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As an organizational psychologist, you will apply principles of human psychology to business operations, helping create a more productive and functional work environment. In this field, you may assist with various business functions, including hiring, human resources, and employee training, with a median annual salary of $96,270.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the psychology sector projects a 3 percent growth from 2019 to 2029, humans skills, gained though a psychology degree also appeared in 84% of all employment ads between March and July 2020.
Considering that only 21% of Americans would consider themselves “very engaged” with their job, there’s a massive opportunity for organizational psychologists to make an impact and enhance workplace quality.
If you’re thinking about entering this rewarding field, you don’t have to over-spend on an expensive degree. Below, you’ll find an overview of institutions where you can get an affordable master’s in organizational psychology online and in person.
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.
| Rank | School | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Austin Peay State University | Clarksville, TN |
| 2 | Liberty University | Lynchburg, VA |
| 3 | Touro University Worldwide | Los Alamitos, CA |
| 4 | Purdue University Global | Davenport, IA |
| 5 | Grand Canyon University | Phoenix, AZ |
| 6 | Missouri University of Science & Technology | Rolla, MO |
| 7 | Eastern Kentucky University | Richmond, KY |
| 8 | Colorado State University | Fort Collins, CO |
| 9 | Kansas State University | Manhattan, KS |
| 10 | Bellevue University | Bellevue, NE |
It depends on your enrollment status and your academic institution, but in most cases, it should take between two and four years. If you’re studying full-time, you’ll typically finish your organizational psychology master’s within two years. However, if you choose to study part-time, it will likely take three to four years to complete your program.
Yes. As businesses try to create more engaging workplaces for their employees, the services of industrial/organizational psychologists are in demand. With a master’s in organizational psychology, you can work in a number of industries, including education, government, and private sector companies. Alternatively, you can work as a consultant to these types of organizations.
Getting a degree in organizational psychology will open many doors in the professional world. With this degree, many graduates opt to begin a career as an Industrial-Organizational Psychologist. If you choose this path, you’ll be able to help companies establish better hiring practices, keep employees engaged, develop workplace policies, and more. Other job opportunities with this degree may include Human Resources Manager, Training Manager, or Talent Acquisition Manager.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the average median salary for an Industrial-Organizational Psychologist in 2020 is $96,270 per year. Your annual wage will depend on a few factors, with industry being one of the most important. For example, the mean salary for an Industrial-Organizational Psychologist in Scientific Research and Development Services is nearly double that of someone in State Government (excluding schools and hospitals).
When you pursue a master’s in organizational psychology, you’ll learn how to apply the fundamentals of psychology to improve business functions and employee satisfaction. As a postgraduate program, you’ll first need a bachelor’s degree to enroll.
Some of the courses that you’ll take as an organizational psychology student may include: organizational psychology, workplace training and development and leadership in organizations
At the conclusion of your course, you may be required to write a dissertation or thesis to demonstrate your knowledge of the field. If you’re undertaking an online master’s in industrial organizational psychology, you’ll find that many schools provide flexible class options for working students.
Because organizational psychology combines elements of business and science, your program’s curriculum will include several diverse courses. Here are a few of the most common classes you may take as an organizational psychology student:
In these courses, you’ll learn how individuals and groups behave in work settings and how to make these interactions more effective. Focus areas include leadership, development, communication, and employee motivation.
You’ll develop an understanding of effective hiring processes, including how to recruit and train excellent employees. There’s also an emphasis on employee retention strategies and engagement methods.
As part of your training, you’ll learn how to perform psychological research, including hypothesis development and testing, research design, and more.
Depending on your school, you might be able to select a concentration in organizational psychology as part of your master’s program. With a concentration, you’ll complete additional study in a particular aspect of organizational psychology, such as:
Specific admissions requirements will vary from school to school, but there are a few standard prerequisites across the board.
For starters, you will need to hold a bachelor’s degree to be considered for a master’s in organizational psychology. Some institutions require you to have taken relevant undergraduate coursework in psychology, but that’s not always the case. Also, certain schools will include a minimum undergrad GPA as an admission requirement.
You might also need to submit your GRE scores as part of your application. While some schools accept a passing score on the GRE General Test, others will require you to take the GRE Psychology Subject Test.
Finally, you’ll also need to include a personal statement, your resume and work experience, and up to three letters of professional recommendation.
