Psychology, Other: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 13 reporting college programs.
−$208,807 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting bachelor's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 4-year duration.
At these assumptions, the estimated earnings premium does not recover the modeled economic investment within ten years.
Observed national outcomes
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $35,481
- Federal debt
- $18,949
- Reporting programs
- 2
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $50,430
- Federal debt
- $16,473
- Reporting programs
- 13
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $67,985
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 14
Doctoral Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $108,825
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 5
Graduate/Professional Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $56,601
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
See the spread, not just the national number.
1Widener University$79,9232Marist University$67,2053Northwestern University$62,9054University of California, Davis$60,2575California State University, Dominguez Hills$52,9656Tiffin University$50,4307Carson-Newman University$49,6098Kean University$47,1799Montreat College$39,84510University of Puerto Rico at Cayey$25,313Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario—not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Widener UniversityBachelor's Degree | Chester, PA | $79,923 | $27,000 | +23% | Positive payoff |
| 2 | Marist UniversityBachelor's Degree | Poughkeepsie, NY | $67,205 | $26,000 | -36% | Negative payoff |
| 3 | Northwestern UniversityBachelor's Degree | Evanston, IL | $62,905 | $11,630 | -40% | Negative payoff |
| 4 | University of California, DavisBachelor's Degree | Davis, CA | $60,257 | $14,745 | -36% | Negative payoff |
| 5 | California State University, Dominguez HillsBachelor's Degree | Carson, CA | $52,965 | $13,750 | -63% | Negative payoff |
| 6 | Tiffin UniversityBachelor's Degree | Tiffin, OH | $50,430 | $35,173 | -81% | Negative payoff |
| 7 | Carson-Newman UniversityBachelor's Degree | Jefferson City, TN | $49,609 | Not available | -82% | Negative payoff |
| 8 | Kean UniversityBachelor's Degree | Union, NJ | $47,179 | Not available | -91% | Negative payoff |
| 9 | Montreat CollegeBachelor's Degree | Montreat, NC | $39,845 | Not available | -118% | Negative payoff |
| 10 | University of Puerto Rico at CayeyBachelor's Degree | Cayey, PR | $25,313 | $5,000 | -189% | Negative payoff |
| 11 | University of Puerto Rico at PonceBachelor's Degree | Ponce, PR | $23,999 | $5,500 | -194% | Negative payoff |
| 12 | University of California, San DiegoBachelor's Degree | La Jolla, CA | Not available | $18,200 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $12,470 |
| 13 | Saint Mary's College of CaliforniaBachelor's Degree | Moraga, CA | Not available | $23,250 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $30,378 |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.