2026 Best Value General Psychology Graduate Certificate Degree Schools
Looking for the best-value General Psychology graduate certificate degree programs in the United States? We have ranked 1653 schools by value — the balance of cost and student outcomes, using our 2026 methodology. The rankings below weigh factors such as tuition, student debt, and post-graduation earnings to surface the strongest return on investment.
To help you make your decision, Grad Degree reviewed schools to produce this 2026 value ranking, drawing primarily on U.S. Department of Education data (IPEDS and College Scorecard). View our full ranking methodology.
Top 25 Best-Value General Psychology Graduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
Learn more about these high-value schools below:
Minnesota State University Mankato earned the #1 spot in this year's best-value ranking in the United States. Located in Mankato, MN, Minnesota State University Mankato is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $9,572 in tuition and fees, compared with $18,942 for out-of-state students. Minnesota State University Mankato General Psychology students take on a median of $24,000 in debt. Median earnings reach $56,922 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Minnesota State University Mankato admits about 88% of applicants. Read the full report on Minnesota State University Mankato
A rank of #2 makes Fitchburg State University one of the best values in the United States. Fitchburg State University is a public school based in Fitchburg, MA. In-state tuition and fees average $11,346, while out-of-state students pay about $17,426. Fitchburg State University General Psychology students take on a median of $26,125 in debt. Fitchburg State University alumni report median earnings of $53,874 a decade after entry. Set against $26,125 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Fitchburg State University has an acceptance rate of 87%. See the full Fitchburg State University profile
Liberty University came in at #3 on this year's best-value General Psychology ranking in the United States. Located in Lynchburg, VA, Liberty University is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $16,173. Graduates carry a median of $31,933 in student loans. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $44,813. Set against $31,933 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 99%. Read the full report on Liberty University
Out of the 1653 schools in the United States in this year's value ranking, Angelo State University landed the #4 spot. Set in San Angelo, TX, Angelo State University is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $8,460 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $18,300. Typical General Psychology student debt is $24,408. Ten years after enrolling, students earn a median of $50,116. That is a strong return on a $24,408 median debt. Angelo State University has an acceptance rate of 83%. Get the full Angelo State University report
You'll get strong value at Walden University, which ranked #5 this year. Walden University is a private for-profit school based in Minneapolis, MN. In-state tuition and fees run about $11,067. Graduates carry a median of $52,781 in student loans. Graduates go on to earn a median of $42,810 ten years after entry. That is a strong return on a $52,781 median debt. Read more about Walden University
University Of South Dakota offered strong value this year, earning the #6 position. University Of South Dakota is a public school based in Vermillion, SD. Students from in state pay about $9,432 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $12,942. University Of South Dakota General Psychology students take on a median of $24,593 in debt. University Of South Dakota alumni report median earnings of $51,926 a decade after entry. Set against $24,593 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of South Dakota admits about 99% of applicants. Get the full University Of South Dakota report
Northcentral University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Psychology schools. Set in San Diego, CA, Northcentral University is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $12,594. The median General Psychology program debt is $42,500. Median earnings reach $48,414 ten years out. Set against $42,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Read the full report on Northcentral University
Iowa State University offered strong value this year, earning the #8 position. This public school is set in Ames, IA. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $10,787, while out-of-state students pay about $28,881. Typical General Psychology student debt is $23,121. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $63,386. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Iowa State University has an acceptance rate of 89%. Get the full Iowa State University report
University Of Kansas landed the #9 spot for value in the United States this year. Set in Lawrence, KS, University Of Kansas is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $12,102, while out-of-state students pay about $30,432. University Of Kansas General Psychology students take on a median of $22,415 in debt. Median earnings reach $61,945 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 94%. Read more about University Of Kansas
University Of Missouri Columbia ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Psychology schools. Based in Columbia, MO, University Of Missouri Columbia is a public institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $14,837, with out-of-state students paying around $36,056. The median General Psychology program debt is $20,500. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $63,403. Set against $20,500 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 78%. Read more about University Of Missouri Columbia
Roosevelt University placed #11 among the best-value General Psychology schools in the United States. This private not-for-profit school is set in Chicago, IL. In-state tuition and fees average $21,315. Typical General Psychology student debt is $26,000. Median earnings reach $48,712 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roosevelt University has an acceptance rate of 97%. More on Roosevelt University
The University Of Texas At El Paso ranked #12 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Psychology schools. This public school is set in El Paso, TX. In-state tuition and fees run about $9,544, while out-of-state students pay about $25,502. Graduates carry a median of $18,195 in student loans. The University Of Texas At El Paso alumni report median earnings of $50,923 a decade after entry. That is a strong return on a $18,195 median debt. The acceptance rate is 100%. More on The University Of Texas At El Paso
University Of North Carolina At Charlotte placed #13 among the best-value General Psychology schools in the United States. Based in Charlotte, NC, University Of North Carolina At Charlotte is a public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,239 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $22,492. University Of North Carolina At Charlotte General Psychology students take on a median of $24,250 in debt. Median earnings reach $57,289 ten years out. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 80%. See the full University Of North Carolina At Charlotte profile
Claremont Graduate University placed #14 among the best-value General Psychology schools in the United States. Located in Claremont, CA, Claremont Graduate University is a private not-for-profit institution. Median earnings reach $64,372 ten years out. More on Claremont Graduate University
