Top 9 Online Ph.D. in Industrial Organizational Psychology 2019

Industrial organizational psychology is an area of psychology focused on human behavior in the workplace. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage for Industrial and organizational psychologists to be $105,310. I/O psychology is a lucrative career for professionals with the right training and experience. Earning an online PhD in industrial and organizational psychology gives students the knowledge and skills needed to understand problems based on the scientific understanding of human behavior in the workplace and then solve them.

Featured Schools

For current I/O psychology practitioners, earning an online PhD in industrial organizational psychology allows them to continue their education while holding their current jobs. Students don’t need to relocate or take time away from their obligations to attend class. Working students and those with family or professional obligations benefit from the flexibility that an online program can offer. Whether the PhD student decides to ultimately work within an organization, conduct research, or teach at the collegiate level, earning an organizational psychology PhD can open doors to career advancement.

Methodology

To create our ranking of the top online PhD industrial organizational psychology programs, we used information gathered from the National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator. We identified accredited colleges that offer doctoral degrees in industrial organizational psychology. We narrowed our focus to regionally accredited institutions offering the degree in either an online or hybrid format. Information regarding student to faculty ratios, and courses/specializations were noted, and colleges were ranked by average in-state graduate student tuition.

Ranking the Top 9 Online PhD in Industrial Organizational Psychology

Average Graduate Tuition Rates

Less than $10,000 per year= 5 Points
$10,000 to $15,000 per year= 4 Points
$15,001 to $20,000 per year= 3 Points
$20,001 to $25,000 per year= 2 Points
Greater than $25,001 per year= 1 Point

Student-to-Faculty Ratio

15:1 or less= 5 Points
16:1 to 20:1= 3 Points
Greater than 20:1= 1 Point

#9 – Adler University – Chicago, Illinois

Online Doctorate in Industrial/Organizational Psychology

School Profile
Student to Faculty Ratio: 16:1
Average Graduate Student Tuition: $40,530
Points: 4
Adler University offers a top affordable PhD in organizational psychology online that prepares students to be forward-thinking organizational experts. Required courses include:

Advanced Organizational Development and Change
Job and Task Analysis
Advanced Human Factors

Students complete a unique 200-hour civic-minded internship that spans four courses. Applicants should have a cumulative 3.0 GPA in their master’s degree and submit a writing sample to be considered for the program. Graduates are successful in diverse fields such as:

corporate enterprise
nonprofits
academia

#8 – Keiser University – Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Industrial and Organizational Psychology, PhD

School Profile
Student to Faculty Ratio: 16:1
Average Graduate Student Tuition: $29,632/year
Points: 4
Keiser University offers a cost-effective online PhD in I/O psychology that follows a cohort model. Cohort students complete two residencies during the program, attending workshops and presentations and engaging with faculty face-to-face. Courses include:

Personnel Psychology
Interventions in Social Systems
Organizational Applications

Graduates will be able to contribute to the field through scholarship, research, and independent learning.8

#7 – Capella University – Minneapolis, Minnesota

Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology-Industrial/Organizational Psychology Online

School Profile
Student to Faculty Ratio: 32:1
Average Graduate Student Tuition: $14,784/year
Points: 5
The top affordable online PhD in organizational psychology from Capella University is a relevant, real-world program with online courses and face-to-face residencies. Students will learn the latest theories and best practices that will help them advance team performance within their organization.

Capella offers several ways to save on the cost of tuition. The Capella Progress Reward is a $20K scholarship students can apply for to offset expenses. Capella also offers discounts to specific employers and organizations. Graduates of this top PhD industrial organizational psychology online program can apply their skills to a variety of settings including:

nonprofits
research organizations
the military.

#6 – William James College – Newton, Massachusetts

Leadership Psychology Doctorate Online

School Profile
Student to Faculty Ratio: 7:1
Average Graduate Student Tuition: $34,800
Points: 6
William James College features a high-value online leadership psychology doctorate degree with concentration areas in:

educational leadership
leading non-profits and NGOs
neuroscience of leadership psychology

This 98-credit hour program can be completed in four to six years. Courses are conducted online except during residencies. Residencies are four-day intensives that allow students to work together on theory and practice in I/O psychology. Students will attend three residencies and complete a 600-clock hour practicum and a 300-hour internship.

