Research and Experimental Psychology: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 111 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff
−$147,994 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.
22.5 yrsModeled economic break-even
−56%Modeled 10-year ROI
$56,830Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$56,830Median reported earnings · year 4
$55,443Average reported earnings · year 5
$21,814Median federal debt
39thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
111Reporting programs
82With year-4 earnings
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
Associate's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $49,186
- Federal debt
- $21,320
- Reporting programs
- 1
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $56,830
- Federal debt
- $21,814
- Reporting programs
- 111
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $62,661
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 13
Doctoral Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $104,386
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 6
Graduate/Professional Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $53,677
- 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.
Median
25th percentile$49,872National median$56,83075th percentile$65,644
82 programs report year‑4 earnings.See the spread, not just the national number.
1Dartmouth College$99,3442Columbia University in the City of New York$86,9463Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus$83,0124University of Connecticut$80,8735University of Connecticut-Waterbury Campus$80,8736University of Connecticut-Avery Point$80,8737University of Connecticut-Stamford$80,8738University of Connecticut-Hartford Campus$80,8739Tufts University$79,57110Washington University in St Louis$75,261Observed 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.
Managers, All OtherSOC 11-9199 · 11 crosswalk linksPsychology Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1066 · 10 crosswalk linksPsychologists, All OtherSOC 19-3039 · 9 crosswalk linksChild, Family, and School Social WorkersSOC 21-1021 · 2 crosswalk linksBiological Scientists, All OtherSOC 19-1029 · 1 crosswalk linksClinical and Counseling PsychologistsSOC 19-3033 · 1 crosswalk linksHealth Specialties Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1071 · 1 crosswalk linksLife Scientists, All OtherSOC 19-1099 · 1 crosswalk linksMedical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsSOC 19-1042 · 1 crosswalk linksSocial Science Research AssistantsSOC 19-4061 · 1 crosswalk linksStatisticiansSOC 15-2041 · 1 crosswalk links
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 | Dartmouth CollegeBachelor's Degree | Hanover, NH | $99,344 | $18,194 | +82% | Positive payoff |
| 2 | Columbia University in the City of New YorkBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $86,946 | $20,500 | +57% | Positive payoff |
| 3 | Georgia Institute of Technology-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Atlanta, GA | $83,012 | Not available | +66% | Positive payoff |
| 4 | University of ConnecticutBachelor's Degree | Storrs, CT | $80,873 | $23,199 | +28% | Positive payoff |
| 5 | University of Connecticut-Waterbury CampusBachelor's Degree | Waterbury, CT | $80,873 | $23,199 | +61% | Positive payoff |
| 6 | University of Connecticut-Avery PointBachelor's Degree | Groton, CT | $80,873 | $23,199 | +53% | Positive payoff |
| 7 | University of Connecticut-StamfordBachelor's Degree | Stamford, CT | $80,873 | $23,199 | +45% | Positive payoff |
| 8 | University of Connecticut-Hartford CampusBachelor's Degree | Hartford, CT | $80,873 | $23,199 | +46% | Positive payoff |
| 9 | Tufts UniversityBachelor's Degree | Medford, MA | $79,571 | $15,875 | +2% | Positive payoff |
| 10 | Washington University in St LouisBachelor's Degree | St. Louis, MO | $75,261 | $15,450 | +13% | Positive payoff |
| 11 | University of ChicagoBachelor's Degree | Chicago, IL | $73,483 | $17,500 | +19% | Positive payoff |
| 12 | George Washington UniversityBachelor's Degree | Washington, DC | $72,325 | $25,220 | -16% | Negative payoff |
| 13 | Harvard UniversityBachelor's Degree | Cambridge, MA | $70,167 | Not available | -2% | Negative payoff |
| 14 | Amherst CollegeBachelor's Degree | Amherst, MA | $69,204 | $10,800 | -11% | Negative payoff |
| 15 | Brandeis UniversityBachelor's Degree | Waltham, MA | $67,838 | $26,787 | -29% | Negative payoff |
| 16 | University of Michigan-Ann ArborBachelor's Degree | Ann Arbor, MI | $67,537 | $18,708 | -3% | Negative payoff |
| 17 | Florida Institute of TechnologyBachelor's Degree | Melbourne, FL | $66,923 | Not available | -32% | Negative payoff |
| 18 | University of California, Santa BarbaraBachelor's Degree | Santa Barbara, CA | $66,171 | $15,000 | -13% | Negative payoff |
| 19 | Northeastern UniversityBachelor's Degree | Boston, MA | $66,130 | $26,000 | -30% | Negative payoff |
| 20 | Northeastern University Professional ProgramsBachelor's Degree | Boston, MA | $66,130 | $26,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 21 | Yale UniversityBachelor's Degree | New Haven, CT | $65,752 | Not available | -25% | Negative payoff |
