Behavioral Sciences at Duquesne University

Similar programs nationally suggest first-year earnings around $35,400 for this bachelor's degree, landing below Pennsylvania's median of $38,400 for behavioral sciences graduates. With estimated debt near $27,000, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.76 sits in manageable territory—you're looking at roughly nine months of gross income to cover the total borrowing. That's workable compared to many liberal arts fields, though the earnings gap between this estimate and what Pennsylvania programs typically deliver is worth noting.

The challenge is that behavioral sciences as a field tends toward modest starting salaries regardless of institution, and these estimates don't tell you whether Duquesne's specific outcomes, career services, or alumni network might justify the investment over less expensive in-state options. Pennsylvania has nine programs in this field with widely varying debt loads—some considerably higher than what's estimated here. Duquesne's 18% Pell Grant population and strong SAT averages suggest a relatively affluent student body, which can influence post-graduation opportunities through social capital that won't show up in these numbers.

The practical question: is $27,000 in debt reasonable for a degree that typically starts around $35,000? If your child has clear graduate school plans (common in behavioral sciences) or specific career pathways mapped out, possibly. But if they're exploring options or the major is tentative, cheaper alternatives might make more sense given the field's modest earning trajectory.