Research and Experimental Psychology at Hamilton College

Hamilton's psychology program produces first-year earnings that outpace 77% of similar programs nationally, yet finds itself in the middle of the pack within New York state. That $39,880 starting salary beats the national median by roughly $5,000, but in a state where Columbia grads earn $53,000 and even NYU graduates start at $37,500, Hamilton's outcomes are merely competitive rather than exceptional. The relatively manageable $17,450 in debt—well below both state and national medians—does offer an important cushion, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.44 that should allow for reasonable repayment.

The caveat here matters: with fewer than 30 graduates in the dataset, these figures could shift significantly year to year. A handful of students taking gap years or pursuing unpaid research positions could drag down the average, while this same small cohort might see strong earnings growth as they move into their careers. Given Hamilton's 12% admission rate and competitive student body, the program likely attracts capable students who may be trading immediate earnings for research experience or graduate school preparation.

For families focused on immediate return on investment, this represents a reasonable but not outstanding choice among New York psychology programs. The low debt load is the real advantage here—it preserves flexibility for graduate school or lower-paying research positions without creating financial strain.