Best Online Psychology Programs in Washington, DC (2026)

Washington, District of Columbia has a population of about 672,079. The city’s median household income is $106,287 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 63.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited psychology programs within 100 miles of Washington. In the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, the top-earning psychology-related role is School Psychologist at a median $105,620 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).


Closest Psychology Schools to Washington

The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer psychology programs. Distances are calculated from Washington city center.

SchoolCityDistanceTuitionOnline
The Chicago School at Washington DCWashington, DC0.9 miContact school for pricing
NewU UniversityWashington, DC0.9 miContact school for pricing
Gallaudet UniversityWashington, DC1.2 miContact school for pricing
Howard UniversityWashington, DC1.2 miContact school for pricing
Trinity Washington UniversityWashington, DC1.7 miContact school for pricing

Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all District of Columbia schools on the District of Columbia psychology page.


Psychology Wages Near Washington

Washington is part of the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area (BLS area code 47900). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to District of Columbia statewide.

OccupationMedian WageSourceCOL-Adjusted (US=100)
Clinical and Counseling Psychologist$99,590Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$91,451
Industrial-Organizational PsychologistN/ADC statewide
School Psychologist$105,620Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$96,988
Educational and Career Counselor$76,230Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$70,000
Marriage and Family Therapist$95,100Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$87,328
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Counselor$63,170Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$58,007
Healthcare Social Worker$78,010Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$71,635
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker$77,600Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$71,258

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.


Washington at a Glance

MetricValueSource
Population672,079Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003)
Median household income$106,287Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013)
Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+63.6%Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003)
Regional Price Parity (US=100)108.9 (above U.S. average)BEA RPP 2024
Psychology-related employment in District of Columbia County23,093 workers, 3,975 establishmentsBLS QCEW 2024 annual

Other Washington-Area Cities With Psychology Programs


Frequently Asked Questions

How many accredited psychology programs are near Washington, DC?

Our directory lists 5 psychology programs within 100 miles of Washington. The closest is The Chicago School at Washington DC in Washington, DC (0.9 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Trinity Washington University (1.7 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.

What are the highest-paying psychology roles near Washington?

Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying psychology-related roles near Washington are: School Psychologist ($105,620), Clinical and Counseling Psychologist ($99,590), Marriage and Family Therapist ($95,100). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with District of Columbia statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.

Should I look at programs in Alexandria instead of Washington?

Alexandria, VA is 7.0 miles from Washington 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 Washington an affordable place to study psychology?

Washington’s median household income of $106,287 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Washington while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and District of Columbia 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.