Psychology at Harding University

Harding's psychology program sits squarely in the middle of Arkansas options, with first-year earnings of $29,219 landing at the 40th percentile statewide—essentially matching the state median. The $27,000 debt load is relatively modest (25th percentile nationally), creating a manageable first-year ratio of 0.92. What's notable is the 45% earnings jump by year four to $42,268, suggesting graduates find their footing after an initially slow start that trails the national median by about $2,300.

The challenge is that even with strong earnings growth, this program underperforms both state and national benchmarks initially, and the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means a few outliers could skew these numbers significantly. Programs like John Brown University show that Arkansas psychology graduates can earn $35,000+ right out of the gate, a $6,000 premium that compounds over time.

For families comfortable with the modest debt and confident their student will push through those lean early years, the trajectory looks reasonable. But if your child needs stronger immediate earnings to justify the investment, higher-performing Arkansas programs exist that deliver better first-year outcomes without substantially more debt.