Psychology at Clark University

Clark's psychology graduates start modestly at $33,264, landing below the state median but slightly above the national benchmark. Here's the more interesting story: by year four, earnings jump 48% to just over $49,000—solid growth that suggests graduates are finding their footing in careers that reward experience. The $26,000 debt load is manageable, with a 0.78 ratio to first-year earnings that won't crush new graduates during those early, lean years.

The state comparison reveals the challenge of Massachusetts' competitive landscape. While Clark ranks in the 64th percentile nationally—beating the typical psychology program elsewhere—it sits at just the 40th percentile among Bay State schools. That gap reflects how Massachusetts clusters strong liberal arts colleges (Williams, Holy Cross) and universities with extensive professional networks. Clark graduates aren't entering a crisis situation, but they're not accessing the premium career outcomes that some in-state peers deliver.

For parents, this comes down to career trajectory expectations. If your student plans to pursue graduate school, non-profit work, or roles where that substantial four-year earnings growth continues, the investment pencils out reasonably well. But if they need strong immediate earning power or you're comparing specifically against other Massachusetts options, understand that Clark's outcomes land in the middle of a very crowded field—competitive nationally, but not standout within the state.