Key Takeaways:
- University of Florida ranks first, followed by Fort Valley State University for online psychology bachelor’s programs.
- Online psychology degrees offer flexibility and career preparation for a variety of fields with a 3% projected growth rate.
- Psychology graduates have opportunities in diverse careers beyond psychology, given the field’s versatile applications and high demand.
This ranking explores the top online bachelor’s in psychology.
In this article, we have compiled a list of accredited online colleges for psychology. They offer undergrad degrees and are known for their flexible format and ease of use. While tuition costs vary considerably, they have common career preparation for graduate studies and jobs.
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Psychology is a versatile degree that opens doors far and wide for students. They can, of course, go into psychology-related careers, but they can also find themselves in high demand in other fields. This is because the science of psychology can be applied to many fields. It is a high-demand field with a projected growth rate of 3% through 2029. The median annual wage for psychologists is $82,180.
The first step to becoming an accomplished psychologist is to start with a bachelor’s degree. Here you will find the names of the best psychology colleges online. They are also known to offer the cheapest online psychology degree, making it easy for students to afford college and get a degree.
Students can opt for bachelor’s in psychology programs such as a bachelor of arts or bachelor of science in psychology online. Some colleges also offer the degree as a bachelor of applied science in psychology. An online psychology degree covers topics like:
- Child and adolescent development
- School psychology
- Industrial/organizational psychology
- Social psychology
- Abnormal psychology
- Lifespan development
- Psychology of learning
- Research methods
- Statistics
- Theories of personality
- Physiological psychology
In this article, our school rankings experts have researched and reviewed the schools that offer accredited and best online psychology degree programs for new students and transfer students alike. We zeroed down to the top best online colleges for psychology that provide comprehensive training in the field.
Click here to learn more about our research methodology.
#1 University of Florida
Gainesville, FL
Online BA in Psychology
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Points: 16
The University of Florida offers an online bachelor’s degree in psychology. Named our best online psychology program, it prepares students for graduate study in psychology and advanced professional programs.
Students prepare to excel in diverse careers in law, business, medicine, and education. The five different areas of specialization include:
- Behavior Analysis
- Social Psychology
- Counseling Psychology
- Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience
The curriculum provides a strong foundation in business, education, or health-related fields to pursue careers in psychology. It emphasizes the principles and applications of psychological knowledge as social and natural science, representing a step toward a successful career in the field.
Fast facts:
- 120 credits
- Offered through: College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Format: Online
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
Tuition per credit: $129.18
#2 Fort Valley State University
Fort Valley, GA
Online Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology
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Points: 15
Fort Valley State University offers an online BA in Psychology that has been called one of the best bachelor’s in psychology programs in the nation. Students study biological, cognitive, emotional, and social influences on human and animal behavior. They seek to explain and predict behavior by exploring how the brain works. Coursework includes:
- Ethics
- Careers and Issues in Psychology
- Psychology of Adjustment
- Behavioral Statistics
- Introduction to Sociology
- Cultural Diversity
Psychology graduates become experts in human behavior and follow a wide variety of career paths. Many work in business, law, human resources, health services, counseling, and public policy. Some may go on to enroll in graduate programs to earn a master’s degree or PhD.
Fast facts:
- 123 credits
- Offered through: College of Arts & Sciences
- Format: Online
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission
Tuition per credit: $169.33
#3 University of Central Florida
Orlando, FL
Online BS in Psychology
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Points: 15
The University of Central Florida offers an online bachelor’s degree in psychology. Students learn the foundations of psychology and can personalize their program with their interests and goals. They can choose from six specialization tracks:
- Clinical psychology
- Human factors psychology
- Industrial/organizational psychology
- Neuroscience psychology
Coursework also covers terminology, physiology, psychology history, research, and statistical methods. Graduates are equipped to make a difference within clinical, academic, health, legal other settings. All students participate in research, internships, fieldwork, and student organizations to deepen their knowledge and put their classroom learning into real-world practice.
After graduation, they may be eligible for graduate programs such as master’s degree and PhD programs.
Fast facts:
- 120 credits
- Offered through: College of Sciences
- Format: Online
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
Tuition per credit: $179.19
#4 North Carolina Central University
Durham, NC
Online BS in Psychology
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Points: 14
North Carolina Central University offers a standout online bachelor’s degree in psychology. The program helps students understand interpersonal interaction and learn valuable problem-solving techniques and build their analytical skills. The diverse curriculum offers research and teaching experiences for students in theoretical and applied psychology. Coursework includes:
- Psychology as a Profession
- Psychological Measurement
- Experimental Psychology
- Introductory Statistics for Students of Psychology
- The Psychology of Human Development and Maturation
Students learn to cultivate analyses and critical thinking skills and apply psychological theories and paradigms through effective teaching and research.
