Psychology programs produce graduates with career earnings ranging from $17,624 to $76,453. Across 925 programs, the variation in outcomes demonstrates why program selection matters significantly for career trajectories in behavioral sciences. Psychology degree holders in this ranking earn $41,681 on average—$2,969 higher than national averages for the major.
Leading the list is Harvard University, achieving the highest program earnings at $76,453. University Of Notre Dame follows with $66,756, while Cornell University rounds out the top three at $64,146. These top-performing programs demonstrate strong graduate outcomes in social sciences that justify their positioning, with median earnings substantially above the national psychology degree benchmark.
| Rank | School | Location | Earnings | Net Price | Acceptance Rate | Grad Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Harvard UniversityPrivate | Cambridge, MA | $76,453 Median Psychology Earnings | $2,895 | 3.5% | 97.3% |
| #2 | Daytona Beach, FL | $71,212 Median Psychology Earnings | $35,431 | 61.8% | 67.4% | |
| #3 | University Of Notre DamePrivate | Notre Dame, IN | $66,756 Median Psychology Earnings | $8,873 | 12.4% | 96.8% |
| #4 | Cornell UniversityPrivate | Ithaca, NY | $64,146 Median Psychology Earnings | $4,079 | 8.2% | 95.1% |
| #5 | Georgetown UniversityPrivate | Washington, DC | $63,369 Median Psychology Earnings | $5,340 | 13.1% | 94.3% |
| #6 | Dickinson CollegePrivate | Carlisle, PA | $62,695 Median Psychology Earnings | $17,167 | 43.1% | 83.4% |
| #7 | Fairfield UniversityPrivate | Fairfield, CT | $61,555 Median Psychology Earnings | $32,161 | 45.0% | 83.8% |
| #8 | Lafayette CollegePrivate | Easton, PA | $60,657 Median Psychology Earnings | $11,903 | 31.5% | 88.0% |
| #9 | Lexington, VA | $60,540 Median Psychology Earnings | $3,152 | 81.7% | 81.8% | |
| #10 | Clarkson UniversityPrivate | Potsdam, NY | $60,438 Median Psychology Earnings | $20,521 | 77.2% | 73.6% |
| #11 | Charlottesville, VA | $60,347 Median Psychology Earnings | $10,123 | 16.9% | 95.3% | |
| #12 | Lehigh UniversityPrivate | Bethlehem, PA | $60,072 Median Psychology Earnings | $15,440 | 29.3% | 89.2% |
| #13 | Wake Forest UniversityPrivate | Winston-Salem, NC | $59,767 Median Psychology Earnings | $11,554 | 21.6% | 90.9% |
| #14 | Northwestern UniversityPrivate | Evanston, IL | $58,974 Median Psychology Earnings | $1,243 | 7.1% | 95.9% |
| #15 | Providence CollegePrivate | Providence, RI | $58,954 Median Psychology Earnings | $26,070 | 48.7% | 87.8% |
| #16 | Boston CollegePrivate | Chestnut Hill, MA | $58,768 Median Psychology Earnings | $5,851 | 15.7% | 91.0% |
| #17 | Fordham UniversityPrivate | Bronx, NY | $58,590 Median Psychology Earnings | $31,239 | 56.3% | 80.3% |
| #18 | Santa Clara UniversityPrivate | Santa Clara, CA | $58,545 Median Psychology Earnings | $36,094 | 43.8% | 88.4% |
| #19 | Northeastern UniversityPrivate | Boston, MA | $58,277 Median Psychology Earnings | $5,900 | 5.7% | 90.4% |
| #20 | Binghamton UniversityPublic | Vestal, NY | $58,122 Median Psychology Earnings | $12,916 | 37.7% | 83.7% |
