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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #141 | Adams State UniversityPublic | Alamosa, CO | $37,943 Median Psychology Earnings | $9,947 | — | 39.4% |
| #142 | Los Angeles, CA | $37,567 Median Psychology Earnings | $2,877 | 91.3% | 53.0% | |
| #143 | Northcentral UniversityPrivate | San Diego, CA | $33,993 Median Psychology Earnings | — | — | — |
| #144 | San Jose, CA | $33,604 Median Psychology Earnings | $9,730 | 84.6% | 69.2% | |
| #145 | University Of ProvidencePrivate | Great Falls, MT | $32,711 Median Psychology Earnings | $14,257 | 50.3% | 27.9% |
| #146 | Willamette UniversityPrivate | Salem, OR | $31,133 Median Psychology Earnings | $16,182 | 77.1% | 71.2% |
| #147 | Los Angeles, CA | $30,516 Median Psychology Earnings | $23,849 | 73.1% | 53.3% | |
| #148 | Rocky Mountain CollegePrivate | Billings, MT | $29,910 Median Psychology Earnings | $15,404 | 69.6% | 48.4% |
| #149 | Billings, MT | $29,685 Median Psychology Earnings | $13,927 | — | 30.0% | |
| #150 | Silver City, NM | $21,052 Median Psychology Earnings | $8,381 | — | 32.2% | |
| #151 | Dine CollegePublic | Tsaile, AZ | $20,227 Median Psychology Earnings | $5,332 | — | 12.6% |
