Psychology at Fort Valley State University

Fort Valley State graduates earn below both the national and Georgia medians for psychology—ranking in just the 20th percentile nationally, though they fare somewhat better within Georgia at the 40th percentile. More concerning is the debt load: at $37,600, it's nearly $12,000 above the state median and $12,000 above the national benchmark, placing graduates in the 95th percentile for debt burden. That translates to owing more than an entire year's starting salary, with first-year earnings of just $27,677.

There is a silver lining in the 29% earnings growth to $35,607 by year four, which suggests graduates find their footing over time. Fort Valley serves a predominantly low-income student body (72% receive Pell grants), and for students from that background, this degree does facilitate employment and income growth. However, families should recognize they're taking on significantly more debt than peers at comparable Georgia schools while starting at lower salaries.

For anxious parents, the math is straightforward but difficult: your child will likely spend years managing debt that exceeds their annual income. Unless Fort Valley offers substantial financial aid to reduce that debt burden below $25,000, or your student has clear graduate school plans that could boost earnings, exploring less expensive in-state options—particularly those with lower debt-to-earnings ratios—would be the wiser investment.