Psychology at CUNY Medgar Evers College

CUNY Medgar Evers delivers exceptional value that challenges assumptions about selective admissions and program quality. With graduates earning nearly $40,000 right out of college—$8,000 more than the typical psychology graduate nationally and above 95% of comparable programs—this accessible Brooklyn institution achieves outcomes that rival far more selective schools. The $11,700 median debt sits well below half the national average, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.29 that most private colleges can only dream about. Among New York's 92 psychology programs, Medgar Evers ranks in the 80th percentile for earnings while maintaining some of the lowest debt loads in the state.

The numbers are particularly striking given the student body: 57% receive Pell grants, indicating many come from lower-income backgrounds, yet they're achieving career outcomes that surpass three-quarters of psychology programs nationwide. Earnings hold steady through year four at $41,000, and while this modest 3% growth suggests graduates aren't rapidly climbing corporate ladders, the stability matters more than dramatic jumps for a field where many pursue master's degrees or pivot to adjacent careers.

For families worried about psychology being an impractical major, Medgar Evers proves that program quality and institutional support matter more than the field's reputation. This is what smart borrowing looks like: manageable debt paired with solid immediate earnings that create genuine economic mobility.