BA vs BS in Psychology: Which Degree Should You Choose?

About 140,000 people earn a bachelor's degree in psychology every year, making it the 5th most popular major in the country. And a surprising number of them agonize over a question that, in most cases, barely matters: should I get a BA or a BS?

The short answer: for most career paths, it doesn't matter. Employers don't distinguish between them. Graduate schools don't prefer one over the other. The salary difference is negligible. But there are real curriculum differences that affect your preparation, and if you're aiming for specific career paths, one might serve you better than the other.

This guide covers exactly what's different, what's the same, and how to choose based on where you actually want to end up.

B.A. vs B.S. in Psychology: What's Actually Different?

Both the BA (Bachelor of Arts) and BS (Bachelor of Science) in psychology require about 120 total credits and share the same core psychology coursework: intro psych, abnormal psychology, developmental psychology, social psychology, research methods, and statistics. The core is typically 32-45 credits of psychology classes regardless of which track you're on.

The difference is in the non-psychology requirements:

At the University of Washington, where about 65% of psychology students choose the BA, the department describes it this way: the BA provides "greater emphasis on applications of general scientific knowledge in psychology," while the BS involves "deeper specialization in data analysis and scientific research."

At Carnegie Mellon, the BA requires 15 courses including two science courses and a programming class. The BS requires 17 courses with additional science classes. Both allow concentrations in developmental, social, cognitive psychology, or cognitive neuroscience.

The practical takeaway: the BA gives you more room to explore. You can double major, pick up a minor in business or communications, or take electives that interest you. The BS locks you into more science and math, which builds a stronger quantitative foundation but leaves less room for anything else.

B.A. vs B.S. in Psychology Salary Comparison

This is usually the first question people ask, and the answer might surprise you.

According to PayScale data (based on nearly 7,000 salary reports), the BA in psychology has a slightly higher median salary than the BS:

The BA holders earn about $3,000 more at the median. That's not because the BA is a "better" degree. It's because BA graduates are more likely to end up in management, HR, marketing, and business roles that happen to pay well, while BS graduates are more likely to stay in research or clinical-adjacent roles that pay less at the bachelor's level.

The honest takeaway: the degree type doesn't cause a salary difference. Your career path does. And both degrees lead to the same range of careers.

Do Graduate Schools Prefer B.A. or B.S. in Psychology?

The official answer from admissions committees: no. On the Student Doctor Network forums, a board-certified psychologist who serves on admissions committees wrote: "In admissions I've never retained the information of whether a student [has] a BA or BS." Another verified psychologist confirmed: "Correct, it doesn't matter whether it is BA or BS."

A clinical neuropsychologist on the same forum acknowledged that at their large state university, the BA and BS tracks were "very different" in rigor, but ultimately "it's more about the classes that you did take and the grades" than the letters on the diploma.

What graduate programs actually care about:

• GPA (minimum 3.0, competitive programs want 3.5+)
• Research experience (especially for PhD programs)
• Prerequisite courses (statistics, research methods, abnormal psych)
• Letters of recommendation
• Clinical or volunteer experience (for PsyD and counseling programs)
• GRE scores (at programs that still require them)

Nobody is going to reject you from a doctoral program because you have a B.A. instead of a B.S.

Is There Stigma Around B.A. vs B.S. in Psychology?

I got my BA in psychology from the University of Washington, Seattle. About 65% of UW psych students make the same choice. And for the career path I took, it was the right call. But if I'd been planning to go straight into a PhD or PsyD in clinical psychology, I'd probably choose differently.

There's a quiet stigma around the BA when you're applying to research-focused graduate programs. No admissions committee will tell you this directly. They'll look at your transcript, your research hours, and your GPA. But the BS coursework is viewed as more rigorous because it includes more statistics, more science, and more lab work. When a committee is comparing two similar applicants and one has a BS with advanced stats and biology, that candidate looks more prepared for the quantitative demands of doctoral research. It's not a dealbreaker, but it's an edge.

This applies most if you're targeting a PsyD or PhD in clinical psychology, or any research-heavy doctoral program. The extra science and math in a BS signals that you've already handled rigorous coursework, which is exactly what these programs are going to throw at you. It can also help with master's program admissions for the same reason. Admissions reviewers see the BS and assume a stronger quantitative foundation, even if the actual difference between your transcript and a BA student's transcript is just a couple of courses.

If you're heading toward counseling, social work, or any master's-level clinical program, this stigma doesn't apply. Those programs care about your clinical experience and interpersonal skills, not whether you took organic chemistry. But if there's any chance you'll apply to a research-oriented doctoral program, the BS gives you a subtle advantage that nobody will admit to but everyone in academia recognizes.

