Psychology at Adams State University

Adams State's psychology graduates earn $37,943 one year out—a figure that significantly outperforms the national median of $31,482 but sits in the middle of the pack among Colorado programs. The earnings essentially match what students see at Metropolitan State and CSU-Fort Collins, suggesting Adams State punches at the same weight as much larger state schools. However, this data comes from a small graduating cohort (under 30 students), so individual outcomes could vary widely.

The $22,745 median debt is manageable relative to first-year earnings, creating a debt-to-income ratio of 0.60 that most financial advisors would consider reasonable. For context, this debt level is actually lower than both the national and Colorado medians for psychology programs. Students at Adams State appear to graduate with less loan burden than peers elsewhere while achieving comparable or better starting salaries—an unusual combination for a small regional university.

The main uncertainty here is whether these outcomes will hold steady given the limited sample size. If your child is considering Adams State for psychology, the fundamentals look sound: competitive earnings for Colorado, modest debt, and a track record that suggests the program delivers practical value. Just recognize that with fewer data points, you're working with less certainty than you'd have evaluating a program that graduates hundreds annually.