Psychology at Doane University

Doane's psychology program operates in an unusual middle ground: it outperforms most psychology programs nationally but falls slightly below Nebraska's surprisingly strong state median. With $27,000 in debt and first-year earnings around $35,000, graduates face manageable debt loads—especially compared to many private colleges—though earnings lag behind nearby options like Concordia ($39,883) and Bellevue ($38,928).

The modest 5% earnings growth over four years suggests graduates find stable employment rather than rapid salary progression, typical for bachelor's-level psychology roles. What matters more here is the debt picture: at just 77% of first-year earnings, this represents one of the lower debt burdens among psychology programs nationally. For context, the national median psychology graduate carries $25,500 in debt but earns only $31,482—making Doane's combination of slightly higher debt but notably higher earnings a reasonable tradeoff.

The caveat: with fewer than 30 graduates in the dataset, these numbers could shift significantly with a larger sample. If your child is considering this program, the decision likely hinges on whether they can access similar or lower costs at Nebraska's public universities, which offer comparable or better earnings outcomes. For families who value Doane's smaller campus environment and can keep total borrowing near this $27,000 mark, the debt load remains workable for psychology—a field where many graduates pursue additional credentials anyway.