Psychology at Lakeland University

Lakeland's psychology graduates are earning $42,355 right out of school—about $7,000 more than the typical Wisconsin psychology grad and nearly $11,000 above the national figure. That 95th percentile national ranking is genuinely impressive, though the program sits more modestly at the 60th percentile within Wisconsin, where psychology earnings run higher than the national norm. More concerning: those earnings barely budge over the next three years, growing just 1% while graduates carry $38,866 in debt.

The debt load here exceeds both state and national medians by substantial margins, which creates a tighter financial picture than the strong starting salary might suggest. With nearly a dollar of debt for every dollar of first-year earnings, graduates face monthly payments around $430 on a standard plan—manageable but not comfortable on $42,000. The flat earnings trajectory means there's little relief coming from salary growth in those critical early repayment years.

Given the small sample size (under 30 graduates), these numbers could shift significantly year to year. If your child is committed to psychology and Lakeland specifically, the strong starting salary offers a cushion, but watch that debt number carefully and explore every scholarship opportunity. The program gets graduates working at decent wages quickly; it just doesn't position them for the kind of income growth that makes higher debt easier to manage down the road.