Psychology at Eastern Nazarene College

In Massachusetts, psychology bachelor's programs produce first-year earnings ranging from around $37,000 at the median to over $60,000 at top-tier schools like Bentley. Eastern Nazarene's estimated earnings of $36,873—based on 33 comparable programs across the state—land right at that median, suggesting this program tracks with typical outcomes rather than commanding a premium. The $28,998 in debt is slightly above the state median of $26,905, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.79 that would take roughly 10 months of gross income to repay.

The challenge here is that psychology bachelor's degrees rarely lead directly to high-paying careers without graduate school, and Massachusetts' higher cost of living makes that $36,873 feel tighter than it might elsewhere. Programs at Boston College and Williams produce earnings 20-25% higher, though they likely serve different student populations. For families where affordability matters—35% of students here receive Pell grants—the relatively modest debt load is the program's strongest selling point, keeping payments manageable during those early career years.

Your child should enter this knowing that career advancement in psychology typically requires additional credentials, which means more tuition down the road. The reasonable debt gives them flexibility to pursue that path, but the estimated earnings suggest they'll need to budget carefully or find ways to increase earning power quickly after graduation.