Master’s in organizational psychology online study has broad applications for virtually all careers, excluding college teaching and scientific research, that focus on the people making businesses run. I-O psychology theories are useful in various disciplines, such as labor relations, workplace diversity, occupational safety, recruitment, compensation, and employee assistance, depending on industry credentials.
If you’re interested in working as an organizational psychologist, your master’s degree and relevant internships or work experience should effectively prepare you for this career path. You won’t need a doctoral degree to work in this field, which is not the case with other psychology jobs.
| Career | Median Annual Salary |
| Industrial/Organizational Psychologist | $96,270 |
| Human Resources Manager | $105,750 |
| Training and Development Manager | $113,350 |
| Employee Benefits Administrator | $69,454 |
| Industrial Relations Manager | $131,800 |
| Business Psychologist | $117,000 |
| Organizational Development Manager | $119,730 |
| Recruiting Director | $149,470 |
| EEO Manager | $122,790 |
| EAP Manager | $112,363 |
| Employee Relations Executive | $202,410 |
If you plan on looking for a job related to organizational psychology after earning your degree, there are several avenues to pursue. First, you can check out the SIOP Job Network, which lists current open roles within the field. Right now, the job board is featuring positions with companies like PepsiCo, Amazon, SAP, and Blue Shield of California.
With that said, it’s worth mentioning that the job growth rate for industrial/organizational psychologists has slowed down in recent years. According to U.S. News & World Report, the projected growth rate in this field between 2019-2029 is 2.5%. However, during that same period, human resources managers jobs are expected to grow by 6% (which is better than the average for all careers).
Cheap organizational psychology masters online can harvest abundant ROI that soars above the median graduate salary of $78,000 on a Georgetown CEW report. That’s welcome news since the College Board found that only 26 percent of post-grads finish without debt. The Department of Labor says the 1,020 industrial-organizational psychologists earn a mean annual income of $104,570 with top pay of $184,380. Human resources managers snag high profits averaging $120,210 yearly. Managers in training and development bring home a median wage of $105,830. Employee benefits administrators are given average compensation of $116,240. Industrial relations managers score standard pay of $107,320. On Salary.com, business psychology jobs post a median revenue of $118,780. Other six-figure averages are $111,015 for organizational development managers, $137,309 for recruiting directors, $108,032 for EEO managers, $104,383 for EAP directors, $184,080 for employee relations executives.
| School | Organizational Degree | Average Annual Tuition |
| Northcentral University | Online Master of Science in Industrial/Organizational Psychology | $16,553 per year |
| Benedictine University | MS in Management and Organizational Behavior Online | $22,400 per year |
| Golden Gate University | Online Master of Arts in Industrial-Organizational Psychology | $22,890 per year |
| University of Arizona Global Campus | Online Master’s in Organizational Management Average Graduate Tuition | $24,420 per year |
| Southern New Hampshire University | Online Master’s in Industrial-Organizational Psychology | $22,572 per year |
| Penn State University-World Campus | MPS in the Psychology of Leadership Online | $22,186 per year |
| Keiser University | Online Master of Science in Organizational Psychology | $25,712 per year |
| The Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Los Angeles | M.A. in Industrial and Organizational Psychology Online | $27,048 per year |
| Sacred Heart University | Online MS in Applied Psychology, I/O Psychology Concentration | $29,700 per year |
| William James College | Organizational Psychology Master of Arts (MAOP) Online | $30,990 per year |
| University of Southern California | Online Master of Science in Applied Psychology | $59,260 per year |
| Adler University | Master of Arts in Industrial and Organizational Psychology Online | $31,248 per year |
See also: 10 Most Affordable PhD in Organizational Psychology Online Programs
Clarksville, TN
$$$$$
Bestowed the 2018 Maurice A. Clay Leadership Development Initiative Grant, Austin Peay State University is a public, regional SACS-accredited Ohio Valley Conference member that's endowed for $22 million to teach 10,728 Governors at its 160-acre Cumberland campus and on Desire2Learn. APSU is crowned America's 343rd most conservative college on Niche, 189th best value by WalletHub, and 230th top university on the Social Mobility Index. The Department of Psychological Science & Counseling in Clement Hall charges our list's lowest price for the Online Master of Science in Industrial Organizational Psychology. Directed by Dr. Adriane Sanders, the 34-hour, residency-free curriculum ends with an exam or thesis after courses like Personnel Assessment and Organizational Change.
