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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #61 | Sacramento, CA | $53,237 Median Psychology Earnings | $6,501 | 94.0% | 56.3% | |
| #62 | Bellingham, WA | $53,224 Median Psychology Earnings | $12,915 | 93.3% | 64.6% | |
| #63 | Merced, CA | $53,143 Median Psychology Earnings | $7,945 | 90.5% | 68.7% | |
| #64 | Menlo CollegePrivate | Atherton, CA | $52,942 Median Psychology Earnings | $25,546 | 68.5% | 53.5% |
| #65 | Bothell, WA | $52,771 Median Psychology Earnings | $5,573 | 90.6% | 65.3% | |
| #66 | Carson, CA | $52,742 Median Psychology Earnings | $7,303 | 93.3% | 42.8% | |
| #67 | University Of WyomingPublic | Laramie, WY | $52,732 Median Psychology Earnings | $7,977 | 96.9% | 58.8% |
| #68 | Fresno Pacific UniversityPrivate | Fresno, CA | $52,695 Median Psychology Earnings | $11,133 | 64.1% | 50.0% |
| #69 | Chico, CA | $52,621 Median Psychology Earnings | $9,902 | 92.7% | 62.8% | |
| #70 | University Of The PacificPrivate | Stockton, CA | $52,612 Median Psychology Earnings | $17,004 | 71.3% | 69.0% |
| #71 | Monmouth, OR | $52,407 Median Psychology Earnings | $15,575 | 98.1% | 47.1% | |
| #72 | Anchorage, AK | $51,858 Median Psychology Earnings | $11,582 | — | 29.7% | |
| #73 | Santa Barbara, CA | $51,702 Median Psychology Earnings | — | — | — | |
| #74 | Fullerton, CA | $51,661 Median Psychology Earnings | $3,315 | 90.5% | 70.2% | |
| #75 | Cheney, WA | $51,621 Median Psychology Earnings | $9,547 | 90.8% | 43.5% | |
| #76 | Reno, NV | $51,553 Median Psychology Earnings | $12,674 | 73.7% | 61.2% | |
| #77 | Fresno, CA | $51,526 Median Psychology Earnings | $5,105 | 95.3% | 57.0% | |
| #78 | Honolulu, HI | $51,344 Median Psychology Earnings | $31,589 | 91.4% | 55.4% | |
| #79 | Whitworth UniversityPrivate | Spokane, WA | $51,288 Median Psychology Earnings | $16,788 | 28.6% | 70.9% |
| #80 | Las Vegas, NV | $51,200 Median Psychology Earnings | $8,526 | 96.2% | 50.5% |
