Psychology at Eastern Oregon University

Eastern Oregon's psychology program starts graduates at just $27,698—about $5,000 below Oregon's median and in the 20th percentile nationally. While typical psychology majors don't earn exceptionally high salaries, this program places notably below most Oregon alternatives. Pacific University and Oregon State graduates start around $35,000, giving them roughly 25% more earning power right out of the gate. The debt load here ($25,000) is reasonable and comparable to state averages, but paired with these lower earnings, graduates face a tighter financial picture in those crucial first years.

The encouraging news is the 50% earnings jump to $41,422 by year four—suggesting graduates do find their footing and potentially move into better positions over time. However, the sample size for this data is small (under 30 graduates), which means these numbers might not reflect what your student would actually experience. Eastern Oregon serves a significant population of lower-income students (36% on Pell grants) at a nearly open-admission institution, which can affect both the student experience and career outcomes.

For an anxious parent, the question is whether saving on tuition at Eastern Oregon (likely significant compared to private alternatives like Pacific or Linfield) justifies starting $7,000-8,000 behind in earnings. If your student plans to stay in rural Eastern Oregon where living costs are lower, that math might work. But if they're heading to Portland or beyond, the earnings gap becomes harder to ignore.