Best Online Psychology Programs in Brea, CA (2026)
Brea, California has a population of about 47,337. The city’s median household income is $124,837 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 50.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 116 accredited schools offering psychology programs near Brea, with tuition ranging from $7,073 to $22,672 per year for indexed programs. In California, the top-earning psychology-related role is Industrial-Organizational Psychologist at a median $140,540 annually (BLS, May 2024).
Closest Psychology Schools to Brea
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 116 schools in our directory that offer psychology programs near Brea. Distances are calculated from Brea city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California State University-Fullerton | Fullerton, CA | 3.2 mi | $7,073 - $18,953 | – |
| Hope International University | Fullerton, CA | 3.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Fullerton College | Fullerton, CA | 4.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| The Chicago School at Anaheim | Anaheim, CA | 8.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Mt San Antonio College | Walnut, CA | 8.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Biola University | La Mirada, CA | 8.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Chapman University | Orange, CA | 9.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| California State Polytechnic University-Pomona | Pomona, CA | 9.5 mi | $7,439 - $22,672 | – |
| Latin American Bible Institute | La Puente, CA | 10.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Whittier College | Whittier, CA | 10.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all California schools on the California psychology page.
Psychology Wages Near Brea
Brea is part of the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area (BLS area code 31080). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to California statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologist | $100,330 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $88,319 |
| Industrial-Organizational Psychologist | $140,540 | CA statewide | $123,715 |
| School Psychologist | $108,130 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $95,185 |
| Educational and Career Counselor | $85,660 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $75,405 |
| Marriage and Family Therapist | $64,420 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $56,708 |
| Substance Abuse and Mental Health Counselor | $58,880 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $51,831 |
| Healthcare Social Worker | $85,770 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $75,502 |
| Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker | $74,890 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $65,924 |
Source: BLS, May 2024 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes wage data at the metro (MSA) and state level – not by individual city.
Brea at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 47,337 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $124,837 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 50.2% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 113.6 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Psychology-related employment in Orange County | 86,510 workers, 41,240 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Brea-Area Cities With Psychology Programs
- Placentia, CA – 3.1 mi away (52,228 pop)
- Fullerton, CA – 4.6 mi away (140,721 pop)
- La Habra, CA – 4.9 mi away (61,664 pop)
- Diamond Bar, CA – 5.8 mi away (56,793 pop)
- Yorba Linda, CA – 6.0 mi away (68,235 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited psychology schools are near Brea, CA?
Our directory has 116 accredited schools offering psychology programs near Brea. The closest is California State University-Fullerton in Fullerton, CA (3.2 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Whittier College (10.2 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying psychology roles near Brea?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying psychology-related roles near Brea are: Industrial-Organizational Psychologist ($140,540), School Psychologist ($108,130), Clinical and Counseling Psychologist ($100,330). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with California statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Placentia instead of Brea?
Placentia, CA is 3.1 miles from Brea and has its own set of local psychology programs – see the city’s page. For online programs, distance matters less; for hybrid or in-person formats, comparing both can help.
Is Brea an affordable place to study psychology?
Brea’s median household income of $124,837 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Brea while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and California public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.
How do I verify a program is accredited?
Confirm institutional accreditation via the U.S. Department of Education database (U.S. Dept. of Education database), and check for any program-specific accreditation listed by the school.
Related Resources
Data verified: May 5, 2026. Salary, employment, and tuition figures on this page are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2024; Employment Projections 2024–2034) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2023 cohort). The source agency and data year are cited inline with every statistic.
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