Psychology at Elmira College

The small sample size here demands caution, but the pattern is troubling enough to warrant concern. That $23,698 first-year salary places Elmira's psychology program in the bottom 5% nationally—and while it recovers to $42,676 by year four, that starting figure means graduates may struggle to make loan payments when they begin.

Even accounting for the strong four-year growth, this program underperforms the New York median by roughly $10,000 at that stage. The 25th state percentile ranking tells you what you need to know: three-quarters of New York psychology programs produce better outcomes. When CUNY schools and state universities are delivering $40,000+ salaries with lower debt loads, the $27,000 borrowed here becomes harder to justify—especially at Elmira's private school tuition rates.

The debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.14 isn't catastrophic, and that 80% earnings growth suggests graduates do find better opportunities over time. But that brutal first year, combined with below-average performance both statewide and nationally, creates real financial stress early in graduates' careers. Unless your student has specific reasons to choose Elmira—strong personal connections to faculty, particular research opportunities—the numbers suggest looking at New York's public options for psychology.