Research and Experimental Psychology at Eckerd College

Eckerd's research psychology graduates earn less than the national median but actually perform better than most Florida programs—landing at the 60th percentile statewide. That first-year salary of $31,596 trails the national figure by about $3,200, but it's slightly above what University of North Florida graduates earn and substantially ahead of Florida Atlantic's outcomes. The 27% earnings bump to $40,112 by year four suggests meaningful career progression, though you're still looking at modest absolute numbers.

The debt picture is reasonable at $22,980, translating to a 0.73 ratio against first-year earnings. That's manageable compared to many psychology programs, and the debt load sits near national norms despite being higher than Florida's median. The real question is whether your child is comfortable with the reality of psychology bachelor's-level salaries—this isn't a path to quick financial returns.

Here's the critical caveat: the sample size is very small, meaning these numbers could swing considerably with just a few graduates. If your student is serious about psychology research and planning for graduate school (where this field's real earning potential unlocks), Eckerd provides solid undergraduate preparation without crushing debt. If they need immediate post-graduation income, they should think carefully about whether any bachelor's-level psychology program meets that goal.