Psychology at Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus

Eastern New Mexico's psychology program starts graduates at just $19,844—nearly $8,000 below the state median and in the bottom 5% nationally. While earnings do climb 59% by year four, reaching $31,615, that growth merely brings graduates to what most programs deliver immediately. This earnings trajectory matters because it means four years of opportunity cost and delayed financial stability. The program carries $20,050 in debt, which equals a full year's starting salary—a manageable absolute amount but problematic given how little graduates initially earn.

The small sample size here (under 30 graduates) is crucial context. These numbers could reflect a few outliers rather than the typical experience. That said, even among New Mexico's seven psychology programs, this ranks near the bottom despite having lower debt than most competitors. Western New Mexico and UNM both deliver starting earnings around $31,000—essentially what ENMU grads make after four years of career advancement.

For anxious parents, this looks like a risky bet unless your student has specific reasons to attend ENMU (location, campus fit, or scholarship opportunities that dramatically reduce debt). The combination of very low starting earnings and middle-of-the-pack state performance suggests better value exists elsewhere in New Mexico's public system, where students can earn the same degree but start their careers $10,000+ ahead.