Psychology at Gallaudet University

Gallaudet University serves the deaf and hard-of-hearing community with a unique mission, but these numbers reveal a troubling economic picture. Earning just $20,185 one year after graduation places this psychology program in the bottom 5% nationally—that's 36% below the national median and nearly 20% below DC's already-modest state median. Even accounting for Gallaudet's specialized role and the small sample size (under 30 graduates), this income barely exceeds poverty-level wages and trails every other DC psychology program except Howard.

The relatively modest debt of $14,097 offers some consolation—it's roughly half the national typical burden. Still, when your first-year earnings sit at $20,000, even manageable debt creates pressure. The 0.70 debt-to-earnings ratio suggests graduates will struggle to make payments while covering basic living expenses in one of the country's most expensive cities. This isn't about ROI in a typical sense; Gallaudet fulfills an essential educational mission for a specific community. But parents should understand that graduates will likely face significant financial challenges in the short term, potentially requiring family support or additional credentials to reach sustainable earnings. The path from this degree to financial stability appears considerably steeper than most psychology programs, even within DC.