Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology at Keystone College

The small sample size here is critical context, but the numbers still tell a concerning story. Keystone's psychology graduates earn $25,974 in their first year—about $5,000 less than Pennsylvania's median for this program and nearly $9,000 below the national benchmark. That 5th percentile national ranking puts this program at the bottom of its field, even accounting for statistical uncertainty.

The 33% earnings jump to $34,498 by year four offers some relief, bringing graduates closer to typical outcomes. However, the $27,000 in debt—equal to more than a full year's starting salary—creates immediate financial pressure that better-performing programs don't impose. For comparison, Albright College's psychology graduates nearly double Keystone's first-year earnings while carrying similar debt loads.

With fewer than 30 graduates in this data, these figures could shift significantly year-to-year. But even with that caveat, the consistent pattern across both state and national benchmarks suggests real challenges. Parents should recognize this as a high-risk proposition: the combination of below-average earnings and median debt leaves little margin for error, especially if their student needs time to find employment or pursues lower-paying service work common among psychology undergraduates. Unless there are compelling non-financial reasons to attend Keystone, this program doesn't make financial sense.