Psychology at Marian University

Marian University's psychology graduates are earning nearly $10,000 more than the Wisconsin state median and significantly outpacing the national average of $31,482. At $45,416 in first-year earnings, this program ranks in the 80th percentile statewide—ahead of established programs at UW-Whitewater and UW-Superior—and the 95th percentile nationally. That's exceptional performance for a bachelor's in psychology, a field notorious for modest starting salaries.

The debt picture reinforces the value: at $28,468, graduates carry just slightly more than the state average, creating a highly manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.63. This means graduates would need less than eight months of gross income to cover their debt, well below the threshold where repayment becomes burdensome. The combination of top-tier earnings with moderate debt is unusual in psychology programs.

The major caveat here is sample size—fewer than 30 graduates were tracked, so individual outcomes have an outsized effect on these numbers. A handful of graduates landing strong positions could be inflating the median. Still, the gap between Marian's results and both state and national averages is wide enough to suggest something substantive. For families considering Wisconsin psychology programs, this data warrants a serious look, though you'll want to investigate what's driving these outcomes—whether it's clinical placements, career services, or simply motivated students finding their way into higher-paying adjacent fields.