Health Psychology Master’s Programs Online: Finding a Top School

The following professionals lent their expertise to this article:

Author: Rebecca Newman, MSW

Rebecca Newman, MSW

Author

Rebecca Newman, MSW, LCSW, is a psychotherapist in Philadelphia specializing in eating disorders, anxiety, depression, infertility, substance abuse, grief and loss, gender and sexuality, trauma, and adjustment to life changes. She earned a bachelor's degree in Creative Writing from Oberlin College and an MSW from the University of Pennsylvania, where she received the John Hope Franklin Award for Combating American Racism.

Expertise: Social WorkPsychologyMental Health

Social WorkPsychologyMental Health

Editor: Jordan Cosselman

Jordan Cosselman

Editor

Jordan Cosselman graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno with a BA in English. She joined the OMD team in 2021 with the goal of making graduate education more approachable for students from all walks of life. She's especially interested in helping students understand the ROI of a master's degree, so they feel confident in their investment.

Reviewer: Rebecca Newman, MSW

Rebecca Newman, MSW

Reviewer

Rebecca Newman, MSW, LCSW, is a psychotherapist in Philadelphia specializing in eating disorders, anxiety, depression, infertility, substance abuse, grief and loss, gender and sexuality, trauma, and adjustment to life changes. She earned a bachelor's degree in Creative Writing from Oberlin College and an MSW from the University of Pennsylvania, where she received the John Hope Franklin Award for Combating American Racism.

Expertise: Social WorkPsychologyMental Health

Social WorkPsychologyMental Health

Updated: 03/03/2026

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Updated: 03/03/2026

Is a Health Psychology Master’s the Right Move?

Before spending time on applications, it’s worth being clear-eyed about what this degree does and doesn’t do. A master’s in health psychology is not a clinical or licensure-track program, so it won’t qualify you to practice as a licensed psychologist or counselor.

What it will do is prepare you for research, program coordination, health education, and behavioral health roles in hospitals, public health agencies, and corporate wellness settings. It also serves as a credible bridge into doctoral study for those planning to pursue licensure eventually.

If that scope fits your goals, the next questions are practical ones to make sure you’re ready to start your master’s education:

• Time Commitment — Am I ready to commit at least 15-20 hours per week to school? Even though online formats can be flexible, they’re not passive and still require strong time management from students.
• Academic Prerequisites — Do I have the appropriate prerequisites to be accepted? If not, will the program work with me to complete them?
• Financing the Degree — Am I prepared to pay up to $30,000 for my program? Take account of financial aid, employer tuition assistance, and institutional scholarships to help tackle out-of-pocket expenses.
• Career Specificity — Do I have a clear picture of what I want to do after graduation? Health psychology is a broad field and doesn’t fit clinical practice, so if that’s your goal, you may want to look at other psychology tracks.

Inside Popular Online Health Psychology Master’s Programs

Expert Insight

Monthly start dates are a terrific way to seize your enthusiasm to advance your education and expertise. Strike while the iron is hot!

Rebecca Newman, MSW

Program Costs

Total tuition across the three programs above ranges from $21,240 at Grand Canyon to $29,220 at Walden — a narrower spread than many graduate fields, though the credit structures differ.

• GCU’s 36-credit program is the most affordable and most straightforward to compare
• Walden’s 48 quarter credits work out to roughly 32 semester credit equivalents

All three programs are fully online, which eliminates relocation and commuting costs. Most charge a flat per-credit rate regardless of where students live — no out-of-state premium. Budget separately for technology fees (typically $100–$200 per term), textbooks, and any optional internship-related costs.

Financial aid, federal student loans, and institutional scholarships can significantly reduce out-of-pocket costs. For students already employed in healthcare or education, employer tuition reimbursement is often available and frequently overlooked.

What Health Psychology Graduates Do

Health psychology master’s graduates work at the intersection of behavioral science and healthcare delivery, primarily in non-clinical roles. Most positions focus on improving health outcomes through education, program design, or research rather than direct patient therapy. The median salary for health educators is around $63,000, with higher earning potential in hospital systems and corporate wellness settings.

