Psychology at Arkansas Tech University

Arkansas Tech's psychology program starts graduates at just $27,213—nearly $4,000 below the national median and about $2,000 below Arkansas's already modest state average. While the program sits at the 40th percentile within Arkansas, that's faint praise given that psychology graduates across the state face some of the nation's toughest earnings prospects. The program does manage to keep debt slightly below $24,000, which at least beats the national median.

The 32% earnings growth over four years helps somewhat, pushing graduates to nearly $36,000 by year four. That's meaningful improvement, though it still leaves graduates earning less than peers from John Brown University earn right out of college. For a family making this investment, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.88 means nearly a full year's salary goes toward paying off loans—manageable but hardly comfortable, especially starting from such a low base.

If your child is set on psychology at Arkansas Tech, frame it as a stepping stone to graduate work rather than a career endpoint. The bachelor's alone won't provide financial security quickly, but with low debt and eventual earnings growth, it's not crushing either. For families prioritizing affordability and access (note the 96% admission rate), this path works—just know you're accepting below-average earnings in exchange for a relatively open door.