Most Affordable Online PhD in Organizational Psychology Programs in 2021

Most Affordable Online PhD in Organizational Psychology Programs in 2021

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Updated June 28, 2021

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The American Psychological Association (APA) defines organizational psychology as a psychological discipline that analyzes how people behave at work. Organizational psychologists, also known as industrial-organizational psychologists, help employers recruit the best talent, train new employees, and create better work environments. These professionals can positively impact people's quality of life and their employers' bottom line.

Individuals who pursue careers in organizational psychology enjoy solving problems, helping others, and fostering interpersonal relationships. Professionals who enter this field can become assistant professors, consultants, or operations managers, depending on their respective doctoral specializations.

A typical Ph.D. in organizational psychology program takes five years for bachelor's degree-holders to complete. Degree-seekers with their master's in organizational psychology may need only three years. Fortunately, students can earn an online Ph.D. in organizational psychology without pausing their careers. Continue reading for answers to common questions and information regarding typical courses and program accreditation.

Explore these promoted online degree programs.

These top, accredited schools offer a variety of online graduate degree programs. Figuring out where to apply? Consider one of these online Master’s or PhD programs.

Most Affordable Online Ph.D. in Organizational Psychology Programs



  1. New Mexico State University
    Location

    Las Cruces, NM

    The 36-credit master of arts in sociology at New Mexico State University explores the relationship between individuals and society, offering tools to better understand and improve human relationships. 

    The program covers topics such as classical social theory, qualitative research, and quantitative analysis. The curriculum examines a variety of sociological perspectives and includes electives in social inequality, education, migration, the U.S.-Mexico border, pop culture, environmental sociology, and social psychology, among others. Students complete all courses online, with no campus visits required.

    • Graduation rate: 51%
    • School status (public/private): Public
    • Number of programs offered: 150+ grad programs, with 75+ online
    • City location: Las Cruces, New Mexico
    • Admission requirements: Undergraduate graduate transcript and GPA ≥ 3.0, purpose statement, three recommendation letters, and a record of ethical behavior. 
    • Standardized test scores/requirements (is the GRE required and what is the average score for admission): Not required
    • Contact: 
    • Website
  2. University of Alabama
    Location

    Birmingham, AL

    The University of Alabama at Birmingham hosts a variety of distance education programs, including an online master of arts in applied sociology. Comprising 30 credits and nine total courses, this online sociology master's degree includes four required core courses: applied sociological research methods, applied sociological theory, applied sociology, and applied social psychology. 

    Students can choose from several elective courses, including healthcare delivery systems, health disparities, and the sociology of death and dying. Degree candidates can also complete an applied sociology practicum that stresses innovation and creativity in professional practice. All students conclude the program with a six-credit, research-based capstone that synthesizes overall program learning. 

    • Graduation rate: 61%
    • School status (public/private): Public
    • Number of programs offered: 175+ grad programs, 60+ available online
    • City location: Birmingham, Alabama
    • Admission requirements: Bachelor’s or master’s degree including at least 12 hours of social science coursework, GPA ≥ 3.0 or ≥ 3.2 for the past 60 hours in a bachelor’s program, and GPA ≥ 3.0 for any previous graduate program. In some cases, students who do not meet these requirements may still be considered, given their experience, goal statement, and letters of recommendation.  
    • Standardized test scores/requirements (is the GRE required and what is the average score for admission): Not required
    • Contact: 
    • Website
  3. South Dakota State University
    Location

    Brookings, SD

    The largest and oldest public college in South Dakota, SDSU hosts an assortment of online programs, including a unique master of science in sociology – community development. This interdisciplinary degree applies the principles of sociology to practices of community development, training students to address economic, cultural, social, and environmental challenges in communities. 

    The program offers opportunities to study various unique electives, such as community and regional planning, natural resource management, Native American studies, economics, and nonprofit management. Offering a flexible modular course format, the fully online sociology master's degree caters to the needs of working students, making it easy to complete coursework alongside personal and professional obligations.