#5 – The Chicago School of Professional Psychology – Chicago, Illinois

Online PhD in Business Psychology-I/O Psychology Track

School Profile
Student to Faculty Ratio: 8:1
Average Graduate Student Tuition: $22,554/year
Points: 7
The Chicago School of Professional Psychology offers a high-quality online PhD in industrial/organizational psychology through their business psychology program. Students with their master’s degree can complete their degree in three years. Students with a bachelor’s can expect to finish in five years. Hands-on experience is key and students who enter the program post-baccalaureate will complete two internship experiences to develop professional skills. Course offerings include:

Adult Development and Work
Systems Theory
Virtual and Global Leadership

The Chicago School is committed to keeping school affordable and has a variety of financial aid opportunities available.

#4 – Grand Canyon University – Phoenix, Arizona

PhD in Psychology – Industrial and Organizational Psychology – Qualitative Research

School Profile
Student to Faculty Ratio: 20:1
Average Graduate Student Tuition: $10,621
Points: 7
The budget friendly online PhD organizational psychology program at Grand Canyon University is a comprehensive program that allows students to study behavior of people in the workplace. Students will study areas like:

social and organizational principles to business and industry
probability, descriptive and inferential analyses of data and statistical testing
research

Courses are offered in eight-week sessions and students can access course content at any time. Students can complete two or three hands-on doctoral residencies to support their dissertations. Independent research opportunities are available to better understand how memory, reasoning, and motivation play a role in the workplace.

#3 – Northcentral University – San Diego, California

Industrial-Organizational Psychology Specialization PhD

School Profile

Student to Faculty Ratio: 1:1
Average Graduate Student Tuition: $16,881/year
Points: 8
Northcentral University offers a cost-effective PhD in industrial-organizational psychology that aligns with the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology’s (SIOP) guidelines for education and training. Northcentral offers unmatched flexibility, allowing students to complete their degree around personal and professional obligations. There are no scheduled lecture hours and no group assignments. Courses include:

Work Motivation and Attitudes
Recruitment, Selection, and Training
Organizational Development

Students interact one-on-one with their professors and receive personalized mentoring. This 60-credit hour program can be completed in about 48 months.

#2 – Liberty University – Lynchburg, Virginia

Ph.D. in Psychology – Industrial/Organizational

Website
Student-to-Faculty Ratio: 17:1
Average Graduate Tuition Rate: $7,847/year
Points: 8
Liberty University is a non-profit Christian university offering a high value online PhD in I/O psychology. Students gain research and professional skills to make a significant impact in their organization. Classes are completed online, and students can save money by transferring in up to 50% of the degree total. Courses include:

Organizational Behavior and Development
Theories and Research in Industrial/Organizational Psychology
Psychological Research and Biblical Worldview

Various start times throughout the year allow students to begin the program when it is most convenient. An online I/O psychology PhD degree from Liberty is affordable. Unlike many other schools, Liberty has not raised tuition rates in six years.

#1 – Touro University Worldwide – Los Alamitos, California

Online Doctor of Psychology in Human and Organizational Psychology

School Profile
Student to Faculty Ratio: 9:1
Average Graduate Student Tuition: $9,000/year
Points: 10
Our top online PhD in organizational psychology is at Touro University Worldwide. Touro offers a 66-credit hour program that takes about three years to complete. Courses are offered in eight-week sessions and there are no on-campus residency requirements. Students will study organizational psychology, leadership psychology, and industrial psychology. Courses include:

Applied Social Psychology
Applied Media Psychology
Applied I/O Psychology

Graduates have the knowledge and skills needed to design effective evidence-based solutions to touch challenges in the workplace.

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Top 9 Online PhD in organizational Psychology