Psychology at Barry University

Barry University's psychology program shows substantial earnings growth over time—graduates nearly double their salary from $27,743 to $40,668 within four years—but that starting point creates real challenges. At just under $27K initially, new graduates earn significantly less than the typical Florida psychology major ($29,702) and fall well below the national median. Among Florida's 44 psychology programs, this ranks at the 40th percentile, meaning most students would earn more at other in-state options like USF or Palm Beach Atlantic.

The debt load of $26,875 nearly matches first-year earnings (a ratio of 0.97), which means graduates will likely struggle with loan payments during those critical first years when they're earning the least. While the 47% earnings jump by year four is encouraging and suggests career progression, you're still looking at a four-year wait before reaching income levels that make the debt manageable.

Given the small sample size here, these numbers could shift with more data. But based on what's available, families should recognize they're paying near-typical debt for below-average early outcomes in a field where starting salaries already run low. If your student is committed to psychology, exploring higher-ranked Florida programs or considering whether they'll pursue graduate school (where psychology careers often lead anyway) would help clarify whether this investment makes sense.