Lynchburg, VA
$$$$$
Linked to 127,286 LinkedIn alumni, including business gurus Patrick Ayota, Jurnee Carr, and Tad Skylar Agoglia, Liberty University has 47 years of expertise and $1 billion in assets for delivering nonprofit, conservative Christian education on Blackboard with a 19:1 student-faculty ratio. Virginia's first Loening Trophy winner is ranked the 382nd best private college in Forbes, 140th top psychology school on Niche, and 231st best university by the U.S. News & World Report. Known for its Daniels Program Mentoring, the Department of Psychology chaired by Dr. Justin Silvey grants the Master of Science in Psychology: I-O Psychology Concentration Online. The 36-credit, asynchronous program glorifies God in courses like Cognitive Psychology and Human Resources Training before the thesis.
Los Alamitos, CA
$$$$$
Budgeting $508 million annually, Touro University Worldwide is a private, Jewish four-college system named for philanthropists Isaac and Judah Touro that's employing 1,982 faculty to educate 18,000 diverse adults in New York, California, Nevada, Israel, or entirely online. Touro is deemed America's 27th most focused psychology school by College Factual, 336th best private university in Forbes, and 289th top master's institution in Washington Monthly. The WASC-accredited School of Business considers applications for the Online Industrial & Organizational Psychology Master's Degree year-round. Organized by Dr. Shelia Lewis, the 36-credit, non-licensure program follows SIOP guidelines for concentrations in Coaching and Consulting, Human Resource Management, or Occupational Health Psychology.
Davenport, IA
$$$$$
Given an A+ Better Business Bureau rating with 3.2/5 stars, Kaplan University is a private, nonprofit NewU sold to Purdue for $1 by Donald Graham in 2017 that's teaching 45,335 adults primarily on Blackboard from headquarters in "Iowa's Front Porch." Kaplan is recognized for America's 338th best student life on Niche, 20th best for vets education in Military Edge magazine, and 11th top online value by Best College Reviews. The 2015 EdTech Best Practice Award winner houses the Master of Science's Industrial/Organizational Psychology Concentration Online in the HLC-accredited College of Social & Behavioral Sciences. Advised by Dr. Dee Strbiak, the 65-unit, practicum-optional curriculum offers thesis or exam tracks after courses like Workplace Attitudes and Employee Evaluation.
Phoenix, AZ
$$$$$
Practicing the Boyer Model at the Canyon Neuroscience Center since 2010, Grand Canyon University is a private, nonprofit Baptist MPSF member in the "Valley of the Sun" that's worth $153 million to support 75,200 Antelopes finding purpose 24/7 on Blackboard. GCU was deemed America's 275th most ethnically diverse school by College Factual, the seventh best small company in Forbes, and 166th best buck in Washington Monthly. Administered by Dr. Sherman Elliott, the College of Humanities & Social Sciences partners with the ACBSP-accredited Colangelo College for the Online Master of Science in Psychology's Emphasis in Industrial and Organizational Psychology. The 36-unit, Christ-centered program optimizes worker efficiency with eight-week courses like Personnel Management and Leadership Consultation.
Rolla, MO
$$$$$
Established in the Lead Belt in 1870, Missouri University of Science & Technology is the oldest public, land-grant polytechnic Midwest institution that's endowed for $176 million to enroll 8,884 Miners from 60+ countries online or at the 284-acre, NSPE Award-winning Rolla campus. Missouri S&T was selected America's 408th best psychology college on Niche, 118th top research university by Forbes, and 120th best buck in Washington Monthly. The School of Humanities & Social Sciences adheres to SIOP guidelines for its Master of Science in Industrial-Organizational Psychology Online and Applied Workplace Psychology Certificate. Directed by Dr. Nathan Weidner, the 40-credit degree has June 15th and December 15th deadlines for beginning courses from Group Dynamics to Human Factors.
