Psychology at Jacksonville State University

Jacksonville State's psychology program starts graduates at just $23,135—roughly $4,300 below Alabama's median for this degree and nearly $8,400 behind the national average. While the 40% earnings growth over four years helps close that gap somewhat, fourth-year earnings of $32,468 still trail top state programs like Athens State ($34,324) and Troy ($31,479). This program ranks in just the 5th percentile nationally and 25th percentile within Alabama, meaning three-quarters of psychology programs in the state deliver stronger initial outcomes.

The debt load of $26,750 actually sits right at state and national norms, which makes the low starting salary particularly problematic. Parents should understand that their child will likely need to live very frugally in that first year—$23,135 translates to roughly $1,900 monthly before taxes, and student loan payments will consume a significant chunk of that. The good news is that earnings do accelerate meaningfully, suggesting graduates who stick with psychology-related work see real salary progression.

For a psychology bachelor's degree specifically, this represents a below-average investment even within Alabama's options. Unless Jacksonville State offers unique family circumstances (proximity to home, specific scholarship opportunities), families should compare carefully against Auburn Montgomery or UAB, where graduates start $7,000+ higher with similar debt levels.