Psychology at Bowie State University

Bowie State's psychology program stands out for delivering strong earnings outcomes with manageable debt—a rare combination in this field. The first-year salary of $36,765 exceeds the national median by more than $5,000, placing graduates in the 88th percentile nationally. That's a meaningful advantage considering psychology typically ranks among the lower-earning bachelor's degrees. The debt load of $28,375 is only slightly above national norms, yielding a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.77 that suggests graduates can realistically manage their loans.

The trajectory looks solid: earnings jump 31% to nearly $48,000 by year four, demonstrating that these grads are gaining traction in the job market. While Bowie State ranks in the 60th percentile among Maryland programs—middle of the pack for the state—it's worth noting that psychology salaries in Maryland generally run higher than national averages, making this still a respectable outcome. The program trails Maryland's top earners like UMGC by about $5,000, but considering Bowie State serves a predominantly first-generation and Pell-eligible student population, these results show the program is effectively preparing students for employment.

For families weighing affordable in-state options, this represents a reasonable investment. The debt burden won't be crushing, and graduates are entering the workforce with earnings that actually exceed what most psychology majors achieve elsewhere in the country.