Psychology at Holy Family University

Looking at comparable psychology bachelor's programs, graduates typically start around $36,890—squarely at the national median for this field. The challenge is the estimated $26,000 debt load, which runs substantially higher than the national median of $16,472 for psychology programs, though it's fairly typical for Pennsylvania, where the state median sits at $27,000. With this debt level representing about 70% of first-year earnings, graduates would face manageable but noticeable monthly payments in a field not known for rapid salary growth.

Psychology bachelor's degrees generally serve as stepping stones rather than terminal credentials—most higher-paying psychology careers require graduate education. That makes the debt calculation particularly important here. Starting at roughly $37,000 while carrying $26,000 in loans means your child would be servicing debt during years when many psychology graduates are either working in adjacent fields (human services, case management) or investing in further education. The relatively accessible admission profile (74% acceptance rate, 1030 average SAT) and the fact that 40% of students receive Pell grants suggests Holy Family serves a population that may be particularly sensitive to debt burdens.

If your child is certain about pursuing graduate work in psychology, factor that additional debt into the total investment. If they're considering stopping at the bachelor's level, understand that comparable programs produce early-career earnings that make this debt load workable but leave little cushion for other financial goals.