Psychology at Manhattan University

That first-year number—$24,727—ranks in just the 5th percentile nationally for psychology programs, meaning 95% of similar programs produce better immediate outcomes. With $26,000 in debt, graduates face more than a full year of earnings to pay off their loans, a particularly tight squeeze when you're earning less than $25,000. Even among New York's psychology programs, where graduates compete in one of the nation's most expensive metro areas, this ranks only at the 25th percentile. Keep in mind these figures come from a very small sample (under 30 graduates), so they may not represent the typical experience.

The dramatic earnings jump to $50,278 by year four offers some redemption, suggesting graduates eventually find their footing in the job market. That more than doubles the first-year figure and actually exceeds both state and national medians. However, this pattern raises questions about what happens in those first few critical years—whether graduates are taking unpaid internships, working multiple part-time jobs, or simply struggling to launch careers with this degree from a school that doesn't carry strong name recognition in the New York market.

For families financing this degree, the reality is stark: expect serious financial strain in those first years after graduation. Unless your child has a specific career path in mind that makes a psychology bachelor's sufficient (many psychology-related careers require graduate school anyway), the immediate return on this $26,000 investment looks weak compared to what's available elsewhere in the state.