For individuals who love athletics and performance but aren’t sure how to advance their education, earning a Master’s in Sports Psychology is the path for you.
An online sports psychology degree can take you down a multitude of different career paths from being a personal trainer, sports psychologist, or certified mental performance consultant to counseling psychology and sports medicine.
Sports psychology is a combination of different sciences including biomechanics, performance psychology, physiology, and kinesiology. It studies what psychological factors affect human performance so you can help yourself or others gain better results.
A sports psychology degree program is oftentimes expensive so where do you start?
That’s why we’re here, we’ve compiled a list of the Most Affordable Online Colleges to attend while achieving a Sports Psychology degree.
These schools are some of the most respected universities for this specific online master’s degree program. For veterans, many of them offer reduced prices and flexible classes. Each graduate program is prepared to turn theory into practice. Most of the faculty you’ll be studying under are still actively practicing in their designated fields within sports psychology.
This gained knowledge from professionals will improve your skills and make you stand out amongst other candidates within your career. For individuals who want to begin their careers sooner and improve their resumes, these are the schools to attend.
Methodology
All schools considered for these rankings
- Are regionally or nationally accredited
- Offer at least one fully online master’s in sports psychology degree (with no more than two weeks of required in-person work)
- Were collected from official accrediting agency websites.
Schools are ranked solely by the average net price as released in the most recent IPEDs database collected in July of 2023.
Online Programs That Might Interest You
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.2024 Most Affordable Online Colleges for Sports Psychology Degrees
| Rank | School | Average Net Price |
| #1 | National University | $12,231 |
| #2 | Adams State University | $14,305 |
| #3 | University of West Alabama | $16,258 |
| #4 | Capella University | Tuition and Fees |
| #5 | California University of Pennsylvania | $19,932 |
| #6 | Rider University | $22,316 |
6 Best Affordable Colleges for Online Sports Psychology Degrees
1. National University
Average Net Price: $12,231
School Type: For-Profit
School Accreditation: WSCUC
National University is a private institution located in sunny San Diego, California. Students attend National University for its 4-week courses and its multitude of programs to choose from. The university is a Yellow-Ribbon school, which means that the school accepts the post 9/11 GI Bill®, and veterans attending this private school will pay virtually nothing towards their education. The school’s mission statement is to, “deliver an exceptional student experience by providing superior programs and services that are relevant and result in meaningful learning.”
Pursuing a Master of Arts in Performance Psychology at National University will advance you further in your career. In this program, you’ll meet the requirements to get certification from the Association for Applied Sport Psychology. You’ll gain valuable hands-on experience working within your university, at professional athletic events, by coaching, and more. The courses you’ll take in this advanced degree program include ethics in performance psychology, motor behavior, performance consulting skills, theories of behavior change, and a multitude of others. You’ll feel valued by the expert faculty and begin your career sooner with their shorter semesters.
2. Adams State University
Average Net Price: $14,305
School Type: Non-Profit
School Accreditation: HLC
Located in beautiful Alamosa, Colorado, Adams State University is home to almost 3,000 students. Adams State University holds a vision to, “Become the university community of choice for diverse, historically underserved groups, and all who value quality education and inclusivity.” Student success is the university’s top priority and they promise to help you develop skills of creativity, engagement, and diversity. Adam State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Adams State University offers two sport-related psychology degrees. You’ll have the choice between a Master of Science in Coaching or a Master of Science in Applied Sport Psychology. You’ll be taught concepts in exercise science, methods of sport coaching, applied sport psychology, social aspects of sport and so much more. No matter which degree program is chosen, students can graduate within 2 years, which includes all of their classes and an internship.
3. University of West Alabama
Average Net Price: $16,258
School Type: Non-Profit
School Accreditation: SACS COC
Founded in 1835 in Livingston, Alabama, the University of West Alabama has become a home to individuals who want to make a difference within their communities and around the world. The University of West Alabama prides itself on providing only the most excellent education. This is proven by its prestigious faculty and its dedication to keeping a student-to-faculty ratio of 13:1 so every student gets the time they deserve. Not only is UWA committed to excellence in education but they’re devoted to creating a warm and vibrant community whether you’re staying in the resident halls or participating in their weekly activities.
The University of West Alabama offers an intriguing and challenging Master of Science in Experimental Psychology – Health and Sports Psychology program. In this course, students will practice essential skills needed to work in clinical settings of health and sports psychology. Individuals will take classes in advanced cognitive psychology, exercise psychology, performance psychology, and sociology of human performance. Each student before graduation has the choice to either complete a thesis or to take the comprehensive exam.
4. Capella University
Average Net Price: Tuition and Fees
School Type: For-Profit
School Accreditation: HLC
Capella University is a highly respected institution that holds a mission to, “extend access to high-quality bachelor’s, master’s, specialist, doctoral, and certificate programs for adults who seek to maximize their personal and professional potential. This mission is fulfilled through innovative programs that are responsive to the needs of adult learners and involve active, engaging, challenging, and relevant learning experiences offered in a variety of delivery modes.” Capella University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Capella University has an advanced Masters’ Program in Sports Psychology. A unique attribute of this program is the university Flex-Path which gives students the opportunity to graduate in 15 months and under $18,000 (based on fastest 25% of students). In this program, you’ll explore human behavior and mental health and how it affects athletics. Understanding these fundamentals of mental health will help you guide athletes through practice, games, recovery, coaching, and more. You’ll be taught by professional sports psychologists, many of which still work actively in their careers. This professional guidance will help you gain real-world experience and stay up-to-date on the latest information and techniques.
5. California University of Pennsylvania
Average Net Price: $19,932
School Type: Non-Profit
School Accreditation: MSCHE
The California University of Pennsylvania was founded in 1852 in the small town of California, PA. Cal U has over 100 undergraduate programs to choose from along with over 90 graduate and professional degrees to pursue. Today the university is home to almost 7,000 students from all 50 states and across the globe. Cal U is such an upstanding institution that for 16 years the Princeton Review has recognized the school as one of the best schools in the Northeast. The California University of Pennsylvania is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
The California University of Pennsylvania has two exceptional sport psychology graduate programs to choose from. The first one students can pursue is a Master of Science in Exercise Science and Health Promotion: Sports Psychology and the second program students can take is a Master of Science in Sport Management Studies: Sport Management. A few of the courses that you’ll have the opportunity of participating in consist of exercise physiology, nutrition for peak sport performance, research in sport psychology, special topics in sport psychology, and Psychological Aspects of Sports Injury and Rehabilitation. You’ll be trained by professionals in the field and feel confident graduating with your sports psychology degree online.
6. Rider University
Average Net Price: $22,316
School Type: For-Profit
School Accreditation: AACSB
Rider University was built upon the values of leadership, excellence, and achievement. Success at Rider University is attributed to its smaller class sizes with a student-to-faculty ratio of 10:1. Rider University is unique in requiring all graduates to complete at least two high-impact engaged learning experiences. An engaging learning experience is where the practice is made perfect, this requirement is where students get the most hands-on experience. 9 in 10 graduates either go on to be employed in their desired profession, continue on to graduate school or participate in volunteer work within their interested field.
A Master of Arts in Athletic Leadership from Rider University has 3 different concentrations. The concentrations students can choose from are, Master of Arts in Athletic Leadership – Career Exploration, Master of Arts in Athletic Leadership – Coaching, or a Master of Arts in Athletic Leadership – Sports Psychology. You’ll be trained by sports professionals and leaders who are experts in what they’re teaching and only wish for your academic success. Rider University has a competitive graduate enrollment which makes their program more lucrative and challenging.