University Of Massachusetts Lowell placed #17 among the best-value General Psychology schools in the United States. This public school is set in Lowell, MA. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $16,966, while out-of-state students pay about $36,264. Students borrow a median of $25,925 to complete their General Psychology program here. Median earnings reach $64,874 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $25,925 median debt. Roughly 83% of applicants are accepted. Get the full University Of Massachusetts Lowell report
University Of Central Florida placed #18 among the best-value General Psychology schools in the United States. This public school is set in Orlando, FL. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,368, with out-of-state students paying around $22,467. The median General Psychology program debt is $19,432. Median earnings reach $58,308 ten years out. Set against $19,432 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. University Of Central Florida admits about 40% of applicants. See the full University Of Central Florida profile
University Of Florida ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Psychology schools. Set in Gainesville, FL, University Of Florida is a public institution. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $6,381, with out-of-state students paying around $28,659. The median General Psychology program debt is $16,897. A decade after starting, students earn a median of $71,588. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 24% of applicants are accepted. Read more about University Of Florida
Columbia University In The City Of New York placed #20 among the best-value General Psychology schools in the United States. Columbia University In The City Of New York is a private not-for-profit school based in New York, NY. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $70,517. The median General Psychology program debt is $23,258. Median earnings reach $102,491 ten years out. That is a strong return on a $23,258 median debt. The acceptance rate is 4%. See the full Columbia University In The City Of New York profile
New York University landed the #21 spot for value in the United States this year. Based in New York, NY, New York University is a private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees run about $62,796. New York University General Psychology students take on a median of $21,897 in debt. New York University alumni report median earnings of $82,509 a decade after entry. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. New York University has an acceptance rate of 9%. Read the full report on New York University
Arkansas Tech University offered strong value this year, earning the #20 position. Read the full report on Arkansas Tech University
Chatham University came in at #21 in this year's value ranking. See the full Chatham University profile
Coker College
Coker College placed #22 among the best-value General Psychology schools in the United States. More on Coker College
Lawrence University landed the #23 spot for value in the United States this year. More on Lawrence University
Reedley College
Reedley College ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Psychology schools. More on Reedley College
Saint Mary Of The Woods College ranked #25 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Psychology schools. Read more about Saint Mary Of The Woods College
Rest of the Top 50 Best-Value General Psychology Graduate Certificate Degree Schools in the United States
These schools also delivered strong value this year:
West Hills College Lemoore came in at #26 in this year's value ranking. Read more about West Hills College Lemoore
Western Connecticut State University placed #27 among the best-value General Psychology schools in the United States. More on Western Connecticut State University
California Lutheran University ranked #28 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Psychology schools. More on California Lutheran University
Central Methodist University College Of Graduate And Extended Studies landed the #29 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Central Methodist University College Of Graduate And Extended Studies
Chapman University placed #30 among the best-value General Psychology schools in the United States. See the full Chapman University profile
Cornell University placed #31 among the best-value General Psychology schools in the United States. More on Cornell University
La Salle University placed #32 among the best-value General Psychology schools in the United States. Read the full report on La Salle University
Los Angeles Trade Technical College came in at #33 in this year's value ranking. See the full Los Angeles Trade Technical College profile
Mercyhurst College landed the #34 spot for value in the United States this year. See the full Mercyhurst College profile
Ozarks Technical Community College offered strong value this year, earning the #35 position. Get the full Ozarks Technical Community College report
Pfeiffer University offered strong value this year, earning the #36 position. Get the full Pfeiffer University report
Spalding University came in at #37 in this year's value ranking. See the full Spalding University profile
Susquehanna University landed the #38 spot for value in the United States this year. Read the full report on Susquehanna University
Tennessee State University came in at #39 in this year's value ranking. See the full Tennessee State University profile
Texas A And M University Texarkana offered strong value this year, earning the #40 position. More on Texas A And M University Texarkana
Barton College
Barton College placed #41 among the best-value General Psychology schools in the United States. See the full Barton College profile
Dickinson State University ranked #42 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Psychology schools. Get the full Dickinson State University report
Emporia State University placed #43 among the best-value General Psychology schools in the United States. More on Emporia State University
Montana State University placed #44 among the best-value General Psychology schools in the United States. Read the full report on Montana State University
Naropa University placed #45 among the best-value General Psychology schools in the United States. Read more about Naropa University
Niagara County Community College came in at #46 in this year's value ranking. Get the full Niagara County Community College report
Rio Hondo College ranked #47 on our 2026 list of the best-value General Psychology schools. See the full Rio Hondo College profile
Rose State College came in at #48 in this year's value ranking. More on Rose State College
Alliant International University offered strong value this year, earning the #49 position. Read the full report on Alliant International University
Alpena Community College placed #50 among the best-value General Psychology schools in the United States. Get the full Alpena Community College report
Related General Psychology Value Rankings
See value rankings for other degree levels:
- Best Value General Psychology Schools (All Levels)
- Best Value General Psychology Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value General Psychology Undergraduate Certificate Degree Schools
- Best Value General Psychology Associate’s Degree Schools
- Best Value General Psychology Bachelor’s Degree Schools
- Best Value General Psychology Master’s Degree Schools
- Best Value General Psychology Doctoral Degree Schools
Ranking Methodology & Notes
This list is compiled by Grad Degree (DMS_RANKING_2023), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment — drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · Scope: Nation. *Averages shown above reflect the top 1653 ranked schools only.
References
- Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) — National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education (core institutional data).
- College Scorecard — U.S. Department of Education (graduate earnings and outcomes data).
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