Psychology at Colorado Mesa University

Colorado Mesa's psychology graduates earn more than three-quarters of psychology programs nationally, though they land in the middle of the pack within Colorado. Starting at $34,116 and climbing to $40,800 by year four, these numbers beat the national median by nearly $3,000 but trail Colorado's top performers like Adams State and Metro State by roughly $3,000. For context, this places graduates around the 60th percentile among Colorado's 16 psychology programs—solidly middle-tier for the state.

The debt picture adds important nuance. At $26,648, graduates carry slightly more than both the national and state medians, though the 0.78 debt-to-earnings ratio remains manageable. The 20% earnings growth over four years suggests graduates find their footing in the job market, even if psychology typically doesn't command high starting salaries. Given Colorado Mesa's 81% admission rate and accessibility to students across income levels, these outcomes represent reasonable value for a degree that often serves as a stepping stone to graduate school or entry into social services and education.

The practical takeaway: If your child plans to work immediately after graduation in Colorado, they'll likely earn comparable salaries at less expensive in-state options. However, if they're drawn to Colorado Mesa's location in Grand Junction or campus environment, the program delivers outcomes that won't meaningfully disadvantage them in the psychology job market, especially compared to national peers.