Psychology

About Psychology

Wondering whether Psychology is worth studying? What matters is what graduates actually earn, where they end up working, and which colleges produce the most of them. Most graduates end up in this field, so it is worth knowing what a Human Resources Manager earns and how the role is projected to grow.

One of the most popular majors, and most misunderstood. Clinical practice requires grad school; research, HR, and consulting roles typically don't. Four years after finishing the degree, graduates in this field earn a national median of $50,706, per College Scorecard. You can study it at 1,818 colleges and universities across the country, so location is rarely the limiting factor. About 208,888 students complete a degree in this area every year.

Median Earnings · 1yr

$31,999

Median Earnings · 4yr

$50,706

Colleges Offering

1,818

Graduates / Year

208,888

Specializations

4

Avg Net Price / yr

$19,413

Is a Psychology Degree Right for You?

Is the Investment Worth It?

Solid ROI. Median earnings of $50,706 after 4 years. Against an estimated $77,652 four-year net cost, the typical graduate reaches earnings breakeven in roughly 3.8 years.

How Much Do Psychology Majors Earn?

Pay for Psychology graduates climbs fast in the first few years out. The median start is $31,999 one year after graduation, rising to $50,706 by year four, so the early salary is not the ceiling. Source: College Scorecard, across all 1,818 US institutions offering programs in this field.

What Can You Do With a Psychology Degree?

Career Paths for Psychology Graduates

Studying Psychology does not lock you into one job title. It opens 8 occupations tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, from entry-level roles to senior ones, and Human Resources Manager pays the most among them at a median $149,280 a year. Each row below adds national wages, employment levels, and the 10-year growth outlook so you can weigh the rest.

Another common path leads to what Training and Development Managers typically earn and how the field is trending.

Psychology Specializations

Psychology spans 4 specializations, and the choice among them will not swing your paycheck much: four-year earnings run from $50,523 to $55,695 across the whole group. Each row links to a full program profile with institution counts and annual completion data. Source: College Scorecard.

The highest-paying specialization is the cost and outcomes for an Experimental Psychology program, which is worth a closer look before settling on the broader field.

Best Colleges for Psychology

These are the 20 colleges that graduate the most students in Psychology, ranked by how many completed the degree in the most recent reporting year, not by selectivity or prestige. Acceptance rate, net price, earnings, and graduation rate for each one come from College Scorecard and IPEDS.

By that measure, the list starts with the cost and admissions data for Southern New Hampshire University.

Ranked by number of Psychology graduates per IPEDS completion data. Acceptance rate, net price, earnings, and graduation rate from College Scorecard. Read our methodology →

How Psychology Compares to Similar Majors

Plan Your Path

Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of a Psychology degree, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find programs that match your profile.

Psychology Degree: Pros & Cons

Psychology is a mixed case: real strengths, offset by real trade-offs, and neither side is large enough to settle the decision on its own. All 5 points below are sourced from College Scorecard earnings, Bureau of Labor Statistics projections, and IPEDS graduate counts, with no editorial opinion added.

Psychology Degree: Frequently Asked Questions