Compare 89 Social Psychology. programs ranked by graduate earnings. Average earnings: $39,883. Top programs: $76,453+.
Social Psychology programs produce graduates earning between $46,406 and $76,453—a $30K spread that demonstrates why program selection matters independently of school prestige. Across 89 ranked programs, outcomes vary based on program quality, not institutional reputation.
Harvard's Social Psychology program leads with graduates earning $76,453, well above the $39,883 average across all programs. University of Rochester follows at $68,347, while University of Chicago rounds out the top three at $65,966—proving that program-level factors drive outcomes more than overall school rankings.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Harvard graduates borrow $14,000 and face just a 3.6% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.18, graduates can clear their student loans with minimal impact on their budget.
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Harvard UniversityPrivate | $76,453 | 77 | $14,000 | Excellent | $28,000 | Good |
| #2 | University Of RochesterPrivate | $68,347 | 66 | $21,000 | Excellent | $30,000 | Manageable |
| #3 | University Of ChicagoPrivate | $65,966 | 78 | $15,000 | Excellent | $33,297 | Manageable |
| #4 | Northeastern UniversityPrivate | $57,605 | 112 | $24,250 | Good | $34,984 | High |
| #5 | $57,559 | 400 | $14,000 | Excellent | $26,176 | Manageable | |
| #6 | $56,899 | 129 | $21,500 | Good | $35,000 | Challenging | |
| #7 | University Of DelawarePublic | $54,067 | 187 | $24,572 | Good | $43,000 | High |
| #8 | $53,955 | 806 | $13,000 | Excellent | $25,733 | Challenging | |
| #9 | $53,297 | 579 | $13,993 | Excellent | $26,465 | Challenging | |
| #10 | $52,690 | 23 | $28,250 | Manageable | $18,497 | Challenging | |
| #11 | $51,924 | 727 | $19,500 | Good | $30,250 | High | |
| #12 | $50,813 | 698 | $15,000 | Excellent | $22,665 | Challenging | |
| #13 | Niagara UniversityPrivate | $49,560 | 19 | $25,475 | Manageable | $25,200 | High |
| #14 | Johns Hopkins UniversityPrivate | $49,035 | 69 | $10,250 | Excellent | $29,048 | Challenging |
| #15 | Yale UniversityPrivate | $47,874 | 70 | $12,975 | Excellent | $29,769 | High |
| #16 | $47,713 | 65 | $19,500 | Good | $17,148 | Challenging | |
| #17 | $47,522 | 101 | $19,500 | Good | $25,729 | High | |
| #18 | Bates CollegePrivate | $47,376 | 58 | $14,275 | Excellent | $70,222 | High |
| #19 | Smith CollegePrivate | $46,833 | 64 | $17,550 | Good | $30,366 | High |
| #20 | $46,406 | 54 | $21,500 | Manageable | $15,803 | Challenging | |
| #21 | Amherst CollegePrivate | $46,087 | 55 | $13,740 | Good | $47,598 | High |
| #22 | Mount St. Mary's UniversityPrivate | $46,052 | 24 | $25,391 | Manageable | $42,721 | High |
| #23 | Canisius UniversityPrivate | $45,656 | 62 | $24,250 | Manageable | $23,720 | High |
| #24 | $45,074 | 82 | $22,250 | Manageable | $15,753 | Challenging | |
| #25 | Lindsey Wilson CollegePrivate | $44,721 | 9 | $16,784 | Good | $12,000 | Challenging |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
