AustralianUniversities.click has used meaningful statistics to come up with a list of the best unis for undergraduate psychology studies online. Ignore global rankings because they are based on reputation and research activity, not the learning experience. When it comes to studying online, the best degrees produce happy graduates who do well in their career.
Which are the Best Online Unis for Psychology?
Taking into account graduate satisfaction and salaries, the best universities to study psychology online are UniSQ, Deakin and SCU. For undergraduate psychology programs, these unis achieve the strongest combination of graduate satisfaction and pay.
- University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ)
- Deakin University
- Southern Cross University (SCU)
- Edith Cowan University (ECU)
- Federation University (FedUni)
UniSQ is on top because it combines a high satisfaction rate of 87.5% with the best salary outcome of $70,400. This balance of student happiness and financial reward makes it the leading choice for online psychology studies. Deakin University and SCU follow closely, offering strong satisfaction and solid career prospects.
Online Psychology Universities by State
Online bachelor degrees in Psychology are available from universities in every state of Australia. Here is an outline of every program accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council.
Program details include ATAR entry requirements, graduate satisfaction rates, and salary outcomes. Data from the Graduate Outcomes Survey (GOS) and taxation returns were used to rank these universities.
New South Wales
In NSW, the University of New England (UNE) and Southern Cross University (SCU) have the highest satisfaction rates. UNE offers flexible psychology degrees with a satisfaction rate of 87.7%. SCU has an 87.5% satisfaction rate, providing quality education in psychological science.
Southern Cross University
- Bachelor of Psychological Science
- Required ATAR: 70 | Graduate satisfaction: 87.5%
University of New England
- Bachelor of Psychological Science; Bachelor of Arts; Bachelor of Science; Bachelor of Social Science
- Required ATAR: 73 | Graduate satisfaction: 87.7% | Salary: $50,700
Australian College of Applied Professions
- Bachelor of Psychological Science; Bachelor of Psychological Science and Counselling; Bachelor of Psychological Science and Criminology
- Required ATAR: 50 | Graduate satisfaction: 85.2% | Salary: $58,600
Charles Sturt University
- Bachelor of Social Science
- Required ATAR: 65 | Graduate satisfaction: 82.1% | Salary: $65,000
Macquarie University
- Bachelor of Psychology
- Required ATAR: 83 | Graduate satisfaction: 75.1% | Salary: $64,700
Western Sydney University
- Bachelor of Psychological and Social Sciences; Bachelor of Psychological Science and Criminology
- Required ATAR: 70 | Graduate satisfaction: 74.1% | Salary: $71,400
Victoria
Deakin University leads in Victoria with an 88.0% satisfaction rate. It offers diverse psychology programs and strong post-graduation salaries, making it a solid choice.
Deakin University
- Bachelor of Psychological Science; Bachelor of Arts; Bachelor of Health Sciences; Bachelor of Human Resource Management; Bachelor of Marketing
- Required ATAR: 66 | Graduate satisfaction: 88.0% | Salary: $60,900
Swinburne University of Technology
- Bachelor of Psychological Sciences
- Required ATAR: 60 | Graduate satisfaction: 83.7% | Salary: $47,400
La Trobe University
- Bachelor of Psychological Science
- Required ATAR: 56 | Graduate satisfaction: 83.3% | Salary: $55,600
Federation University Australia
- Bachelor of Psychological Science
- Required ATAR: 50 | Graduate satisfaction: 85.0% | Salary: $63,000
Queensland
The University of Southern Queensland is highly rated in Queensland with an 87.5% satisfaction rate. Graduates also achieve strong salaries.
University of Southern Queensland
- Bachelor of Arts; Bachelor of Science
- Required ATAR: 58 | Graduate satisfaction: 87.5% | Salary: $70,400
CQUniversity Australia
- Bachelor of Psychological Science
- Required ATAR: 62 | Graduate satisfaction: 83.1% | Salary: $61,600
Western Australia
In WA, Edith Cowan University has an 86.5% satisfaction rate. It provides specialised psychology programs, making it a good choice for students seeking a broader education.
Edith Cowan University
- Bachelor of Psychology; Bachelor of Psychology and Counselling; Bachelor of Psychology, Criminology and Justice
- Required ATAR: 70 | Graduate satisfaction: 86.5% | Salary: $58,800
South Australia
For SA, Flinders University has a satisfaction rate of 84.2% for its Bachelor of Psychological Science program.
Flinders University
- Bachelor of Psychological Science
- Required ATAR: 60 | Graduate satisfaction: 84.2% | Salary: $53,500
University of South Australia
- Bachelor of Psychology
- Required ATAR: 50 | Graduate satisfaction: 81.7% | Salary: $58,900
Tasmania
In Tassie, the University of Tasmania (UTAS) achieves a satisfaction rate of 74.8%.
University of Tasmania
- Bachelor of Psychological Science
- Required ATAR: 66 | Graduate satisfaction: 74.8% | Salary: $66,900
Northern Territory
The NT doesnt miss out, with CDU offering degrees for school leavers and uni graduates.
Charles Darwin University
- Bachelor of Psychological Science; Bachelor of Psychological Science (Graduate Entry)
- Required ATAR: 60 | Graduate satisfaction: 73.1% | Salary: $61,700
Methodology and Data
Thanks to Lerna Courses for the list of online providers of undergraduate psychology programs, as well as the mininum ATAR scores for course entry. We sourced this information from the Lerna Courses article Bachelor of Psychology Online Courses.
The Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) maintains a searchable list of accredited psychology courses in Australia.
The required ATAR is an indicative figure of the minimum ATAR a school leaver would need to gain automatic entry into the program. ATARs are subject to adjustments for non-academic factors and may vary according to the level of demand.
The figures for graduate satisfaction and salaries were sourced from Uni Reviews. Refer to the Uni Reviews article Best Universities for Psychology in Australia for updates and revisions.
Graduate satisfaction measures the percentage of recent graduates who reported being satisfied with their overall educational experience. This data is collected through the Graduate Outcomes Survey (GOS) and provides insights into the quality of education and student satisfaction across different universities.
The salary figures report the median incomes of graduates five years after completing their degrees. This data is sourced from taxation returns.
Which Psychology Course is Best?
Rankings and statistics provide a useful starting point, but they aren't everything. Universities often highlight global psychology rankings, which can be misleading. Graduate satisfaction and salary outcomes are crucial, but personal goals and career aspirations matter most.
Be aware that many courses are available beyond the top-ranked undergraduate programs, especially if you already have a degree. Graduate certificates, diplomas, and master's programs offer pathways to specialise or switch to a psychology career.
As Andrew Lancaster noted, "Look for programs that offer the specific courses and opportunities that align with your career aspirations." Choose a degree that fit your career goals. Having a clear plan will help you get the most out of your education. Make sure the program supports your long-term objectives.
Related: Assessment of the Best Psychology Degrees Online in Australia