Research and Experimental Psychology at Denison University

Denison's experimental psychology program sits right at the middle for Ohio—which makes sense given only three schools in the state offer this specialized degree. The first-year salary of $36,909 exceeds the national median by over $2,000, placing graduates in the 62nd percentile nationally. More importantly, the debt load of $25,645 is notably lower than what most psychology graduates carry, putting it in the 24th percentile (meaning 76% of similar programs leave students with more debt).

The 0.69 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates owe roughly seven months' salary, a manageable starting point compared to many social science degrees. However, the small sample size here—fewer than 30 graduates—means one or two outlier outcomes could swing these numbers significantly in either direction. This isn't a large program churning out dozens of grads annually.

For a highly selective private school (17% admission rate), these outcomes are modest but realistic for experimental psychology, which typically serves as a stepping stone to graduate school rather than a terminal degree. If your child plans to pursue a PhD or professional degree, Denison provides solid preparation without crushing debt. If they're hoping to enter the workforce immediately after graduation with this degree, understand that $37,000 is likely the ceiling, not the floor, and career growth will depend heavily on the roles they can access with this specialized background.