| 22 | Barnard CollegeBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $65,644 | $17,000 | -30% | Negative payoff |
| 23 | Vassar CollegeBachelor's Degree | Poughkeepsie, NY | $65,095 | $19,000 | -40% | Negative payoff |
| 24 | University of RochesterBachelor's Degree | Rochester, NY | $65,000 | $21,000 | -33% | Negative payoff |
| 25 | University of California, BerkeleyBachelor's Degree | Berkeley, CA | $64,904 | $12,111 | -15% | Negative payoff |
| 26 | University of DelawareBachelor's Degree | Newark, DE | $63,614 | $24,786 | -26% | Negative payoff |
| 27 | Brown UniversityBachelor's Degree | Providence, RI | $63,415 | $15,110 | -34% | Negative payoff |
| 28 | New York UniversityBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $63,315 | $21,499 | -44% | Negative payoff |
| 29 | Princeton UniversityBachelor's Degree | Princeton, NJ | $63,216 | Not available | -11% | Negative payoff |
| 30 | University of California, San DiegoBachelor's Degree | La Jolla, CA | $63,130 | $15,500 | -21% | Negative payoff |
| 31 | University of OregonBachelor's Degree | Eugene, OR | $62,255 | Not available | -36% | Negative payoff |
| 32 | Texas Christian UniversityBachelor's Degree | Fort Worth, TX | $61,190 | $21,500 | -50% | Negative payoff |
| 33 | University of California, Los AngelesBachelor's Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $61,134 | $16,737 | -30% | Negative payoff |
| 34 | University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignBachelor's Degree | Champaign, IL | $60,168 | $20,050 | -36% | Negative payoff |
| 35 | Emmanuel CollegeBachelor's Degree | Boston, MA | $60,022 | $27,000 | -48% | Negative payoff |
| 36 | Rutgers University-CamdenBachelor's Degree | Camden, NJ | $59,913 | Not available | -42% | Negative payoff |
| 37 | Rutgers University-New BrunswickBachelor's Degree | New Brunswick, NJ | $59,913 | Not available | -46% | Negative payoff |
| 38 | Rutgers University-NewarkBachelor's Degree | Newark, NJ | $59,913 | Not available | -42% | Negative payoff |
| 39 | Grinnell CollegeBachelor's Degree | Grinnell, IA | $57,752 | $17,702 | -49% | Negative payoff |
| 40 | University of Washington-Seattle CampusBachelor's Degree | Seattle, WA | $57,718 | $15,754 | -46% | Negative payoff |
| 41 | University of California, DavisBachelor's Degree | Davis, CA | $57,378 | $13,219 | -48% | Negative payoff |
| 42 | St Olaf CollegeBachelor's Degree | Northfield, MN | $56,282 | $25,000 | -59% | Negative payoff |
| 43 | Florida Atlantic UniversityBachelor's Degree | Boca Raton, FL | $56,012 | $18,384 | -49% | Negative payoff |
| 44 | Niagara UniversityBachelor's Degree | Niagara University, NY | $55,947 | $26,623 | -56% | Negative payoff |
| 45 | Boston UniversityBachelor's Degree | Boston, MA | $55,066 | Not available | -64% | Negative payoff |
| 46 | Eastern Washington UniversityBachelor's Degree | Cheney, WA | $54,974 | $19,938 | -58% | Negative payoff |
| 47 | Trinity Washington UniversityBachelor's Degree | Washington, DC | $54,934 | $41,386 | -54% | Negative payoff |
| 48 | Park UniversityBachelor's Degree | Parkville, MO | $54,849 | $24,000 | -63% | Negative payoff |
| 49 | Georgia College & State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Milledgeville, GA | $54,441 | $24,500 | -64% | Negative payoff |
| 50 | University of California, IrvineBachelor's Degree | Irvine, CA | $54,323 | $13,000 | -61% | Negative payoff |
| 51 | Utica UniversityBachelor's Degree | Utica, NY | $53,457 | $26,000 | -67% | Negative payoff |
| 52 | Kansas State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Manhattan, KS | $53,337 | $20,035 | -68% | Negative payoff |
| 53 | Wellesley CollegeBachelor's Degree | Wellesley, MA | $52,538 | $12,500 | -73% | Negative payoff |
| 54 | Purdue University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | West Lafayette, IN | $52,170 | $19,500 | -70% | Negative payoff |
| 55 | Colorado Christian UniversityBachelor's Degree | Lakewood, CO | $52,153 | $18,500 | -76% | Negative payoff |
| 56 | Canisius UniversityBachelor's Degree | Buffalo, NY | $51,532 | $25,250 | -74% | Negative payoff |
| 57 | Smith CollegeBachelor's Degree | Northampton, MA | $51,267 | $19,000 | -78% | Negative payoff |
| 58 | University of South Carolina-ColumbiaBachelor's Degree | Columbia, SC | $51,090 | $24,250 | -78% | Negative payoff |
| 59 | The University of Texas at DallasBachelor's Degree | Richardson, TX | $50,248 | $19,500 | -79% | Negative payoff |
| 60 | University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesBachelor's Degree | Minneapolis, MN | $50,098 | $20,625 | -79% | Negative payoff |
| 61 | University of California, RiversideBachelor's Degree | Riverside, CA | $49,947 | $18,500 | -79% | Negative payoff |
| 62 | Northwest Missouri State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Maryville, MO | $49,872 | $25,540 | -80% | Negative payoff |
| 63 | Mount Saint Mary's UniversityBachelor's Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $49,222 | $27,000 | -84% | Negative payoff |