    • Graduation rate: 59%
    • School status (public/private): Public
    • Number of programs offered: 110+ grad programs, with 15+ master’s degrees you can earn online
    • City location: Brookings, South Dakota 
    • Admission requirements: Bachelor’s degree, two recommendation letters, writing sample, and personal statement.
    • Standardized test scores/requirements (is the GRE required and what is the average score for admission): The GRE is not required; international students will need a score of 525 on the paper-based TOEFL, 71 on the internet-based TOEFL, an IELTS score of 6.0, or a Duolingo English Test score of 100. 
    • Contact: 
    • Website
  4. Ohio University
    Location

    Athens, OH

    Based in Athens, Ohio University offers a unique, fully online master of social sciences degree. Geared toward teachers and public administrators, the program emphasizes both social science content and teaching methods, enabling graduates to teach dual enrollment courses that count for both high school and college credit. 

    In addition to the field of sociology, this interdisciplinary degree covers topics from five main perspectives: history, geography, political science, anthropology, and gender and sexuality studies. Courses use a fully online, asynchronous format that enables students to complete coursework at their own pace. At the end of the program, all candidates must complete a proctored final exam at an approved testing center.

    • Graduation rate: 66%
    • School status (public/private): Public
    • Number of programs offered: 170+ grad programs, 30 of which are online
    • City location: Athens, Ohio
    • Admission requirements: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited school, undergraduate GPA ≥ 3.0, and a brief personal statement.
    • Standardized test scores/requirements (is the GRE required and what is the average score for admission): The GRE is not required. If you are a non-native English speaker, you will need a score of 104 or higher for the TOEFL-iBT, scoring at least 26 for each section; or, you can complete the IELTS, and you must reach at least a 7.5 on all bands.
    • Contact phone: 
    • Website
  5. Morehead State University
    Location

    Morehead, KY

    Morehead State University offers a master of arts in sociology with four concentrations: criminology, chemical dependency, interdisciplinary social sciences, and general sociology. 

    Each track requires a total of 30 credits, split between 15 credits of core courses and 15 credits of concentration courses. The 15 core credits include five courses: quantitative research for social sciences, globalization, social thought and theory, quantitative research methods, and an introductory seminar in social science. 

    Each concentration track offers a different selection of electives, and most tracks include both thesis and non-thesis completion options. Candidates complete either a six-credit research thesis or an additional two elective courses.

    • Graduation rate: 43%
    • School status (public/private): Public 
    • Number of programs offered: 30+ graduate degrees, 19 online graduate degrees
    • City location: Morehead, Kentucky
    • Admission requirements: A bachelor’s degree from an accredited school, overall GPA ≥ 2.75 and a minimum GPA of 3.0 for all sociology courses, and a goal statement. In addition, you must also have 18 credit hours of undergraduate study in sociology or a related field. 
    • Standardized test scores/requirements (is the GRE required and what is the average score for admission): The GRE is not required for this program; international students will need to score at least 525 on the TOEFL.
    • Contact:
    • Website

Our Methodology, Explained

Grad School Hub compiles rankings based on public data released from educational, commercial, and government databases. Sources such as the National Center for Education Statistics and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics play a significant role in how we source our educational data. After collecting insight for each institution, we organize information into five weighted categories.
Metric Data Used Percentage
Academic Quality Full-time faculty percentage, student-to-faculty ratio, student retention and graduation rates 30%
Affordability Tuition rates, median student debt, and financial aid 10%
Reputation Admission and enrollment rates 30%
Program Offerings Number of program options 20%
Online Enrollment Score Portion of learners taking at least one online course 10%
A more comprehensive evaluation of how each category is determined and scored is accessible on our Ranking Methodology page.