Fast facts:
- 120 credits
- Offered through: College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities
- Format: Online
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
Tuition per credit: $183.67
#5 Kennesaw State University
Kennesaw, GA
Online BS in Psychology
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Points: 14
Kennesaw State University offers an online bachelor’s degree in psychology. It provides students with strong research, communication, and critical thinking skills. They learn to examine human behavior and mental processes through this broad liberal arts education. Coursework includes:
- Introduction to General Psychology
- Introduction to Human Development
- Psychology of Gender
- Research Methods in Psychological Science
- Cross-Cultural Psychology
- Ethnic Minority Psychology
The program provides students with a strong foundation for graduate study in a variety of disciplines, including master’s degrees in psychology.
Fast facts:
- 120 credits
- Offered through: Department of Psychological Science
- Format: Online
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Tuition per credit: $185.40
#6 Fort Hays State University
Hays, KS
Online BS in Psychology
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Points: 13
Fort Hays State University offers an online BS in Psychology. Students gain a foundation and ample skills to enter a specific career or to pursue additional graduate work. Coursework includes:
- Psychology as a Discipline and Profession
- The Science of Psychology
- Introduction to Cognitive Psychology
- Neuropsychology
- Child and Developmental Psychology
- Applied Statistics in the Behavioral Sciences
- Experimental Psychology Laboratory
- Psychology Electives
Graduates of this online bachelor’s degree in psychology develop analytical, communication, interpersonal, observational, and problem-solving skills. These, along with patience and integrity learned through psychology prepares graduates for a wide range of careers.
Fast facts:
- 124 credits
- Offered through: College of Health and Behavioral Sciences
- Format: Online
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
Tuition per credit: $218.67
#7 Florida International University
Miami, FL
Online Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology
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Points: 13
Florida International University offers an online BA in Psychology. The flexible program equips students with communication, critical thinking skills, and problem-solving techniques. In addition, they gain a solid grounding in scientific research and human behavior that prepares them for diverse careers.
The five key areas of concentration within the program are:
- Experimental psychology
- Social psychology
- Applied psychology
- Personality/abnormal psychology
The program considers the current trends in psychology and blends that with the foundational knowledge in the field. It emphasizes the science of psychology integrated with research, psychological theory, and practice.
Fast facts:
- 120 credits
- Offered through: College of Arts, Sciences & Education
- Format: Online
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
Tuition per credit: $228.81
#8 Central Washington University
Ellensburg, WA
Online BA in Psychology
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Points: 13
Among the best colleges for psychology, Central Washington University offers an online bachelor’s degree in psychology. The program was the first in the state of Washington to be nationally approved by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP).
It prepares graduates for graduate school or to work in fields that need training in behavioral science such as social services, business, forensics, family studies, and primate behavior. Coursework includes:
- Psychology of Adjustment
- Research Methods in Psychology
- Multicultural Psychology and Social Justice
- Social Justice: The Psychology of Stereotyping, Prejudice, and Discrimination
- Psychology of Adolescence
These online bachelor’s programs provide excellent training toward a successful career as a psychologist or for pursuing a master’s degree.
Fast facts:
- 60 credits
- Offered through: College of the Sciences
- Format: Online
- Accreditation: Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
Tuition per credit: $230
#9 Indiana University East
Richmond, IN
Online Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology
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Points: 13
One of the best colleges for psychology in the U.S., Indiana University East offers an online BS in Psychology. They study human behavior and the influence of physical and social environments in which they live. Students develop communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills that are important in diverse workplace settings. Courses include:
- Behavioral neuroscience
- Sensation and perception
- Evolutionary psychology
- The psychology of learning
- The psychology of personality
- Abnormal psychology
Online bachelor’s programs such as this one from Indiana University provide a solid foundation for graduate work in a master’s degree program as well as jobs in the field. They work in mental health clinics, government, personnel departments, social welfare agencies, and business and industry.
