Psychology at Charleston Southern University

Charleston Southern's psychology graduates are outearning 80% of their peers both nationally and within South Carolina—a notable achievement given that the state's typical psychology graduate makes just $27,532 annually. The program's $35,364 first-year median puts it ahead of even Wofford and North Greenville, two well-regarded private institutions. Combined with relatively modest debt of $27,000 (below the national median), the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.76 suggests graduates can manage their loans on a psychology bachelor's salary, which isn't always the case.

The caveat here is sample size—with fewer than 30 graduates tracked, these numbers could shift significantly with more data. That said, the consistent outperformance against both state and national benchmarks, plus steady 7% earnings growth over four years, suggests something is working. Whether it's the program's approach, the Charleston job market, or simply the type of students attracted to a regional private university, graduates appear better positioned than most psychology majors.

For parents weighing options, this looks like a reasonably safe bet if your child is set on psychology, especially compared to other SC programs. The debt load won't be crushing, and early earnings suggest decent job placement. Just remember these numbers represent a small cohort—ask the school for more recent outcomes data before committing.