Psychology at Gettysburg College

Gettysburg College's psychology graduates earn $50,040 in their first year—nearly 50% more than the typical psychology major nationally and significantly above Pennsylvania's state median of $33,399. Among Pennsylvania's 83 psychology programs, this performance places Gettysburg in the 80th percentile, essentially tied with Bucknell's top-ranked program in the state. The $27,000 median debt sits right at the state median and slightly above the national benchmark, yielding a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.54—meaning graduates owe about half of one year's salary.

The caveat: these figures come from a small sample of fewer than 30 graduates, so individual outcomes likely vary more than these numbers suggest. The near-flat earnings growth from year one to year four ($50,611) is puzzling and could reflect the limited data or the career paths psychology graduates typically pursue. Still, even if actual outcomes vary by 10-20%, Gettysburg psychology majors appear to be landing significantly better initial positions than their peers statewide and nationally.

For a psychology degree—a field often criticized for weak earnings—Gettysburg delivers unusually strong results. Whether that's due to the college's alumni network, its selective student body, or statistical noise from the small sample is unclear, but the gap between these numbers and typical psychology outcomes is too large to ignore completely. If your child is set on psychology and can afford Gettysburg's cost of attendance, the data suggests this program outperforms most alternatives.