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Adjunct psychology professor education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become an adjunct psychology professor. Adjunct psychology professors usually study psychology, counseling psychology, or clinical psychology. 43% of adjunct psychology professors hold a bachelor's degree, and 40% hold an master's degree. We analyzed 1,059 real adjunct psychology professor resumes to see exactly what adjunct psychology professor education sections show.

The most common colleges for adjunct psychology professors are the Walden University and the Walden University.

There are also many online adjunct psychology professor courses to help get the education required to be an adjunct psychology professor.

There are certain adjunct psychology professor certifications that you should consider. These adjunct psychology professor certifications include Certified Professional Counselor and Certified in Hospital Psychology (CHP).

What education do you need to become an adjunct psychology professor?

What degree do you need to be an adjunct psychology professor?

The most common degree for adjunct psychology professors is bachelor's degree, with 43% of adjunct psychology professors earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 40% and master's degree degree at 13%.
  • Bachelor's, 43%
  • Master's, 40%
  • Doctorate, 13%
  • Associate, 3%
  • Other Degrees, 1%

What should I major in to become an adjunct psychology professor?

You should major in psychology to become an adjunct psychology professor. 42% of adjunct psychology professors major in psychology. Other common majors for an adjunct psychology professor include counseling psychology and clinical psychology.

Most common colleges for adjunct psychology professors

Adjunct psychology professors often get their degrees at Walden University, Capella University, and University of Phoenix. Here are the most common colleges for adjunct psychology professors in the US based on their resumes.
Adjunct psychology professor common collegePercentages
Walden University12.50%
Capella University9.03%
University of Phoenix8.33%
University of Houston6.25%
Argosy University5.56%

Best majors for adjunct psychology professors

Best colleges for adjunct psychology professors

The best colleges for adjunct psychology professors are Northwestern University, Johns Hopkins University, and Columbia University in the City of New York.

An adjunct psychology professor with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for adjunct psychology professors. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become adjunct psychology professors.

1. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

In-state tuition

$53,740

Enrollment

5,567

2. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

3. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$59,430

Enrollment

8,216

4. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$50,420

Enrollment

7,582

5. Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, MO • Private

In-state tuition

$53,399

Enrollment

7,356

6. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

7. Hunter College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,182

Enrollment

16,205

8. Pennsylvania State University

University Park, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$18,454

Enrollment

40,108

9. University of Maryland - College Park

College Park, MD • Private

In-state tuition

$10,595

Enrollment

30,184

10. University of Washington

Seattle, WA • Private

In-state tuition

$11,207

Enrollment

30,905

20 best online courses for adjunct psychology professors

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1. Social Psychology

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Ever wonder why people do what they do? This course—which includes more than $1,000 of video and reading materials—offers some answers based on the latest research from social psychology. Students taking the course for a Certificate will also receive free membership in Social Psychology Network (SocialPsychology.org). COURSE DESCRIPTION FROM PROFESSOR PLOUS: Each of us is dealt a different hand in life, but we all face similar questions when it comes to human behavior: What leads us to like one...

2. Psychological Research

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This specialization is primarily aimed at first- and second-year undergraduates interested in psychology, data analysis, ethics in research, and quantitative research methods along with high school students and professionals with similar interests.\n\nLearners will develop knowledge about the fundamentals of research design for quantitative studies in psychology, analysis of data from quantitative studies in psychology, and ethical standards for conducting psychological research. Learning...

3. Advanced Level Psychology - ACCREDITED CERTIFICATE

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Psychology skills, Applied Social & Cognitive Psychology, Child Development, Research Methods, academic online study...

4. Diploma in Modern Applied Psychology (DiMAP.)

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4.7
(8,492)

Learn the science of human behavior and how to apply it to everyday life with this in-depth guide to applied psychology...

5. Psychological First Aid

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Learn to provide psychological first aid to people in an emergency by employing the RAPID model: Reflective listening, Assessment of needs, Prioritization, Intervention, and Disposition. Utilizing the RAPID model (Reflective listening, Assessment of needs, Prioritization, Intervention, and Disposition), this specialized course provides perspectives on injuries and trauma that are beyond those physical in nature. The RAPID model is readily applicable to public health settings, the workplace, the...

