Best Accredited Psychology Colleges and Schools in Missouri [Updated for 2025]

Missouri, located in the heart of the United States, is not just known for its rich history and iconic landmarks, but also for its dedication to higher education. Among its many educational institutions, Missouri boasts a variety of colleges that specialize in psychology.

With a blend of traditional teachings and modern research techniques, Missouri’s psychology colleges prepare students for a bright future in the field. If you are passionate about understanding human behavior and thought processes, Missouri could be the perfect place for your academic journey.

This guide will introduce you to some of the popular psychology colleges in Missouri.

Best Accredited Psychology Colleges and Schools in Missouri online

Psychology Colleges in Missouri

Listed below are some of the popular psychology colleges in Missouri:

  • University of Missouri
  • Washington University in St. Louis
  • Saint Louis University
  • University of Missouri – Kansas City
  • University of Missouri – St. Louis
  • William Jewell College
  • Northwest Missouri State University
  • Southern New Hampshire University – Online

To find out how we select colleges and universities, please click here.

University of Missouri

The University of Missouri, situated in Columbia, Missouri, is a prominent public research institution known for its rich history and academic excellence. Established in 1839, it holds the distinction of being the first public university located west of the Mississippi River. As a member of the Association of American Universities since 1908, it boasts a prestigious status among higher education institutions, classified as an “R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity.”

With a vast campus spanning 1,262 acres in an urban setting, the University of Missouri welcomes a substantial undergraduate population of over 23,000 as of fall 2023. Following a semester-based academic calendar, it offers a wide array of degree programs across thirteen major academic divisions, offering over 300 options for students to explore.

Within its academic offerings, the University of Missouri hosts highly regarded graduate programs in the College of Education and Robert J. Trulaske, Sr. College of Business. It also houses a School of Medicine and a Tier 1 School of Law. Moreover, it encourages student engagement in faculty-led projects, providing opportunities for collaboration as early as their freshman year.

One of its highly respected schools, the Missouri School of Journalism, founded in 1908 by Walter Williams, holds the distinction of being the world’s first journalism school. Operating the daily newspaper, the Columbia Missourian, and managing the NBC affiliate KOMU, it continues to shape the field of journalism.

The University of Missouri is home to the United States’ sole source of isotopes used in nuclear medicine, the University of Missouri Research Reactor Center. Additionally, it operates the University of Missouri Health Care, overseeing various hospitals and clinics throughout Mid-Missouri.

Athletically, the university’s NCAA Division I teams, known as the Missouri Tigers, actively participate in the Southeastern Conference, representing their institution with pride and dedication.

The University of Missouri’s outstanding academic community has produced numerous accomplished individuals, including 18 Rhodes Scholars, 19 Truman Scholars, 141 Fulbright Scholars, 7 Governors of Missouri, and 6 members of the U.S. Congress.

The University of Missouri is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). It has an acceptance rate of 77% and a graduation rate of 71%.

Psychology Programs Offered

  • Bachelor of Arts (B.A). in Psychological Sciences
  • Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Psychological Sciences Degree
  • Bachelor of Arts (B.A.). in Psychology – Online
  • Ph.D. in Psychology

Psychology Department Contact Information

Department of Psychological Sciences,
210 McAlester Hall, Columbia, MO 65211
Phone: (573) 882-6860

Washington University in St. Louis

Washington University in St. Louis, a private research institution founded in 1853 and named after George Washington, is nestled within St. Louis County and Clayton, Missouri.

Its primary campus, the 169-acre Danforth Campus, serves as the academic hub for the majority of the university’s undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. Complementing the Danforth Campus, the university extends its presence with a West Campus in Clayton, a North Campus located in the West End neighborhood of St. Louis, and a bustling Medical Campus situated in the Central West End neighborhood of St. Louis.

The expansive Medical Campus, spanning 17 city blocks across 164 acres, is home to the esteemed Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, alongside its affiliated hospitals, clinics, patient care centers, and cutting-edge research facilities.

Distinguished by a diverse community, Washington University welcomes students and faculty from all 50 U.S. states and over 120 countries. The university encompasses seven graduate and undergraduate schools, offering a wide array of academic disciplines. In an effort to clarify its location, the university’s board of trustees appended the phrase “in St. Louis” in 1976.

Furthermore, Washington University has maintained its status as a member of the esteemed Association of American Universities since 1923, consistently being classified as an “R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity” institution.

