Psychology at Central Baptist College

At $26,000 in estimated debt against first-year earnings around $37,000, this psychology bachelor's appears manageable on paper—similar programs nationally suggest a debt-to-earnings ratio that allows for reasonable repayment. However, the reality for psychology majors is more nuanced. Most entry-level roles in this field pay modestly, and career advancement often requires graduate education, which means this debt figure may represent just the first installment of educational borrowing.

The concerning part isn't the debt level itself but what it buys. Psychology bachelor's degrees notoriously offer limited career pathways without further credentials, and peer programs nationally show median earnings of $37,000—enough to service the debt, but leaving little margin for financial missteps or unexpected graduate school costs. At Central Baptist, where 42% of students receive Pell grants, borrowers will have less family safety net if those tight early-career years become difficult.

If your child is genuinely committed to psychology and understands they'll likely need a master's or doctorate for career traction, this could work as an affordable undergraduate foundation. But if they're unsure about graduate school or simply interested in "helping people," the estimated numbers suggest they'd be better served by a credential with clearer job prospects after four years. The debt is serviceable; the question is whether the degree delivers enough value to justify it.