Compare 16 Social Psychology. programs in the West. Average earnings: $39,895.
The highest-earning Social Psychology program isn't at the most prestigious school. With a $42K earnings gap across 16 programs, the data confirms: program-level factors drive outcomes more than institutional brand.
University Of California-Los Angeles's Social Psychology program leads with graduates earning $57,559. The average across all programs is $39,895, but the UC system dominates—Davis ($53,955) and Santa Barbara ($53,297) round out the top three, proving that public universities can deliver elite outcomes in this field.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. UCLA graduates borrow $14,000 and face just a 5.5% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. That means loan payments take a minimal bite out of their post-grad income, making it both the highest-earning and most affordable option for students.
Highest program earnings: $57,559
Strong outcomes ($47,713) with 92% acceptance
5.5% payment burden | Excellent
16.0% family burden | Manageable
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | $57,559 | 400 | $14,000 | Excellent | $26,176 | Manageable | |
| #2 | $53,955 | 806 | $13,000 | Excellent | $25,733 | Challenging | |
| #3 | $53,297 | 579 | $13,993 | Excellent | $26,465 | Challenging | |
| #4 | $50,813 | 698 | $15,000 | Excellent | $22,665 | Challenging | |
| #5 | $47,713 | 65 | $19,500 | Good | $17,148 | Challenging | |
| #6 | $42,456 | 76 | $20,500 | Manageable | $21,716 | High | |
| #7 | $41,630 | 207 | $21,500 | Manageable | $13,743 | High | |
| #8 | University Of UtahPublic | $39,661 | 281 | $19,000 | Manageable | $18,886 | High |
| #9 | $38,958 | 7 | $28,312 | Challenging | $15,000 | High | |
| #10 | Thomas Aquinas CollegePrivate | $38,027 | 30 | $18,000 | Manageable | $0 | Manageable |
| #11 | Westminster UniversityPrivate | $35,127 | 23 | $22,250 | Challenging | $25,834 | High |
| #12 | $34,715 | 473 | $14,615 | Manageable | $24,883 | High | |
| #13 | $34,450 | 275 | $13,000 | Manageable | $28,508 | High | |
| #14 | University Of ArizonaPublic | $28,494 | 56 | $19,620 | High | $30,126 | High |
| #15 | $25,654 | 600 | $17,500 | High | $18,275 | High | |
| #16 | $15,817 | 85 | $15,500 | High | $24,257 | High |
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 →
