Psychology at Illinois Wesleyan University

Illinois Wesleyan's psychology program produces graduates who start at $34,650—solidly above both the national median ($31,482) and Illinois state average ($32,287). While that places them in the 75th percentile nationally, it drops to the 60th percentile within Illinois, suggesting the program competes respectably but doesn't dominate the state market. The $27,000 median debt sits just above typical psychology borrowing levels, yielding a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.78. More encouraging is the trajectory: earnings jump 34% to $46,467 by year four, indicating graduates gain traction in their careers rather than plateau early.

The real caveat here is sample size—with fewer than 30 graduates reporting, a few high or low earners can skew these numbers significantly. That said, the pattern suggests Illinois Wesleyan provides solid preparation without the debt burden that often accompanies psychology degrees. Graduates aren't matching Northwestern's $44,088 starting salary, but they're also not facing the credential inflation that requires expensive graduate school immediately after the bachelor's degree.

For families considering this program, the key question is fit: does the small-school environment justify similar debt levels to larger state options? The earnings growth suggests yes, but recognize you're buying into a selective liberal arts experience where individual outcomes will vary more than these medians suggest.