Psychology at Adelphi University

The first-year earnings figure at Adelphi's psychology program—just $20,458—lands in the bottom 10% for New York psychology programs and the bottom 5% nationally. That's a sobering start for a program carrying $25,000 in debt, especially when the state median for psychology grads is $31,548 right out of the gate. The debt load itself is exactly average, but when paired with such low initial earnings, you're looking at students who may struggle to make loan payments in those crucial early years.

The dramatic turnaround by year four deserves attention: earnings more than double to $47,448, finally surpassing both state and national medians. This suggests many graduates need time to find their footing—perhaps pursuing graduate school, transitional roles, or career changes that eventually pay off. However, this pattern raises questions about what students are actually doing in that first year and whether the delay is worth the financial strain.

For a family paying private university tuition, this return timeline is hard to justify when multiple CUNY schools deliver stronger starting salaries at likely lower costs. If your child is set on Adelphi specifically, treat this as a stepping-stone degree: the real investment will be in graduate education or career pivots that unlock higher earnings. Otherwise, consider psychology programs that don't require weathering several years of sub-$25,000 income while servicing student debt.