Psychology at Carthage College

Carthage's psychology program faces a challenging first year, with graduates earning just $27,741—well below both the national median ($31,482) and Wisconsin's state median ($35,139). This puts the program in the bottom quartile among Wisconsin psychology programs, and students here are earning roughly $7,400 less than their peers at nearby UW-Whitewater.

The program does show impressive earnings growth, jumping 79% to nearly $50,000 by year four. However, that initial earnings gap creates practical problems: the $23,250 debt burden, while slightly below state averages, represents 84% of first-year earnings. For comparison, students at Wisconsin Lutheran or Lakeland start with significantly higher salaries, making the same debt more manageable from day one. The moderate sample size (30-100 graduates) provides reasonable confidence in these numbers.

The question for your family is whether you can weather that difficult first year. If your child needs to start repaying loans immediately or contribute to household expenses, that $27,741 salary will be tight. Students who can rely on family support or who plan to pursue graduate school might find the later earnings growth encouraging, but be aware that Carthage's psychology graduates are starting their careers at a notable disadvantage compared to other Wisconsin options.