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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #81 | Boise State UniversityPublic | Boise, ID | $51,184 Median Psychology Earnings | $18,165 | 87.2% | 60.2% |
| #82 | Utah State UniversityPublic | Logan, UT | $51,111 Median Psychology Earnings | $12,057 | 92.5% | 59.1% |
| #83 | Saint Martin's UniversityPrivate | Lacey, WA | $51,097 Median Psychology Earnings | $22,810 | 89.8% | 51.9% |
| #84 | Hilo, HI | $51,061 Median Psychology Earnings | $8,983 | 60.6% | 48.4% | |
| #85 | San Diego, CA | $51,021 Median Psychology Earnings | $9,910 | 36.2% | 76.4% | |
| #86 | University Of OregonPublic | Eugene, OR | $50,810 Median Psychology Earnings | $15,909 | 88.3% | 71.7% |
| #87 | University Of PortlandPrivate | Portland, OR | $50,579 Median Psychology Earnings | $20,070 | 89.2% | 79.8% |
| #88 | Flagstaff, AZ | $50,448 Median Psychology Earnings | $9,709 | 89.6% | 61.3% | |
| #89 | William Jessup UniversityPrivate | Rocklin, CA | $50,354 Median Psychology Earnings | $23,123 | 93.3% | 56.0% |
| #90 | Turlock, CA | $50,348 Median Psychology Earnings | $3,938 | 98.1% | 53.4% | |
| #91 | Utah Tech UniversityPublic | Saint George, UT | $49,965 Median Psychology Earnings | $13,158 | — | 38.4% |
| #92 | Riverside, CA | $49,947 Median Psychology Earnings | $8,852 | 76.4% | 76.0% | |
| #93 | Northridge, CA | $49,792 Median Psychology Earnings | $4,905 | 93.5% | 57.0% | |
| #94 | Pomona, CA | $49,747 Median Psychology Earnings | $7,851 | 75.2% | 68.4% | |
| #95 | Concordia University-IrvinePrivate | Irvine, CA | $49,593 Median Psychology Earnings | $25,431 | 66.0% | 58.3% |
| #96 | Greeley, CO | $49,455 Median Psychology Earnings | $12,695 | 85.9% | 51.2% | |
| #97 | Biola UniversityPrivate | La Mirada, CA | $49,450 Median Psychology Earnings | $27,144 | 74.4% | 67.6% |
| #98 | Carroll CollegePrivate | Helena, MT | $49,321 Median Psychology Earnings | $17,072 | 70.9% | 69.3% |
| #99 | La Sierra UniversityPrivate | Riverside, CA | $49,265 Median Psychology Earnings | $44,988 | 91.5% | 59.7% |
| #100 | Bakersfield, CA | $49,207 Median Psychology Earnings | $3,536 | 93.8% | 49.8% |
