Psychology programs in the West produce graduates with career earnings ranging from $28,720 to $109,183—demonstrating significant variation in program outcomes. Across 137 programs, graduates earn a median of $62,740, which is $6,923 higher than the national average, indicating strong regional employment markets in behavioral sciences and social sciences fields.
Leading the rankings is Santa Clara University, achieving the highest program earnings at $58,545 for psychology degree graduates. University of The Pacific follows closely with $57,652 earnings, while San Jose State University rounds out the top tier at $55,532. These top-performing programs demonstrate how program selection within public universities and private colleges directly impacts median earnings and long-term career outcomes.
| Rank | School | Location | Earnings | Net Price | Acceptance Rate | Grad Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #41 | Lewis & Clark CollegePrivate | Portland, OR | $55,288 Median Psychology Earnings | $15,962 | 78.5% | 75.4% |
| #42 | San Marcos, CA | $55,196 Median Psychology Earnings | $6,230 | 95.1% | 54.6% | |
| #43 | Irvine, CA | $55,129 Median Psychology Earnings | $8,123 | 28.6% | 86.9% | |
| #44 | Pacific Lutheran UniversityPrivate | Tacoma, WA | $55,118 Median Psychology Earnings | $13,609 | 78.0% | 68.6% |
| #45 | Lakewood, CO | $54,887 Median Psychology Earnings | $26,010 | — | 64.4% | |
| #46 | George Fox UniversityPrivate | Newberg, OR | $54,568 Median Psychology Earnings | $22,871 | 93.5% | 72.0% |
| #47 | Ellensburg, WA | $54,530 Median Psychology Earnings | $11,846 | 90.6% | 53.6% | |
| #48 | Hayward, CA | $54,436 Median Psychology Earnings | $6,360 | 97.4% | 47.9% | |
| #49 | Northwest UniversityPrivate | Kirkland, WA | $54,357 Median Psychology Earnings | $17,996 | 83.2% | 70.8% |
| #50 | Colorado Mesa UniversityPublic | Grand Junction, CO | $54,321 Median Psychology Earnings | $10,792 | 82.0% | 40.6% |
| #51 | Fort Collins, CO | $54,268 Median Psychology Earnings | $13,259 | 88.5% | 66.5% | |
| #52 | The College Of IdahoPrivate | Caldwell, ID | $54,179 Median Psychology Earnings | $14,026 | 49.1% | 62.5% |
| #53 | Seaside, CA | $54,074 Median Psychology Earnings | $9,970 | 97.4% | 59.1% | |
| #54 | Tacoma, WA | $54,016 Median Psychology Earnings | $4,458 | 82.5% | 63.2% | |
| #55 | Los Angeles, CA | $53,952 Median Psychology Earnings | — | 46.3% | 0.0% | |
| #56 | La Jolla, CA | $53,940 Median Psychology Earnings | $7,525 | 26.7% | 86.1% | |
| #57 | Montana State UniversityPublic | Bozeman, MT | $53,623 Median Psychology Earnings | $17,797 | 82.1% | 57.1% |
| #58 | Linfield UniversityPrivate | Mcminnville, OR | $53,493 Median Psychology Earnings | $20,059 | 85.2% | 70.5% |
| #59 | Nevada State UniversityPublic | Henderson, NV | $53,468 Median Psychology Earnings | $11,438 | 86.8% | 33.6% |
| #60 | Tempe, AZ | $53,271 Median Psychology Earnings | $9,070 | 89.9% | 68.0% |