When the B.A. in Psychology Makes More Sense

Choose the BA if any of these describe you:

• You want to double major or add a minor. The BA's extra elective credits make it much easier to pair psychology with business, communications, sociology, education, or a foreign language. This combination is what makes bachelor's-level psychology graduates competitive for roles in HR, marketing, management, and education.
• You're heading toward counseling, social work, or clinical work. If your plan is an MSW or a master's in counseling, the extra science courses in a BS don't give you any advantage. Counseling and social work programs care about your clinical experience, not your chemistry grade.
• You want maximum flexibility. If you're not 100% sure what you want to do after graduation, the BA keeps your options open. You can take electives in business, tech, education, or anything else that catches your interest.
• You want to graduate faster. At many schools, the BA has fewer rigid requirements, which means fewer scheduling conflicts and an easier path to on-time graduation.

When the B.S. in Psychology Makes More Sense

Choose the BS if any of these describe you:

• You're aiming for a research-focused PhD. The additional statistics, biology, and research methodology courses in a BS give you better preparation for the quantitative demands of doctoral research. You'll still get into PhD programs with a BA, but you might need to play catch-up in your first year.
• You're interested in neuroscience or biopsychology. If you want to study the biological basis of behavior, the BS gives you the science foundation you need. Neuroscience labs and neuroimaging research require comfort with biology, chemistry, and advanced statistics.
• You're targeting data-heavy careers. UX research, people analytics, market research, and psychometrics all reward strong quantitative skills. The BS builds those skills more thoroughly than the BA.
• You want to keep pre-med or pre-health options open. The BS's extra science courses (biology, chemistry, physics) overlap with pre-med prerequisites. If there's any chance you'll apply to medical school, PA school, or a health-related graduate program, the BS keeps that door open without extra coursework.

Which Schools Offer B.A. vs B.S. in Psychology?

Most large research universities offer both. Some schools only offer one:

If your school only offers the BA (like UCLA), don't worry about it. You're in the same position as students at Harvard and Princeton. The degree type is determined by your school's structure, and graduate programs know that.

Bachelor's-Level Psychology Careers (BA or BS)

Regardless of which degree you choose, the career landscape is the same. Here are the most common bachelor's-level careers for psychology graduates, with current BLS data:

For a deeper look at every career path available at each degree level, see our full guide: What Can You Do With a Psychology Degree?

Do Employers Care About B.A. vs B.S. in Psychology?

No. The consensus across hiring managers, career counselors, and psychology professionals is clear: employers do not distinguish between the BA and BS in psychology. Multiple sources emphasize that "skills are increasingly more important than the type of degree" and that employers look for candidates who can perform specific tasks and contribute to the organization.

When you apply for an HR specialist position, a case management role, or a market research job, the listing will say "Bachelor's degree in psychology or related field." It won't specify BA or BS. Your resume, internship experience, and skills matter. The two letters before your degree name don't.

B.A. vs B.S. in Psychology FAQ

Is a BA in psychology worth less than a BS?

No. PayScale data actually shows BA holders earning slightly more ($72,000 vs $69,000 median), though this reflects career path differences rather than degree value. Both degrees qualify you for the same jobs and graduate programs.

Can I get into a PhD program with a BA in psychology?

Yes. Admissions committees evaluate your GPA, research experience, prerequisite courses, and letters of recommendation. The degree designation (BA vs BS) is not a factor. A board-certified psychologist on admissions committees confirmed: "In admissions I've never retained the information of whether a student has a BA or BS."

Is the BS in psychology harder than the BA?

The BS requires more science and math courses (biology, chemistry, physics, advanced statistics), which many students find more challenging. The BA requires foreign language courses instead, which some students find equally difficult. Neither is objectively "harder." They're different.

Should I get a BA or BS if I want to be a therapist?

Either one works. To become a licensed therapist, you'll need a master's degree in counseling or social work regardless of your undergraduate degree type. Counseling programs like CACREP-accredited programs and MSW programs accept both BA and BS holders. Focus on getting strong grades and clinical volunteer experience rather than worrying about BA vs BS.

What percentage of psychology majors get a BA vs BS?

National data on this split isn't published by NCES or APA. The best available data comes from the University of Washington, where approximately 65% of psychology students choose the BA and 35% choose the BS. Most schools report a similar pattern, with the BA being more popular.

Does the BA or BS better prepare me for graduate school?

The BS gives you better quantitative preparation (more stats, more science), which helps in research-focused PhD programs. The BA gives you broader preparation that serves you well in counseling, social work, and clinical programs. For either path, your research experience and GPA matter far more than whether you have a BA or BS.

Psychology Programs and Careers to Explore

Ready to compare programs or explore career paths? Start here:

• Best Online Bachelor's in Psychology Programs
• Best Online Master's in Psychology Programs (for after your bachelor's)
• Best Online Counseling Programs (if you want to become a therapist)
• Best Online PsyD Programs (for doctoral-level clinical work)
• What Can You Do With a Psychology Degree? (careers at every level)

Or explore specific careers:

• Clinical Psychologist | Counselor | I-O Psychologist | School Psychologist | BCBA