East Ridge, Tennessee has a population of about 22,034. The city’s median household income is $55,988 (Census ACS 2023, 5-year). About 23.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are 5 accredited psychology programs within 100 miles of East Ridge. In the Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area, the top-earning psychology-related role is Clinical and Counseling Psychologist at a median $108,300 annually (BLS OEWS, May 2024).
The five accredited institutions below are the closest options indexed in our directory that offer psychology programs. Distances are calculated from East Ridge city center.
| School | City | Distance | Tuition | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richmont Graduate University | Chattanooga, TN | 3.8 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga | Chattanooga, TN | 5.3 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Covenant College | Lookout Mountain, GA | 8.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Southern Adventist University | Collegedale, TN | 10.6 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
| Dalton State College | Dalton, GA | 20.0 mi | Contact school for pricing | – |
Source: IPEDS / College Scorecard (2023 cohort). Browse all Tennessee schools on the Tennessee psychology page.
East Ridge is part of the Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area (BLS area code 16860). Where MSA-level wages are published, the table below shows MSA medians; otherwise it falls back to Tennessee statewide.
| Occupation | Median Wage | Source | COL-Adjusted (US=100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologist | $108,300 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $118,361 |
| Industrial-Organizational Psychologist | N/A | TN statewide | – |
| School Psychologist | $63,090 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $68,951 |
| Educational and Career Counselor | $58,930 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $64,404 |
| Marriage and Family Therapist | $47,770 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $52,208 |
| Substance Abuse and Mental Health Counselor | $50,220 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $54,885 |
| Healthcare Social Worker | $61,300 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $66,995 |
| Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker | $50,120 | Chattanooga, TN-GA | $54,776 |
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.
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 22,034 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B01003) |
| Median household income | $55,988 | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B19013) |
| Adults 25+ with bachelor’s+ | 23.1% | Census ACS 2023 5-yr (B15003) |
| Regional Price Parity (US=100) | 91.5 (below U.S. average) | BEA RPP 2024 |
| Psychology-related employment in Hamilton County | 7,264 workers, 659 establishments | BLS QCEW 2024 annual |
Our directory lists 5 psychology programs within 100 miles of East Ridge. The closest is Richmont Graduate University in Chattanooga, TN (3.8 miles), and the farthest in our top picks is Dalton State College (20.0 miles). 0 of these programs are offered fully online.
Based on BLS OEWS May 2024 wage data, the top-paying psychology-related roles near East Ridge are: Clinical and Counseling Psychologist ($108,300), School Psychologist ($63,090), Healthcare Social Worker ($61,300). These reflect MSA-level medians where published, with Tennessee statewide fallback for occupations not reported at the metro level.
Chattanooga, TN is 4.9 miles from East Ridge 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.
East Ridge’s median household income of $55,988 (Census ACS 2023) is one input. Online programs let students stay in East Ridge while attending lower-cost out-of-state schools, and Tennessee public universities often offer reduced in-state online tuition.
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.
Return to Best Online Psychology Programs in Tennessee (2026)