FAQ

Question Answer
What is organizational psychology? Industrial-organizational psychology is a psychology subfield that studies how people act in the workplace. Industrial-organizational psychologists perform research to increase efficiency and increase employee satisfaction.
Is a master's degree necessary to apply for a doctoral program in organizational psychology? The answer depends on the university. An online Ph.D. in organizational psychology program may offer two tracks: one for students who earned bachelor's degrees and one for learners with their master's.
Do you need a license to be an organizational psychologist? Ph.D. in organizational psychology graduates require state-issued licenses to practice. Each state imposes different licensure requirements, and some feature licensure reciprocity agreements.
Do you need a doctoral degree to be an organizational psychologist? Industrial-organizational psychologists must earn a doctorate, as they need it to apply for licensure. Other requirements include supervised work experience.

What Do Organizational Psychologists Do?



Students earning a Ph.D. in organizational psychology can work with academic and career advisors to research and narrow down potential career paths. One popular option includes human resource management. Organizational psychologists in this role use their human behavior expertise to recruit applicants and create training materials. Less common tasks involve remediating disputes or complaints between employees.

Organizational psychologists who are interested in human resources but prefer positions with less human contact can work toward careers as workforce insights analysts. These professionals apply their quantitative and qualitative research skills toward assessing employees' performance and satisfaction. They use their research findings to make recommendations to senior management.

Outside of human resources, industrial-organizational psychologists can find positions as professional development consultants. Consultants create training programs for their company's employees. They can also work as an independent contractor who specializes in one or more industries.

Finally, industrial psychologists with a Ph.D. possess the necessary educational experience to become a tenured professor at a college or university. They instruct undergraduates and graduate degree-seekers, perform original research, and write articles and books for publication. Other responsibilities can include leading teams and creating curricula.

Salary Outlook for Organizational Psychologists



An organizational psychologist's salary depends on multiple factors, such as job title, years of professional experience, and geographical location. The latter plays a vital role, as more populous states with larger metropolitan areas offer the highest salaries. However, industrial-organizational psychologists who earn less but reside in rural areas can attain an excellent quality of life.

Organizational psychologists-in-training should also consider the relationship between salary and industry. The private sector may offer a higher salary than the public sector, and an industry's growth or decline also affects what employers offer job applicants.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, California, Virginia, and Maryland employ the largest number of industrial-organizational psychologists. Finally, professionals who live in California and Pennsylvania enjoy the highest pay.

Bottom 10% Median Annual Salary Top 10%
$51,080 $92,880 $197,700

Source: BLS

Licensure for Organizational Psychology



Psychologists need state licensure to practice, and each state goes by slightly different requirements. In California, the nation's most populous state, candidates must pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology Exam and the California Psychology Law and Ethics Exam. Candidates take an ethics exam to prove their competency with relevant state laws.

Other licensure steps include passing a criminal background check and attaining supervised work experience; many doctoral programs allow degree-seekers to start obtaining supervised work experience while earning their degrees. After candidates complete each step, they can apply with their state's board of psychology.

After industrial-organizational psychologists earn licensure, they must renew it. Renewal requirements include completing continuing education credits from an approved provider. California asks that licensed psychologists renew their license every two years and complete 36 hours of continuing education courses. At least nine hours must take place in person and not online. A state can also mandate which continuing education courses psychologists take, such as suicide prevention and ethics.

Courses in Organizational Psychology



Ph.D. in organizational psychology courses vary by program but instill a similar set of analytical, research, writing, and communication skills. Learners hone these and other skills by writing essays, performing original research, and crafting a dissertation. The dissertation process involves defending the dissertation in front of a faculty advisor and other professors.

The following five courses convey industrial-organizational psychology expertise. Not all programs offer these exact courses, and academic requirements can differ, depending on the university. Please contact a university's psychology department to gain the latest information about its online Ph.D. in organizational psychology courses.

Adult Development and Work

Organizational psychologists must understand how individuals develop in their career, how managers make decisions, and how companies foster talent. Topics in this introductory course include educational systems, the importance of leisure and work-life balance, and techniques employers use to effectively and accurately rate their employees' performance.