Richmond, KY
$$$$$
Chosen to host the 15th Annual Mid-South Psychology Conference in 2012, Eastern Kentucky University is a public, SACS-accredited research institution and Psi Chi Chapter location that's endowed for $61 million to employ 588 faculty teaching 16,844 Colonels from Richmond to Canvas online. EKU stands out for America's 165th best opportunity on the Social Mobility Index, 209th best value by WalletHub, and 324th top graduation rate in Washington Monthly. The College of Letters, Arts & Social Sciences waives GRE scores for entering the Online Industrial-Organizational Psychology Master's speedy, eight-week terms. Overseen by Dr. Robert Brubaker, the 36-credit, non-thesis program offers PASS tutoring services for courses like Psychological Interviewing and Workplace Behavior.
Fort Collins, CO
$$$$$
Highly regarded for its 100,000-square-foot Behavioral Sciences Building in Fort Collins, Colorado State University is a moderately selective public, land-grant RU/VH hub that's blossomed since 1870 to teach 33,237 Rams in 70+ majors both on-site and online via Canvas. CSU was ranked America's 89th best university by Bloomberg BusinessWeek, 243rd top psychology school on Niche, and 274th best value in Money magazine. The College of Natural Sciences managed by Dr. Janice Nerger has 186 full-time faculty for programs like the Master of Applied Industrial/Organizational Psychology Online. Requiring GRE subject tests, the 39-credit, coursework-only curriculum uses an active learning model for topics from Criterion Development to Workforce Training and Succession Planning.
Manhattan, KS
$$$$$
Given a $10.6 million NIH Grant for its well-known Center on Cognitive and Neurobiological Approaches to Plasticity, Kansas State University is a flagship public, polytechnic APLU member founded in 1863 that's welcoming 22,795 Wildcats to Manhattan, Salina, Olathe, and online courses. K-State was applauded for America's 16th best career services by The Princeton Review, 138th best buck in Washington Monthly, and 123rd top education overall on Plexuss. The HLC-accredited College of Arts and Sciences prefers Online Master's in Psychology with an Emphasis in Industrial and Organizational Psychology entrants with two years of experience. Apply before April 30th to the 38-credit, practicum-included program headed by Dr. Michael Young for topics like Job Training and Staff Development.
Bellevue, NE
$$$$$
Selected as the NSPA 2017 Scholarship Provider of the Year, Bellevue University is an affordably priced private, nonprofit "real learning" institution that underwent a $4 million transformation to better educate 10,304 Bruins on Cyberactive with resources like the Human Capital Lab. Bellevue was named America's 198th best location on Niche, 12th best for vets college in Military Times, and #1 top transfer option by Most Innovative Universities Online. The IACBE-accredited Business, Management, and Leadership Division trains I-O practitioners with minimum 2.5 GPAs in the Master of Science in Industrial and Organizational Psychology Online. Coordinated by Dr. Jane Schaefer, the 36-credit, non-thesis degree integrates 180 practicum hours into courses like Job Analysis and Performance Appraisal.
Los Alamitos, CA
$$$$$
Declared a USDLA Silver Sponsor, California Southern University is a private, for-profit Orange County school opened in 1978 on Harbor Boulevard that's conferring 12 WSCUC-accredited degrees via eLearning to prove "Knowledge Conquers All." CalSouthern was proclaimed America's 20th best psychology program by Online Schools Center and 13th top online college on TheBestSchools.org. The School of Behavioral Sciences accepts $75 applications monthly to begin the Online MS Concentration in Industrial and Organizational Psychology. Advised by Dr. Dorothy Hanson, an IBAM Board member, the 42-credit curriculum progresses toward a master's thesis with Skype-enhanced courses like Workplace Conflict, Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Testing, and Positive Psychology.
Trenton, NJ
$$$$$
Named for the "Wizard of Menlo Park" in 1972, Thomas Edison State University is a public, self-directed adult learning institution and NUTN Distance Education Innovation Award recipient worth $79.3 million that's serving 18,684 at its two-acre New York Metro campus or on Moodle. TESU was honored for America's 134th most popular business school by College Factual, 18th best community college in Washington Monthly, and 282nd best returns on PayScale. Home to the Alpha Zeta Epsilon Chapter, the Heavin School of Arts & Sciences led by Dr. John Woznicki offers an Online Master of Arts in Liberal Studies (MALS) in Industrial-Organizational Psychology. The 36-credit curriculum spans six 12-week terms with courses like Teamwork and Growing Organizational Talent before the capstone.
