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DOCTORAL DEGREE · DEGREE PAYOFF · FEDERAL FIELD 3017

Behavioral Sciences: is this doctoral degree worth it?

National picture across 1 reporting college programs.

Personal baseline needed

$125,925 in median year-4 earnings

A credible return for this credential must start with what the student would otherwise earn. The federal data does not provide that personal baseline.

$125,925Median year-4 earnings

$19,066Average institution net-price context

Not availableMedian federal debt

Use your actual price and alternative earnings before evaluating return. Model your own starting point →

WHAT THIS DEGREE PAYS

Observed national outcomes

$125,925Median reported earnings · year 4

Not availableAverage reported earnings · year 5

Not availableMedian federal debt

75thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential

1Reporting programs

1With year-4 earnings

COMPARE CREDENTIAL LEVELS

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.

OPEN PROFILE

Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma

Year-4 earnings: $44,026
Federal debt: $24,721
Reporting programs: 1

1 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Associate's Degree

Year-4 earnings: $41,634
Federal debt: $11,371
Reporting programs: 6

5 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Bachelor's Degree

Year-4 earnings: $48,657
Federal debt: $26,945
Reporting programs: 25

23 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Master's Degree

Year-4 earnings: $67,975
Federal debt: Not available
Reporting programs: 4

4 report earnings →CURRENT VIEW

Doctoral Degree

Year-4 earnings: $125,925
Federal debt: Not available
Reporting programs: 1

1 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Graduate/Professional Certificate

Year-4 earnings: $62,923
Federal debt: Not available
Reporting programs: 1

1 report earnings →

COLLEGE-TO-COLLEGE RANGE

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.

Median

25th percentile$125,925National median$125,92575th percentile$125,925

1 programs report year‑4 earnings.

WHERE OUTCOMES ARE STRONGEST

See the spread, not just the national number.

1Harvard University$125,925

Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking

WHERE THIS FIELD CAN LEAD

Related occupations

Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.

Community and Social Service Specialists, All OtherSOC 21-1099 · 1 crosswalk linksLife Scientists, All OtherSOC 19-1099 · 1 crosswalk linksPsychologists, All OtherSOC 19-3039 · 1 crosswalk linksPsychology Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1066 · 1 crosswalk linksSocial Science Research AssistantsSOC 19-4061 · 1 crosswalk linksSocial Scientists and Related Workers, All OtherSOC 19-3099 · 1 crosswalk linksSocial and Community Service ManagersSOC 11-9151 · 1 crosswalk links

BEST COLLEGES FOR BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES

Same degree, different outcomes

Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. Automated ROI is withheld when an exact program price or personal earnings baseline is required.

#	College	Location	Earnings, year 4	Federal debt	ROI status	Cost context
1	Harvard UniversityDoctoral Degree	Cambridge, MA	$125,925	Not available	Baseline needed	$19,066

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.