Psychology at Butler University

Butler's psychology bachelor's degree comes with an estimated price tag of $26,000 in debt—about $10,000 above what psychology graduates typically carry nationwide. Combined with projected first-year earnings around $37,000, that puts the debt-to-earnings ratio at 0.70, meaning you'd owe roughly seven months of gross salary. While this isn't catastrophic compared to some fields, it's steeper than the national psychology norm, and the lack of reported data from Butler itself makes it harder to know if their program delivers any premium that might justify the additional borrowing.

Psychology graduates nationally face a challenging early-career market regardless of where they earn their degree. At $37,000, these estimated earnings reflect a field where bachelor's-level jobs often require further education or credentialing to unlock better pay. The stronger admissions profile at Butler (SAT scores around 1280) and low Pell Grant population suggest families here may have resources to offset debt, but that doesn't change the fundamental math: you're looking at above-average debt for average outcomes in a field known for modest starting salaries.

The estimates here are based on peer programs nationally since Butler's graduate sample was too small to report. That means there's real uncertainty about whether this specific program outperforms or underperforms those benchmarks. Unless your family can significantly reduce that $26,000 through aid or savings, treat this as a program where the credential matters more for graduate school access than immediate earnings potential.