| 64 | Metropolitan State University of DenverBachelor's Degree | Denver, CO | $48,655 | $26,641 | -85% | Negative payoff |
| 65 | Savannah State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Savannah, GA | $48,594 | $33,450 | -83% | Negative payoff |
| 66 | Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | University Park, PA | $48,348 | $27,000 | -89% | Negative payoff |
| 67 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State AbingtonBachelor's Degree | Abington, PA | $48,348 | $27,000 | -87% | Negative payoff |
| 68 | Pennsylvania State University-World CampusBachelor's Degree | University Park, PA | $48,348 | $27,000 | -87% | Negative payoff |
| 69 | University of North GeorgiaBachelor's Degree | Dahlonega, GA | $47,919 | $22,749 | -87% | Negative payoff |
| 70 | Bay Path UniversityBachelor's Degree | Longmeadow, MA | $47,544 | $29,401 | -89% | Negative payoff |
| 71 | California State University, San BernardinoBachelor's Degree | San Bernardino, CA | $47,408 | $16,750 | -88% | Negative payoff |
| 72 | University of Central MissouriBachelor's Degree | Warrensburg, MO | $47,390 | $20,810 | -90% | Negative payoff |
| 73 | Northeastern State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Tahlequah, OK | $46,102 | $25,029 | -95% | Negative payoff |
| 74 | University of North FloridaBachelor's Degree | Jacksonville, FL | $45,521 | $18,750 | -98% | Negative payoff |
| 75 | Pennsylvania Western UniversityBachelor's Degree | California, PA | $45,300 | Not available | -99% | Negative payoff |
| 76 | Murray State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Murray, KY | $44,800 | $20,500 | -101% | Negative payoff |
| 77 | Westminster UniversityBachelor's Degree | Salt Lake City, UT | $44,695 | $24,500 | -101% | Negative payoff |
| 78 | Purdue University Fort WayneBachelor's Degree | Fort Wayne, IN | $44,533 | $20,487 | -102% | Negative payoff |
| 79 | Truman State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Kirksville, MO | $41,487 | $19,748 | -115% | Negative payoff |
| 80 | Mount St. Mary's UniversityBachelor's Degree | Emmitsburg, MD | $40,480 | $21,500 | -117% | Negative payoff |
| 81 | Metropolitan State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Saint Paul, MN | $40,230 | $28,375 | -119% | Negative payoff |
| 82 | University of North AlabamaBachelor's Degree | Florence, AL | $33,565 | $21,750 | -150% | Negative payoff |
| 83 | University of ArizonaBachelor's Degree | Tucson, AZ | Not available | $21,325 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $16,674 |
| 84 | University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical CampusBachelor's Degree | Denver, CO | Not available | $21,878 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $11,900 |
| 85 | Quinnipiac UniversityBachelor's Degree | Hamden, CT | Not available | $26,500 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $40,675 |
| 86 | Eckerd CollegeBachelor's Degree | Saint Petersburg, FL | Not available | $22,980 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $38,071 |
| 87 | Knox CollegeBachelor's Degree | Galesburg, IL | Not available | $27,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $24,595 |
| 88 | Lake Forest CollegeBachelor's Degree | Lake Forest, IL | Not available | $26,839 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $28,673 |
| 89 | Earlham CollegeBachelor's Degree | Richmond, IN | Not available | $23,250 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $24,714 |
| 90 | Indiana University-BloomingtonBachelor's Degree | Bloomington, IN | Not available | $19,500 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $16,264 |
| 91 | Wabash CollegeBachelor's Degree | Crawfordsville, IN | Not available | $27,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $24,336 |
| 92 | Centre CollegeBachelor's Degree | Danville, KY | Not available | $27,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $20,781 |
| 93 | Bates CollegeBachelor's Degree | Lewiston, ME | Not available | $13,750 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $29,351 |
| 94 | Johns Hopkins UniversityBachelor's Degree | Baltimore, MD | Not available | $14,507 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $18,809 |
| 95 | Gordon CollegeBachelor's Degree | Wenham, MA | Not available | $25,612 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $24,883 |
| 96 | Mount Holyoke CollegeBachelor's Degree | South Hadley, MA | Not available | $24,250 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $26,441 |
| 97 | Albion CollegeBachelor's Degree | Albion, MI | Not available | $27,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $14,301 |
| 98 | Carleton CollegeBachelor's Degree | Northfield, MN | Not available | $16,700 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $25,407 |
| 99 | Macalester CollegeBachelor's Degree | Saint Paul, MN | Not available | $26,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $32,149 |
| 100 | Creighton UniversityBachelor's Degree | Omaha, NE | Not available | $25,292 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $31,568 |
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.