Fast facts:
- 120 credits
- Offered through: School of Humanities & Social Sciences
- Format: Online
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
Tuition per credit: $235.59
#10 Ohio University
Athens, OH
Online BS in Psychology
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Points: 13
Among the nation’s best colleges for psychology, Ohio University offers a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. The program emphasizes communication and critical and analytical thinking that prepare graduates for diverse careers. They gain a better understanding of people and their behavior that helps them excel in jobs in a psychology-related field. Courses include:
- General Psychology
- Cognitive Psychology
- Child and Adolescent Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Abnormal Psychology
With an academic advisor, students in online bachelor’s programs explore the field of psychology, gain valuable experience with peers, develop relationships with faculty, and participate in practicum experiences that will enhance their knowledge. They often seek a career in areas such as human services, business, and health services or pursue a master’s degree after graduation.
Fast facts:
- 120 credits
- Offered through: College of Arts and Sciences
- Format: Online
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
Tuition per credit: $240
#11 University of Maryland Global Campus
Largo, MD
Online BS in Psychology
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Points: 12
The University of Maryland Global Campus offers an online BS in psychology. It prepares students for a multitude of careers in the field and graduate study. They gain a solid knowledge base of research, theory, and practice in psychological sciences. Required psychology courses include:
- Research Methods in Psychology
- Biological Basis of Behavior
- Sensation and Perception
- Memory and Cognition
- Lifespan Development
The program helps students hone their written and oral communication proficiencies, analytical and scientific reasoning, quantitative skills, and ability to analyze human behavior.
Fast facts:
- 120 credits
- Offered through: Department of Psychology
- Format: Online
- Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Tuition per credit: $300
#12 Southern New Hampshire University
Manchester, NH
Online BA in Psychology
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Points: 12
One of the best colleges for psychology, Southern New Hampshire University offers an online Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. Students immerse themselves in cutting-edge theories and develop a skill set relevant to any field where understanding human behavior is needed.
They use case studies and experiential learning that prepare them to apply their learning in their future work. Program options include concentrations such as:
- Addictions
- Mental Health
- Child & Adolescent Development
- Applied Psychology
- Forensic Psychology
- Social Psychology
The program prepares students for a career in psychology by helping them build skills in scientific inquiry. They develop the ability to interpret, communicate and apply data. Graduates choose diverse career paths such as market researcher, human resources specialist, or management analyst.
Fast facts:
- 120 credits
- Format: Online
- Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
Tuition per credit: $320
#13 University of the Cumberlands
Williamsburg, KY
Online BS in Psychology
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Points: 12
One of our top online schools, the University of the Cumberlands offers an online bachelor’s degree in psychology. Students can opt for either a BS or a BA degree, depending on their career goals. The wide range of courses in the curriculum reflects the diversity of the discipline, faculty expertise, and students’ interests.
They provide an educational background appropriate to a liberal arts program and for a career in psychology-related areas. Required psychology courses include:
- Intro to Counseling
- Basic Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Psychology of Personality
- Abnormal Psychology
The program provides a strong foundation for graduate study and prepares students for careers in areas that value a psychology bachelor’s degree.
Fast facts:
- 120 credits
- Offered through: School of Social and Behavioral Sciences
- Format: Online
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
Tuition per credit: $335
#14 South Dakota State University
Brookings, SD
Online BS in Psychology
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Points: 12
South Dakota State University offers an online Bachelor of Science in psychology. It spans everything from biological to social sciences in the study of behavior and mental processes. Students can work with their advisors to personalize curriculum plans to meet career and educational goals. Required psychology courses include:
- Sensation and Perception
- Learning and Conditioning
- Cognitive Psychology
- Drugs and Behavior
- Health Psychology
Students can prepare for graduate school and work in the psychological services field. They work in health care, education, counseling, social work, statistics, human resources, probation and corrections, politics, public relations, and business.
Fast facts:
- 120 credits
- Offered through: College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences
- Format: Online
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
Tuition per credit: $354.75
#15 University of North Dakota
Grand Forks, ND
Online BS in Psychology
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Points: 12
Among the nation’s top online schools, the University of North Dakota offers an online bachelor’s degree in psychology. Students can choose from B.A. or B.S. options to fit their career goals. The former has a more liberal arts focus, while the latter has a more clinical focus.
Students explore the intricacies of the human mind and human behavior and learn to evaluate and address various psychological issues. Required psychology courses include:
- Diversity Psychology
- Psychology of Learning
- Physiology of Behavior and Psychophysiological Measurement
- Case-Based Applied Statistics
- Advanced Social Psychology
Students learn the principles and theories of behavior and understand how psychology applies to everyday life.