6. Positive Psychology: Character, Grit and Research Methods

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Learners discover how apply to research methods to their study of Positive Psychology. In this course, we study with Dr. Angela Duckworth and Dr. Claire Robertson-Kraft. Through an exploration their work "True Grit" and interviews with researchers and practitioners, you develop a research hypothesis and learn how to understand the difference between internal and external validity. You also begin to understand and apply the strengths and weaknesses associated with different types of measurements...

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This course discusses research findings in the field of positive psychology, conducted by Barbara Fredrickson and her colleagues. It also features practical applications of this science that you can put to use immediately to help you live a full and meaningful life...

10. Understand the Mind: 15 Fascinating Psychology Studies

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Learn About the Human Mind Through the Research in Social Psychological Science...

11. Learn Social Psychology

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Understand How People Think, Feel, and Behave in this Complete Introduction to Social Psychology...

12. Child Psychology (Advanced Level) - ACCREDITED CERTIFICATE

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Childhood development and behaviour, psychology theories of cognition, learning, and memorising, milestones and stages...

13. Psychology of Diversity and Unconscious Bias

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14. Introduction to Criminal Psychology

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Understand the Forensic Psychology of the Criminal Mind...

15. Psychology 101: Why We Think, Feel, and Act the Way We do

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16. Cognitive Psychology

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Learn the fundamentals of cognitive psychology, neuroscience, and how the mind works...

17. Psychology of Attraction and Likability

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Use Psychology for Personal Development and Self-Improvement by Increasing Social Skills and Achieving Goal Success...

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The essential guide to cultivating positive mental health, practicing mindfulness, and advancing your personal growth...

19. Certificate in Positive Psychology and Happiness Accredited

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Top 10 most affordable universities for adjunct psychology professors

The most affordable schools for adjunct psychology professors are Baruch College of the City University of New York, hunter college of the city university of new york, and california state university - long beach.

If the best universities for adjunct psychology professors are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for adjunct psychology professors.

1. Baruch College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,262

Cost of attendance

14,046

2. Hunter College of the City University of New York

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,182

Cost of attendance

13,998

3. California State University - Long Beach

Long Beach, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,798

Cost of attendance

18,306

4. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

5. Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,240

Cost of attendance

13,991

6. Queens College of the City University of New York

Queens, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$7,338

Cost of attendance

14,281

7. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

8. California State University - Dominguez Hills

Carson, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,942

Cost of attendance

14,469

9. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,656

Cost of attendance

21,623

10. Florida International University

Miami, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,556

Cost of attendance

19,434

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for adjunct psychology professors

The hardest universities for adjunct psychology professors to get into are Northwestern University, Johns Hopkins University, and Columbia University in the City of New York.

Some great schools for adjunct psychology professors are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for adjunct psychology professors based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,508

2. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

3. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

6%

SAT average

1,512

4. Washington University in St Louis

Saint Louis, MO • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,506

5. Harvard University

Cambridge, MA • Private

Admissions rate

5%

SAT average

1,520

6. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

7. Tufts University

Medford, MA • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,461

8. New York University

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

20%

SAT average

1,419

9. Boston University

Boston, MA • Private

Admissions rate

22%

SAT average

1,420

10. Boston College

Chestnut Hill, MA • Private

Admissions rate

28%

SAT average

1,429

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for adjunct psychology professors

The easiest schools for adjunct psychology professors to get into are Felician University, life university, and notre dame de namur university.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as an adjunct psychology professor without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for adjunct psychology professors.

1. Felician University

Lodi, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

81%

SAT average

999

2. Life University

Marietta, GA • Private

Admissions rate

94%

SAT average

979

3. Notre Dame de Namur University

Belmont, CA • Private

Admissions rate

82%

SAT average

983

4. Kean University

Union, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

86%

SAT average

991

5. Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,031

6. Wayland Baptist University

Plainview, TX • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

1,003

7. Ottawa University

Ottawa, KS • Private

Admissions rate

78%

SAT average

1,024

8. Barry University

Miami, FL • Private

Admissions rate

91%

SAT average

1,006

9. Holy Names University

Oakland, CA • Private

Admissions rate

70%

SAT average

849

10. Nyack College

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

999

Average adjunct psychology professor salary by education level

According to our data, adjunct psychology professors with a Doctorate degree earn the highest average salary, at $99,913 annually. Adjunct psychology professors with a Master's degree earn an average annual salary of $77,394.
Adjunct psychology professor education levelAdjunct psychology professor salary
Master's Degree$77,394
Doctorate Degree$99,913

Adjunct psychology professor education FAQs

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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