Psychology at Gonzaga University

Gonzaga's psychology program shows a distinctive pattern that separates it from most liberal arts degrees: graduates start modestly but see their earnings jump nearly 60% by year four. While the $33,554 starting salary falls right at Washington's median for psychology majors, that four-year mark of $53,452 suggests graduates are successfully transitioning into higher-paying roles—perhaps in clinical settings, HR, or graduate school that leads to better opportunities.

The debt picture looks reasonable at $27,000, though it's slightly above the state median. More importantly, Gonzaga ranks in the 60th percentile among Washington psychology programs, meaning it performs better than most in-state alternatives. You'll notice programs like Seattle Pacific and Seattle University produce higher initial earnings, but Gonzaga's trajectory suggests it may close that gap. The moderate sample size of 30-100 graduates means these numbers should be stable.

For a parent, the question is whether your child can weather those first few years of modest earnings. If they're planning graduate school—common for psychology majors—this bachelor's degree provides solid grounding without crushing debt. If they're heading straight to work, understand that meaningful career growth appears to take a few years to materialize, but the data suggests patience pays off with this program.