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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #101 | Portland, OR | $49,063 Median Psychology Earnings | $7,655 | 90.9% | 52.7% | |
| #102 | Long Beach, CA | $48,926 Median Psychology Earnings | $7,183 | 46.3% | 68.9% | |
| #103 | Camarillo, CA | $48,789 Median Psychology Earnings | $6,857 | 94.8% | 51.3% | |
| #104 | Colorado Springs, CO | $48,725 Median Psychology Earnings | $12,065 | 97.4% | 46.9% | |
| #105 | Klamath Falls, OR | $48,724 Median Psychology Earnings | $9,085 | 95.0% | 53.8% | |
| #106 | Denver, CO | $48,655 Median Psychology Earnings | $12,481 | 98.8% | 31.5% | |
| #107 | San Bernardino, CA | $48,326 Median Psychology Earnings | $2,681 | 93.7% | 54.9% | |
| #108 | Ashland, OR | $48,217 Median Psychology Earnings | $11,830 | 88.6% | 42.5% | |
| #109 | Honolulu, HI | $48,005 Median Psychology Earnings | $10,675 | 86.6% | 64.3% | |
| #110 | La Grande, OR | $47,816 Median Psychology Earnings | $12,563 | 98.3% | 43.0% | |
| #111 | Corban UniversityPrivate | Salem, OR | $47,815 Median Psychology Earnings | $20,555 | 93.9% | 60.6% |
| #112 | Utah Valley UniversityPublic | Orem, UT | $47,596 Median Psychology Earnings | $3,904 | — | 45.1% |
| #113 | Costa Mesa, CA | $47,582 Median Psychology Earnings | $17,225 | 62.4% | 56.8% | |
| #114 | Gunnison, CO | $47,401 Median Psychology Earnings | $11,490 | 99.7% | 50.5% | |
| #115 | University Of ArizonaPublic | Tucson, AZ | $47,263 Median Psychology Earnings | $13,353 | 86.1% | 67.5% |
| #116 | Fullerton, CA | $47,206 Median Psychology Earnings | $27,991 | 33.0% | 49.4% | |
| #117 | Albuquerque, NM | $46,693 Median Psychology Earnings | $11,938 | 95.2% | 54.7% | |
| #118 | Arizona Christian UniversityPrivate | Glendale, AZ | $46,659 Median Psychology Earnings | $30,522 | 70.6% | 39.9% |
| #119 | San Diego, CA | $46,437 Median Psychology Earnings | $30,999 | 83.7% | 77.2% | |
| #120 | Touro University WorldwidePrivate | Los Alamitos, CA | $46,340 Median Psychology Earnings | $18,342 | — | 28.6% |