For incoming freshmen, mandatory on-campus residence in one of the residence houses is a requirement. Following their freshman year, students have the flexibility to select from various housing options, including suite-style accommodations, on-campus apartments, fraternity houses, or off-campus apartments and homes. Approximately 15% of students at Wash U are affiliated with Greek life organizations.

Washington University in St. Louis is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). It has an acceptance rate of 12% and a graduation rate of 94%.

Psychology Programs Offered

  • Undergraduate Psychological & Brain Sciences Major
  • Undergraduate Cognitive Neuroscience Major
  • Ph.D. in Psychological & Brain Science

Psychology Department Contact Information

Washington University in St. Louis,
CB 1125, One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO 63130-4899.
Phone: (314) 935-6565

Saint Louis University

Saint Louis University (SLU) is a private research university that has campuses located in St. Louis, Missouri, United States, as well as in Madrid, Spain. It was established in 1818 by Louis William Valentine DuBourg and holds the distinction of being the oldest university situated west of the Mississippi River.

SLU is a Catholic, Jesuit institution that warmly welcomes students of all faiths. The Campus Ministry at the university arranges special retreats and mission trips throughout the academic year, and there is a daily Mass held in the on-campus church. In addition to religious extracurricular activities, students have the opportunity to select from a diverse array of more than 150 student organizations at SLU, including over 20 fraternities and sororities.

Freshmen and sophomores are generally required to reside on campus, except in cases where they commute from their parent’s home, are married, or have served in the military for at least two years, among other exceptions.

Approximately 90% of freshmen opt to live on campus, and they are accommodated in halls exclusively designated for first-year students. It is noteworthy that students can actively participate in campus leadership roles as early as their second semester of freshman year.

For over five decades, the university has maintained a campus presence in Madrid, Spain. The Madrid campus holds the distinction of being the first self-contained campus operated by an American university in Europe. It was also the first American institution to gain recognition from Spain’s higher education authority as an official foreign university.

SLU’s athletic teams actively compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s Division I and are proud members of the Atlantic 10 Conference. Notable alumni from the university include individuals such as Enrique Bolanos, who served as the former president of Nicaragua, and August Busch IV, who held the position of former president and CEO of Anheuser-Busch Inc.

SLU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). It has an acceptance rate of 85% and a graduation rate of 72%.

Psychology Programs Offered

  • B.A. in Psychology
  • B.S. in Psychology
  • B.S. in Neuroscience
  • Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology
  • Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology
  • Ph.D. in Industrial-Organizational Psychology

Psychology Department Contact Information

Department of Psychology,
Morrissey Hall, 3700 Lindell Boulevard, Room 2515.
Phone: (314) 977-2300

University of Missouri – Kansas City

The University of Missouri – Kansas City (UMKC) is a public research university located in Kansas City, Missouri. UMKC is part of the University of Missouri System and includes a medical school. It was established in the year 1929.

UMKC has a presence in multiple locations. The primary Volker Campus, where most university activities take place, is situated in the Rockhill neighborhood of Kansas City, Missouri. This campus is positioned to the east of the Country Club Plaza and is adjacent to both the Stowers Institute for Medical Research and the Linda Hall Library.

UMKC  holds the distinction of being the largest university and the third-largest college in the Kansas City metropolitan area. UMKC is classified as an “R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity” institution.

UMKC offers a diverse range of academic programs and majors, with over 120 options available to students, including master’s degrees from the Henry W. Bloch School of Management, as well as the schools of medicine and education. Beyond the classroom, UMKC students have the opportunity to participate in more than 175 clubs and approximately 15 Greek-letter organizations.

UMKC is home to approximately 16 varsity sports teams known as the UMKC Kangaroos, which compete in the NCAA Division I Western Athletic Conference. The university adopted this team name in the 1930s, inspired by the excitement in the community when the Kansas City Zoo acquired two baby kangaroos.

Additionally, Walt Disney created a cartoon featuring the Kasey Kangaroo mascot. It is worth noting that although he did not complete his degree, former President Harry Truman attended the UMKC law school for two years and later received the school’s inaugural honorary degree. Presently, the university’s Harry S Truman Center for Governmental Affairs bears his name.

The University of Missouri – Kansas City is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). It has an acceptance rate of 76% and a graduation rate of 72%.

Psychology Programs Offered

  • Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Psychology
  • Master of Arts (M.A.) in Counseling
  • Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology
  • Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology

Psychology Department Contact Information

School of Education, Social Work and Psychological Sciences,
Volker Campus, 615 E. 52nd Street, Kansas City, MO 64110.
Phone: (816) 235-2234

University of Missouri – St. Louis

The University of Missouri – St. Louis (UMSL) stands as a public research university situated in St. Louis, Missouri. Its inception dates back to 1963, making it the most recently established among the four universities within the University of Missouri System. As of fall 2023, there are over 10,000 on-campus and 6,000 off-campus students.

