Psychology at Hood College

Hood College's psychology graduates face a concerning financial picture that should worry any parent considering this $22,000 investment. Starting salaries of $23,358 rank in just the 5th percentile nationally and 25th percentile among Maryland psychology programs—meaning three-quarters of comparable Maryland programs produce better outcomes. Even among the state's 21 psychology programs, Hood trails far behind accessible options like Bowie State ($36,765) and UMD-College Park ($35,933), both of which offer starting salaries over 50% higher.

The debt load compounds the problem. While $22,000 might sound manageable, it represents nearly a full year's starting salary—a ratio that typically signals repayment struggles. By year four, earnings do climb to $36,344 (a 56% increase), but this catches graduates up to where many peers started. That delayed earning power means years of financial stress during the critical period when young adults establish independence.

Given the small sample size here, these numbers might not tell the full story. However, when your in-state alternatives include multiple schools with significantly stronger track records at similar or lower costs, Hood's psychology program requires serious scrutiny. Unless there's a compelling personal reason to choose this particular program, Maryland families have better options that won't leave their graduate earning poverty-level wages in year one.