Psychology at Dallas Baptist University

Dallas Baptist University's psychology program graduates earn $36,952 in their first year—well above both the Texas median ($30,932) and national average ($31,482), placing it in the 90th percentile nationally. However, context matters: this looks impressive against the broader landscape of psychology programs, but within Texas it lands at the 60th percentile, trailing schools like UT Permian Basin ($46,009) and TCU ($42,108) by substantial margins. The $25,000 debt load is reasonable, resulting in a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.68.

The bigger concern is the complete absence of earnings growth—graduates earn essentially the same amount four years out. For a program that launches students into the top 10% nationally, this stagnation is unusual and suggests graduates may be hitting career ceilings quickly or remaining in entry-level positions longer than expected. Psychology careers often require graduate degrees for advancement, which may explain the plateau.

For Texas families, this program offers a solid foundation that outperforms most psychology programs nationwide and beats the Texas median by $6,000 annually. The debt is manageable enough that pursuing graduate school—likely necessary for substantial income growth—remains feasible. Just set expectations realistically: these earnings represent both the starting point and the four-year outlook without additional credentials.