Fast facts:
- 120 credits
- Offered through: College of Arts & Sciences
- Format: Online
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
Tuition per credit: $355.85
More About Online Colleges for Psychology (Bachelor’s)
An online psychology degree is designed for students interested in how humans think, all aspects of human behavior, and how the surrounding environment affects individual behavior. Students learn to work with diverse groups and help people overcome challenges. The bachelor’s degree forms the foundation for advanced studies and research in the field of psychology.
The program teaches learners to assess, examine and investigate treatment and therapy plans. They learn to address and treat substance abuse, family problems, stress, delinquency, and depression. They build critical thinking and analytical skills that employers in many fields value and want in their psychology graduates.
A psychology degree that is online and accredited provides students with a strong foundation for continued study and opportunities for exciting careers. They can opt for either a BAAsc, BA, or B.S. degree in psychology.
While the degrees are similar at the core, they differ by the concentrations they offer. Students can work with the advisors to choose the right degree as this choice will help them decide which one may be right for them. They need to determine whether they want to learn in a more clinical setting or counseling aspects.
The top online colleges for psychology offer the Online Bachelor of Arts in Psychology or Online Bachelor of Science in Psychology choice for aspiring psychology graduates. Some degree completion programs may also be available.
Students who accredited online colleges for psychology should know that their degree is of the same value as the on-campus degree. They learn via the same curriculum and have the same opportunity to observe and work with psychological professionals through internships and practicum.
As a result, they gain deep insights into the field and learn to apply communication, analytical, and critical thinking skills in their future work.
The best online psychology degree programs make it easy for students to study and work simultaneously. Busy working professionals who want to go back to school and complete their education or get an advanced degree will find the flexible and online option convenient. They can study and complete their degree at their own pace.
Degree completion programs for associate’s degree holders tend to be particularly flexible.
The best online colleges for psychology offer comprehensive bachelor’s degrees that provide foundational knowledge in psychology theories and human behavior. Students get to learn about various mental health conditions, cognitive processes, and psychological practices such as those used by psychologists and marriage and family therapists.
They also undertake projects covering research methods and data analysis that prepare them for graduate study in psychology. The colleges for psychology online also prepare them for successful careers. Graduates go on to work in human resources, business, sales, health, or education.
Topics usually covered in best online psychology degree programs include:
- Clinical Psychology
- Introduction to Abnormal Psychology
- Psychological Statistics
- Developmental Psychology
- Cognitive Psychology
- Educational Psychology
- Introduction to General Psychology
- Perspectives on Psychological Issues
- Introduction to Drugs and Behavior
- Psychology of Aging
- Introduction to Statistics
- Psychology of Education
- Social Psychology
- Sex, Evolution, & Human Behavior
What are the typical concentration options in a psychology degree program online?
- Addiction Psychology
- Biopsychology
- Cognitive Psychology
- Counseling Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Educational Psychology
- Forensic Psychology
- Industrial and Organizational Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Abnormal Psychology
- Childhood Development
- School Psychology
Students often wonder whether they should go for a B.A. or B.S. in psychology. In truth, there is often little difference between the two degrees. Some schools only offer a bachelor of arts, others only a bachelor of science.
Some offer both options, while some of the best psychology colleges online offer a bachelor in applied science degree. Students need to do their research and investigate specific programs of study to ensure that they have taken the appropriate undergraduate courses.
The requirements for these degrees might change a bit, as they do their concentration options and nature of internships. However, at the core, they are quite similar, and the core courses match each other. This means that all students going into the graduate program share the same foundational knowledge and skills. The more important consideration is taking courses that prepare students for the type of program they want to enter as graduate students.
Anyone with a high school diploma or GED or an associate degree can apply for an online psychology degree.
While the admission requirements differ between the best psychology colleges online, the typical list goes something like this:
- Transcripts: High School Diploma /AA degree
- Standardized Tests: ACT/SAT
- Recommendations: 2-5
- Writing Sample: Personal statement of intent, writing sample
- Additional Required Materials: Immunization records
An online psychology degree holds as much value as one earned from a traditional campus. The curriculum is the same for both formats, and the same faculty teach students in both. The degree they receive is of equal value and importance and recognized as the same by the industry. The only difference may lie in the nature of projects and internships.
For traditional students, these may be on campus or internships in businesses near the campus. Online students may have the option to undertake internships near their homes once approved by their professors. First, however, students need to ensure that their choice of psychology degree online is accredited.
Students who earn online bachelor’s degree in psychology credentials go on to pursue graduate programs and become licensed counselors and therapists. They work in varied settings like hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, rehabilitation facilities, businesses, and community health and mental health centers.
