Psychology at Iona University

Iona's psychology program demonstrates something unusual: graduates start below the $35,000 threshold but experience dramatic earnings growth, jumping from $33,023 to $52,740 within four years—a 60% increase that outpaces typical career trajectories for psychology majors. While that first-year figure lands right at the national median, the four-year outcome suggests graduates are moving into roles that leverage the degree more effectively than many peers. Among New York's 92 psychology programs, Iona sits solidly in the middle of the pack at the 60th percentile, with debt levels ($26,000) that are actually slightly lower than both state and national medians.

The real question is whether families can weather that initial post-graduation period. With nearly a dollar of debt for every dollar of first-year earnings, recent graduates will likely need financial support or side income to manage loan payments comfortably while building their careers. The payoff appears to materialize by year four, when earnings nearly double and make the debt burden more manageable. For families with resources to help bridge those early years—or students willing to live frugally and work multiple jobs—this trajectory makes sense. But if immediate financial independence is essential, this program requires realistic planning around those first couple of years out of school.