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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #21 | Los Angeles, CA | $70,461 Median Psychology Earnings | $13,516 | 9.8% | 91.8% | |
| #22 | Fairfield UniversityPrivate | Fairfield, CT | $70,211 Median Psychology Earnings | $33,302 | 33.3% | 84.3% |
| #23 | Harvard UniversityPrivate | Cambridge, MA | $70,167 Median Psychology Earnings | $8,697 | 3.6% | 97.6% |
| #24 | University Of ChicagoPrivate | Chicago, IL | $70,087 Median Psychology Earnings | -$1,264 | 4.5% | 95.9% |
| #25 | Elon UniversityPrivate | Elon, NC | $69,856 Median Psychology Earnings | $26,523 | 66.3% | 84.0% |
| #26 | University Of Notre DamePrivate | Notre Dame, IN | $69,793 Median Psychology Earnings | $7,244 | 11.3% | 95.2% |
| #27 | Trinity CollegePrivate | Hartford, CT | $69,730 Median Psychology Earnings | $11,054 | 29.3% | 83.8% |
| #28 | Amherst CollegePrivate | Amherst, MA | $69,204 Median Psychology Earnings | $1,086 | 9.0% | 93.9% |
| #29 | Northwestern UniversityPrivate | Evanston, IL | $68,590 Median Psychology Earnings | $1,764 | 7.7% | 95.1% |
| #30 | Villanova UniversityPrivate | Villanova, PA | $68,403 Median Psychology Earnings | $17,823 | 27.0% | 91.9% |
| #31 | Brandeis UniversityPrivate | Waltham, MA | $67,838 Median Psychology Earnings | $13,363 | 40.5% | 86.0% |
| #32 | Pace UniversityPrivate | New York, NY | $67,811 Median Psychology Earnings | $26,473 | 75.9% | 60.0% |
| #33 | Ann Arbor, MI | $67,537 Median Psychology Earnings | $1,043 | 15.6% | 93.2% | |
| #34 | Binghamton UniversityPublic | Vestal, NY | $67,249 Median Psychology Earnings | $12,171 | 38.6% | 81.6% |
| #35 | Tufts UniversityPrivate | Medford, MA | $66,578 Median Psychology Earnings | $11,284 | 11.5% | 93.5% |
| #36 | Bucknell UniversityPrivate | Lewisburg, PA | $66,206 Median Psychology Earnings | $20,980 | 28.9% | 86.3% |
| #37 | Santa Barbara, CA | $66,171 Median Psychology Earnings | $9,231 | 33.0% | 83.0% | |
| #38 | Northeastern UniversityPrivate | Boston, MA | $66,130 Median Psychology Earnings | $2,264 | 5.2% | 90.5% |
| #39 | Saint Francis UniversityPrivate | Loretto, PA | $66,010 Median Psychology Earnings | $21,906 | 76.8% | 74.4% |
| #40 | Drew UniversityPrivate | Madison, NJ | $65,997 Median Psychology Earnings | $15,224 | 67.8% | 70.5% |
