Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology at Faulkner University

Faulkner's psychology program presents a puzzling picture: while it performs in the 60th percentile among Alabama programs, first-year earnings of $27,000 fall substantially below the national median of $34,500. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.03 means graduates owe nearly their entire first year's salary—a challenging starting position for any career. However, the small sample size (under 30 graduates) makes it difficult to know whether these figures reflect a consistent pattern or just a few students' experiences.

The Alabama context matters less than usual here, since only three schools in the state offer this bachelor's program, limiting meaningful comparisons. What's clearer is the gap between what this degree costs and what it initially delivers. At just above $27,000 annually, these graduates earn about $7,500 less than their peers nationally—that's a 22% shortfall that compounds over time.

For families considering this program, the central question is whether these early numbers improve significantly or whether psychology bachelor's holders here struggle to find well-paying positions in the Montgomery market. Given the small sample and below-average starting point, parents should investigate where recent graduates actually work and what career paths lead to better outcomes. This may be a stepping stone to graduate school rather than a terminal degree, which would explain the modest initial earnings but require planning for additional education costs.