Although the question of what to do with an associate's degree in psychology is still predominantly posed, compared to other routes, the associate's degree in psychology takes only two years and yet gives high dividends on investment.
It's a major milestone on the road to the next degree, but it's a valuable credential in its own right. Take the time to read this article and see how you can get an associate degree in psychology and what it will add to your career.
What is Involved in an Associate in Psychology?
This level of the psychology degree requires 60 credits and takes typically two years for a full-time student. While many of these programs are provided on community college campuses, others make the credential available online.
Students working on an associate degree in psychology would be exposed to a variety of courses from the discipline of psychology. Some possible courses are listed below. The course provides a framework for understanding the basic elements in the study of the human mind.
Associate in Psychology Program Costs
How much it will cost for an associate's degree in psychology is going to depend on which school a student decides to go to and whether they must pay in-state or out-of-state tuition. Keep in mind, private schools are more expensive than public schools to attend tuition-wise.
A career in mental and emotional care doesn’t always come with headlines or glamour, but the people who choose these paths often become quiet lifelines in someone else’s darkest moments.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, tuition and fees for students attending two-year schools averaged $3,598 for public in-state schools and $17,408 for those attending private institutions during the academic year 2022–23. Careers for Associate in Psychology Graduates Some students who graduate with an associate degree in psychology go on to pursue a bachelor's and perhaps a master's or doctorate in the field. However, there are also some careers that only require a two-year psychology degree.
Information about salaries below is from Payscale. Take mental health technicians, for example. Earning an average annual salary of about $37,000, they are the steady hands and patient listeners inside clinics and hospitals. Their days are a blend of administering medications, offering emotional support when someone simply needs to talk, checking vital signs and behavior changes, processing admissions, and even leading therapeutic or recreational activities that help patients feel human again.
Then there are psychiatric technicians, who earn around $50,000 a year. Their work sits at the intersection of nursing care and psychological support. They assist individuals living with mental, emotional, or developmental conditions, and beyond the clinical tasks, they gently encourage patients to rebuild essential life skills—work habits, communication, social interaction—so they can move toward more independent, fulfilling lives. Their impact often stretches far beyond what their job description suggests.
Research assistants play a different but equally crucial role in understanding human behavior. With an average salary of $43,000, they spend their days interviewing participants, conducting surveys in homes and communities, observing behavior in labs, and ensuring mountains of sensitive data are accurately recorded and stored. Their careful work often becomes the backbone of studies that shape future treatments, policies, and interventions.
And for those drawn to guiding young people through turbulent years, youth counselors earn roughly $38,000 annually while shouldering some of society’s most emotional work. They support children and teens under 18—many of them at-risk or facing complex family struggles—through counseling, mentorship, legal guidance, and everyday crisis management. Often, they are the bridge connecting young people to resources they never knew existed, helping them imagine futures beyond their immediate challenges.
