Fayetteville State University ranked among nation’s best colleges for online master’s programs in psychology for 2023

Fayetteville, N.C., (February 23, 2023) – Fayetteville State University (FSU) psychology master’s program ranks among the best schools for online learning, according to OnlineMastersDegrees.org (OMD). FSU’s psychology programs earned top honors for overall quality, affordability and commitment to student success.

FSU’s master’s in psychology program ranked 1st for affordability and 17th best overall for program quality among the ranked programs. Ranking criteria included key factors such as tuition affordability, online component availability, student/faculty ratio, and the accessibility of student and career support services that together provide graduate students with the best overall academic opportunities and experience.

The Master of Arts in psychology program requires a minimum of 36 semester credit hours of graduate studies completed through 27 credit hours of required core courses, six credit hours of psychology electives, and three credit hours of free electives. The department also offers two 12-credit hour graduate certificates that can be completed separately or with the master's program.

"This year, we focused on the schools making it easier for students to compete in today’s increasingly difficult job market,” said Kyle Darland, co-founder of OMD. “Each ranked school offers a fully or partially online master’s program in psychology at a time when earning a master’s has become a minimum barrier to entry for many.”

Darland is referencing a recent survey from CareerBuilder.com, which found that “thirty-three percent of employers are hiring workers with master’s degrees for positions that had been primarily held by those with four-year degrees.” These employers cited an evolution of the skills needed to perform the jobs as the cause of the shift, and an increase in work quality, productivity and employee retention as the result.

“Providing students with opportunities to get a master’s online is only part of our rankings,” Darland said. “Top-ranked schools also had competitive tuition rates and/or scholarships to help drive costs down. And with grocery, gas and other expenses on everyone’s mind right now, an affordable master’s is key.”

OnlineMastersDegrees.org analyzed more than 7,700 accredited universities by using data pulled from the schools themselves and from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). After the data was compiled, OMD’s data science team then applied a proprietary algorithm to rank all qualifying schools for each of the different master’s degrees specialties. Primary data points include:

• Academic counseling services
• Career placement services
• Student/faculty ratio
• Tuition
• Percent of students receiving school-based aid
• Amount of school-based aid per student

To be eligible for ranking, a university must hold active regional accreditation and have at least one partially online master’s program in the ranking subject. Just 8 percent of U.S. postsecondary institutions earned a ranking position.

“FSU continuously strives to create and provide exceptional degree programs that prepare our students for future career success that are also affordable and adaptable to their individual circumstances,” said Marcus S. Cox, M.B.A., Ph.D., professor and dean in FSU’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences. “Our psychology faculty and staff do an outstanding job, and we are elated to see the program recognized for its continuing excellence.”