Psychology at Augustana University

Augustana University's psychology program shows remarkably strong first-year earnings at $39,098—nearly $8,000 above the national median and $3,600 above South Dakota's typical psychology graduate. That 95th percentile national ranking is genuinely impressive, though the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these results may not be typical for every cohort. Among South Dakota's eight psychology programs, this places Augustana in the upper half at the 60th percentile.

The $27,000 debt load sits slightly above state and national medians but remains manageable with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.69. More importantly, earnings grow 13% by year four to $44,332, suggesting graduates aren't trapped in entry-level positions. This trajectory matters for psychology majors, who often need graduate school for clinical work but want to build career momentum first.

The caveat here is real: with fewer than 30 graduates in the dataset, a few high earners in consulting or HR roles could skew the numbers upward. Still, even if actual outcomes vary, Augustana's smaller cohorts likely mean better advising and professional connections—advantages that help explain why graduates start strong compared to peers at larger South Dakota universities. For families prioritizing immediate employability in a psychology bachelor's program, these numbers warrant serious consideration despite the statistical uncertainty.