Psychology at Coker University

Coker's psychology program places graduates in a difficult financial position, with first-year earnings of $25,870 falling nearly $6,000 below the state median and ranking in just the 5th percentile nationally. While the 40th percentile state ranking sounds more reasonable, that's misleading—South Carolina's psychology programs already lag behind national benchmarks, so performing below average within SC is particularly problematic. Graduates earn roughly $8,500 less than peers from top SC programs like Charleston Southern or Wofford.

The $31,933 debt load compounds the challenge, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.23 that means graduates owe more than they'll earn in their first year. Though earnings grow 17% over four years to $30,331, that's still barely approaching what graduates from better programs earn immediately. For context, this debt level ranks in the 5th percentile nationally—meaning 95% of psychology programs leave students with less debt.

These numbers come from a small sample size, which limits reliability, but the pattern is concerning enough to warrant serious consideration of alternatives. With nearly 30 psychology programs in South Carolina alone, parents should examine why this program's outcomes trail so far behind accessible options like USC Aiken or Clemson, where graduates start $5,000-$6,000 higher and likely carry comparable or lower debt given Coker's 97% admission rate.