Psychology programs produce graduates with career earnings ranging from $17,624 to $76,453. Across 925 programs, the variation in outcomes demonstrates why program selection matters significantly for career trajectories in behavioral sciences. Psychology degree holders in this ranking earn $41,681 on average—$2,969 higher than national averages for the major.
Leading the list is Harvard University, achieving the highest program earnings at $76,453. University Of Notre Dame follows with $66,756, while Cornell University rounds out the top three at $64,146. These top-performing programs demonstrate strong graduate outcomes in social sciences that justify their positioning, with median earnings substantially above the national psychology degree benchmark.
| Rank | School | Location | Earnings | Net Price | Acceptance Rate | Grad Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #61 | Santa Barbara, CA | $53,297 Median Psychology Earnings | $7,745 | 27.8% | 85.3% | |
| #62 | Villanova UniversityPrivate | Villanova, PA | $53,295 Median Psychology Earnings | $16,914 | 25.1% | 92.4% |
| #63 | Carnegie Mellon UniversityPrivate | Pittsburgh, PA | $53,120 Median Psychology Earnings | $8,460 | 11.4% | 92.5% |
| #64 | University Of San FranciscoPrivate | San Francisco, CA | $53,096 Median Psychology Earnings | $31,741 | 50.8% | 71.1% |
| #65 | Simmons UniversityPrivate | Boston, MA | $53,012 Median Psychology Earnings | $19,518 | 66.0% | 71.3% |
| #66 | Emory UniversityPrivate | Atlanta, GA | $52,842 Median Psychology Earnings | $6,895 | 11.1% | 91.8% |
| #67 | Chapman UniversityPrivate | Orange, CA | $52,788 Median Psychology Earnings | $37,985 | 55.6% | 80.4% |
| #68 | Iona UniversityPrivate | New Rochelle, NY | $52,740 Median Psychology Earnings | $25,063 | 91.1% | 57.4% |
| #69 | Sacred Heart UniversityPrivate | Fairfield, CT | $52,667 Median Psychology Earnings | $37,374 | 67.7% | 74.5% |
| #70 | Assumption UniversityPrivate | Worcester, MA | $52,623 Median Psychology Earnings | $18,025 | 86.5% | 74.6% |
| #71 | Marymount UniversityPrivate | Arlington, VA | $52,616 Median Psychology Earnings | $21,888 | 80.5% | 57.9% |
| #72 | Loyola University ChicagoPrivate | Chicago, IL | $52,586 Median Psychology Earnings | $28,666 | 81.4% | 76.9% |
| #73 | Rider UniversityPrivate | Lawrenceville, NJ | $52,513 Median Psychology Earnings | $17,331 | 79.4% | 63.3% |
| #74 | Dallas, TX | $52,450 Median Psychology Earnings | $30,165 | 61.2% | 83.3% | |
| #75 | Pepperdine UniversityPrivate | Malibu, CA | $52,185 Median Psychology Earnings | $36,463 | 49.9% | 84.7% |
| #76 | Madison, WI | $52,087 Median Psychology Earnings | $4,458 | 43.4% | 89.3% | |
| #77 | Norman, OK | $51,999 Median Psychology Earnings | $12,555 | 76.5% | 75.3% | |
| #78 | Stonehill CollegePrivate | Easton, MA | $51,956 Median Psychology Earnings | $17,388 | 72.6% | 80.8% |
| #79 | Cuny York CollegePublic | Jamaica, NY | $51,937 Median Psychology Earnings | $3,267 | 59.4% | 30.3% |
| #80 | Ann Arbor, MI | $51,924 Median Psychology Earnings | $4,926 | 17.9% | 93.2% |