West Hartford, CT
$$$$$
Participating in the Association for Women in Psychology Conference each March, the University of Hartford is a private, non-sectarian liberal arts AEC member established in 1957 that's endowed for $145.5 million to inspire 1,675 post-grad Hawks from 48 states face-to-face and online. Hartford was judged America's 232nd best university on the Social Mobility Index, 147th top college for ROI by PayScale, and 122nd best service institution in Washington Monthly. The College of Arts and Sciences in East Hall has a February 15th deadline for entering the Master of Science in Organizational Psychology Online. Administered by Dr. Jessica Nicklin, the 36-credit, MSCHE-accredited curriculum takes two years of courses from Personnel Psychology to Experimental Design and a capstone project.
Flint, MI
$$$$$
Submitting AQIP portfolios to the Higher Learning Commission since 2006, Baker College is a private, nonprofit business-centric institute that's expanded beyond the Lower Peninsula to teach 16,943 adults in 150+ programs on Blackboard with $172.9 million in financial aid. Baker was designated America's 169th best engineering school by the U.S. News & World Report, third best online value by College Choice, and 208th top graduation rate in Washington Monthly. Coordinated by Dr. Rand Ziegler, the College of Social Sciences refreshes workplace mindsets in an Online Industrial/Organizational Psychology (MS). The 38-credit, residency-optional program delves into eight-week courses like Employee Motivation, Group Factors, and Evidence-Based Coaching to unlock median yearly income of $70,700.
Miami, FL
$$$$$
Esteemed for helping 10,000 clients at the Goodman Psychological Services Center since 1980, Carlos Albizu University-Miami is a private, nonprofit Active Minds member with a $51 million HSI Grant to teach 2,413 multi-ethnic students in Puerto Rico, Florida, and online. Albizu is ranked America's 103rd most popular health professions school on College Factual, 146th top value by WalletHub, and 597th best master's institution in Washington Monthly. Connected to 100+ practicum sites, the School of Psychology accepts $50 applications for the Master of Science (M.S.) in Industrial & Organizational Psychology Online. Organized by Dr. Miguel Martinez, the 48-credit program strives to boost work-life satisfaction with courses like Talent Development, Personnel Selection, and Union Relations.
Minneapolis, MN
$$$$$
Known for its think2perform Research Institute, Capella University is a private, for-profit 2009 Blackboard Exemplary Course Award winner valued at $930 million in the "Mini Apple" that's connecting 1,488 faculty in six countries with 37,000 adults online. Capella was crowned America's 46th most focused human resources school on College Factual, 94th best value by WalletHub, and 257th top Ph.D. producer in Washington Monthly. The Harold Abel School of Social and Behavioral Sciences presents the Master of Science in Psychology – Industrial/Organizational Psychology Specialization Online in the GuidedPath or FlexPath. Directed by Dr. Randy Johnson, the 55-credit, HLC-accredited major fills each 10-week quarter with courses like Consultation Psychology and Psychometric Measurements.
Columbus, OH
$$$$$
Partnered with 230+ businesses, such as Nationwide, Discover, Centene, and Ohio Health, Franklin University is a private, nonprofit B-school endowed for $60 million that's building on 115 years of excellence to teach 8,018 adults at 25 HLC-accredited locations and online via Canvas. Franklin was picked America's 109th safest college on Niche, 40th most popular human resources school by College Factual, and 213th best value in Washington Monthly. Headed by Dr. Andy Igonor, the Ross College of Business awards the Online M.S. in Business Psychology for improving human labor efforts. The 36-credit, 14-month ends with the mastery demonstration project after courses like Behavioral Economics, Organizational Coaching, and Managerial Psychology.
San Antonio, TX
$$$$$
Founded in 1881 by the Sisters of Charity, the University of the Incarnate Word is a private, coeducational Catholic ACCU member of the Southland Conference that's endowed for $120 million to enroll 10,389 Cardinals at its 154-acre Alamo Heights campus and online. UIW was declared America's sixth best college in Hispanic Outlook, 106th best online business program by the U.S. News & World Report, and 77th top standout school on Niche. The SACS-accredited School of Professional Studies accepts free applications for the Master of Arts in Administration – Industrial & Organizational Psychology Concentration Online. Chaired by Dr. Denise Staudt, the 30-credit, capstone-embedded curriculum integrates courses like Industrial Development Interventions and Organizational Consulting.
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