The university’s campus spans across various municipalities, encompassing the former grounds of the Bellerive Country Club, reaching into Bellerive, Bel-Nor, and Normandy. Additionally, UMSL maintains facilities at the former site of Marillac College and within St. Louis city’s Grand Center. UMSL holds the classification of being an “R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity” institution.

The university provides Bachelor’s, Master’s, and doctoral programs through various academic units, including the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Business Administration, the College of Education, the College of Nursing, the School of Social Work, and the College of Optometry.

For undergraduate students at the University of Missouri – St. Louis, there is a selection of approximately 50 bachelor’s degree programs to choose from. Some students may have the opportunity to enroll in the Pierre Laclede Honors College, which offers a more demanding curriculum, smaller class sizes, and culminates in a senior capstone writing project.

Graduate students, on the other hand, can explore about 30 master’s programs, including the esteemed criminology program, as well as options in business and education, among others.

UMSL’s campus fosters a vibrant atmosphere where students can actively engage in over 120 organizations, which includes fraternities, sororities, and student government. Students at UMSL also have opportunities to participate in campus media, either by becoming a DJ at The U radio station or contributing to The Current newspaper.

Those with an interest in sports can indulge in recreational activities or aspire to join the UMSL Tritons varsity teams, which compete in the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Valley Conference.

UMSL is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). It has an acceptance rate of 58% and a graduation rate of 63%.

Psychology Programs Offered

  • Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Psychology
  • Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Psychology
  • Bachelor of Arts (B.A) in Applied Psychology of Child Advocacy Studies
  • Master of Arts (M.A.) in Psychology – Behavioral Neuroscience
  • Ph.D. in Psychology – Behavioral Neuroscience
  • Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology

Psychology Department Contact Information

Psychological Sciences,
One University Blvd. 325 Stadler Hall, St. Louis, MO 63121-4400.
Phone: (314) 516-5391

William Jewell College

William Jewell College is a private liberal arts institution located in Liberty, Missouri. It was established in 1849 by individuals from the Missouri Baptist Convention and received a generous endowment of $10,000 from William Jewell. For more than 150 years, the college maintained an affiliation with the Missouri Baptist Convention until it became an independent institution in 2003.

Presently, William Jewell College sits at the edge of both urban and rural landscapes. On one side, it is surrounded by rolling hills and the picturesque Midwestern countryside, reflecting the college’s rustic origins. On another side, the Kansas City skyline graces the horizon.

The college’s central location provides access to a rich array of cultural offerings for its students. Additionally, Jewell’s collaborations with Kansas City-based corporations, entrepreneurs, and alumni result in valuable opportunities, including internships, mentorship programs, research initiatives, engaging lectures, and promising career prospects.

The college has earned the distinction of being referred to as “the campus of achievement.” This recognition stems from its students’ attainment of prestigious scholarships and fellowships, their admission to some of the nation’s top graduate schools, and their contributions to their respective professions and communities beyond the confines of the college campus.

Jewell’s commitment to investing in its students is evident in its mission to inspire lifelong learning, foster critical thinking, encourage the pursuit of spiritual development, and prepare individuals to lead and serve in various capacities. In recent years, William Jewell College has raised several million dollars to establish and sustain need-based scholarships.

In 2019, the college introduced the Shape the Future Grant, specifically aimed at supporting students of color and underserved individuals. This grant is designed to promote equity, eliminate financial barriers, and assist Jewell’s students who represent the diverse composition of society. Recipients of this grant may combine it with other scholarships and grants. Thus far, the college has awarded the grant to over 100 individuals, with 89% of recipients being non-white.

UMSL is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). It has an acceptance rate of 47% and a graduation rate of 63%.

Psychology Programs Offered

  • Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Psychological Science

Psychology Department Contact Information

Department of Psychological Science,
500 College Hill, Liberty, MO 64068.
Phone: (816) 415-7886

What Degree Do You Need to be a Psychologist in Missouri?

In Missouri, to become a licensed psychologist, you typically need a doctoral degree in psychology. The program must be accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) or another recognized accrediting body.

How Long Does it Take to Become a Psychologist in Missouri ?

In total, from the start of a bachelor’s degree to obtaining licensure, the process to become a psychologist in Missouri typically takes between 10 to 14 years.

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