Psychology at Cleveland State University

Cleveland State's psychology program performs solidly within Ohio, landing at the 60th percentile statewide—meaning it outearns most other psychology programs in the state. While the $30,949 starting salary sits just below the national median, graduates see steady income growth to nearly $37,000 by year four, a 19% increase that suggests decent career progression potential. The $25,000 in median debt equals both the state and national averages, creating a manageable debt burden at 0.81 times first-year earnings.

The program serves a heavily working-class student body (39% receive Pell grants) and delivers outcomes that align with expectations for an open-access public university. You won't see Kenyon College earnings here—that school's psychology grads start at $39,000—but Cleveland State costs considerably less and still beats the state median. The robust sample size of 100+ graduates means these numbers are reliable, not statistical noise.

For Ohio families seeking an affordable psychology degree without leaving the state, Cleveland State represents reasonable value. The debt load is moderate enough that graduates can manage payments while building their careers, and the steady earnings growth suggests employers value these credentials. Just set realistic expectations: this leads to human services and administrative roles, not high-paying corporate positions, at least initially.