Psychology at Bellevue University

Bellevue University's psychology graduates earn $38,928 in their first year—$7,400 more than the national median for psychology majors and competitive with Nebraska's top programs. This places it in the 95th percentile nationally, though within Nebraska it ranks at the 60th percentile, just above the state median. Still, trailing only Concordia by about $1,000 among Nebraska psychology programs is noteworthy for a field where earning $40,000+ fresh out of college is rare.

The debt picture is unusually favorable: $28,833 is just slightly above Nebraska's median but well below what most psychology programs saddle students with nationally (7th percentile for debt). With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.74, graduates owe less than one year's salary—a manageable situation that many psychology majors would envy. The program serves a substantial population of Pell grant recipients (29%), suggesting it's delivering strong outcomes for students who might struggle more at pricier private alternatives.

For psychology—a field notorious for requiring graduate school to access higher earnings—starting near $39,000 with reasonable debt gives graduates actual options. They can pursue further education without being crushed by undergraduate loans, or enter the workforce in positions like case management or HR that value the degree. This program punches well above its weight nationally.