Systems Theory

Systems theory explores the similarities between biological and industrial systems. Coursework covers how teams create products based on different inputs, how feedback plays a role, and individuals' various functions within a group. Learners leave the course with a deeper understanding of and appreciation for each person's contribution to their employer's success.

Virtual and Global Leadership

Organizational psychologists should know how the rise in virtual working environments affects productivity and teamwork dynamics. In class, degree-seekers learn how to motivate employees, troubleshoot issues that arise when team members live in different time zones and locations, and facilitate multicultural communication. Additionally, virtual and global leadership can help learners attain employment at a multinational corporation with offices worldwide.

Ethics and Standards

Ethics and standards introduces learners to concepts they need to pass their state's ethics exam. Students learn how to perform research on people, work with ethnically and racially diverse populations, and navigate the legal system. Learning outcomes include the ability to apply ethical principles in different workplace settings.

Doctoral Dissertation

Degree-seekers start the dissertation process after completing core coursework and passing a qualifying exam. The dissertation process involves choosing a topic with a dissertation advisor's assistance, performing research, and writing the dissertation. Research and writing can take two or more years, depending on the research topic and whether students learn full or part time.

Still Looking for the Right Fit? Discover Similar Programs. 

Scholarships for Organizational Psychology Students



A doctoral degree represents a significant financial investment. Fortunately, online Ph.D. in organizational psychology degree-seekers can explore multiple scholarship and fellowship opportunities. The following awards represent just some for which students may qualify. Please use the embedded links to learn more about application requirements and deadlines.

George C. Thornton, III Graduate Scholarship
Who Can Apply: The George C. Thornton, III Graduate Scholarship awards funding to doctoral degree-seekers who possess a master's in organizational psychology. Applicants submit a summary of their master's thesis and one recommendation letter.
Amount: $3,000

Goldstein and Schneider Scholarships by the Macey Fund
Who Can Apply: Organizational psychology doctoral students part of a racial minority can apply. Other application requirements include an approved dissertation plan, dissertation research summary, resume, and nomination letter.
Amount: $3,000

Leslie W. Joyce and Paul W. Thayer Graduate Fellowship in Industrial-Organizational Psychology
Who Can Apply: This competitive fellowship awards funding to doctoral students who receive a nomination from their university. Application materials include official transcripts, a summary of the applicant's master's thesis, and a resume.
Amount: $10,000

SIOP Graduate Student Scholarships
Who Can Apply: Ph.D. in organizational psychology degree-seekers working on their dissertation can apply. Applicants submit a dissertation summary, two-page resume, and nomination from their program's director.
Amount: $3,000-$3,500

Rains Wallace Dissertation Award
Who Can Apply: The S. Rains Wallace Dissertation Award provides funding to postdocs who applied creative research methods during their dissertation research. Applicants submit a maximum 30-page paper that summarizes their dissertation research.
Amount: $1,000

Accreditation in Organizational Psychology



When researching Ph.D. in organizational psychology programs, ensure that they possess regional accreditation. The United States' six regional accreditation agencies evaluate whether colleges and universities provide a rigorous educational experience, one that aligns with what schools advertise to prospective degree-seekers. Regional accreditation plays such an essential role in higher education that employers may not consider applicants who graduated from nonaccredited schools.

Prospective online learners should also determine whether a university earned national accreditation from the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC). DEAC representatives compare a school's on-campus programs with its online degrees. If the latter boasts the same learning outcomes, the school receives DEAC accreditation.

Lastly, future industrial-organizational psychologists should only consider universities that possess programmatic accreditation from the APA. APA professionals determine whether a Ph.D. program uses the most up-to-date clinical best practices and adequately prepares learners for their future career. Additionally, some states require that licensure candidates earn their Ph.D. degrees from APA-accredited institutions.

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