Here are the most common career paths:

• Health Education Specialist — Develops and manages programs that promote healthy behaviors, whether in community settings, hospitals, or patient education departments. The Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) credential, offered by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, is a recognized professional certification for this path and accessible with a relevant master’s.
• Wellness or Corporate Health Coordinator — Designs and runs employee wellness programs in corporate settings, applying psychological principles to reduce workplace stress, improve engagement, and lower healthcare costs for employers.
• Behavioral Health Specialist — Works within hospital systems or healthcare organizations to support patient mental well-being, treatment adherence, and behavioral interventions alongside medical care.
• Public Health Analyst or Program Manager — Works in government agencies or nonprofits designing public health campaigns and behavior-change initiatives at a population level.
• Research Coordinator or Project Manager — Supports health psychology research studies in academic medical centers, universities, or private research organizations — managing data, coordinating participants, and contributing to publications.
• Community College Instructor — With a master’s degree, graduates may be eligible to teach psychology or health science courses at the community college level.

Graduates who want to eventually practice as licensed psychologists use the master’s as a foundation for doctoral applications. Health psychology specialization at the doctoral level typically falls under clinical or counseling psychology licensure — students planning that path should look at APA-accredited doctoral programs as the next step.

Expert Insight

With the ever-increasing stressors of the workplace, this is a great opportunity to develop into a consulting business to help organizations improve their employees well-being and increase retention!

Rebecca Newman, MSW

Licensure and Credentials in Health Psychology

Because health psychology master’s programs are non-clinical, they don’t lead directly to professional licensure. Here’s a clear picture of what the credential pathways actually look like, and where a master’s fits in:

• Licensed Psychologist (Doctoral Degree Required) — Practicing as a licensed health psychologist requires a Ph.D. or PsyD, supervised clinical hours (typically 1,500–6,000 depending on the state), and passing the EPPP (Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology). The master’s can serve as a bridge toward doctoral admission but doesn’t fulfill licensure requirements on its own. State-specific requirements are available through the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards.
• ABPP Board Certification in Clinical Health Psychology — An optional advanced credential for licensed psychologists who want to formally demonstrate specialty expertise in health psychology. Awarded by the American Board of Professional Psychology through credential review and oral examination. This is a post-licensure credential, not a path for master’s-only graduates.
• Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) — The most relevant certification for master’s-level health psychology graduates who are not pursuing doctoral study. Offered by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing and accessible to those with a relevant bachelor’s or master’s degree. The CHES exam covers seven areas of professional responsibility including program planning, implementation, and evaluation. It’s not required for most roles, but it adds credibility for community health and patient education careers.

For graduate students planning to pursue licensure eventually, understanding state-by-state psychology licensure requirements early in the process helps ensure the master’s program and eventual doctoral program are aligned with your target state’s rules. The Society for Health Psychology (APA Division 38) is also a useful professional resource for students and early-career practitioners in the field.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I actually do with this degree?

The most direct paths with a master’s in health psychology are:

• Health educator
• Wellness coordinator
• Behavioral health specialist
• Public health program manager

These are roles that apply psychological principles to healthcare delivery without requiring a clinical license. Research coordination and community college teaching are also common. Graduates who want to eventually practice as licensed health psychologists use the master’s as a stepping stone into doctoral programs, not as a terminal credential for clinical practice.

Do I need a doctorate to become a health psychologist?

If the goal is to practice as a licensed psychologist with “health psychologist” as the specialty, then yes — a doctorate is required for licensure in every U.S. state. With a master’s alone, you can’t use the psychologist title or provide clinical therapy independently.

What you can do is work in the broader behavioral health space — program coordination, research, education, and health promotion — while keeping doctoral study as a future option. Many students find the master’s gives them clarity on whether they want to pursue that path.

Are online health psychology master’s degrees respected by employers?

Yes, from properly accredited institutions. Your diploma won’t say “online” — employers see the institution and degree, not the delivery format.

What matters most to employers in this space is that you can demonstrate relevant skills:

• Program design
• Behavioral health knowledge
• Research methodology
• Ability to work independently (which an online program actually signals directly)

How long does the program take, and can I work while enrolled?

Plan on two years of full-time study, though faster and slower options exist.

• National University’s monthly start dates and four-week course modules make 16-month completion realistic for committed full-time students.
• Walden advertises 15 months at a heavy load

Programs are typically asynchronous, so there’s no fixed schedule that conflicts with work hours. For students weighing an even faster path, accelerated online psychology programs can help you fast-track your education.

What are the typical admissions requirements?

For most health psychology master’s programs, a bachelor’s degree is required, but not necessarily in psychology. Minimum GPA requirements range from 2.5 to 3.0, with conditional admission sometimes available below threshold. Transcripts are also universally required.

The GRE is not required by many programs. Letters of recommendation and a personal statement are required by some programs (National University and GCU), but not others (Walden).

If your undergraduate background doesn’t include statistics or introductory psychology, check each program’s prerequisite requirements before applying.

Best Online Master’s in Health Psychology Programs