Psychology at College of Saint Benedict

College of Saint Benedict's psychology graduates earn substantially more than their peers—$41,029 in the first year puts them in the 95th percentile nationally, nearly $10,000 above the typical psychology graduate. That's a significant premium for what's essentially an open-admission school. However, zoom into Minnesota specifically, and the picture shifts: they're at the 60th percentile statewide, trailing programs like Metropolitan State and Capella by several thousand dollars. The $27,000 median debt sits right at typical levels for the program.

The value proposition here depends on geography. If your child plans to stay in Minnesota, they'll be competing against psychology graduates from other local programs who often paid less and sometimes earn more. The 0.66 debt-to-earnings ratio is reasonable—graduates carry about eight months of their first-year salary in debt—but it's not dramatically better than state alternatives. The 10% earnings growth to $45,302 by year four follows a normal progression without exceptional momentum.

For families considering Saint Benedict, the appeal likely extends beyond pure earnings metrics—the residential liberal arts experience, small classes, and campus community. The outcomes are solid, particularly compared to psychology programs nationally. Just understand you're not paying for a career advantage so much as the full college experience package, and your child will need to be strategic about career development to maximize the degree's value in Minnesota's competitive market.