Psychology at East Tennessee State University

East Tennessee State's psychology program lands right in the middle of Tennessee's offerings—40th percentile statewide—but trails the national median by about $5,000 in starting earnings. What makes this program stand out, however, is the debt load: graduates leave owing just $17,976, roughly $7,000 less than the state median and nearly $8,000 below the national average. That 0.68 debt-to-earnings ratio means borrowers owe less than what they'll earn in their first year—an unusually manageable starting point for a psychology bachelor's.

The earnings trajectory shows meaningful growth, jumping 29% from year one to year four ($26,403 to $34,058). By year four, graduates essentially match Tennessee's starting median and close much of the gap with national figures. While private schools like Rhodes and Vanderbilt show higher starting salaries, they typically come with significantly more debt. For families concerned about managing loan payments while their child establishes a career or pursues graduate school, ETSU's combination of modest debt and steady earnings growth offers breathing room that top-ranked programs often don't.

The main tradeoff is that first-year salary: at 13th percentile nationally, it's genuinely low. But if your child can bridge that initial gap—whether through parental support, living at home, or additional work—the manageable debt makes this a workable path, especially if graduate school is on the horizon.