Psychology at Lewis & Clark College

Lewis & Clark's psychology graduates start well behind their Oregon peers—about $5,600 below the state median in year one—and rank in just the 25th percentile statewide. That's a notable gap for a selective liberal arts college, where these graduates are earning less than those from Western Oregon or Oregon State's regional campus. The $25,745 debt load is manageable but typical, meaning there's no affordability advantage to offset the weaker initial outcomes.

The story improves substantially by year four, when median earnings jump 79% to $48,023. This is the classic liberal arts trajectory: slow professional start followed by meaningful career development. However, even with strong growth, the reality is that graduates spend their early twenties earning less than they would have at several public universities in Oregon, which matters for loan repayment and financial independence during critical life-planning years.

For families paying a premium for Lewis & Clark's academic experience, the psychology program delivers solid long-term earnings growth but underwhelming early results. If your child is truly passionate about this field and has the financial cushion to weather lower early earnings, the growth trajectory is encouraging. But if affordability is a priority, Oregon's public options offer better early earnings at lower cost—Pacific and Oregon State both deliver $8,000+ more in year-one income.