbia University
Columbia University’s Department of Psychology has an old and influential history. It is known for its faculty, many the recipients of many of the industry’s top honors. The department thrives on interdisciplinary collaboration with other departments in the school for a thorough understanding of psychology and its relationship to other issues. Some of the collaborations include the biology department, psychiatry department, neuroscience, and management/marketing. Some of the benefits of attending Columbia University’s Department of Psychology include:
- Hands-on experience in the Psychology Lab, where students conduct polygraphy measurements and other tools like facial expressions and eye movements
- Gain interpersonal skills, counseling techniques, and other tools
- Secure an internship course, students can gain academic credit as well as on-the-job experience
- Courses in forensic psychology, mental health counseling, and school counseling
Columbia was established in 1754 as a private Ivy League university known for its research department. The Department of Psychology dates back to 1890. The school offers undergraduate, graduate, and post-baccalaureate programs (since 1998).
The school has a very impressive clinical Ph.D. program which many students end up pursuing.
School Overview
Cornell University
Cornell University’s Department of Psychology has an impressive faculty with members coming from across departments to provide their expert knowledge in Human Development, Neurobiology, and Behavior. Undergraduate students will study a wide range of courses that help them increase their knowledge of overall human behavior. They will:
- Develop critical thinking skills
- Behavior and evolutional neuroscience reactions
- Perception, cognition, and social development
- Social and personality psychology
Cornell was founded in 1865 as a private, Ivy League research university. Students at Cornell University’s Department of Psychology have many different career paths they can follow. They can choose to major or minor in psychology or pursue their education further with a master’s or a Ph.D., in the field. In the Fall of 2019, Cornell had students enrolled from all 50 states and 119 countries. Today the school has 14,743 undergraduates, 6,239 graduate students, and 2,638 professional students.
School Overview
New York University
New York University’s Department of Psychology offers undergraduate, master’s, and Ph.D. degrees. Many instructors and faculty members are currently working in research, so they bring their students real-life experiences They actively share their research with students who will then learn the fundamentals of psychology theory, practical skills, and a need to feed the questions the research has unearthed. Some of the topic’s students should expect to learn about include:
- Science of behavior, mind, and brain
- Social psychology, cognition, perception, psychopathology, and neuroscience
- Contemporary research
- Social interactions
New York University is a private research university; it was founded in 1831 in Greenwich Village. It is the largest private university in the U.S. In the fall of 2019, the university had over 51,000 enrolled students, of those, 25,115 were graduate students. The school offers an undergraduate degree in psychology, two master’s degrees, and two Ph.D. degrees in psychology.
School Overview
Colgate University
Colgate University’s Psychological and Brain Sciences Department is known for its intense study program. Throughout the program, students will explore multi-level-analysis and the journey from brain to behavior to find out what makes each of us do the things we do. Students will conduct research and studies both individually and as teams to further the ability to think for themselves and in a group atmosphere. Part of the department’s studies include:
- Understanding sensation, motivation, and perception
- Personal and social development
- Psychological disorders
- Techniques, skills, and the ability to deploy triggers that can capture processes at different times, and scenarios
The initial charter for Colgate University was filed in 1819. Today it is a leading private, liberal arts college located in Hamilton, NY. It was originally a Baptist university; by 1890, the name was changed to Colgate University, which is now well known for its exemplary education. Today the Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences offers a Psychological Science Major and Minor. It is also home to Colgate’s interdisciplinary Neuroscience Program and offers Neuroscience as a major.
School Overview
The University of Rochester
The University of Rochester’s Department of Psychology was created to help students maneuver a diverse workload and coursework. The graduate program is designed to help applicants gain research experience, training, and practical tools and skills. The University of Rochester encourages students to utilize the knowledge of other departments like the University’s Medical Center and the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences. Other inter-departmental study opportunities include:
- Clinical Ph.D. Program
- Developmental Ph.D. Program
- Social-Personality Ph.D. Program
- Advanced Quantitative Methods
The University of Rochester was first established in 1850 as a private research university. Today it has around 6,800 undergraduates and 5,000 graduate students. It offers over 200 academic majors and currently offers undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, and professional degrees. The school is closely affiliated with the Mt. Hope Family Center and the Children’s Institute which works on the detection and prevention of developmental issues at a young age.
School Overview
Hamilton College
Hamilton College’s Psychology Department offers a broad span of coursework that enables students to understand more about human nature. Classes are designed to engage a wide range of studies including psychology, neuroscience, cognitive, affective, social, and developmental skills, and a wide range of other clinical topics. Many students work with instructors at the New England Center for Children a treatment center for kids and adolescents that suffer from autism. Upon graduation, students have a wide range of different career options to consider. Previous graduates have gone to jobs as:
- Clinical Social Workers
- School Psychologists
- Neuroscientists
- Assistant Surgeon General, U.S. Public Health Service
- Program Director, National Science Foundation
Hamilton College is a private liberal arts college that was originally founded as Hamilton-Oneida Academy in 1793. The school is considered to be an exclusive institution with only 1,850 enrolling students last year.
Students can choose from 57 fields of study, 43 majors, designs, or interdisciplinary concentrations.
School Overview
Rating Psychology Degrees in New York State
Students that have decided to pursue a degree in psychology have a lot of great choices if they live in New York State. There are many schools, both large and small that offer impressive curriculums in psychology.
We have taken some of the work out of this process and reviewed a variety of top schools in New York. We have categorized them based on the variety of minor and major degrees they offer, the cost of tuition and fees, graduation rate and student to faculty ratio.
We have added the schools above because of their impressive educational works and research labs that enable students to excel.
If there is a psychology degree program that has been omitted from this list, or if there are any errors, please contact us so the appropriate edits/corrections can be made.