Psychology graduates who wish to enter the workforce right after their bachelor’s degree completion can get entry-level jobs in the field. They will gain deeper knowledge as they work via hands-on experience. Students who wish to practice in clinical and professional settings may need to sit for state licensure exams after their master’s degree completion.
Some of the common entry-level jobs after getting a psychology degree online are:
- Advertising Agents
- Behavior analyst
- Biopsychologist
- Business administration
- Career Counselor
- Case Manager
- Child & Adolescent Psychologist
- Child Care Worker
- Clinical Psychologist
- Cognitive Psychologist
- Counseling Psychologist
- Developmental Psychologist
- Educational Psychologist
- Engineering Psychologist
- Human Resource manager
- Industrial psychologist
- Laboratory Assistant
- Market Researcher/Researcher
- Military psychologist
- Probation and Parole Officer
- Psychiatric Technician
- Psychology professor
- Psychology program officer
- Rehabilitation specialist
- School Counselor
- Therapist
- Top- or mid-level management
The cost of psychology degree programs can vary between the various online colleges for psychology. In this article, we have listed programs that cost $1,079 per credit hour to the cheapest online psychology degree offered by the University of Florida at $129.18 per credit hour.
The colleges for psychology online provide students with the knowledge of behavioral development, mental health disorders, and the influence of social context over behavior. Along with foundational knowledge of the field, students also develop analytical, research, and communication skills that come in handy in a wide range of jobs.
Students need to choose psychology degree programs online with a curriculum that offers the right tools for psychologist training. Students should also consider the format, accelerated options, cost, coursework, etc., for each degree program.
Here are a few things to keep in mind:
Online or traditional format: Traditional schools can be more expensive than online schools, depending on the type of school. But the best online colleges for psychology offer both online and on-campus formats. Students can choose the format that best fits their needs, be it cost-wise or commute-wise.
Regardless of the format, these programs equip students with the skills they need to excel as psychologists or therapists. They gain and master the knowledge and skills in research, critical thinking, and strategic analysis. The best online programs offer students support services such as financial aid, academic advising, and their own enrollment counselor.
Cost: The cost of a psychology degree online is an important consideration for most students. Private universities have higher tuition rates, while state and public universities are more affordable. Most online colleges and universities tend to be more cost-effective and affordable.
Students attending the program on campus may spend more on tuition, fees, the cost of books and supplies, living expenses, and other school-related items. They will also have personal expenses and transportation to consider. But they have the option to apply for and get scholarships, aids. They can also get tuition waivers which can lower the overall cost of attendance.
An online psychology degree may offer a good alternative to on-campus programs. They typically fall under the cheapest online psychology degree category. Most are flexible and designed for working adults who can complete their education and get an advanced degree without leaving their day jobs.
Students should also consider the school’s admissions rate, accreditation, student support system, faculty profiles, graduation rate, placements, and the employment rate of its graduates.
It is important to note here that the degree and quality of education are not always related directly to the cost. The best online colleges for psychology are known for their high academic standards; their students excel in various fields.
Accreditation: The accreditation process is essential to understanding the quality and value of an academic program. Accreditation helps develop a standards-based evaluation process and tells us whether a program will offer students a high-quality learning experience. A psychology degree online accredited program adds to a program’s credibility and recognition.
Colleges and universities can achieve recognition for quality in academics, services, and other benchmarks. Accreditation organizations ensure that the programs that best meet standards for excellence.
The main accreditation commissions students and professionals should consider are:
- Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
- Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
- Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
- Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)
- New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
Accreditation agencies gather information and resources on the best online psychology degree programs and provide links to the various regional commissions covering states across the U.S. Some employers may offer tuition assistance based on whether a future or existing employee attends an accredited institution. Evaluators or accreditors use this process to assess how online colleges for psychology meet the criteria.
Some colleges for psychology online seek out specialized organizations or programmatic accreditation to support their knowledge and industry-based credentials. This helps assess curriculum, and staff performances, faculty and program outcomes. In addition, they offer an evaluation-based standard for the best online psychology degree per the list of criteria of the nationally recognized accreditation commissions.
Specialized accreditation reflects the programmatic excellence of best online psychology degree programs. Recognition from professional organizations is essential because they make it easy for psychology degree online students to pursue graduate education or start successful careers.
Sources
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
U.S. News & World Report
Other Online Program Rankings:
- Highest Paying Psychology Jobs
- Clinical Versus Counseling Psychology
- All Psychology and Counseling Degree Rankings
CVO Staff