Best Online Psychology Programs in Palm Springs, CA (2026)
Palm Springs, California has a population of about 44,998. The city’s median household income is $71,979 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 45.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Our directory has 88 accredited schools offering psychology programs near Palm Springs, with tuition ranging from $1,420 to $70,233 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 Palm Springs
The 10 accredited institutions below are the closest among the 88 schools in our directory that offer psychology programs near Palm Springs. Distances are calculated from Palm Springs city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| College of the Desert | Palm Desert, CA | 9.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Mt San Jacinto Community College District | San Jacinto, CA | 24.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Copper Mountain Community College | Joshua Tree, CA | 29.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Crafton Hills College | Yucaipa, CA | 36.2 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Moreno Valley College | Moreno Valley, CA | 38.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of Redlands | Redlands, CA | 40.2 mi | $57,614 - $70,233 | – |
| Loma Linda University | Loma Linda, CA | 44.9 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of California-Riverside | Riverside, CA | 46.8 mi | $14,170 - $44,947 | – |
| San Bernardino Valley College | San Bernardino, CA | 48.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Riverside City College | Riverside, CA | 49.9 mi | $1,420 - $12,427 | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all California schools on the California psychology page.
Psychology Wages Near Palm Springs
Palm Springs is part of the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area (BLS area code 40140). 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 | $96,600 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $90,789 |
| Industrial-Organizational Psychologist | $140,540 | CA statewide | $132,086 |
| School Psychologist | $124,200 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $116,729 |
| Educational and Career Counselor | $99,540 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $93,553 |
| Marriage and Family Therapist | $60,780 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $57,124 |
| Substance Abuse and Mental Health Counselor | $60,860 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $57,199 |
| Healthcare Social Worker | $92,790 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $87,209 |
| Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker | $83,710 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $78,675 |
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.
Palm Springs at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 44,998 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $71,979 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 45.1% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 106.4 (above U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Psychology-related employment in Riverside County | 61,443 workers, 39,644 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Palm Springs-Area Cities With Psychology Programs
- Cathedral City, CA – 4.8 mi away (54,056 pop)
- Palm Desert, CA – 10.6 mi away (52,231 pop)
- Desert Hot Springs, CA – 10.6 mi away (43,327 pop)
- Indio, CA – 18.0 mi away (402,166 pop)
- La Quinta, CA – 18.1 mi away (40,956 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited psychology schools are near Palm Springs, CA?
Our directory has 88 accredited schools offering psychology programs near Palm Springs. The closest is College of the Desert in Palm Desert, CA (9.8 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Riverside City College (49.9 miles). 0 of the highlighted schools are flagged as offering distance education.
What are the highest-paying psychology roles near Palm Springs?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying psychology-related roles near Palm Springs are: Industrial-Organizational Psychologist ($140,540), School Psychologist ($124,200), Educational and Career Counselor ($99,540). 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 Cathedral City instead of Palm Springs?
Cathedral City, CA is 4.8 miles from Palm Springs 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 Palm Springs an affordable place to study psychology?
Palm Springs’s median household income of $71,979 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Palm Springs 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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