Best Online Psychology Programs in Lake Charles, LA (2026)
Lake Charles, Louisiana has a population of about 81,679. The city’s median household income is $56,864 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 29.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited psychology programs within 100 miles of Lake Charles. In the Lake Charles, LA metro area, the top-earning psychology-related role is Educational and Career Counselor at a median $87,220 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
Closest Psychology Schools to Lake Charles
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer psychology programs. Distances are calculated from Lake Charles city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| McNeese State University | Lake Charles, LA | 1.7 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Lamar University | Beaumont, TX | 52.4 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| University of Louisiana at Lafayette | Lafayette, LA | 71.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Louisiana State University-Alexandria | Alexandria, LA | 82.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Louisiana Christian University | Pineville, LA | 90.5 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Louisiana schools on the Louisiana psychology page.
Psychology Wages Near Lake Charles
Lake Charles is part of the Lake Charles, LA metro area (BLS area code 29340). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Louisiana statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologist | $67,470 | LA statewide | $78,545 |
| Industrial-Organizational Psychologist | N/A | LA statewide | – |
| School Psychologist | $65,290 | Lake Charles, LA | $76,007 |
| Educational and Career Counselor | $87,220 | Lake Charles, LA | $101,537 |
| Marriage and Family Therapist | N/A | LA statewide | – |
| Substance Abuse and Mental Health Counselor | $39,170 | Lake Charles, LA | $45,600 |
| Healthcare Social Worker | $64,380 | LA statewide | $74,948 |
| Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker | $44,050 | LA statewide | $51,281 |
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.
Lake Charles at a Glance
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 81,679 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $56,864 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 29.4% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 85.9 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Psychology-related employment in Calcasieu County | 3,588 workers, 360 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Other Lake Charles-Area Cities With Psychology Programs
- Sulphur, LA – 8.6 mi away (20,272 pop)
- Port Arthur, TX – 48.9 mi away (157,732 pop)
- Beaumont, TX – 56.2 mi away (147,935 pop)
- Abbeville, LA – 67.0 mi away (20,139 pop)
- Lafayette, LA – 70.7 mi away (267,376 pop)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many accredited psychology programs are near Lake Charles, LA?
Our directory lists 5 psychology programs within 100 miles of Lake Charles. The closest is McNeese State University in Lake Charles, LA (1.7 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Louisiana Christian University (90.5 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
What are the highest-paying psychology roles near Lake Charles?
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying psychology-related roles near Lake Charles are: Educational and Career Counselor ($87,220), Clinical and Counseling Psychologist ($67,470), School Psychologist ($65,290). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Louisiana statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Should I look at programs in Sulphur instead of Lake Charles?
Sulphur, LA is 8.6 miles from Lake Charles 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 Lake Charles an affordable place to study psychology?
Lake Charles’s median household income of $56,864 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in Lake Charles while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Louisiana 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
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