Psychology at Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus

Fairleigh Dickinson's psychology program starts graduates at an alarmingly low $23,969—nearly $8,000 below the New Jersey median and $7,500 below the national average. That first-year figure ranks in just the 5th percentile nationally, putting it among the worst-performing psychology programs in the country. Even within New Jersey, where graduates can earn over $38,000 at Rider University or $36,000 at Georgian Court, this program sits at the 25th percentile.

The dramatic 96% earnings jump to $46,962 by year four tells an unusual story. While that trajectory suggests graduates eventually find their footing—likely moving beyond entry-level retail or service positions—it also means spending several years earning well below what peers from other programs start with immediately. The debt load of $24,966 is manageable relative to the fourth-year earnings, but it's considerably harder to service when you're making under $24,000 initially.

For families paying out-of-state tuition or taking on significant private loans, this program is difficult to justify when nearby state schools like Montclair or William Paterson deliver substantially higher starting salaries. Even if your child plans to pursue graduate school eventually, those first few years of rock-bottom earnings make loan repayment and saving for additional education challenging. The turnaround is real, but waiting four years to reach competitive earnings is a steep price to pay.